Hooray for Tara

Congrats to daughter, Tara Reich, for winning the 2009 Chicago Fashion Foundation Scholarship! Hard work and hope CAN do the deed - along with a great model,knocking wood, crossing fingers, and prayer.

Tara's come along way since bonding with the sewing machine in her junior-high home-ec class.

It's still amazing to know that Todd and I actually reared a fashion design sort. But her knowledge of antiques and anime were just the mix to do the trick, along with her uncompromising choices concerning design, fabrics, and workmanship. Having to find inspiration in the 1893 Chicago world's Fair found Tara hitting the local antique shops, reading "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson (I still haven't gotten to the first murder....), and using her corset making skill learned on the job. You just never know what skills you will need in life to accomplish the next big step.

So we're hoping that she's relaxed a little, slept a tad, and will now be able to get on with the work of finishing her senior days at Columbia College. Way to go Tara! And
THANKS! to all involved.

- Sue

Wisconsin

A last minute phone call and we are off this weekend to Klondike Days in Eagle River, Wi.
Two weeks ago the bears did fine in Green Bay, so it will be "interesting" to see how they fare this go-round in the land of Green-and-Gold.

Because I now live in Minnesota most folks think that I am a local...... But that can never really be.
Born and raised in Northern Cheddarland, and even with ol' Brett now gone, I still get oddly giddy seeing anything with a Packers logo on it. Even Todd, the Vikings-fan husband that he is, sometimes slips on something with the symbol of the evil enemy on it. But being practical even I plopped on a Vikings cap and wore it to the post-office a few weeks ago. This confused another customer because I also was wearing a lovely vintage Packers sweatshirt. I explained our mixed marriage, we laughed, and went on our way.

So, we will check the weather, cross the border, and hope for the best.

Go Pack! Go Vikes! Go Bears!
-Sue

Photo Time

I'm trying to learn new skills - so it's time to try an image. Thanks, Tara, for talking me through this.

Cleaning Time

January. Third. Two-thousand-nine......

What are we doing? Cleaning!!!!! Sorting!!! Ripping up and tossing out! Finding the "new" iron below the pile of pillow cases. Seeing empty horizontal spaces when we open certain doors.

In the studio the whole space under the table is empty. Todd will have to tell me where he put some stuff. The other stuff I know. Every piece of paper and mat-board have been touched and considered. The unused pieces have been sorted from the artwork. The artwork has been re-sorted into ripped and trashed, stuff saved for future possible inspiration, and actual showable pieces. I feel an hour of recreational burning coming on. I am not a complete hoarder - whew!

It's time to go scrape palettes now. The work desk will be tackled soon - but right now it's time to scape paint.

- Sue

Happy New Year

Hmmm, the post from Dec. 31 did not post. We shall see with this one.

The newest bear is a polar type, and will be titled either "Getting Harder to be Surprised" or "My name might just be Marty." I don't know why. The sentences come while I'm working so they get jotted down for consideration. This does make choosing a title a tad easier.

He's smaller than most bear heads done this past year, and was a bit boring until the Sennilier sticks started whispering "Use me.... Use me...." So the magic colors No. 197 and No. 930 (orange-yellow and intense orange) made Marty pop alive. Whew. I am a true believer in the power of blues and greens with yellows and oranges. Basic color theory that works almost every time.

So on to the Grand Adventures of 2009. Back to finishing the first bear of the new year.

- Sue

Once Uopn a Time

Once upon a time in Gurney, Wisconsin, we'd slide down the hill (Wis. State Highway 169) on the glare ice, at night. Low temperatures were not an issue - cars were. Before the four streetlights were installed we'd watch for the power-line wires to reflect headlights. "CAR!," somebody would yell. "Hit the ditch!!" There was no ditch, there was only deeper snow. None of us died. We loved our metal-runnered sleds, we didn't love the long hike back up Gurney Hill. Oh well. The price of the ride. The stars are closer to the ground Up North. I miss the sky of my sledding days. I took The Big Dipper personally. We won't talk about the Northern Lights.....

Anyway - back to reality. Eckels Pottery sold our first mag-ment - two magnets back to back with a metallic Holiday ribbon sandwiched in-between. This way one lovely ornament can become two useful magnets.

And last night I finally finished the Valley Press interview. May it as be entertaining to read as it was to write. It's scheduled to be printed in the first issue of the New Year. I hinted at new characters coming out of the pen. Not bears!

Now on to last-minute Holiday doings.
And then The New Year. Good Luck to Everybody!

-Sue

Waltzing Bears

Wow. Today I put a few last touches on the dancing bears that were started as a pastel demo at the Minnesota State Fair. That was in early September, and it's now the first of December. "Making product" has been given priority over "creating art." but this pair of waltzing bears is as done as they're getting. Changed their footing from beach sand to grass. Seemed like the right thing to do. Lighting and shadow is always a fanciful thing - my bears and atmosphere tend to ignore laws of reflection and light source. That's a lovely part of being the artist. Susie-World Rules - ha!

I also finished and packed some tooled and painted leather bear ornaments for the Eckels Pottery ornament show in Bayfield, WI. They turned out surprisingly nifty - I'd forgotten how much fun it is to work with leather. If they don't sell, they will be welcomed additions to our motley ornament collection! To think that once upon a time I was going to be a "serious" ornament collector. Oh well.

The end of this week holds the Landmark Center Holiday Show in St. Paul, Mn. Always such a beautiful show - now to see how sales go. It's also my last show of a pretty good season. I do appreciate all of our customers - whether they buy a $4.00 magnet or a $400.00 original. THANK YOU CUSTOMERS!!

Back to the list of things to do....
-Sue