Susan Zavala

Quick Hello!!

2011-07-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

Summer is here but it's hard to enjoy the sun if I am working so much....need a plan B.
: )

Happy 4th of July!!

2011-07-04T22:00:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th filled with laughter and fun! And some sunscreen if you are also here in California!! : )
I haven't posted in a bit so I thought I would upload some images around the studio...included is one image of what happens when you pull a drawer out to organize it, instant cat. Drawers are overrated any how.

All is well.....

2011-05-21T17:21:00.000-07:00

Nebraska Brick and Random Flowers around the Studio

2011-03-28T21:01:00.000-07:00

Random Shots

2011-03-28T20:55:00.000-07:00

More Yosemite

2011-03-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

Yosemite

2011-03-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

Happy February....

2011-02-01T21:00:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of my flower photos from a weekend of shooting around the house...might use them in some art.....

2011-01-25T22:00:00.000-08:00

2011-01-03T04:40:00.000-08:00

...if you happened upon this blog and this message, then it was written just for you!!!...

it's snowing?!?!

2011-01-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

we never get snow in this part of Los Angeles.
what a fun treat!
this year is already bringing unexpected surprises....how nice!

Happy 2011!

2011-01-01T01:11:00.000-08:00

This years key words will include Illumination, Nurture, Open, Compassion and Fearlessness.
I hope this New Year brings you all the joys your heart deserves!!

Happy Holidays!!

2010-12-24T17:55:00.000-08:00

Hope all the Magic of the Season was yours....

Random Sunday Thrills

2010-11-18T19:00:00.000-08:00

After spending a few hours at the local Swap Meet, I found these wonderful nails with numbers and symbols carved into them. Can't wait to take out my special sealing wax and go to town on the back of a few envelopes. I love getting excited about new things....it was a great day all around.

In a Band for a day...

2010-10-18T21:38:00.000-07:00

How fun was this? For one day at work last week I got to sing on the patio at lunchtime with an amazing group of musicians and co-workers. What a thrill!!

What a great day!

2010-10-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

Once in a while you need a random vacation day to just recharge yourself...especially when it finally looks like fall outside.
From my first crock pot roast to the new remote control mouse for the cat, the day was amazing and I'm learning that a cozy home is worth more than cash!!!!! Hope you all had a great Tuesday too!

2010-09-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

As I was washing dishes tonight I saw these words in handwriting in my mind's eye. Wanted to see it in print.
Have a wonderful week!

August 16th - Finally Summer?

2010-08-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Lots of things to Celebrate and hoping you are having a Wonderful Summer too!! Today in Los Angeles it's supposed to be the hottest day this summer and I'm looking forward to it. I bought some really cute things to wear but need the hot weather! Home Goods is filled with all the Halloween goodies and in July we had rain...not normal for sure. Remember summers when we were young and your bedroom window was open at night and you could hear the sounds of the creek in the distance and all those grasshoppers? And the light breeze made your pull down shade scrape against the sides of the window frame and you would be lulled to sleep? Was that just me? Looking back that will have to be a top ten memory of childhood.
Hope you are making some new and wonderful memories this summer with your family and friends!!

Layers

2010-05-29T17:55:00.000-07:00

I have been admiring other people's art and am finding one thing in common, many layers. When text is the foundational layer I am immediately drawn to it...so many beautiful items being created now and one of my favorite finishing layers is stitching. Must remember to add that myself, especially to paper. In the spirit of layers, here is a collage i made to inspire me...

Another Fun Day at Disneyland and DCA

2010-04-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

I had the chance to spend a day at Disneyland with close friends and wanted to share some of my most interesting images. I just love that park and wish it was closer to my home. It's such a treat to go and see all the other guests enjoying themselves also, especially dancing with the parade music!

Happy Saturday....

2010-04-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

Hope you all had a great day...

Joshua Tree National Park

2010-04-09T18:00:00.000-07:00

I had an amazing time with some old and new friends. I learned lots. Enough to know I need a new camera. I am proud of shooting images at full frame though, instead of my usual "take the shot and we'll crop in photoshop later" routine...I loaded some of my favorites onto my Flickr site but wanted to share some others here. It's really a beautiful and spiritual place if you've never been. I thought I would be shooting cactus all day and it was so so so much more!!
Happy Day.
If you look hard in this images above, you can see people...
i can see a dancing cactus in this one...
a friend setting up his next shot
and some close-ups...

What a fun day!!

Everything's Blooming....Again.

2010-03-23T19:11:00.000-07:00

happy happy spring flowers, gentle warm breezes, and new transformations....

2010-03-09T22:10:00.000-08:00

The Wonderful Outdoors

2010-02-28T17:55:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I was able to get out and hike in my neighborhood. Little did I know the trails would include gorgeous scenery, hills, 200 year old (or older) oak trees and streams. It was unbelievable and I can't wait to return...

Time for Sweetness

2010-02-04T23:11:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of St. Valentine and open hearts everywhere, I hope you all find more love than you can possibly hold...within yourselves and each other this month...

Softy, Gently, Sweetly

2010-01-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Happy New Year! May this year bring all your hearts desires in a sweet and gentle way...

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T14:46:00.000-08:00

Wow, do I have some make up blogging to do! I haven't even begun to tell you about Silver Bella in November and so many other things. I have lots of pictures that I can't wait to share. I hope everyone's Holidays are filled with love, happiness lots of creativity!! If you have fallen in love with these amazing hand made ceramic Santa's, you can find them here. The talented and wonderful Katie created them in Sunny Florida.

Mini Moo's on their way

2009-10-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

I ordered some of these Mini Moo Cards and used my watercolor backgrounds with this diamond tiara. Can't wait to see them in person. I made a couple other types too but I have been dying to use this image on something fun for a while now...It will be fun to pass them out at creative events where others have theirs also.

One of my Favorite Teachers

2009-10-14T22:10:00.000-07:00

I was so fortunate this past Summer to take a special watercolor flower class with one of most favored teachers. I learned about Lisa Engelbrecht when I joined the Southern California Society for Calligraphy. Her lettering speaks to my soul and I aspire to get my letters to "sing" like hers do. She is also so talented in other ways, fiber arts, watercolor, mixed media collage, not just Calligraphy and when I first attended one of her Calligraphy classes and saw her work I almost passed out from joy. Finally I was seeing art that spoke to me and since that day, it has helped to guide me to creating better designs, the kind that will bare my soul and to be brave and create!
Enough babbling...here are some pics from that wonderful day in her backyard from the class...

When you arrive you get a folder filled with color xeroxes and information and she writes the name of each person on the cover in Calligraphy with special inks that bleed into eachother...so gorgeous

Inspiration

Can you believe how subtle the little flowers are? Amazing

This fun planter sits in the backyard and adds more inspiration to the day...

Ryman Affair of the Arts 2009

2009-10-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

What a fun evening. I was so happy to help host the Art Bin Donation table. In fact, it's not to late to click here, check out the Wonderful School and donate yourself.

Thursday Sliver Treats

2009-09-03T20:08:00.000-07:00

I have been spending time lately looking at so many wonderful, amazing and truly inspiring blogs & my heart always races when I see the fantastic thrift store finds that people share. On my way home tonight I dropped by a thrift store & there waiting for me were some great pieces of silver(plate), sweet little china dishes to put my bling on and a fun tiara. I was too excited and even put "dibs" on the tiara as I was in line to pay...( it was in the case). Now it's not vintage but I think it's sweet. Not too overdone. The prices were amazing there and I may have to go back. Everyday. Ok, not everyday but alot.

Aloha & Welcome Back...

2009-08-24T20:08:00.000-07:00

So many friends have been going on really wonderful vacations and I seem to be getting truly spoiled. They keep bringing back little gifts for us left behind and it's just the funnest thing ever!!! I'm glad they all had a much deserved vacation but to be thinking of us at the same time??? I have the greatest friends ever!!! This makes up for my non existent summer vacation!! This is a snippet of the beautiful flowers my friend's husband gave her...so gorgeous in real life and matches her wedding flowers from years ago. What a doll!!

It's a fruity day...

2009-07-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

Wanted to share some older paintings. I think it's time for a snack....

....and some of Marty at Disneyland

2009-07-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

.....Just wanted to show you where his window is located in case you make it over to Disneyland. If you read the earlier post first, this will all make sense. His window is at City Hall in the exact location of one of his first offices upstairs. He is a writer and remembers when Walt saw him in the employee cafeteria and asked what he was working on. Marty told him and he said, "we gotta get you some more responsibility"....We were lucky to get him at Imagineering. I wore my twenty year ring proudly that day watching him receive this honor. Here are some pix....oh, and speaking of Marty, here is a link to an amazing organization that I volunteer for which will help to create some very talented artists of the future...Ryman Arts

The gal with the window replication was right next to me so I had to snap this one...

Here Marty is recounting days when working with Walt among other very VERY funny stories..

And this is the location of his window...

Disneyland's 54th Birthday - July 17th

2009-07-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

What a fun day. After one of my most favorite bosses received his much deserved window on Main Street in the morning, some friends and i stayed and made the most of this special day. Marty chose to retire on July 17th after 54 years of service to the Walt Disney Company. He had been our leader at Walt Disney Imagineering for years and I was honored to be able to help him create his digital presentations for over ten of those. After the beautiful ceremony complete with Disney Characters, a huge singing choir and the release of doves, I was even invited to the brunch afterwards at the Napa Rose (the top class restaurant in the Grand Californian), and was stunned to be sitting there with all those legends in the same room. Just wanted to share a few of the photos from playing later that day....i couldn't believe the vibrancy of the colors in the park that day.

Happy 4th of July!!

2009-07-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

I am very Proud and Thankful to be an American.
God Bless America and our troops!
I hope you are all having a wonderful time celebrating our Nation's Birthday!!!

Non-Slip Hangers are why....

2009-06-09T21:09:00.000-07:00

So it all started at HomeGoods.
Here is a glimpse into my brain lately.
Hmmm, thin hangers in pretty colors covered in a non-slip material, just like the ones on QVC...and inexpenive too...
maybe I can free up some space in the closet.
Oh my gosh, I can't believe all the room now, I'll finish re-organizing.
And now the bathroom and all those cupboards, and then the living room, and then the kitchen and so on and so on and so on.
Sigh. I have lots to do but it's all on hold until I get this "new and improved" place of mine in tiptop shape.
Lucky "Goodwill" and friends because some of it will just have to go! Funny how our tastes change.
I'll get back to the art studio shortly but need to continue with this adventure.
What happened to Spring Cleaning? How did it turn into Summer Re-Haul? Oy.
Hope your summer is off to a fun start!!

Millinery Ballerinas

2009-03-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

These little cuties were inspired by the dandelions from Disney's "Fantasia" movie....I used paper flowers that I have been collecting and added some of my favorite millinery stamens. So happy to put them to good use. I will make these ballerinas for boxes, tags, bottles and more and inside the boxes will be vintage treasures for my Etsy shop. Can't wait!!! Here's a peek at the first few....So happy to glue something to something!! It feels like it's been a while...

Spring Has Sprung

2009-03-21T16:09:00.001-07:00

Must remember to make time....

2009-03-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

for Calligraphy....

Daylight Savings Rules!!

2009-03-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

How exciting that when we drive home tomorrow the sun will still be shining in the sky. Here comes Spring and cantalopes and butterflies and the smell of freshly mowed grass mixed with sunshine and jasmine...can you tell I am excited? Here is one of my cards from my shop. Happy Sunshine Days ahead!!

teensyweensyflower

2009-02-22T02:22:00.000-08:00

happy sunday...

Thank You for my Flower!!

2009-02-15T17:55:00.000-08:00

Had to share my wonderful new gift. After a fun day of crafting at my good friend Jeanne's house, I didn't realize that the first needle felted pin she did that day was really for me! What a treat! It looks so beautiful pinned on my brown jacket also. Don't you just love that button and those neat beads? I really like her eye for color. I am putting aside some beads for her too since I just reorganized the studio and can actually see all that I have. Friends Rule! Thanks Jeanne!!!

She has an Etsy Shop....Yipee!

2009-02-15T13:11:00.000-08:00

I had told you I would give you a link if ever she had one and she's finally done it! My friend Stephanie, founder of Petite Posies on Etsy is finally selling her beautiful creations. I had purchased this one at her last craft fair and it's so pretty in person! After wearing it, I am going to pin it in my car since it's so sweet and I want to be able to enjoy it everyday. She will even do custom orders I hear. Congrats Stephanie!!

Time for a Change

2009-02-15T11:11:00.000-08:00

Something big is coming....I can feel it in my bones, so it's a perfect time to reorganize my studio so I can get to all my new loves. After seeing so many amazing artists blogs ( like Julie Collings ), I want to hone in on some sweet and soft new crafts. The items I make will all make it to my Etsy shop and then who knows where...Here are some colorful pix from my reorganization.

and some bookmarks.....

2009-01-23T22:10:00.000-08:00

These will also be sold at the upcoming craft fair...i finally used some of the ribbon i purchased at tinsel trading in new york last year....

Time for a Craft Fair

2009-01-18T13:11:00.000-08:00

How fun, I am in glue heaven. E6000 to be exact. I have been getting ready for an upcoming show and for this I think I will make button pendants and add pretty ribbons to each. I will also decorate composition books with fun papers and embellish them. Scrabble necklaces and magnets and lots-o-paper. From greeting cards to tags. I'm trying to think of Valentine's Day themed gifts ahead of time. It's sure fun to see all this pink lying around too. Better get back to crafting.....

Pretty Petite Posies

2009-01-14T23:17:00.000-08:00

Another talented friend makes these adorable posies that you can also wear or use on a special item. While Jeanne's great wool felted pins have pin backs hand sewn on them, Stephanie's "Petite Posies" will use either a clip or floral pin for attaching. Steph also adds a paper tag in case you want to give it to a special person. Once she puts them on Etsy I will provide a link. She will create a set of 6 to be used as adorable napkin rings also.

Talented Friends

2009-01-14T23:10:00.000-08:00

Lots of my friends have been getting really creative lately. Here is an adorable hand needle felted pin that Jeanne created. She makes these with organically dyed alpaca and/or sheep's wooI. The colors are so pretty and she creates really fun shapes. I just love the cute beads on top for embellishment also. I am hoping she will soon open and Etsy store so she can share her talent with everyone. Maybe in the future I'll be able to give you a link to her shop...

Sweet Sunday

2009-01-11T21:02:00.000-08:00

What an amazing California day, felt like summer and gave me a jump start on crafting for upcoming shows. And Thanks to good friends with amazing leftovers. Could this day have gotten any better? Better than the 90% off at the local craft store? What a day!

PhotoFun

2009-01-03T10:10:00.000-08:00

I am picture crazy this morning and want to share more images....These first images are of items I will be selling early this year, on Etsy and on Ebay.

Here are a few images from around my house. I find when I do eat an apple a day, I'm much happier...

These fabulous items can be found on my talented friends website. Her name is Katie Roser and I'm always calling her "Martha Stewart Florida". She also writes childrens books in addition to sewing, ceramics, sculpture, drawing, photography and whatever else she decides to do. She is amazing. Whenever she comes up with something new I immediately try and purchase it from her because I expect her to be completely famous. And did I mention she is one of the nicest souls around?

Lastly, here are some images of one of my favorite cities that I took when I was there for the National Stationery Show last year. I can envision living in the upper west side. I have never seen such amazing architectural details like I do in New York. I heart NY.

Happiest of New Years!!

2009-01-02T17:55:00.000-08:00

This is going to be the best year ever! Or at least whatever YOU want to make of it!!

I thought it was really interesting how so many of my friends used October thru the beginning of December to clean out all the clutter in their homes and offices. I thought we were naturally inclined to do "Spring Cleaning" in April/May but I was wrong. It made me feel good to know that I was "with it" and in sync with my friends. Now that 2008 is behind us we can focus on making all those dreams come true. Here's to following your heart, finding your bliss and creating something everyday...even if it's just making one person smile.
January Hugs to all!

In an attempt to be truly organized, this hangs in my office and makes me feel creative whenever I look at it. I got it from the Ikea kitchen department. Happy Organizing too!!

Christmas already?

2008-12-24T11:11:00.000-08:00

Hello there....
I haven't blogged in a while so I thought I would do a little catch up.

Wasn't it just summer and weren't we all just complaining about the heat? This year the Holidays snuck up so fast I had to come up with some simple solutions. How 'bout a Charlie Brown type of tree with a candy cane half it's size. I thought it was funny.

Here is a Holiday card that one of my favorite calligraphers and friend did. Louis is well known in the lettering world and is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. He has a lovely family also.

This is a close up from one of the stockings...I went online to try and learn this craft but haven't had the time to try it. Ribbons look so beautiful when sewn this way.

This fall I even had time to squeeze in a fun birthday celebration at Disneyland with my best friend. The smoke you see behind the Castle is from the fires that raged in Orange County. If you go the House of Blues for lunch on your birthday, let them know and they spoil you, almost as much as a best friend!

One of my favorite aunts spoiled me also & celebrated my birthday with me in Malibu....so heavenly also...and to be quite honest, this birthday lasted approximately one month. A new record. Am I a lucky gal or what??

During the month of December at my work, we were lucky enough to have our first ever Arts and Crafts Fair. That kept many of us busy preparing for that when we probably should have been Christmas shopping. I would personally like to thank the person that thought of selling such a wide variety of gift cards at the local supermarket!! You deserve a kiss! Here are a couple shots of items I worked on for the sale. My scrabble necklaces went pretty quick along with decorated notebooks. I will put more in my Etsy shop soon.

I will leave you with a few of my favorite images I took at Disneyland of their flowers. Just so pretty......

Summer Fun!

2008-08-11T21:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I hope you are all having a great summer! I couldn't believe all the school supplies were in stores at the beginning of July. Remember when school always began in September? So you know what that means...Oct 1st, Christmas decorations will be displayed!! I have to admit, I think I am a flickr addict. I have been having so much fun adding photos so that I could post them here...I have so many "art heroes" and I have noticed that you get a real sense of their art styles when you see their flickr pix. I want to be able to share some of my favorite images too. If you don't have a flickr account you may want to get one. It's just so much fun. Ok, have to go design some new Greeting Cards now...Have a great August!!

Happy May!

2008-04-30T23:43:00.000-07:00

How exciting! May has finally arrived and more is going to happen this month than my last 10 years. Congrats to Dave and Stephanie as they begin their new life together as man and wife and Congrats to all of you that are making little changes everyday to better yourselves, your life and your world. Cheers!!!

Happy Spring...almost

2008-03-07T00:25:00.000-08:00

I'm just too excited about the upcoming Spring Season!!! Here is a pic of one of my latest postcards I'm offering on my Etsy site. Out here in California it's like heaven on earth and it seems even the drivers are in a better mood. Probably because they can see longer on the road with more daylight. It's just a win-win situation all around! And, the stores have started carrying the Bubble Gum Eggs that I look forward to every year. In fact, I stock up on them in my emergency "earthquake" bag in the trunk of my car. ( I like to think ahead ) I am designing greeting cards faster than the cheese topping can slide off of greasy pizza! I am so excited to lauch these new lines. I'll make sure to send you all the links when I'm ready to share the stores they'll be sold in. I also had the thrill of speaking with a couple of "greeting card rock stars!!" to get some advice. I'll make sure to give you their links also when I'm ready. Happy Happy Almost Spring!! and please tell me that you are doing whatever you can to make every one of your dreams come true!!! ( it's almost better than bubble gum eggs! )
Smooches!!

My friends website

2008-03-06T19:11:00.000-08:00

http://www.life-hope.com
This is the website that I was talking about earlier in my blog. My friend Steve is a cancer survivor and not only has a great sense of humor but wrote a very inspirational book about anyone facing that challenge. It's a quick read and he even put it on tape. I wanted to make sure to share the link with you. His lovely bride Cheryl should also be acknowledged for being there every step of the way in his recovery. One fun note about Steve, he has one of those real distinctive, low "announcer of movie preview" voices and you always expect him to start doing some commercial in the middle of a sentence. I never told him that. : ) But it's very cool and in fact he is often asked to do voice-overs at his job. Just wanted to throw that in so you can feel like you know him too!

Happy Easter!

2008-02-06T22:45:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm really showing off my new picture taking skills since I just bought a new digital camera. What a thrill to take REAL photos!!! Here are some fun pix of the Eastery things in my house since all the retail stores seem to think Easter is already here.
You can find this sweet little mouse at Jennifer Murphy's site too...Happy Day!

Shout Outs!!!

2008-02-05T19:54:00.000-08:00

Hey, what's the point of writing a blog unless you can do a few semi-anonomous shout outs to some really good peeps that actually read the thing???!!
Huge Shout Out to the JET Meister!! What patience, what friendship, what scrabble skills. You know I only LET you win right? HA.
It would be nice if you could beat me by a smaller point spread though!! Oh well. and another Huge Shout Out to the Stevenator from work!! He has his own site and book he wrote on surviving cancer that's an easy read and humorous. I'd be happy to put up his links once he gives them to me again. I think he's doing some tweaking right now. Well, that's about it. It's you two reading my blog. What, did you really think I was going to sit here and write 200 thanks and hello's? I'm no dummy. I know there are only two of you.
: )
for now.
Smooches!!
me
ps. since i am too lazy to take a new shot right now, here is a picture of the postcards i had made from my wild saturday "eye glooing veggie arranging" night.

It's come to this!

2008-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

Sad or Fabulous? You decide.
While most people are out to dinner or a movie on a Saturday night I found myself continuing my quest to make graphic design products for my many web stores and all at once it hit me. Here's what I ended up doing on a Saturday night for an art project. One little tube of super glue and I'm good to go....
Hope your Saturday night was just as...interesting...or at least included plastic eyes.
To check out what came of this project, check my Etsy site and look under "totes"
: )

Just thought I was going to lunch...

2007-11-16T14:23:00.000-08:00

Isn't life an amazing treat when you think you are just going to a normal lunch out with friends and it turns into a major turning point in your life? Tons of creative information comes to you thru these friends that you not only didn't expect, but now see that the universe ( and your wonderful friends ) are all helping you along with your quest to be a creative success. Just when you think your life can't get any better, sometimes it does. Thank you thank you thank you!!
I hope you are having THAT kind of day too!!!
: )