THE CRAFT SHOW /philadelphia museum of art

LITTLE ME ! in my new hat by fiber artist and photographer, Rebecca T. Weltch of HWD-Felt.com

Friday was the day for the adrenaline to charge! I was "the philly ready for the"... treat to meet my roomie from college for a day of ART Drooling. We were meeting in the Middle, Philadelphia PA, that is. It's our annual trek. THERE IS NO CRAFT SHOW LIKE THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART CRAFT SHOW. Reputed to be The hardest juried show to get into! Man, Oh Man, It's a feast for the eyes! The Talent is just outstanding. The imagination mind boggling. AND, Of course, we have our favorite people we just HAVE to visit.

For me:

it's the beautiful and talented Judith Kinghorn from Mimmeapolis, MN. Two Words Killer Jewelry! www.judithkinghorn.com

We fell in love with BestsyYoungquist's mixed media dreams & fantasy connections. They sure are! www.byart.com

We Marveled at the fiber baskets by Christine Love Adcock of Santa Barbara, CA. You want to touch each & everyone of them! www.adcockstudios.com

We, cherished the figures & Birds and such of Carolyn Morris Bach. www.carolynmorrisbach.com

And finally longed for a nice cupa tea from the beautiful artistry of Pozycinski Studios, simply fabulous bronze teapots. www.artbronzesculpture.com

So dear readers Mark you calendar for next year, for alas this special treat ( the philadelphia craft show) comes but once a year! AND this little picture show was as they say, just the tip of the iceberg!

New York, We are back!

Omg! It was The Photo Trip of a Life Time, seeing the Polar Bears! A shlep to get to, but worth every nanosecond! Our adrenaline was pumping full speed, as we stepped off the "little" eight seat De Havilland plane. That my darlings included the very cute pilot ( sorry I forgot to take his picture). We were met by two terrific guides, Terry & Andy. They happened to be our body guards as well (armed with rocks, flares, pepper spray & the big cahoonas). The Tundra was still in it's full autumn glory. Patches of crimson, gold, rust, mushroom, shades of browns, ombre of grays to black, sky blue and rainbows of greens glimmered before our eyes. Playing follow the leader, we marched like little soldiers off the tarmac (gravel airstrip) into the brush to our home for the next four days.... Seal River Lodge. Suddenly there was a scramble to find your camera! A bear was spotted a far distance away. Of course, it took ME forever to find the butter colored "lump" that was a bear! Little did everyone know, those pictures were to be deleted because better ones where waiting to be snapped. Our host & hostess were the delightful & charming, Mike & Jeanne Reimer. We were taught bear etiquette. GIVE THE BEARS SPACE. Not so easy when your are looking out of a picture window and Papa Bear is checking you out. Delicious dinner? Or just some odd - balls in a glass & wooden cage!

The next morning we awoke to a new landscape! A blanket of snow had feathered it's way down to the tundra, while we were cozy, under down comforters, fast asleep.

Each day we took two hikes to view the landscape and glimpse at the bears. Sleeping, they looked angelic tucked into a cove, adorable nestled behind a bush or just darn cute curled on on a bed of rocks. The temperature was getting dropping. Meaning the mighty bears were getting frisker. The young male Titans of the Tundra (bears 5 to 7 years old), would liven the action up a bit and begin to spar with each other. This was their form of practicing defending themselves as adults. For the guest of the Churchill Wild, this was a photo opportunity! New meaning to bear hugs and half nelsons. On the way back to the warm and cozy lodge for a much anticipated delicious lunch it began to snow! We came across two male bears, who sniffed each other out ("bear talk" for hello) and began to spar: push, wrestle, roll, swat, bite & hug each other. We had the ringside view! The snapping of cameras caught their attention. Now they began walking towards us! Terry & Andy both thought that 35 feet was close enough. They each shouted out a warning for Nanuk to STOP! But this was not enough! Out came the rocks. Zing! Bulls eye, right on the shnoz! Another gold medal for our wonderful guides. Wounded with pride the big guys ran away.

"What a difference a day makes!" our third day was met with very wet snow ( freezing rain) this time. Colors of the terrain changed again. Now the frozen blueberries & lingonberries were peeking beneath ice. True photographers braved the wet & wind, coming back for lunch, happy & soaked to our skins. Coats, gloves, hats & boot liners were strewn everywhere in site to recover from the elements. Only the die hard (yes BZ, no JZ) went for the afternoon walk. We had spotted four bears from the indoor tower(upper loft). Off we went to get "a little bit closer". GOOD INTELLIGENCE ANDY & TERRY! We diverted a bear ambush! I also learned snap your pictures and run behind the biggest men (they would be far tastier than little ole me). I do not call that chicken, just very clever! Girls always want to have more fun. So Claire & I went to the "back yard", a chained linked area & multi observation stations for a few more moments of picture heaven. We were rewarded not only with "a bear on the rocks," but also a Sik Sik ( arctic squirrel). What were you thinking little guy? It's way too cold for you! That evening just before dinner we had a visitor at the kitchen "bar" window. Dinner smelled so good, one of the great ice bears came for a closer look. We all got a pre dinner "cocktail" photo shoot of Mr. Bear close up & personal.

The next day was to be our last morning! NO ONE WANTED TO LEAVE! The winds were in our favor! My wishes came true! The wind chill was -5 degrees! Our bags where packed. We were ready to go. The sky began to streak from shades of grey to the most beautiful baby blue. Never - the - less, to our luck, by early afternoon we were told we had to stay another night. (boo hoo?) We walked to the remnants of an old Cree ancestor camp ground, hundreds of years old. Just majestic! On the way back we were treated to a walk on the frozen water bed. Some areas where not as strong as others. Knowing that we were on shallow grounds, it was fun to see the ice crack. Trick? No, Treat! We got to see a frozen tundra sunset! Pinks shimmering on ice & snow. Boulders with swooshes and swirls of wind swept snow, somehow looked like we landed on a most magical Lunar landscape! The sun setting & the moon rising simultaneously . Snow looking like lace on the ice. WOW, just breathe taking! It was October 31st. We all got back inside to quickly make costumes! The range of the imagination was vast! Included in the merriment was a fireplace, assorted cats, fishermen, divers, girl in pajamas with Barney in hand, a witch and a clown. Mary, Queen of Scots even showed up! On the night of goblins & ghosts the guest of honor was not the bears, but the Aurora Borealis. Ever so faint, because of the almost full moon. It made a quick appearance! (pictures were far superior to the naked eye)

So we were like a pig in her pen, satiated, and readied ourselves to leave. Maybe, well...., maybe just one more parting shot. The plane, new guests arriving and a bear in view. SNAP, SNAP, SNAP....... the end of a fantastic experience and the beginning of fond memories!

Off to Churchill, Manitoba Canada

Well, this is it! Our photographic endeavor to the top of Canada. Hudson Bay! We are very hopeful that we will get to see the Polar Bears. How can so cute and cuddly creatures be so dangerous and carnivores too boot? Well, at least they make some very good photography subjects. Look here next week for some, we hope will be amazing adventures and a new recipe! Until then hugs to all.

FALL IN LOVE WITH FIGS!

AFTER A BEAUTIFUL CRISP WALK THIS MORNING, YOU KNOW, THE KIND THAT GIVES YOU ROSY CHEEKS, I NEEDED TO THINK OF SOMETHING DELICIOUS FOR DESSERT TONIGHT. HMMMMMM... FRESH FIGS!!! FIGS ARE A WONDERFUL FALL FRUIT!

This recipe is per person:

2 to 3 figs, washed and cut into 1/4's (You can use dried figs if you first reconstitute them in a warm liquid like tea, with perhaps a small drop of vanilla for an hour.)

2-4 T greek style, plain yogurt (If I can find this in my little corner of the world , Vermont, so can you!) Yes, you can substitute plain or vanilla yogurt.

a 1/4 C pecans (walnuts work too)

a drizzle of honey

a pinch of cinnamon

In a cereal size bowl add the figs, top with yogurt, toss on the pecans, drizzle the honey, sprinkle the cinnamon.

Bring to the table and dig right in with a spoon. Yum!

file:///Users/bettizucker/Desktop/Betti.jpg testing if I can drag a photo from my desk over to the blog. This is all so new to me!

FANTASTIC ART RETREAT WEEKEND

Well after a very long learning curve, I'm giving it a whirl. Trying for me, this new thang called a blog!

This weekend was a total blast! I can't show you any pic's 'cause Miss sallianne has all my picures! but I can share with ya'll my poem that I the non writer composed! Here it is!

To Sal & Ellen, the gals who are swell!

& all who attended, ring that Tea Bell,

Here are some Jabberwocky of memories for you!

Art-Is-You 2009

Sue L’s quotes written, started, on line

The Rabbit hole to jump into was at the beginning of your stay

The Queen of Hearts playing cards, Ellen & Sal ushering the way

No Husbands

No children

No cooking to do.

Old friends with free hugs, lines deep

New friends with free hugs by the heap

Do you have a trade I can keep?

Beautifully crafted,

outrageously conceived,

Having Tea with Alice, ID tags

Ferric chloride solution

etching on metal, wiping with rags

Taryn the Mad Hatter

Muffy’s Chapeau

The Many Hat’s of Keith “Le Beau”

Zippered earrings

Hot Tub soaks

7 am wake-up calls

Autumn Leaves crunching, beneath my feet

Hot steaming coffee

Journaling with Mrs. Pom

Photo journalist for the day

setting up The Market Place, it did bustle

Was all happening on that first day, hustle

“Who is she anyway?”

no popcorn in site

To Market, To Market ( Oh what a night)

To shop?......well just a bit!

Then off to Sweet Dreams

The pillow we hit.

New ideas dancing in our minds, still alit!

My Cupi is off to a new land & home

a Vineyard in Australia, she is to roam

Tea Cup Challenge,

A chance at Somerset Mag,

A basket of sewn kittens,

Flamingo’s with a heart

T’was all included in this weekend of Art.

Soldering my inheritance, I did lot’s of dribble

Kecia, a new teacher, so cool, collected, did not quibble

Rebecca & Jane gave me moral support

so I was able to show off my work at night court

The Night ending in Nicole’s felting class

with good ol’e Ann being naturally crass!

MY FABULOUS ROOMIE MISS ELIZABETH D

the two of us together were busy as a bee

Lot’s of new trinkets where Parade that night

ATC’S,

Coptic Pens,

Prince Charming was Lois’s delight!

Pamela’s Wonderland Journal was the next class I tried

Can it be near the end?.........Oh no I cried!

But Colleen, Laura & Traci their sewing, ever so grand

BZ, Elizabeth,& Jane sprang to the machines to give it a hand

Violet Crumbles still awaited

Doris, Mimmi,the doll girls, stated

An explosion of things to do & see, still awaited

visits with:

The Art Girlz, Linda & Tracey

Dime store Dayz, Terri

Domino necklace by Diane RH

Icons with Janette

Book Signing Lisa Kettell

Lillian Albertti, Kimberly too

This list is way too short & naming just a precious few

We Miss you Mr. Lesley, and your De lish scones too!

OMG! Tim Tams!

Huge Hugs to the Mum!

Fragrant MIGHTY LEAF TEA

Making rebar wire into rivets

Look Ma, I can use a drill!

but who can sit still?

smiles galore!

synergy

energy,

The magic continued!

carrot cake,

chocolate cake,

heavenly pies,

packing,

unpacking,

saying good byes!

I ended my lessons with my new BF, Keith Le Bue

The New Yorker in me, Paper Paraphernalia,

A new knowledge of glue

Eileen Retiring?

Mc Tea Pot inspiring!

Car trip to Harbour Freight

Missing lunch so we wouldn’t be late

& Dick Blick was not my fate!

Xcited! Xhilarated! Xhausted!

but grinning like a Cheshire Cat

I strolled into the car for a long ride I sat

So this is the end of my “cute” little ditty

I hope you have smiled, and enjoyed every bitty

On the Horizon, New Adventures are Beckoning

Sparkling Ruby Slippers, Wicked Witches Reckoning

Rainbows of magic & new inspirations await,

2010’s Yellow Brick Road, It’s what’s held in our fate.

So I bid you adieu, as I hear the call of my mate

YA WHOO THE BZ DID IT!!!!!! copied & pasted, one more step closer to learning how to use the amazing machine MISS MAC!

Well, folks that's it for now will add recipes & travel log in the near future, this is way to cool. hugs bz

new beginnings

Who else would be crazy enough to get up early on a sunday morning to meet with a cute guy name David and learn how to make a blog spot?