peek into my sketchbook…

Posted on October 1, 2013 by susie carranza studio

happy october everyone – my favorite month! LOVE the cooling temperatures, the changing leaves, Halloween – everything!

so, i’ve always doodled. when i worked a ‘regular’ job i doodled during staff meetings, i doodled on napkins at meal times (and still do!), i doodled while on the phone…but i never really kept a sketchbook. you know, one book where i sketched out ideas. i doodled everywhere anyway, and i never sketch out a painting before i paint it, so i guess i never saw the need.

well, this past june my husband took me to Dick Blick Art Store in Pasadena for some birthday shopping. i went to just buy a Gelli plate but came home with more. you know how that happens, right? (you can check out some photos from my first time using the Gelli plate here – playing with my Gelli Plate.)

so, along with my new Gelli plate, i got some Jacquard Textile paints (which i was very excited about but haven’t used yet), a roll-up pouch for brushes & drawing supplies, and a sketchbook. and i’m enjoying it. i haven’t done alot in it yet, but i really love drawing/painting in it late at night, when everyone’s asleep and it’s quiet.

here’s a peek at a few things i’ve been doing. please forgive the not-so-good pictures; the lighting here hasn’t been great for photo taking…

so tell me – do you use a sketchbook?

new items in Etsy shop!

Posted on September 22, 2013 by susie carranza studio

i’ve been busy! i’ve been happily painting away, into the early morning hours, and i’m loving it!

creating new work really makes me happy, and with all the curve balls life has been throwing out lately, painting and drawing are really the only things keeping me sane. when i’m in the zone, everything else disappears and it’s just me and my paintbrushes. and that’s all i need in that moment. ♥

anyway, i just wanted to share a few of the new pieces i’ve added to my Etsy shop. Dia de los Muertos is so close, and i added some one-of-a-kind paper mache skulls that would be great to add to any altar, or would make beautiful gifts for anyone who loves the culture, color, and beauty that is Dia de los Muertos. you’ll also find hand painted wood birds (fun & whimsical!), crosses, and original canvas paintings and mixed media pieces – and much more.

so please – pop over to my Etsy shop now and see if there’s anything you like!
Susie Carranza Studio on Etsy

Crafty Chica Cruise 2013…

Posted on May 4, 2013 by susie carranza studio

i’m back! from the Crafty Chica cruise, that is. actually, i’ve been back a week already. just wanted to share some of the many photos i took during the week…

we set sail on monday, april 22nd. i got to go on the cruise thanks to sylvia of Que Milagros Studio on etsy. her husband couldn’t make it at the last minute and she invited me to take his place! she called me on the 1 month anniversary of my father-in-law’s death, which was a very rough day around here. at the encouragement of my husband lawrence and my best friend annette, i told sylvia yes.

i’d never been on a cruise before, and let me tell you, the Carnival ship we were on – the Inspiration – was like Vegas! brightly lit, somewhat funky decor, clubs, bars, casinos…just one big party! hungry? thirsty? no problem – the Lido Deck offered breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, with a variety of delicious options. dinner in the Carnivale (yes, Carnival with an “e”) dining room was fun: i got to sit with a group of very cool and funny women, our waiters were a blast, even performing for us a couple of nights, and the food was pretty good (desserts were yummmmy!).

our schedule was docking in Catalina Island on Tuesday, and then Ensenada, Mexico on Wednesday. Thursday was all day on the boat; we returned to Long Beach, CA on Friday morning.

i’d never been to Catalina before and i thought it was beautiful. fresh air, lots of beautiful mosaic tile work on the sidewalks and buildings, and of course, lots of businesses to shop at. In Ensenada, we stuck to the downtown area and did a little shopping. my favorite stop was at Casa Ramirez – beautiful, authentic art pieces made by local artists, with friendly and knowledgeable staff more than happy to talk about the items in their shop. if you’re ever in the downtown Ensenada area, i strongly recommend you visit Casa Ramirez!

we did some crafting on the boat – my favorite workshops were the leather ring workshop, by Crafty Chica Kathy Cano-Murillo; the “La Chica Doll” workshop with Annette and Theresa Armas of CJ’s Angels; and the Sacred Heart workshop with Yoli Manzo of Sacred Yoli Designs.

i only completed the doll and the sacred heart workshops; i’ll share more about the workshops themselves in a later post. i want to finish up the projects i brought home.

oh – i won a Gelli Plate! have you guys heard about them? i first heard of them from Yoli on her facebook page. i’m so excited i got one and can’t wait to use it in my mixed media work!!! check out their site and see for yourself at Gelli Arts.

the best part of the cruise was running into old friends, meeting Facebook friends in real life, and meeting lots of new people. i even got to meet one of my favorite artists, Emily Costello.

on Thursday evening, our last night on the ship, we had a “mercado nite”, where we had a chance to sell our homemade items, artwork, etc. i made back a good chunk of what i spent during the week!

stay tuned for more about the projects i did on the cruise…

(btw, the last photo of the sunflowers: my mom bought them for me when i returned Friday. ♥)

i’m off to cruise and craft…

Posted on April 22, 2013 by susie carranza studio

today i head out to Long Beach, CA to board a Carnival ship – aptly titled “Inspiration” – for this year’s Crafty Chica Art Cruise! i’ve never been and i’m looking forward to doing lots of art-ing, crafting, and meeting lots of new people – especially facebook friends i haven’t yet met in real life! i’ve heard awesome things about this cruise but never thought i’d be going on one…

i’ll have lots to share later, including how i got lucky enough to go on this cruise, and LOTS of photos, but for now, if you want some background on the Crafty Chica cruise, check it out at http://craftychicacruise.blogspot.com/p/past-cruises.html

i leave you with one of my new black and white drawings. i’m happy to say i’ve been drawing SO much again! i’m back to doing what i love and what comes naturally to me. last week was a creative week, just me + my black Sharpies + white cardstock.

there really is such satisfaction in doing what you love…

Huntington Library visit…

Posted on April 10, 2013 by susie carranza studio

my sister, lulu, invited lawrence and me to the huntington library in san marino last month. if you live in california and get a chance to go, do it – you will not regret it!

from the huntington’s “About” section on its website at http://www.huntington.org/

“A private, nonprofit institution, The Huntington was founded in 1919 by Henry E. Huntington, an exceptional businessman who built a financial empire that included railroad companies, utilities, and real estate holdings in Southern California.

Huntington was also a man of vision – with a special interest in books, art, and gardens. During his lifetime, he amassed the core of one of the finest research libraries in the world, established a splendid art collection, and created an array of botanical gardens with plants from a geographic range spanning the globe.

These three distinct facets of The Huntington are linked by a devotion to research, education, and beauty.”

It was a beautiful day to visit the botanical gardens, with so many flowers, shrubs, and trees blooming, but the best part of the day was spending time with lulu.

when lawrence’s father became ill, lulu texted me daily to check on his condition and see how we were doing. she went to see my father-in-law in the hospital on valentine’s day, the day before he died, providing lawrence with support and advice in making some difficult decisions. so it was nice to spend some time together, surrounded by nature and so much beauty after all the ugliness…

plus – my niece, marisa, has been volunteering at the huntington every saturday for the past 4 years, so lulu (her mother and chauffeur) is now an expert tour guide on the place!

beautiful sculptural pieces (middle is from Shakespeare’s garden)…

there’s no way to see everything in one visit: there are libraries, and art collections on display, and various botanical gardens. one of my favorites is the japanese gardens…

japanese garden…

lawrence, by the pond in the japanese garden…

it’s a great place for inspiring your creative muse! the three of us took so many photos – everywhere you look is a photo opportunity. you’re surrounded by all the colors, textures, and patterns nature has to offer. i can’t wait to go back!

it inspired me to draw again, the way i used to. just my black Sharpie and white cardstock. i feel my muse coming back…♥