Teena Flanner

Grandbabies, Atlanta and summer!

Photos ... of my life and a few of the little characters in it!

Home from Atlanta! When I tell people I revived glitter and in all those showrooms there was absolutley no glitter, I get a strange look. That someone as small as me did that!, oh well! I love my niche.

The absolute fabulous thing about going to this market is the people! First the amazing shops who believe in American hand created art and have the courage to promote it! I may be the " smallest" artist there, with no employees, which I love. I may be understaffed but it is my choice and I love it!

The truly inspiring and wonderful thing about market is the fellow creative spirits that I meet. We get to hang out for days at a time, in between customers. Almost a week from 9am-6pm.

2 blonds are daughter Susannah and her friend from Norway, Trine

The rest you may know! Katie and Jack, Chris and Abbey, 4 leggeds Will and Norman and big brother Jack and little sis Abbey! And my son Chris, Abbey and me . Skiing, Chris and my wonderful son-in-law Joe in Lake Tahoe.

This market I met a new friend, Michael, a true original! Extremely knowledgeable about each subject that would arise, fun! and a great source of little chocolates! He is forming a company sometime in the future and I will let you know! He was a joy and a instant friend!

My roommate Donna, from Hearts and Ivy in MN, this year we bounced about ideas on the changing of the marketplace since we began about 15 years ago. One night I went swimming in the Hyatt pool for 2 hours but usually we just talked.

Lynda and Hank Hawley from their Hawley Collection of delightful Santas and all the new shops who are discoveing both the collection and the Hawleys.

Tannebaum Treasures from CT, Gary and Judy Vaillancourt from MA, Bethany Lowe from IL (has a new book with my publisher, Sterling and the ever delightful and fun Bruce of Hobgoblin and Oscar fame!

Two shows !!!!!! no relation bewtween the 2 Traditions except that they are both spectacular!

Traditions in Canoga Park CA October4

Traditions in Winter Park FL to be announced

Have a lovely and super fun summer!!!! I am working hard in my studio but going to beaches, gardening and having a blast!

Babies, lilacs, life!

My life has been rich and bountiful, joyful and like any life well or otherwise lived, has had sadness. My mom died in March and we all memorialized Elnora Marjorie in Colorado.  My son-in-law, Joe , drove his very pregnant wife Katie, 2 year old Jack, sister-in-law Susannah and me ( his mother-in-law, yikes!) across many, many hours of black ice in Iowa. I thought it was a wonderful tribute to a grandma who has not recognized any of us for years , for all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren to assemble as family. My son Chris chose to drive  instead of  fly, from Nevada , so we could all meet his "newish" 12 year old german shepard Miranda. Color group photo is "us" in Colorado at one of our favorite, corny,  fun places.

On April 9 our newest and still sleepiest ,little person arrived, Abbey Jane. A doll of course!

My shops have been patient because at this stage of my life and career, I shut down my studio for long periods to enjoy and experience life. After my long ago divorce in 1991, I did nothing but work and take care of my children , as their sole support. Now I work when I wish, plant and garden, travel a little bit, get up in the morning and walk my dogs or today, pick huge fresh bunches of lilacs, tulips, iris, some transplanted from my home in Virginia. What I am trying to say is that during the long, cold days of winter I may work all night, when my grandbabies are busy I put in long hours . I love my papier mache and will probably never stop creating new and old pieces.

My largest order for this month came from a lovely shop in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, Christina's of Stone Harbor. It was great fun, all mermaids and patriotic children and fun, summery stuff. Christine's in Mountain Brook Alabama ordered some lovely wedding pieces, the flower basket from my book and the beach children.

so now some photos to accompany the words above!!!!

This season is so beautiful that I can hardly stand it....

Easter, family and still knee deep in rabbits and Snow!

Easter is just about my favorite holiday! Of course that is a lot like havng a favorite flower or a favorite dog, probably impossible. I am back to more frequent blogging. Next week I will talk about my almost -here -granddaughter and about my mom, but now, just Easter, a little...14" ...of new snow!...and rabbits! We have dyed our eggs, explained to Jack how the rabbit can get into the house and where he stores the eggs. Susannah has been here for 3 days for work and family and, yes, 14" of new snow yesterday! The tricycle that raced up and down my driveway on Friday is completely buried! I am just assuming that the lines and circles of pink chalk have disappeared into the frosty snow!

Many , many years ago, I figured out that Easter was about the hope of spring. That you would buy armfuls of daffodils, build a big fire in the fireplace and not even think about finding eggs tucked into the outdoor garden tulips!

ALL PHOTOS TAKEN TODAY!

SATURDAY BEFORE EASTER!!!!

Knee deep in rabbits and snow!

We are expecting another blizzard this week-end. Record snows but it could not be lovelier. For an artist secluded in her studio, it is fabulous. On the way to the P.O. I received stares due to the 3  feet of snow atop my Tahoe. Most cars are garage kept and used daily so they merely look sprinkled with snow!                                                                                              Just lots of photos

spring colors

and vintage millinery.

 SWEET VINTAGE APPLE BLOSSOMS

Papier mache and Christmas and family

Regular readers can skip the part where I keep mentioning my book, think I need to mention it as much as possible to keep it fresh for new readers of my blog! Pictures mostly today!   

we take gingerbread house making very seriously!

think I need a permanent red eye reducer for all these blonds!   

     angel clutching her teddy bear, we love teddy bears...old mohair bears, artist made bears, well loved raggedy bears.....

Babies and tree skirts and valentines

Anyone who reads my blog, and I have discovered there are many more readers than I realized, knows I am lacking (seriously lacking) in the technical department. My motto is always just begin and it will "come to you" as you go! Not as quickly as I would like, but all other things here are peachy! My daughter Katie and her husband Joe are having a little girl in April.

I find that not only do many of my papier mache pieces remind collectors of me and my face, but now anything I do has a touch of pink. Artists so often resemble their work and how their life is proceeding shows right through. I made valentines today and photographed a sweet pink snowbaby on 2 feet of pure white snow (in my bare feet ,but I was very quick!) and the snow looks baby blue without any editing and the Valentine looks like a baby girl birth announcement!

                              

My new valentine, I love a good old fashioned February14!

an heirloom quality Christmas tree skirt of wool for a new little somebody...such fun to design,along with images of my stork, I used many of my baby cards received by my mother, antique glass Christmas beads and a felted wool that I felted even more and dyed the palest pink.                                                                                              youngest of 3, Susannah, with my oldest and only grandbaby Jack! We went to the zoo last week and had a freezy, frosty, foggy good time! My daughter Katie who is Jack's mom, Jack and Sus meandering through the zoo parking lot.

Papier Mache Treasures

The response to my new book has been great! Lots of readers buy it for eye candy, much as I would a jewelery making book.It is available from me or Barnes and Noble online, Amazon etc. I included projects in which you don't need  a mold so you may just experiment with the papier mache process as well as molds. Molds can be bought on ebay and well, it has been fun!

teenaflannerstudio@yahoo.com

I had to pick which way to spell papier mache (paper) ....and stick with it! search engines , you know! I decided the fancy way, after all writing a book was very fancy for me!

If you purchase the book and have questions, feel free to ask me, I will try to help. If you send me a check for $19.95 , plus $8 for priority shipping, ($8 can ship up to 5 books) your address, how you would like it personalized, I will be glad to send you a book! My studio address is

820 Kurtis Drive

Elm Grove,WI 53122   

Teena                                  snowy winter, gorgeous!                                           if you purchase my book, would you mind rating it on Amazon? that would be very sweet!

www.amazon.com

Edwardian wedding and reception

these are the photos of the introduction of my little bridal party of snowpeople!

The actual wedding

                                                                           

The word bridesmaid means she is servant to the bride!

this little bride does not need a bustle!

posing quickly, before anyone melts!

Atlanta gift show!

A little late for New Year's resolutions but finally they are becoming clear.Had a fabulous time in Atlanta at the gift show! Amazing creative spirits whom I consider friends , like  Charlotte Lyons, Wendy Addison,  and Rosemary and  Marsha from Tinsel Trading in NYC , Bethany and Bruce from Bethany Lowe designs, original artists, unique all of them! and they were all there! Hank and Lynda Hawley, my roommate in ATL , Donna Hamilton from Hearts and Ivy. I do consider all of us pioneers in what we do , tho' still young and beautiful...how DO  we do that!!I did not have time to find Debbee Thibault ,  an amazing artist when in Atlanta. And the shops and collectors, where would we be without their enthusiasm and energy.

will write more later and hopefully daily.  I would like to design gift wrap  and stationery and.....

Teena

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Happy holidays to mall!              

some of these creations now live in North Carolina with my new friend Susan............My son, Uncle Chris, reading to Jack ABOVE!

icicles over my studio..................................

Teena                                                                             Midwest Santa