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....

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

Thanksgiving! Pilgrims! turkeys!

  Such a busy time of year for everyone. I am getting ready for a nice Thanksgiving week-end with my family. Packing the last of the orders for shops and trying to enjoy these unusual warm autumn days, planning a speech I am making and for an upcoming book signing at our library. Just enjoy your pre-holiday activities! Perhaps I can take Will for his last fetch and swim day at the beach!

Teena

daffodils and tulips!

Happy waning winter, a time to dream of spring when all is still snowy!

teenaflannerstudio@yahoo.com

The Easter is in a few select wonderful shops. If you are interested,please email me. If I have a shop in your area ,I will direct you, if not, I will quote you a price. All of my work is ltd edition, signed.

Teena

studio shots

A place all my own to work and sit and to find  inspiration.

Snow

How lovely it is in Elm Grove today.Fresh snow each day makes me want to just stay in my studio and have a fire all day long. Sort of a lull in my life, before the book staff arrives(tonight), before my 70 year old elm is felled (Monday)and before my youngest daughter and her enthusiastic dog, Norman, comes to town, tomorrow.He tries to play with my old Charlie and I give him an "A" for effort but Charlie doesn't get it.

I will put up a couple of photos of ideas I have for the book, preliminary shoot ideas. I will try to be more interesting next week!

We are doing 4 seasons so I have a Thanksgiving and autumn room set up, Winter with Christmas and winter ideas, a Summer room(the hardest on a snowy day of Feb 1 and Spring with lots of bunnies, daffodils and vintage millinery. Spring is always so easy to imsagine in Feb as the days are getting longer and flower markets, even the local giant Pick 'n Save has bulbs growing in little pots. My forced narcissus have all wilted so I am going to purchase a few plus summer garden flowers.

This book has been fun and a lot of work. Have a lovely February  .

Teena

Birthday

Today is my birthday.Tomorrow I will begin anew...on this blog and with my new age!

My sweet little Charlie's last week-end.

Book shoot this week-end. I have a make up pers on, a couch on end in the middle of the kitchen and lots of props for the stylist and photographer, they will be here for 3 days!Promise to be more interesting next week!

Teena