Tim Holtz

heading to nashville...

hey bloggers!  just checking in as i'm hitting the skies once again on my way to CKU-Nashville.  i love nashville, the hotel is one of my favorites, and the people at CKU-Nashville really know how to have a good time.  i'm sitting at the airport right now and leave in about an hour, land around 6:30pm and the event starts at 7:00pm so it's rush, rush, rush!  looking forward to hanging out with friends, sharing lots of laughs, and meeting new faces.  this is my 5th year of CKU - wow!  such a cool event - my workshop is on ranger's new memory capsules and we are creating some custom photo collage pieces using them!  anyways, just wanted to check in to say hello.  thanks for sharing the excitement about the perfect pearls technique challenge, i agree it's totally addicting...  after CKU we head to NJ to get ready for our next Ranger U.  so many cool things planned...  i'll share more later...t!m

a "perfect" technique video...

hey bloggers!  well here you go as (hinted) another technique video.  now i know since my recent posts many of you have asked for the grungepaper rose video, sorry but this one was already filmed and ready to go - but hey, there's always "next time".  nevertheless i think you're going to like the video because it's a very cool NEW technique that uses some products you probably already have around your craft room.  i call it "perfect distress" since it combines 2 of ranger's great products distress ink and perfect pearls.  here are some of the supplies you'll want to gather before you start the video: craft sheet, distress inks, perfect pearls, ink blending tool, mini mister, heat tool, and some stamps - then you're ready to let the creativity begin. (*and just fyi: the "white" perfect pearls i refer to is really called "perfect pearl", but i don't like saying "perfect pearl perfect pearls" - that's a mouthful.) hope you enjoy this technique and as always, explore the possibilities...t!m

here are photos of the tag samples i shared on the video for some up close and personal viewing...
 
 
 

it's finished...

 i love it when an idea comes together...  here's another look at my finished "patchwork pandemonium" project using, yep - Grunge!  the base is grungeboard pieces altered using a variety of techniques (students will learn 8 different techniques in class) on various grungeboard shapes using just about everything ranger!  this creates such a colorful and textural art piece.  the finished piece is accented with stitching and the tiny attacher, then adorned with lots of idea-ology goodness...and for those of you who already spotted it, yes that's a grungepaper rose!  students are also going to be learning the skills to create their own too - i learned this technique from my friend keychain - so cool....

i really think this may be one of the first workshops i try to kit and sell on my website -  of course time will tell whether or not i can pull it off, but i'll be sure to post the details on here when i do.  i absolutely love this project, because of the possibilities to transform things out of the ordinary into your life.  now back to the studio, i'm on a roll...t!m

studio time...

hey bloggers... well it's back in the studio today to get things caught up.  with all that's been going in the past few weeks there is much to get done around here.  it's nice to get a sense of normalcy and the need to immerse myself in my work - that's always a good thing.  my ipod is playing, starbucks in hand, it's a good day today.  we've been busy getting the kits finished up for CKU-Nashville and my workshops at Scrapbooks, ETC. this weekend!  one of the things i love about teaching is the ability to share what i love, but more importantly a chance to play and try new ideas and techniques myself.  my workshops are ever evolving and i make little changes every time i teach them just about and my workshops at Scrapbooks, ETC. are no exception!

i've made some very cool additions to my "idea-ology intrigue" workshop that i'm teaching which are all wearable art pieces made from idea-ology elements - 6 different projects in this one workshop to be exact!  and i'm also sharing a pic of the early stages of one of my new workshops "patchwork pandemonium" - it's a hanging art piece with grungeboard, grungepaper, and all things idea-ology.  this project was inspired by the grunge quilt my friend kim made for CHA earlier this year.  so many techniques with grunge it will make your head spin and create pulse sky high - love it!!!  i'll be sure to share pictures of the finished pieces in the next day or so.

so there you have it, a little creative burst!  hey, i might even get another technique video done this week...(hint-hint)...t!m

a new direction...

hey bloggers.  i can't thank you all enough for the kind words, prayers, and thoughts you've shared with us this past week.  they were so heartfelt and unconditional and are appreciated more than you will ever know.  it was tougher than we ever could have imagined, but as they say, time heals...  we are cherishing the happy times we had with cooper, and things around the studio are starting to feel inspiring again, day by day - it's a good feeling... moving forward...a new direction...t!m

missing him...

yesterday was one of the most difficult days of my life - it was time to let cooper go.  it's been the best 14 years of our lives and he has brought so much joy and great memories that we will cherish forever.  it's incredibly difficult for us to cope though, but i know it will get better over time.  right now i just wanted to let all of you know.  i will be taking a little break from the blog for the rest of the week so i can clear my head and ease my heart.  thanks for sharing in his memories over the years...t!m

class kit winners...

thanks for the great comments about the videos.  happy to share moments with all of you.
congrats to the following blog winners - please email me your contact info...t!m

As for a favorite moment- I can't single out just one. I loved your journaling as you shared your sense of wonder and awe, the sights and colors of the land. It was a privilege to join in your adventure! You really brought South Africa into my home. I have to say that I was amazed by that giant paw print-it looked like it you were out there crafting with your crackle paint. AWESOME, just AWESOME!!
Posted by: melissa | May 11, 2009 at 01:52 PM

Tim....I have to say that I LOVE the sound track to the Kichaka video! :) I also loved when you were feeding the giraffe! :) I was rolling when it would stick out its long, funky toungue to get more grub! :)
Also...I loved the view from your bungalow! :) The ladies with there gloves were a hoot.....I was surprised...who does that? I guess they do! ;)
Thanks for showing us how much fun you had! :)
Posted by: Kathy F | May 11, 2009 at 12:32 PM

To see all those beautiful animals in their natural habitat...unbelievable. I had goosebumps watching the entire video...to watch and play with cat cubs...amazing, what I would give for that. The trip up the mountain and traveling thru the clouds..heavenly. A trip you will never forget; thank you for taking the time to share.
Posted by: Dale B. | May 11, 2009 at 09:28 PM

So many great shots & videos. I have to say I think the shot that made me look again was the shot where the elephants were right beside your vehicle with Mario watching them walk by. Love that. Thanks Tim for the wonderful view of what you actually got to experience. This would also be my dream trip. Thanks, Kathy
Posted by: kathy | May 12, 2009 at 06:50 AM

Tim,  My daughter and I met you at CKU Houston last year. Thanks for the videos. I showed them to my 2nd grade students in Texas at Roosevelt Elementary. My students liked the baby lions the best. They called it a great virtual field trip. Many of my students are from low socio-economic groups. Thanks to a grant that put a LCD projector in my classroom and a laptop, I am able to show my students many things that they may never have the opportunity to do. Thank you so much for posting these videos. Tracy Faulkner
Posted by: Tracy Faulkner | May 11, 2009 at 07:01 PM

My favorite thing about watching any if your videos of your journeys is the fantastic music you choose. You always pick the perfect music. I love the upside down tree you photographed while at kichaka, I saw it again on the video along with the amazing horizons. BEAUTIFUL!!!
Posted by: Tiffany | May 12, 2009 at 10:26 AM

south africa - the video blog...

hey bloggers!   well as promised here are the video blogs from our south africa adventures.  one of them is a recap of our 10 days in south africa and the places we got to visit and teach at.  the other is the kichaka experience of our safari adventures - enjoy!  i have to say these are memories i will cherish for a lifetime, what an amazing place.  thanks to all of you for sharing the journey with me via your comments - they were appreciated... (if you want to watch them in high quality, click the HQ button after pressing the play arrow)

also, thanks once again to the delegates from cape town, johannesburg, and durban, for trusting your creativity with me and giving yourself permission to get your grunge on at the sa scrapbook convention.  also, my sincere thanks once again to our gracious host glenda - no detail was overlooked!  here are pictures of the project i taught in south africa - "grunged memoirs".  it's a fun bracket grungebook we collaged with vintage dictionary papers, artful collage flowers, distress inks, distress stickles, crackle paints, and of course more grungeboard!  i am giving away the few remaining kits i have left from the events to 6 lucky blog winners - just post a comment today about your favorite south africa video moment as you share in the adventures with me.  winners will be posted tomorrow afternoon - enjoy the journey...t!m

   

i'm home...

hey bloggers...  it sure is good to be able to show THIS postcard for a change - yes, i'm home!  what an adventure - so many wonderful memories continue to play through my mind about my travels to south africa.  they say a picture is worth a thousand words so i'm glad i took plenty.  i'm adjusting to the time changes no problem - i guess one of the benefits to being on the road so many days, my body doesn't have a clue what time it's supposed to be anyway!  getting everything unpacked, catching up on emails, boxes to be opened, and supply orders to get put away.  i'm only home until tomorrow morning though, and i head back down to phoenix early to teach at preview day for creative escape.  i'll be down there for the weekend, and then home for the next 2 weeks before heading back down to teach at scrapbooks etc. on may 23rd.  hey, at least i'm still in arizona so i can't complain - right?  things are hectic around the studio of course getting kits ready for the workshops and for cku-nashville happening the end of this month, but it's a good thing.  i'll get working on my south african movie(s) oh yes, i can't possibly fit it all into one - just as soon as i can, to share the visual chronicles of my amazing journey.  for now, it's just time to enjoy being home and take a breath...t!m

greetings from south africa...

hey bloggers!  well our journey continues with our next stop to johannesburg.  we arrived the day before the event so we were able to spend the day in joburg to take in the sights.  our gracious host for the day shelley, offered to pick us up (jayme, mario, and myself) for another experience none of us will soon forget.  shelley and her husband own a lion park in joburg, and we were getting a personal tour of it.  we set out early in the morning to make our way to the lion park.  we arrived at this sanctuary of beautiful wildlife, south african wildlife and hundreds of lions.  we were invited to tour the park where the lions had been born, raised, and released throughout the park.  we got to physically go inside with the lion cubs and pet them, play with them, and definitely photograph them.  how cute are these little guys?

we then we went over to hand feed two of their resident giraffes - this was so cool to see them up close, i mean really up close!  after seeing them in the wild, this was such a cool experience.  we then took a drive throughout the park to visit some of the older lion prides and it was so cool to see how they interact with one another, truly majestic animals.  this is a tour you just drive through in your car where the lions come right up to the cars - windows closed of course - talk about up close and personal!  we left the park and were off to one of the shopping meccas of joburg - sandton city.  this was definitely a shopping destination filled with unique boutiques, food, and shopping fun.  so a sincere thank you to shelley for taking the time out of your busy schedule to share with us your lion park, your great personality, and your quirky sense of humor - we loved our day with you...

the next day, we were off to summer place, a historic venue where 170 delegates took part in the joburg event.  the property was surrounded by marble columns, lush pools, fountains, and italian sculpture - truly magnificent.  jayme and i taught 4 sessions total throughout the day so all delegates received a more personal workshop experience.  the food at summer place was what aunty val would only describe as "divine".  glenda and her team at sa scrapbook convention pulled off yet another flawless event where no detail was over looked.  the delegates left with finished workshop projects, gift bags filled with a variety of scrapbook goodness, and some even walked away with one of the many random draw prizes including a cricut expressions, big shot express, pazzles, cuttlebug, silhouette, epson printer, and many other random prizes.  it was truly an exciting day.  thank you johannesburg delegates, for a day filled with laughs and your generous spirit...

the next morning was our final stop of our south african tour to durban.  this was a lush tropical part of south africa and very humid.  we arrived early in the morning so after checking into our hotel we were off again for more shopping at the local gateway mall.  it's so fun to see the different shops, foods, and people as we got to spend our day roaming the mall and spending a few rands (since our exchange rate is really good here!).  we then headed back to our hotel to get set up for our final event the following day.  the durban delegates were so kind and appreciative and although this was the smallest venue of the 3, it was a great intimate setting overlooking the water so our day in durban was wonderful.  thank you durban delegates, for allowing yourselves to get inky and have fun playing...

we're heading back home early tomorrow for our 24 hours of flying home starting in durban to joburg, then to dakar, then to washington dc, then chicago, and finally phoenix for our drive back up the hill.  looking forward to being home, but i must say that in all of my many journeys in the world in my life, this was the one place i could have actually stayed longer.  i truly love south africa, and it will always hold a special place in my soul.  so thank you once again to our gracious hosts glenda, gary, debbie, kyle, and without a doubt, aunty val, we have made lifelong friends that have touched our hearts - it was truly a "pleasure"....