TIM HOLTZ

Seriously… yesterday I got the biggest TREAT!! Emily and I drove about 2 hours north to Prescott, AZ and spent the day with Tim Holtz… we have been trying to get together for like 2 years now… I am always complaining to him that I need some instructions since I never can stand and watch him demo… or take any classes from him… so, he let us come up and get the ULTRA demo and one on one instruction! It was SO awesome… so inspiring and so exiting… he lives up this little road up in the mountains of AZ. He gets seasons there… when we got out of the car, it was a chiliy 40 degrees and even smells like forest! It was awesome… his  house is amazing… he collects old stuff… antiques of every kind… I am sure it was a special treat to see his home decorated for Christmas… he has this collection of vintage glass Christmas ornaments… it was so cool.. I could have spent hours looking around, but I didn’t want to be too geeky!
Then we went into his studio, and holy cow… it is the most amazing thing I have every seen… I mean, it’s not like I do studio tours or anything… but this is the ultimate in organization and inspiration and function and well.. basically… I was just awe struck…
It’s the total and complete opposite of my studio… I would love to be a fundamentally organized person. Tim told us that in High School, he wanted to be an accountant… I guess that is where the organized side of his brain maybe comes from….. when we got there, I totally drilled him with a million questions.. I mean, this guy is so creative, and dynamic and down to earth… and he just amazes me! so I loved hearing about where he started out and how he got to be where he is.  I loved it, because, like me… he has absolutely NO art training or background. He came into the industry totally backdoor and has just excelled. He instructed us completely on Distress inks, Alcohol Inks and the new Dabber paints… all of which I LOVE.. and I swear, they were just made to go with my products! That is all there is to it! I think that we spent about 4 hours learning all these techniques- trying them ourselves… totally hands on… my head was spinning and my wheels totally turning! It was exciting and energizing… sooooo inspiring. I think he has even made me want to stamp more! His stamp designs are so beautiful and so versatile. Just the way I like them.
What an absolute awesome opportunity !!! THANK YOU TIM!!!
So I came home last night and got the kids in bed and thought that I would just stay up all night creating… and at 10pm I couldn’t even keep my eyes open… I pooped out…
So, I will have to show you when I get some PLAY happening!
sorry to make you all jealous… but that was just the best!! Am I a lucky duck or what?

Comments

[Aimee Porco]

Thanks for that inside look at Tim H. I love his Chronicles Stamps. So yummy!

Glad to read that someone as talented as you is still learning.

[Laura]

:-o Look at those stamps !

I love it ! Glad you had such a great time- can't wait for you to share tips !! hehe

hugs xx

[wendy]

thanks Heidi...i love Tim's work, but didn't know that much about him...thanks for the insight. see you at CHA...

[May]

ooooooooo.

so jealous! That would be such an awesome experience! I love the classes I've taken from him, and I can only imagine how much one on one in HIS STUDIO would ROCK!!!

awesome stuff.

[kristy]

wiping up the drool! :)

[Shirley]

Man, I love Tim and his art!!! What a cool day you and Em must have had!! What a studio..I want that one day!
:D

[Ksea]

HOLY CRAP! Thems a ton of stamps! It sounds like you had an amazing opportunity at Tim's place! So very cool!!

[Monica]

Oh my stars, He is so incredible! What an inspiring studio.

[Shawnna / flipflopmom]

so so LUCKY!!!

[Melissa H]

Tim is amazing... i LOVE his stuff! He is also the nicest, most genuine of guys!

[MargieH]

How fun to be a room with you, Tim and Emily..great inspiration! Thanks for the peek into Tim's world! LOL!! MargieH in Chicago

[Charin]

Girl, you are lucky! :) Tim's work is awesome! But then, so is yours!! :)

[aliciaking]

soo jealous too! Love Tim and the Distress Inks are my absolute best friends, yes all 24 of them. No page goes without Vintage Photo! did you see the cool freaky little monkey??

[vanessa]

oh good heavens..LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE STAMPS! JUST LOOK AT EM!
seriously...how could you even concentrate!
i would be to busy droooling over everything!

[Anne Sheridan]

OMG...it's called Heaven...Heidi & Tim together...creating!

[mariana]

how cool is that. so jealous. m

[Jann Saulsberry]

Ok...I am TOTALLY jealous. But I would love to do the same with you...so don't feel bad. I just think the two of you have this complementary style. I used his inks with your masks ALL the times....and LOVE the results. I tend to use a stiple brush with his inks (which blend so well together as you know) to make a gradient mask. My favorite is with lettering -- or this Christmas it has been with the Holly Mask...but I digress. i am so excited that you got to spend time with him...bet it was a total blast...enjoy!

[Ania]

Woah, sounds like loads of fun! Lucky both of you who got to spend some time together! And your friend too! :D

[Lyn Meeker]

I took two classes in Atlanta with Mr. T .. yep, I was willing to fly across the country to take his classes! .... AWESOME! (But to be in his house .. and play one on one! WHOOO HOOO! It's a girls dream come true!)

You didn't happen to ask him if he had time in Sept 07 open on his busy schedule to make an appearance (TEACH?) at Creative Escape .... did you? Because that would be even more awesome .. the awesomest?

[sheila]

Lucky you! I AM an accountant & would love to bean artist!

[Catherine]

Looks like a ton of fun - Tim Holtz is amazing!

[Kitty Foster]

Jealous as heck about seeing Tim's studio, eating Cathy's manicotti and your pink trees!

**Also, I am looking for contact info for Creative Escape. I emailed them about sponsorship and haven't heard anything. If you could send me that info that would be great!**

Thanks in advance!

[robyn bedsaul]

not fair! :)

[Nichole Black]

Completely jealous! Heidi, Emily, and Tim creating all day? Heaven! I am cracking up at how un-ladylike Tim's studio is - look at all that chrome shelving. No pink/black polka dots or flowers anywhere! LOL So glad you had a good time - you deserve it!

[Amber]

Maybe this inspiration will lead you to manufacture more rubber stamps!!! (wink!) I love the ones you currently produce, but could always add to my stash!!