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

[Heidi]

He's awesome Huh?

[Helle Greer]

WOW you are so lucky!!!
What a great treat, but he is lucky too, to spend the whole day with YOU.
Have a great day girley.

helle

[Pegomh]

Those stamps.... WOW! I'd like to stand there for 10 minutes and just look! I see craft paper - I want to play too! I found a scary monkey just like Tim's... I'll post a pic on my blog today.

[Suzanne]

Wow! I'm so jealous! I love Tim and his products. That must have been just incredible!

[Susan]

can't wait to see what you created!!!

and just a side story. i love your products and the other night after scrap shopping i can home and my boyfreind ( who knows nothing about scrappin) said how much chipboard letters do you need?! i had gotten another 4 packs of your letters. they are such a fave of mine! i love painting them and puttin diamond glaze!!!

Keep up the great work!

Susan

[vicki]

You must have been a really good girl this year! What an honor. He surely has alot of stamps and very, very clean studio. Makes you wonder does he even work in there. Can't wait to see what you come up with

[Tammy]

Wow! That is so amazing!!!! Thanks for sharing this slice of your life. So cool!

[Valerie]

oh, to have been a fly on the wall for that encounter! lucky you!

[Jolene George]

You're a deserving lucky duck! So glad you had fun, learned new things and came home inspired! http://jolenegeorge.blogspot.com/

[kim]

It sounds like it was so much fun! Can't wait to see the inspiration!

[Tim Holtz]

I can't even begin to tell you what a great time I HAD TOO! It was so much fun to spend the day just talking, creating, and brainstorming. Heidi & Emily were such fun and talented to boot. Thanks again Heidi, for taking the time out of your busy life to spend time sharing the journey...
-tim

[Hilda]

WoW! That is friggin' awesome!!! Please play and show us some fun stuff!!!

Hil :)

[PROLIX from la Normandie]

Ohlalaaaaaaaa!
You're so much lucky Heidi!
quelle chance!
so much stamps for you alone!!!
bwahaha!
;o)
whatta dream to meet the great Tim!

{ThE fReNcH tOuCh}
http://prolix.typepad.fr

[lynn whelan]

love the art room!!! who wouldn't? and tim sounds like a great guy, wish i had been there for the inspiration to use my alcohol inks and blender i've been hanging on to for some time now!

NOW, tell (beg, PLEAD) KAthy to bring back her BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sarah]

oh how lucky are you little lady!!! and what a dream for all of the rest of us...the two of you together!!!

[Lorie]

Holy Guacamole! A man who is talented, artistic...AND organized.

Does he have a brother? No, don't answer that I have a DH.

You lucky duck you.

[mhutch]

Oh my! What fun! I personally have been a little intimidated by his inks, even though I'm a HUge stamper. Seriously, you need to come out with some more stamps. Begging you here.

[Tracy Whitney]

sounds like a wonderful opportunity! What I loved about watching Tim H. @ memory Trends was that his hands were so expertly in motion - like a master musician and his violin. kwim???

[Tannis]

wow! That is pretty awesome! what a collection. I felt this way about Heidi Swapp! I tried to find flights for the weekend to take your class at the LSS but I couldn't find any!!! I thought how fun, I could fly up take a class and wow my friends with the amazing stuff i learned from Heidi Swapp. Is it January yet? Can't wait for big pic class to start. p.s.- anyone know how to find the class group online?

[Jeanette]

He is so inspiring, just like you. And I was thrilled to have an opportunity to take a class with him at CKU this year. It was my favorite class.

I look forward to seeing how you incorporate his products with yours. What a fun journey!

[Sarah]

So it appears that Mr. T MUST come to CE this year...I mean, he's PRACTICALLY next door!!
I am so envious of
- seeing and playing in a studio THAT cool with someone so talented (not sure who I'm more jealous of - you or Tim)
- THAT level of organization - in fantasies I'm not that together, let alone IRL
- being able to spend a DAY creating and playing
- going to bed at 10 pm

[LenaS]

Okay, soooooo since he lives here--GET HIM 4 CE 2007. Please, please, please. I have taken so many classes from CKUs, ML, CTMH Scrapbooks,Etc., stamp convention/stores that I need more expert instructors. I have found it difficult to learn beyond where I am now. I'd love to hear how he "got in" that back door sometime. H, you R very lucky! Congrats. Yay, Emily! Count your blessings name them 1 by 1... Thanks again for sharing. Your blog rocks!

[jacki ponterio]

just spent 2 days creating with Tim @ rubin Rouge in Fl.. what a truly creative experience. what a teacher and so down to earth. can't even put into words my experience. I will travel were ever to see him again. but OH to see his home. That would truly be the ultimate.