Sussy

Hello! I was born in Bloomington, Indiana, and attended Indiana State University, majoring in Music and vocal performance. After college, I ventured west to Arizona for about nine months before settling in San Jose, California. I started a medical information management company in 1985 and grew the company as I raised my three children. I was there for the birth of the Internet and the development of PCs. It was one of the most exciting business adventures I have ever had. I decided to take my opera voice off the shelf and start singing again during this time. I performed with a popular Tenor in the Bay Area, further developing my love for singing.

In 2003, my husband and I visited the tiny town of Dutch Flat, California, and bought a National Historic Landmark hotel. For the next two years, we worked tirelessly alongside three full-time carpenters as we completed a bottom-to-top restoration of this 1852 Sleeping Giant.

I spent the next 13 years running the hotel as a B&B, Event Center, and restaurant. It was backbreaking (literally) but rewarding. My love for Victorian décor was evident throughout the hotel.

In 2014, I took a break from the hotel business and decided I wanted to see the world on a private jet, so I became a private jet Flight Attendant. This was one of the best decisions of my life. I traveled to many amazing places, including India, China, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Lebanon, Europe, and South America. Experiencing the cultures, food, and hospitality of these places was something I wish I could do again.

My love for crafting and, specifically, Junk Journaling really kicked into gear after I met Miss Vicky Breslin. I am a lifelong collector of antique lace. I shopped at one of her many stores, and she got me hooked (in a good way) on Junk Journaling and paper crafting! Miss Vicky and I began our crafting adventures together around 2012, doing craft shows, Flea Markets, Estate Sales, the Craft and Hobby Convention, the California Gift Show, and SO much more. Our love for art includes paper crafting, sewing, card making, lace collecting, painting, and JUNK JOURNALING! We hosted MANY retreats and events until I sold the hotel in 2017.

I left out a few of my other careers, like restaurant owner (in Indiana), owner of Suze’s Bagels, and owner of an Etsy shop named, Junk Journal Junkie, where I sell everything from antiques to repurposed clothing and Junk Journal supplies.

I moved back to Indiana in 2017, and it seems that my friendship with Miss Vicky and our Junk Journaling connection has only grown closer over the years. When Miss Vicky asked if I would join her in producing the Junk Journal Convention, I said YES. We hope to make this an exciting, artful, and memorable event for everyone. See you in Sacramento!