Thursday, May 27, 2010

I found a new toy!!!

Anybody who knows me well knows that I like to play around with stuff on the computer and that it doesn't take a lot to entertain me when I find a new toy [also known as a new computer program]

The PCAGOE [Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy], of which I am a member, is working on a new project that uses mosiacs from each member's website, Flickr site and/or Etsy store using a free program called Huge Blue Labs that links up with Flickr and creates a mosiac of the pictures you select.  Thanks to Deb at Renaissance Gal of San Antonio for the cool new toy.

I used this new toy to give you a visual of some of the many different things that I do with polymer clay.  But you can use it to make a photo collage of your children, your pets, whatever makes you happy.  I'm just having fun playing with my new toy!  If you want to get a larger view of any of the pictures above, go to my Flickr site.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Amazing what you find when you clean your studio!

As I mentioned a few posts back, life has been getting in the way of my claying. I'd grab a minute or two here and there but no real quality time, if you know what I mean. Well, last weekend was our local clay guild meeting so I packed everything in my traveling bag and off I went. Had a blast learning to make layered petal flowers. I was tired when I got home so I didn't unpack anything, just parked my traveling bag by the door and crawled into my rocker/recliner for a nice long nap.

Got home from church Sunday and decided that before I unpacked anything, I really needed to do some cleaning in my studio. It was a disaster with a capital D! It still is since I ran out of time and energy but I was determined that everything was going to be put away before I unpacked my traveling bag (it's still packed, by the way!)  But progress is being made, slowly but surely.

BUT, in the process of cleaning, I found a whole tray of beads that I had made, baked and tumbled! All that needed to be done was to buff them, take pictures and add them to my Etsy shop. Well, I got the buffing and pictures done… Now if I can find a few minutes to list them, maybe after choir practice tonight…..  If you want to get a more close up view, go to my Flickr site.  This is always a good place to go to see what I've been up to before it hits the blog or my Etsy store.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Circling Elegance -- finally!

Life has been getting in the way of my fun lately and I haven't had as much time to work with my clay.  I've had several pieces made, cured and ready for the finishing process for at least two weeks!!!  So Tuesday night, I sat down, caught up on my recorded television programs and sanded, and sanded, and sanded.  Then everything went to the buffer for a nice shine.  It was a nice relazing evening and I finally have something to show for all the hard work.  I listed the first set of a focal bead and coordinating beads in my Etsy shop.  Here's a picture of the one I listed and then pictures of some more that  will be adding to my Etsy shop - hopefully over the weekend.

This is the one I have listed:















And these are the whole batch that I'll be putting on as soon as time allows.  If you see anything you particularly like, let me know.




Friday, May 7, 2010

Time to do the Funky Chicken!!!

I'll bet you thought I was talking about dancing, didn't you?  Nope this is all about plant pokes and putting some fun into your houseplants. 

About three years I attended a decorative painting conference in Houston, Texas and took classes for a lovely lady named Doxie Keller who taught us how to paint funky chickens on white or cream men's shirts to wear as an overshirt.  I gave the shirt to my mother because she fell in love with it when I showed her what we had done in Houston.

It was not long after that conference that I discovered polymer clay and the paints, patterns and brushes went by the wayside.  After almost 30 years as a decorative, I was burned out and looking for a new outlet -- which I found in polymer clay. 

But back to the funky chickens....  I was going through a drawer looking for something else and ran across one of the pictures of some of the funky chickens that Doxie had given us as a part of the class supplies.  I thought - how cool would that be done in polymer clay.  But what would I do with them?  Poke them in a plant, of course!  Every plant needs a friend - right!!!


I cut out a plastic template to use for a pattern for my basic body shape, then went to town covering the body, then adding all sorts of cool things for feathers and wings.  The legs were fun too because I wanted them to dangle and have movement.  Some have glass beads for a bit of extra sparkle.  The eyes are small black glass beads and have a bit of sparkle all on their own. These were a lot of fun to make and make me think of spring!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

More Mokume Gane - Black, White and Silver


I've been working with another Julie stack.  This one uses black, silver, white and silver leaf.  I made it because I wear a lot of black and white plus my sister wanted an enhancer for a pearl necklace that she has that kept winding up with the clasp in front.  She specifically requested something in black and white so a stack was born.  Here are a few pictures from the stack.  I don't know if I'll be listing them as beads or try to put them together in a necklace.  Right now I'm just delighted at the shine that I was able to get after sanding, and sanding, and sanding, then buffing. 

I've also included some of the other mokume gane beads that I made at the workshop with Julie Picarello.