Writer's Block, Sore Wrist, Polymer Clay, Glass, and Beads....That's a lot to talk about, or not!

Yes, I'm stuck.  I've been stuck for a few days, and, so far, there's been no relief.  Writer's Block.  I'm really stuck!

My wrist is still sore.  I have another doctor's appointment next week.  I just want this to get better.  It still hurts.  Ouch!  Like I said, I'm stuck here, too. 

Polymer clay is sitting around waiting to be made into something.  Problem is, even if I carry the clay in my clothing to soften, and I am very gentle when I work the clay, my wrist hurts.  It's very sore now.  I wish it weren't, but some days, you just have to do something.  Today was that day, but I think I'll be sorry tomorrow.

Glass:: I only wish I could turn a mandrel with my wrist.  No chance.  I am so sorry for that.  I love glass!  I want to melt glass.  Looks like it's going to be a while yet.

Beads:: I want to make beads.  Yes, this is a whine, and I would like some cheese with it.  Ouch!  My wrist hurts even as I type.  Ouch! 

Whine over.  What's new with you?

For Once I Didn't Procrastinate, and I'm Glad!

Between the NaBloPoMo writing challenge and Katie Oskin's Polymer Clay Challenge for 2015, I'm glad I didn't procrastinate! 

I am a terrible procrastinator in some areas.  I wait until the last possible minute to pay bills, and I mean the last possible minute.  Emphasis on MINUTE.

I wait until the last possible day to pay my taxes.  I've even had my accountant file and extension.  Do you see a trend here?


When I have to travel, I wait until the time has come to leave the house to pack.  Yikes!

However, I didn't procrastinate for these two challenges, and I'm glad!  I think these will be interesting challenges. 

Now, I have to tell you a little bit about these crosses.  I sort of cheated.  I have tendinitis of my thumb, and it's been bothering me for about a month or so now.  Leaning more towards the or so.  Ouch!  I have another doctor appointment today.  We'll see what he says.  Anyway, I made these crosses before this tendinitis had fully kicked in, so I added the finish instead.  I hope that's okay.  I'm working more towards a slow recovery, and I hope very, very soon! 

So, more later. 

I'm Joining "Kater's Acres" in her Challenge to Make Something each week!

Although, Polymer Clay is not the only medium in which I work, right now, it is the main medium.  Sadly, I haven't fired up my torch for months. 

So, anticipating another hiatus from my torch in 2015, I am joining Kater's Acres Polymer Clay Challenge.  That challenge is to produce on finished project a week.  I will post a blog about each project.   

So, if you're interested in joining this project, too, click

HERE.

Commit.
Grab a button.
Get to work! 

Let's see what you make.

Snippets of My Bathroom

I used a lot of polymer clay to decorate my bathroom.  This is a little sculpture that is part of my "Little Garden" series.  I enjoyed making this.

Here's the other corner of the bathroom.  I love this little sculpture of girly girl things.  I didn't make it.  I found it at the Dollar Store a while back.

The milk bottle and flowers were given to me by Jenny for Christmas.  I love the flowers!

 Here are some polymer clay flowers I made for the wall.  I've really enjoyed these flowers for decorations.

Here's the other wall, and it's filled with flowers.  The lights are on either side of the mirror which is the focus of the room.

Here's the door reflected in the mirror.  You can see the flowers that I love!

More Challenging than the Others:: Flora

Working with polymer clay is fascinating!  As much as I love glass, I love polymer clay. 

Flora looks like she's ready to nest.  She actually looks plump and ready for spring.  She has a pony tail made of spring greens.  Her hair is full of flowers and a single bird that made it's way to nest.  I don't know about you, but I do like Flora!

What do you think?

Bon-Bons Anyone?

I took an online class created by Heather Powers of Humblebeads.  I loved it!  This is my version of Bon-Bon Beads.  They are significantly different from Heather's, but I still like them!

I plan to try to make some like Heather's versions, but I cannot guarantee it.  We'll see what the day brings.  I might be stuck inside all day.  We are supposed to get a HUGE snow storm.  We shall see.

Nevertheless, I loved the class!

Day 28: Writing Challenge:: AWESOMENESS Easy Peasy Free Tutorial:: How make a puzzle piece out of polymer clay...

I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but here's a easy way to make a simple puzzle piece.  There are a lot of variations to this piece.  When you have mastered it, which will take about 1 try, you can add cane, change colors,  add different colors.  I'm keep this simple just so that you can see how easy it is and jump right in.  A beginner can make this puzzle piece.  I am assuming that you know how to condition clay and cut it with a blade and cookie cutter.  Easy peasy.



What you will need::
Small Amount of polymer clay
blade
small cookie cutter

Begin by conditioning the clay, then on the third thickest setting of your pasta machine, roll out the clay and fold in half.  Cut a square or rectangle out of the clay the size you would like the puzzle piece to be.

Using a very small round cookie cutter,

on the edge of your square, cut a partial circle from the clay.

Take the half circle out of the clay, and place it on another side of the puzzle.  It doesn't matter where you put it, that's the design you create with your puzzle piece. 

You can do this again in your design. 

Gently roll with an acrylic roller to seal the half circles to the main part of the puzzle piece.  Make sure that both pieces are the same width as the puzzle piece.

Poke a hole in your puzzle piece.
Bake according to manufacturer's directions.

Easy peasy.

You. Are. Finished!

Enjoy and experiment.

Day 27:: 31 Day Writing Challenge:: We're almost there!

The critters are almost finished.  (There are four of them finished now.)

This is Chesterton.  He's had quite a life so far.  He's been around for a short while.  He's fully feathered now.  That means he's an adult.  Soon, he will need a new home.  Think about it.  You'll like him!

This is Cheech!  He's an aging flower child.  His flowers are fading and broken.  The 60's were way too much for him.  His eyes are swirling, too.  I think it's time for him to retire.  What do you think.

This is Giselle.  She had an accident and broke her foot.  She's fine now, and her foot is healing nicely.  The cast will stay on for a while, but she is fine. 

This is Rosie.  She's a sweet little thing.  She sings softly.  She preens herself softly.  She's a sweetheart.
What do you think.

Here's a group shot.  What do you think?  Like them?

Day 15: 31 Day Writing Challenge:: AWESOMENESS:: More on Beads

I know that for everyone,

AWESOMENESS 

is not found in making beads of any kind.

Creativity comes from using the beads,

painting the beads,

using beads in jewelry.

Others find the 

AWESOMENESS

of beads

just by looking at them,

touching them,

collecting them.

For me,

I am happiest when 

I make beads.

I find that to be an

AMAZING activity.

Look at these polymer clay beads.

I used copper leaf on the outside of the beads.

I made these beads using copper, too.

This time, 

I mixed the copper 

INTO the clay

before I made the beads.

Look at the sparkles!

I love both effects.

Do you see what I mean?

I find this AMAZING

and 

pure

AWESOMENESS!

Ok, Now About Heather Power's Cane Boot Camp!!!!! It's AWESOME!!!!!!

I have to admit, I was stunned when I received the invitation to join Heather Power's online class, "Cane Design Boot Camp."

Heather had offered a scholarship for her class as a way of paying things forward.  I applied, but I decided that the odds were against me, but it would be nice if I won.

Guess what!!!!  Through the generosity of Heather who had decided to give 1 scholarship, I was awarded one of the 3 person's who were awarded a scholarship!  I am so grateful.  It's an amazing class so far. 

This is the first cane I made in Heather's class.  I am thrilled beyond words with it!!!

Now, let me show you the beads I made using this cane. 

This bead was made with the pile of scrap cane that I had made.  See the spiral?  That was an extra cane I made.  So far, I am thrilled with this class. 

I made these beads with the cane.
I love! Love! Love!  This cane boot camp.

Do You Think That Featuing "Sea Themed" or "Beach Themed" Items for an Early Decemeber is Too Early?

Fine Print:: Not really, but...
The photos you see will be photos of prototypes I am working to develop.

I'm working with polymer clay as I work on these beads.  The beads are not finished yet.  I'm being drawn to beach or sea themed beads.

I have a show in early December.  Do you think it's too early to feature pendant shells?  Should I focus more on Christmas beads?  I'm not sure.

I also plan to make glass sea themed focal beads. 

What do you think?

My show is a 3 day show during the first weekend of December.  

My Beads in 10,000 years...

Close your eyes and follow along with me.  (Wait!  You might have to open your eyes to read this!)

The setting is 10,000 years in the future.  Where you used to live has been discovered and is beginning to be uncovered in the slow process of a dig.  The archaeologist in charge is inspecting the artifacts that the intern has found.  The intern is slowly brushing away the years of dirt and grime in which these beads were enclosed. 

"Sir, what do you suppose these artifacts were?  They've survived all these years in the ground.  How did they get here?"

The archaeologist took the beads in his hand and held them tenderly. 

"I'm not sure," he said.  Perhaps this was a rendering of the dwelling we have found.  It's odd though.  This race of people were quite advanced for their day."  You'd think this rendering would be more realistic and not so primitive."

"Sir," cried another intern.  Look what I've found.  I believe it was a, I forget the word, toy?  Doll?  A child must have engineered this."

The archaeologist looked at this artifact.  "I wish I knew what this material was.  Back in those days, they had a material called 'plastic?' I think that was the term, but I don't know how a child could have made this artifact."

"I don't think a child made this artifact," said the intern.  "It looks like a child made it.  Perhaps the maker of this, this, doll?, was impaired."


The dig continued on that side of the house.

 The archaeologist began to work in earnest with his students.  He saw a small portion of this structure protruding from the wall of the home?  Both he and the intern dug around the object until the object was free of its encasement.  They gently removed the artifact and began to clean it.  The rain was falling very gently.  This made the object easier to clean.  The colors were still there.  They gently held this object in their hands. 

The intern broke the silence.  "Do you think they cooked in this small pot?"

"Well." said the archaeologist, if they did, they were very small people, but I don't think so.  I am beginning to think that all of these artifacts were made by a single person.  I also think that they were religious artifacts.  I cannot see a single use for them if they were not.  This artist, though, must have been a beginning apprentice."

Well, I wish I had been there to tell them about this art form.  They are prototypes!!!!  Okay!!!  Sheesh!  I'm glad I won't be around in 10,000 years.

What do you say to someone who sends you 25 pounds of polymer clay?????????

Thank You!!!!

Ann Sanicola Designs!

Click HERE to see her Facebook page!

There are some great links there!

Ann, Thank you!!!

Round, Flat, Thumb Support?

I've started covering crochet hooks with polymer clay.  I have 3 different styles.  I'm thinking of adding them to my Etsy store, but I'm not sure yet. 

If you were to see these crochet hooks in my Etsy store, which style would you be more inclined to buy? I'll be selling them for $10 + shipping. 

These crochet hooks have big, round handles.  I like them.  They do make it easier to crochet for a longer time without my hands aching so much.

These crochet hooks have a flat handle.  They are the smaller sized crochet hook, but I could make the handles round, too.

These crochet hooks are flat, but they do have thumb support. 

I could make any of the hooks the way people like the best.  I'm just not sure which style to offer, if I do.

Would you help me out?
I need your opinions.
Thanks!

I Made Me Some Tools This Weekend!

Polymer Clay Tools Using,

You Got it,

Polymer Clay.

All I did was to follow the directions 

HERE

from 

Blue Bottle Tree.

Click

HERE

to see her Etsy Store.

I've Got Headpins!!

My latest headpins in my Etsy store.

If you would like a closer look at them, click

HERE

and you'll see all of my headpins.

I'm adding more.

I guess I didn't realize how low I was.  

See you tomorrow.

I'm Raising Cane!

I recently joined a new Facebook Group called 52 Weekly Cane Projects.
The objective of this group is to learn how to make canes.  Each week there will be a link to a new cane project.  I joined when this group began, but I didn't catch up until this weekend. 

This pink cane is one of the second week's projects.  It was developed by Betina Welker and it's called the Pixelated Retro Blend Cane.  

The cane always looked so difficult to make, and although I didn't get the blend right, I do like the result.  I also found out that it wasn't so hard to make! 

The Mosaic Cane, developed by Elissa Powell was easy to make, and it was fun.  I saw some beautiful canes posted in the group.  Mine was very bright in comparison, but I am happy with it.

Now, the spiral cane is a basic cane.  I embellished my spiral with more spirals.  This should be interesting to use.  I used white and translucent clay for this cane. 












Other than a basic skinner blend, I am caught up.  Since I know how to make a skinner blend, I think I'll skip that one.  Now, it's on to bigger and more complicated canes.  Yikes!!!!

New Tutorial - Making Organic, Rustic Discs out of Polymer Clay

See these discs?

And these discs?

You can learn to make them using my new tutorial on Etsy.

Click 

HERE

to see the tutorial.

I'll teach you how to make these discs.

Even a beginner can make them.

The tutorial is only $10.

This would make a great gift for you or a fabulous Secret Santa gift.

It's instant download, too.

How fun is that!

Soon, you'll be making fabulous discs.

Remember the Polymer Clay Discs I Made Out of Scrap Clay?

Here's something I made with them.

Click 

HERE

to see the post. 

I haven't made anything else, yet, from the rest of the discs, but I do like the way this turned out!

It's fun to wear, too!

Making Discs!

It doesn't seem to matter,

glass or polymer clay,

I. Love. To. Make. Discs!

I find the process, 

and it's different in glass and polymer clay,

to be absolutely relaxing.

So, with my elevated, I made discs in polymer clay.

I seem to be leaning towards the organic look, but, after I made a necklace and earrings with some of these discs,

I plan to send the rest to 

Beads of Courage.

They have jewelry making days there!

So, take a look at these.

When I make my jewelry,

I'll show you what it looks like.

And,

once I get my foot out of this air cast, I'll go back to making some glass beads, too.

This is also called "using up scrap clay!"

I love the results!

See you later!