Freaky Friday on a USA Saturday and a NZ Sunday

Wow! That was a long title. It's time again to reveal our challenge results. As you know, Deb Batten of FireBirdFlameWork on Etsy and her website and I have been challenging each other to make something out of our comfort zone or something that is unique. This week was my turn to choose the challenge. I chose a painting that is in my bedroom as a point of inspiration. Sorry about the poor picture quality, but it was hard to photograph. I have to admit that this challenge was very hard for me. Being a person with a random nature, I thought it might be easier, but, it wasn't. So, without further ado, I will show you my beads.








Of the beads I made, this one is my favorite.
I tried to capture the colors of the painting, but I wasn't very successful. I also wanted to capture the joy I felt in the painting. I hope so. I'm not sure.




















This is the other side of the same bead. Isn't it amazing how different they look!

















Now, I know you are going to laugh at this one. I certainly did. I was trying to capture the figure in the painting. Instead, I think I sculpted a dead roach or a turkey just out of the oven! Oh, well!
Back to the drawing board on that one!














Next week is Deb's challenge! I'm anxious to see what she has chosen. I loved her creative idea of the totem. Her's was fantastic! So, come on, Deb! What are we doing next week? If anyone wants to join us, please feel free to do so. Now, I'm off. I have to go and pick up my laptop! Yippeeeeeeeee! It's finally fixed.

Freaky Friday Challenge on a New Zeland Sunday

The time has arrived. Deb Batten, of FirebirdFlamework on Etsy, has already posted her challenge, and, truly, it is awesome! I love Deb's totem! It truly reflects her and her attitude towards life! She did a great job combining colors and techniques. I have to admit, I was very impressed! So, now, it's my turn.

My totem was nothing I expected it to be. I worked with a very limited color palette. I was shocked at that! This totem took a life of its own. I feel that the glass, as it melted, dictated the shape and size of each bead. I didn't have any drift wood on which to mount my totem, but Deb suggested that glass is a natural element. Perhaps, she suggested, that would be a good base for my totem. It was. My only error was that I didn't make my base big enough. I had to balance my totem against a background.

Now after all the ado. Here is my totem.


















I took this photo in front of my microwave, and since I was part of the reflection, and the totem is a part of me, I decided to use this photo.

Here's another shot of my totem using a different background. There are many parts to my totem.

At the top of my totem is my desire for peace in the image of a dove. Underneath the dove is my representation of air. Next comes water. Then comes fire. After thta we see the footprints on the sands of time. Underneath the sands of time is the symbol of the bear who is strong and sturdy.


Last but not least is the eye of God, always watching us and taking care of us.
That's it, my totem.











Next week's challenge

All right, Deb, are you ready? Here it is.








































Here are two shots of the same painting. In case you are wondering if I have the artist's permission, yes, I do. I painted this picture. I took two photos of it in different lights to show the different undulation of the colors and shapes.

So what do you think, Deb? Make a bead using this painting as inspriation. The size and shape of the bead don't matter. Just use this for inspiration. Next week it's your call. Oh, and Ang, I was going to use your idea of "What's in your refrigerator", but the problem is that I didn't clean out my refrigerator and I need to do that. With any luck, the next time it's my turn, I'll have cleaned out my fridge.

Also, for those who would like to join Deb and I in our challenges, we'd love to see your work. Anyway, here we go. We hope you look forward to next Freaky Friday!

Freaky Friday Challenge - on a New Zealand Saturday!

At last, the time has come to show what we've done with this week's challenge: Sculptural Flowers. We didn't work with tutorials this time. Although we didn't grow them, we are now going to show them! I'm a poet, and I don't know it! Here are the results of my efforts. Although these aren't perfect, I don't think they're too bad. I made the first flower with clear and melted frit. The second flower is made with a color I had forgotten I had, and I had forgotten how much I liked it--transparent striking red! I fell in love with that color again! The last flower is made with yellow covered with transparent clear. I like these colors, too, but that red is my favorite!


















I made these flowers first. I used a base of white with transparent purple on top. They weren't bad for some of my first ones.


















This sculpted flower was my least successful one. Yikes! I think I need more practice using individual petals. That's all I will sat, "Yikes!"



















This was my last sculpted flower. I think it's my best. I like it. Not only that, it's pink! I like pink, too!

Okay, Deb, what's the next challenge? Let me know.

Freaky Friday Challenge on a New Zeland Sunday

All right, Deb posted before I did, but here are the results of the Jennifer Geldard Tutorial of the Ornate Bead. Deb, as always, found a photo and worked from that. I used the tutorial. Deb's results were great, I thought. I am showing 3 beads. I actually made 4 beads, but I forgot to photograph it. Maybe another day.

Here's a group shot of my beads. I used the same color scheme throughout. The bottom bead looks like it has a huge round chip, but that's really a white dot blending in with the background.




This is the first long bead. It's about 2.5 inches in length.

















I really do like this bead. I think I"m giong to keep it for myself. I have clothes with which I can wear it!















This bead is actually half a bead. My bead release broke before I could finish the bead. At least I have half of the bead.

Here's the last bead. It's a smaller bead than the first one. It's okay. I'm not totally happy with it, but it might look great wire wrapped.











Well, that's about all for now. Next week, I think that we can both work without tutorials. We are going to make sculptural flowers. That should be a challenge for both of us! See you on Freaky Friday, whether it's on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Day of my Life--You know a play on words, instead of Days of Our Lives, Whatever

It was one of those blissfully, rainy days today. It rained almost the entire day until, right before sunset, the sun came out. Go figure. I really enjoyed today though. I love to torch on rainy days. I did that. It was so nice and relaxing. It was so cool today. We are getting very close to our first frost of the season. It's supposed to go down to 36 tonight. brrrrrrrrrr. It was a t-shirt day for Spike. I pulled out his Harley shirt, and he's worn it all day. Take a look at this. It's a real Harley shirt!






Now here's Spike in his kerchief and shirt! I had fun with him posing for pictures!


















I don't think you can see the rain, but it was falling gently when I took this photo. You can see how the landscape is changing. I only wish I could count the number of leaves in my front yard. I think I'll have to start raking very soon.


















You can tell is it was a slow day today. Oh, more tomorrow or should I do it now? I get to announce the next challenge for Deb and me! Oh, what the heck! I'll go ahead and tell you. Like Deb said, I am a tutorial (uhummmm), well, let's just say I like to use tutorials. Anyway, Deb, using her figure out how to do it ways and me with a tut in hand are going to try to make and Ornate Bead. I will be using Jennifer Geldard's tutorial and Deb will be using pictures or whatever it is she uses to figure things out. Personally, I think it's magic. She's so good at this stuff. Hopefully, we will post results this Friday. Now, don't tell anyone. It's our secret! I guess that's all for now.