M's Place

Taco Soup from Create and Decorate???

2012-01-22T10:10:00.000-08:00

I picked up a Create and Decorate magazine on a whim a few weeks ago. It is the January/February 2012 issue. The snowman on the front caught my eye. My decorating taste is very eclectic but he would fit in just fine at my house!

I used to get this magazine when I did a lot of decorative painting. They always have a project or two in there and still do. What I was most amazed about is a new regular feature called "for your country kitchen". The recipe in this issue is for "Taco Soup". The recipe came from Lyn Slade at Charlotte's House B&B Bolton, MA.

I made it today and it is really awesome!

I added some grated cheddar and a few multi-grain tortilla chips to mine. It is really delicious.

Here is the recipe.

2 lb ground beef or turkey
1 T oil
1 large onion chopped
2 ribs of celery chopped
2 carrots chopped
15 oz can of kidney beans ( I used beans in a chili sauce)
15 oz can chopped tomatoes ( I used 2 10 oz cans of Rotel because we like spicy)
1 packet taco seasoning mix
1 packet dry original Hidden Valley Ranch mix
3 cups water

Brown the ground meat, drain and set aside. In the same pan add the oil and brown the onion, carrot, and celery. I put all of the ingredients in a soup pot and simmered it for a few hours. You can garnish the soup with chips, cheese and sour cream.

It is a perfect soup for a cold winter day! Enjoy!

TAST Button Hole Stitch

2012-01-16T13:44:00.000-08:00

We are in week two and soon will be in week three of TAST. I joined this challenge because I want to learn embroidery stitches. I was doing the stitches on a scrap piece of fabric but was encouraged to create something with them by another person in the challenge. I decided to make a small heart from a scrap quilted pillow case. The fly stitch was week one and I did it on the seam of the quilted piece.

I used waste canvas which was pretty cool to use. I always wondered how they got the stitches so uniform. It is always about the tools!

This week we did the buttonhole stitch. I did the buttonhole stitch around the yo yo flowers in yellow.

It is more fun to be creating something than to just try the stitches! Check out the other stitchers on the TAST Flickr site!

Wool Felting

2012-01-15T17:40:00.000-08:00

Always wanting to try something different... I started playing with a wool felting needle and some wool!

I love making the wool felted balls. So fun!

Blessings

2012-01-12T12:27:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about my word for the 2012 year. I wanted it to be something positive and forward moving. I love the philosophy of thinking yourself into what you want to have happen in your life... but I am a bit pragmatic.

I have been reminded through situations in my life that I am already blessed beyond measure and that there is little that I should want to change. I work in a church office and we often have people come in asking for help. I don't directly deal with most of the folks but I do hear the conversations that take place. There is a fine line between helping someone, enabling someone, and just plain being taken advantage of by someone. It takes loving discernment to recognize what someone truly needs. One conversation I overheard was that if a young woman did not get money to pay her electric bill she was thinking about prostituting herself.... I was sick to my stomach and get sick just thinking about it... she was serious.

Our pastor in his wisdom always reminds us that we cannot fill every need and will never be able to... we do have a Thrift Shop and a Food Closet in our church and we also have connections to resources to get financial help to those in need. So we do offer alot to the people that ask for help.

As I was thinking about my word for the year and the path that I would like to take I realized that I need to look back and not just forward. So I have my word for this year..."blessings". I have been so blessed. With all of the media advertising in front of us it is easy to focus on what we don't have... so I am going to be very purposeful and think about what I do have. I am going to focus on the positive things that have happened in my life, all of the awesome people in my life, and all of the wonderful "things" that I already have! I found this quote on Pinterest by Jamie Mitchell. I think it sums it all up!

I wish for blessings in 2012 for all of you my blog friends and most of all that you will find lots of "truth, beauty and quiet joy"!

Circus Fun

2012-01-11T19:16:00.000-08:00

Lots of beads and lots of fun! The multi colored beads were a shared effort with a bead friend. She was going to make a bracelet with them and decided not to... so I couldn't resist putting them on a neckpiece!

They remind me of a Circus!

Lots of color and texture!

These polymer beads have a wooden base...

Color and fun from the front...

To the back!

Circus Fun!

Bits and Pieces

2012-01-06T04:22:00.000-08:00

I love putting together bits and pieces of pretties together.

Makes me think of summer with the aqua polymer beads...

and sea shell charms...

and an old button to hold it all together...

This one will brighten up a winter's day!

Take a Stitch Tuesday

2012-01-04T15:54:00.000-08:00

Ok so I am trying something new! I have been interested in doing some embroidery work. I really love crazy quilts and want to make some small crazy quilt pieces... maybe even some jewelry if I can do something small enough.

I have done alot of cross stitch but not alot of embroidery work so I found a challenge at Pin Tangle to learn and try a new embroidery stitch every Tuesday. The challenge is called Take a Stitch Tuesday or TAST. There are 100's of others joining in and there is a TAST Flickr site with photos. Check out the beautiful needlework on these links. Remember I am a beginner so my stitches are not so breath taking! So here we go!

My first Fly Stitch

I am left handed so I always have to think through directions. This was easy for me though. I can tell that it will take time to have a comfort level with a stitch... especially to get it consistent... but I am not unhappy with my first try at it.

I also tried another stitch that was referenced in Sharon B's Stitch Dictionary the Oyster Stitch.

This took me awhile to get but again I am happy with my three little oyster stitches! It is alot of fun and takes me back to my childhood. My Grandma used to make embroidered pillow cases. Wish I would have kept one of them! Happy creating to you!

Screen Catchers

2011-12-27T17:49:00.000-08:00

I had seen "screen bugs" made out of the glass pebbles that you can buy in bags and came up with an idea for my "screen catcher" dragonflies. Kind of a cross between a "screen bug" and a "sun catcher". Remember the stained glass sun catchers anyone?

Anyway we were having our Friday Bead Friends day at my house and a friend saw some of my screen catcher dragonflies and had to have some for Christmas gifts. Their legs wrap around your screen and they look awesome when the sun reflects off of the crystals!

I use swarovski crystals so they really sparkle in the sun.

.. and from the front...

Blues and greens are my favorites!

They are a happy thing to look at especially out of your kitchen window!

Repurposed with Love

2011-12-24T08:07:00.000-08:00

As I went through the boxes my son brought home from the end of his four years as a Midshipman at the Naval Academy I came accross his work uniforms. I asked him if he wanted to keep them and he said no... the uniforms had his name and ID on them so I couldn't give them away. I looked at the buttons and each button had an anchor on it. I just couldn't throw them away. (...that is a problem for me... at least I did something with them!)

I decided to make some jewelry from them for his favorite girl in the whole world! He wore those buttons through lots of hard work and I knew she would appreciate them.

I made an elastic chain bracelet and hung lots of buttons on it. I also added their initials and a few heart and "love" charms. The "love" charms are appropriate because that is what he calls her..."love"!

I also made some earrings from the buttons and charms. They are not the same... drives some people crazy but I think it makes life interesting when things don't match!

One has a heart charm...

The other has a "love"charm...( it has "love" stamped on it really... sorry I didn't get that part in the picture)

She loved them and looks lovely wearing them. We called the bracelet her "hoo-ray" bracelet. That is a Marine thing. It makes noise when she moves!

I am a happy momma knowing that someone else loves my boy as much as I do!

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Kumihimo Fun

2011-10-22T04:31:00.000-07:00

I went to a Bead Show this summer and came accross something new to me... Kumihimo braiding.

I found this at Linda MacMillan's Oak Grove Studio booth. My friend Mary Lee was looking at the goodies in her booth and I was looking for Mary Lee so I stopped for a minute as Linda was demonstrating how easy it was to braid with a Kumihimo disk. I thought it looked interesting because I like to have something easy and mindless to do in the evenings while watching television. I have three dogs who want to be in my chair with me so I can't work on anything too complicated. My mind is also about mush by then so I really don't want to have to count something...

I have been pleasantly surprised with this! The first braid I made was with fibers that came with the Kumihimo kit that I purchased from Linda. I used it in a neckpiece that I did for fall. You can see it here intertwined in beads and fiber wrapped cord.

I also purchased a kit to make a beaded bracelet using the Kumihimo disk. I love it! I did have to count the beads when I set up the disk but didn't have to worry about counting anything after I had it set up!

Here is the bracelet I made.

So now that I have the hang of it I have been trying some other fiber combinations. So fun!

This one is made with a multi colored yarn.

This one is made with the same yarn and with another similar yarn in a different color.

So then I got creative and added a silk frayed ribbon and some fuzzy yarn to the mix. It actually makes a spiral when you use a different thickness of fiber.

Here is a photo of the three braids.

They are about a 1/2 inch in diameter. I am not sure what I am going to do with them yet but I really enjoyed making them. To learn more about Oak Grove Studio check out her web page.

ABS October Challenge

2011-10-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

I love the artwork for this month's Art Bead Scene Challenge! The picture is fun and interesting. I know that many of you do not like the literal interpretation of these so much but I work with polymer which so lends itself to being literal. So like it or not I joined in the challenge this month. I enjoyed making the polymer hedgehog the most. So here is my interpretation of "A Hedgehog in a Landscape ".

The painting was done by Giovanna Garzoni who was one of the first female artists to do still life paintings. She lived from 1600 to 1670 and painted this picture sometime between 1643 and 1651... certainly along time ago!

So I got the hedgehog, the acorns and the snail in there. I used metal leaves from a recycled necklace. I also get my fiber from the thrift store usually so this piece is a little bit "green"!

I finished the back with a wooden bead for my Hedgehog in a Landscape neckpiece.

Hope you have a great Thursday! And check out the other entries at the flickr site for the ABS monthly Challenge!

Seasons Favorites

2011-10-04T13:41:00.000-07:00

I have to say that fall is my favorite season. Not sure why because I really don't like winter which comes right after fall. I sure don't miss the snow and cold of Western Pennsylvania. We get some winter in Delaware but not so much. I enjoy the change of seasons and I love the colors of fall. I suppose I always liked school too so maybe that is why fall is my favorite time of year.
I have been busy in my studio getting some fall jewelry finished. I made some polymer beads in fall colors and shapes. My favorite is this blackberry bead!

I put them on a neckpiece and some bracelets.... so warm and juicy!

Harvest Owl

I also included a kumihimo braid on this piece.

The kumihimo braid is really fun and quick to do.

Harvest Gathering

This bracelet is a chain with elastic through it. It really swishes around with all of the dangles on it!

Seeds of Glory

These beads are strung on memory wire which always works well to display fun beads!

Happy Fall! Enjoy the smell of cinnamon and apples and getting out your warm cozy clothes for the months to come!

Bead Soup Blog Party Today!

2011-09-17T06:56:00.000-07:00

Melissa Mesera sent me some beautiful lampwork beads... so pretty. She called them "Starry Night" beads which is a perfect name for them. They are mostly dark blue and silver but there is a streak of green through the beads too. I was able to make three pieces from the beads that she sent to me. The first piece that I made was in a style that I have been doing alot of... I know we are supposed to be stretching ourselves and doing something different but I started with a process that speaks to me and then I branched out a bit and made a bracelet that was a totally different from any I have made so far.

The neckpiece I made using fiber wrapped cord with a wire of beads entwined through it. The green color of the beads is brought out by the lighter fiber that I used. I just love this "Starry Night" piece!

Aren't these beads beautiful!

I then made some earrings from the beads as well. They are simple but will compliment the neckpiece beautifully.

Then I got brave and started working with the rest of the beads to make a bracelet that does not have any fiber in it!!! I used the beautiful clasp that Melissa sent me on the bracelet. I am getting better at wire wrapping so I am pretty happy with how it turned out. My 26 year old daughter liked it too.... for her to say that she would wear this bracelet made my day!

Thank you so much Melissa! I really enjoyed looking at the beads while I worked with them. They are mesmerizing and so interesting! You can visit Melissa's blog here. Her Etsy shop is one-eared pig beads. She has some beautiful jewelry in her shop.

To see what everyone else has done check out the list at Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party . Thank you for stopping by and joining the party!

Bead Soup Blog Party... I am ready!

2011-09-15T04:53:00.000-07:00

It seems that life has pockets of busyness... mine has had a deep one the past few weeks!

I am one to procrastinate and think that I can finish most tasks in half of the time it really takes to do them... always ready to pull my hair out at the last minute! So I am learning to work on projects a bit at a time to keep moving forward with them... and I was successful with this one!

I am ready for the Bead Soup Blog Party this Saturday! I finished working with the beautiful soup that my partner Melissa Mesara sent me. Her blog is one-eared pig!

As it turns out my kids are coming home, we are going camping and I am missing an Art Show and a dinner party on Saturday. Thanks to technology I have my blog ready and scheduled to post on Saturday morning. I won't be able to blog hop much until Sunday evening though. I am so looking forward to perusing all of the creativity out there!

This is really a fun project! Again thanks to Lori Anderson for hosting this party! There are over 350 participants from all over the world! Check it out starting this Saturday. There will be links to the lists of the blog participants on everyones blog. Happy Thursday!

TADA 365 Letters of Adornment

2011-09-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

I post my work on Flickr and have joined the TADA365 group. TADA stands for Totally Addicted to Daily Art. We have joined together to do a "Letters of Adornment" art jewelry show. I had the letters "F" and "G". The reveal date of the show is September 19th and the website is TADA365.

The TADA365 flickr site is worth looking at... You will see a broad selection of creative pieces as you peruse this groups work.

My first piece is for the letter "F".... Flora, Fauna, Fantasy.

The idea for this piece came from a vision of a magical forest and the beings that might live there. It has been fun working on this piece! Hope you have a great weekend!

BSBP coming soon!

Travels and Surprises

2011-08-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

We spent the last ten days traveling to my hometown to attend the wedding of my niece. It had been two years since I have seen many of my family members so it was really a special visit. We drove the 350 some miles to get to Saxonburg Pennsylvania with our new camper in tow. The wedding and visit were awesome.

I am convinced that the creatures from the other dimension live in Western Pennsylvania... as we traveled the country roads that were lined with forests of trees that canopied over us I was sure I spotted some wee creatures. We drove through the rain with the sun blinding us as the leprachauns created a rainbow to find their gold. The roads are winding and narrow with lots of bumps and gullies in them. My reaction to the terrain surprised me as I spent the first 40 years of my life there. I guess it is the result of living on the coastal plains for the last eight years. Delaware is very flat and open for the most part.

We drove back east via Phoenixville Pennsylvania so I could meet my bead friends at the Interweave Beadfest show... we stayed at a wonderful KOA campground that was tucked back in an even more remote area than where I grew up. I love camping! I also loved the bead show. My oh my... almost overwhelming! I bought some fun stuff... like some wool and a felting needle and a kumihimo kit! I have had some fun with both of them and will post some finished products soon.

When I got home from the trip I had a wonderful surprise waiting for me! My bead soup partner Melissa Mesara had sent me treasures! I love her Etsy shop One Eared Pig! I was excited to see what she sent me.

The box came in the mail!

In the box there was a card and another box!

In the other box were bags of awesome bead soup!

Melissa makes amazing glass beads. Van Gogh's "Starry Night" was her inspiration for these beads. I love the color and the metallic streaks.

Definitely "Starry Night"!

Love these beads and clasp to really make the soup taste good!

More starry night beads to add as well!

...and some "just because" beads that are so adorable... the mutant fish has three eyes...

He won't miss a thing with those eyes!

Thanks Melissa! I can't wait to get started with this bead soup! I love how creative and eclectic you are! Even the card was awesome. This is a picture of Neodymium Chandelier by Dale Chihuly.

Amazing!

Hope you all are having as much fun with this Bead Soup Blog Party as I am! I am looking forward to see what everyone else creates!

BSBP Partners!

2011-08-09T18:26:00.000-07:00

It is time to share our beads and get creative! My partner is Melissa Mesara who makes amazing glass beads and jewelry! Check our her blog and her Etsy shop One Eared Pig Beads! Love that name! Here is one of my favorites from her Etsy shop.

Green Raku Glass Necklace handmade by Melissa Mesara

The Bead Soup Blog Party is so much fun. It is fun to put together the soup for your partner and fun to get a present from them too! It is amazing how creative and inspiring everyone is. Such a big group of participants this year too. Thanks Lori Anderson for putting this together! And thanks to Melissa for being my partner!

Bead Soup Blog Party Time!

2011-08-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

Wow! 362 participants in this Bead Soup Blog Party! This is gonna be fun!

Check out the list at Lori Andersons Blog Pretty Things. Thanks Lori for all of your hard work on this!

Etsy Team Fun

2011-07-26T12:28:00.000-07:00

Check out this Etsy Delaware Street Team Treasury...Summer Rainbow ! My Purple Swirl pendant was included in it.

I enjoy Etsy. I don't sell much on there but I still enjoy it. So much creative energy out there!

Stay cool if you can!

Big Beads

2011-07-20T03:27:00.000-07:00

I have made some big beads with polymer... This bracelet reminds me of the Flintstones. I can see Wilma Flintstone wearing this with her one shoulder dinosaur skin dress! These beads were made using cornstarch packing peanuts. The packing peanuts I found were green not white. You need to read the label and make sure they are cornstarch peanuts if you want to try this technique.

The cornstarch peanuts will dissolve in water. To make a big bead base you add a drop of water to a few of them and mush them together into a ball... well at least as close to a ball as you can. Mine didn't seem to get really round. You let the peanut mush dry. You can then wrap clay around the peanut. You need to poke holes through the clay for bead stringing as well as to get water in the bead to dissolve the peanut mush after baking. The hole needs to be fairly big but not too big.

I found that the beads were light weight but also that they could break if not careful. You can of course make the clay thicker around the peanut mush.

I also found it tedious to get the peanut mush out of the bead after baking. It turned into a green slimy sludge that I had to blow out of the beads after soaking them in water. It took several times of soaking and blowing through the beads... my jaws were hurting like when you blow up too many balloons... not so fun.

I am always interested in trying new techniques. So when I saw the big beads in this book I had to give it a try! I purchased Ancient Modern Polymer Clay and Wire Jewelry by Ronna Sarvas Weltman. I love her polymer work. It is very organic looking.

I made a necklace and some earrings using the technique in her book with aluminum foil as a base for the big beads. It worked well. The beads are light in weight and I could get a more round bead.

Something else I learned from the book... I used brown shoe polish to antique the beads. I am thinking that Renaissance Wax and shoe polish are made from the same chemicals because they sure smell the same! It was interesting to learn some new techniques!

Bead Soup Blog Party Time is Coming!

2011-07-17T16:04:00.000-07:00

It is time once again for the Bead Soup Blog Party! Our hostess Lori Anderson makes a list of everyone who wants to participate and pairs us up with someone else. You send beads from your stash to them and they send beads from their stash to you. It is so much fun to see what everyone makes and a challenge to make something from beads you might not buy or use yourself. Definitely gets you out of the box! It is also a great way to meet new people! Hope to see you sign up for it!

Micro Macrame

2011-07-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

Ok so I confess that I can spend hours playing Bejeweled Blitz and Mahjong on Facebook. I decided that I needed to find something else to do in the evenings when I am too tired to do anything but watch TV. So I thought I would try a macrame project. I can sit in my chair with my puppies next to me and work with something little. Micro macrame sounded like it might be a project to start with.
Under over... over under.... under over...ok so I was kind of a hippie back in the day and it all came back to me when I started on my micro macrame project. In the 70's we were very cool and thought macrame jewelry was "far out". Sounds funny now! Things in life do cycle around. So here I am doing macrame again 30 years later.
I worked with number 3 thread which is pretty thin but it came together. I used a pattern purchased from http://www.free-macrame-patterns.com/ I also used what I had on hand and didn't plan too much in advance for this. It took me a couple of hours but I was able to work on it while watching TV in the evenings. So all in all I am happy with the project.

I will plan ahead and make this bracelet again. I will make some flat polymer beads and color coordinate a little more. I enjoyed doing macrame way back when and still found it fun to do!

Bo Jangles

2011-06-26T09:10:00.000-07:00

I am enamored of making fuzzy, dangly neckpieces. It seems I add more and more dangles to each one that I make. I have done well at a local art gallery with these pieces. The The Rehoboth Art League is situated on a beautiful campus in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. If you are ever in the area and enjoy art galleries it is definitely worth visiting.

The latest piece that I have finished is in greens and blues. Fun to make and fun to wear!

The turquoise drops are made from translucent polymer mixed with alcohol inks. Messy to do but the colors have a different look that I like... very watery. So this one I called Bo Jangles... reminds me of the beach and if the beads made noise it would definitely jangle!

Fun with "Man Tools"!

2011-06-20T16:35:00.000-07:00

Not really man tools but Harbor Freight is definitely one of my hubby's favorite stores. He walks up and down every aisle very slowly... just like I do at the craft stores... you never know what you might find that you might be able to use - especially when making polymer beads.

I found this carving set at Harbor Freight. It was inexpensive and I thought the tools would be fun to use on polymer beads for texture.

Some of the points are a little sharp so be careful if you purchase a set of these. I had fun making these beads with the carving tools.

I also got some brass and aluminum tubing in round and square at the "man store" hobby shop....you know where they sell boats, planes, trains and helicopter parts...

They make great little squares, circles and petals in the clay. I do the texturing before they are baked then dust them with some mica powders... I named this set "ninja"... the big bead looks like a ninja face to me! If I have to shop with my hubby I make the most of it... and try to think out of the box! An interesting find is that these tools cost less than those made specifically for polymer clay design work. That is always good!

The Library Donation

2011-06-17T07:23:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged for awhile. I have been busy with life and frustrated with trying to leave comments on other blogs. I can if I sign in and don't check the "Stay signed in" box. Hope they get it fixed soon. I have been reading your blogs though and so enjoy seeing what everyone is up to. Lots of great creating going on out there.
I have been busy with some projects. I was asked to donate some art work to a fund raiser for our local library. I ended up on the Sustainability Committee because I was hoping to get the library involved in an art show. My dream is to bring other artists into our area and promote the arts in Seaford, DE. My vision is to have a show that has decent prizes and several categories. Paintings, photography, fiber art, jewelry... It would be a huge project and would take involvement by the whole community. I am about to give up because I am not finding anyone else passionate enough about it to help me push it to reality!

In the mean time I am committed to help our library raise money. The Seaford Library and Cultural Center is beautiful and enjoyed by many people in the community. We are having a fund raising dinner tonight with a local author for our speaker. It should be a fun event.

They asked me for a painting. I have not painted much for awhile and really don't have any inventory that I want to part with so I made some jewelry. It is colorful and will be fun for summer.

I am going to spend some time with my Friday Bead Friends today. Girl talk, lunch and some beading! Can't beat that for a fun day... then off to the Library tonight. I hope someone looooves this set of wearable art! I had fun making it!

USNA Commissioning Week

2011-05-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

We spent last week in Annapolis, Maryland at the USNA Commissioning celebration. We are priviledged to be the parents of a 2011 USNA graduate. We are priviledged as a nation to have an amazing group of young men and women wanting to serve our country. All of our service academies are awesome! Secretary of Defense Robert Gates gave a wonderful and encouraging speech to those graduating and to those of us there for the graduates. What a patriotic week to end with Memorial Day weekend.

From cook outs to award ceremonies....

To the Graduation Ball!

It does take a village to raise a child. When I think back on the friends, teachers, coaches and family members that helped to raise our children I am so thankful for the loving support of each one of them. We don't raise our kids alone.

Taylor with his JROTC Instructor from high school!

We are the proud parents!

.... but he gives his girl his hat and his heart!

This is a special Memorial Day for me for sure. I am proud to be an American and proud to be from a family who has served and will continue to serve this great country. Thank you to all of our service men and women and their families! Happy Memorial Day!

Lavendar

2011-05-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

Ok so it is spring! I have also been working in lavendar... another spring color that I am seeing outside.

It was windy when I took this picture so I couldn't get it opened up! Although this looks more blue to me than lavendar it matches the polymer beads that I made...

Lovin' spring for sure!

The End of the Beginning

2011-05-13T15:09:00.000-07:00

My youngest is graduating from the United States Naval Academy on May 27, 2011. The past four years have gone by so quickly! We are very proud of him! He will graduate with an aerospace engineering degree and is in the top 100 of his class. What is interesting is that when choosing his service selection he chose Marine Ground... not what mama wanted to hear.

I will say that he has a strong faith and seeks guidance for his decisions. I can't argue with God. He feels that this is the path he is supposed to take. He originally wanted to fly for the Navy but due to medical reasons he was not selected to do so. In the four years that he has been at the academy he has been very impressed by the ethics of the Marines. He also has found that he likes to be a leader. So my aeorspace engineer is hoping to lead a group of Marines on the ground... in harms way. So I am proud of him and scared to death for him! I am thankful that he is a prayerful young man and I know that God has a plan for him... but the next five years will not be easy for mama! Graduation week will not be easy for mama either... there will be lots of tears from this girl!

Taylor is the midshipman in the front. He was the Company Commander last semester. We all need to proud of these young men and women because they are amazing! We have had several midshipmen at our home for holidays and weekends because we live close to the academy. They have all been so polite, so interesting to talk to and just plain nice kids! They all work very hard at everything they do.

So I am blessed to have all three of my children graduate from college! The end of the beginning for me too!

Yellow-Yellow-Yellow

2011-05-10T14:18:00.000-07:00

Not my favorite color but I have a friend who wanted something in yellow and white and I have so enjoyed yellow this spring this year after a cold wet gray winter. We have a few yellow flowers out in the yard!

Even the dandelions look refreshing this spring!

The yellow polymer clay that I have is translucent so it doesn't make a crisp transition with the white. I had to sand the pieces that I made to make the white more white. I made a block of yellow and white layers and cut a 1/2 inch slice off of it. I rolled the slice into a snake and twisted the snake to make a candy cane with a white and yellow stripe.... the yellow over powered the white so I did not get a candy cane look. What I did get was a really interesting design when I cut the snake in half lengthwise.

These are thin strips of the design over a yellow base. I also bought some pendant blanks from B'sue Boutique. I was not sure how much the clay would shrink so I cut an oval to fit the pendant and baked it all together in the toaster oven.

It did not shrink too much so with a little glue it will be a pendant!

I also made some beads by covering a white ball with slices of the same snake.

And then I smooshed all of the leftovers and made some beads with pearlex powder on them.

So I am liking yellow a little more these days.... now I have to figure out what I am going to do with them!

Robin Egg Blue

2011-05-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

Finding a robin egg in the spring was a treasure when I was a little girl. I always found parts of an egg. My wonderment would have been to find a whole one. I did find whole eggs in the nest but we were taught to leave the nests alone because the mother bird wouldn't come back if we touched them.(not sure if that is true or not but I wasn't about to cause a baby bird not to have a mother!) I grew up on a farm in the small town of Saxonburg, PA. Life was simple back then as I amused myself by playing outside. Unusual rocks, locust shells and bird eggs were part of a treasure hunt for me.

If you asked me my favorite color I would say blue... but when I really think about it my favorite crayon was always blue green and now that I am playing with polymer clay I keep chosing to work with turquoise. So this spring I thought I would try to make a robin egg.

Even though color is something that you cannot memorize I think I did it!

I found part of an egg in the yard this morning so I was excited to see how well I did with matching the color and I think I did it! Of course I am a muse follower and don't measure anything so who knows if I can do it again! It was fun though and I made a bunch of tiny egg charms and this nest.... not sure what I will do with them but I have had fun with it so far!

Sunday Afternoon

2011-05-01T15:04:00.000-07:00

This has been a busy weekend... My three grown kids were home for my oldest daughter's 26th birthday! The interesting part of this story is that their dad, my ex-husband and his girlfriend were also here for the weekend! I know it sounds strange but when we divorced we made an agreement that we would work hard to be friends so our kids would have happy memories for their special events. I had a friend who had divorced parents and that was her advice to me when we were splitting up... so we actually have become friends. We do not live close to each other so we only visit a few times a year.

So my kids had fun... Tiffany said she was two sheets to the wind... not sure what happened to the third sheet but I guess that isn't so bad...

They stayed up and partied until just after midnight.... ( they are getting old since that is all the later they stayed up!)
So today we are all just really tired... even the babies.

I love having all three of my kids home at the same time. It does't happen much since they are 26, 23 and 22 and two of them live in different states. I spent every minute of my free time last week getting ready for company and a birthday party for this weekend.... and it was worth it. I did get to spend a few hours in my studio this afternoon. I have laundry waiting and the floors could use some attention but I needed some time to be creative. It is always a struggle for me to allow myself to spend time making beads or painting but it really is soul food for me! Hope you all get some "me" time too! Sometimes you just have to take it!

"M" Tangles or What I do in meetings!

2011-04-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

I kind of chuckled when I first read about Zentangles. I have been doodling all of my life through school, church or meetings. It seems that I can't pay attention long if I don't doodle. It keeps me focused on listening and my mind does not wander. I thought I would share the doodles I did at the last Church Council meeting that I attended. (they thought I was busy taking notes!)

At least I got a cross in there! I work at a church as the Business Manager... I attend the meetings but don't vote or really comment so I wasn't being so bad...

I honestly cannot pay attention at a meeting or lecture unless I am doodling! So I thought I would try doodling with some colored markers one evening while watching TV... it was fun!

I need to put a mat and frame around it! It really is fun and I have done a little doodling with polymer clay.

He kind of looks like a fish to me! I do not have a plan when I do this so it is kind of random but is cathartic to me. So I have seen some comments on other blogs about doodling like this! Any other closet doodlers out there?

Something New

2011-04-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

It has been polymer beads and focals for jewelry from this girl for the last two years... but I tried something different this week. I have been looking at and admiring the polymer clay art dolls on various blogs and Etsy shops... so here she is... my first art doll in polymer!

Meet "The Leaf Princess"!

I worked one afternoon on faces. I used an acorn cookie cutter to get this face shape. I also used brass tubing to make the indents for the eyes the nose and the mouth.

The leaves that surround her face were from a Lisa Pavelka border mold.

I used yarn for her hair. I tied strands of yarn around a length of yarn. I remember my baby dolls with hair had rows of hair so I made two layers of these strands for the crown and the back of her head. I made two smaller strands for each side of her face. I used super glue to hold the yarn in place.

I wanted to add some words that had meaning to me. So I stamped a scripture in the green at the bottom of her dress. Jerimiah 6:16 "...ask where the good way is and walk in it."

Her body is not solid. I made a frame out of aluminum foil and covered it with clay so she is not too heavy. I also put a wire loop on her back so she can be hung on a wall. So tell me what you think of my "Leaf Princess"!

I learned a few things and will try to make some different art dolls. It was fun to do something I hadn't done before!

7000 Bracelets for Hope

2011-04-15T18:43:00.000-07:00

Lori Anderson has shared a special cause with us on her blog Pretty Things. The 7000 Bracelets of Hope cause is an awareness effort for those who have rare diseases and is being backed by the Global Genes Project. They have asked for jewelry designers to make bracelets that would go with blue jeans for families that have children with rare diseases. We are blog hopping on April 16th so check out the other bloggers who have made bracelets here.

I have made this bracelet to send to a family for this cause.

It is made from polymer clay and glass beads and is strung on elastic so it can fit any size.

I hope this makes someone smile a little and feel that they are loved and being thougth about. Illness of any kind is such a difficult part of life. Sharing love and good thoughts is one way to reach out to those who suffer.

Because I have been blessed I want to do more and I do have my own special causes. My husband suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from his time in combat in Vietnam. He also has diabetes and other issues from Agent Orange exposure. He has lived with issues from this for 40 years and is finally getting help for it. It is frustrating when you are struggling and don't know why. It was a relief to finally put a name on it and have ways to help cope with it. I think about those with rare diseases having that same struggle.

I am so thankful for the blessings in my life. I have three healthy children and I have been fairly healthy too. We all have life struggles but it is easier to deal with them when we can share our hurts with another. Be kind and show some love to someone that you see is struggling! Someday you may need that love back!

Taking a Break

2011-04-15T07:20:00.000-07:00

We live in Delaware and are about 45 minutes from the beach. In the summer we don't go to the beach too often because of the tourist traffic. We have lived here for 8 years and every year it seems we get to the beach less and less. This year is going to be different! My hubby and I decided to take a mid week break and stay a night at an ocean front hotel in Rehoboth Beach.

We stayed at the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel... this is one beautiful place let me tell ya... very Victorian decor.

This is the dining room!

Delicious food... we had a crab bowl for lunch and a I had a dark chocolate cheesecake for desert.... yumm!

The view from our balcony!

I love listening to the waves and we had a balcony that is ocean front. The balcony door was open all night... It is so soothing to me!

Our bed where we could relax, look at, and listen to the ocean!

If you are ever in this part of the world and want to stay somewhere nice try the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware! Pretty part of the world!

Looking at the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel from the beach.

All in all we relaxed and enjoyed ourselves... but we have been campers all of our marriage and believe it or not I think we will be shopping for a camper or a motorhome again! This was nice but I love having my own bed and the privacy of our own space! What is your favorite way to get away?

Sharing Secrets-Renaissance Wax

2011-04-11T13:10:00.000-07:00

I have learned so much from blog hopping. I have to thank Lori Anderson for getting me started on this journey. It has been so much fun meeting all of you out there in blogland! I really appreciate how willing everyone is to share what they are doing and how they are doing it!

My newest find from reading your blogs is using Renaissance Wax for polymer beads. I sometimes prefer a shiny or glossy finish on my polymer beads and have found that the sealant products don't seem to stay on the beads all of the time. Especially the beads that are on a bracelet or beads that get handled more.

I came accross a blog by Diva Designs that explained how and why she uses Renaissance Wax to polish polymer clay beads. You can purchase the wax from her Etsy shop PC Diva.

The bead on the left was sanded but not polished yet and the bead on the right was polished with the wax. I had a time getting a picture to show the difference... but this one does a little bit. It is better than this looks... really! The finish is softer and more natural looking with the wax polish than the finish from a sealant. I find that the more I polish the beads the shinier they get. I use a piece of denim from some old jeans as a polishing cloth. It works really well.

Hope this helps you as much as it helped me! Thanks Lori and Lynda!

Yours truly,
M

Wrap It Up Tutorial

2011-04-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

I have had lots of wonderful comments on the fiber wrapped cords that I use to make neckpieces. I call them "neckpieces" because they are usually more like a scarf than a necklace. I wanted to share how I make the wrapped cords with you. The inspiration to make these came from the Winter 2010 Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine.

"Wrapped, Jeweled and Embellished Creations" is the name of the article by Arline M. Lowenthal.

I start with cotton clothes line. I measure the length that I want the piece to be and add about 6 inches to that for the ends. It takes about 3 inches to make each loop on the ends.

I use Scotch tape to keep the ends from fraying. I wrap the end in tape about a quarter of an inch in...

Then I cut the end of the tape off to the end of the cord.

I then form a loop to the size I want it. The size of the loop depends on the size of the button or bead that you will use to fit through the loop for the clasp.

I then mark where the loop will meet the cord with my thumb.

This is where I will start wrapping the fiber around the cord. We will wrap going from this point to the short end of the cord to make the loop. Start with a section of fiber about an inch long. It should be facing the short end of the cord.

Start wrapping the fiber around the cord over the one inch piece. This will hold the end of the fiber in place.
When I get to the tape on the end of the cord I make the loop by putting the end of the cord next to the cord.

I then tape the end to the cord. This is an important step because the loop can come apart if you don't... trust me on this one!

It is hard to see the tape because it is clear but the end is taped to the cord to form the loop. I then wrap the fiber around both cord pieces and then keep wrapping down the cord.

To change to a different fiber I tie a slip knot around the cord at least two times with the fiber I am using. I then leave an inch of the fiber to wrap under with the next kind of fiber. I start it the same way as the first wrap was started with about an inch wrapped underneath. I ususally tie the end and then tack it with a needle and corresponding color of thread because you can't wrap the last end that you have.

I make both ends first and use a simple cotton yarn on the loops. I then add different fibers as I go.

To add another cord I lay them next to each other and tape and wrap the two together and continue down the new cord wrapping as I go.

I hope you enjoyed my first blog tutorial... but most of all I hope you are inspired to try your hand at wrapping and embellishing! It is nice because you can make a statement piece that is light weight and comfortable to wear. This tutorial is will get you started. The instructions in the magazine are a little different and certainly more involved but with trial and error it all works!

Please comment with questions and please share what you create with us on your blog!

Yours truly,

Somewhere Over the Rainbow...

2011-04-06T16:08:00.000-07:00

I made some beads at the end of last summer that were really summery beads. I put them in one of the holes in my printer drawer full of beads and let them sit there through the winter. They would catch my eye but until this weekend I couldn't get the muse for something for summer. Not that the weather has made me feel like summer is anywhere in the near future! It has been hot tea weather here still. I guess it was the change from March to April that got my summer muse started!

I was practicing the "skinner blend" with this focal bead!

I cut shapes out of the colors that I used in the "skinner blend" focal and made charms out of them.

So this is a fiber wrapped cord that has a bunch of fun charms on it! I love that polymer is so light weight! This makes a statement but is very comfortable to wear...

The bracelet has a swirl bead focal... the swirl bead is really easy and fun to make.

This set is listed for sale in my Ms-Place Art Fire shop!

Can't wait for warmer weather!

Yours truly,

The Secret Garden

2011-04-03T17:20:00.000-07:00

I had some beads left from the Bead Soup Blog Party and I wanted to make something with the beads that I blogged about here. So I had some fiber wrapped cords in green and tan that were twisted together that seemed like they might just match all the beads I had... so I kept adding pieces here and there and here and there and.... this is what I ended up with!

Here-there-and everywhere!

I have decided that my style is eclectic... I love colors and textures and to make things that people want to touch. This piece has so many different elements to it. Here are some close ups.

Everything from stones to glass beads to copper charms all mixed together with polymer beads... so fun!

So it is for sale in my Ms Place Art Fire Shop... check it out here!

Thanks for stopping by!

Yours truly,

Old Things New Again

2011-04-01T19:28:00.000-07:00

I love old things... they always seem to have a story hidden in them. I found a "treasure" at the Thrift Store the other day and thought I would share it with you.

Not sure how old it is.... the colors are not faded at all.

Five rolls of Ric Rac

5 cents a yard doesn't sound too bad!

Found these a few months ago!

An old printer drawer full of beads... beads...and

more beads!

I am thinking I will try to wrap the ric rac on some cord. It should make some interesting texture! I will let you know how it looks. I love old things especially when I can make them into something new or find a new use for them...

Yours tuly,

A Party in Turquoise Continues...

2011-03-28T03:55:00.000-07:00

I really love all shades of blue green.... from aqua, to teal to turquoise! I have been working in my studio on summer items and I keep going back to the turquoise beads and fibers...

Invited to the Party

A Party in Turquoise Bangle

and earrings to match!

I have also opened an M's Place Art Fire shop! I have listed these as the first few items in the shop! Check it out here! I would love to hear your take on the difference between Etsy and Artfire.

A Party in Turquoise

2011-03-26T04:28:00.000-07:00

I finished the neckpiece that I blogged about here. It is a fun piece. I love how light weight these pieces are even though they make quite a statement. I just listed the set in my Etsy shop. I also made a bracelet to match.

It was more comfortable to wear than I thought it would be. I think because it is light weight and it doesn't dangle.

So if you are looking for something fun for Spring or Summer check it out at MsPlace.

Yours truly,

M

Nave Nave Moe

2011-03-22T19:46:00.000-07:00

I was really drawn to the artwork for the March Art Bead Scene challenge.

The name of this painting is Nave Nave Moe (Sacred Spring, Sweet Dreams) and it was painted by Paul Gauguin in 1894. I love the colors in this painting! I decided to make something for this challenge. I made some polymer beads. I have been playing with some macrame and I love to upcycle stuff from the Thrift Store... so I worked some old seam binding that I found there into a neckpiece. I wired some beads and put it all together for the March Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge.

Color Me Tahiti

I had fun making the faces and putting it all together! I have been really drawn to bright colors lately... must be the changing seasons that has me going there! You should check out all of the entries on flickr. There are really some great pieces of wearable art inspired by a great piece of wall art!
Yours truly,
M

New Beads!

2011-03-20T04:21:00.000-07:00

I always want to try new techniques. I like to try things but if it takes too much to get a piece finished I probably won't try it again. I am not Attention Deficit but the process cannot take more time than the creative part of the project. Being creative really is soul food for me.

I decided to work with alcohol inks and translucent and pearl clay. Here are the beads I created with blue and violet ink. By the way this is a really messy process and my hands were stained for a few days. I wore latex gloves the second time I worked with it but it is more fun with my bare hands!

I also did some with blue and green inks.

They really look like marble. There is a point in mixing that the swirls of ink are just right for the marble effect. This was fun! Even though it was messy I will try this again. Now to come up with a design to use the beads! I am thinking I might make some denim fabric beads..

Yours truly,

M

Seek Beauty

2011-03-17T06:04:00.000-07:00

I have a little book called God Calling. It is written by Two Listeners and edited by AJ Russell. It has short chapters or daily writings of two struggling women in England who pray together and share the message God has given them. Soul food! I want to share a chapter with you about creation and the world we live in from their writing of what God spoke to them.

Draw Beauty from every flower and Joy from the song of the birds, and the color of the flowers. I am with you. When I wanted to express a beautiful thought, I made a lovely flower. When I want to express to man what I am - what My Father is - I strive to make a very beautiful character.

Think of yourselves as My expression of attributes, as a lovely flower is my expression of thought, and you will strive in all, in Spirtiual beauty, in Thought--power, in Health, in clothing, to be as fit an expression for Me as you can.

Absorb Beauty. As soon as the beauty of a flower or a tree is impressed upon your soul it leaves an image there which reflects through your actions. Remember that no thought of sin and suffering, of the approaching scorn and Crucifixion, ever prevented My seeing the beauty of the flowers.

Look for beauty and joy in the world around. Look at a flower until its beauty becomes part of your very soul. It will be given back to the world again by you in the form of a smile or a loving word.

Lissten to a bird. Take the song as a message from My Father. Let it sink into your soul. That too will be given back to the world in ways I have said. Laugh more, laugh often. Love more. I am with you. I am your Lord.

Enjoy the beauties of Spring. Let them sink into your soul and come out in your life, in your relationships and in what you create! Yours truly, M

Color Mixes and Pearl Ex Powders

2011-03-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

I really do make one of a kind polymer pieces. I do not measure the colors that I combine to come up with new colors. I was going to use some scrap clay to make a mold and I really liked the color that I ended up with so I made some leaves! I previously posted about a bumble bee neckpiece that I made for my friend Barbara. See the post here.

I had a handful of yellow and black scrap clay left from that project. When I mixed the yellow and black together I ended up with a dark olive green color that I really like. I made some leaves and used different pearl ex powders on them.

I also made some flowers and other beads from picture frame molds that I had made.

I think this mix will make a pretty Spring neckpiece! I need to find some fibers in the right colors!

Only a few more days until it is officially spring. I have some really tiny daffodils in my back yard so I picked them!

Hope you have a great day! Yours truly, M.

There is a time for every season!

2011-03-11T11:48:00.000-08:00

I have been busy with life. We went to White Plains, NY to the WRAM show for my husbands hobby/business. I spent 4 days with lots of mostly geeky boys and men who play with RC planes and helicopters. Now keep in mind my hubby would have some adjective to describe me and my beading buddies... so don't take that geeky word as an insult. Anyone in that hobby has to be fairly intelligent to make it all work. There was actually a booth there that had some jewelry for sale. Next year I am taking some of mine if we go. There were lots of women tagging along and the men were spending fairly sizeable dollars so I think I would have lots going for me if someone really likes what I have for sale!

He actually won first place with this UH1 Helicopter!

Anyway after the show weekend we had all of our kids home! Yeah! It was my birthday weekend so I enjoyed spending time with everyone.

These are my birthday flowers! I love tulips and can't wait for Spring!
The only problem with all of that is that I had no time to blog or do much with my artwork. I work part time but seem to get consumed by it. How do you handle your time? I am tired and not creative in the evenings it seems. I did read that someone conditions clay while watching TV in the evenings. I might try that. I do some fiber wrapping in the evenings but I really struggle to be productive after five o'clock.

So I can share some of the fibre pieces that I started. I haven't added beads yet but I think they will be fun for Spring and Summer pieces.

I have some great turquoise and black beads to finish this one!

The colors are so soft and pretty in this piece.

I have started a bead that will go with it. I want to white wash the bead and need to drill a hole in it. The color matches well. The bead is made from a bird in a cookie mold. Very Springy!

Have a great weekend! Yours truly! M

Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal Day

2011-02-26T02:17:00.000-08:00

IT IS FINALLY BSBP REVEAL DAY!

Lori Anderson of Lori Anderson Designs started a Bead Soup Blog Party. Lori invited those interested to sign up to be partnered with someone that would exchange a stash of beads with their partner. The stash of beads had to include a focal bead and an interesting clasp. This invitation was on Lori's blog called Pretty Things. The idea was to get beads from our partner that we would not have chosen to work with and make something from them and blog about what we were doing. The point of the party is to get out of our own creative box and to meet other jewelry creators. It has been an awesome month of looking at the stashes of beads that were received and getting to know other creative bloggers. I have enjoyed it so much! I have a really cool partner Jacinta Meyers who writes the Jamberrysong's Creations blog. She also has a great Etsy Shop that you need to check out! She is number 102 on the list below. Jacinta sent me a great stash of different beads and found objects to work with... really different from the polymer clay beads that I have been making and using in the jewelry that I create. Thank you Jacinta! It has been fun getting to know you and I love your work! Hers is the first blog that I will check out today to see what she did with what I sent to her!

My stash from Jacinta Meyers!

Of course the chocolate is all gone by now.... and I did not use all of the wonders that she sent to me. I did use alot of them though. I showed my Friday Bead Friends what I made and they loved it! I hope that you will love it too!

TADA!

It is definitely one of a kind!

Lockets and keys tell a story all of their own!

Eclectic!

Soft and pretty yet a little steampunk in there too!

This clasp is so pretty!

I have had so much fun participating in the Bead Soup Blog Party held by Lori Anderson! Thank you so much Lori! I know you worked so hard to organize this event... as you shared in your blog Aftermath of Bead Soup Blog Party Signup. ( This blog is hilarious and worth looking at!)

So now that you have checked out what I did with my bead soup... go ahead and look at the following participants blogs. There are some amazingly creative and sharing folks out there from all over the world!

Here is a list of all 210 BSBP bloggers and their links!
1. Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

2. Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life

3.'s Michelle Heim, Life In the Bead Lane

4. Lisa Petrillo, Lucid Moon Studio

5. Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

6. Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

7. Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things

8. Cheryl Roe, BeadRoe

9. Heidi Post, Ex Post Facto

10. Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio

11. Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas

12. Rachel Walsh, Balanced Crafts

13. Marian Hertzog, M's Place

14. Mary McGraw, MK's Musings

15. Sarabeth Burke, Chronicles of Sarita

16. Deci Worland, Gem Trails

17. Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found

18. Laura Zeiner, Stick Lizard Designs

19. Kristin Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs

20. Cathryn Brooks-Williams, Chile Cats

21. Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs

22. Janna Harttgen, Palima-Lim

23. Libby Leuchtman, Libby Leu

24. Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads

25. Deb Hunter, Living On Air

26. Diana Ptaszynski, Suburban Girl Studio

27. Jennifer VanBenschoten, VanBeads

28. Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter

29. Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts

30. Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul

31. Stefanie Teufel, Stefanie's Sammelsurium

32. Patricia Gasparino, My Life Under the Bus

33. Tari Khars, Pearl and Pebble

34. Kristi Bowman-Gruel, Kristi Bowman Design

35. Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle

36. Becky Fairclough, Chameleons Designs

37. Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead & Metal Works

38. Lynne Bowland, Islandgirl's Insights

39. Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire

40. Lorelei Eurto, Inside the Studio

41. Stacy Hartis, Sissy & Jack's

42. Jennifer Cameron, Glass Addictions

43. Marcie Abney, La Bella Joya

44. Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations

45. Nan Emmett, Spirit Rattles

46. Melissa Mesara, One Eared Pig

47. Amanda Davie, Articulations

48. Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady

49. Virginia Joste, ViviBijoux

50. Andrew Thornton, The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
51. Lori Dorrington, Lori's Glassworks

52. Melanie Brooks, Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

53. Kate Gardenghi, Tropical Blonde

54. Serena Trent, PinkIce Jewel's Blog

55. Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin de Koning

56. Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

57. Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio

58. Amy Freeland, Copper Diem

59. Lisa Liddy, Joolz By Lisa

60. Sandi Lee James, Do Be Do Bead Do

61. Mary Harding, Mary Harding Bead Blog

62. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon

63. Leslie Gidden, Mad Maggie Designs

64. Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals

65. Niky Sayers, Silver Nik Nats

66. Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co.

67. Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass, and Recycled Trash

68. Laurel Steven, Rue's Daftique

69. Ingrid McCue, Wrapped In Silver

70. Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit

71. Diana Hawkey, Diana Hawkey

72. Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas

73. Jeanette Ryan, Jeanette Blix

74. Jackie Ryan, Silver Lodge Gems

75. Jean Yates, Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Be Done!

76. Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium

77. Valerie Norton, Hot Art

78. Jana Trupovniece, Stories of the Secret Garden

79. Amy Severino, Amy Beads

80. Emma Thomas, Fred Beans Nook

81. Karen Zanco, Everyday Gypsy

82. Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria

83. Janet McDonald, Singing Woods

84. Dana James, Dana's Jewelry Designs

85. Kristina Johansson, Wild Roses and Blackberries

86. CJ Bauschka, CJ Bauschka

87. Angela Barribea, Re: Angela Rae

88. Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy

89. Tanya Floyd, Glass Migrations

90. Lisa Kavanaugh, Beading Bliss

91. Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous

92. Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Bead

93. Nally Parfyonova, Nally's Creations

94. Karyn White, Releases By Rufydoof

95. Emanda Johnson, Artemisia Studio

96. Sandy Richardson, Sandy's Coloring Box

97. Cindy Dolezal, Cindy Dolezal Designs

98. Stacie Stamper, Park Avenue

99. Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads

100. Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings

101. Nicole Valentine-Rimmer, N. Valentine Studio

102. Jacinta Meyers, Jamberrysong's Creations

103. Charlene Gary, Gray Girl Studios

104. Rubiee Hayes, Glitter and Keys Galore

105. Marge Beebe, Rock Creek Creations

106. Elizabeth Freeman, Turquoise Sky

107. Shelby Foxwell, Sundown Bead Designs Rhetoric

108. Lynda Moseley, Diva Designs

109. Grace Danel, Grace Beading

110. Lois Moon, Que Onda Quitman

111. Agnes Shapiro, Beader Bubbe

112. Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo

113. Judy Glende, Judith B. Designs

114. Mary Ellen Parker, Bee Tree By Me

115. Barbara Bechtel, Second Surf

116. Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer

117. Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles

118. Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie

119. Ronda Adams, The Ravished Heart

120. Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe Designs

121. Anna Lear, The Laughing Raven

122. Susie Hibdon, Vintagesusie & Wings

123. Amanda Austin, Sea Shore Glass

124. Jennifer Velasquez, Jen Judd Rocks

125. Hazel Ward, All Those Things

126. Brenda Salzano, Salzanos

127. Dee Gordon, Runako Designs by Dee

128. Anna Denisova, Anita-M

129. Margaret Saari, Mags-Jewelry

130. Genea Crivello-Knable, Genea Beads

131. Penny Neville, Copper Penny

132. Angela Blasingame, Hopemore

133. Helena Fritz, Beadwork by H's Blog

134. Stephanie LaRose, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder

135. Stephanie Haussler, PixyBug Designs

136. Diane Cook, Rosa & Josies

137. Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art

138. Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by J.P.

139. Shannon Chomanczuk, For My Sweet Daughter

140. Lisa Godfrey, Bead Happy

141. Heather Pyle, Welcome to My Muse

142. Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings

143. Liz DeLuca, Creative Arty Facts

144. Sig Wynne-Evans, Beaded Bear's Nonsense

145. Loretta Carstensen, Loretta's Boutique

146. Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads

147. Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul

148. Shelly Graves, Stars Dance With Me

149. Jess Italia Lincoln, Vintaj Blog

150. JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

151. Carrie Tahquechi, Carrie T

152. Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals

153. Katarzyna Kwiatkowska, Quiet Area

154. Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

155. Magdalena Sikora, Poranna Gazeta

156. Nicole Keller, Nicki's Reef

157. Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye

158. Noemi Baena, Fire, Metal, and Color

159. Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman

160. Barbara Blaszczyk, Labotorium Flory

161. Collette Collins, Firefly Myst

162. Carola Greiser, Polymer Clay Shed

163. Joanna Kopijczuk, Bizuteria z Filcu

164. LeAnn Weih, Summers Studio

165. Cassandra Watsham, Design by Cassandra

166. Anna Motz, Stunning

167. Shea Zukowski, Gr8findings

168. Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads

169. Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings

170. Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope

171. Alison Crenshaw, Beads by Earth Tones

172. Dorcas Midkiff, Wondrous Strange Designs

173. Melissa Rediger, Sea of Glass

174. Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre

175. Julie Nordine, Julie Nordine | Credit River Art Glass

176. Menka Gupta, Menka's Blog

177. Patsy Evins, Patsy Evins Studio

178. Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're

179. Suzette Bentley, Ellie's Bijoux

180. Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me

181. Lyn Foley, Lyn Foley Wearable Art

182. Tara Plote, The Newbie Beader's Blog

183. Natalie Schuetz, Natalie S Perlen

184. Kim Hutchinson, Running on Ink

185. Haley Frank, Wide Eyed Smilin

186. Grace Caputo, Suddenly Last Summer

187. Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp, Skye Jewels

188. Erin Siegel, Erin Siegel Jewelry

189. Janea McDonald, Organized Chaos

190. Kristi Evenson, Colie Bug & Co.

191. Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry

192. Hilary Frye, FryeStyle

193. Whitney Lassini, Whitney Lassini

194. Nancy Schindler, The Rabbit Muse

195. Pam Brisse, The Blue Between

196. Beth Bricker, Vintage Sweets

197. Ruthie Stickney, Rose Works Jewelry and Gifts

198. Rose Noble, Lady Noble Designs

199. Karen Williams, Baublicious

200. Claire Maunsell, The Next Bend

201. Christine Damm, Stories They Tell

202. Kerry Bogert, Kab's Creative Concepts

203. Wendy Blum, Sand & Sea Designs

204. Juli Cannon, Julsbeads

205. Jenny Robledo, La Dona Boutique

206. Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry

207. Pam Krinski, Ewa Beads

208. Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman, Art, Life, Love

209. Dana Jones, Dana's Jewelry

210. Shirley Moore, Homeschooling Life

A Bee for Barbara

2011-02-20T18:10:00.000-08:00

I was asked to make a neckpiece for my friend Barbara. She is very creative and sells her wares at the local shows. I met her at a local show and she purchased a few pieces from me for herself and for gifts. She wanted a piece that had a bumble bee on it designed in black and yellow. Of course I said that I would make this piece for her. I thought it would be easy since a bumble bee is fairly simple... hmmmm... I made at least 15 bees before I was happy with one... each one a little different. It wasn't so easy! The first ones were just too big like they were from another world. The others just didn't look right. Hard to explain. I wanted it to be cute but not too cutesy if that makes sense. So today I finally put the neckpiece together.

I think the bee is cute... but still not too cutesy!

I made yellow and black striped beads to wrap around the yarn covered rope. They aren't bees but kind of look like bees. I also made a clasp with a yellow and black striped bead.

So this piece is not something usual for me to do but I enjoyed doing it. Getting out of my box is a good thing! Speaking of getting out of my box... the Bead Soup Blog Party reveal day is coming soon! February 26th. Again something different for me but I really had fun making it and my Friday Bead Friends love it! Check back on the 26th and I will have a list of all 210 Bead Soup Blog Party participants with their links so you can see what everyone did!

Etsy Treasury

2011-02-10T04:26:00.000-08:00

I have an Etsy shop and belong to a few teams. One of the teams I belong to is called the Polymer Clay Enthusiasts Team. It is a group of polymer clay artists that have shops on Etsy. I have created a Treasury called Bluegreen Blues that includes some of the PCETeam members items in their Etsy shops. Take a look at the amazing and diverse work of these artists!

Bluegreen Blues! Here are a few examples... but please check out the whole Treasury!

Happy Thursday! I will be at a show this Saturday at the Milton Delaware Firehall with the Milton Arts Guild! Stop by if you live in the area!

Studio Time

2011-02-05T16:51:00.000-08:00

Finally had some time today to work in my studio... I have a show next Saturday so I needed to get some work done! What sells first at most shows for me are mixed media neckpieces that I make from fiber wrapped cord and beads. The problem with showing you on here is that the photos don't seem to give the pieces justice. I thought I would share some of them with you anyway. These are bold pieces and almost wear like a scarf because they are rather grand.

This piece includes the focal bead that was in my Back to Clay blog.

I did a few close up photos of the left side...

and the right side...

I have also done this piece from some Fiber Embellishment cards that I bought from an Etsy shop called bluehollow. She has a great selection of mixed yarns on cards.

This is the piece that I did....

Here is a close up of the left side...

Here is a close up of the right side...

These pieces are ecletic but fun and definitely unusual. They are also light weight even though they are quite grand. They are one of a kind wearable art pieces!

Friday Friends Day

2011-02-04T04:58:00.000-08:00

It is Friday and my beading friends are coming to my house this week! I cleaned the house and started some soup yesterday. I am not sure if it will be beef noodle or beef barley. It smells so good! I use the crockpot and it makes the beef so tender and the broth yummy.

Friends. I have lots of friends but did not have many that were interested in beading or polymer clay. I am a woman of the Christian faith so I asked God to help me meet some friends that have the same interests that I have. Some new friends. He is an amazing God!

Not only do I have my Friday Bead Friends but I have made some online friends through the Bead Soup Blog Party hosted by Lori Anderson and through joining a few Etsy teams. I haven't met any of them face to face but I have enjoyed some email conversations and know that I will enjoy spending time with them.

I was playing with some clay the other day and did some beads with words as I was thinking of the Bead Soup Blog Party friends that I have met. I came up with this bracelet.

The three words that came to mind were friend, hope and awe. I have some new "friends"! Yeah! I have a renewed "hope" in my faith walk! I am in "awe" of the beautiful work of the other Bead Soup Blog members. So here is my BSBP journey bracelet...

Hope everyone out there in blog land has a wonderful weekend! I need to get busy... my FBF will be here in a bit.

Friday Afternoon

2011-01-28T14:31:00.000-08:00

This was a busy week for me. I work part time as an accountant... I know creative and accountant don't seem to go together. We got two new family members Bella and Bashful. I taught my fiirst polymer clay class. ...and I spent my Friday afternoon with my new group of beading friends. I need to come up with a name for our group if anyone has any ideas. So the new family members are two puppies. They are adorable but I am running out of papertowels and patience... whew! I forgot how much time it takes. Thankfully my daughter Tiffany still lives at home. She has been a big help with the new babies. And they are sooo cute and sweet.

This is Bella, Bashful Tiffany and Baby. Baby is 12 years old and not too happy about her new sisters. She is getting used to them. They are Havanese puppies and very sweet and peaceful.

My first polymer clay class went well. I had four students. The class lasted about one hour and forty five minutes. I planned on two hours. Everyone went home with a finished pendant. I will do some things differently the next time. I did not do an overview of the process before we started so I think some got ahead of me a bit. I would have liked to work with each one individually more than I did. I am not sure if three students would have made that difference or if I should have asked them to wait between each step. I am going to follow up with them with some specific questions. They all seemed pleased with their pendants ...and they had some techiniques that they are interested in trying in future classes.

So my Friday afternoon with my new friends was spent in Milford, Delaware. First we spent some time at the Mispillion Art League. Wow! They have two galleries, a huge classroom and studio spaces for artists to rent. Accross the street from the Art Gallery is the Riverfront Theatre. Downtown Milford is very pretty and interesting. I wish I lived closer! We had a lovely lunch at the Georgia House restaurant to finish our afternoon together. It is so much fun to have friends that share your passions!

Bead Soup Blog Party Bead Reveal

2011-01-25T11:18:00.000-08:00

I am in awe of the whole concept of the Bead Soup Blog Party. I have received my beads to work with and feel so blessed. I have the best partner! Jacinta Meyers from Jamberrrysong's Creations sent me a whole lotta cool stuff!

The best part of this stash is that it is very different from anything I have used so far...I have always loved looking at the vintage steampunk stuff... and now I get to play with some! I love keys and lockets...

and stones of pretty colors!

Thank you so much Jacinta! I love them and have been thinking and thinking about where to start! I have also been enjoying the sweet little treats of....

chocolate... chocolate... chocolate... yum! You are the best "jams"! Check out her blog Jamberrysong... and her Etsy shop Jamberrysong... she has lots of really awesome jewelry for sale and has cool give aways and tutorials on her blog!

Thanks to Lori Anderson too for all of your hard work in putting this together! I have enjoyed looking at other BSBP blogs and commenting back and forth with them. The Blog Party when we show our finished work will be Saturday, February 26th! Can't wait to share what I do and see what everyone else does! This is so much fun!

Teaching My First Class

2011-01-24T15:33:00.000-08:00

Soooo on Thursday afternoon I am teaching a beginner's class with polymer clay. Only my second class at teaching anything. My students are teachers (of all people).... What did I get myself into?!?! I am excited about it and they know I will be asking for feedback. I was happy to read Lori Anderson's Pretty Things blog about How To Teach a Jewelry Making Class. It was good timing for me. I really think the most important thing is to be "real" and be as prepared as I can be.

Here are the projects that I have prepared for them. They can choose one clay color and two stamping designs. They will also use Pearlex powders to add some glow to their focal bead.

This bead is made from Ecru Premo clay.

Front

Back

The second bead is made from Turquoise Premo clay.

Front

Back

The third bead is made from Fuchsia Premo clay.

Front

Back

The fourth focal bead is made from Moss Green Sculpey III clay.

Front

Back

So what do you think? Do I have too many choices? We will see if my students have a hard time deciding which color and textures to choose. Most importantly I hope to make some new friends and have some fun. I also want to have some friends interested in the same hobby so I have a "method to my madness". It is fun to share and fun to see what others can create!

On that note... I have received my beads from my Bead Soup Partner Jacinta Meyers at jamberrysong's creations. She sent me a beautiful package of goodies... I am so excited to show them to you and get started. I wanted to get ready for this class first. I will post my surprise beads soon! I keep thinking about what to do with them. She also sent me some chocolate to go along with the beads... it is disappearing as I think about what to do with the beads... soul food!

Sisterhood

2011-01-21T14:02:00.000-08:00

I have been invited to spend time with a group of women who get together every Friday. The purpose is to spend time working on beading projects or other craft projects.

This friend is the only one who actually accomplished much today. It is really a time of sisterhood for us... women really need to spend time together... we were created that way. There is no doubt in my mind. We eat, talk and share about our lives and in just two weeks have formed a bond. It is a need that cannot be filled any other way. Treasure your sisters and women friends. It is good for the soul!

We had a wonderful lunch of a chicken soup with gnocchi and kale and veggies and a grilled ham, cheese and tomatoe sandwich.. yum! The soup matched the charger plate that it was served on... it made for a pretty picture.

It also is good for the soul to know that I am not the only one who does crazy things. Our hostess this week was serving lunch when her husband came into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and pulled out a spray bottle of windex and said what is this doing in the refrigerator? After much laughter I felt a peace in my soul. I may not have put windex in the fridge but I have done some pretty silly things and wondered if I am going batty... I think life is so busy these days that we are rarely right where we are... we are thinking about too much and not in the moment. It is a reminder to slow down and savor the moment. The next moment will be here and gone before we know it.

So slow down and really appreciate your family, your friends and your home. And find yourself some girlfriends to hang out with. We need each other!

Back to Clay

2011-01-13T12:20:00.000-08:00

I finally had some time to work in my studio with polymer clay. I enjoy doing detail work and I did some muse following... just worked with some colors to make striped beads to start with. I like these. They look so crsip to me. You can find instructions in Donna Kato's book "The Art of Polymer Clay Millefiori Techniques".

You make a long snake and twist the clay to make the diagonal stripe. After you cut equal sized beads you always have some left over clay. This is where I follow my muse. I made a curlyl bead from one end of the snake. I will use this bead in a scarf or fibula pin.

Ahh but there is some clay left that still has visible stripes. I rolled some smaller beads from that clay.

First one side...

Then the other side...

The colors really blend together and you can't see any of the black at all.

There are still some pieces of clay left that will turn into something pretty or be used as scrap clay. I made a swirl bead out of the colors first then ran it through the pasta machine. It wasn't too exciting so I added some pearlex powder to it to add some sparkle. I also added some gold leaf. It still needed something so I started doing a zentangle kind of drawing in the clay. It is relaxing to do and kind of like doodling. I did a bird with a big fancy tail. I also added a back piece which framed the bird.

After I baked it I used some antique paint to bring out the details of the carving. This is the focal bead that I ended up creating by following my muse!

Looks quite different from the striped bead but it was from the same mixture of clay. That is what I love about polymer clay! The possibilites are endless. If you mix the colors to the point of a muddy mess you can always use it as scrap clay...

Looking forward to the Bead Soup Blog Party! Coming up soon!

Finished Just in Time!

2011-01-07T13:44:00.000-08:00

Today I finished "A Painting". I made a few last minuted changes and would do so forever if I didn't get it under glass! My son helped me cut the mats and get it framed. It all takes time and requires lots of calculating and being careful. Doing the math for the mats is a challenge! We finished it and he was on his way. After a few tears I got back to getting my house in order. I have not done much else but work and paint because he wanted to take it back to school with him. I hope his sponsor likes it. It was done with lots of love and appreciation. A sponsor is someone who opens their home to the Midshipman at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. They really play a big part in helping the kids have some sanity. We really appreciate all that they have done for our Mid.

So here is the final picture framed and ready to go.

Now that it is done and the kids are all back to work and school I can think about working with polymer again! I am participating in a Bead Soup Blog Party. I will be getting a package of beads from someone else and I will be sending a package of beads to someone else from my stash of beads. We will make something from the beads and share what we make on our blogs! It will be fun. Check out the details here!

Almost Finished

2011-01-06T18:30:00.000-08:00

I have been painting as much as possible the past few days. I think I am finished with it. I will look at it again in the morning and touch it up if I think I need to. I will need to cut the mats and frame it tomorrow. My son will leave for school around noon so I will need to get busy early. Here is the finished (I think) painting unframed.

I am glad to be done with this one. I am happy with it. I think it will be a nice gift.

It will be nice to focus on getting my studio organized and making some plans for Ms Place in 2011. I need some time in my studio just playing. I am most creative when I don't have something that I have to get finished. I am ready to work on some jewelry for spring and summer!

The Painting - Post #2

2011-01-03T16:52:00.000-08:00

This post is a followup of a previous post about doing a watercolor painting. See January 1, 2011 Post called "A Painting".

I worked on the watercolor painting for a few hours over the weekend. I have some of the detail work started on the trees. I have been using a round brush and dabbing tiny green dots to create the details of the leaves. I have also used several different colors of green. Here is where I am with it as of Sunday night. I am working from the right to the left because I am left handed. I can potentially smear the paint if I work form the left to the right.

After a few hours on Monday after work I have gotten this much done.

It takes time to paint the details. It is relaxing but I can only spend a few hours working on it at a time. I only have a few more days. I think I can get it done. Wish me luck!

A Painting

2011-01-01T14:50:00.000-08:00

I have not done a watercolor painting for over a year. My son asked if I would paint a picture of the 18th hole of the Congressional Country Club for a gift for one of his sponsors. I am not a golfer or familiar with that Club or the 18th hole there. I said yes that I would of course... hard to say no to your kids. Especially when they work hard and are doing their best. I received an email from his roommate with a few pictures of the scene they want me to paint. Yikes! The 18th hole includes the Club House in the background. Not impossible... but I only have til the 7th of January to get it finished and matted and framed.
So I thought I would blog about this journey. It felt good to get the watercolor paper out and look at my paints again. Some artists may want to trace something like this because it isn't for sale as an original and a true likeness is what we are after. I don't like to do that but will if I am not happy with the building part of it. I have it drawn and have started the first layer of color. I may trace the building that I have drawn so I can redo it if I am not happy with the painting as I go. I didn't use a ruler so the perspective and straightness is as good as I can do with my hand-eye cooridination.

Here is one of the pictures that I am working from. This looks like an acrylic painting. It was painted by William Mangum from North Carolina and is available to purchase on his web site as a print.

The next picture I am using is from a gazette.net photo from June of 2007.

The building is very pretty and has a lot of detail. The painting by William Mangum is beautiful and intimidating. This is how far I have gotten. It takes several layers of paint for it to start to look better... so give me a day or two and I will share how it is going.

The drawing is ok. I think it will come together as I get more paint on it. I need to get busy!

Finished in time for Christmas!

2010-12-22T16:50:00.000-08:00

I finished the focal bead and some round beads to give as a gift in time for Christmas. I think the colors match well... and I think she will like them.

I did mix the three colors of clay that I showed in my previous blog plus I added some Alizarin Crimson to the mix.

So now I have some cookies to bake and some cleaning to do and we are ready to relax for a few days with our family. Merry Christmas!

Christmas is coming! Last minute gifts to make...

2010-12-18T09:08:00.000-08:00

The thing I love most about Christmas is spending the day with my family. My kids are all grown up and not home much anymore. To have a day that we spend together talking, laughing, playing and eating is a treasure. It will be joyous!

I do have a few last minute gifts to make. I want to make some jewelry to match sweaters for my daughters and my sister. Pink is the color. A raspberry pink. They are calling it "Honeysuckle" by Pantone as the color for 2011. We will see alot of it for the Spring and Summer!

The sweaters are a dark pink and a light pink. I have decided to make a batch of clay to use for all three pieces of jewelry. I have chosen the following clay colors to mix and match.

The Sculpey Ballerina pink is an exact match. The Premo Violet and Fuschia will have to be mixed to get a good color match. I better get busy. We will be exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve so I only have six days that are full of two days at work and baking cookies and cleaning... I will keep you posted!

The Pin for the Game

2010-12-15T11:03:00.000-08:00

The Army Navy game was awesome! We had a beautiful day at Lincoln Field in Philadelphia and I was thankful that Navy won especially since it was my son's Senior year at USNA. It is the most patriotic event that I have been a part of... they describe the game as friendly strife. Seeing the flyover of the Army helis and the Navy jets is exciting. Wathcing both the Army and the Navy parachuters land on the field is amazing. And especially awesome is seeing somewhere around 8000 young men and women sitting side by side in uniform. The academy football games are always interesting. The tenacity of the players is different than most because of the training to focus and accomplish a mission. I love the United States of America and I am very proud to be part of a military family! I say a thank you to all of those who serve and have served our country!

On an artistic note I did make two pins out of polymer clay. One for my friend who went to the game with us and one for me. I kept them simple because I only had a few hours to get them finished. We had fun wearing our Navy pins!

Army Navy Game 2010

2010-12-10T08:44:00.000-08:00

I am super excited about going to the Army Navy game on Saturday December 11, 2010. My son will graduate from USNA in May (hopefully!) so this will be his last game as a Midshipman. Off to the Marines for him next June... scary for a Mom... but we are very proud of him. I think I might work on a "GO NAVY" polymer pin today. I better get busy! My son Taylor is the CC for 1st Company. He is front and center in the photo.

Finding My Way

2010-11-17T19:19:00.001-08:00

Here I am finding my way. Wanting to share my thoughts and passions with other kindred spirits. I love to create and I work with polymer clay at the moment. I have painted for many years on wood and paper and glass and metal and whatever. Did you know that you can paint polymer clay? I haven't gone there too much yet. It kind of seems to miss the point for me. Polymer comes in such beautiful colors why would you want to paint it? But then I see some beautiful creations where an artist has added some paint to make a polymer treasure that is more beautiful because of it. I have used it to accent a focal bead that has been stamped into the clay. It makes these beads look a bit more rustic don't you think?

This is my Partridge in a Pear Tree bracelet. A few birds and a leaf and a pear. The leaf came from a cookie mold that was a tail on a squirrel. Now that is creative right! It looks like a pine branch to me!

What I love about the cookie mold is that I found it at the Thrift Store... actually the one in Berryville, VA. We were helping my daughter set up her first classroom as a new teacher in a new town. I love Thrift Stores so I had to check it out. I found this treasure that I have repurposed. Don't worry I won't use it for cookies. There are some great birds and other animals on it though. Something to think about and a keepsake of a special weekend.