Another Lotus Pond Necklace

Here is a simple necklace I just put together.

In the Grip of Faux Bone

I swore off jewelry in December, but somehow it has sneaked back into my creative stream. Faux bone had me in its grip for awhile, now I'm working on some springlike pods and branches, plus flowers unlike what I did last year. There is also a giraffe painting in the works. I must note that the faux bone I'm using is entirely made from polymer clay, it's not the product that Robert Dancik sells, although I have some of that, too.

Necklaces

Finally there is something to post! I feel as if I live in quicksand lately. Every bit of work is such an effort. Maybe it's time to take a break.

Studio Update

Making these flowers has been such fun, but I know that these a just a diversion while my heart and mind continue their dialogue about clay versus paints. It's ongoing.

For a Friend

I've been really forgetful about taking pictures lately. I'll finish some things and rush them off to the gallery before even thinking about photographing them. Then they sell and I never get another chance. But here is one I remembered to record. I've never tried one of this type of necklace before, but I like the way it turned out. What do you think?

New Year, New Direction

Instead of a new year's resolution, I have made a new decision about where I'm taking my creative life or where it's taking me. For the last two years I've experimented with polymer clay, making lots of beads which are still piled up in ( or rolling around) my studio. Besides some jewelry I haven't produced much.

My big decision seems so obvious, but it took me two years to 'get it'. Ta da..........the big decision is to leave jewelry behind and just create. That's right. Just create. No matter where that takes me. Here is a partial picture of what I'm working on now.

So check back often. That's another part of my big decision....get back on the blogging track and post more often like I did two years ago. Happy new year!!

I can't believe this is my 300th post!

Fall Is Here

It seems like it was just sweltering, hot, and sticky and now, all of a sudden, it's glorious fall....my favorite season. Every afternoon I can hear the high school band practicing and it brings back all those college football games we went to in South Carolina. Good memories.

This is one of the pieces I've made from the Stroppel cane, which went viral last week on Flickr. It's a fun and easy cane, and you can't really tell how it will look until you slice it open.

I've been working real hard on my entry to the Tidewater Artists Miniature Show, which will open October 21 at the Charles Taylor Art Center in Hampton, Virginia. I've entered for the past four or five years and its a fun show with a lot of ingenious entries. Last year I took second in sculpture, so keep your fingers crossed for me this year.

After the show opens I'll reveal all three of my entries for you to see. Let me know what you think.

Buzzz, Buzzzz

This morning I completely forgot to upload pictures of my latest 'fun' project, these quirky little flowers. They are entirely made of polymer clay, with a little Swarovski crystal to add the bling. I'm thinking they might be good for pendants, maybe a necklace with three, and of course, brooches. What do you think? I really want to know.

Buzzzz....

More beads from Lynda Moseley's tutorial.

 Purple, purple, do I love purple....yes!!

 The next pictures are my interpretation of a project from the book Polymer Clay Color Inspirations. 

When I was a teacher my classroom was The Beehive.  I had a shelf full of bees in various forms, mostly huggable. So now my studio is the beehive, notice no caps. My most creative time is between 4pm and 9 pm. It took me about five years and two counselors to understand that I'll never have my former energy and there is nothing I can do about it. Most days I have some level of pain, and in order to keep on going, my body uses my energy to cope with the pain. It's very frustrating, because my brain has so many ideas it wants to explore, but my body can't keep up. Lots of nights at about 9, I feel like I've just gotten started, but the old body has to roll into bed. Aaarrrgh!