fishwifetales

Not Every Body Must Get Stones

2012-01-31T04:49:00.000-08:00

Our Sweetnes, Miss Molly, just passed another milestone, so to speak. She turned twelve just over a month ago, and life has been a series of challenges for her, but she faces them with a smile. Her latest bout with what seems like a neverending trip to the vet (no matter where we are) was for problems with bladder stones. This has been a recurrent issue with our little girl. In spite of feeding her special diet, (read that as costly), her metabolism is such that stones keep building up in her urinary bladder. Last Wednesday, she underwent her fourth (Yes 4th!) surgery for the flushing out of her waterworks and removal of her stones, She had been passing them along with what seemed like a considerable amount of blood for about ten days, and so upon consultation with a couple of vets, and weighing the pros and cons of her compromised health and slightly advanced age (she is diabetic and blind, and very prone to infections) we decided that we should go ahead. All things considered, we had three choices...(a) do nothing and let her suffer intermittent passings of stones, blood and be in obvious discomfort and in jeopardy of a bad rupture in her urinary tract; (b) do the unthinkable and put her down or (c) opt for surgery for the fourth time.

I need to go back one day before her surgery, a week ago Tuesday, to make the story 'complete'. DH and I were on pins and needles, anticipating the surgery and its outcomes. Given Molly's diabetic condition, the surgery was a little riskier than normal, but the vets at Power Road Animal Hospital and the staff described how her glucose levels would be monitored during surgery and we took a supply of insulin (they do not carry the brand she takes) to administer just in case things went awry. Of course, the cost was discussed and we had been given high and low estimates of the entire procedure. That too was a very mindful thing for the vets and staff at Power Road. From about four oclock on during that Tuesday, neither one of us could rest easy. I tried to work on some polymer clay (things would not go well) and Himself decided to go to Fry's, the local supermarket, to get milk.

Almost all of Monday and all of Tuesday, the divine Miss M had been staying in her crate a lot, because otherwise she was very anxious and just wanted to 'go pee' every five minutes, without success. She would squat, but very little would come out, maybe a trickle of blood, or a few 1/4 inch stones. But when she was in her crate, she seemed more comfortable, especially in the car because she associates that with going for a ride, which she loves. So, when DH went to the store for milk, Miss M. was in the back seat of the van.

I sent them off, and expected them back within a quarter hour. After half an hour, they hadn't returned. During the interim, I heard several sirens from police cars, ambulances and fire trucks, and four helicopters overhead, and of course, I was fearing the worst. The sirens kept on bellering and soon, I was in the driveway, watching squad car after squad car driving down the thoroughfare that heads for Fry's. People were gathering on the road, wondering what was happening. At that point, I got a call from a local cell phone (Dan doesn't have one) and it was him. He told me he wouldn't be home for some time, as he and all the other shoppers at Fry's were in a lock down inside the store because there was a shoot-out going on in the parking lot. He had previously headed out to put the groceries in the car, but the uniformed officers told him that he was in the line of fire and he had to go back into the store.

He witnessed the shooting of one bad guy (dead), several others (guys and girls) and also one officer. They were superficially wounded, all except for the one that the cops had been following who was dead at the scene. He was the one who initiated the shooting. And to think that Miss Molly (who could have witnessed it, except she is blind) sat through the whole episode just a few cars away. I wonder what she thinks of rapid fire gun shots!!!

When they returned home about an hour later, they each got a huge hug. I told Molly, that if she could live through that, there was not going to be any problem with the surgery the following day. That made me sleep a little better that night.

The rest, as they say, is history. Her procedure came off without a hitch, and the little girl, although tired and groggy after the anaethesia, was home by six p.m. We fed her a little, and then she rested quietly all night. By the next morning, you'd never have known the dog had been in distress. She was back to her old self, eating, peeing without incident, and doing all the other things our dear pets do, including drying me off after my morning shower.

The picture above shows how she is joking about the size of the stones she was passing. She must have felt they were as big as geodes, all ragged and scratchy inside her. But she's smiling now that this is all in the past.

When Life Deals You Lemons

2012-01-14T06:51:00.000-08:00

Well, things haven't been altogether sour this first month of 2012, but let's just say that the daily grind has been quite a grind. Since arriving at our winter repose, we've experienced marvelous weather with very comfortable temperatures. It has been a wondeful season for lemons, as you can see. They range from the size of ordinary oranges to these giant behemoth, almost mutant ones, which are over 5 inches in length and about 3 inches across the middle. They are plenty juicy and needless to say, we add the juice to nearly everything. I am not particularly one for lemonade, but it does add a nice touch to the odd Bloody Caesar, vodka tonic, sangria, or martini.

My favorite use for them is salads which I have been shaking up in plastic bags. I add the juice of a lemon, about 2 tablespoons of regular bottled dressing, a bit of balsamic vinegar, some crumbled feta or bleu cheese, along with half a chopped avocado, and several leaves of spinach, romaine and then half a bag of 'store bought' greens mix. That, combined perhaps with a few croutons serves four as a salad and it's much more 'goumandise' than just dumping the lettuce out of the bag and pouring dressing on top. By shaking it in the bag, the dressing coats each of the green leaves so you don't get a glob on one piece and nothing on the others. I guess the only determining factor would be that everyone enjoys the same type of bottled dressing. And my rule of thumb here, is if you don't like it at first, it will grow on ya.

Polymer clay wise, I have made some freaky buttons and am working on a massive cane. For our guild swap in February we have to come up with at least thirty six inches of 3/4 to inch wide cane to be distributed among the swappers. With this amount of materials, I have been making small prototypes to see if I like the components, because I don't want to waste pounds of clay on some end product that I dislike. I find that is the main drawback to making huge canes. Because my work is so varied, I cannot possibly use five feet of one type of cane, no matter how you slice it. My work calls for a great deal of color variation so any canes I make are usually 6 - 8 inches or less in length unless I am making just a caned article, which is not very often.

I am also going to be making a raft of light switch covers. I think I will go with palettes of limey to avocado greens, and another group in rusty-terracotta blends. Hopefully I can get my Blackberry to download pictures onto this computer....one of the things that lately has not been working to my satisfaction. Since I got a new Blackberry desktop application, the danged thing has not been compliant with my wishes in the downloading pictures area. I can take the pictures easily enough, it's just transferring them to the laptop has been problematic. Maybe I will spend a night and figure out how to do it. In the meantime, I will rely on the digital camera to take pics and even though it's a bit of a hassle, I know it works.

Still too cool in the early mornings to work in the shed, where the natural light is incredibly good, so I will continue on page 228 of Ann Patchett's State of Wonder. Thankfully, my years in the Science faculty make the pharmacological and botanic terms not such a mystery. Now, if I could only read faster, lol.

December Buttons 2011

2011-12-17T06:54:00.000-08:00

Here I am trying to get caught up on stuff. It's Saturday and after another busy week, I am doing catchup. With still lots of Christmas preparations to do, I thought I'd do some computer stuff before I go shopping for food and the few remaining gifts I need to purchase. For Christmas get togethers this year I was lucky to get my choice of what to bring, so it will be appetizers to the events where I am slated to bring food. In doing appetizers, I commit to being on time, so there is some method in my madness. I will take some shortcuts though and have them prepared ahead of time so they just need to be put on plates, or warmed up just prior to serving.

As for my other "work", I have been filling some last minute orders and taking care of all the business part of my polymer clay work. With that mostly done (I still have two projects on my table), I figure I can relax a bit and spend an hour or two at the computer.

Yesterday, I got an email from a gal who had purchased a button from me at a Quilt Show this past summer. She asked if she could use a link to my blog and I said yes, and that I would post some more of my buttons. I have been so remiss at keeping up my blog lately that I kinda feel like a school kid having not done my homework. In her blog she showed a pink button that she used on a hat which she designed. The button itself was a bit 'busy' but she deftly created a textured pattern in a solid color wool so that there wasn't too much interference with pattern and texture, if you know what I mean. I realize that some of my buttons are just too "much" and that busy-ness gets lost in the pattern of the fabric or fibre that they are to be placed on. The gal that crocheted the hat is Joanne and here is her blog, if you are interested in following: http://joanne-threadhead.blogspot.com/

She also twigged me on to a very interesting site which some of you knitters and crocheters can peruse and maybe sign up for. It is called Ravelry and it looks like a site where I could spend a good amount of time. (I noticed that one of my very creative polymer friends from Arizona already has already mentioned Ravelry in her blog, so it's gotta be a good one.)

All that being said, I admit that it is so nice to see my work incorporated into other people's creations. Often when people get my buttons, I encounter them later and they tell me that they haven't used them yet, or are saving them for something. I completely understand, because I have to admit I have purchased things, fully intending to use them in a creation and then get sidetracked and the things get put on the back burner. I think that's one of the 'resolutions' that I will make in 2012...to use the things that I purchase. Even if it means burning the midnight oil or digging out my portable sewing machine.

These buttons are about one inch in diameter and they are all in the same basic colors, just with repositioning of the colors. They're a bit in the 'southwest' palette. I am thinking I am going to use them myself. I hope to get a shirt or blouse (or other kind of top--who knows what they are called) in a solid color and add some of my work as adornments. I am thinking not just of functional buttons here, but as kind of trim around the edges. I have found with some of my other garments that have my buttons on that they go through the washer with no problem, and I just ensure that the drier heat is minimal. I take the garments out before they're "baked" and hang them up without any worries about the buttons at all. Of course, I hate having clothing that has to be drycleaned only, but if that is the case, I will remove them from the articles. The drycleaning hydrocarbons might just be too much for the polymer. That makes me wonder if anyone has ever done a study on the reacion of the polymer to the chemicals used in the dry cleaning industry.

This button is one that has lots of colors in the foreground. It's a takeoff on Alice Stroppel's cane that she posted for many to share a couple of months ago. I think I will be more judicious in how I select my leftover canes for future projects of this sort and try to stick to a palette that is more monochromatic, or at least has just analogous colors in it. However, this button would look cool on a hat or a knit or quilted bag. Who knows? I just may make a woven bag on my next car ride. I have the weaving materials all prepared and just need to make the "loom" and tie on the warp. I spent one entire morning organizing my wool into colors so that I can just grab a couple hanks and get started on the weaving.

Mama's got a Brand New Bag (almost)

2011-12-02T05:30:00.000-08:00

Well, this bag isn't exactly brand new. I had woven it last year some time, but had forgotten about it. When I was looking through my stash of wool I found it, and it was all complete, except for the lining, button loop and the cord. I found some matching fibres for the long cord, crocheted enough for a loop closure then proceeded to make the lining, a little of which I am purposely showing in the top in this picture. I made the lining into several layers, including a pocket, so as to make several sections inside. I stitched everything together and voilà! The button was from my collection and it was amazing how well it matched all the colors in the bag. The finished size is about 6 inches on each side, so when opened it has plenty of room for a phone or Blackberry, some make up, keys, a couple of credit cards, maybe a Passport, and whatever else a girl has to carry. It's not huge, so not great for 'overnighting' but suffice to say, a savvy girl can find other ways to carry necessities for occasions that warrant more stuff.

I will be taking it to my last sale of the season, which is at Miles Macdonell Collegiate, tomorrow. It is the school where my husband taught many years ago, and I myself did a stint there when I was in Teacher Training. The sale is huge with a couple hundred vendors, and it is very well visited. I have to admit that it is a bit overwhelming for some folks, and a bit repetitious because of the huge number of vendor spaces, but there is a lot of interesting stuff, and some of my fellow craftspeople that I know from other shows will be there. I am quite sure mine is the only booth that will feature polmer clay exclusively, along with a few other items which include polymer in a secondary role, such as this bag. As well, I will count on seeing some of my former students and colleagues there, some of whom are now in administration at the school. It's good to see them all and I am looking forward to this sale on a lot of different levels.

So, in preparation for tomorrow's activity, I am signing off now and hoping I will see some of you tomorrow!

Olden Daze and another "find".

2011-12-01T08:24:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I have to admit today is a "play" day. Not working, at least not at my part time job but working on stuff around home. I have a to-do list made, but it's rather short so I decided to play a little.

You see, I have these old photo albums of black and white pictures taken when my aunt was younger; she loved to take photos whenever she and friends got together. I went through one of the albums and found about six photos of people with or on bikes. My deduction is that they were taken in the late thirties and early forties since my aunt was born in 1918 and did not marry until after the second world war.

I was going to do one of the 'altering techniques' with pattern pieces, some of my 'paper art', snippets of fiber and all sorts of stuff,...well I did make a start and the results were so-so. Even after doing all sorts of fun 'commands' on the computer, I wasn't really happy. I think I will print out a few of them on some watercolor paper and that might make a difference. I think they need more embellishing.

But being the curious person that I am, my eyes kept on going back to this one photo in the batch. It is the only one of just one guy; the others were of girls, (should I say ladies?), and some of children. I have no clue who the hunk in this picture is. There is a name on the back but it is just a first name, and not one that I recognize from my aunt's list of people she used to talk about. I knew a good many of her friends and relatives, but this guy isn't one of them. If he had been, I would have remembered...wonder why.

The photo itself looks like one of those James Dean poses...with that askance look and all. (I can't believe I spelled that word correctly.) As for his overalls, they are not something anyone with a movie background would wear unless they were filming.

Those were the days when they used patches for the reason they were intended. I doubt whether many people patch things now, except perhaps in decorative stitching. I have done a couple of patches on my hubby's at-home pants. They always seem to tear by the pockets, so I have taken to making patches that are 'way off' when it comes to matching and done in a zig-zag stitch with contrasting thread color, that really draws attention to the patch. I figure if the things are 'patched', why not celebrate that.

My mother is probably shaking her finger at me right now. She was so good at mending things that you couldn't tell where the mend was. I recall one episode when I was in organic chem lab. My lab coat was open, and some 'substance' splashed on my cerise red double knit jumper. It made a hole right in a very obvious location. The jumper was quite new, and I had a lot of accessories like shoes and bag, not to mention several tops that went with it, so I didn't want to relegate it to the 'unwearable' section of my closet. (Don't get me started on that!!!). So I showed it to Mom, and she said she would have to do some invisible mending on that. I couldn't believe it. I had never heard of the technique. Unfortunately, I didn't learn how to do it, but I did mention it to some of my co-workers a few years later, and my Mom, bless her, saved those people a lot of money that would otherwise have gone to art menders. Suits, trousers, blazers, sweaters, skirts...they all got fixed. (Those were the days when a lot of people smoked...some casually...and needless to say, the holes were more than likely cigarette burns.)

That's another good thing about not smoking. Fewer clothes ruined. Don't think I will get any federal funds for initiating a no smoking campaign for that reason, but it is something to consider, lol.

Boy have I gotten side-tracked. Back to the askanse guy. The only other clue to his identity is that there was a stamp on the back with the name of Hafford Photos, and the name Hafford, Saskatchewan underneath. Guess the picture was taken in that province, so once again, another reason why there were no movie stars there at that time. I have never heard of Hafford.

And check out the rest of the picture. Notice the double bars and the handle bars have that rail between them on the bike? I haven't seen that on a bike since I was a kid. The barrels behind are pretty unusual too. I wonder if they were located by a well? Since the picture looks like it was taken in a rural location, there probably wasn't running water in the area at the time.

My computer 'clock' just announced the time. I have been on this thing for over an hour now, so must get on to my other jobs. This was a nice little brain exercise. Now, on with the polymer clay. I have a couple of orders for light switch covers to finish before the weekend. I have been pretty busy with orders and have been delivering them here and there. And NEWSFLASH! I have some pieces in a new location.

When I was at one of my big 'shows' in October, the manager from The Manitoba Museum Gift Shop approached me and asked if I would be interested in having some of my items in their gift shop. I stopped by there a couple of weeks ago and dropped off some things. They aren't nearly as interesting as the photo above, but maybe when I get done with all my picture-altering I might make a few cards from them...kinda like What's in a Photo that really isn't there. I hope I am living up to the Museum's motto: encouraging Discovery. Although I am not much of a reader, I do like to read a mystery every now and then, and finding and interpreting clues, whether they're in photos or in real life, has to be part of the Discovery technique, n'est-ce pas? Hercule Poirot...Salut!

Listening to something I like

2011-11-29T06:55:00.000-08:00

So sad to report that our team came second in the recent Grey Cup. So it has been a down turn, but still they played respectably, especially toward the end. But like some of their efforts this season, too little too late.

On a completely different "tack" today, I am embedding a video here. It is quite possible that you've seen and heard it before, but I am including the link just for you to have a little 'feel good sound'.

http://youtu.be/yjbpwlqp5Qw?t=10s

Hopefully this works. I am not the greatest at all this cyber stuff. I thought I'd have time to study it up yesterday, after all it was Cyber Monday, but I think I was busy that day, lol.

Grey Cup Garb...the Lyin', the Hitch, and the Wardrobe

2011-11-26T15:25:00.000-08:00

Well, I am not really lying, I am tellin' the truth but this could be classified as a whopper! This morning and most of the day I've been busy getting ready for the great big day tomorrow, (Grey Cup) and I wanted to show some team spirit so, as I said in an earlier blog, I have been making some things.

I sortof drew this logo, I know it's copyright but it's only staying inside my house and maybe it'll go outside on the dog's sweater. She wouldn't be 'advertising' it, because she only goes out in the back yard on a leash and she is blind, so she can't go out meandering for Pete's sake. But I digress.

I drew the logo thing; made a couple of photocopies in different sizes, (the dog's has to be smaller) and Dan's has to be bigger and the one for the table...well, that one isn't important. Then I colored them. Do you know how much my markers have dried out? Of course some of them are ten years old or older, so that isn't a surprise. I did the gold with yellow marker, then gold Prisma color pencil on top, then another layer of yellow marker. That shading makes the color quite realistic. As you can see, the blues are not all the same because the markers were running low. I even went over one of them in blue highlighter because the concentration of ink was getting very pale. It doesn't matter...it's just for an at home get together. And no one cares if the blue's the right hue.

After I had colored the designs, I used the trusty Singer and sewed pieces of acetate on top, all around the designs like little borders. Next step was to attach the thing to a garment, and I was using this old embroidery floss I found in my cupboard. (The cupboard is like an old fashioned wardrobe, hehe, and its contents are so much fun that it is always an exciting adventure when I pull something out. It's one of those things that someone is always telling me to "CLEAN OUT" but it is far too much fun to keep the stuff. Some of it I could part with, but when I make a find like I did today, I vow I won't clean it out until it absolutely has to be done.)

So, (or should that be sew) I've already hand stitched one logo onto my goldish plush vest. From far, it looks pretty good until you see the uneven stitches. But I can live with that. Its 'kitschy stitchin' and adds to the fun of it. It's almost like a 'hitch' or whip stitch. But the big thing is THIS...See that blue embroidery floss that I am using to stitch with? Well this is where truth is really stranger than fiction. Have a look at the scan below...

If you look really closely at the little paper wrapper, it will kind of give you a hint of how old that embroidery floss is. You may need to enlarge the image because I want it to be very subtle. I think that I must have inherited that cigar box of floss from someone who did work in the middle of the 1900's, or maybe earlier. Doesn't that sound like ages ago?

And yet, we remember songs from that era. For example, one of the big auto firms is presently using a song that one of my aunts used to sing in its commercial. (I think it's the same aunt who used this floss.) You know the one with the fake birds flying around? I believe the music was from one of the Sigmund Romberg 'operas' that were all the rage when Hollywood did those big lavish musical productions. If my numerical demagnification ratios serve me right, keeping in mind the relative cost of the embroidery thread, one of those musicals could have been made for a few thousand dollars. Now, that barely pays a month's living expenses. Not to mention a football player's salary. And I ain't lyin'.

Book Club Babe Mascot

2011-11-26T12:04:00.000-08:00

This is not the greatest scan of this little gal, but she really is a cutie. She is meant to hang on a wall and holds a multi-page book replete with matching beads.

My original idea for these little "mascots" was to have them made for Book Clubs, and the hostess of the meeting would keep the doll and hang her up until it was the next hostess' turn. Most of the people I have spoken to said that they didn't want to "share" but would use the book to write down all the books they were reading like a kind of 'log' book.

I will be taking one of them to my next book club meeting ... it is to be a Christmas Pot Luck. I don't know if this is the lady that will accompany me...she will be privvy to all sorts of banter at that get together. And even if we do decide to keep her as the "keeper of the books" so to speak, we can rest assured that she won't breathe a word about what (or who) was discussed at the gathering.

Her book can be removed quite readily from her rather oversized arms. She seems a little disproportioned when she isn't holding on to her book, but I am including the scan of her with the book on the side so you can see how the whole thing works.

The scan makes her look a little displeased with something, but I think it's because the camera is angling downward and when you look at her hanging on the wall at eye level or above, her expression is much kinder.

Maybe it's that way with people too...when people look "down" on us, they may see a less pleasant expression on our faces than when looking at them head on or from just below eye level. And maybe that's why we 'admire' people we look up to, and frown upon others...we are just reflecting what's been projected towards us. Ah, but I've said too much and don't want to get into some discussion that I am not prepared to carry on with.

Me, I'm with the book club babe and just don't want to tell all!!!

It's Grey Cup Weekend here, and I've got to get back to fashioning some Blue and Gold Bomber football gear to wear while we watch tomorrow's game. I am in the midst of sewing a hand-made logo onto a gold plush vest. I have the blue turtle neck washed and ready to wear and will co-ordinate that with some blue sweats so that if need be, I can reinforce the team from our family room in between snacks. One of the appetizers I made is a cheese ball that I made in the shape of a football. I topped it off with slightly salted home roasted sunflower seeds and the bowl scrapings tasted yummy. After the flavours have a chance to mellow it should be really good. I have the table decked out in a gold table cloth with blue runners along the side. If I have time, I'll make a couple more hand colored logos to intersperse among the other goodies that are mellowing in the fridge. I've decided to make a few little trinkets in blue and gold ... maybe like toothpick decorations and maybe I'll cover a couple of knife handles to spread the cheese ball onto crackers. And maybe swizzle sticks. But we shall see.

Go Bombers!

And one more pass while I'm on the football kick...(How's that for a literary device...)I saw the highlights of yesterday's Vanier Cup...(McMaster contre Laval) and I am pretty sure my niece and her husband who are in the Crystallography Department at McMaster are happy about the outcome. According to the sportscasters, that game was probably the best Canadian College Football Final of all time. Hope the Bombers can mimic the McMaster outcome.

In the Buffer Zone

2011-11-25T05:32:00.000-08:00

About a week ago I purchased a new 6 inch muslin buffing wheel for my bench grinder. My old one was so well worn, that I was nearly touching the metal plate when I was buffing and there was very little surface area to work on. I had ground the old muslin wheel down to about 1/2 inch away from the protective plate! Needless to say, it had been a long time since I had put on a new muslin wheel.

I remembered the trick about taking the first couple of rows of stitching out of the new muslin wheel before I put it on the housing. That was easy enough. I just clipped every second stitch and the rows were done in about a minute. Then was the fun job of taking the old wheel off. It was on there TIGHT! Fortunately we located the right size wrenches and got the old one off and then put the new one on lickety split.

Yesterday (American Thanksgiving) was one of the warmest days we've had in a long time and so I grabbed the chance to get some buffing done. I don't want to buff in the house and it was a good thing I didn't do it yesterday. With the new wheel (Whee!) I started with some simple beads. There were pieces of muslin and threads flying all over the back yard and all over me! I looked like a partly de-feathered Thanksgiving Turkey with all those little farfotzlies of fiber and string strewn all over me. They were even in my hair! After about ten minutes of buffing, the major edges of the wheel were broken in and things went smoothly after that. I had about two dozen buttons on order and needed to get them buffed and ready to send out.

Then I set to work on some other larger pieces that had to be buffed and got them all done before the sun set. There were many things to be thankful for.

Not only that, I got it all the work done by Friday, so I can relax and get some Grey Cup goodies ready for a little get together here on Sunday. I have decorated with a few garlands of Blue and Gold outside on the shrubs and have a couple of little banners made for the inside t.v. room to help our team on to victory. I know they won't hear us shout, but we'll give a couple of blasts on the bull horn and maybe they'll hear those all the way to Vancouver.

Go Bombers!

Manly, yes, but I like it too!

2011-11-17T08:55:00.000-08:00

I remember that tag line from a years old commercial, where the Irish girl makes the comment about soap.  The comment could apply to lots of things, but I've chosen to include it here along with these significantly larger editions of one of my favourite things to make.

Recently, a neighbour did a favour for us and I am going to be gifting him with one of these.  Another will be for hubby (of course...he provided the wrist for the original model) and one is going to be a Christmas gift for someone whom I hope isn't reading this blog.

Some years ago I obained this very heavy hide, I think it might be deer, but not sure, in a size that was really too small to make anything. The piece was irregularly shaped, and had a few little notches in it here and there. I was able to spot a few places where the hide was long enough to make a wrist band, so that's where I started.  I used the quilting ruler, the Olfa board and the trusty cutting blade (wheel) that I had inherited a few years ago and cut some thin type strips of the hide.

It seems to fit well with the natural organic feel of the stones, which are larger than the ones I usually make. I had to make the holes quite large as the first set I tried wouldn't allow the hide to pass NO HOW, even after pulling it with my pliers. So I baked the stones on a larger type knitting needle to ensure that the stones would fit the heavy duty hide. I had to make the 'stopper stone' hole even bigger and found the right bore on a piece of metal tubing from a pasta machine that I had once tried to clean. (Long story...I will leave the cleaning of pasta machines to those that know how to put them back together once they've been taken apart!)

I regret that some people out there will not take to these...but then again, if I think back to yesterday's post, I can live with that! I must add that I have seen similar bracelets to these and hope that I haven't "infringed" on anyone's property. I realize that a lot of people make stone bracelets (I have been making them for about ten years myself) and that being said, I just wanted to show my take on a more manly style.

Now, to think of an appropriate name for them!!!

Zen-doodle all the day long

2011-11-16T07:53:00.000-08:00

Well, these zen-doodles weren't all done in one day...far from it. They are some of the work I did a while back while being a patient passenger. Some works of the series are framed and some of them are waiting for just the right moment to become part of a larger work that I envision for 'future considerations'.

It is really difficult being a 'composer' with snippets of things you know are good enough to keep, but just not 'enough' on their own. And the line between the two parameters is not clearly demarkated. It's not like there's a double yellow solid down the middle of your work saying Do Not Cross but an arbitrary thing that you just have to hope is in synch with the work(s), the media and all that goes into a composition.

Speaking about compositions, last weekend my friend and I went to the symphony and one of the main works was the familiar Beethoven V. As we were getting our coats on, I overheard a fellow a few rows back who berated the conductor for leading the orchestra to play it altogether too fast for his liking. I didn't say anything but did have an opinion. When Ludvig composed the piece, he had in mind a certain pace at which he felt the piece ought to be played at, and so noted that in the time signature. Everyone's interpretation has to vary slightly, I feel. We do not all walk around with metronomes in our purses or back pockets, and even if we did, there would still be room for personal interpretation.

So is the way people interpret art and in this case, my zen doodles. Some of you may get nothing out of them. So be it. Others may feel there is a picture there, and may even imagine a creature from the deep lurking in the compositions. Again, others may feel it is just a series of dots connected by a five year old. To me it is an expression...perhaps a little intuitive, but that is what appealed to me at the time I made the particular piece.

Presentation Plus

2011-11-12T12:21:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I was approached by the manager of a museum in our city asking to carry some of my products in the gift shop there. I have items in some other galleries, gift shops, and I was looking forward to getting a few more of my items 'out there'.

So this morning, after completing the promised number of items, I set to getting them ready for presentation. For the longest time I had been using the same type of hand crafted background paper for some of my items, mostly jewellery, which also contained a picture of some of the local scenery, since it went well with the items. As with most things, change was needed, so I came up with a slight modification of my background paper...it's much less time consuming to create and doesn't require the same amount of drying time as I had been accustomed to with the stamped, brushed, calligraphed, spattered and top coated effect I was using previously. I stuck to spattering and rolling this time and even though the finishing coat of thin gold is missing, there are still a few sparkles here and there, thanks to the pearlescent effect I mixed in with one of the rolled techniques. I made about twenty variations on the theme and although I'm not sure if this was my absolute favourite; they were all so similar, it was hard to pick out my #1 choice. Besides, once the rest of the printing and the accompanying picture gets on the page and the background sheets get cut up into card size pieces, much of the total picture is gone.

I called the museum this morning in hopes that I could drop off the finished goods, but alas, the manager was on an extended weekend, and so I'll have to wait until Tuesday when she returns. Hope you all have a fun weekend...Mine is nice so far...no schlepping and setting up today and quite frankly, I needed the break.

Craft Season in Full Swing

2011-11-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness for that extra hour of sleep last night. This season of 'sales events' has wiped me. The packing, unpacking, hauling things upstairs in ancient mansions, loading and unloading dollies to who knows where in huge exhibition halls and just the general 'busy-ness' of this time of year has caught me with my knickers down (so to speak) and I have fallen victim to the latest bug to hit our city. The weather has been fine until now, but I guess my resistance and lack of proper sleep have just set my body level to "succumb". I now have a throat that produces sounds on a very random basis, and the projected pitch ranges from squeeky mouse to bass baritone in the same sentence. Needless to say, I won't be asked to sing any operatic solos in the near future, lol.

Fortunately, I am not sneezy and wheezy, and my muscles aren't all achy, so I am still able to function if I don't have to speak in dulcet tones. We do have a family get together today where we'll celebrate a birthday and have the annual 'who buys for whom' draw for Holiday time. Thankfully the restaurant we will be visiting has an extremely varied menu so it will fit the many tastes of our group. I think I will sit on the end, or maybe I'll be ousted to my own private table and have to communicate in sign language with the rest of the pack. In any case, I am looking forward to a break from 'production' and sitting at my clay table.

Actually, I have a hiatus in events, and this weekend I'll be able to enjoy an evening at the Symphony on Friday night...a big change from the normal hurrying and scurrying getting last minute tags ready and making sure I have all my necessitites piled in boxes near the door. Heck, I may even have time today to finish reading that book that will be discussed at our book club get together...oh wait...it's Tomorrow. Better get off this and get to page 32. Think I'll get done? It's only a couple hundred pages so I'll read in the car on the way to the restaurant and tell hubby to 'take the long way'. Wish me luck

Scattered Seeds, Shattered Needs

2011-10-19T04:25:00.000-07:00

Yikes! One more day until set up at Scattered Seeds and I am still working 12+ hour days. It's incredible...the amount of work involved in preparing for a "BIG" show. I have stuff all over my dining room, living room, kitchen, not to mention that my kitchen counter is not visible having been taken over as a work station for sanding, staining and drying my pieces after they've been washed and buffed. If I ever have a studio, having a 'work sink' will be one of the gotta haves.

I think I have enough light switch covers made to light up the entire city. Well, nearly. I have about fifty.

It is so difficult to predict how many of any particular item to make up for a three day sale, especially if you haven't been in the particular event for a long time (say ten years). And it is being held in a new (for me) building so I am just not quite sure what the set up will be like. Last time I was in a long but rather narrow 'booth' although I am pretty sure the new layout for Scattered Seeds is all for 10 by 10 foot areas. I can do both types of set-ups as my 'props' are pretty adjustable, consisting of a number of tables, three repositionable backboards, a couple of easels and sufficient covering material to blanket Mount Everest. I bought draping material last weekend at a local JYSK (sort of a Pier One type store, only not as eclectic) and although the drapery length panels are too long to cover my backboards, I am not going to cut them, just in case I NEED to use them later on to fashion window draperies in a little flat if I should be ousted outta my residence. (Yep...show prep does have psycho-social, need I say marital, ramifications.)

Life is very difficult just before a show and among other things dysfunctional at this time, food preparation has slowed to a stop. In preparations for the crunch, I made a huge crock of soup the other day, whipped up a couple of ready-to-be dressed salads; and sandwiches and wraps are in the freezer so that meals can be made (or should I say thrown together) in between sanding or drying sessions. The only thing that isn't condensed in my life right now is sleep (wish that could be done) and dog outings. Instead of taking Miss Molly for a walk, I am doing the back yard thing, where I walk her in about twenty circles around the back yard. Heck, she can't see anyway, so her walks are not excursions, but rather just an opportunity for us to have a little fresh air and get a tiny bit of scenery change from my work stations in the house.

Yesterday afternoon while I was buffing outside, I realized it is starting to get really cold out. (Glad that sentence didn't read 'in the buff outside') I had a tuque on and actually required mittens to be out for thirty minutes of buffing at the wheel. I don't know what I will do when it gets really cold... I refuse to buff indoors as the dust created is just too much to deal with. I suppose I should invest in a dust vent...but don't know where I'd put it. I do wear face protection to keep the stuff out of my orifices, but the polymer dust and cotton from the wheel does collect on surfaces. I have noticed that the old school desk on which I do my buffing has almost taken on a different patina, with the 'old school etchings' in it a different color from the rest of the wood. I do dust and scrub it down after each session at the bench grinder, but my guess is that after numerous buffing sessions, many of the particles have become permanently engrained in the wood.

Well I am off to my begin my last day in preparation for the show. I am just doing a few smaller pieces today as I have quite a pile of buttons and jewelry bits that need to be tagged and priced. Hopefully I will get it all done by Thursday.

So...with that...I am off to work.

And yes, I know this is an older picture, but it's kinda where I am at right now...no time to upload newer pictures. Thanks to the gals in Arizona who took this during my demo there last January...This was one of the sets of covers of I used for demonstration purposes. I had many in different stages of completion, much like where I am at right now in preparation for the Scattered Seeds show. The little insert on the front cover is from Tina Holden's Batik and Shimmer tutorial, which I did not demonstrate, but did include it as a focal point on one of the books used for demonstration.

So if you would like to attend, Scattered Seeds is being held this weekend, Friday through Sunday, at the Assiniboia Downs Exhibition Park and I will be in Booth #152. Friday and Saturday hours are 10 am to 9 pm and Sunday is from noon until 5 pm. Stop by and say Hi! and see what I've been doing for the last few months!

Let's Face It...It's Crunch Time

2011-09-29T03:19:00.000-07:00

These little gals are all set for their annual trek to Dryden to participate in the Holiday Arts Festival this weekend. Some of them look pretty bundled up, and I understand that warm weather is being forecast, so hopefully they won't experience any hot flashes!

I made several of the little faces, and then chose some to be book club babes, some to be little finger puppets and this glee club grouping is a set of twelve buttons. The buttons can be sewn on to clothing, especially winter hats, to make cute little additions, or they can be sewn onto premade muslin dolls. Then they can be adorned with beads, costumes, jewellery, and made into any doll of your choice. I like to call them the Maharincess of Franistan Faces, because one or two of them actually look like Lucy Ricardo in her early series with bandleader Ricky. If you remember that series, or even the reruns, Lucy got herself into plenty of trouble. Thing is, these ones don't have any 'splainin' to do.

We will be packing up the van tonight with hopes of getting an early start out tomorrow so we can drive leisurely, without having the time element being an extra burden.

Box and Book Presentation

2011-09-25T07:02:00.000-07:00

For the past couple of weeks I have been making items to present in a few upcoming shows, the first of which will be this weekend in Dryden, Ontario. Since I wasn't in the Sioux Narrows Arts Festival this summer, I hope to see some of my friends in Dryden, which is about an hour drive (or so) away from there. The weatherman is forecasting sun and slightly above normal temperatures so the drive through the Canadian Shield should be wonderful. Of course we will be taking chaperone Bichon Molly, who will accompany DH during showtime and perhaps they'll explore some of their favourite haunts that they've come to love in and around Dryden. Since she is now totally blind, I am hoping that she will use her other senses to recall her familiar places there. She loves being out of doors with us, and I think she can still sense the sunlight because yesterday when I was out buffing beads, she just wanted to sit on her cushion on the chaise lounge.

As for my polymer work, it has been extremely varied of late, as is usual for crunch time just before a show. I've made several new items that haven't been in my usual repertoire, including many mixed media pieces. This one, for example, includes a bit of needle felting, a covered box in luscious turquoise, blue and purple, a little handmade journal with an organza drawstring bag to keep the book inside the box. There certainly were a lot of elements that went into the creation of this little collection. It required a fair bit of planning and crossed fingers, to make sure that all the colors in the grouping went well together.

I began by painting the interior of the papier maché box in a deep blue with Lumière Paint, and then adhered the collage of blended polymer on the outside. You can't see the impressions on the sides of the box in the photo, but I think you can see the little metal scrollwork (thin strips of polymer with gold leaf) on the sides. The book covers also carry on with the colour theme and the Coptic binding is finished off with a mixture of beads made from the blended clay, separated by glass beads. I opted for a blue binding for both the bag string and the binding which I fashioned from 6 strands embroidery floss that I waxed heavily so that it would be strong.

The bag and book fit nicely inside the box. At first I was just going to fold the organza and nestle the book in it, but I thought it looked a bit untidy when the book was out, so I chose to make the little drawstring bag. I just happened to have some organza in a subtle blend of teal and ultramarine, and it goes together so nicely with the colors in the book and box.

The top of the box is festooned with a couple of needle felted balls that I had made in the spring. I threaded them onto some purple wire which kinda looks like the box might be able to receive satellite signals from who knows where. All in all, it is quite a project.

Fish going Globe Bowling...Part Two

2011-09-21T06:59:00.000-07:00

If you haven't seen Part One of this little video, please go to the previous post where the elements that make up this little puppet show are explained. Not too much detail, but a glimpse.

This is about the umpteenth time I've tried to load and process this video. As you can tell, I ended up having to do the video in two parts because Blogger just couldn't do it all in one. I am not that savvy when it comes to making movies.

In any case, I made and baked the inner fish on a little copper wire, and right now, it just dangles inside the globe. For the exterior, you can see where I covered the vase with the bowling balls (which hid where I had to nip the glass) and also adhered the premade, but unbaked fishies to the outside of the crazy-quilted exterior. When all the exterior collaging was done, I baked the vase for about 45 minutes.

The little wire which suspends the fish still isn't attached so I will be finishing it off a little. Similar ones I made last year were suspended by some fibres around the rim of the vase which coincidentally helped to hold the wire that controls the little puppet fish inside. In this way, the vase can be placed on a table or suspended according to one's whims.

My idea of Clay Mation or is it Motion...

Another Fishing Expedition Part 1

2011-09-20T07:55:00.000-07:00

I did further 'retakes' of the video I published yesterday, and although it is still not of Motion Picture Quality, the sound and pictures are quite a bit better in this third attempt. The Blackberry video camera on my phone isn't of the greatest quality so I chose this other option. This time I used the digital camera, a Fuji, and used the video application. There are still a few blurry spots where I got too close to the objects. Also, holding the work and the camera requires a high degree of ambidexterity which, unfortunately is not one of my fortés. This is evident especially when there are little 'movements' that you want to tweak with one finger inside a vessel.

In this first part of the video I have the glass ball and the clay requirements. They are pretty visible. In the next post, the finished item will be visible.

Two, two, two posts on one day

2011-09-16T06:43:00.000-07:00

Some time ago I tried to make a clown fish cane. I started with an incredible drawing, only to find that the useable part of the cane was very small. In my efforts to reduce it, the shape was just too convoluted so I only got about twenty good slices of fish. Or would those be filets?

In any case, last weekend I made a little drawing of a dog, and decided to give another animule a chance at becoming a cane. Now this could go a lot of places. Since my little bichon Molly is blind, a 'white cane' might be appropriate. Not that she could ever carry one or learn to use it in that constant contact method that vision impaired people are accustomed to. Molly would rather use her nose. She sidles up against walls to help her negotiate the familiar walls in our place, and that keeps her away from the stairs she abhors (she has fallen down them twice). When she wants to jump onto the sofa, she does the 'nose' test by touching her nose to the front of the sofa seat, and then hurdles her way up the premeasured height. It is almost tearful to watch her get 'lost' in the house, but in some of those adventures, she has discovered where the bag of dog food is kept. I've even seen her get on her hind paws and stuff her face right into the bag for a few extra goodies. Nope...she doesn't need that kind of cane to get around.

To get back to my original idea for this post, I did want to mention that I almost succeeded in making this dog cane. Not that it looks anything like Molly. With her being totally white, it is a little difficult to make any kinds of facial demarkations, and those are rather necessary in making good canes. The contrast between features is critical to making a successful cane. So, I put a little greige in here and there on her face to kind of indicate the contours of her face. Unbeknownst to me, one of theose greige lines came between her 'eyes' and it almost looks like she's wearing glasses. Now if any dog wants to make a spectacle of herself, it would be Molly. She loves being the center of attention, so now, I will go and give her a cuddle and end this post.

Oh yah, I have used this cane. I also encircled it with other surrounding colors...some blue, some pink and some grey, which I believe is the only thing she sees.

The Lights of Fall

2011-09-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

It is really noticeable with the frost on the cars in the mornings, that we are experiencing FALL here. Following an absolutely fabulous summer, the cooler weather really hit hard almost overnight. So in keeping with the season, I decided to imitate the colors of fall in these crazy-quilt patchwork light switch plates. I recently went and purchased a good selection of blank plates and will be busy covering them in the hopes that they find happy homes at some of the sales that I will be doing in the coming months.

I am not one for production, but with the huge events I will be attending this fall, I have to succumb to that line of 'work'. The upside is that although I will be working with similar palettes for the covers, at least I can make each one slightly different. When doing these I actually put the completed ones in another room so that I don't 'copy' my work so that they can stay dissimilar.

The next few months should prove to be 'interesting' as I will be integrating substitute teaching, some travel, and concentrated efforts in completing several large projects in polymer, so I may not be posting as regularly as I would like. The leisurely hours of sitting at the computer are one of the things that will have to be whittled off my days so that I can be more productive. And with the noticeably shorter days and my eyes not attuned to working when it's dark, I need to make light switch covers (among other things) while the sun is still shining.

Beachy, Just Beachy

2011-09-02T03:40:00.000-07:00

Beach, Beach, Beach! And I mean that in a good way. This weekend will mark the final Victoria Beach Art Sale for the season, so I chose to include this as a tribute to what has probably been the best summer for beachin' it in YEARS! Yes, there were difficulties, in particular with the high waters at the start of the season and the erosioin of the shore line, but as for weather, sunny days, no rain and mosquitoes, this has to be a topper for them all. At least as far as I can recall.

In July, I did manage to spend three lovely days (except for my aching back) out at Victoria Beach and had hoped to spend a few more on a weekend in September, but alas, I think that is not to be. Schedules and preparing for heavy duty fall commitments has left little time to idle at the beach. However, I do think that taking a day off here and there would do wonders!

I've done lots of market type events this summer; almost one every weekend. At the most recent one, (The Morden Corn and Apple Festival) I encountered Breanne, who is also a polymer clay person of sorts. I say that tongue in cheek, because she is also an aeronautical engineer. (Yah, really) but she has a fun side to her, that makes an explanation of why the extrusion of a Klimt Cane in mathematical terms makes sense; in terms that a mere regular science type can understand. (Watching too many of Big Bang Theory Lectures I think!) Anyway, last year I had made a few of these light switches and she asked for a couple more, so I'm showing this one here, before it's gone.

This weekend I'll actually be at two 'events'. On Saturday I'll be at the "Christmas in September" Art and Craft Sale at the Victoria Beach Sports Club, and then on Sunday we'll be setting up the tent at the Locks Market under the bridge by Skinner's in Lockport. Two weekends ago they celebrated the Lockport Dam Festival there and in spite of a cruel wind on the Saturday, the Festival was a great success. Unfortunately, Hubby's $20 000 tagged catfish wasn't caught (again) this year, but the committee did see fit to award some substantial merchandise prizes to a few lucky participants who entered the contest. Those tagged catfish are swimmin' around somewhere wondering, "Why am I wearing this tag thing on my dorsal fin?" I wonder just how many of those dam catfish have similar 'garb'?

But I digress. It's almost daylight here (5:35 am) and I need to get to actual work. I have many projects in the nearly complete stage and if I am going to have enough items to fill my spaces over the weekend, I'd better get off this chair and into the one in my workspace. So I'll just turn lights off in this room, pour myself a cup of Joe and get to work.

Venn Zen

2011-08-13T11:11:00.000-07:00

So I am going to the Lockport Market again tomorrow, after about a month's hiatus. I have been busy, and life got in there somewhere, and well, life is life.

I have been doing lots of experiments with different projects, with a modicum of success, but have found that the clientele at the market are looking for little things and are not after bigger ticket items. So this led me down the road to this very complex Venn Diagram. Taking all the things into consideration, some people liked cutesy, some people liked vintage, some people liked bold brassy colors, some people liked "frugal", some people liked simple. So taking all those things into the Venn intersection of how things 'interweave', I came up with the common 'denominator' if you will.

These Venn circles are not drawings, but the solution to the above set of considerations. I was able to locate some very (shall we say thrifty) necklace wires, which close by screwing the end bits together. I had paid $8 a piece for similar items a few years back in Arizona, and although the closure is a bit different, and the colors slightly different, they were a 'bargoon' just waiting to be gathered into my basket. So I bought a few recently and made some bicone beads that I placed on them. I mainly did them in shades of blue as that is the color of the wires, but methinks I will head over to the store and get some more.

The one 'snag' that wasn't a consideration of the above intersections of the circles was the size of the bore in the bead. It had to be big enough to house the screw bit, and yet I didn't want it to be so large that it would become overpowering in the smallish type lentil shapes I was making. The first few were (Goldilocks here...) way too small. So I decided I'd try baking the lentils on the wire. Just before I put them in the oven, I placed small black polymer dealy-bob 'bead caps' on the holes to make the holes appear a bit smaller. The bead caps resemble o-rings but really are just little disc beads. I cut a 'radial' cut to the centre of the disc, placed it around the wire and covering the majority of the bore of the bead, then secured it back into its circular shape. Doing this also prevents the bead from coming off the wire when the necklace is removed.

All these considerations take 'pre-planning', something which I rarely do well. I mainly work 'intuitively' and luckily for me, that works most of the time. The pre-planning and consideration phase is something I will have to become accustomed to, because, I guess, in the long rum, I do mean run, it is a time saving method.

Going Mobile with Polymer Clay part two

2011-08-04T08:19:00.000-07:00

I guess the 'wind' was blowing when this picture got snapped. It is one of the natural life mobiles complete with pearl in the shell that was done at the camp workshop in the middle of July.

Unfortunately, I am not into all the Harry Potter insignias, crests and other related markings but Sydney certainly is. She did all these crests for her mobile and she can justifiably be very proud of it. She worked incredibly hard for someone who was at camp and althought the project was probably a little too time consuming, she did a great job of capturing the essence of the coats of arms.

The hamburger (now that's something I can relate to) in this mobile is replete with all the trimmings. Madison even had me chopping up little bits of 'pickles' for the relish. The whole thing was delish, even though inedible. Of course there are the healthy parts like apples, pears, tomatoes and all the other nutrients that we can identify with as well. She also included a wire 'sculpture' of her initial as an additional component to her mobile.

I feel badly that I can't put in a picture of everyone's work. All the kids worked so earnestly and co-operated by helping to get finished. I also wish that everyone has an opportunity to work with kids like this and help to fulfill art needs. These kids had so much potential. Bravo!!!

Back to Work

2011-08-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

I realize it is nearly a month since posting here..and as a follow-up to the last post (sounds slightly military) I did get a few slices off that clown fish cane. Most of them went to work as examples of how (not) to do caning while I did a camp workshop slightly more than a week ago.

Earlier in July, I was at an art camp about 20 miles from here and worked with a delightful group of 9 to 14 year olds. They were probably one of the most dedicated group of clayers that I have ever had the privilege to work with. Thinking...camp...kids will just wanna have fun. Well, we did have some fun but mostly they were a very task oriented group and extremely receptive to soaking up techniques in polymer clay.

The workshops ran one week in length on a daily basis for a time of two hours. After spending a bit of time the first day introducing polymer clay and its nuances, we set to making items. We did some rudimentary caning and color blending, and of course, one of the favorite activities was rolling the pasta machine. By the end of the week, I was no longer having to respond to "How many times do I roll it on this setting?" as the kids became extremely familiar with the machines. No doubt some of them will have them on their wish lists for birthday or even Christmas gifts.

There were fifteen kids in the class, and I had seven pasta machines for them to share. It worked pretty well, with one kid cranking, and the other passing the clay through. Of course, they did the rock, paper, scissors thing to see who would roll first, and I thought of renaming the procedure "Let's Rock and Roll", but I think that's been said before somewhere.

The title of the activity was "Going Mobile with Polymer Clay" and their big project was to make either a linear mobile, a stabile (no one chose either of these two) or a regular three or more strand mobile. I don't know if there are correct 'mobile' terms to use for the suspendables, so I had to make up words. Pretty soon 'thingies' and 'gizmos' became part of the week's vocabulary for kids who weren't familiar with such high-tech terms. Speaking of high tech, my "smart white board" was a long piece of off-white newsprint which I taped to a window and just moved up as new techniques were introduced.

After making a couple of projects (beads and light switch covers), we set out in earnest to make the focal elementss/structures for their mobiles. I gave them free rein and let them choose which ever theme appealed to them. Warning to potential instructors in this type of project: Be prepared to make anything! I did have a couple of days to access their abilities in the preliminary projects, and croyez-moi! I would not have allowed such freedom if the group had not been so task-oriented or willing to work so diligently. Our time was very 'committed'. We had essentially two two-hour sessions to make as many focal elements as needed to convey the theme. These ranged from spelling out a name to various sports activities, equestrian memorabilia ,undersea critters, to favorite seasons, foods, "modern art" and to the extremely challenging Harry Potter Shields/Coats of Arms that one gal chose to do. (The words keep echoing...Sydney needs mores scrap clay...)

The final day was reserved for finishing and assembling the mobiles. As the days progressed, I would bake all the pieces in my home oven and took them to the class. On Friday, we put a simple coat of acrylic finish on each of the elements, and then they had the most daunting task of all ahead...stringing the mobiles and getting them to balance. We used 20 pound test fishing line as the suspending agents. From somewhere in the depths of my basement, I had located some extremely useful bamboo 'sticks' which (Thank YOU someone) were pre-drilled at three strategic locations. This took away all the problems of making the mobiles balance. Every single one balanced perfectly. I was amazed; when I make these things myself, that is when the air is the bluest. For the kids at camp, it was a piece of cake. They simply laid the sticks on the floor, got their fishing line, interspersing beads, focal elements and went to work. No twisting and getting pieces tangled up...And when we went to make the final "suspending" cord, all we did was put a long piece of line through the two end holes of the bamboo, skipping the middle one, and made a triangular 'hanger' and it all worked. We also used fishing 'sinkers' beneath each of the focal elements to suspend them in what would seem like mid air. I did have pictures taken and will post a few of them when I can 'find' them on hubby's camera.

It has been sort of anti-climatic since that week of high-energy activity. As a follow-up to the camp 'routine', I've made the elements for a couple of my own mobiles. One is a garden theme and I am going to assemble that one today. Hopefully it will work as uneventfully as the ones at camp did!

Fish, fishing, finding the right fish

2011-07-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

So I really appreciate people who make canes extremely well, because, frankly, I can't. I mean I can make the simple, everyday canes that EVERYONE can make, but picture canes are really not something that I have the patience for. As well, my hands get really warm, they are very large and there are some other issues that I have to deal with (including lighting) which make my canes less than what I would like.
That being said, I don't give up trying. I can make 'abstract' canes, because of course they are not supposed to look like something identifiable. I have even made some passable complex canes under the tutelage of Jana Roberts Benzon. I know the basics. Every so often I make a stab at trying to construct a cane that is supposed to look like something.
This morning, I began by drawing and coloring a "Poisson Clown" which mostly everyone knows. (If you look very carefully, you can see where I colored over the lines into the white part of the little fish on the right, the one I am going to use for my modèle.)It is not exactly like Nemo, but the type of fish is certainly one that little kids might mistakenly think was Nemo. Not that I want to make Nemo...no. I want to make a clown fish cane, with dimensional fins.
I have spent the last two hours mixing a batch of orangey-colored clay...no I can't take it straight out of the packages. I did write down the "recipe" of the mixture, because, I NEVER make enough of the color I need. So far, I have the eye made, the white 'stripes' and a sort of tail If it comes together the way it is 'supposed' to, I will post a picture here. Fish me luck!

Zen Doodle Inspirations

2011-06-29T04:49:00.000-07:00

In my last most recent post, I indicated that I had used some of my amassed collection of pen and ink zen diagrams as inspiration for my polymer clay textures creations. I tried to include this picture along with the post, but was having trouble including it with all the other material in that post so decided to use it by itself. This is not my favorite Zen thing, but I think it gives the idea of what I was striving for. If I had a chance to do a do-over in this one, I would have balanced it more, with some heavier coloration on the right. The eye doesn't go to the little 'fat globule' on the lower right. Also, in my spraghetti presentation arrangement, I think I would have not made the emerging balloon so lonely. It does give it a balancing point, but there isn't enough foundation for it to maintain the equilibrium on its rather testy fulcrum. But it does bring to mind the Cirque du Soleil, in one of its moments where the next movement would be a swing to the right!

School's Out for Summer

2011-06-29T04:38:00.000-07:00

Okay, school is almost out but I thought I'd share this method for making a zentangle in polymer clay. Since my original work with zentangles began as "a long string of spaghetti", I approached making the textures in the polymer clay in much the same manner.
Instead of a piece of spaghetti, (TOO LIMP A NOODLE FOR MOI) I used a piece of linen string which I impressed into the scrap clay. Perhaps there are too many "cells" or spaces in this one to fill. I usually like to have a different texture/design in each discrete section, and this would mean ... a lot of textures in small spaces and might be too busy.

After the impression is made with the string or thin cord, I next get my tools for impression making collected so that I can use them. You can see in this photo that I have collected a few different bits and pieces, most of which have ends that can be manipulated into the clay. I will use the ends on their sides, or points, or the whole thing. Ya gotta improvise a little. A drill bit used straight on will give one impression, and when used on its side will yield a completely different look. The bits and pieces are parts of aluminum, brass or other metal cylinders, tubes, needles and whatnot. The collecting of these things can be a trifle time-consuming and often that is the most fun. Yes, I even have a clicker pen in there, as well as my trusty tracing wheel...something I cannot live without!

I realize this is a tad difficult to see due to the muddy color of the clay, but I think you can see the texture, even with this shoddy photo taken
with my blackberry.

Originally, my inspiration for this adaptation in polymer clay came from an old art "lesson" that I used to do with my Grade Six students to get them to try to expand their repertoire of shading techniques. I presented them with a "spaghetti noodle maze" and they had to fill each section with a different design or shading technique. Over the years I have amassed a number of these that I have done on my own. The current zentangle-zendoodle approach in doing mixed media is nothing new.

TEXTURE TIME

2011-06-20T05:14:00.000-07:00

Well these aren't exactly new pendants, just a revamping on a similar idea I've been toying with for a couple of years. This time I whipped up a couple of colors, including a few of the new Premo shades, which I of course adapted through blending and such, and decided to try some textures instead of the same old same old reflections pendants. In this particular series, I used only three basic colors and added funky textures. With the different textures and color placements I was able to do several perms and combs (no that is NOT hairstyling jargon) in composing a lot of various pendants. For the textures on the upper layers, I used a sheet of foam protective material (like shelf liner), a piece of copper wire mesh and the small holes on the cheese grater. How cheezy is that. For the background bronzy part I used one of my favorite wallpapers and then brushed some Pearl-Ex combined with Fimo Pulver to create an interesting as yet undefined metal. Add that to your Periodic Chart Dimitri Medeleev...The pendants look almost metallic until they are touched and then the clay reveals itself. I am in the midst of preparing for a very busy week and weekend, so this post is short.

Crazy Days of Almost Summer

2011-06-17T04:25:00.000-07:00

With the summer solstice less than a week away, it is high time for me to really get the motors in gear and get lots of stuff done while the days are long. We have many things on our plates these days, with the year end at school, visiting relatives, school reunions to attend, camp projects to plan, book club meetings, and did I mention that next weekend is the start of the summer market days? My inventory is at a critical low and it is in desperate need of replenishing. This sort of explains my absense from the blogworld lately, but I thought I'd steal a few seconds and at least post, even if I didn't have a picture.

Days have been scheduled almost down to the minute and of course I don't stick to them absolutely, but at least writing To Do lists gives me an idea of things to prioritize so that I can keep my head above water. I'd love to call the lists TA DAH lists, but that would mean everything was done.

And so, since it is Friday, I'll call this a TaDah! because at least I got a little blog done!!!

Have a great weekend everyone and I hope to post after my next three days of heads-down concentrated work!

On the Rocks

2011-05-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

I recently had a request to make some light switch covers for a gal who was doing some re-decorating and she wanted to co-ordinate several shades of neutrals, blacks and browns. After auditioning a couple of brown tone plates, I suggested that she try one of the rocks type that I have been making recently. They are so organic and neutral, that they complement almost any décor.

There are what appear to be several limey-green type rocks in this cover plate, but, they are not even close to green in real time. The background (or cave interior like I refer to it) is not nearly as dark as this scan makes it appear. In reality, it is more of an off-ivory, with antiqued areas of deep umber and light black. I haven't decided if it looks better with the double rock path near the bottom or up at the top. That is the beauty of these covers...one can flip them up or down.

Getting textures that look natural onto these things is not as cut and dried as just using a texture sheet or plate. As a matter of fact, I seldom use the "prepared" textures as some of them look too cookie-cutterish if you want to achieve natural textures. Seldom in nature do you notices the same striations and cracks repeating every so many inches as you would get in using a prepared texture.

It's raining a bit here today, not heavily, thankfully, but enough to keep me out of the garden and busy in my clay area. I've got a lot of clay things to get ready, so I can't be on this machine too long...But if later I hear the tinkle of ice cubes in a frosted glass, I will be sure to heed that little 'on the rocks' sound.

On Board

2011-05-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday after teaching, I had an opportunity to visit the Titanic Exhibition of Artifacts. I understand there are several of these exhibitions available to view all over the continent and I was really excited about going to this. After all the hype in the movie of a few years ago, it was a calmer, more intimate, glimpse of what this historic event was all about.

As we entered, we were each given a document which was in the name of one of the actual passengers, and a brief synopsis of their situation. I was cast as Miss Edith Corse Evans of New York, age 36, and the reason for my travel was to return home after visiting cousins in Paris. I boarded the ship in Cherbourg on the 10th of April, 1912. Shortly before this, a fortune teller had warned Edith to beware of water. We were told as we went "on board" that our fates would be revealed to us at the end of the visit.

There were so many artifacts to see and learn about--it was incredible that they were preserved in such wonderful condition, considering that they had been submerged for seventy-five or more years. Following the recording of the items many of them have been made available to be in the exhibits. Of course they were encased in glass and a few of them showed signs of breakage, but a surprising number of them seemed to be complete and none the worse for wear and tear over time. I love looking at such documents authentiques which are actual proof that an event took place.

There were also recreations of several parts of the ships quarters, in addition to posters, and hand-held sound devices which all made the exhibition appeal to so many senses. Of course the artifacts were untouchable, and highly sensitized; should anyone dare touch anything anything we were warned that an alarm would sound. The one thing which was tangible was a huge formation of ice which was at the actual temperature of the icebergs. I tried to put my hand on it for as long as possible, and it was less than a minute when I had to succumb.

Nearing the end of the walk-through, we were introduced to a re-enactment of how the survivors got onto the life rafts. There was a little problem-solving situation and an explanation of why so many lifeboats were not filled to capacity. It was so tragic, but the play-acting helped bring home the feelings of how some folks just could not bear to be separated from loved ones. However, it was difficult to comprehend why some of the unfilled lifeboats abandoned the ship being less than half full.

At the conclusion of the exhibit was a list of passengers and their fates. All of my travel companions made it to safety...sadly Miss Edith Evans did not.

Busy Weekend

2011-05-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

After a very busy Saturday, which included an incredible walk to a movie (we were trying to save on gas and get some exercise) we had a blast watching Bridesmaids. Lots of laughs from some way-too-talented people. I did enjoy the walk, but it was a bit far for a first time effort. My shoes were good, but the socks I had worn should have been a bit thicker. Next time I will be better prepared.

Today I spent the day organizing my summer calendar and filling out forms. In the meantime, I got another call to participate in a summer art camp. I have done it before and it was fun. The theme is The Art of Craft and I'll be working with 9 to 14 year olds. It runs for a week, in the middle of July, and it's a day camp, so it's not like I'll be totally enveloped in teenage hormones. But it will give me an opportunity to try out some cool techniques. I still have two weeks to get my proposed classes ready. With all the other stuff I have on my plate for the next while, I am going to be scrambling. Thank goodness I went to the movies yesterday!

What little time I had left to clay today was used making a couple of flower canes (I did a sunflower and a blue un-named speices). I also made about five bangles, mostly using the sunflower cane, which have been sanded and buffed, but are not totally put together yet so unfortunately no pix of those. And then I made this box with a faux ivory front. It originally started with a tear away transfer of a little village I had sketched, but after baking, and staining, I didn't care for the image that much so I sanded it away and buffed it until the ivory was gleaming! That's the beauty of this medium. It is so 'malleable' that even in the midst of a project you can take a different route. I decided to do some carving and back filling in the ivory. I didn't know where I was going with the carving, so it ended up a little unusual.

Inside the box is a little book...really little, but it has all the important parts including covers, 5 signatures and the coptic bound spine enhanced with tiny beads which are mostly glass. The finished piece doesn't fall into the realm of "pretty". Does everything have to be "pretty"? It is a solid piece and if it doesn't end up on someone's neck, it can do very nicely, thank you, on one of the narrow 'columns' in my kitchen.

Almost forgot about Mother's Day stuff

2011-05-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

Last week saw me very 'busy' in classes with kids. Some were working on cards and a couple of groups did some polymer clay pendants for their Moms. I hope they were well received. The kids did an awesome job and I tried out a technique that I hadn't done with them before. I was gifted with a 'supply' of foils for Christmas, and was able to use some of them in these faux dichroic (with a PS twist) pendants. These were done by children (more than half were boys) in a fifth grade class. Instead of using UTEE as the finish, I just gave them a couple coats of acrylic finish. The kids liked them.

New Books

2011-05-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been frequenting book stores, partly to see what's new, and partly to spend my gift cards which I seem to be collecting. I love just being able to go into a book store and pick an item or two and not feel the pinch in my wallet. My last trip there was shocking to me...as a decided 'non-reader' (I must admit that my English 201 prof would look scathingly upon me). Of the twenty or thirty books that were on the most popular or "picks" list, I can honestly admit to having read at least 10 of them! One new one appealed to me and I skimmed a few pages of it. I cannot remember the exact title but it was about the Brides of New France in the 1660's (Les Filles du Roi as I knew them when I taught about this concept to my Grade 6 Social Studies groups). I am thinking that as soon as I finish my book club 'assignment' that book just may be my next purchase.

Speaking of books, some books I have NOT seen were the journals I recently finished, or am in the process of completing. One is for a gift, and the others, well, they might be gifts for up and coming graduates. It is that season, and these art journals have become popular as graduation gifts. They are unique, and to my mind, are ideal for starting out in a new phase of life. When I talk to people about what to use the books for, I suggest that they not be used for shopping list or phone numbers, unless that is of importance to the owner. Rather I suggest that these books become repositories for significant events, special quotes, sketches, or for keeping small photographs as in a mini-'scrapbook'. Then they can be looked through in years to come as personal autobiographies.

This one, which has some dimensional sunflowers on the cover, is particularly 'bright' even though this scan doesn't do it justice. It is a bit on the small side, but that can be a plus so as to eliminate any fear of having to 'write too much'. It does contain about 100 pages of archival vellum, so should last for a long time.

The other one,which is in a sea-green-blue is done in a mokume gane

style, with a couple of strings of beads to match. Its interior is a heavier weight cardstock, and I even included the measurements when I did the scan so I won't have to measure each time someone asks about it. Of course the colors in the scan are a little "off"; the deep blues are a little more like turquoise in actuality and the darks are a little less intense. The back is quite similar in the colors, but the mokume effect is totally different. I realize that both these journals are linked to shades of blue and aqua. It wasn't intentional but things sometimes go that way.

This third one, sporting a Zen-doodle type cover, isn't quite finished. I am undecided as to whether to enhance the spine with corresponding beads, fibers, or leave it plain. I think I will wait for some direction on this. I don't have the beads made, but can do them in the faux ivory as I have plenty of that plug made up. I also scored on some luscious brown fibers recently and might just add a few of those to my constantly growing stash of mid-tone mixes. Maybe I'll do a combination with some fibers and maybe one strand of beads. Or another twist might to make some felted wool 'beads' in corresponding colors and use those. I did that with a couple of funky items I made in Arizona.

Speaking of things "States-side", I recently sent a couple of my journals as contributions to the Orlando Polymer Clay Guild's Fandango Conference which is taking place very soon. The funds raised during the auction of their collection of items will go to support that Guild's charity. I would love to go and see what the folks down there are doing clay wise. And I do miss going shelling along the gulf shore beaches ast we used to do during Christmas vacations when I was still teaching full time. I did keep a few of those shells, and every so often, they pop up as textures in my polymer clay work.

I am a Part of all that I have met

2011-04-13T12:27:00.000-07:00

I remember that line from a poem that I had to study so long ago...I was thinking about it when I was making this composition. Sometimes inspiration comes in little wee bits and not as an entire concept. That is the story behind this little book.

It's about 3" by 3", so rather small as far as journals go, but I have found that the larger ones are a bit cumbersome to make. I am afraid the clay might not withstand the larger flat size without some sort of wire interior, so I tend to make the books smaller these days. Lately, most of my books do not exceed 5 inches in any one dimension. I realize that is not ideal for their intended eventual use, but sometimes we have to deal with the 'dictates of the medium'. (Or that is what my friend who believes in crystal ball reading tells me, lol)

This book may appear rather bland, but it does have a lot of 'background' to it. The central focal part is an impression made from a block I carved with a v-gouge. My v-gouge is not the normal type, but rather an ancient nib pen holder that I salvaged from my calligraphy supplies. It feels so comfortable in my hand because I have used it for so many years. (It takes direction better than the holder they sell!!) The crevices in the carving contain a bit of powdered gold material.....not the usual Pearl Ex or even Fimo Pulver...this powder has a history that goes back farther than that. When my Dad was alive, he did a lot of painting and when I had to clear out all the items from my parents' house several years ago, I found three vials of gold pulver he must have used in mixing his paints. Of course I knew exactly what to do with that material. Those three vials will probably last my lifetime and beyond. I don't think I've used more than a few drachms (do they still use that measuring unit???) in my clay work. A little certainly does go a long way. I am wondering if it is actually gold pulver or mica. Ah well, I am not going to have it assayed, lol. On the inner linings of the book, I used a neat texture from what I figure is a type of sanding tool. It is made of metal (rusted because it's so old) and it produces little irregularly-shaped holes when it is impressed in the clay. Hard to imagine, but a truly lovely earthy texture! I picked that tool up at a Patio Sale for 25 cents...It has proven to be one of my most treasured texture-making materials. The back cover, (not visible here, lol) is of a setting Arizona sun...the sunsets there are so beautiful. And the patience it took to make the book? Well, thankfully I inherited that from my Mother, who was extremely gifted in making so many things.

I suppose all my creations could use the same title; they're all a little snippet of this, a fragment of that, a smidge of something else and thankfully, it all comes out in the end, even with no preconceived idea of the direction I am headed in. Sometimes ya just gotta go with your intuition!!!

I just went and reread the poem Ulysses, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who originally penned it.

You can judge a book by its cover

2011-04-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

Having travelled some 2000 miles and finally getting settled after a winter hiatus, I located this book that I recently finished among my 'things to save' box.

This book is one of my faves, with its rich metallic shades which look woven together. The scan is a bit darker than the actual, but I think the textures are pretty visible. This one is filled with watercolor paper and the beads on the side are primarily polymer in a lot of different configurations.

I made a lino-cut carving in a piece of baked clay for the insert. Then I impressed some black clay into it to get the impression and highlighted it with some bronze Pearl-Ex. I used a sealer on the entire book so as to preserve the metallic, the bronzing, and the little brass pieces I included. I don't really know what they are, some sort of snaps I think. They're a very versatile inclusion as I can use either side or fill the center hole with clay. I also use them as spacers to create a mixed media style.

I tried to vary the checkerboard and didn't make it so regular, using three colors on a background of darker clay. The back actually shows the checked effect more clearly. Perhaps it shows up a little better in this scan, or maybe not since it's a little darker.

I will never do well in optics, scans, picture programs and camera adjustments. I will leave those things to the photographic wizards out there.

Searching for a beginning

2011-03-08T07:13:00.000-08:00

I have made similar necklaces to this, but not for a while, and fortunately I remembered that I needed to start in the MIDDLE as I progressed with the stringing of this piece. It's in very springy, almost Easter egg colors. It's the kind that just slips over your head and no fiddling with clasps or anything. The good thing about that is that you don't have to worry about fidgeting, but the drawback is that it is not adjustable.

In making this I also did something I don't normally do...I left enough rings to make them into earrings and will have my hand at that later on today.

The finished necklace is about 75 cm in length, making it about 30 inches. It does match most of my monocolor summery wardrobe because it has all those colors in it.

I realize it should have been shown with the focal piece at the bottom, but I wanted the entire piece to show so I left it this way.

Hoping for a pretty spring...with NO FLOOD!

Rockin' in the light

2011-03-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that I am growing fond of all the rockery around here. In making these covers, I've decided to use some of them in the family room and perhaps in the laundry room...to reminisce about the way the folks used to do laundry by the rivers by beating the clothes against the rocks. If the flood they're predicting for the Red River Valley actually does occur (pray for a slooooow melt), we may have to resort to all sorts of means to be doing things we normally take for granted.

Meanwhile, I don't mean to make 'light' of the subject, but there's not much an individual can do except move things to higher ground and clear out the basement. In our case, that may mean unloading a bunch of stuff that's been piling up (literally) and getting it to a place where it may be better stored or used. Hopefully the provincial, civic and federal authorities in charge will be able to avert the flood.

I will be making more of these...they have a soft sheen and the texture is pretty deep.

New Reflections

2011-02-22T07:18:00.000-08:00

I have always loved participating in swaps because they are a help in the learning curve. No, these Reflections Pendants are not new, but they helped me to 'refine' the technique to something that was akin to production, which I do not like to do. The swap required a minimum of eighteen pendants and so I did make the required number and had a bit more of the material prepared, so I made extra ones which I am going to give as gifts to friends.

The colors in these are quite subdued, not the normal showy stuff that I do in the fish mobiles. Also, I did not sand the finished pendants, leaving the option to the members of the guild to decide whether they wanted them shiny or not. I just buffed them a little on the surface, rather than the usual sanding with progressive grits of sandpaper and buffing to a high gloss. I like the subtle sheen and it is enough to make the 'reflection' part of the pendant noticeable. Some of the burl effect even looks like a goddess in some of the pendants.

As usual, I was under the 'gun' to get them done, as my days are very busy with visiting and participating in a couple of activities here under the sun. Having made these many times before, I was able to streamline the activity which is one of the advantages of participating in a swap. For the last ones I made as keepers, I completed those after last Saturday's meeting and do have to admit that I added a little more embellishment. In some, I hammered out some wire and placed it in the underlayer of burnished black. In others, I rolled the 'bail' part around a tube of metal to make it a little more mixed media. Of course no two are exactly alike, which I love.

The past few days have been cool and there was a lot of rain over the weekend. However yesterday was sunnier (but cool) and I finally tried using the UV curing magic glos that I have had for over a year. It's funny, sometimes I get stuff and have to use it right away. This product was one that I was saving on the back burner. I used the glos on a book cover and although the book is not completely done, I think I am going to continue using the medium. It is VERY shiny!

I guess it's a toss up as to whether my personal preferences are for shiny, matte, or high gloss.

My dog Mollypup

2011-02-08T08:03:00.000-08:00

Our little Molly has been mollygagging lately. She love, love, loves to sleep in strange positions and her being the Princess Malllahkowalla that she is, we allow her to do just about anything she wants. Besides doing a grasse matinée chaque matin, she loves to droop her head over the lazy boy. There's a misnomer...They should have called the easy chairs LazyGirls.

We averted a near crisis last week with the help of our vet and his assistants back home, Centennial Animal Hospital. It turns out that the insulin that Molly takes is NOT available here, or anywhere in the U.S. so to avoid Molly having to get re-regulated on a different strain and dosage, we had to have the type she is taking sent special delivery so she wouldn't run out. It originally took over three months to get the correct dosage of insulin regulated (and how many trips to the vet) and we did not want to go that route again. We had tried contacting several people who we know were coming down here, but none of them would have been here before her supply ran out.

Originally our vet believed that the same type of insulin was available here, but it seems there was some problem with the porcine insulin coming out of suspension in a rather short period (less than six months) so it has been taken off the production line here. All is well now, and the little girl is as normal as can be expected. She is blind due to cataracts, but at least her drinking and evacuating is under control, leading us to believe that the insulin levels are correct. It's not like we can do a little strip test everyday...

Our girl, who is eleven plus, still greets guests at the door and can do all her 'tricks' but she does bump into a few things from time to time. She has learned to adapt pretty well though...she uses her nose as a 'white cane' and tests the base of the chair or sofa with her nose before jumping up on her favourite perch. Outside, I keep her on a pretty tight rein because there are lots of 'big rocks' that could get into her path and I don't want her to hurt herself. It's funny, as she can sense when people are walking by, and once in a while I think she 'sees'. A bird flew by the other day and she seemed to follow it... but as for 'looking' at things, it's pretty bad.

I think we are pretty fortunate to still have her, as she is as lovable as ever. I think I'll buy her a special valentine this year...

Super Bowl Sunday - The Cheeseheads

2011-02-06T09:30:00.000-08:00

Well, I know this is not polymer clay, but if I had to make some funny cheeseheads from clay maybe this is what they would have looked like. Actually, these are funny looking hors-d'oeuvres I am serving today during the Big Game...I am not biased, but just because we have folks who live in Wisconsin, I thought I'd better do up a dish in their favor. I am going to serve Sloppy Joes at half time and calling them Pitts Burgers (no they haven't been warmed under the arm, lol) so that will make both teams even.

These little cheeseheads were simple to make and I used the leftover cuttings as wel,l just as I use all my leftovers from polymer clay. None of them go to waste...these will go to waist. The base for the heads were cut from lavosh bread I bought at Trader Joe's yesterday. I cut the pointed head shapes from two large rectangles of lavosh and saved the trimmings. I heated those trimmings up to make little crackers.

To cut the cheese rounds, I used the rinsed out can from the olives to make perfect circles out of cheese slices. I used it as a cutter just like I use circular cutters for my polymer clay. After slicing up a few black olive for the eyes, a couple of shrimp for noses and some pieces of a red pepper for the mouths, I was done. I was laughing all the time I was making the little faces and I imagine it would be a cute project for moms to do with their kids for parties. They do look a little on the gruesome side, but they're still fun. I already put them in at 400 degrees (baking not broiling) just to secure the cheese to the bread, and later on they'll just be reheated so I don't have to miss any of the game.

Go Packers Go!

Gone fishin'

2011-01-26T22:33:00.000-08:00

Well I've done it! My first rainbow trout of the year. I plan to do at least a fish a month and I just made it under the wire for January. This one is about eight inches in length so is a bit smaller than my usual ones, but I still think it's a keeper. This time I hammered the wire before I inserted it to give it a little more 'backbone'. I've also incorporated one of my favourite easy canes into the tail region and used some analogous colours in its construction. The flip side has similar "Cleopatreyes" but they're outline in Kohl black instead of the Frank Sinatra Blue-Eyes liner. I didn't want to make the liner so harsh, but since this is somewhat of a caricature of a fish (no pun intended Ms.Katisha), I thought I'd let it go. As well, I am currently reading a mystery about a Victorian woman who's just embarked on her first Egyptian adventure so I thought it fitting that at least something would tie in with Amelia Peabody's adventures on the Nile. Regretably, I am reminded of such tumultuous times in Egypt right now.

I wonder if the Nile has any fish like these?

More Books

2011-01-23T05:37:00.000-08:00

After doing the book demo last week, I finally had a chance to upload some pictures and am going to put a few of them here. Some are entirely polymer clay covers...the others, well you'll probably be able to detect what they are!

This is one I started a long time ago and bound rather recently. It's got a ton of texture and is loaded with parchment type paper. It is a medium sized journal with about 80 pages, but I really haven't counted them. The colours are very warm and the beads on the side are a little off the beaten track in terms of style. One of the strands is split into two about halfway down thecord's length.

The cover is a Skinner blend that was textured with some fabric. Additional elements include a drape of cane slices and some variegated canes I added for visual interest.

This rockin' one was inspired by the surrounding rocks out here. I actually put it down on the ground amid the stones that are outside and it blended in very well. The rocky top on this is quite bumpy, but in the end I buffed it to make it less so and to make it easier to hold. It is filled with charcoal type paper so that any naturalist can go out and do sketches. In keeping with the rocky theme, there's a nature video inside with the sound of water running over the rocks. I incorporated some smooth and irregular 'rocks' and also some glass and pearly beads. Glass was once rock, right?

This mixed media book is of the type I made before Christmas in 2010. It incorporates book board, which I coated with Gesso and then layered on coats of Jacquard Paint. I added a few sunrays of co-ordinating colors of paint and then put on the polymer embellishment. It consists of cane slices surrounding a medallion. I also sewed some beaded elements into the cover and used similar beads on the spine. This book is somewhat larger in dimension and is filled with good watercolor paper so that any media can be used to enhance its interior. It was fun to combine a couple of elements in creating it.

Lots of folks ask what kinds of things should go in these art journals. I decry those who want to use them as little notepads for grocery lists or telephone numbers. It's so hard to be polite to people who call them notebooks...to me, those are the things you pick up at the dollar store and just rip the pages out when you are done with them. To me an art journal is something you'd like to keep forever. One of my friends has a guest book in her home that she has everyone write in as they visit. Over the course of a couple of years, that has proven to be a wonderful recollection of all the friends who come over and the good times they've shared. I also gave a similar book to another friend who decided that she'd use it for memorable events that occur over the years. Of course most of the entries are happy ones, but she's also had the good sense to include some not so fun moments, because we all know that life doesn't always deal us good times every day. And of course sketches, paintings, significant quotes, photographs, calligraphy and other art forms can all be incorporated within the covers of these books. That would make it YOUR art journal.

Blue Book done and others

2011-01-12T09:20:00.000-08:00

As indicated in yesterday's post, (wow two posts in two days) I completed the binding of the book I'll be showing at the Saturday guild meeting.
The interior contains 60 pages (actually five signatures) but the watercolor paper is so heavy that the finished book is an inch (2.54cm) thick. I've made a couple of other books...some similar and some not so, and I've loaded them with Charcoal paper, so it's still a good quality paper but not as heavy, therefore making for more pages inside.

The book that I completed that is similar, using the same elements but other paper is shown here. It's the same surface size, roughly 4 1/2 inches by 3 3/4 inches. The beads are a combination of glass, metal and the majority are polymer made from leftover materials used in making the covers.

I used many of the same colors of clay in making this book, but employed a different combination of inks on the covers and in the Shimmer Batik Technique. Sometimes the colors of the inks change in the process of layering and the pink color in the final outcome was originally more of a lavender color. I personally love amost all colors so don't have a problem with that. I know there are folks out there that don't want any pink in stuff. The way that the colors merge on their own is appealing to me. It's one of the things about polymer clay that is a tiny bit unpredictable, but oh so much fun when you get those unexpected happenings.

New Year, New Book

2011-01-11T08:46:00.000-08:00

Although the book is not yet finished, I thought I'd include it here as a work in progress to indicate that I actually have been working on clay, in spite of my hiatus from posting for over a month! I will be doing a demo this Saturday and this is what I am going to be illustrating. I have all the elements of the book ready, but had this picture taken before the covers were put in the oven, so this doesn't show the complete details.

A while back, I had purchased Tina Holden's Shimmer and Batik tutorial, and finally had all the supplies (I got a ton of foiling stuff for Christmas) and needed to try everything out. I did change the methods slightly...I added more texture to the impression as I needed a way of adhering the star to the background and I may have used more removal of the ink than was intended. Anyway, it looks pretty and the colors of the background pretty closely match the colors in the Batik/shimmer element. Instead of finishing it in the way recommended in the tutorial, I am going to add a coat of Future to preserve the inks, foil and pearl elements just to the cutout part. Just for the sake of clarity during the demo I will not be doing the Shimmer Batik technique. I will be walking folksthrough how to make basic covers for a book, how to prepare the signatures and demo the Coptic binding technique, the part of the book making which requires the most practice for 'unsewers' like moi.

The interior is a Skinner Blend and when the whole thing comes together I will be adding watercolor pages inside and some beads to the binding, as I have done with most of my books. I hope it turns out.

Ornaments, troubles, fun and great stuff

2010-11-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

Sheesh! I cannot believe how fast the last month has flown. Once again, the same old thing, busy as all get out...get out! Finally, I have a few moments to spare to create some nibbles for the big game later on this afternoon. I made a load of chili in the crock pot and have some shrimp and cocktail sauce and the usual veggies, chips, and other junk to last the game through, and all the pre-game shows too!

Our GREY CUP football championship pits the Montreal Alouettes vs. the Saskatchewan Roughriders and for me, just like the teams have been preparing for the big game, I have been working at full steam. This past week was particularly haried, with several days of teaching, (both art workshops and regular subjects), book club meetings, a very funky art sale on Friday night, and a birthday celebration left little time for anything but driving there and shovelling snow. As well, I had signed up for the annual ornament swap, and wouldn't you know, the date for them to arrive coincided with all this other folderol. I know I shouldn't be posting the pictures before the swappers get them, but since this blog is not just for the swappers, I figured I would go ahead.

I know they are not particularly Christmas-y, but then some of the ornaments on my tree range from things like skiers, to school desks, to almost anything that can be hung. So, I took some liberties and let them be on my Christmas Fish List for this year. I ran in to a few snags and trying to fix the ornaments was a waste of time, so had to redo a couple and they are noticeably different from the rest. Hopefully the swappers won't mind.

I revisited the technique of using UTEE on the tops of the ornaments. I haven't used this much and after this weeks experiences (and experiments) I know why. Although the UTEE makes for a terrifically great finish, putting it on these fish was quite troublesome. Of course, the first time I went to set the stuff on, I used the heat gun and the mountain of dry UTEE just went flying all over the place. In order for me to get the stuff 'semi-solid' I had to place all the coated ornaments on a flat tile and heat it up in the oven. I suppose I could have just baked them all there for forever, but nooooooooooooo...I wanted to use the heat gun. It was really tricky trying to get the stuff evenly 'domed', and after several coats, realized that it was not going to happen. I used nearly an entire large bottle of the stuff, and even then the results are not that great. To add to my woes, I burned my finger in a couple of places, trying to take the 'warm' fish out of the oven in order to complete the sealing of the UTEE. I never realized how badly until I felt the raised bubble on my knuckle tis morning. It doesn't hurt that much, but if the blister breaks, I am in for a helluva time. So, maybe I'll just stick to same old same old for a while, at least when I am rushed to get things done.

Amidst all this bellyaching, I want to say a few positive things about the week. I had awesome classes, ranging in age from junior kindergartens to eighth graders and they were all fun to teach...even those teenage boys who just had this 'look'....um yah. polymer clay. woopdeedoo. After they got to crank the pasta machines a couple hundred times, I believe they actually enjoyed it. It was part of their art experiential morning.

Later on that same day, we trundled over the city to set up for This Ain't Your Grandma's Craft Sale. Of course the parking lot was full of snow and we nearly got stuck :--))) but when the music started to play and the wine and beer was flowing, we forgot all about those troubles. One group of performers...THOSE GUYS did a great a capella set. Watch out Four Tenors...this was a sevensome of very talented singers. It was a great concept for a craft sale, and one of the few times I've seen men actually enjoy being paraded past tables of mostly feminine stuff. There were a variety of vendors with not the usual plastic canvas and knit dishtowels...and I noticed more than one guy pulling out his wallet to spring for blacksmithed stuff, funky clothing and even some of my light switch covers. The turnout was great and there's going to be a follow up sale next Sunday night, the 5th of December. For those who missed that first one, head over to the Park Theatre where the same type of event will be happening.

Speaking of sales, I will be wrapping up the fall events next weekend, with a full day at a local school on Saturday the 4th...the only school event I do, and then the night sale at the Park. Then, I can finally get started on my own preparations for the holidays, and the packing away of my polymer clay stuff for a much needed hiatus.

Fall Sales taking Priority

2010-11-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

I have been calling these pieces of wearable art "Le Coffret Secret" based on ad I saw in a French magazine several years ago. Actually, what the container in the ad held was a type of coffee, and these, at present have nothing secretly hidden inside of them. I was able to match up the gold/black polymer combination with some beads I got at an antique sale this summer while on a short trip to Wisconsin. I had high hopes of using many of the beads, but for whatever reason, few of them have found their way into my works. I have incorporated some into bracelets, but the ones I acquired were very large and my original intention was to make some ginormous necklaces with my own polymer beads and the antique ones I obtained. Many are silver plate (I am pretty sure they're not sterling) and lots are brass like these accordion bellow types here. Maybe as my inventory for fall sales and shows accumulates more of them will be added to fashion unusual fusions of old and new.

As for the coffret itself, the view above is the back side, or the one that would hang next to the wall if it were a wall piece. I made the container over a glass bottle that was round on the front and flat on the back. The more decorative view is pictured here. The cording is adjustable and there is room inside for a picture, a charm or a note, (like some folding money, lol) or whatever else a person would want to keep. When I made these before, I placed some French lavender seeds in a small sachet inside the coffrets, thus keeping with the French thème. If I can find the appropriate sachet fabric, I will do that with these too.

The coffret pictured here is going to be used as a donation for the first in the November sales. I'm involved in several this month: The University Women's Club Sale at Ralph Conner House on 54 Westgate on the 12th of this month. The Snowflake Boutique follows on Saturday the 13th which will be hosted by my friend Joy and then the following weekend I will be doing the Artisans Market hosted by the Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library. It is being held downtown in the new Manitoba Hydro Building Foyer on the main floor. It runs Friday, the 19th and Saturday the 20th. The Signature Craft Event is being held right across the way from there at the Convention Centre and visiting the two would make for a fun afternoon. I believe there is a pedestrian walkway that one could use to connect the two buildings if the weather should turn frightfully cold. Entry to the Artisan's Market is free, but donations to the MCML are accepted.

I have a number of doll heads on the clay table right now...I was going to say chopping block, but that would be taking the French thème of La Guillotine a bit too far....so it's back to work.

Curtain Up, Light the Lights

2010-10-28T07:07:00.000-07:00

rockin' light switch covers

The song finishes with everything's coming up roses and being the optimist that I am, I hope it's true. Although's it's been difficult to post the last few days, I'm working steadily on getting ready for the fall season's shows. We've had 'weather', civic elections, work, and all those other things that are part of life and the time has just flown by, with Halloween here in a few days. I haven't even had time to plan my costume...or Molly's for that matter, and she does come first, lol.

I've tried to fit in some clay work in the in-between times, but it hasn't been easy. For some reason, this show season's just kind of HAPPENED, and I am not prepared! My inventory seems to be smaller than usual this year. I even had to turn down a big show because I didn't have enough stuff to fill the booth. That being said, I am gradually increasing production of things that have been moving well, mainly the light switch plates and other 'affordable' items. I've taken to buying boxes of the plates as that way they are a little less pricy and if I get in the mood, I can make a dozen or more. These neutral-colored rock ones are quite popular, and even though I enjoy making them, I find them a bit tedious. So every once in a while I shift the color palette to much brighter things, like these tropical ones.

colorful palette 'subtropical' plates

With the horrible weather we've been experiencing the last couple of days, our climate is anything but tropical but maybe that's why I made them. Actually, part of my inspiration for those was at my last book club meeting about a week ago. The hostess of that get together lives in a building that has an enclosed atrium that reaches all the way up to the top floor, probably sixteen or more levels. Although not at the very top, she lives above the full grown trees and her outer balcony, which actually is enclosed, looks out on the lush foliage below. Her balcony space is decorated in a very south-sea fashion, like a lanai, and it's all so warm feeling. She even has the natural 'music' playing to complete the setting. The bamboo curtaining sets off her one side from the neighbour's and she is on a corner, so the privacy is complete. I'm thinking the first or third of this triad would go well there.

It's funny how the opening of this fall's show season is so much like preparing for an actual stage production. I've purchased a few new 'props' to help display my stuff and hope they'll work. Some of the shows I'll be in are new for me and the spaces allocated are not quite boxy regular shapes, so I'm thinking that having 'portable' racks that can be moved will do the trick. I bought a clothes rack on wheels that I'll used to showcase my longer hanging things, and am going to use my 'womanakin' that I purchased at Winner's a couple of years ago. Standing about three feet tall, she has no head and arms, but she wears a sequiny-beaded dress that's very flashy. I've come up with a way to insert some 'arms' that are just right for hanging ornaments and other pendants. I still have to come up with a way to position her at eye level so the objects can be viewed more easily.

All this staging is starting to make me hummmm, would that tune be Bali H'ai, or Shangri-la...

Signs and tags and cards

2010-10-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

In an effort to be somewhat original, practical and yet not so ordinary, I decided to print my own cards. This was just a prototype and cut it very hastily so it is a little 'off' in the corner. On the final copy, I'll do it a tad neater.

I have probably 8 or 9 full boxes of fabric, some for quilting, others of various sorts, that I inherited after my mom's passing, and over the years, have attempted to utilize it in my work. I don't sew much and do not have the time to make quilts, yet I don't want to just give it all away. Today, at the top of the stash I found this gorgeous batik fabric and thought it would make a nice backing for a business card. That way instead of using cardstock I could just run off my card on regular paper and then attach it to the fabric to create a durable card. At first I thought of collaging it to the fabric using some fusible webbing, then I remembered another technique that's fun...sewing over the thing in every direction. Started with an entire sheet of labels and cards, then stitched willy-nilly all over the thing and then when they got cut out, this is what happened.

I think they'll be good for button cards and business cards as well. Maybe I'll come up with a different layout for some tags for objects where I like to add a bit of a hand-written description. But, that's a while off. I've been very busy teaching lately, and sister and I are going on a Thelma and Louise getaway (minus the crimes) so won't be able to test the final product completely for a week or so. During the relaxing moments of our little trip I'm going to try to get a pedicure (my former excellent esthetician moved to Florida); finish the third Steig Larsen novel, ...The Hornet's Nest, and catch up on some shopping which I rarely do. I still have 500 pages to go (ahem....) in the novel, so methinks the shopping might end in a café where I can just read for a couple hours. Our book club meets next Wednesday, so I've got some readin' to do and then some splainin' Lucy. (Lucy is in our book club too).

Hoping this beautiful fall day finds everyone brimming with creative juices.

Lady Buttons are gone

2010-10-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

No pictures today...too busy making turkey well...um range hen... and getting caught up on things polymer clay wise. The buttons of the lady faces went first thing last weekend. A lady from Iowa snaffled them up within five minutes of the show opening. Maybe I didn't price them high enough...or maybe she REALLY liked them. She was a button collector and was going to give them as gifts to her fellow collectors.

I've been really busy and no time to take pictures...Will try to post tomorrow with new items. Nobody really wants to READ what I have to say anyway. LOL... Well, I know a few of you do, but most of the lookers out there are more interested in seeing, and quite frankly I have to admit that when I visit blogs, I am usually taken by the pictures.

I have been working on more art journals and book-stuff. I am contemplating putting together a little 'how to' now that I've made a dvd of my work. Actually I didn't make the dvd, just burned a copy of one that was made last year. I actually watched the whole thing and was tempted to try to load a part of it on here, but for the life of me, do not know how to just use part of a home made dvd on this thing. So for those of you who are really tech-savvy and can give me a quick e-how, I'd love to attach a little bit of it here. Of course it's rather a simple technique, but still gives a little bit of a glimpse into what it is that I do. (I loved hearing my friend Gilles saying that in English...what is it that you do?)

Anyway, gotta go give little Molly, the delightfully diabetic dog her needle cuz she just ate ... again.

I am thankful...really that she is with us. And that we're healthy. And that we've had GORGEOUS weather for the last ten days. And for lots of other stuff.

Polymer Buttons

2010-09-27T05:47:00.000-07:00

I've called these "Let's Face It" buttons for obvious reasons on my part, but I'm hoping that the eventual locations of these becomes a little less mundane and a lot more meaningful in their final destinations. Last year I incorporated a face of this type in one of my books which I titled 'The Maharincess of Franistan's Journal' because the cover of the book was very textured in a geographical kind of way. But I wanted to imply the humour aspect of the intention so I utilized Lucille Ball's pseudonym from one of her very early shows with Desi.

The faces I am now doing include real sculptured noses, as is quite discernable on the scans, and some of them are very ethnique with almost detectable facial characteristics, especially in the nasal regions. The scans don't quite do them justice as the picture is a little shortened as far as the facial lengths go, making them a little pudgier than they are in actuality. For example, the one on the top left when viewed straight on looks more like Bernadette Peters or Marisa Tomei than she does in the scan. Of course, the headdress is strictly Lada Gaga, so there's a lot of input into these little compositions.

They're going to be part of my fall display of buttons and other accessories that I'll be taking on the road and to some of the local shows. The first road show is to Dryden, Ontario for their annual Fall Art Sale on October 1 and 2, and I am very much looking forward to it. Last year was my first time there, and the show is set at the Golf and Country Club in a very picturesque region near the town. Hopefully this nice weather will hold (we actually put the air conditioner on yesterday) and we won't have to shovel our way in and out of the clu!

But I have had to hold production for a week as this week finds me working until Thursday. Then on Thursday night my former school will be celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, so I'll be involved in that. I've completed my donation item but it's a secret so no one but the committee and myself knows what it is. Over the decade that I taught there, I helped out with a lot of art projects with the students and some of the vestiges of those still are in the halls of the school in the form of ceiling tiles or on the walls of the gym and hallways in general. Now when I go there to substitute, I still like to incorporate a bit of art in everything I teach, even if it's only to write good morning in Calligraphy on the chalkboard.

So, it's off to get ready, because, let's face it, it is going to be a busy week.

Closing the book on another season

2010-09-24T08:09:00.000-07:00

Once again summer has come and gone and by the looks and feel of things here, fall is definitely upon us. The days are rainy and cool and the nights, though cold have not yet brought that first frost, but it's been close. I thought I'd celebrate the end of summer with this art journal which is definitely one the birds in the back yard can relate to. There have been so many flocks and types this year, especially now, that identifying them is not possible without the aviary companion. I once made a 'birdie' tree in which I did watercolor pencil drawings of 18 species of birds common to our area, but I don't know if I could even name them now. I am not really a bird watcher, but do enjoy seeing them from the kitchen window when I am washing up the dishes, making coffee or whatever else I might do in the kitchen.

I think the thing I will miss most about the exit of summer is the lack of sunlight and the longer days. I've really started to notice the early onset of dusk lately and my own internal clock telling me it's time for bed much earlier than during the summer months. I say the above for purely selfish reasons of course. I find it so much more difficult to work when the light is not good and need to see the colors in good light. I recall making a pendant in the evening a few years ago, thinking it was in one color and astonished to see in daylight that it was completely off. I do have an OTT light and that helps a bit, but need more than that one illumination to carry out big projects.

So the sunflower, with its radiation of leaves and face to the sun, is my salute to summer past...Maybe I will write about that in my art journal today.

Who came first?

2010-09-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

In the world of Chicks, there's always a race to see if indeed we'll ever finish, or if we will beat out the 'competition' which in this case is ... an egg. No big deal, except of course if the race is downhill in which case the egg will win, presuming of course that it's hardboiled or in some other way not prone to breaking.

In making this chick, (as part of a larger composition that I have planned) I utilized a portion of a technique I saw on a recent episode of Beads, Baubles and Jewels. Not one who's that into peyote or chevron bead stitching, I usually watch the show and then in a few minutes, it's out of my head. I do like to see the pretty baubles that they show, and on occasion have seen a few techniques that I think I might use...someday... But this past Saturday's show had something that I could actually use, immediately, in my polymer clay work!

I have to state, right now, that I seldom see the show at its actual broadcast time which is quite early on Saturday morning, but thanks to my recorder, I can watch episodes at times that are more convenient. So, when I saw the re-broadcast the next day, I immediately went to my clay table and did it! It was the burnishing of foil atop an already leafed piece of polymer clay. I had this foil (not leaf) that I had been trying to get to stick to the clay. I had done this in a Donna Kato workshop years ago, but hadn't been able to get it to transfer properly to the clay. I don't know if I was using a different kind of foil (I think we used Jones Tones in Donna's class) but I know I had tried the type of foil before, and I remember having much better results. The secret was simple. After burnishing the foil onto the already leafed clay that had fractured, the raw clay that was exposed had to be warmer to accept the foil. Hence, the two toned effect in the colors of the clay. The foil adheres to the raw clay that's exposed after the leafing on the clay has been spread thanks to the passing through a thinner layer on the pasta machine. It produces a multi-toned glitzy look, which is what some chicks are after.

This little chick (well she's about 3" by 4") has a bit of a pained expression about her. Actually, I'm glad she looks a little concerned. It fits very well into the plan. When all the finishing touches are added, and the piece is complete, I hope it will be clear why she's a little ... chicken about what she's going to have to endure!

Light altering device

2010-09-15T14:58:00.000-07:00

I was going to call this "Another Boring Post" and then decided that was too .. um .. banal. (I couldn't remember a synonym for commonplace so I had to think back a few years when I had a chat with Lucy...I love her. She is sooooooooooo interesting>) But I digress. So I called this a light altering device. Which it is. Well, it is part of it. The fun part. I am not going to get into the electrical goings on of the thing, because frankly for me, that IS boring.

Today I made several of these. Not all the same and some with different colors and number of caches for those rockers or dimmers or toggles or plugs. It was kinda fun. I basically used non-spectral colors as I have been doing way too many of these in blues and greens and wondered why I never have any of the more neutral colored ones in my inventory. DUHHH! The light just turned ON! Because those are the ones people buy more of, and so that means that those should be the kind that I MAKE more of.

I really am very bad at business projections. I usually like to make things I like to make, and don't pay enough attention to making things that are good sellers. I remember when I took the one class in Economics (101 with a sleepy drony prof) that the one thing that he said (in amongst all those supply and demand curves that I copied, and then drew all over) was that companies have to have a business plan that is feasible. Well I did hear it, but never really paid much heed to it. At least not in the traditional economic way.

During my career as a teacher, I seldom had to think about a business plan. Objectives. Yes, many of them. Outcomes, yah those too. But I wasn't really selling stuff, except of course if you consider that I was trying to sell 'learning' which, probably, I did try to do a LOT of.

When I started to do this polymer clay art (is it okay if I call it art?) I never considered it from a business point of view. I just wanted to make things because I liked working with the material and it was fun to see what I could come up with. Naturally, I seldom record specifics in inventory of things that I am making, but just know that I have X number of light switch covers, and ^Y^ number of buttons and "Z" number of books, the colors and styles seldom get recorded. That would be far too organizationally challenging. Since most of the items I make are 'original' and I don't want to have them all the same, I usually try to forget exactly what I did on light switch 248 so that when I go to make # 249, it might be in similar colors, but the style and artistry will be different. About the only times I get really specific in describing the items is when I have to make an inventory list for a gallery. The rest of the time, it's basically just in stock or not in stock.

It kinda sucks though, when someone asks you to duplicate something like a button, because they want them to be the same as the one they bought six months ago. Nightmare city!!. Even if I have the object in my hands, I can usually not duplicate exactly the same shade, color or hue of purple, since I make the mixtures of clay spontaneously. It might be close, but what about this: If you asked Van Gogh to make every petal of his sunflower in exactly the same way, do you think he'd pay any attention to you? He probably wouldn't hear of it ... ah, but I make light of that fact...

And hopefully, the folks who read this will understand that I really did GET what he (V.G.) suffered, and not be too critical that I made fun of his frailty. We are all fragile and frail. And when I say I don't do business things well; that is one of my frailties.

I say....Make light of it!

Polymer Clay Buttons

2010-09-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

Last week I got an email from a lady who has been "gifted" with some of my buttons by a mutual friend. I was very honored to learn that she'll be using one of the buttons in a piece of wearable quilted art designs that she's submitting in a jurying. It's good that she got a match to her fabric choices as the buttons were made probably before the fabrics were chosen. That leads me to pose a question about matching. How matchy-matchy do things have to be?

I used to be one of those gals who had to match purse and shoes right down to the cobra skins and unusual shades of turquoise. I believe I once had seven wearable pair of shoes in that color because they had to "go" with the outfits I was wearing. Now, I still love to have 'different' colors of shoes and purses, but gone are the days when I wouldn't think of wearing those forest green shoes with the two-toned emerald handbag. Heck...I am lucky if I can even find said forest green shoes. And as for which handbag I'll be using, well, it's the one that's got the car keys in it.

I think for buttons, it's a little less 'laissez-faire' but still, there's a little more latitude when utilizing a hand-crafted button on a purse, sweater, jacket or whatever. Of course, I could make drab, go with everything buttons in beige or off-white, but what would be the point? I make buttons in strange and sometimes unusual colors because I CAN. I figure if I am just going to cookie-cut some shapes out of some color of polymer clay straight out of the package, why bother? I must admit that several of the buttons on this page are similar in style, particularly the ones with the 'frames'. But I like making that kind, and feel they are versatile enough to be a match for lots of different projects.

The other concern I'd like to address is the actual color that appears in the pictures after they've been scanned. For example, the button in the top right hand corner is really not at all the color it is in actuality. The background of the for-real one is an ochre-gold color. And of course you cannot detect the greeny-brown 'antiquing' that's in the second from the left in the top row. It's oh-so subtle in the background circles...almost looks a bit like an ancient reptilian skin.

I posted these buttons in response to a couple of requests by folks who wanted to see more buttons. I also had a digital image taken of the same sheet of buttons. I am going to post it in a subsequent blog and perhaps the colors there will be truer...or maybe they won't! Of course the best is to see them in person. For that, they will be available in my fall shows. I'll be posting that list too, soon.

Addendum: added on the following morning... Here is the posting of the digital image of the aforementioned buttons. See the difference?

The colors on this are much truer to the originals so in future I will be posting digital photos rather than scans of things that have to be in the way the movie Sex and the City II ended...with True Colors.

Polymer Clay Fish

2010-09-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

This big brother fish was finished a couple of weeks ago and I just got this scan done. I called him "Fish with a Checkered Past but Good Luck will Follow" because on the bottom of his other side he has some checkerboard caning, which unfortunately I didn't scan. On the tailfin (again on the reverse side) I added several cane slices of the Chinese Symbol for Good Luck.

He is a 'keeper' measuring a good 12 inches plus wire and I am pretty sure he's got a fair sized girth too! He (it's a he because the lips are not that menopausal pink colour) isn't quite as decorated as some of his fellow fish that have gone to happy havens; but he is a pleasant sort. He can hang free like a mobile from a long length of fishing line (what else!!!) or can be up against a wall or window. I haven't placed him anywhere...I don't want to get too attached and I certainly don't want him to think he's part of the grouping in the computer room of Dan's taxidermed collection. He's much too colorful for that grouping.

Today I have been making buttons and more light switch covers. I have several in the oven right now and just thought I'd take a few minutes to post, since my posting has been very irregular of late. Sooo, happy offishal back to school.

Is summer really over?

2010-09-07T10:47:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday marked the end of the 'official' summer at Victoria Beach, with the roads now open to the cottages and kids back to school. We took part in the final Northern Lights Art Sale there this past Saturday, and while the turnout was a little bit lower than during the high summer days, it was still a great day. As can be seen from this picture, Molly and Dan were welcoming folks at the table helping to raise funds for the East Beaches Animal Shelter and once again they did a great job, thanks to Molly's winning smile and Dan's friendly banter. I am not sure how much money they raised for the cause, but I know they got several new memberships and lots of contributions. It is sad how often the animals near the lake are treated and abandoned. Suffice it to say that now a few more kitties and pups will be neutered and well cared for and perhaps permanent homes can be found for them.

On another pet-related note, this marks the 10th anniversary of when we 'got' Molly. She was nine months old at the time, and we were actually her fourth 'parents' so to speak, so it was almost like a rescue. In actual fact, she rescued us; as I recall. I was going through some tough times dealing with my Mom's terrible bout with shingles, my own very painful and sleep-depriving frozen shoulder, the loss of our dear Mr. Peabody, and also the loss of a dear student who passed away at the age of 18 from ovarian cancer. Even though Miss Molly was a bit of a 'live-wire' in her younger days, she has brought unmeasured joy to our home. For the first time yesterday, she went to Gimli, on the other side of Lake Winnipeg supposedly to help her dad fish, but that was not the case. It was quite windy and so instead she simply enjoyed the walk on the long pier and wagged her tail at all the folks there.

I am not quite sure where this picture was taken while the two 'fisherfolk' were out there, but seeing the choppiness of the water I can imagine what the wind must have been like. Normally Molly loves going in the water, but I guess she felt that surfing wasn't her style yesterday. When she got home, she was tired, but not too tired to greet some other family members (whom she dearly loves) when they came over for a barbeque to finish off the summer.

Now I am in high gear preparing for the fall sales. I have a few more stints to complete at the Selkirk Waterfront Market over the next few Saturdays, and then the next big show takes me to Ontario again during the first weekend of October. Following that, I am going to be busy on several subsequent weekends until the first week in December when I call it quits for another season. I'll be posting the upcoming events in some upcoming blogs. I have my schedule pretty full and am just waiting for one more confirmation before I can make the official "list".

I have often heard it said that the end of summer is like the beginning of a new year. School resumes, the colours change and all the new 'events' get underway. Contrary to a popular advertisement, I don't believe "It's the most wonderful time of the year", but it is an exciting time, especially for all those kids and teachers going back to school and hitting the books.

And hitting the book is what I'll be doing this afternoon. I have not finished reading The Girl who Played with Fire yet, and our book club is discussing it tomorrow. So, polymer clay and computer are off limits for the rest of today. And as for dinner...we'll have the leftover steak, corn and other goodies from yesterday's BBQ, thank you very much.

Too pooped to post, snail mail rant, and the case of the missing wheels

2010-08-31T18:48:00.000-07:00

Sorry, no picture today. Actually I forgot to take a pic during the intimate, but fun polymer clay class today where I had a few dedicated charges. Those who were there know they were there, and they have the bad jokes in their memories to prove it. In all, it was a fun day and there was a lot of good claying going on, but after it all got put away and the dishes were done, I am pooped.

My schedule has been soooooooooo hectic this summer, I fear I have missed one or two deadlines for sales, and am going to be begging tomorrow to try to get in one of them. Missing the deadline was due in part to this danged computer breakdown we had a couple of months back which lost all the emails and attachments. I sort of remembered many of them and had haphazardly copied some of them manually into my date book, and others I had imprinted the show dates on my mind, but without my screensaver calendar (lost) and the email attachments for the applications, I have been in a dither trying to collect all the application forms etc. So, I am going to spend much of tomorrow backtracking and contacting by email and phone to try to get all the pieces back together.

Now for the rant part. (If you'd rather not read this, I give you persmisison to hit the exit key now.) I am getting really disgruntled with snail mail. I have been waiting for so many things to arrive in the mail, and for things to get to people and places. I fear that there is some WICKED FORCE out there committing subterfuge to prevent me from getting payments, sending checks and cheques, and all other sorts of mail-gone-bad stuff. It's like there is NOBODY working in the post offices any more, and they've left all the work to malevolent little gremlins who live in the boxes on the corner of the streets. Seems those critters are eating up all the mail or at least the envelopes. It's like they are on a gummy feast and they open the envelopes and party away by sucking all the gum/glue off the envelopes and then just leaving the interior bits, the stuff we the "mailors" are interested in, to fend for itself having no destinations and no return addresses. And another thing they do, those dastardly gremlins, {and this thing I can attest to, not just surmise,} is that they wedge the envelopes in between the hardware that keeps the actual mailbox together, so that when the HUMAN BEING (aka Post Office Employee) comes to dump the mail into his big bag to take it to the post office, the wedged mail just stays put in the box. For how long, I don't know, but I do know that I have seen with my own eyes, (and they don't lie...like my hips), I've seen the same piece of mail wedged in there on two consecutive days. Don't those mail collectors ever LOOK inside the boxes? Sounds like they need to take an advanced class in Mail Collection 302 where the syllabus reads 'How to really collect mail from those multicolored boxes'. When the mail boxes were blandly colored worn-out-red, it never used to happen, the collectors collected the mail. But now, now that the boxes have gone all colorful and decorated, I guess the collectors (who are being paid I bet, snicker, snicker,) are so taken by the chaotic and colorful decorations that they forget what the boxes are for. Another tale of Just Another Pretty Face.

And OH YAH! Something I should have posted a while ago...The Sad Tale of the Missing Wheels.

Nearly a month ago, when we returned from our little hiatus/(I love that word except when it introduces hernia) busman's holiday, I espied a nice bike attached to the Stop Sign very close to aforementioned prettily-decorated mail box. It looked expensive...I dunno. I am not a bike groupie. But, it was there one day. It was there the next day. And the third and oh, for at least a week. Maybe even longer since we were gone for about a week prior. Even though I didn't mail something each day, I would see said Bike attached to the stop sign. All shiny and tapioca colored; a Shimano I think it was...never looked that close. And then, this week when I went to said mailbox, the bike was gone. It wasn't until I looked down, while the divine Miss M (MOLLY NOT MIDDLER) was doing a dainty little curtsey aka pee, I saw it!!! The lock from the bike. On the ground. In two pieces. One the curved part and the other close by, which someone had obviously hack-sawed off. Guess they saw the bike there day after day as I did.

What I am wondering is this: Did the person who locked up the bike in the first place FORGET about the bike? Was he/she parking the bike there for some geocache search to do the rest of the search on foot? Or, was it, heaven forbid, something sinister....Oh I don't want to go there. Why was the bike there for over a week? And who hack-sawed it off? Perhaps it was the little gremilins from the mail box, who, having had one too many envelope frappés, decided to live outside the box and take off on the bike. In any case, not a happy ending. Except of course if it means that the gremlins didn't return to the mail box and the mail will go through from now on.

Lighter than light

2010-08-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

Not much time this week to post. After the tentlake and hurricane wind problems last weekend, I vowed that this weekend's Festival will be better. Sounds a little Scarlett O'Harish I know, but that's where determination, or is it plain ol' stubbornness reigns. I did make a few more sets of buttons the past few days, since the area I'll be in is replete with quilters, and added these few light switch plates to my inventory.

They have a very earthy feel, as you can probably tell. I went pretty heavy into the texture and hope they end up in some room where there's a wall space just waiting for them. I could have spent more time on the clouds in the beachy one, but since it's Thursday and I have to leave early tomorrow a.m., I once again, decided less is more. The ivoryish one is a little cave-like and the soapstone-y effect on the double looks like the entrance to my fantasy secret garden. I always loved the carving in some of the old soapstone vases we used to have...wonder where they are now? If they don't turn up, maybe I'll tackle making some as a fall 'spare time' project. Like spare time exists. Spare tire? Yes. But time?

Off to the Morden Corn and Apple Festival. I'm as corny as Morden in August....la la la.

Some things are fishy...

2010-08-20T17:37:00.000-07:00

Well, I am posting again. Same picture. I want to describe the polymer clay now. I did a little line drawing a couple of weeks ago of a partial school of fish. Then I reduced it on the photocopier (toner based) and made about twenty little printouts. In the focal area of this book is the faux ivory clay with the drawing. It is not a transfer, but a tear-away. I was so happy that it turned out so well (not the drawing, the tear away.) The etching accepted the antiquing umber paint very readily and I purposely didn't sand all of the paint away. It is soooooooooo smooth. I only used 600 grit sandpaper on the ivory, and it feels so delightful, that I didn't bother to buff it. I wanted to just run my fingers over it over and over.

After the ivory piece was done, I added a little gold piece using liquid polymer as a 'glue' and then more liquid polymer between the book board and the gold. I had sculpted a few other little fish and used some for beads. A few of the fish got filleted and were used as adornments atop the gold on the book. (More adhesive liquid polymer.) I baked the entire cover 45 minutes (or maybe an hour) and then placed the painted book boards between two larger tiles to cool them and make sure they were flat. The baking really helped to set the paint ... I had used Jacquard Liquitex (I think) in a mixture of antique gold and bronze, and then did a little feathering with some other acrylics. You can't see much of it on the front cover, but the feathering is more visible on the back cover and inside the covers.

As for the side features, I didn't have too many beads and my selection of bronzy colored fibres is rather limited, so I put in some variegated/recylcled Silk Sari Yarn and a few other textury-type bits. And yes, the little fish are bronzed with Pearl-Ex, so I did put a little sealer coat on them.

Ya gotta love doing this stuff. When I sit and describe it, I realize that there are so many steps involved in making something work. Luckily, I don't have to describe it to myself when I do it. I just DO IT!

Hope you all have a great weekend. Wish me luck...it's going to be very warm in the tent and I am not looking forward to that. Methinks a little spray bottle of water and a thousand fans might help. (Both the kind you hold so I can keep my cool, and the kind that come up to look at the work, lol.)

Something's Fishy?

2010-08-20T17:14:00.000-07:00

With this Friday comes the final 'edition' of the Lockport Preparations. I made four new hardcover journals for this weekend's market event and hopefully with the fish theme someone who wins the $20 000 will step into the art tent. Of course this journal won't take up much of that; but perhaps the winner would like to record the event. Even if the winner isn't into journal keeping, there's a lot of use for a book like this. It measures about four and one half inches high and is not quite that wide. I may make a simple little cloth cover for it, just in case, so that the fronds don't get tangled with other things if one is carrying it in a fishing creel or other carrier.

I am really enjoying my art journal activities. I used my sample book at last weekend's Victoria Beach Festival, and had a lot of interest. Someone actually inquired about purchasing the partially finished book... Of course that book wasn't intended for sale, but the person said it would help her 'get started' on a book. I agree that getting a journal going is one of the most difficult tasks, but if you make it a daily thing for a specified amount of time over your morning cup of tea or coffee, it can be quite an engaging experience. I have been a follower of several magazines that encourage this type of activity, so I can imagine how difficult it would be for someone who is a complete novice who has never seen those publications to know how to begin. After seeing the collages, the cut outs, the drawings, the 'scribbles' and other elements, a lot of the folks seemed to want to do some art journalling on their own.

I also chatted with an English teacher who thinks she may use the idea in her classes. When I taught, I never minded if kids 'doodled' on their pages and encouraged it if it helped to bring home a concept...As a matter of fact, it was mandatory in several of the subjects that I taught that kids incorporate drawings, colored and not, in their notes. I especially remember doing French vocab in this way, as well as more intricate features like illustrating the logs being positioned at right angles to each other as an example of how the early settlers built their log homes for Social Studies. For the kids who said they "couldn't draw" it didn't matter.
Any and all attempts were worthwhile.

That is how I feel about doing the art journals. I am no great artist, and have a good deal of trouble with perspective etc. Once the line drawing gets done, some careful positioning of dropped leaves, or snippets of phrases strategically placed, lots of obvious 'mistakes' can be skilfully masked. And there are so many acceptable things to go into journals...My box of journal ephemera keeps getting larger and larger and soon may engulf my polymer clay workspace. But no...that would not do!!!

Tagged Fish

2010-08-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

Wowsa! The Lockport 100th Anniversary starts tomorrow and hubby tells me they released the three tagged fish into the river on Tuesday so they're swimming around somewhere. Evidently, there is a $20 000 prize for catching and verifying the release of the tagged fish...only one of which is the twenty grand one. I couldn't resist this little pun and believe me, no bait, minnows, hooks or any other type of fishing tackle was used in securing this little guy. He has a 'waggly tail' (sort of like that doggie in the window) and is much cuter (imho) than the real ugly catfish that will be the contest winner. I'll be having a few of these at my booth in the Tent at the Locks Market this weekend as well as a lot of other items, several of which will be fish-related. I am at the finishing stages of getting it all together. Since this is a one hundredth anniversary event, there's never been a market associated with the Locks, it's hard to tell what size the crowds will be, but should I have an excess of inventory, I can always use it for next week's Corn and Apple Festival in Morden. That's a bit of a longer drive and it goes on for three days, but it's a first time for me to be in it. Looking forward to both of the events.

Yesterday our book club went to see Eat, Pray Love and then went for dinner. In keeping with the theme of the 'Eat in Italy' we tried to go to The Olive Garden (the closest thing to an Italian Restaurant in the area of the theatre) but there were no parking spots; needless to say that it was over an hour wait for a table for five. Instead we hopped over to Moxie's and each of us chose something close to a Meditteranean dish/drink. I had a Bellini and then had Caesar Salad and Calamari. I know traditionally that Calamari is a Greek dish, but didn't opt for a pizza since I had some the day before. We discussed the movie and agreed that it was good, even though it deviated from the book just a little, embellishing and adding here and there to make it a little more theatrical. Too bad it wasn't in smell-a-vision to add to the sensual intensity of the Margherita Pizza in Napoli or the fragrant blossoms of Bali. I could have done without the smell of the cows in India quite frankly, so guess I should be thankful that s-a-vision hasn't hit the screens yet.

Now, back to getting items finished in preparation for the Market. Hubby has relayed that they are still in need of more volunteers for the weekend...so if you're not too busy, can be in the Lockport area and have a couple of hours to spare this weekend, then by all means drop him a line at anglerdan@mts.net to volunteer your services. I know it's late, but every little bit helps.

Can't Catch Me, I'm already caught up in everything!

2010-08-10T11:30:00.000-07:00

Am I EVER caught up? Now depending on how you look at this, I could be 'caught up' as in all my work is done and I have loads of time on my hands. Or, as this fish in the net, I am tangled up in all the things that have to be done. Or, I could be trying to get caught up in a big event next weekend.

My upcoming schedule is about as busy as it ever could get. The next four weekends are loaded with sales, anniversaries, festivals and of course getting ready for back to school during Labour Day. Intersperse those commitments with meetings and a couple of demos and throw in a class or two for good measure, and you can see why this is one busy fish!

This Saturday (the 14th) is the second of the summer's Victoria Beach Art Festival (it seems like the last one was just yesterday). I believe it runs from 10 am to 4 pm. The previous one was at the Sports Club, and this one may be at the Senior Scene (which if the weather is like it is today, will be a plus since it's cool in there!) or it may also be at the Sports Club. I am certain that the Northern Lights Committee will have signs posted as you drive in the community telling you where to go...now there's a job, lol. In any case, the two venues are in the same general area so not to worry if you're not sure where to go!

Next Tuesday, the 17th, I'll be doing a demo at McNally Robinson (Grant Location) as part of the Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library organization. I believe it will be around 7 pm and there will be other Guild members illustrating their art work as well. For those who are unaware of how polymer clay is done, I'll be doing a brief demo. It's very casual and relaxed...great format for asking questions.

The following weekend, the 20th to 22nd of August, will be the 100th Celebration of the Lockport Community http://www.lockportmanitoba.ca/ . The event is not only a celebration of the historic site, but has all sorts of events associated with it. Hubby of course is helping out with the Fish Catch (a whopping $20 000 to anyone who catches the tagged fish) and I'll be in the big tent along with lots of other local artisans. Our tent is near Gaffer's, to those who know the area, and I'll have fish like these and lots of other polymer clay stuff there. Parking might be a bit of an issue, but there are shuttle buses organized so access shouldn't be too much of a problem. Hope to see lots of folks there!

On the weekend after that, August 27 to 29th, I'll be at the Morden Corn and Apple Festival. That is a festival that's been going on for decades and even though my work won't be as 'tasty' as their delicious pies and food offerings, I will have some fun things there too. It'll be my first time there, and I can already smell the corn on the cob!

I have a couple of class dates scheduled after that (during the transition from August to September) where I'll be doing introductory techniques in polymer clay. It might be a two day continuum, or two one days separate classes, depending on the needs of the individuals. Anyone who is interested, please get in touch with me by email, fishwife@mts.net I have a sign up list at home here, and if you get in touch with me, I can let you know more of the details.

Finally to wrap up the summer, on Saturday of the Labour Day Weekend I'll be near some lake or river north of Winnipeg. Nope. Not fishing. Hopefully, relaxing, but YOU NEVER KNOW!!!

Mixed Media Journal

2010-08-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

Finally a few minutes to post. We were on a Road Trip (Yay!) and made our journey to the Sioux Narrows Art Festival and then followed that with a few days visiting relatives in Wisconsin.

Of course the weather was gorgeous, as was the scenery. The Shield and lakes of Western Ontario were outstanding. Due to circumstances I won't go into (none of which were our doing) we had to stay about 25 miles from the event, but the extra driving was worth it just for the view from our lakeside room. The mist on the first morning we were there covered the entire lake and I wished I'd had more time to savour it, but duty called. The show was good, not as good as in previous years sales wise, but most people said that, so I am not complaining. Once again, the show was very well hosted and aside from the accommodations aspect one couldn't ask for better.

When we got to Wisconsin, we played, went for pontoon rides and I got to 'shop'. (More about that later.) As well, I demonstrated how I did my Coptic Binding on the books that I've been making recently. I didn't go overboard in decorating this one, as my main purpose was to show the binding, and only added one polymer element (so far) to the cover. Since I was 'describing' the Coptic technique (should coptic have a capital??), I somehow got my pages turned topsy turvy about half way through. Since I don't feel like ripping them out, I decided to keep this book for myself. I also promised I would do a page a day, as in Marlene Brady's blog "Do art every day" and since I returned, have kept up. I'm not a journal artist by a long shot, and I have lots to learn, but I gave it the old 'collage' try. Mostly so far I've used my own 'stuff', pictures I've drawn (and photocopied) or wording I've done. That brings to mind a million questions, and a few answers I've figured out. Does one acknowledge sources of images in a private book? What does a title page in a journal look like? Does one even need a title page? I mean it is not like I am ever going to be organized to have a table of contents in the thing...

On one page I did a take-off on the word 'type'. I was tickled during my shopping trip to find an antique Smith Corona in great shape. I had sold our old Underwood upright in a garage sale many years ago, and when the gal accepted my offer (the same amount I sold the Underwood for) I sealed the deal. After sharing a little secret about my high school typing experiences with her, I decided that the word needed to be exploded a bit. I didn't do much exploding. I only linked it to a few phrases, but since I have a tendency to [overdo] things like that in my work in general, I hoped in this case that less was more.

The colorful rainbow background for the page (I'd gesso'd it up first) was from an old painting kit I purchased at Mall of America kiosk about ten years ago. I'd love to be able to do that effect in other colors and maybe when I have time I'll try to recreate another way of doing it so I am not confined to the colors of tempera that are in the kit. I glued the little typed excerpt into the middle of the opened page, and thank goodness for that feature of coptic binding I love so much. The remainder of the page is some journaling in every which way direction using a purplish-mauve gel pen.

Now that I've completed another page (it's still drying) I'm off to work on polymer clay and replenish stock. Also have to make some butterfly pendants for my sister's friend in SK...BTW, she returned from a three week stay in Australia and brought me back a scarf done in the traditional Aboriginal dot style. One day I am going to try my hand at that. When one of the exchange teachers from Adelaide (I think) was at our school, she had the kids emulate that style and their paintings adorned the hallways for weeks.

I rather like that technique, but need to do a little more research on it before I attempt it on my own. Perhaps one day a page of it will get into my art journal. In the meantime, I'm letting it sit open on a book stand. Drying. Although on this sticky humid day here it may take longer than usual. Now if I were in Phoenix...it'd be dry before I finished the page!

Polymer Clay Button on Quilted Purse

2010-07-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

I am like the carpenter with no furniture and the decorator whose house needs a paint job. I have been making buttons for several years and aside from a few added on to garments that I acturally 'wear', I seldom have examples of finished works with buttons on them. Often at sales, I am asked how the buttons I make can be used. I don't mean to offend, but, umm, well, here is an example. I realize it doesn't exactly match the colors in the quilted purse here, but I can't MAKE fabric (well, technically that is incorrect...I DON'T have time to make fabric also) so that's why I've used a bit of off-color polymer clay in this sample.

When I do shows, I hate carrying around a cash box and those 'fanny packs' just don't do it for me, so I use either a draw-string reticule or some make-up bag to keep my float in. This one has a shoulder thing that I can attach so it can be worn and tucked inside a jacket if I am walking around in an area and want to have my hands free. It's about 5 1/2 inches, relatively square and has room for the essentials. I didn't make it, a quilter and I exchanged.

I will still be making the former "Let's Face It Buttons" with the canes design surrounding the faces, but I also have this updated version...I've added arched eyebrows. This one didn't quite meet 'spec' (as she has one eyebrow arched more than the other) but I figured it was the perfect signature for moi. As luck would have it, when I have to 'draw' on my own personal eyebrows (mine blond ones have faded into oblivion), I can't see well enough without my glasses on to draw. As for the finished 'results', (with my glasses on,) sometimes the brows are quite comical and are rarely symmetrical.

What arch criminal invented far-sightedness for those of us over fifty that want to have eyebrows?

Hittin' the road...again

2010-07-16T17:42:00.000-07:00

These are some of the mokume gane pendants I'll have available this weekend. I only did a small stack of mokume having determined that the regular sized stacks I was making yielded far too much of one color group for my liking. This way, I can make just a few in each color range and save my clay for other things. It was murder trying to use up the mokume stacks, and in the end, used a good number of my slices for scrap clay. The other upside of this is that if I am not fond of the color combinations, I haven't wasted a lot of clay. Not that I am stingy, but I just don't feel the need to have 57 pendants in one color pattern!

I made this batch as cabochons and then worked them into some metal-looking clay. I have found that if I sand and buff the cabochons before they are set into the backgrounds, I can antique the surrounds and then if necessary, use a glaze or other finish on the stuff that doesn't do well with sanding and buffing, and the mokume parts still stay very lustrous without the sticky coating on them which I personally don't care for.

The bail is in the back...I suppose I should scan that too...maybe I will next time. That way, it can be worn as a choker or on buna cord or whatever...I like the adaptability aspect.

NOW it's time to pack up all my stuff, set it near the door so we can make a speedy exit tomorrow morning. It's about an hour drive to Victoria Beach from here, and it will take me at least an hour and a half to set up, so time will be precious in the morning.

Victoria Beach Sale this Weekend

2010-07-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

A few years ago we took a trip up to the east side Beaches (the East Side of Lake Winnipeg that is) where the beaches are gorgeous. This is one of the stonier type beaches, but as you can see below the stones, the sand is as finely grained as you could ever imagine. This was a rather remote area, and the day we went for the photo shoot was brisk but sunny and the waves were rolling. We took a lot of pictures and I often refer to them for inspiration for making my beaches bracelets, which are always popular up in that area. The cottage we used to own was on the lakefront at Victoria Beach, and that is how I came to be connected to this event.

This Saturday is going to be a busy one, since after the sale we will be travelling to another resort area for a barbeque to welcome my friend's son-in-law to his Canadian relatives and friends. The couple will not be living here, but it is his first time on the prairies of our land, très loin de son pays de France. It is a 'social' and should be quite the event for someone who is not accustomed to what a prairie social (and barbeque) entails. J'éspère que Andréa et Rodolphe vont passer de bon temps-là. Dans quelques semaines, ils vont faire le voyage retour à Normandie, où ils habitent.

As for the Victoria Beach sale, it runs from 10 am until 4 pm and is located at the Victoria Beach Sports Club. This is one of the only times this summer that you can drive in to that area...normally the roads in the community are reserved for just deliveries and year round residents. This has been the situation for many decades, to make the summer homes safe for all the families. It cuts down on noise too. There are no motels or hotels there, only private homes, making it much of a residential haven for the summer. Everyone uses bikes or walks and it makes for a very healthy lifestyle. While I'm at the sale, I'll be looking forward to seeing a lot of the other vendors and my friends out there.

Farmers' Market last Saturday

2010-07-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday morning was the first time this year for us to set up at the Farmers' Market at the very scenic Selkirk Waterfront Space. The weather was lovely...a few clouds to prevent scorching and no wind. Thankfully, there weren't any mosquitoes or other pesky critters either, just friendly folks and a few pups. The location has got to be one of the most beautiful for an outdoor market, picnic, boat ride, stroll, lazy-day fishing, bike ride or whatever else you like to do on a Saturday morning. I love the relaxed atmosphere of the place, and the well built facility lends itself to setting up a venue such as this.

I was very happy that the sun wasn't blazing, for, as luck would have it (or was it inadequate planning), we had forgotten to pack the tent topper. It was really quite humorous, and folks that know us usually expect Entertainment of the Bickerson-genre during set-up and we did not fail them, again. We got there a bit on the late side for my liking, but it ended up being perfect timing, because, having not brought the tent top, we didn't have to set the thing up. So that part worked out perfectly.

Some of the same nice people that I encountered last year were there again, and a few vendors have not returned. Unfortunately, it is still too early to have a lot of home grown produce available, so I am thinking that in a few more weeks there will be a good deal more tasty home grown things to buy. There was some lovely baking, and after having made my 'quota' of sales, I treated myself to a couple of loaves of freshly baked herb bread of the artisan nature. It's delightful, especially when I toasted some and dipped it in a bit of grapeseed oil, balsamic vinegar and dipping spices. YUMM!

Sadly, I won't be there more than four times this year, although it runs every Saturday from 9 until 1, when they 'ring the bell'. My summer schedule is booked with out of town trips, a wedding celebration or two, and a number of other sales where I'll be busy. But my heart will be there and wishing that all the folks who take the time to stop by have a wonderful time.

As for the 'picture'...I 'sketched' it this morning. I really suck at drawing. But, I kept a black and white copy and am hopefully going to incorporate it, or part of it, into some polymer clay work. Not telling just how/where it will end up, but I have a couple of options and ideas I am considering. (BTW...that's our imaginary blue tent at the back...it really is blue, but I used artistic licence in including it in the sketch with the aforementioned forgotten top. Some of the other vendors are not exactly as sketched...but as I said...artist's licence!)

It's a Wrap...Mixed Media Book Done

2010-07-08T07:19:00.000-07:00

It's been about three years that I have been making hardcover books with external coptic binding and all those years the covers were completely polymer clay. I had thought about using other materials for the covers, thus saving a bit on my clay and finally today I have a finished project, which is a composition utilizing a lot of elements...some recycled, some new, some vintage. I had a tough time deciding about the type of binding material, and in the end, went with the simple choice. I had dyed (or at least painted) some strong linen and thought about using it, but when the color didn't saturate completely, I figured on the path of least resistance.

Another thing about the binding, for those who are new to Coptic Binding...when I first started doing these books, the binding was quite a chore...not knowing how hard to pull to keep the tension up, and generally, it was one of those nightmarish tasks that made my hands all sweaty and the cord all stringy. As well, it would take at least two to three hours to get the binding all done. Now, once I have the cord found and measured, I just sit down over an episode of Law and Order, and by the time the show is finished, the binding is done. It really does underline the fact that experience makes the work much less time consuming.

As for the beads, they are mostly polymer clay, with a few shell types, small glass spacers, one name bead that I stamped, and a special bead that I made a while ago. It was made from a glass bauble, a bit of hand-decorated paper underneath, and surrounded with polymer to make the picture show through the glass.

Mixed Media Trials - New Book

2010-07-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

So I am giving this one the title 'From the Inside Out' and showing the inner covers. The book ( an artist journal) is very near completion with only the papers to insert and the binding to be done. I say {only}in jest, as past experience would tell me that is not always as simple as it appears. Having said that however, I have made so many books similar to this type that I've prepared in advance with the beads made, the holes drilled (according to a template I devised) and all I've yet to determine is the type of binding material I will use. My natural choice would be waxed linen, however, the cover's color doesn't exactly suit the colors of thread I have. Soooo, that leads to some more variables thrown into the mix. Shall I DYE it, PAINT it, use it as is, or....? Time will tell.

I am actually calling this a 'mixed media' book rather than a polymer clay book because I did not use polymer clay totally for the covers. The inner 'lining' is a bit of painted paper that I used to surround a face that I drew with Prismacolor pencils almost two years ago, on one of my travelling days. I actually did a series of three similar type drawings, and am thinking about making a triptych with the originals. This was just a scan printed out on the HP Inkjet no less. But to my pleasant surprise the sealant I use to incorporate the face into the frothy surrounding did not bleed, and although there are a few wrinkled parts, I rather like that quality because it is in keeping with the rest of the paper lining. The veil fabric is very old....I think about forty years old and it is part of a small stash that remains from the hat making remnants I inherited after the passing of one of my very talented aunts. I hope she is smiling at its being used.

There are other reasons why I'm calling it a mixed media piece. I've also incorporated bits of hammered copper into the cover. All will be 'unveiled' when the book is done and photo'd.

I'm quite ecstatic that some of the woes that have beset us these past few weeks are now dimishing...we got the air conditioner fixed (yikes was it hot in here for a week ... but nothing compared to the heat my bookclub cronie is suffering in New York); my tickly throat is less tickly and the dry cough is almost gone; and lastly, the main computer is up and running well. I had to re-install the scanner, but that was minor compared to the other nasty things that we had to deal with. Oh, yes, we are still dealing with some of the after effects of that storm...the address book was toast as were all my server-based emails (thank goodness for hotmail), and I have to contact some of the co-ordinators of shows that I am supposed to be in during the fall. I did (fortunately) make copies of many of the entry forms, but not ALL of them, so still have to catch up in that department.

Speaking of book club...our rather limited size group met yesterday (we did get a one paragraph "report" email from our New York correspondent) for the marathon meeting. Actually it was a great get-together and we actually discussed our book for over an hour and then made many references to it throughout the afternoon/evening. It really was more than a book club meeting though...we submerged ourselves in the pool for the first hour, discussed the book (over drinks and hors - d'oeuvres) the next two hours, then feted ourselves with a pot luck (and a bit more vino) for the next two hours. Finally, we capped it off with a rousing round of Ballderdash...without the gamebits part. We didn't make our definitions fit the theme of the book, although I am sure that some of them could have been rendered into nuances that were hinted at in the book. Oh...the book we reviewed? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. How timely that Charlie Rose had done the piece he did just the night before our gathering. We Have LOTS of theories...

And now, back to my own book...or shall I say Artist Journal.

Canada Day on Osborne

2010-06-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

With tomorrow being Canada Day, I had hoped to have a lot more neckpieces like this available for people to see. They're so perfect for summer. But where does the time go!
Well, for one thing, we spent a gorgeous weekend out at West Hawk Lake and just enjoyed being with our friends -- both human and non-human. It was incredible to be out far away from the noise of the city, with nary a mosquito (thankfully), but lots of other natural species to entertain us. Several times while we were there we saw a number of deer -- so up close that they were hand fed. Such gorgeous and gentle creatures!
Another time biter has been my 'part-time' teaching, which has been more like a regular job. I've had lots of different experiences and have "learned" a lot. And then there's this hacky throat-bug thing that has been robbing me of sleep. Last week ABCDan caught this horrible throat bug which has made him cough so bad, for what seems like all night long. I thought I was going to avoid it, but today my throat is aching and my voice is cracking something like concrete. It is so awful and I have to be WELL tomorrow for the annual Parade at Osborne Village.
All in all, I have only one necklace similar to the one above, and a few others that I managed to get done. They're more like pendants...Inukshuk type. They're quite cool and if they don't get all gobbled up tomorrow, perhaps I'll post one on here in a future blog.
Happy 143rd Canada.

Last chance to hit the books!

2010-06-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

I haven't made many books lately, although I must admit that they are my favorite thing to make. I hope now, that summer is almost here and that I have more time to clay, that I CAN make a whole lot more. This is one that I made in faux ivory a few months ago, that was filled with good quality watercolor paper, making it truly an 'artists book'. It is my intention, when making a book, to have a purpose in mind for it.

Some of my books are used as guest books for cottagers to record the happy times spent with friends. Other books have been made with the intention of a dedication...for people to journal about the significant happenings in their lives. Others are used as graduation gifts or as journal diaries to collect and keep records of their visits to interesting places. I know a few of my books have been used as 'scrapbooks' to keep pictures for a year or two. One of the books I made became a special commemorative book for a son to honor his father. This special order was made in the father's favorite colors and the side beads were representative symbols of some of the memorable occasions in his life.

I do not know of another medium which allows for this kind of diversity or this degree of personalization in hand created artwork. Generally when I make my books for sale to the public, they have to be rather 'generic' which allows me all sorts of latitude in my creation. However, when I create a special item for a person, that is truly the creation of a unique piece of artwork,with all the intentions incorporated into the 'persona' of the book. That is when the personalization aspect of art enters into an entirely new area, so motivating to the artist. That is what I REALLY enjoy about creating...having an inspiration and motivation to achieve a purpose.

The individual who purchased the above book also ordered another, which, I was happy to create.

It should be called Saturday the 13th

2010-06-13T06:11:00.000-07:00

Some days are bad. Really really bad.

Yesterday began with hubby telling me that the computer was compromised and we couldn't get into any of our files, particularly our emails. We are in the midst of a big 'volunteer' job and we desperately need to use the computer to make signage for this Gala that we are attending this coming weekend, namely, the St. John's 100th Anniversary Gala and associated activities. It is a ginormous thing...hubby has been contacting many businesses in the communty (and beyond) and has secured great gifts and items to be auctioned off at the gala. My part is to write up descriptions of the packages and do some decorative calligraphy to make the packages appealing to the 2000 plus people who will be in attendance. This is NOT the time for a computer meltdown. Oh the urge to say bad words.

Several hours, phone calls and attempts at restoration later, no luck. If anything, things had gotten worse. Our email was down and all our programs appeared to be lost. Fortunately, I have this little laptop which was not affected by whatever, and I have a few files on it, but not any of the current gala stuff. It also allows us to see our current webmail (since yesterday) and of course I can access hotmail, msn, facebook and all that fun stuff on it. But our address books are gone from our primary email accounts lists. I do have some addresses on my hotmail accounts, but there's only so much there. I guess I'll try to recoup what I have and start again.

It isn't the first time we've lost emails...it seems as though it has happened every two or three years. I watched a lot of tv yesterday, trying to drown my depression in even more depressing tv.I even went so far as to try and watch some of the world cup FIFA but the drone of the background hum was starting to irritate my already challenged quota of patience I had allotted for the rest of the day. I did some work on getting my donation ready...it's a polymer creation. It will be finished today.

I also went to a meeting that was to start at ten. The building was locked. No one had the key. I registered,outside, and then went home. What a day, what a day, what a day.When I got home, I realized the pants to my suit were on backwards. That figures, doesn't it.

And oh, yes, I made a chicken. When all else fails, cook. At least that turned out to be edible.

Works in Progress

2010-06-02T05:17:00.000-07:00

Imagine posting twice within twenty-four hours. Actually 12 hours! On my way to work and thought I'd post the scans of the two woven bags I mentioned in yesterday's post. It's a little difficult to imagine what the finished bags will be like, but as I mentioned there'll be a lining in each, and the beads may be sewn in to the outer fabric or may just dangle at the side as adornments. That's the beauty of making it up as you go along. If the whimsy of the muse speaks to me, who knows what will/may happen!For now, I am happy knowing that I will get these bags done today. (I have their cordings all crocheted up, just have to wait until I get the linings done to attach.) But if I am going to attach the beadwork into the fabric itself, I need to do that before I sew in the lining,

Decisions, decisions.

Prepping for the Weekend? It's in the Bag!

2010-06-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

Three more days to get ready for the Crafts for the Cure Event and this little bracelet is what I worked on today ... before I went to the movies. After seeing Sex and the City 2 anything I make seems tame, even my most outrageous pieces. I guess I'll need to be a little bolder if I want to make things that the Foursome from Fifth Avenue might consider wearin'. The flick was pure chicksville, with plenty of great clothes, (Thank you Patricia Field for your fabulous selection in the wardrobe department); opulence affordable only in the movies, and some good laughs. A lot of the lines were 'predictable' but nevertheless enjoyable. Perhaps it's because you knew some of what to expect that made it a comfort zone movie. Even ABCD enjoyed it as one of the five males in the theatre tonight. When we were leaving, another patrons noted that he had laughed perhaps the loudest.

Now that I've had my little respite, I will be working double time and a half tomorrow. After teaching the day, I'll burn a little midnight oil and get some of the jewelry items strung and carded. I have a couple of hand woven bags I made in April that I've finally had time to match up with some accoutrements. I still have to sew the pretties on and finish the linings so that will keep me busy most of the evening. I haven't decided if I'll add some hand felting to them. They're pretty busy as they are, but we'll see. The lining's gotta be hand-sewn to the bag, but I will use the machine.to put it together, including a little attached carrying case inside for cell-phone, some spending cash or cards, or maybe keys. And if I can work it in, a pocket on the side too. The bag is pretty small by most standards, and only has room enough for the essentials, as it's not one of those Big Birkin Bags that can tote anything. (No Souk Market in its rightful mind would carry my bag!)
As well, I have a couple of mobiles to string and some last minute beads to fashion into some funky summery necklaces. And I haven't forgotten about the Bottles of Hope. I made a few, and, well, I think I'll rename them as I decided to make them into figures. With wings. So they're going to be Angels with a Message of Hope.

Maybe my message should be that I hope that I can get everything done in time!

Crafts for the Cure

2010-05-21T14:41:00.000-07:00

After a couple of weeks (and we're not done yet) of nearly full-time teaching, I figured I'd better spend this weekend getting ready for the Crafts for the Cure Sale. It is going to be held on Saturday, June 5th at the Fort Garry Curling Club on Archibald Street, in Sunny St. Boniface. It is a very well organized event and though it is not strictly limited to Artwork, the admission fees and table rentals are intended to support Breast Cancer causes. For details, click on the link: http://www.craftsandmoreforthecure.webs.com/

We all know someone who has been affected by this 'creature' and for those of us who would rather not RUN for the cure, I suggest that you stop by on June 5th to support this fundraiser.

Of particular interest, items that I will be making, especially for this event, are the Bottles of Hope. I was first introduced to this concept about ten years ago, as part of one of the Polymer Clay Guilds that I belong to. These bottles, often medicinal in nature, are covered in polymer clay, and inside them are inspirational messages for patients and loved ones who have been touched by cancer. This year, I will be donating 50% of the proceeds of sales from the bottles that I sell to a Cancer Fundraising Agency. It might be the one which this craft sale is affiliated with, or perhaps another related one, as the Bottles of Hope are not just designed for those afflicted with breast cancer, but cancer of any kind. Many of the bottles I have made previously were donated to patients in hospitals or given to private individuals in the hopes that they would have a little extra support in their plight.

I hope you will support this cause and come out to the event on June 5th.

Bichons are more brains than brawn

2010-05-16T19:01:00.000-07:00

It's time to write about my dog. She's such a sweet thing and although I am probably biased, she's very smart. But pudgy.

Today we came home from a 'birthday party' and it was around 6 pm, a little after the time we normally eat and feed the Divine Miss M. Now, with her being somewhat 'weight challenged', we've tried to wean her off store-bought treats for the past couple of months, and have been treating her with the occasional baby carrots as an alternative. She loves the crunch, but truth be told, there's nothin' better than somethin' salty ... and not exactly good for one.

Before she went on her 'diet' of no sodium-laden treats, we had stored some in a plastic bag, all in bite size bits that we kept in the cupboard next to the fridge. The door on it doesn't lock, but it is normally closed. It's pretty easy to open, but I didn't think Molly knew the way to open it. She always knows the treats are in there, but she's actually been pretty good about not 'asking' for any lately. Until today.

I think she opened the cupboard because when we got home, I noticed that it was open, and neither of the humans in our house would have left that door open before we left for the party. A minute later, I looked on the floor. There was the evidence. The plastic bag of dog treats was on the floor; thankfully it was unopened. I guess she didn't want to chew on the plastic. But the bag did have a few 'scratch marks' on it, and the bag appeared to have been crumpled in an unusual way. I am not going to send in the polyethylene package for dna testing (to see if it really was her saliva on it), but next time we go out, I'll leave a carrot on her plate, and one in the cupboard where we formerly kept the bag o' treats. And I am going to put that bag in a different cupboard, high above her reach. WE'LL see if something similar happens again.

Two sides to every fish story

2010-05-07T16:12:00.000-07:00

I know I posted this fish a while back, but there is now MORE to the fish story. (A fish's tale is never completely told!) I did a couple of scans of it and am proofing it for inclusion in an upcoming magazine. Hope my scans turn out or this little fishie will have to pose for the 'still-life' camera!

And I have to get all my fish in a row by Friday (today), as I am going to be working all next week including the weekend of the 15th when I'm teaching my clay class at Poco Beads.

Speaking of that class, I hope I didn't misinform anyone. I really wasn't sure of the time, but after connecting with the fun gals at Poco, I realize that the session begins at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 15th and we hope to finish in three hours. There is another beading class taking place following my session, so it is really important that we finish so I must insist that all clay be conditioned and sheeted before the class starts.

I took several samples of finished, partly finished and 'preliminary' bits to the store yesterday. For anyone who would like to see what we're making, drop by Poco Beads and have a lookie. I can't post the items here, but the necklace I posted recently on this blog is one of the possiblities. There are a couple other variations that I'll be demonstrating, so it looks like it should be a fun class.

Now, it's off to the drawing board and get all my class details finished.

Upcoming Class Schedule and blithering

2010-05-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I had an opportunity to re-connect with lots of my favourite people at the Fort Whyte Artisan's Market which was put on by the Manitoba Craft Museum and Library. After enjoying several uninterrupted weeks of sunshine and fine weather, the weekend unfortunately was rather dull with intermittent showers and cool temps. So, the expected turnout of clientele was somewhat down, despite dh's phone-in to CBC advertising the event on both days and the organizing committee's campaign..

I know a few people heard the p.s.a. and made the trip out, but it just gets me to wondering...what does one (or many people, or the organizers) have to do to get folks out to events such as the one of the past weekend. There were eighteen artists in attendance, and for the first couple of hours, I wondered if they would outnumber the visitors. The variety of work being shown was great...no one field was over-represented and the venue was so peaceful and beautiful. People who lived less than two km. away were not aware that the Show was even on. One gal I talked to said that if I hadn't contacted her personally, she never would have known about it. Yet one fellow, a visitor from Germany, said he saw the advertisement poster in a restaurant on Sunday morning, some 20 km away. I was happy he drove the distance as he purchased one of my Mokume Gane pendants as well as another piece. It was in different tones than the one I have pictured here, and had an entirely different presentation, but at least his interest allowed me to explain the process behind the technique.

Speaking of Mokume Gane, that is what I will be teaching at the next session at Poco Beads. The class will be held during the afternoon of May 15th and starts at 1 pm, but participants are asked to arrive at least fifteen minutes before. It is expected that they come with their clay colours chosen and have the clay conditioned. There's just not enough time in a three hour class to get it all done. The instructions and supplies list will be available to those taking part by contacting Poco no less than three days in advance (that would be May 12) of the class. The actual project being made could end up as in the picture, although I will be presenting more than one application of the technique. If you live in the area and would like to take the class, contact Poco quickly as there are a limited number of spaces available at the clay table. They are open afternoons from Tuesday to Saturday and I think they're open most evenings too, but check to make sure.

In other areas, I am also doing a couple of art projects in schools...you know it's Mother's Day very soon (next Sunday) and that means that the littler hands will be mushing up the clay and making their own delicious creations to treat Mom to something special on her day. The last group had plenty of fun and their works were awesome.

And now, I'm off to loll around some more. I've taken 'the day off' to celebrate my own thing...As they say in France, I enjoyed a grasse matinée...slept in, had a soothing bubble bath and lingered over a café au lait with some biscotti until ten a.m. Unheard of for me...I am normally up and working by 5:45 am. But after the past four weeks of unending 'busy-ness' I indulged myself.

Here Fishy, Fishy

2010-04-27T05:18:00.000-07:00

With fishing season about to start in about two weeks, I figured I'd better get these little pin-up critters out of the way so they don't get caught. I will be in a show this weekend at the Fort Whyte Centre and will be surrounded by all sorts of fauna. Last year, I was located right by the fish tank and when passers-by weren't passing by, I got to have some really close looks at a lot of the species that inhabit the areas in our neck of the woods. Hopefully the weather will be beautiful and there will be lots of people to chat with and I won't have time (or the inclination) to talk to the fish in the tanks. I don't think my species looks like any of the reel fish; I thought about making up a taxonomic rundown of the species, but got caught up in the very first category of Eukarya. Seems my fish don't fit the definition having no cells of their own and even more specifically, no nuclei! Guess they'll just have to exist in MY domain, lol.

The show, sponsored by the Manitoba Craft Museum and Library is at the Fort Whyte Alive Centre. Here are the details:

Events For May 1 and 2, 2010

Artisan Market 10 am to 4 pm

Bring your shopping bag and fill it with beautiful and functional creations from the hands and minds of some of Manitoba’s finest artists. This juried craft sale offers a beautiful array of jewellery, clothing, accessories, decorations, and more. Just in time for Mother’s Day, pick up that perfect gift for Mom and yourself. Presented by the Manitoba Crafts Museum & Library.

This wall fish is very close to my heart...I tried to 'humaneyes' it giving it some feminine characteristics. I realized when I was making its lips how my daily make-up routine plays a part in my fish creations. The pearlized lip rounds and the darker outline are a part of the regimen I use on my own face. I never realized how its make-up mimics my own habits. Except the botox look is easier to achieve on the polymer clay fish! Ya just put a little stuff underneath and build up the lips until even Julia Roberts would be jealous!

It's a pretty good-size, measuring about 11 1/2 inches not including the wire-fin extensions, and depending on its species name (real or fictional) might just be a 'keeper'.

This other side is a bit more color-intense but still has the 'rainbow trout' appeal. I made the entire Skinner Blend first and used one part for the first side, (actually this one) and spliced another bit of it to create the second side, with a bit more pearl added to it to make the coloring less intense.

It can hang against a window, so it is visible from both sides. The non-sliding window to our patio is just crying for a little decoration (other than the dog's nose-prints) and if this doesn't sell this weekend, I know exactly where it is going to end up!

Button Mania

2010-04-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I participated as a vendor in the Quilt Exhibit at the CanadInn in Polo Park. It was a huge show, and the hours were very long. Lots of gorgeous quilts and I think the folks who put on the show were happy with the turnout. The weekend was lovely weather wise, and I had an opportunity to re-aquaint with lots of the gals (and a few guys) who have taken an interest in quilting. It was a lot of work preparing for the show, as I had only been home for four full days before we had to set up, and my button inventory wasn't as large as I would have liked.
All in all though, it was a great way to spend the weekend. Had to miss the Masters Golf tournament, but was kept up to date on the proceedings by checking on my Blackberry every now and then as well as getting calls from hubby who was very tuned into it. I would love to get out and golf myself...the courses are all open here and the weather is good enough for those of us who like a breezy walk. There are all kinds of reasons why I can't go...among them the fact that I still haven't totally unpacked all my stuff from this winter's journey. One of these days though...

These are a few of the buttons I had photo'd prior to the show. Of course they're gone now but I do know how to make more. I am thinking of a few new themes and if I get a chance to finish some, I may get them up here.

One More Fish to Fry

2010-03-07T07:43:00.000-08:00

After having completed a monumental commission, I finally had a chance to do something just because. I love making fish as they can be whatever I want. This two sided fish is about eight inches in length, so not quite a keeper under normal fish regulations, but still probably heavy enough to be one. I am still going to be adding a few more details to it, backfilling and perhaps adding a few more decorations to the green side, but the initial "lure" has been cast.

One of my relatives once recommended that I make fishing lures, but for the life of me, couldn't bear to make them, knowing that most of them (if they were actually used) would end up in the bottom of some lake somewhere. I do know there was some popularity of polymer made fishing lures some years ago, but that was not one of my exercises.

Today, I'll be watching the Oscars...wondering if one of the few movies I saw in the last 12 months will have any representatives in the winner category. I did see Meryl Streep in the Julie and Julia flick...enjoyed that last summer. Although hubby (who has seen nearly every movie put out in the last three years) thinks that she'll be ousted by Mo'nique. We shall see in a bit.

On the movie note, the other day, I celebrated the completion of my monumentous task and went out on a Frabjous day (?) to see Alice in Wonderland. When we entered the theatre, the 'senior' ticket usher asked if we were going to "Cialis" and I wondered if that should be a buzzline for the movie. Then when I asked him if that was a pun, I realized he was hearing impaired. So the joke was just for one. Perhaps the makers of Cialis can use Johnny Depp for some publicity?

Ivory Boot Book

2010-03-02T07:28:00.000-08:00

Well, being in the wild wild west does make an impact and now that the Olympics are over, I am back to claying, trying to incorporate some of the surroundings into my work. The scenery here is a real potpourri. It's not uncommon to be driving in the city, go over an overpass on the freeway and you see a herd of cattle or a couple of riders on horseback, and then a half mile on, you're back in the midst of strip malls, schools and other urban sites, and minutes later you're awestruck by a pastoral scene of mountains, saguaros and other cacti.
Because the terrain is usually not grass but rocks and bumpy things, wearing boots like this is not uncommon, even if I don't ride horses. The boots being sturdier, prevent the rocks underfoot from digging into my soles. However, with the days warming up, they do get a little warm and so unless I am out on a hike, it's usually sandal time.
The book is filled with watercolor paper and has five signatures. The watercolor paper, thicker than the usual paper I use, makes for a bit of a challenge in folding and cutting, but my edger is working well, and that takes care of that issue. I antiqued it with a mixture of burnt umber and black, making for a little deeper shading than what I normally do. I also incorporated just a hint of coppery-dust in the boot section...hey they may be closing down the Lost Dutchman Park, but there may be some useful metals in them thar hills!

February Work Tearaway Zen Tangle GirL

2010-02-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, I attended one day of the Victoria Hughes' workshop presented by the Arizona Polymer Clay Guild. One of the techniques we spent some time on was tear-away images. Although there were several good toner-based images to choose from, of course I had forgotten the ones I wanted to use. Nevertheless, the techniques learned were the important thing, and getting to touch base with Victoria was a much needed boost to my creative juice reserve. The workshop was refreshing and ran very smoothly with no pressure. Just the way I love classes to be.

Yesterday, I got a chance to practice one of the techniques, and used the image on the left; one I had done several months ago and then made photo copies on our toner-based printer. It's a Picasso-type girl done in fine marker and the dress/shirt was done in a zen-tangle pattern. I did the tear away and the first one I did was so good, except for one spot. Unfortunately, that spot was right in the middle of the face, making it unusable. This one didn't turn out as 'deep' but the image is still quite discernable, particularly when viewed in real time. All the markings are there, they are just a little less distinct as the original. I used a burnt umber acrylic paint to demarkate the image and intend on using this portion in another polymer clay journal/book I am working on. The little turquoise inserts are from some prebaked inlays.

Another unfortunate thing is the quality of this photo image. I had to use my Blackberry to take the photo, as our other digital camera's battery is no longer charged, and the charger is nowhere to be found here in Arizona. We will get another battery charger (or battery) hopefully so future pictures can be clearer.

In Polymer Clay Daily yesterday, the reference was to combining media and even though I don't aspire to be much of a picture-type artist, I do enjoy dabbling in penwork from time to time. I decided that combining that work with some of my polymer work is a nice balance. Isn't that what Zen is about anyway?.

Read all about it!

2010-02-02T07:21:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it's the old gag...what's black and white...blah...But I did have a fun time making this black and white necklace. It's a take-off of the summer style necklace that I made last July (and have made a few similar ones since). It is a challenge to find the right kind of beads to use as spacers because it is fairly long...about 26 inches..but in keeping with the lightweight idea many of the beads are 'empty' or with smaller beads in the openings. That also makes it fun, because the other beads can spin around, allowing various different views. It's also simple to wear. Just pop it over your head and walllaah!

I am looking forward to participating in another Victoria Hughes workshop this weekend in conjunction with the Arizona Polymer Clay Guild. Unfortunately, due to a family commitment (um....couldn't the NFL change the date of the Superbowl) I won't be able to attend her class on hinges as well. I did purchase a number of metal 'findings' that I hope to make into hinges...we'll see how that goes without Tory's incredible input. If one of them does work out, I hope to post it on here.

New Year New Work...sort of

2010-01-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

I know this is similar to the book styles I've made in the past, but I did usde a few different "tools" to make the cover details. Several years ago I picked up a piece of stuff on a Florida Beach and it made its way to my home, sitting for years in a box of other shells that I use on occasion as texturing material in my polymer clay works. In this, I tried to emulate the tube like details of the piece. I don't exactly know what the organism was called, or if it was its shell, casing or whatever, but I thought it looked cool so I attempted to include it as part of the cover interests.

I am still getting accustomed to the technology of using the Blackberry to take photos and them download them to the laptop. Not being accustomed to the photo program that's installed in this thing, I had to sort of feel my way through this entry and hope it works okay. I realize the quality of the photo isn't that great but after all, ya gotta start somewhere.

We are settled in to the warmth of the desert southwest now, and I understand it's just in time. The weather back home must be incredibly cold...all we hear are the windchill factors that make the folks around here shudder. They can't believe that people can actually exist where the temperature never goes above freezing for five or six months. I have to admit that I don't like the cold, but if that's what you're accustomed to, then that's how you live. Its all a matter of adjusting. I guess that's like finding my comfort zone with these new toys that I am still learning about.

Que la lumière soit!

2009-12-13T12:01:00.000-08:00

There IS light at the end of the polymer tunnel...I can almost see it now! I just finished a large number of covers for one order and have another gargantuan one to do, but then, just a few more things and then that should be it!

The theme for this person's condo is distinctly Asian, so in addition to finding a few of my related stamps that I had been saving for JUST THIS OPPORTUNITY, I also made a small cane for "good luck" and attached it to the back of the switchplates. Sort of reminds me of the horseshoes that used to hang over the doors in homes way back when. I don't know if it's calligraphically correct, but I tried. I also included the cane in some of the plug covers. Actually I even worked it into the design on one of them.

The next sets of plates that I have to do are for the rocker type switches, which leaves less room to play/clay so the styles will be much less 'busy' and hopefully I can come up with a suitable design to make them 'interesting'.

It's really strange...I've been making light switch covers for several years now, and sales were usually 'light'... about four or five at each event. Lately however, they've literally been moving at a much faster pace, (I was going to say at the speed of ... um ...light) and I've had to make lots and lots more as samples. I decided to start taking orders for them too, and have set up a form so that folks can just circle the type (i.e. rocker, toggle, plug or whatever) and jot down the color or special information about them. Makes things a WHOLE lot easier. Of course, I make them all from scratch, and never know exactly how they are going to turn out. I just hope the folks that get them are satisfied.

On a sad note, I had to miss my last two batik classes due to other commitments. Well, one was sortof 'changed' by the administrating group without notifying the participants. I was a little miffed to find that out, because I had planned everything around taking part in it, and now it already happened, last Monday, unbeknownst to moi. Oh well, I hope I remember enough from the one class I did get to do. If not, I'll have to do a 'retake' if they offer the session again.

So now, it's time to finish my last orders and then I can clean up around here. Oh yah, I do have all most of my shopping done. Just the wrapping and fol-de-rol stuff is left. At least I don't have to trudge through the malls or battle the exhaust from the vehicles out here in the very cool snap that's befallen us lately. Fortunately there's not a lot of snow to shovel, just ice to negotiate. I dunno what's worse!

If I didn't have to sleep

2009-12-03T20:34:00.000-08:00

If I didn't have to sleep each day, I would be able to post to this blog about all the wonderful and crazy things that have been keeping me so out of the loop these days.

My days have been filled with teaching lots of different classes, everything from helping little kindergarteners tie up their scarves, not to mention zipping up their jackets and figuring out how to get their ski pants on before doing the jacket thing....to...teaching how to curl paper to make les barbes pour Père Noel. That of course took me waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off topic and I got into how my sister used to curl her hair in rags so she could have the ringlets similar to the ones that little girl in the second grade had. And then there were the fantastic fish the cinquieme and sixieme année made. Complete with Generic and specific names that sounded almost believable. Of course all they did was add 'icus' or 'aticus' to the end of the made-up names, but they sounded Latinized. And they GOT it! I mean the idea of having a genus that was a cupful of characteristics and then that very specific trait that made their fish the one species that separated them from all the rest. Sure I helped a few with some badly hip names, but the main thing was that they designed their fish according to a master plan (pretty standard...the fish had to be able to survive) but then they added the 'fun' adaptations, which made their fish fantasticus. Some had top hats, (probably for magic fish) while others had teeth that really cut to the quick and then there were those that were almost real...orangey-striped ones with little red bulbs on the ends of their snouts which really did make them look like circusclownimus piscatorius.

If I hadn't been having so much fun, I could be making and adding videos to this blog which I've taken on my new toy...the blackberry with the incredible array of apps that I am still learning about. The one video I did take was so blasted boring ... it was of ABCDan coming out of one of the many electronics shops saying they didn't have the type of gizzmo I was looking for. (I am not sure I even know what it is>) Anyway, I got the big chippy thing (media card) that lets me save 12 000 pictures on my phone/device or 1 000 tracks of songs....something I know I will never have time to listen to, and those many minutes of videos.

So what is stopping me from making all these fantastical videos of those flying fish or the kids trying to put their ski pants on over their winter parkas?

Yup...the same old thing. Too busy to get it all together.

Maybe Tomorrow...which is when my good friend Friday will get it all done for me.

What goes around...

2009-11-21T17:50:00.000-08:00

Well!! What a busy couple of weeks...and what troubles! Not major things, but just those kinds of things that make you shudder and say Sheesh! About technology..grrrmph, and don't wanna go there.
But all is well and the world of moi is happy again!
I don't want to go into all the gory details, because they're boring to anyone and no one needs to hear more complaints about things that can go wrong with technology.   Let's just say it had a happy ending!

But the real topic of this blog is so much more fun. It's about one of those coincidences and serendipitous occurrences that just makes one wonder ... Is there some MASTER PLAN???

It all began when I made buttons for a button swap years ago, in 2002. As a swap mistress, I hosted this particular swap for a group of polymer clay people in Canada, and .... well, I made buttons. (lots and lots because I was new at making them!) As it would turn out, I also documented the progress of the goings on of the swap (we had participants from all across this great nation!) and as things developed, those 'notes' became the basis of the first article I wrote for Polymer Café Magazine for their very first edition. It was also the first article in the mag, so lots of 'firsts' there!

The article got printed, the button pictures were published and all was okay. Some time later, (I don't recall when), I was doing a purge of some of my polymer clay things, (something I don't do often enough) and buttons were one of the things that were in the 'donate to charity' category. I can't remember where they went, but I recollect that my criteria was that if they were 'strays' with no partners or things that they matched in my other bins, they got donated. And duly dismissed from my memory.

And the years passed. Many of those buttons I made were spread across the country. I kept a few, particularly the ones that appeared in the photographs in the mag, just as 'keepers' to prove (to myself???) that I'd actually been published, and some were kept for sentimental reasons...for want of a better term.

I have since taken many polymer clay classes all over North America, and met lots of polymer artists, and have had loads of fun playing with clay.  And my buttons have gone places too! Tracy K., ne of my friends in Colorado, makes felted purses and she uses my buttons a lot, and her felted purses are incroyable! I know, because I have one.  I love felted articles and naturally, I have an affinity with polymer clay.

See the picture here? Gorgeous felted bag with ... hmmm...polymer button. Soooooooooooooo the story unfolds.

Last week, I was displaying my polymer clay work (buttons included) at the University Women's Club Sale, in the prestigious Gates neighborhood of our city. Whilst I was setting up, I noticed that next to me, the booth being set up had marvelous felted handbags. Jane Frances Wood, of (ya gotta love this handle...) "Get a Grip" handbags that never felt so good ( I still love that!) was setting up in the space next to me. Her felted work is gorgeous. I was like... who's that singer...Lady GAGA?

So we get to talking about stuff... she mentioned she had taken a polymer clay class from Jane someone in Florida...I said...It must be Jane Zhao (I remembered her stuff was also featured in that same first issue of Polymer Café) and Jane Frances (the Felted purse lady) also said she had used a few polymer buttons on her bags. She also mentioned that her neighbor and friend had found an "unusual" button at a thrift store, and thought it was painted. Jane Frances, having had some background in polymer said, au contraire, that it was a polymer clay button. Well, it turns out that she used it. ON the bag pictured above. That was in the booth next to mine at the UWC sale last weekend. I had one look at the back of it, and knew instantly it was one of the ones I had created way back then, as it had a metal shank! And there it hung next to my booth, and within five feet of pictures in the magazine of its fellow buttons that had been made for that buttons swap in 2002!   I hope to meet up with the eventual owner of that particular bag, and perhaps relate this story...

Post Script...both Jane and I had a wonderful sale and the venue was lovely, and the weather was gorgeous, and well...it just doesn't get much better than that!

NOW! You tell me...is it fate. OR WHAT?!?

Back to Front Purse Views

2009-11-07T18:22:00.000-08:00

I got this little purse finished today complete with button trim on the back and a little impromptu felting. The colors look a little strange in this scan but actually it doesn't look all that bad in real life. There are a lot of colors in the knitting, that don't seem to be picked up on the scan.

The closure side is a little less busy. The finished size of the bag is about 7 1/2 inches wide and 6 1/2 inches tall with a handle that's about 14 inches long, making it a drop of approximately 7 inches, depending on how it's carried. With it being knit, it can probably hold a good amount of stuff, but I wouldn't want to keep small things in it as they might poke through. This is one I did not put a lining in...dunno, I still might. But the knit is fairly dense, so unless you really tip it over, it's unlikely that anything would fall out. I actually used two strands of yarn together, and one of them was a variegated brown/green/gold and the other was a frothy mix of what looks like almost cellophane and some little funky ribbon with gold and purple and everything under the sun mixed together. With all that mixing up, I just went with two main colors for the felting and even at that, the brown roving seems to be entirely gobbled up by the startkness of the yellow. That's okay by me though, because the brown is rather a hairy mix and looks like it might serve as a doll's coiffure.

Button closure with impromptu needle felting

On with the show this is it...

2009-11-06T08:18:00.000-08:00

One week to go before my next sale and this morning I have been working all over the place getting stuff ready for my journals, button cards, hangings, and things loosely categorized as polymer clay art. I have so many things 'half way done' it's kind of a shame, but my part time work has been keeping me busy. Even this afternoon I have to go in, but I know it will be enjoyable so I am kind of not too unhappy about that.

On the clay table these days are lots of analogous colours; in particular green, turquoise, cerulian, and shades of purple. The buttons I have been leaning towards lately are all on the rather large size...the aubergine and turquoise one in the upper left measures almost two inches square. Once I get all the clay in those colours worked up I am going to be working on another palette on the other side of the colour wheel. I really don't think about it much, about which side I am working on, but I try to get a good range of all colours of buttons ready before any showing.

Speaking of showing, the event I am in next weekend, actually Friday and Saturday, is the University Women's Club Annual Sale, in the Gates area. I have to be all prepared by Thursday as the set up is that afternoon and I don't want to be schlepping stuff in two hours before the actual thing starts. It's my first time showing in that one, although I have been there as a shopper in years gone by.

I also have been doing a little needle felting and have incorporated that in some of my sari yarn work along with polymer buttons. The bright colours of the roving I am using really add pop to the purses and other pieces. The polymer accents add just the right balance to integrate the variegated colours of the yarn with the intensely bright shades of the wool roving.

What fun this all is!

It's a long long night in November

2009-11-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

Ah yes, the days are getting shorter and the light more dim, so I have moved upstairs from the poorly lit basement 'studio' area that serves me well in the summer. My work space now is the kitchen table, as we rarely eat there and it's spacious enough for most of my projects, just not enough room for all the little "accoutrements" that I occasionally use when doing my work. The light in the morning is great as I have two large east facing windows beaming in natural light and the kitchen light bulb is directly overhead my workspace. I do enjoy having good light to work with and this way don't have to power up my OTT light to see stuff. And if I have to get something done that's really in need of task lighting, I just take it right to the window over the sink.

The fall sales are fast approaching...I've already done two and the next few weeks has every weekend filled with activity. My next event is at the gorgeous old (I almost wrote auld) Ralph Connor House on Westgate and it is sponsored by the University Women's Club. It runs Friday and Saturday, November 13th and 14th, starting both days at 10 am. It's worth the trip just to loll around the interior of the building.

Since my last post, I've done my share of visiting schools. In October I was busy for two weeks at Balmoral Hall while a teacher there was out of the country for her daughter's wedding. That was a wonderful experience, and I got a chance to be with the girls in the art room and studio. They were in the midst of working on various projects...the Senior 3's and 4's were working on painting furniture, using the theme of "Fame" and utilizing the styles of the artist of their choice. It was a multi-layered study, and the work was progressing marvellously, although it's far from complete. I hope to be able to see the finished projects and probably will as the pieces are often displayed in the foyer or atrium in the main building. Because of the vast experiences and backgrounds of the girls, there is a lot of variety in the notions of the theme and the interpretive painting styles range from masters of the high renaissance to more modern artists like Murakami, as they're all very au courant on the latest fashion trends. Several girls have taken it upon themselves to celebrate art forms that originated in the countries of their birth, so this adds another interesting layer to the already inspiring pieces.

After that stint was over in late October, I had to get to work on my own. I finished a number of coffrets and vessels, and about four books that had been begun before my 'regular' day job started. I also have done a few other types of journals that incorporate mixed media...I did a few sketches while I was demoing at the school, so I integrated them into the covers. Those still are in progress, so no pics yet. And I've made a few buttons and am revamping the style of my jewellery pieces as in Zingarella.

Speaking of pics, I got a new "toy" a few weekends ago, and am gradually learning to use it. I love the quality of the pictures that the Blackberry Curve takes, and it saves having to share a camera (or know its whereabouts) to photograph my work. And of course, I love the spontaneity of being able to take a picture whenever, and not having to lug it around like some tourist.

Zingarella, above, is the name I am giving to this series of necklaces. They're inspired by the gypsies in the opera Carmen, one of my most favourite and the one I first learned and saw in London. I've seen it many times since and although it sometimes takes a back seat to some of the other music I enjoy, the gypsy's entrancement always gets me back. Just as Carmen seduces Don José with her words..."le charme opère", the spell of the gypsy is a tough one to overcome.

This necklace however is not meant to be the bijouterie of the seductress Carmen; she is much too serious for it. This would far better suit fellow tarot reading friends, Mercedes or Frasquita. Of course, it doesn't have to be for a gypsy...

New Journal in Polymer Clay

2009-10-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

What a boring title for a blog entry. My main intention here is to showcase the work and if the title is a trifle trite, sorry.

This artist journal measures approximately 4 " by 5 1/4" and is filled with watercolour paper, the real thing. In most of my other journals, I've used good quality parchment or archival type papers and they've been able to hold more pages. The paper in this one is rather heavy and very suitable for 'keeper' work, so not as many pages per signature.

The covers are in a scrumptious blend of golds and near coppers, with many interesting beads to match. Most of the beads are polymer clay, but I've slipped in a few others just for variety. And on this one I purposely left the lengths of cording almost like a fringe at the end of the rows of beads. I figure, if the potential owner doesn't like the length of them, they can be cut off without affecting the stringing, provided they cut below the finishing knots.

I have a couple more covers finished, and the beads are made but I just need to find the time to put needle and thread to them. I've been working full time for the past week, but that will end tomorrow, so I can finish the remainder of the books in time for this weekend. I have a two day event coming up on the weekend (Friday and Saturday) and want to have these books make an appearance there.

I have a lot of new ideas for the covers of my next set of books. I have the clay. I have the papers and the binding materials. Anyone care to guess what I don't have in order to finish all these things? Yep. But after I read the book I just picked up today, I hope to figure out some new ways to save snippets of time, bottle them up and then pour everything out and all will come together as brilliant compositions. For now, I have to be content with doing what I can in the time that's available!

This is the back cover with the beads moved over to the side.
I put the detail near the bottom on this one just to be different.

Picture Pages

2009-10-13T05:26:00.000-07:00

I don't normally post non-polymer work here, but this exerpt is part of my art journal. A few weeks back another blogger (a very famous writer) posted a list of things that would make participants at art sales better "participants". After copying much of it in longhand, ( I hope she will allow it!) I cut and pasted the remainder and did a little marginal writing surrounding that.

I recall reading Mad Magazine as a teenager and loved the 'marginal thinking' cartoons and stuff, so I did a little take on that here.

I sometimes use this 'script' (for want of a better description) on my cards and even include it in some of my polymer work from time to time.
I like it as a border.
Now...off to work!

First Day of Autumn

2009-09-22T06:26:00.000-07:00

Not such a fantastic announcement, but fall is here and with it comes the ends and beginnings of new things. Last Saturday was my last day at the Waterfront Market even though its official end is this Saturday. I really enjoyed the early wake-up calls (5:00 am) although as the weeks progressed, we streamlined a bit and didn't have to get up to set up quite as early. I still had a lot of things to put out, so we were usually one of the first vendors to arrive and more often than not, the last ones to leave. It was a great experience, even though the market wasn't as busy as it could have been. It was the first venture at an outdoor market for that community so with it were the growing pains that any new venture has to experience. Aside from the weather, that couldn't be controlled, there were some great positives. One was the incredible location. The street was closed to traffic and so pedestrians could meander without fear that their little ones (or pups) would be in the way of autos. The park adjacent to the market was lovely. It was picturesque and always clean, with interesting architectural features and groups of steps intermittently placed all the way down to the dock and river's edge. Perhaps it could have done with a bit more flora, but I found the hedges and trees made an interesting contrast with the concrete of the walkway. I am looking forward to being there next year.

The other vendors provided interesting opportunities for conversation when customers were not around. The market is quite varied, with people selling things that they either grew, baked or made and mostly I got a chance to chat up the people who 'made things'. Last Saturday I was situated next to the gal who did Tarot Card Readings.

Now that fall is officially here, it's good-bye 'slumming' and back to serious work. I've already got a pretty full schedule for substitute teaching, and the next 6 weeks will not leave much spare time. In addition to teaching, this week I'm helping hubby get his fish derby organized. It's a big job, with registrations, prize packaging, envelope-stuffing and phone and doorbell answering.

I'm also getting ready for the many arts/crafts events that are scheduled during the next three months. In preparation for those fairs, I'm doing a lot of buttons. These were some of the ones I made yesterday. Unfortunately, their colors don't show up on this scan very well, but they look nice in real time. The one in the center is about an inch wide and nearly two inches in height and I think it would work well as a purse closure or single focal button on a hand knit sweater. Wish I had time to knit or felt even one of those things.

Latest Journal Effort

2009-09-18T05:20:00.000-07:00

Well, this newest attempt at making a journal with a place for a pen might be something to go with. The pen fits in quite nicely, although I did have to add a hole and some quickly made beads to it to keep it from sliding through the holder. I guess that's how sword handles came to be so decorative.

I've cut down on the quantity of clay I've been using (one layer instead of two) to make the rings easier to fit on and help the book close.

All these trials. Wish I was getting paid for 'research and development' lol, like some of the people in the corporate world. Trial and error is good for me, but I find I am making too many errors which puts my patience on trial.

Anyway, as the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day, so I'll just keep pluggin' away until the walls get finished.

Off to work today, so can't stay on this thing too long.