Peace Baby!

My photos are super crappy today, I need to reshoot them but I wanted to throw that peace sign up here tonight, I think it rocks =) And I'll be reshooting and listing tomorrow. I like the new Thor's hammer, too!

The Last Dragon's Tooth

From the sacred dragon that guarded the spring of Ares, this is the last known tooth in existence. It is said that Cadmus of Thebes slew the dragon and stole it's teeth. Upon the planting of the teeth arose an army of ferocious warriors who would do his bidding. Behold, the last Dragon's Tooth

 

PS This is a submission for the Polymer Clay Smooshers Mythology Challenge =)

Thor's Hammer

Thor's Hammer, from Norse Mythology, said to be able to strike down mountains, was a symbol commonly worn as an amulet during the Viking era as a testament to his fierceness and their loyalty.

 Thor's Hammer


Check out my shop for available pendants!

Buying Handmade and the Artisan

 People who buy handmade don't just want to buy handmade, they want to feel good about buying handmade. They want to feel like there is that artisan on the other side who appreciates their business and is worthy of it as well. They want to know something about the artisan and feel they are approachable, warm, and friendly. If you are trying to sell your craft but are hiding from your customers, you are really quite confused I think about what it takes to sell your craft!

Those that have been following me know I haven't been doing this long. But I set out with a goal, I was going to find a way to stay home and still be able to help pay the bills. I'm terribly unqualified as an employee so any job I can get is not going to pay much, the hours are going to be terrible and we both knew we would both be miserable! So I needed to make money from home. Polymer clay is something that I had been wanting to try for a long time, it tugged at me, it was a yearning really. I don't know how I knew this was my shot, but somehow I did. I learned what I could from books from the library and skimmed form the internet, all the while buying tools one at a time using my coupons =)

I decided I would take this seriously and right off starting trying to brand myself with my moniker and banner and my work. I knew my work would evolve though and it is, I hope that never stops! And I started establishing myself online. That was by far the most time consuming and there is still more to do, lots more. But it's starting to work. I also decided I would try to be as upfront, honest, and approachable as I could. I wanted folks to be able to see me on the internet and hoped that would give them confidence in me as an artisan.

I think as a crafter/artist/artisan trying to sell your work, part of the package is a one on one relationship with your customers. If you can't, won't, or don't want to do that, you should probably find something else to do.  I pride myself on making sure I return every email promptly, I worry when I don't get a reply back, because I think maybe they didn't get it and are now frustrated thinking I did not reply back, but I also know not all customers are going to reply back unless they need to, so I try to treat every communication with respect. I try to be active on my FB page and keep it engaged, I love my FB page actually, it's a wonderful public place where anyone can approach me and ask anything or say anything. A lot of folks will let me know how much they loved their purchase o there, that rocks! Blogging I really need to do more lol And I will work on that.

I see so many folks who thought they could just throw something together and expect it sell just because it was there. I think it takes a lot to sell anything these days, especially to sell it online. People who are buying handmade, they're not just buying a product, they're buying the package, the product and the artisan need to be a package. I find it amusing that some crafters will go on about how easily they can sell at crafts shows in person then complain that they can't sell online ....hmmmmmm..... So I'm asking all of you, get out there and meet your customers, return the emails and do it promptly, change the announcement in your shop more frequently, post on your FB page, and yes, even blog =) Let the world see the whole package!

Industrial Steampunk Surrealism?

Is there such a thing? I've pondered just exactly what to call my style before, it's clearly a melding of styles, a hint of steampunk, a dash of industrial, and just enough reality for good measure, does that make it surreal or a cyborg? Wouldn't it be cool to come up with a unique name? Either way, it is clearly unique and surprising and I have to admit I am having fun!

Steampunk Crow Pendant

 The background of steampunk is that it evolved out of cyberpunk in 1970's literature then moved onto everything from art to jewelry to film, to a whole subculture that exists today. The basic theme of steampunk is of an alternate time line that split off (and pretty stuck in)  the late Victorian period/early 1900's. This alternate time line is very much based on the steam engine and early flight but invention was rampant! So you have Victorian era clothing with a sense of aviator style and some pretty awesome sci-fi for good measure.

Steampunk Butterfly Pendant

Steampunk inventions are generally entirely mechanical, not organic in any way. You might imagine that most steampunk paraphernalia are fairly vacant of vibrant color. There is a clear difference between what I'm making and the traditional steampunk aesthetic so I've been sitting back waiting to be called out by some serious steampunkers about me calling my stuff steampunk, and I couldn't argue with them.

Steampunk Hummingbird Pendant

Recently I had my first Daily Deviation on DeviantArt and was able to interact with a lot of folks about my pieces. One comment was that it looked more like a "mechanical creature rather than a creature made of mechanics". Yes! That's the advantage of working with polymer clay,  I do get to add a sense of reality to it. It's not all mechanics. Another realization is that's why I get to add color and it works, because that piece of a real critter is there.

Steampunk Gingerbread Dude

I got  a lot of comments about how they had never thought those colors belonged or would work in steampunk but it worked with mine. Hundreds of comments, not a single call out, I thought that rocked! One of the big Steampunk Facebook pages even posted my shop to their wall. It was like a stamp of approval that what I was doing was OK with the steampunkers, what a relief!

So someone may come along at some point and try to put a name to what I'm doing, and that's fine, I'll call it what ever I want though, and I'm gonna roll with it!

Don't forget to look for steampunk jewelry and other stuff in my online shop!

Resistance is Futile.....

You cannot help but love polymer clay! This post is about a friend of mine who simply couldn't resist and now loves polymer clay, too. Because it's futile, this stuff rocks. And the sheer variety of things that can be made is amazing. So I'd like to showcase my friend Chris, goldfinch4 on Cubits, who thought she had enough hobbies but realized she was wrong ;P It was barely over 6 months ago that I first picked up polymer clay and started inspiring my friend and now here she is, setting out to sell her polymer clay critters! I think she is so creative and talented, hopefully I can direct some traffic to her store on Cubits, Garden Buddies where you can see all her polymer clay creations, that are lovingly named I might add. While there you might also check out her intarsia store, Timber Treasures, one of those other hobbies she has lol

Clementine

 Delphia

Rusty

Buy handcrafted gifts this Christmas and support America!

The Bees and....the Butterflies?

Well, I made birds last time, right? I'd been sitting on the bee and butterfly for a bit but finally made them. I've got to admit I was iffy on the bee, but once I started working on the design, I knew it was going to be good and it is, I LOVE the bee, I hope you all do, too. I like the butterflies, too, of course :o) Also had a request for a bat that didn't turn out too bad either. I ended up wishing I'd made him a bit more somber, but he's OK.

Purple Steampunk Butterfly Pendant

 

Blue Steampunk Butterfly Pendant

 Steampunk Bee Pendant

Click to go to my butterfly gallery.

Steampunk Bat Pendant

I added dragon's eyes and wings to my listings this week for anyone looking for them. I picked up some magnetic stamps to try on polymer clay this last week. Takes me forever to get around to trying new things though, so it probably won't be anytime soon that I try them, but they look fun! Anyone who has used these please pop in tell me what you thought.

 

Click to check out the butterflies currently in my shop!

Challenge yourself!

I have never really been one push myself, to strive for things I thought would be difficult, but you know what? All you can do is try, you really might surprise yourself. I am surprising myself! Some of you may have seen me say this, but I have not been doing this for long. I started playing in the clay in Spring of 2010. My first sculpting piece was in oil based clay...it is still not finished (I got distracted lol). I really think my woodworking gave me an edge with working in polymer clay. I designed pieces that were made by building different parts to make the whole, a kind of layering, just like we do with polymer clay.

But I was never a carver! or a sculptor. I always thought that as way too much work, way too difficult. I had a recent for a steampunk crow though and to do it justice I was going to need to step out of my comfort zone! I put it off for a few weeks thinking about how to do. I did finally sit down and make it and it turned out great. It is really an awesome thing to push and challenge yourself and see your skill grow as a result. Or to gain such confidence in your abilities. I highly recommend it ;P

Some more new things ...an utterly awesome steampunk wing

click here to see the wings available in my shop!

an octopus cabochon with a lizard's eye

Find eye pendants in my shop!

 A crow skull cabochon, another request, waiting to hear if they want it or not

steampunk hummingbird

check out the hummingbirds I've made in my gallery by clicking here.

and one more wing, a very industrial steampunk wing.

For more cool wings, click here for my gallery photos

Are You An Animal Lover, too?

I find the people I like most and click with best are animal lovers. I am always amazed to find that someone I really enjoy talking to has a household full of pets that are all awesomely taken care of, and yet I shouldn't be surprised, it happens all the time and I love that! I have about 40 lovebirds, a dog, a cat, and currently 4 baby tortoises, those are stats that have changed dramatically over the years and will change again soon, or is already changing- it is breeding season in the aviary!

Boozer, my precious pooch, has excelled in the fine art of sniffing...in, um, private places. It is what it is. He's an awesome dog. But I always know the animal lovers from those that aren't when they enter my home! Oh, and when someone enters and thinks it proper training behavior to bring their knee up into my dog's chest, believe me, I realize why I have never really clicked with this person. I love that darned dog so much, never thought I would love a dog so much, he is the sweetest little guy.

My cat would love to go in the aviary. Silly, silly, cat, not for the birds mind you, but to follow me lol I feel like the pied piper sometimes the way he and the dog have to follow me around. My cat, Peso, was traumatized early on by mockingbirds,  now I hate mockingbirds to the center of my being and they are not welcome! They were nesting somewhere out front and would swoop down and peck him when he would be out there. It was a really long time before he was comfortable in the front yard again. So I don't know if it was that or if it has to do with him being a boy (female cats are always the serious hunters), but he is not into the lovebirds. I've had a baby land right in front of his face before, woke him up and boy did he give me a nasty look! This summer I had a family of towhees in the backyard...he'd be sleeping between the aviary and a large cage of birds off to the side, and the 3 towhees would be pecking the ground right in front of him...he'd eventually get up because they were noisy and interrupting his naptime....I love that cat.

of Dragon Tails and Wings!...and other things

I have not viewed myself as one who was going to be doing a lot of actual sculpting and was in awe of what I saw others doing, but I am growing in my skill or maybe just getting more comfortable with it, I don't know, but I see changes in my work and I like it! From simple hearts to bonafide sculpted creations :)

This dragon wing pendant is a total prototype and I am in awe of how good it came out. One thing I have learned is you just to be brave with polymer clay, don't be afraid to make something awesome!

 This Silver wing turned out so cool!

  

The dragon tails didn't come out  too bad either ;)

This awesome medieval Amulet, I love this!

And a smaller one

I made 4 new fairy door pendants, too, they are very cool as well! Thanks for looking :)

Check out my gallery for more cool pics  and browse my shop to see what's available!

Photographing Your Work!

What's the point in making something awesome if you can't really show it off in a photo! Right? Now, I'm no pro and it was a VERY short time ago that my photos were considerably bad...I didn't know they were bad of course lol I thought they were OK :) But looking back, the difference is amazing between my new and old photos. If you're already taking great photos and are happy with the results, turn around, don't go farther, this is not for you! This is for the beginner who needs help and wants help and doesn't have a ton of $ for professional equipment. I use a lightbox, yes, but it is crude....and it was cheap! My set up is not perfect and hopefully the day will come when I have better stuff to work with, but I'm getting the job done I think.

The Lightbox
Like I said...it is crude. It's a box that I've removed the top and front panels from. I lined the interior walls with the matte side of some poster board (matte surfaces reflect more light!) and stretched a cheap cotton curtain across the top. The curtain diffuses the light (avoids a lot of the shine!) that will come down from the top, it was something I had in the house and would never use again, I bet you can find something similar. A real light box would have diffusing sides as well and light coming in from all directions, for someone who was inclined that could be done with a homemade PVC frame...I'm just sayin' :) I'll probably do that soon lol Still gotta make some nice covers for my tables :(

I use 3 lights, all lights that I already had, all florescent. I put them as close to the curtain as I can so I get as much light as possible from them. 

Now you need props!
I sponged some paint onto a piece of poster board to use as my background, although I see now that the paint doesn't really show up. I position it so I don't have any edge of the box in my photos, you only see that piece of poster board. And you might want something to display you item on, that's a personal choice. If you do and you also pose for those one or two interesting shots, plan on spending some time playing with angles. Every item will have an angle it looks best from, so you have to find it.

The Camera
My camera is not expensive! And it has a big scratch on the lens to boot, I actually have to shoot around that! I use mostly auto settings on my camera. The exception being the white balance and exposure. I reset my white balance every time I take pics. If you notice your color is not quite right, get out your manual, you need to set your white balance manually, you will not be disappointed. The exposure, this is something I am really still playing with, I still have to edit my pics on the computer for that :( It is so easy when you're taking the pic to think the lighting is good, but in truth, it rarely is. Just play around with it, take the same pic with different levels of exposure then look at them on your computer, see which one really makes the piece pop....and which ones just look kind of dull. If you find you have to adjust exposure on your computer, be careful not to overdue that and try adding some contrast at the same time.

These are the things that really transformed my pics. One thing I was really stuck on using was a dark background. In my opinion it helped make the pieces pop because my pieces were dark....wrong! Wrong, wrong, wrong. A lighter background and good lighting are what make my new photos really pop. That and some totally awesome posing lol I hope this helps just one person. I know it was terribly frustrating for me to get from there to here, and time consuming! But it was worth it and will be for you, too.

Where did the summer go?

So, super long time, no blog. I think if someone had the gumption I could easily be diagnosed as having ADD. Time management is not my thing and it takes a great deal of focus for me to get anything done these days! And, oh, if it isn't on the 'list'...it may or may not get attention. I have cleared some things from my plate, though. When I have large tasks on my plate, that really will stall anything getting done, I guess I feel overwhelmed. And clearing some thigns from the plate will always 'free' me to do things I want! Which is play in the clay these days :)

I did manage to make some new things, you may have seen them in my online shop or on flickr, but here are some favorites :) I've made a few dragon's eye's now....and sold a few, too, which rocks! And have made quite a few dragonflies...and sold a few of those, too. Looking at the pics, most of these are sold so that rocks :)

So I need to get to work and make some more super cool things. Need to stay focused and really churn some work out. There is a well advertised street fair (Macfest) every Saturday from fall to spring in downtown Mesa that I hope to sell at....that I hope to sell a lot at lol I've stopped doing the 'free' one that was one friday a month after realizing the city wasn't really advertising the craft vendors, hence the free. People didn't even realize we were there most of the time and were not showing up wanting to shop! I did so well my first time there, fluke I guess. I think this starts in 2 weeks and I need new things!

So, I have the aviary clean, bird toys made, yard trimmed and weeded, it's already time to weed and trim yet again :( sigh, But I need to make some nice table covers (not my forte) and make new things to sell. At least the birds are taken care of, it's breeding season and little ones will be hatching soon! Am still planning an article on taking pics....maybe this week, we'll see. Anyways, it was good to pop in and say something :o) Thanks for visiting!

Yea, it's a rainy day! Hoping we get more than a  1/8" which is what we had last week while the rest of the valley had sheets of rain. Am done with the census, sigh. It was $, definitely, but I find I am unable to focus on too many things at once. So with the taking care of the lovebirds, the house, and the census, I haven't been able to do much in the clay :( In fact, nothing.

I was able to get the photo taking thing nailed down, so that was a huge accomplishment for me. I find I now have a scratch on my camera lens, which really stinks, but am trying to work around it. Am planning to do a post to help others take better photos, well, to offer what I've done lol Am far from an expert but maybe it will help someone. It will be a couple of weeks in the coming though.

But the census is done now and I can focus, which is good because the Dog Days of Summer is coming up in 2 weeks in Downtown Mesa. It's their biggest night of the year, for some reason folks will come out in the heat to bring their dogs out when they wouldn't otherwise? My dog would never crack it, he'd be overheated :( So he'll be at home, but I'll be there, hopefully with some new things!

Had an idea at the last 2nd Friday Night Out in Mesa for a series of bizarre pendants and was playing around with glass gems yesterday to make part of it. Pulled out my 3 color set of alcohol inks for the first time and I am in love. Thankyou to all those before me that have already tried all these things :) So here's a sampling of my new experiements. In the future I want to get some of Lisa Pavelka's UV curing gloss to use instead of the glass gems, but I think these turned out pretty cool. Of course now I need MORE colors of ink!

I awoke this morning to find Tonja Lenderman Of Tonja's Treasure's had featured me on her Blog! This is very exciting for me as I have been following this blog for a bit now and feel quite honored by this. For those of you that have followed her blog, you are missing out, she is always featuring new and exciting tools, supplies, and artists. I know I have much to learn and she helps! In addition to being a talented polymer clay artist she is also a great source for tutorials. Her work and tutorials can all be found in her Shop And don't forget to check her out on Facebook!

Planning a big clayday today...hopefully. Tomorrow I am thinking I'll be picking up some baby lovebirds from a friend who has to move and cannot take them all :( Speaking of which, I need to go take care of my own! Have a great day everyone and pray fro rain for me!

Please check out my shop for some really interesting gifts and jewelry!

I am taking better photos!

After using dark backgrounds and unprofessional looking backgrounds, messing around with lights and figuring out how to diffuse light to prevent glare, I just might have this whole photo taking thing conquered!

What I Learned Last Week?

It's all about the photos, it's all about the photos, it's all about the photos. Sigh. Give me  a big yellout if you're on Etsy and still working on getting those fantastic pics that really get you noticed. I thought I was taking nice pics, I wasn't. This has never been my area of any amount of expertise. I just sprouted a yellow orchid vine seed, something supposedly difficult to do, but I can't take good pics, sigh.

I think I've got it now though. No, really, I think so. I made some backgrounds to use instead of the denim I was trying, I had some feedback that it did not look very professional, and from that point of view, I'd have to agree, it did not. I was trying to brand myself and the denim was part of that.

So I have my backgrounds and am taking better pics, I think....waiting on my battery to recharge, argh!

Have been working the census so no new things to show off, I wish I did. It's hard to even think about being creative when you're so busy though. It won't last for too long though.

We are babysitting my step son's dog for 2 weeks while he's off playing Army for 2 weeks. it took a couple of days for the 2 dogs to settle in, but they're both pooped already and we're only a couple days in :o) I almost had to tell my step son that I killed his dog after he went after my cat 2 nights ago, that wouldn't have gone over so great, luckily Peso is fine and so is the dog.

What did I learn besides some photography stuff? I dunno, I feel really scattered right now. I apparently learned how to sprout yellow orchid vine seeds lol Um, yeah, not thinking of anything else. That's been my existence for the last week. Daily chores, pool time (AZ in summer, it's a must),  and census. Goal this week, photos! Then edit my Etsy shop, that is not going to be fun.

The photo is from a group of pics I took last week, some were good, some were bad, this one's Ok I think?

Have a great week!

Rory is at it again!

Link Partiers......add up to 3 items you are selling on this Link Party From Tools Are For Women Too, Don't forget to follow and promote!

What I learned Last Week

OK, so the premise behind doing this post weekly was that surely I WOULD learn something new.....and I have no doubt I did, but last week was a blurr. I have done some Link Love already but started doing a couple of Link Parties last week and along the way met up with some very generous folks. Runway Crochet, who was very generous when I posted about a link party on her FB page, it was brazen of me and she was so great, thank you! She is very busy on FB and has been very active with Link Love for those of you not familiar with her. So please go check out her work!

And what was I posting so brazenly on another's FB page? A Link Party of course! Not your ordinary link party though, a brand new concept of it. Normally you wouldn't be allowed to post and link to items you are selling in a link party, but this one is specifically for your Etsy items! And it was it's virgin outing, too. This comes from Rory at Tools Are For Women Too and I understand it has been a success and will be continued weekly. You can link up to 3 items you are selling but you also have to promote it as well, so some of you may have seen it on my blog the day it started. I believe it was running thru til today so you can still get in on this week's if you like.

Obviously this was a self promotion week! I discovered kaboodle and stumbleupon, keen resources for anyone selling on Etsy, glad I discovered it fairly early. And I'm pretty steeped that I can't add items to Google shopping.

I really, really, really, meant to get outside and cleanup a strip of the yard by the street but didn't, too hot. Separated out some lovebirds that I thought were female now I think I was wrong, argh. Made spreadsheet of items I've made along with ones that have sold, for how much, and where. And did another 4 hour street show friday night. It wasn't great but I had several repeat customers which was so cool and I had several folks who were in a hurry ask if I would be back. I wasn't planning got do more of these til it cooled down but now I think it will be a good idea so I think it will. And I think being there for these will give me a priority for the organizer come cooler weather, and that will be good to have!

I'm trying to remember where the rest of the week went and it's just not there. it's like when you're driving some where and you get there, but can't recall HOW you got there? Only not so scary lol

So many things to do so little time! This week I need to make a lot of cool things, well, in the next 4 weeks I guess, but my inventory is woefully lacking at the moment and I need add more to the Etsy shop, too. I'm planning to sponsor my first giveaway on Rory's blog and I am making something new for that as well. On top of that I am working the census starting yesterday! Money is money if you know what I mean :) My time management has been getting better of late but it will be getting tested! I also need to get on the ball with some things to do with the lovebirds and help dear hubby with some of his stuff, sigh.

Oh, and I'm following 4 local polymer clay artists' blogs this week!
http://bleekreations.blogspot.com/
http://miramecreations.blogspot.com/
http://itsallaboutcreating.blogspot.com/
http://fishwifery.blogspot.com/

They belong to the Arizona Polymer Clay Guild which I cannot wait to join when I have the time, sounds like a lot of fun.

And now for a gratuitous photo, how about lovebirds this time? I wasn't planning on handraising babies for awhile but little fella got kicked out of the nest by a nervous mum, there were 2 others but I didn't get to them in time :( Pardon the poop! that's a shoulder activity pad in the background.