Sunday, October 31, 2010

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




Buy handcrafted gifts this Christmas and support America!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

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

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.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

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

Sunday, October 10, 2010

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.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

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!