I LOVE YOU AARON RODGERS, SEE YOU SOON.

The Green Bay Packers have been my favorite football team as long as I can remember.  I live in Arizona but my heart is in Wisconsin.  My brother lives in Florida but he's a Packer fan too and so his daughter and her boys.  She got an official Green Bay Packer shirt for Christmas and she asked me to make her some jewelry to go with it.

I made her these to go with her shirt.

And, I sent her the two sets on the left to go with her shirt.  The ones on the right I made for my friend who is an Arizona Cardinals fan.  Those didn't bring them much luck either.

I just finished this bracelet for her and will send it soon.

I made a discovery, at least for me.  I was looking for something on Amazon and found this stuff called Judi-Kins Fluxe.  It said it was a powder resin and you could bake it at 250 degrees.

This is what the bottle looks like.

Last week at clay guild my friend  Lupe Meter did a great demo using stencils, Pan Pastels, chalks, mica powders, etc.  I wanted to try what she was doing on black clay even though all I had was a little metal stencil.  I learned fast that you have to very careful after you use the Pan Pastels not to touch them.  They smear very easily.  Anyway, I made these earrings and baked them.  I found the bottle of Fluxe in the cabinet and thought I would try it.  I don't know if you can tell there is a resin like finish on these but I sure like it.  I dumped a bunch on each earring (it self levels), put them back in the oven at 250 and 10 minutes later I had a piece of polymer clay with a great looking gloss on the top.  I'm experimenting with more things right now to see how it works.  I did a couple metal bezels with glitter in them.  I just put another coat on and put them back in the oven.  Will update more later.

Gotta go get my boobs squished.  Yearly mammogram.  Hope they warmed the plate this time.

I'M WATCHING YOU AGAIN

I asked everyone who took the face cane class if they still had the instructions to just make the eye.  I can't find mine and neither can the 5 people that I asked.  So, I thought I would look at the pictures from the class and see if I could recreate what we did.  I tend to take a lot of pictures when we have classes or demos.  Now I know why.  So, I got out my clay, AND;

now I have 3 feet of cane because this one will get reduced down to about a 1/4 of an inch in order to use it on my pens.  I wish the eyelashes would have been thicker but I found out that you can use a Sharpie marker to darken and lengthen them and it doesn't come off after it's baked and sanded.  I tried it with one pen and it worked great.

The one on the left is a Kumihimo pen, the two in the middle were made with left over eye and mouth cane.  The second one from the right which is my favorite was made from pieces of a braided cane that I made and the one on the right is from a silver, white and translucent Mokume Gane.  I get these magnets from Stateside Bead Supply.  They are so strong the refrigerator comes out when you pull on it.  I love them for bracelets but  I found they pick up the silverware if you have one on while you are eating.

Had to put pictures of Buster in too.  He runs through the tube and then pushes the ball around.  He cracks me up.  However, he was doing this at 3 in the morning so I had to get up and turn the ball thing over.

Have a great Thanksgiving and don't forget to turn your scales back 10 pounds.

MEMORY BEADS (CONTINUED)

 These are made with white and pearl clay and green alcohol ink.  They also have the crushed rose petals in them.

These are made with pearl clay, the crushed roses and cranberry alcohol ink.

I used some of the pink beads to make a Shambala bracelet.  I promised I would make at least 20 items with the rose petals and I'm trying to make different pieces so each one in the family can take their choice of what they would like.  This has been a challenge.

This is a key chain/purse bling and I used one of the pink rose petal beads with some great white caps but I can't remember where I got them.  I think Michael's but not sure.

This is a polymer clay cross that I had made and it has glitter and resin on it.  Can be a purse bling, key chain or wall hanging.

This silver bezel has white clay with the rose petals in it and resin on the top.  The white cord is made using Kumihimo.  

It's pouring here in Arizona so taking pictures is difficult today.  I usually use natural sun light.  I bought one of those picture taking set ups but the little lights that go on the side are so hot I'm afraid they will cause a fire.

I had to put a picture of Buster on here.  He loves this afghan and on this day he took a four hour nap with his foot sticking out.  He cracks me up.

More to come when the sun comes out.

NEW STROPPEL CANE

In February, Alice Stroppel came up with another new way to use up old canes and it's really great.  If you want to see how she does it, watch this tutorial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwSolMWyo3k

Of course I had to try it.  My first one came out really interesting.  I thought I took a picture but I can't find it.

The Orlando Clay Guild is having a big Clay Fandango and asked if I would donate something so I made a pendant using the new Stroppel cane and used one of Penni Jo Couch's molds.  It's my favorite one actually.  So this is going in the mail today.

Wish I was going to Florida to be with all those fun girls and do clay.

ANOTHER OBSESSION

Did I ever tell you I have my PHD in crafts?  PHD actually means PILE it HIGHER and DEEPER.  I always did crochet and knit and sew.  Then I met a lady who taught me how to hand engrave glass, she got cancer and asked me to take over her teaching and classes so I did.  She was a wonderful lady and left me with a legacy and a lot of engraving tools and glass paint.  Prior to that I had a friend who owned a ceramic store so I had to help her in the store and started teaching ceramics.  When I retired and moved to this Del Webb community there were about 100 different clubs to join and I was overwhelmed.  I joined ceramics, sewing, knitting and crochet club, beading club, golf and bowling.  Then came the polymer clay.  No more ceramics, only knitting and crocheting when I'm watching TV, not much glass engraving, lots of beading but I had to quit most of the clubs because of my migraines, I'm allergic to perfume and some people wouldn't stop wearing it so I couldn't take a chance on getting a migraine more than I already do.  I still do a lot beading, golf and bowling and polymer clay has been my passion now for 10 years.  About 5 years ago I taught myself how to do Kumihimo.  I love doing it with beads.  It's also a passion now.  Well, a friend of mine from Texas started doing pens with Kumihimo so I thought I would try it.

I put my own twist on it by adding beads with a magnet so it can hang on the refrigerator.  I always put a little extra bling on them like the one with the little flip flop.  I think I've done about 200 pens with polymer clay on them but these are really great.  My husband likes them because they are bigger and more comfortable in the hand especially if you have arthritis.  I found some pens on Amazon that work great for this.
You can click on the picture to see them better.

NEW BABIES

We had a surprise the other morning.  There is a tiny nest in the window of our house.  It's a mother hummingbird sitting on eggs.  I went out to get a picture but didn't want to scare her.

If you click on the picture you can see her little nest better.  It's about the size of half of an egg shell.  We don't turn the lights on in the morning before the sun comes up so we don't scare here.  I can't wait to see the babies.  She's so patient it amazes me.

INTERNATIONAL POLYMER CLAY SWAPS

I belong to a facebook group called International Polymer Clay Swaps.  Every time we do a swap the administrator gives you the title of what the swap is and we also do a twinchie (same as an inchie only twice as big).  This time it was Valentines Day and it could be what ever you wanted.  I had already started doing a couple pieces so I'm lucky I got done and got them sent by the time the date came that we had to send them out.  My swap partner was Laurel Steven who lives in California, the last two swap partners live in Canada and it seemed like it took 3 weeks for the packages to get there.  Laurel took a great picture of what I sent her and put it on facebook and told me I could use the picture for my blog.  As you know I put my light box away when we had the flood and after cleaning the dining room I didn't feel like messing it up again so my pictures aren't as nice as this one.  She uses photo shop and I'm too cheap to buy that so I use Picasa.

The top left is my twinchie that I made from a lightning cane that I had.  The middle one is a heart with resin and rub on letters and more resin (Lupe Meter inspired that one).  I put it on a Kumihimo chain and made a keychain/purse bling out of it.  The one on the right is a pendant I made with the same cane (sanded and buffed) and put on a silver neck chain.

These are my pictures.  I'll post Laurel's items as soon as I get them.  Now I have to get working on the things I'm going to send to the Oklahoma Clay Guild for their retreat.  Soon as I get rid of this migraine.  Been two days.  Anyone else out there get them?  What do you do for them?

MISSING IN ACTION

It's been a while since I posted my last blog.  For 3 weeks I felt like my world was on a roller coaster and I couldn't get off.  The roller coaster is still going but not quite as fast.

You all know I'm an animal lover and can't say no when someone asks me to help or donate to an animal organization or a charitable fund for animals.

Two weeks ago there was a benefit to raise money for a lady who rescues small animals.  I told her I would donate some of my handmade items for her silent auction.  I had a deadline and almost didn't make it because of these dam migraines that I get.  I finished the 12 items 2 days before the benefit and the night of the benefit I found out that I was the only one that donated anything.  The whole benefit was not organized very well and I think I've been had but I guess I just learned another lesson.  I also bought $100 worth of tickets and gave them to friends so there would be more people there.  I was told there would be 200 people there and I think there were 50.  I was also told they would be serving wine and beer and told all my friends.  There was none.  My neighbor and I each made 125 cupcakes for the event.  I was going to take the leftovers to a class I was going to the next day and when I went up to get them, they had been packed away by other people who said they were going to be selling them at a luncheon the next day.
So what would you have done?  I just stood there with my mouth open.

Anyway, here are some of the pieces that I donated and I'm glad my neighbors and friends got most of them.

This is a black and white polymer clay cross with a Kumihimo beaded key chain.

Black and white polymer clay cat pendant.

Polymer Clay bead on blue and green turquoise.

Pink and clear crystal stretch bracelet.

Polymer clay cat on silver chain with Swarovski eyes.

Puppy pendant on ribbon.

Polymer clay pendant with an angel cat and a Kumihimo necklace.

These are just a few of the things I donated and I know the person that the benefit was for has done an incredible job of rescuing small animals and I applaud her for the work she's done but next time I will check with the organizers before I spend two weeks going crazy.  

The next day I took a polymer clay class with Sarah Shriver and had to have all my clay conditioned so that was another thing riding the roller coaster with me.  This was a very good class.

Sarah is a wonderful teacher, now I have to spend time putting my canes together.

I was hoping life would calm down a little but it hasn't.  I still walk my friends dogs every morning, I bowl twice a week, golf twice a week, teach beading and Kumihimo and now I'm getting shots to see if they will help with the migraines.  I had two yesterday.  Maybe I should drink more wine. LOL

This is Honey, Beau and Champ on the bottom.  These three have kept me sane, moving and feeling better.  I am now the #1 dog pooper scooper in the neighborhood and wouldn't trade it for a $1,000,000.

Can't forget Buster.  This is the look he gave me when I tried to put his Halloween neck piece on.

OK, I'M DONE WHINING.  

Next time you volunteer for something, check it out big time to make sure there's more than one person organizing and planning an event.

I forgot to mention that at the same time, my sister's mother in law was turning 100 and they were having a big birthday party for her.  She lost the bracelet I had made her 3 years ago and was all upset so I had to make two more and get them in the mail in time for her party.

I guess I wasn't done whining.

POLYMER CLAY AND KUMIHIMO

I need to dust and vacuum and wash floors and clean my office and iron.  It's raining here in Arizona so I think that's a sign that says I should do polymer clay or Kumihimo and let all that other stuff wait till it stops raining.  LOL

A friend of mine from home has a niece who has a severe brain problem and had to have surgery.  They are going to have a benefit for her to raise money to help with the expenses.  I made some Kumihimo bracelets and some polymer items for them to use in the raffle.  The blue and white pendant was a polymer cabochon that I beaded around and did a Kumihimo necklace.

I sent 5 of the red, white and blue bracelets, my friends are very patriotic.

My girl friends birthday was yesterday.  She is the mom of the three dogs that I walk every day.  I made her a purse table holder and made a box with Champ's picture on the top.  I want to steal him but Buster doesn't care too much for him.

I just finished this and put it in my Etsy shop.  The polymer pendant is made from the braided cane I did a few weeks ago.  It's a purse bling/key chain.  The Kumihimo beaded part was done with Megatamas, drops and seed beads.

I think I better iron or my sweetie will run out of shirts.

It's a Wonderful Day

A week ago I was told I had a fractured hip.  Finally got in to see an orthopedic surgeon yesterday and I worship the ground this guy walks on.  He did range of motion tests, spent an hour with us going over my x-rays and told me I didn't have a fracture that I have bursitis in my hip and disc damage which I knew.  So, I got a cortisone shot and am now on a major exercise and stretch program.  My advice here is get a second opinion, don't wait for doctors to call you, keep calling them and if you can find an older doctor, go for it.  I have two doctors in their 70's now and I love both of them.  That's that for that.

 

This is my 9th Kumihimo Americana bracelet and I have orders for 8 more.  I want to do clay but haven't had time to get to it.

 

 

This is the Seaside bracelet I made.  Love these colors and since I have 200,000 megatamas, I better get to work.  LOL

 

I bought the Barb Fajardo tutorial from CraftArtedu. on how to make Mimbres Pendants.  Our clay guild had a 2 day class with her last weekend but I couldn't go because I thought I had a fractured hip and couldn't sit for two days.  I'm hoping to try it this week.  The girls in my guild made some beautiful pieces and said it was a wonderful class and she is a great teacher.

 

 

I was going to finish my afghan the other day and found a surprise inside.  Buster loves afghans but this was really special.  He's been a joy even though he wakes me up at 5 in the morning.

 

I SALUTE YOU AND THANKS FOR EVERYTHING

Some of the women from our beading club are involved with Luke Air Force Base which is about 10 miles from here.  Many organizations try to do charity work for military wive's and children.  Next week there is going to be a luncheon for the wive's of the men who are deployed out of Luke.  There are 150 of them and our beaders have been making bracelets to give to each of the wives.  I've finished 5 so far and hope to get a couple more done before the deadline tomorrow.  Since I have about 200 kilos of red, white and blue beads I thought I would do some Kumihimo bracelets.  I wanted to do some polymer clay red, white and blue stretch bracelets but didn't have time.

 

 

As you can see, there is an odd ball in there.  It's purple, gold and black and has megatamas.

 

If you ever get a chance to do some charity work for the military, it's definitely rewarding.

 

Thank them if you can.  Times are not easy for the families right now.

 

SPIRAL LENTIL BEADS

One thing I really like making are Spiral-Lentil beads.  I like them for focal beads on Kumihimo ropes and on chain necklaces.  A few weeks ago we had a polymer clay cane exchange at our guild.  One of the canes I received was so beautiful I was afraid to cut into it but I had made a spiral bead and didn't like the way it swirled so I covered it with pieces from this cane and I just love the way it turned out.  The cane is called "The Head Dress Cane".  It was made by my friend Pat at http://www.fishwifery.blogspot.com/, you can see her cane there.  I sanded and buffed this bead and now I have to make the necklace for it.

Once I start doing spiral beads it's hard to stop.  It's like making beads on the bead rollers.  Last week I did a demo at our beading club and made a double spliced cane.  Gave a lot of it away but still had enough to make a spiral bead.

I love these colors.  My problem now is whether I want to sell them or not.  I might have to keep them for me.  This might need a fancy Herringbone or Kumihimo.  What do you think?

I had some left over pieces from different things I was doing and made a pendant that I didn't like after it was baked but once I sanded and buffed it, I like it.  Now I have another decision, what do I hang it on?

Once again, I need to take better pictures but you get the idea.

I have another spiral I did but have to sand and buff it before I post it.

Can't blog without a picture of Buster.

Oh the joys of being a kitten mother.