I THINK I LOST MY BUTTONS

I didn't really lose them, I mailed them away to a sweet little girl.  My sister's niece makes adorable knit and crocheted hats for babies and adults.  She also makes ear warmers and scarves.  She's going to be opening an Etsy shop in September as soon as she gets her inventory up.  She uses buttons for some of the hats and the scarves and I thought it would be nice if she had some hand made polymer clay buttons.  I wanted to get them to her as fast as possible so I worked furiously to get a couple batches done.

I made a few shank buttons but most of them are textured or molded with two holes.  If you want to make your own buttons and you aren't sure how to do it or how to finish them, Carolyn Good of 2 Good Claymates has a tutorial on Etsy on how to make buttons.   It's an excellent tutorial and she takes you step by step.HERE  I like Carolyn's tutorials because they are precise and clear.  I have been making buttons from polymer clay for 10 years but I bought her tutorial to find out how she finishes her beautiful buttons.

About 8 years ago our guild had a button exchange.  I went a little over board and I made about 200 buttons.

These are from our button exchange and I sold 50 to lady who's daughter made sewn purses.  She really liked the big ones.

The woman I sent the buttons to has a 3 year old baby that was born with a tumor on the back of her neck and has no use of her left arm.  She has to be on oxygen constantly.  My friend had to quit her job to take care of the baby because of all the specialized care the baby requires.  She is the cutest baby you have ever seen.  I hope her shop does really well and I will provide a link when it's up and running.  Here is a link to her facebook page so you can see all the cute things she makes. Yinky Winks.


Have a good Friendship Day, and make sure you remember your friends with a nice email.

GOODBYE IRENE - HERE COMES THE NETTING AND JADE

I have two friends on the east coast and I sent them emails last night to find out if they were ok and both are doing just fine.

One of them is Linda of http://lindasartbarn.blogspot.com/.  She's in Vermont, but if you read her blog and see her beautiful picture, she'll tell you about what she's did to prepare for Irene.  I've always wanted to go to Vermont.  Probably because of the maple syrup and now I can go see Linda.

The other one is Lynda of SC Diva Designs.  Lynda is is one of the most talented woman I know when it comes to polymer clay.  I've purchased many of her tutorials from Etsy and the latest is her Faux Jade Tutorial http://www.etsy.com/listing/68710253/faux-jade-tutorial-6-with-16-color  just click on the link and it will take you right there.  This is one of the most complete tutorials I've ever seen.  Her instructions on finishing are worth the price of tutorial.  Not only that, she gives you  recipes for 16 different colors of jade.  This Friday I woke up with another one of my killer migraines but I decided I wasn't going to let it get me down and I was going to make some faux jade.  After I was done, I realized I had done one of the steps backwards from the way Lynda does it but I like the way these turned out.  I used a different kind of clay than Lynda suggests in her tutorial and I got plaquing but I like it and Lynda did too.

I added more translucent to the 3 on the right because the green lady was kind of mushy when I was working on her.   The bottom one I hand carved the other 3 I used stamps.  You can click on them to see them up close.  I spent a lot of time sanding and buffing them.

WEDDING JEWELRY

The wedding is 3 weeks from yesterday.  I got my shoes in the mail yesterday.  Patent leather sandals with 3 inch heels.

I left the picture small because I have big feet and it wouldn't look so bad.  Anyway, I have to practise walking in these.  I haven't had a 3 inch heel on in 20 years.  Wish me luck.  I have to take the gifts to the altar in the church.  Hope there is a Wayne Crane there to pick me up when I fall.  They really are comfortable, at least they were while I was sitting down :0).  If you have any suggestions about how to walk in heels, now is the time to come forward.

Anyway, I finished the netted necklace and now Mr. Fashionista says it isn't fufu enough for the wedding outfit.  So, I'll wear it for the rehearsal dinner.

Needs a bracelet and earrings to match.  If this headache ever goes away I'll start one.  If anyone has a remedy for migraines, please let me know.  I'm doing a polymer clay class tomorrow with a lady that does energy healing.  She is going to show my husband the pressure points so he can help with my headaches.  I told him that and he gave me one of those funny looks and then poked me in the forehead and said "how's that?).  He still doesn't get it :0).