DON'T BUG ME ELEPHANT

A few weeks ago I took 4 classes from Christi Freisen when she was in Tucson.  One of the classes was an elephant class.  She made the cutest elephant in 5 minutes.  This is Christi's pirate elephant.

Well, I finally had some time and decided I wanted an elephant.  I finished my elephant and showed him to my husband before I baked him.  As I was just about to tell him it was an elephant, he said "WOW, that's a scary looking bug".  When I told him it was suppose to be an elephant, all he said was "REALLY".  So this is going to be my "Don't Bug Me Elephant".  Now as I look at him, he needs longer floppier ears and his nose should be smaller.  But, I'm the one who took the Dog Lying Down sculpting class and my husband thought it was Darth Vader.

I put a bar on the back of his head in case someone plans to ride him they have something to hold on to.  Now he just needs bails and a necklace and we will be going out looking for peanuts.

BIG HONKING PANDORA BEADS

Yesterday we had our monthly clay day here.  Rose could only stay for a short time because she had to play grandma.  So the three of us decided to make "polymer clay Pandora beads".  Judy bought us some big eyelets and we proceded to experiment by trying to do it different ways.  I looked at Pandora beads on the internet and they are different sizes but I think we did what I call "Big Honking Beads".

These are Judy's beads after baking but before polishing.  She has a wild imagination and so she makes pretty, colorful, wild beads.

These are Evelyn's Pandora beads.  The ones on the left she made with an old can I gave her the red, yellow, green (etc.) ones on the right were made with a cane she got from one of our guild members.

I made this cane yesterday.  It's called a Lynne cane.

Here are my "Big Honking Pandora Beads" that I made from the cane.  These were in the rock tumbler and then I buffed them.

These I made when the girls were here with a magenta and white cane and I polished these with Fimo gloss.

Here you can see there are 4 beads and 2 bobbins that I filled with clay and put the same cane in.  The beads have little balls on them and that took longer than the beads.

This was fun and I'm going to experiment some more with translucent clay and more canes.

Now I just need a jump rope to hang them on.  LOL

They really aren't that big.  TEE HEE HEE

Ready Or Not Here Come The Bags AND CLAY DAY

Two weeks from Saturday is our craft fair here in Sun City West.  Our beading club will have a booth and we are each allowed 20 items.  The items have to be tagged with our 3 letter code, the number and the cost.  Then we have to write out an inventory list with each item and the item has to go in a bag with our code and list number on it.  I've been stressing about it all week because mine has to be in by Monday.  I've been trying to finish things to put in the fair.  I like making things but I don't like finishing them.  I have 18 pieces done so I have till Monday to do two more.  I'm stressed but here's my stash.

You are asking yourself "How come she's blogging instead of working?"  I wondered that too.   Here are some of the pieces I finished in the last couple days.  Some I want to keep for ME.

This is one of my favorite bracelets.  I love this cane.  It was left over from the necklace I made Rose for Christmas.

These beads were made from a butterfly cane that Judy and I tried one day.  Didn't care for it but I like the beads now.

Not a good picture of the cat but he's really cute.  Covered in Magic Glos.  I made the necklace with pieces of chain that I bought.  Chain, chain, chain, chain of fools.  LOL

This is a golf stroke counter with the butterfly beads, Swarovski flat backs and a cute lady bug sitting on one of the beads.

CLAY DAY

Tomorrow the girls are coming over for clay day.  We are going to try and make Pandora Beads.  There are about 20 other things we wanted to do but may not get to.  As Rose says "If your claying your playing".

If you get a chance, check Desert Rubble's blog.  She has the cutest fish on there.  I want a bunch.

http://lynnsdesertrubble.blogspot.com/  Lynn does the most incredible stuff with clay and powders.  Check out the latest Polymer Cafe to see her tutorial in there.

Here fishy, fishy.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

Angel was buried today and is now with Annie.  If you ever need help or understanding about an animal, check out Rainbows Bridge http://rainbowsbridge.com/.  Take some Puffs with you.  You can send a person who has lost a pet an e-card from there.  It's a virtual memorial home for your pet.

I didn't mean to end on a sad note but animals are part of my life and that's mostly what this blog is for.  Sometimes I think the cats and dogs in my life understand everything I say and some of the people don't.

MEOW

FEATURING JUDY

As you know, my friend Judy has just been published in Polymer Cafe with her little pots.  Judy has only been doing clay for a couple years.  Prior to this, she never wore jewelry and now she carries about 8 pounds around with her. LOL

Last month our clay guild had a pendant swap and Judy made beads out of clay that she made by doing the Sutton Slice.  She had some left over clay and used it to make this incredible necklace.

For someone who never wore jewlery or made jewelry, her pieces are incredible.  She really thinks outside the box.  I have quite a few pieces that Judy made me and I'm still in awe of her use of wire and metal. 



POLYMER CLAY SMOOSHERS

I was really surprised this week.  Last month I was accepted to join the Polymer Clay Smooshers of Artfire.  They are a very talented group of polymer clay artists.  I felt very privileged to have my Artfire store added to their list.  On February 28th they published an article on their blog about me.  It's a really nice article.  You can read it here http://polymerclaysmooshers.blogspot.com/.


GOD LOVE YOU ANGEL

Yesterday I went to say goodbye to Angel.  Sweet little thing was taken on Sunday night.  Shine down on us Angel and tell Annie we said hello.

Bless all you furry little creatures out there who have given us unconditional love. Thank you all.

A VERY VERY SAD DAY

Last December I blogged about a little dog that was found in the desert and brought to my friends who already had two dogs.  They named her Angel and she truly was.  She was 5 pounds of dynamite and love.  She actually stole the hearts of everyone she met.

Sunday she managed to get out without anyone seeing her.  She wasn't gone long when they discovered her missing.  They watched her constantly because she was so spunky and liked to run.  Unfortunately, the search for Angel ended badly.  Her body was found early Monday morning.

Now Angel is with Annie in heaven and there will be another bright star shining down to watch over us.

Goodbye Angel, we all loved you.  You brought a lot of smiles and laughs to our lives the short time you were here.  Rest in peace sweet little girl.