ATOMIC AWESOMENESS!!!!

THIS PAST WEEKEND, THE TUNES PLAYED, THE DOLLARS EXCHANGED HANDS AND THE PEOPLE ROCKED!  ALL THIS AND MORE, AT THE ATOMIC HOLIDAY BAZAAR IN SARASOTA.

THIS WAS MY FIRST YEAR AT ATOMIC AND I WAS NOT DISSAPPOINTED!







CHECK OUT A FEW PHOTOS AND A KUDOS TO SOMEONE WHOSE HANDMADE FABRIC I ADORE BUT COULD NEVER AFFORD!  BUT SHE IS AWESOME AND IT IS AWESOME AND DID I SAY IT WAS AWESOME! 

Pamela Marwede  I was really too busy to shop!  But your stuff is awesome!





Here are a few pics of some of the items from my shop at the Atomic.  And I wish I had taken pics of the others I really enjoyed, but I was so busy working, not much photo taking time. 

KUDOS TO ALL!  CHECK OUT THE PICTURES ON FLICKR

And a FUN TIME was had by all......

Fall is here and the holidays are fast approaching!  What a nice time to start thinging about holiday food and fun.  If you are an entertainer then you might like the tutorial here on Pumpkin Napkin Rings.  I will have NO TIME for entertaining or blogs for a while...since I am devoting my spare time these days gearing up for the big SHOW!  You are all invited...it will be an awesome event with so many wonderful artists and crafters and just in time for those last minute gifts for Christmas.

The Atomic Holiday Bazaar in Sarasota, Florida will be held on December 10 and 11, 2011.  It's been so much fun!  I'm creating INVENTORY!  Wow...I am so used to making one of something and then trying something else!  Thinking about a collection of items that represents me has been tough and time consuming!  In the midst of that,  I've also had some requests for customized bottle stoppers and bottle openers...when they are finished I promise to post!

This week,  I had a great time teaching a Pumpkin Napkin Ring class at the Laughing Ladies.  Cathy is awesome to allow me to use her shop Laughing Ladies to play with clay!  She has several friends, who wanted napkin rings for the holidays so I came up with something and we had a blast!  Food, wine, cookies...what...no CHOCOLATE???   Oh...did somebody mention clay!  We had a LOT of clay!

Here are my examples for the class:  Don't know how I came up with this, but I certainly had pumpkins running through my brain.

Don't know what that little blob is there...but the whirly gig is kind cute, huh????

I experimented a while and discovered that the trick to success is baking the basic ring first, then adding a second layer, making sure that the seams are never lined up...this will add stability to your ring and prevent then seams from popping apart.

Make sure you bake long enough for the added thickness of the pumpkin!  I use Premo clay and bake twice, at least 45 minutes each time.  Have fun!

Hope you can see the pics good enough to get the idea.

Here are some beautiful napkin rings made by Paulette, Claudia, Cathy, Deb and Marinda!  You ladies are awesome and I had such a great time!  Thanks for sharing the evening with me and Pat!  You are awesome, friend.  I couldn't have done it without you!  Well, maybe I could, but we would all still be there putting stems on pumpkins...and pumpkins and pumpkins!

Just finished some new little trinkets. These are tiny, about two inches high at the most, colored with alcohol inks and hand drawn. I love the aged old world colors. Great to use as magnets, charms, scrapbook accessories etc. Hope you enjoy!

Just fixed my Etsy shop! I have not been using it for quite some time, as the name has been wrong.  Now that Etsy has allowed a one time shop name change, I was able to get the name spelled correctly.  I just  posted one of my cards there. Will spend some more time in the next few days, listing some other items.
I'm going to be cleaning out my studio and hope to be posting a bunch of things to pass along!   A few items are already on my Artfire Shop.  Keep checking back to see new items and email me if you are interested.  I have an entire stash of vintage beads and findings that belonged to my mom. Much of it is in really good  shape and just looking for a new home! 

I'm still working on getting ready for the Atomic Holiday Bazaar.  It's coming up in December.  Be sure to mark the dates and plan to attend. 

Tried to post a picture of the tutorial for the pumpkin and candy corn, but I'm having trouble doing that.  It's a pdf file and I'm so new to blogging that I need more time to figure it out.  In the meantime, I got these from Pat Stull, my friend and "clay mate".  I just photgraphed the hand out and here they are.  Not the best, but you can maybe get the idea.   You can see more of my friend Pat Stull's polymer jewelry on her Etsy Site.  Have fun!

Here is a look at a few of my newest polymer greeting cards. I've been working on making some cards that combine my love of doodling and polymer. If you stop by, let me know what you think.

On another note, my friend Pat and I are teaching another class at Breezy's tomorrow...this time, we are in the mood for Halloween and Fall...with pumpkins, candy corn and acorns. Will post a picture tutorial here tomorrow!

 My entry in the Sari Ribbon Party Blog Hop!

I've had my ribbon in the drawer for some time. When I would open the drawer, it would whisper to me..."use me....use me".  I could hear it calling even after I shut the drawer.  I would take it out, hold it, admire it, then tuck it away..."no, I'm saving you for something special".  I thought it was soooo beautiful.  Then I happened across the Sari Ribbon Party Blog Hop and inspiration came crashing into my brain. I thought of my little bundle of ribbon and just wanted to make something!  I was in love with the color of this...from red, to purple to gold.   So I opened the drawer and she screamed at me..."USE ME NOW, I'm a sari ribbon"  and so I did.

It's never been my style to crash a party...I usually sit quietly and wait for an invitation and then ask what I can bring, or who I can bring, but that day I just went full steam ahead...because the ribbon told me too, it demanded attention and the ribbon really wanted to go to a party.  So, I grabbed the ribbon and my clay and got to work....wow....a ribbon blog hop!!!  that's cool!!!  Not to mention, I've been totally inspirationless when it comes to jewelry, but somehow when I opened the drawer and the ribbon spoke, well....how can you refuse a talking ribbon....really!
Now I wanted to go to the blog hop too! In fact, I've been neglecting the blog and thought the blog might enjoy the party also.

 I wanted to be in a room full of artists with all those pretty ribbons..all the luscious jewel colors, I imagined myself with ribbons streaming through my hair like Medussa's snakes, all flowing and blowing in the wind...but beautiful..you know.   I stayed up til midnight, stamping, gilding, cutting, tying, and before long, I had a cute little ribbon necklace...I put it aside and went to bed. 

Next morning I woke up and thought, hmmm, this is not really finished...I think I'd like to add some more ribbon to my necklace, I think I'll go to the store and buy some. (I couldn't send off to B'Sue for it, as there was not enough time...which is the story of my life, but I digress.

 I took my project along and went off on a quest to find some ribbon.  From store to store, I asked for Sari Ribbon...and no Sari Ribbon.  How can there be no Sari Ribbon?  If there is a blog about it, it has to exist.

I'm not really a ribbon person, did I tell you that?  I'm sure you can all tell by now.  Neither is half of my little town, no one and I mean no one knew what sari ribbon was...... the last place I stopped (why is it always the last place and not the first) I was stearnly informed by the little grey haired lady...in a much too condescending tone..."dearie...that's NOT Sari Ribbon.  I rushed home and thought what am I to do...it's Thursday night and the party starts at midnight, I looked at the ribbon crying....why didn't you tell me?

I've just become a party crasher!  I've barged into a room with some awesome jewelry artists, none of whom I know and crashed their party and embarassed myself."

The ribbon just sat there a while and finally she spoke..(as if a ribbon could talk..geeze.). She seemed rather mishievious too me... But I did tell you...you were so excited to use me, and I wanted to get out of that drawer, and you were so excited...and I did say....USE ME...I'M JUST A SORRY RIBBON....and she laughed.  Hope you all are laughing too. 

I will visit you all and say hello and enjoy looking at all your beautiful projects.  At least I got out of my jewelry making slump and mixed ribbon and my polymer clay together for something frivolous and fun and hopefully I will make a few friends too!

The beads are a mixture of white and translucent polymer clay, stamped with Lisa Pavelka stamps, baked and then colored with Adirondak alcohol inks.  The focal bead is an old thread spool covered with a layer of stamped antique gold Premo clay that was accented with bronze Pearl Ex powder and then baked.  the only findings used were the pins inserted into some the clay charms and a few base metal gold spacers.  I used knots to tie it all together.  It slips over the head and is approximately 20" to the end of the tassles.  And the truth is....I really didn't know this was not Sari ribbon until today...the rest of it is pure fiction (just so you know...ribbons can't talk, they only only sing in the shower...or something like that).
I had a lot of fun making my necklace!  And looking at everyone else's will be so much fun.  Leave a comment if you stop by.  Let's party!!

Sari Ribbon Party Blog Hop Participants

 Vickie Wills
http://www.jewelrybyvee.blogspot.com/

Susan Kennedy
http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Michelle Mach
http://www.michellemach.com/blog/


Michelle Lee Hardy
http://fireflyvisions.blogspot.com/

Ruth Crawford
http://www.home-with-ruth.blogspot.com


Hilary Frye, FryeStyle
http://fryestyle.blogspot.com/


Diana P.
http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com

Brenda Sue Lansdowne, B'sue Boutiques
http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com/

Elizabeth Owens-Dwy
http://www.clarityofpurplesage.blogspot.com

Connie Rios-Relyea
http://www.JewelsDesignsCreativeCorner.wordpress.com/

Jennifer Justman
http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/

Deb Davis
http://www.naturaltreasuresbydeb.blogspot.com

Beanzie
http://www.thevintageheartcharmbracelets.com/the-vintage-heart-charm-b/

Cathie Carroll
http://www.cathiecarroll.com/

Rosemary Cowit
http://www.gemrosedesigns.blogspot.com/

Georgene Lockwood
http://sylvanavintagedesigns.wordpress.com/

Cathy Buckley
http://cathybuckleycatsmeow.blogspot.com

Harry Wood
http://www.oscarcrow.blogspot.com

Sonya Stille
http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com

Mary Deis
http://mdeis.blogspot.com/

Heather Goldsmith
http://asibeadit.blogspot.com/

Susan Rouleau
http://mountainshadowstudio.blogspot.com

Terry Matusyk
http://pinkchapeau.wordpress.com

Pam Chesbro
http://afortunatesoul.blogspot.com/

Mary Shannon Hicks
http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/

Janice Everett
http://JLynnJewels.blogspot.com

Davinia
http://www.daviniadesign.com

Kristina Johansson, Maneki
http://wildrosesandblackberries.blogspot.com

Kris Binsfeld
http://www.cherishdesigns.wordpress.com


Mandy
http://www.beadsforbrains.blogspot.com

Charlene
http://thebeaddreamer.com/blog/

Catherine Jeltes
http://www.galleryzooart.com

Jackie
http://kydojewellery.blogspot.com/

Sharon Palac
http://www.sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com

Deb Beechy
http://beetique56.blogspot.com/

Jean Yates
http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/

Patrice Pfeiffer
http://treeseatreasures.blogspot.com/

Dorcas Midkiff
http://wondrousstrangedesigns.blogspot.com/

Lynn Perry Bennett
http://designsbylynnea.blogspot.com

Linzi Alford
http://www.magpieintheskyspoilheaptales.blogspot.com

Deb
http://greenshoot.blogspot.com/

Cynthia Wainscott
http://www.exoticperujewelry.blogspot.com

Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp

http://skyejewels.blogspot.com

Alice Craddick

http://alicesbeadsandbaubles.blogspot.com/

B'sue Boutiques Creative Group

http://www.flickr.com/groups/bsueboutiques/
If you couldn't play this time, no worries. Please come on over on Friday and cruise the blogs and see all the pretty jewelry!

Have you joined B'sue Boutiques Creative Group? If you didn't get in on the hop but would like to post a sari ribbon creation over there, join up and go ahead. PARTICIPANTS: if you're members of the Group, please feel free to post your photos at the Creative Group as well as your blogs, as that way we'll have an album of sari crafted jewelry.

On the Horizon......

I love this time of year...seasons changing and the holidays are just around the corner...I'm working on some "harvest time" new items and then on the Christmas ornaments....all of this plus I've been veryt busy getting ready for  Atomic Holiday Bazaar .  This is a really cool independent crafters show in Sarasota, Fl.  It's December the 10th and 11th.  I've gone two years as a shopper and this year decided to submit my little creations for approval.  I was greatly pleased when I got the news that I was picked to participate in the show.  This will be my first real event and it is taking me 6 months to prepare. I will have lots of one of a kind items including jewelry, cards, wine bottle stoppers, treasure boxes and critters.  Be sure to watch here for pictures and updates! 

It seems that when things happen, they all happen at once.  I recently added some new items to theWhite Rabbit Antique and Collectibles store and have been fortunate to have my wine bottle stoppers at the Laughing Ladies.  Both stores are in Brandon, Florida and provide a wonderful shopping experience if you are looking for an unusual gift for someone.

I did a few Halloween Bottle Stoppers and they are hits!  Don't worry, if you are not a wine drinker, these bottle stoppers come with a little candy jar that you can place them on as well as a wine bottle.

Last but not least, my friend Pat and I did our first "Introduction to Polymer Clay Class"  at  Breezys Beads.  This is my favorite bead store!  They have a nice room in the back and we had three people for the class and everyone left with a pendant and earrings.We made some new friends and are going to try another class next week at Breezy's, this time making pumpkins and jack o lanterns.  Be sure to sign up early, as the space is very limited. 

Well, that's about it for now....I'll be back in a few days to post my entry in the B'Sue Boutiqe sari ribbon blog hop....be sure to check it out.

New projects:  heads, ink art and mermaids...what a combination!  I'm having so much fun with some new polymer projects.

Its been an eventful month....hubby had emergency surgery, went to Orlando Fandango, flew to MO to visit the grandkids and then my dad in the hospital...plus working 5 days a week and still found a little time to create!  Haven't had much time since returning to finish anything I started at Fandango, but here's some items still in progress:

 My still unfinished pond and tree from Christie Frisen's class,

my finally finished and strung badge....thanks so much Penni Jo for tying the knots!

 And my wonderful story bead face...Maureen...you are awesome and I am so inspired! 

so so inspired that I decided to carve my very own face, using your tutorial as a guide, here is what I came up with...my daughter challenge me to do something feminine:  This is translucent clay with alcohol inks...I really wasn't trying to make it so dark, but in real life, it turned out to look very good with sort of an eerie quality.  I think I just like the exotic look.

the time at Fandango was so much fun....I was working all the time and forgot to take pictures...as I was leaving, I saw this awesome tree...if you were there, you saw it also and these are the only pics I took this year:

Of course, last but not least, my trip to MO was awesome!!  Grandkids were awesome!! Food was awesome!!  Family and friends awesome!!

We all made lizards!

A Day at the Voodoo Cafe

I am enjoying this new blog that I ran across today.  Its called Notes from the Voodoo Cafe...by Rice Freeman-Zachery.  She posts podcasts of interviews with artists, and she's an author of several books...which I have never read, but am adding to my reading list now!

Well here is her latest .Interview with Christi Friesen at the Voodoo Cafe.  Christie is one of my favorite artists!  It's not just her work that I love, it's her attitude, her personality and her way of looking at creativity!  I will always give Christi the credit for sparking my creative works in clay. 

Until I took a class from her, I had no idea what I really wanted to do with clay.  I knew I loved it and wanted to pursue art in this direction, but after a couple of years of just reading books, making beads and wondering when would I find my muse....she appeared one day at Lake Yale while I was sitting in a class, making a leaf....I think I almost cried.  I looked over at my friend, who was sitting beside me and said....I very excitedly...."I've found my muse"....well...not sure what my words were exactly, but I knew in my heart that I was stepping into a stream that would take me all kind of places

and I was loving it!   It was like a 100 watt lightbulb suddenly turned itself on in my head....no it was a breath of fresh air on a hot afternoon...well...maybe it was like realizing how good chocolate really is

...at any rate....my muse had arrived and she's never left.

......................Thanks Christi for opening up my eyes and my brain and my heart....to bring to the surface all the exciting ideas that are rolling around in my head and being able to bring it to life in a tangible form. 

Colorful Spring Whimsy Pendants

Today I had a blast....I found some really colorful mother of pearl beads at Breezy's and used them as inspiration for a new series of pendants.  Hope you enjoy looking at them.  If you want to purchase one, or just see one a little bit larger, you can check them out via the Rapid Cart  shopping feature here on the blog.

Orlando Fandango is just around the corner. May 19th!  This will be the second time I've attended this fantastic polymer clay retreat. Each year, the Orlando Area Polymer Clay Guild hosts this teaching/retreat. This year's teachers are Christi Friesen, Maureen Carlson and Penny Jo Couch.  Check the Orlando guild link above to see examples of the things we will be doing.

There is so much more to the retreat than the classes...making new friends...reuniting with old friends, observing lots of free demos, eating chocolate, eating ice cream, staying up late, eating chocolate, getting up early, sleeping in, eating chocolate...haha...I guess I am thinking a lot about chocolate right now!

It's four days of just plain fun!  And the Orlando Guild works very hard all year long, just to make it happen!

This year retreaters are swaping mini treasure boxes and can bring any handmade item of their choice for a blind brown bag swap.  I would love to show you mine, but it's a secret!! I promise to post what I get in return and pictures of what I gave also....AFTER I return.

There are two competitions: Bottles of Hope and Hidden Treasure.

All the artists attending the retreat have the option of having a small area to sell their wares in the Boutique.







view of the campground

Bottles of Hope for children

more BOH

All in all, it's a great week of sharing ideas and getting inspired by other artists!  I can't wait!

Slides....

I was browsing one of my newest favorite sites...Milliande Art Community for Creative Women
 and just happened across this slide show...so I decided to make one of my own. thought you might like to have fun with it.  It's always nice to display some of the things you do in a different way.  so......have fun!
You can go here to add a slide show to your blog, facebook page etc....