I'm Getting Better!

I'm starting to get the hang of this polymer clay stuff. These two necklaces are going to be listed on my Etsy shop. I also made some heart shaped earrings but I can't get the photos right and after looking more at the earrings themselves, I think I can do better all around. So maybe later for the earrings. The larger pendant has some flaws but the colors came out so pretty I decided to go for it. The beads in the rope really set off the pendant, I think.

The heart pendant was just plain fun to do and turned out rather sweet. I was going to put it on a chain, but then found the copper ribbon in my stash. I like it much better.

Hopefully, will get some more Valentiney things produced in the next few weeks. Let me know what you think!

Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

I was on Etsy forums this morning and ran across another of those threads about being able to type symbols. I've seen them but never taken the time to learn how to do them. This particular thread had a link to a site that had tons of symbols with instructions so I thought, okay I'm going to mark this and try it on my blog. Evidently, not all symbols can be typed on certain browsers but I'm so computer illiterate I probably won't get too sophisticated with it. But here's a ♥ to http://www.bigbaer.com/reference/character_entity_reference.htm and also a big ☻ for starting my day on a bright note.

Labor of Love

My two sons blessed me with wonderful daughters-in-law and I wouldn't trade them for anything. They are both intelligent, attractive women with very good tastes. After all, they chose my sons, didn't they? lol However, their tastes are different enough from mine that sometimes, gift giving can be challenging. I get tired of just giving gift cards and cash. I grew up with the notion that gifts should be from the heart and that giving something you made to someone you love is like giving a piece of your heart. So, while I try to make my gifts to all my children something they want or something they can use, I also like to give them something of myself. So this year, I decided to make very simple beadwork for my modern, sophisticated daughters-in-law. I have one finished except for the clasp. It's the spiral in the right hand photo and will go to the one studying to become an RN. The other, I've just started and will be a herringbone chain and will go to the one who is in a pediatric fellowship. I hope when and if they wear them, they will feel the love that went into their creation.

My First Attempt!

I've been wanting to try creating with polymer clay for a long time but just haven't felt like I had the time or the money to invest in learning a new art. However, my fall craft shows were successful enough that I decided to earmark some of that money for clay equipment. And now that all my shows are finished for the year, I have time to play with something new. My birthday was the 3rd of December and my wonderful boyfriend presented me with all the tools and equipment I needed to get started working with polymer. Since he gave me the basics, I can spend my money on the frills! (And Christmas is coming, too.) So finally, last night, I got a space set up on my workbench for the craft oven and the pasta machine and I tried my luck. It was a lot of fun and the first results leave much to be desired but I definitely think I can get into this. Just after these first feeble beads, I can see the endless possibilities.

And another craft addiction is born!! Wah hahahaha!