Whottah Weeek!

So much completed this week my head is still spinning and I haven't photographed all of it. 

Here is the Art Bead Scene April Challenge inspiration. 

Finches and Bamboo, Northern Song dynasty (960–1127)

Emperor Huizong (1082–1135, r. 1101–1125) Chinese

Handscroll; ink and color on silk; 11 x 18 in. (27.9 x 45.7 cm)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

John M. Crawford, Jr. Collection, Purchase, Douglas Dillon Gift, 1981

Here is my necklace:

I had to photograph this in the afternoon so the orange tones are not showing very well. 

It all started with my little polymer clay baby finch.  

She is a little chubby like all the baby birds in my yard. 

I apologize for my dried up fingers in the close up 

but that gives you an idea of how tiny she is. 

I also made the Chinese Character tablet beads 

with a blend of yellow and copper clay, 

antiqued after baking with ochre yellow and titanium white acrylic paints. 

I made the bamboo leaf beads from a twist of blended yellow, green and white clays 

with a tiny touch of blue mixed in.  

Then I covered that tube of clay with translucent clay 

that has mica powders in green and pearl blended in. 

I love how they came out a little irridescent and 

they are a perfect match with the little glass beads I wired up near the finch.  

Several styles of antique brass chain, some rafia wrapped garden wire twisted beads, 

scraps of red leather from a skirt I bought at the Salvation Army store 

and 

a strip of linen I dyed with instant coffee to mimic 

the background of the handscroll in the inspiration photo. 
I finally finished my sister's birthday present and forgot to take a picture so more about that later. 
I put together a necklace/earring set 
with a wonderful ceramic bead I purchased from  
a very talented Sophia in my Polymer Clay Guild. 

And I am perfecting my"Flip Floppin Flowers" design.

I will be selling these as a summer item in my etsy shop. 

 Love mixing the colors.  

I machine felt a bit of roving onto the leaves 

which are recycled wool 

from a very large green wool coat I bought at a thrift store. (only $6)!! 

The flowers are made from different sized circles of cotton fabrics 

machine zig zag stitched around which gave them a lovely ragged edge. 

The circles are layered with a couple tea candle singed circles of organza 

and then beaded in the center. 

 I am testing different ways to attach these to flip flops so they can be taken on and off 

and several color combinations can be worn on the same flip flop. 

I made a set for my art quilt monthly challenge "It's all about shoes", using my old Tivas.

  

Of course I had to have a matching cuff and earrings too!  

They are adorable on. 

For this pair the flowers are sewn directly onto the wide band on the Tiva.

Pictures thanks to Mary Ashcraft who photographs all our Art Quilt Ect Creations and posts them on her blog.
Go HERE to see more. 

Stay tuned for more fun next week as I catch up on my photo taking.  

My wishlist chair at Cactus Joe"s. This is soooooooo comfortable- molds to your body. 

My gorgeous florabunda copper red roses photoshopped.
The wind this week has pretty much stripped off all the blooms- so glad I took this photo when I did.

I will be installing new software and linking up a new printer today-
my printer bit the dust this week.
Got the Epson Artisan 835 yesterday which takes up to 8.5 X 14 inch paper.
I am very excited to print on fabric with it!!!!
Gotta love getting that tax return!
That's all for now have a wonderful weekend!!