Springtime and Flowers are everywhere...

...even in my oven.  These colorful little flower beads made from polymer clay have been my work of the week. The next step is to create jewelry with them.  

I had so much fun I made a lot of these little babies so some will probably be for sale in my Etsy store- (www.heatherp22.etsy.com)

 Here are a few of the color combinations.  

My first attempts are a little odd . I didn't like the colors so I altered them with mica powders. 

Then I found new colors that looked better and I left the petals raised.

 I was much more satisfied with these. 

And I am even happier with the brighter complementary color combinations below. 

The petals are made by layering 3 different colors of clay circles into a roll; these always remind me of those candy disks I used to buy when I was younger. The striped roll is reduced enough to fit into the extruder and a wonderful mixed color tube of clay magically emerges. I sliced and pinched 

and set them on little clay buttons with texture on the back. 

Of course the purple/pearl green combo is my favorite. 

 I plan on attaching them with a stop bead for the center, except for the 2 hole buttons which can be attached with thread and/or beads.  

Making more jewelry!!

I have taken a vacation from quilting and all things sewing for about 2 weeks now.  All the pressure to be ready for the quilt show is gone and it feels right to rest a little. So where does all that creative energy that keeps flowing through me go?  I am making lots of jewelry and adding new items to my Etsy Shop. (heatherp22.etsy.com)  Here is one of my new favorites. 

                             

 I always finish a piece and think maybe I should just keep it for me.  I do not want to become one of those hoarders though!  So I keep making new things and then I have new favorites. 

These polymer clay disks are so fun to make with scrap balls of clay.  You roll them under a plexiglass square and gently lift at the end and you have nice points in the center of a very round disk.  The pattern on the back is a surprise but you can control the twist and see it magically happening through the clear plexiglass.  A very fun and easy process. 

Well these disks have been sitting in my stash of UFO beads for a little while and then I discovered some wonderful ceramic bell flower shaped beads in a deep blue color.  Really nice glass rich red rounds and I pulled the least used color from the disks, the golden yellow seed beads from my stash and "Voila!"  The disks finally have a home.  I really love the way the bell flowers hang in the dangle earrings.  

                                       

I am also trying to use different color ways than I usually pick.  Here are some of the other fun beads that found a home last week.  The pink crackle stone set reminded me of easter eggs.  Unfortunately Easter was so early this year I was a bit behind the ball to promote the set for the holiday.

                                         

  I also found some really hot red orange stones in a tear drop shape and they became little angels and dancing goddesses right before my eyes!  The dancing lady has extra long arms just like me. 

Alamo Inspirations

As a result of our trip to San Antoinio I was so inspired by all the art in the city and especially in the old buildings.  So much detail in carved stone. So this image of the Alamo at night with all the intricacy shaded was haunting me for days.  ( I guess I did see a ghost LOL) The result: it inspired me to make some beads out of polymer clay that mimic that look.  

Of course I was out of white clay and having no patience to shop and then wait another day to work I plunged in with black clay. The images are from a stamp I love and then after baking the pieces I antiqued them with acrylic paint using a custom blue gray color mix

As usual as I work with the clay ideas for jewelry shapes pop into my mind and I especially like this one.

 Just tiny amounts of the gray paint rubbed on with the pad of my finger brought out all the rugged details and irregular edges.  The look of old stone!!!   

My second favorites, the chunky bracelet and pie shaped earrings.

People have different tastes so here is the look in small, medium and large earrings.

 I am thrilled with the results.  They are thick and chunky like pieces of carved stone but very light weight.  Next batch will be in off white and I think I will try alcohol inks for the shadows. 

My jewelry and extra beads will be for sale in my Etsy shop very soon.  

Go to heatherp22.etsy.com if you are interested.

Couplehood of the Traveling Pair

Well, that is a mouthful.  My husband and I went to San Antonio to see the Alamo and the city.

It was really spectacular at night.  You can see all the ornate detail due to the shadows. This has inspired ideas for free motion quilting patterns and new clay beads.

 We didn't know that we were staying in a "haunted hotel" until we got there, the Emily Morgan Hotel built in the 1920's was originally a hospital. We did not see any ghosts.

  The River Walk is fabulous and all the little art shops in La Valita were inspiring.

  We had a great time at the Botanical Gardens and perused all 300 acres!  We are so color deprived it was just breathtaking to see the spring flowers and trees all in bloom.

 Yes Trees!! I had forgotten how beautiful a tree could be. 

 

We also walked everywhere and especially liked the Historic District "King William's Ave".  

Very Early Spring Surfing in LA

Here is a picture of my nephew Kanyon and his Dad, Jum getting up on the boards during their first surfing lesson. Just happened to catch this wave with them!! 

I had such a great time catching up with my sister and her family.  Here are some pictures from a really nice hike we took in Santa Monica. 

Due to all the rain they have had in Cali there were numerous waterfalls and an abundant amount of green and flowering plants.  That made the hike really refreshing after living in the desert for 7 years. 

Nature not only inspires me but revives my spirit and energy!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Beads!!

  You could win the $200 treasure chest of beads, take what you want and pass it on with your own contest. Join the fun!!

Back from LA

I have the best sister in the whole world!! 
I just spent a week with her in LA on Redondo Beach. My nieces and nephew had school but we all got to have quality time together and I really enjoyed every minute. 
Favorite moments:  
hearing the ocean at night as I fell asleep,
walking on the beach barefoot ,
finding ocean treasures, (wait til I post a picture of the welk shell%*!)
hiking in Santa Monica with the whole family, 
boot camp workouts on the beach, 
the outdoor market, 
the kite festival 
seeing the dolphins
walks and heartfelt sharing with my sister!!! 

I had to drag along McElligut's Pool (the largest quilt I have ever made, may not happen again!) to finish it up for the Quilt show here this coming weekend. I learned so much about the need for more planning as I tried to finish it.  It was too wide and heavy to get through my sewing machine so I managed to hand stitch the "big" fish onto it with embroidery floss using my jewelry pliers to pull the needle through all the layers.  My fingers were getting red and raw!! Thus I am enjoying time off from sewing this week and looking forward to a trip to San Antonio Texas with my husband.  

I do have some photos from our hike out at Redrock a couple weeks ago.  We actually have waterfalls in the desert due to the snowfall this winter.