Inspired by Nature: Dragonflies

This is my entry for Heather Power's Challenge: 

Inspired by Nature: this week; Dragonflies. 

I made the polymer clay faux turquoise beads a long while ago 

and they finally found a home, 

including the pebble in the pond pendant, 

this Dragonfly landed on.

I was totally clueless about what to do with it. 

In the book,"Animal-Speak" byTed Andrews, 

he says of the Dragonfly;

 The Power fo Light:

" Life is never quite the way it appears, but it is always filled with light and color. 

Dragonfly can help you to see through your illusions and thus allow your own light to shine forth. Dragonfly brings the brightness of transformation and the wonder of colorful new vision."

This Dragon of the Fairy Realm is waiting to take the fairy in each of you for a ride. 

BTW- Working on the Art Bead Scene Blog July Challenge

As usual I am the queen of last minute 

and finished my piece for the Art Bead Scene July Challenge today at 1 pm.  

So then there was a nasty photo session in the 106 degree hot wind 

in my south facing back yard under the patio cover. 

Then lots of photo editing, uploading and picture collaging on picnik. 

I have to say I took a nice break and had a little frozen yogurt with my friend Barbara this afternoon. 

So it is 6:16, hubby is fortunately working a little late 

and I am scrambling to finish this post for Bead Table Wednesday 

and the Art Bead Scene July Challenge for the blog hop 

and I will be done blah, blah, blogging until Saturday. 

Here are my pictures: 

House Pendant from mixing the clay colors in the inspiration palette to the finished pendant.

Screeching in at the last minute for the deadline!!!
For some reason I had a really hard time making this piece today.  I started the moment my husband left for work (7:15am) and finally, all alone in the house at 1 pm said to myself outloud:

"Ok Heather , you are done, just leave it the way it is 

and go take the (*$!#) pictures,

it's getting really hot outside!!"

The Bad News: 

I ruined a bunch of jump rings and a stretch of chain because 

I must have taken this apart at least 20 times and reconstructed it ;

 over and over and over......ugh.

 I am finding that I really prefer my copper and antique brass findings. 

For some reason they seem more neutral and less intrusive than silver.  

I really want the time back I wasted making polymer roses and leaves on Monday 

because they were too big and too distracting

making the house pendant just disappear.   

The Good News: 

This is not one of my most favorite designs but it is what it is.  

And it is done!! YAY!! 

And I got my yellow enameled copper head pins just in time yesterday 

from Kimoras on Etsy and I love them!!

If you read my blog last month you already know 

I am very, very low on the color yellow in my stash. 

My collages are created on picnik.com

For more pictures and information about my polymer clay process 

including a secret recipe for sparkling yellow go HERE.

To see the other wonderful Bead Tables and July Challenge pieces 

click on the highlighted words at the beginning of my Rant.  

Then just breathe!! 

Inspired by Nature: Forest Floor Challenge

This challenge is 

sponsored by Heather Powers at Humblebeads.  

Go HERE to see the rest of the entries.

Here are some shots of my finished entry I took this morning.

I just like the odd angle of this one and how the background blurred.

Close up of the center pieces of the bib necklace

One of several copper clasps with patina  I purchased from Melinda Orr at ORRTEC on Etsy

Full on view of the neclace. Blends right into this little forest on my pool wall.

The left side of the necklace- here you can see my wood bead and tassels at the top
near where I joined the interesting copper cage chain. 

Free motion stitched lining on back of necklace and hand couching of yarn and specialty threads.
This one will join my bib necklace series for all seasons as an autumn piece.

That's all for now!! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. I will be back for Bead Table Wednesday on Wednesday of course!

Bead Table Wednesday a day late....

I had a very busy day yesterday and was lucky to be able to walk my dogs, take my photos, upload, edit and post on the site before I left the house at 9 am.  
I didn't get home until 6:45 pm and I forgot all about posting here for BTW.  
So a day late but here is my bead table from yesterday. 

I am working on Heather Powers Challenge: Inspired by Nature; 
this week's theme is the Forest Floor. 

Monday, my major work at home day of the week, 
I collected some great images from google and 
made a collage on Picnik for inspiration and color palette ideas 
and set to work with my polymer clay.

I made fall leaves,

 acorns,

 faux twigs,

 a slug, 

( much smaller than the ones we used to see in the NW when we lived there). 

 I really like the way my acorns turned out. 

 I added embossing powders under a layer of translucent clay 

to get the grainy look on their tops and 

then had to try some faux stones too. 

 I had a great productive day and will use these for another bib necklace.  
My plan is to put together a series and go peddle my wares to some local boutiques. 

Here's to wishing all of you a productive week too!! 

TA DAH!!

I am so excited to show you my finished "Green Challenge" pieces 

for my local circle- Art Quilts Ect monthly challenge.  

I had my ingredients laid out for Bead Table Wednesday and here are my finished pieces. 

Right now I am in love with this set.  

Not only are the bib necklace and cuff comfortable to wear; light weight and lined with flannel.  

They drape perfectly for a stunning look. 

Here are closer looks at the necklace, 

and the cuff.

You can find out more about my process on Flickr .

I am extremely happy with the color combinations and design.  

This has inspired me to do a collection based on inspiration from nature, 

thanks to Heather Powers at Humble Beads and my art quilt group.  

I have been striving all year long for ways to incorporate my love of fiber with my love of jewelry 

and I think this will be my most unique series.  

I plan on doing seasonal pieces that will all include fiber, my handmade polymer clay components 

and beads ect. from my jewelry stash. 

I am madly working on my "feather" challenge piece too 

and hope to post it tomorrow just in time for the deadline. 

I made two sets of peacock feather beads, here they are:

My first attempt are a little subtle.

I am happiest with this second attempt because the color is more intense. 

This is the back side of the beads,  textured and painted too.
Come back tomorrow to see my Inspired by Nature: Feathers entry.
Swing by Heather Powers Blog to join in the fun.
Have a great day- I am headed for the pool!! 

  

What have I been doing.... creating and more creating...

All this week I have been slaving over my McElligut's Pool quilt 

to prepare for entering it in the Road to California Quilt Show.  

The deadline is looming and I decided to take the binding apart and redo it. 

Lots of stitch pulling and trimming and hopefully the binding over all the curved edges 

will lay smoothly. 

I cannot post pictures of it until after the show so I am sorry you can't see it.  

It will be worth the wait, I promise.

Earlier this month I finally made it to my Polymer Clay Guild Meeting

 and my wonderful teacher, mentor and friend Karin 

gave a demo on how to make Worry Dolls.  

This doll idea is thought to have originated in Mayan culture. 

Click here to read the story of their creation and magic. 

I have some of the little cloth dolls that are still made in Guatemala in my stash

but Karin taught us how to make hollow bodied dolls from clay. 

The reason they are hollow and the head can be removed

 is so that you can write down your worries and put them inside. 

The magic your worries are gone!  

Here is my first attempt.

Her 50"s hairdo makes me laugh, more good medicine for worriers. 

Her head is formed on a  toothpick which is completely covered with clay 

and inserts into the open neck.

I am planning on making a lot of these for the Holidays.  

My first batch will have wings.  "Worry Angels".

I am working in my head on designs 

so that they can be worn as jewelry 

or hung on the wall or even a Christmas tree. 

Come back for more about these in October. 

In the meantime I have more Tarot Bags and they will be in my Etsy Shop this weekend.  

The name Tarot because the first one I made I use to carry my Tarot Deck and book in. 
Of course you can use them for any purpose.

These are so fun and relaxing for me to make.  

I love just playing with the different colors and textures of the yarns. 

I am completely spontaneous when creating them 

so each one has it's own shape, size, fringe and color combination. 

 I have added beads and my handmade polymer clay pieces to many of the bags.

Here is a little indian summer piece. 

Have a great weekend everyone!