Mad Bunny Baskets!*!

Inspired by a crochet newsletter I made these little 

Mad Bunny Baskets.  

Why are they mad you ask?

 Well you would be too if you had to carry around an Easter Egg as Big as You! 

I crocheted the baskets with 100% cotton yarn and a size g hook 

so they would be a little stiff and stand up.

The little mad eyes, nose, whiskers and mouth are embroidered on. 

The eggs are crocheted in the round over plastic hollow eggs 

(only 50 cents a bag at Walmart) 

using variegated pink and green sock yarns 

and lots of fun little bobbles and flower shapes to make them perfect for Spring!  

 

They have little hangers so that they can be displayed on those ever popular Easter trees 

or any other place you would like to display them. 

These were gifts for some of my lady friends,

 with a few chocolate kisses tucked in the baskets of course. 

If I get my act together maybe I will make some more 

to sell in my Etsy shop next year. 

It's a little too late now. 

Happy Easter and Spring to you all!!  

Leave a comment and I will enter you into 

A GIVEAWAY

You could win 

these little spring flower beads!

There are 6 of them left.

I will randomly choose a winner 

next Saturday, April 14th. 

My second publication!!

Got some publication Mojo again!!

It is very exciting and rewarding 

to have your work appreciated and published. 

My "Ophelia Cuff" is pictured on page 39 

of the January/February Issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine.  

I was one of 5 finalists 

in the Mixed Media Jewelry Category 

of the Artisan 2012 Contest!

Yes this makes me 

"Do a Little Dance"! 

I was not told which piece was chosen for the publication 

which added a little surprise for me when I received it in the mail. 

You can read more about the making of my Cuff  HERE  + HERE.

I took a little breather from everything 

except my family during the holidays, 

it just felt like a good time to pause, rest and regroup.

Now I feel rejuvenated and ready to press on.

My goal for this year is to send in more submissions 

and keep creating in all the medias I love. 

I have been thinking about trying out different venues 

for selling my work.  

I would love input from any of you, 

willing to share your experiences with other sites. 

Email me if you don't want to comment (outloud) below. 

January 10th will be  

"My Muse's" 2nd year anniversary.

The journey began on Jan 10th 2010 

when I dared to reach out into cyber space 

and share my life and art with 

"I didn't know who"

 to 

having 115 fabulous followers and friends today.

Because of this blog 

I have connected with so many talented and generous artists 

and 

have found many great opportunities and sources of inspiration

like the Art Bead Scene Blog Challenges, 

The Bead Soup Hops, Bead Table Wednesday, Creative Everyday, Flicker, Picnik, Pinterest, Etsy.... 

I could go on and on but I will spare you.

I am so grateful that I am having a 

"2012 Celebration Giveaway"

You could become the proud owner of 

this lovely pair of knitted fingerless gloves. 

Grape Lacy Knitted Fingerless Gloves by Aquariart

I assure you they are stretchy, stylish, soft and luxurious

made with Berroco Lustra 

a 50% peruvian wool/ 50%Tencel (Rayon) blend yarn. 

All you need to do is 

1- comment below 

and 

2- tell one friend about this giveaway. 

and

3- have that friend comment here too. 

I will randomly choose a winner on Saturday Jan 14th 

so come on back to see if you won!!  

Happy New Year to Everyone !!

Heather

Weather or Not...

Due to our wonderful Las Vegas windy and cold weather 

I had to reschedule a second photo shoot with Reanna my new model.  

I am hoping the wind will die down for a Monday morning shoot.  

I am behind listing new items on Etsy because they look so much nicer on a human being. 

(And especially one without goose neck and age spots for sure!!)

I can't wait to show you my new boa scarves made with a 

a really wonderful new yarn Bodega by Trendsetter Yarns.

Here is a peek at the yarn.

I had a wonderful surprise this week, 

an email from Barb Delaney, assistant editor for Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine.

She notified me that she was returning my Mixed Media Jewelry entries

 for the 2012 Artisan Search for which I was chosen as a finalist

and that they had photographed one piece to include in the Jan 2012 issue. 

This is my second publication this year- so exciting!! 

I can't wait to receive my magazine!! 

I don't know which one they chose. 

These were my entries:

My "Ophelia Cuff" inspired by the Art Bead Scene Challenge based on a painting - "Ophelia" by Redon

"Peacock Necklace"-Inspired by Nature; Feathers Challenge presented by Humblebeads 

"Woodland Fairy Bib Necklace"- Inspired by Nature- Forest Floor Challenge - Humblebeads

"Woodland Fairy Cuff"- Inspired by Nature Challenge- Humblebeads

I want to thank the Art Bead Scene staff and Heather Powers at Humblebeads 

for providing the challenges that inspired me to create these pieces. 

Where do you get your inspiration? 

I just finished reading an article in the new Polymer Arts Magazine by 

Christi Friesen about Creativity.  

She is spot on with her advice on how to get inspired and stay inspired.

How do you tap or feed your creative nature?

Send me your ideas in a comment 

and I will enter you in this

  GIVEAWAY. 

One of a Kind Crocheted Winter White
with Red-Orange Flower and Green Leaves Cuff

I will randomly choose a winner next Saturday, Dec 10th 

and ship it in time for the holidays! 

The white yarn is part elastic so it stretches to fit 6 to 8 inch wrists.

Get your comments in by Friday Dec 9th at midnite!! 

I also want to thank all my new customers 

who made my sales at the Artist's Boutique the best I have had so far!! 

I hope you all enjoy your new hats, scarves, fingerless gloves and cuffs. 

Have a Great Week!! 

Heather- Aquariart

BIG HUGE GIVEAWAY!!!

One of my very favorite Art Bead Artists :

Heather Powers is cleaning out her bead inventory.  

The Humble Bead Big Huge Giveaway Set !!!

These beads are to die for 

and to have a chance to get a batch for free 

of her truly unique and amazing beads is crazy wonderful!!
Hurry tonite at midnite is the deadline!!! 

Click HERE 

to see what you have to do to have a chance to win.  

If you would rather go to her etsy store and pick your own beauties, 

click the same spot and look for her code so you can get 20% off.

You can go to her etsy store right from her blog. 

This is exciting, 

I think the heat is getting to all of us but shurely Heather Powers has gone mad!! 

( Just Kidding Heather) 

I had one of the most productive weeks of my life this week.
Here are pictures of everything I made after Bead Table Wednesday and the Art Bead Scene July Challenge deadline I managed to make:

The mythical characters called Nymphs, Sirens or Mermaids 
have always intrigued me.
I love the ocean and  this focal from 
Green Girl Studios has a quote by Crouseau. 
I watched all his documentaries about the sea. 
He says:
"the sea, once it casts its spell holds one in its net of wonder forever". 

I used these wonderful twisted blue glass beads to represent waves and added the mermaids ride: a sea horse charm.


Next:
My Waves Bracelet
I used blue and turqoise in this one. 
I made the polymer clay turquoise swirl beads and flat spacers.
The rest are glass beads.

This one features a naked lady. 

 I like to think she is skinny dipping in all that blue green water!

For this bracelet I used memory wire covered with coiled pink artist's wire and beads.  
I made the polymer clay flower beads 
textured on both sides so they look great 
no matter where they turn. 
The pink stone is dyed howlite, 
the green, crackled glass. 
The necklace below is extra long.  
I love this length for summer- 
looks great with a cool cotton shirt.
Fortunately we had very cloudy weather yesterday morning- perfect for photographing shiny beads.

This one was a quickie with glass and shell beads on memory wire.  

I love the flower dangles, I picked up the pink curled glass beads at Road 2 California last year.  

Sorry I can't remember who the vendor was. 

They remind me of one of my favorite flowers, fuchsias, 

combined with the bright green glass and crystals.

A few orphan beads found their place in these earrings.

I am finally parting with some of my favorite finds.

This butterfly bead is an amazing little ceramic focal for this bracelet.

And the Star with a bead wired in really shines in this bracelet. 

The reds, oranges and browns remind me of hikes in the Valley of Fire. 

Here was a super quickie made with painted bone beads 

and the speckled beads are some kind of nut. 

(like me).  

This one has an extra long length too. 

And one more orphaned lampwork bead found a home, 

Queen of some necklace to be. 

Last but not least a Macro shot of the dragon side of this lovely etched deep navy blue bead. 

Click HERE to see more Macro Photos

Well I made all that in one day, so I took a rest yesterday and floated in the pool

with one nicely iced stien of Rogue Chocolate Beer!! 

Come on back on Wednesday for Bead Table Wednesday. 

Happy Weekend to you all! 

My First Fiber Giveaway!!!

Okay all you fiberholics, 

I hand picked scraps of fabric in shade of purple, pink and green with a little bridal tulle thrown in.  

There are a few yards of fun novelty yarns and bright green cord, a yard of tiny pearl beads, a half yard of beaded fringe and one of my hand poured resin faces.

YOU WANT IT- DONTCHA!!

What you have to do to enter to win this little stash:

1- Post this giveaway on your blog, facebook or pass it on to a friend in an email

AND

2- Email me the link so I know you really did one of these. 

(I promise I will not load up anyone with junk, flyers or emails)

(I just want proof- no cheaters please)

AND

3- Make a comment on this page- 

What do you think you might do with these supplies?

If you do all three of these things 

I will put your name on a little slip of paper, 

throw it in my giveaway canister 

Next Saturday, January 15th 

I will close my eyes and choose a WINNER!!

If you are the winner send my your shipping info via email 

heatherp22@msn.com 

and

 I will send you this entire stash in a package via the USPS.

I would love it if and when you create something out of these goodies 

you would send me pictures and a little how you did it info

 and I will feature you and your creation on my blog.  

but that is optional. 

GOOD LUCK!
OOPS- to comment go to my home page and leave your message in the comments section there.

Damselflies and Funky Lizards...two sides of my personality.

I have been visited by these alien looking creatures all week, 

perhaps due to the drop in temperature here in the desert, 

which has been so pleasant. 

Dragonflies have lived on earth for more the 180 million years, 

proving their ability to survive and adapt.  

They are creatures of two realms, water and air. 

I share the love of both, the need for sun and warmth and the freedom of flight. 

 I have always wished and dreamed of flying, 

but silently on delicate wings 

able to stop and hover and soak up the beauty all around me. 

So today 

I closed my eyes and imagined riding a damselfly 

skimming over clear sparkling water, 

hovering over the garden wall to choose the most beautiful flower to rest upon. 

Her iridescent wings refracted the sunlight 

creating a dazzling display of light and color all around me.  

The moment was magic 

but sadly illusive 

as are the last lingering days of summer. 

One tear shed for the end of summer's glory

One sigh as the heat wanes,

One smile,

 for the colors of autumn foretell

the promise of winter slumber

like a bedtime story. 

Okay, 

Now, on to the business of Mr. Lizard!!

I am shaking the tin full of tiny slips of paper with all your names on them!!!!

Here we go:

The winner of 

Your Choice of my Steam Punk Pendants is........

CONGRATULATIONS

Julianna Cannon!!!

 of

click Jul's Beads
 to take a look at her gorgeous and incredible lampwork glass beads!!! 

Jul's name for Mr. Lizard:

Meet "Chaz"  the Macho Bedazzled Lizard of Las Vegas.

 Perhaps 

I will just have to make more lizards 

so they can each have one of your very creative names! 

Thank you all for participating.

 Julianna, 

please email me your shipping info 

and a description of the pendant you would like to have.

Look at my Sunday, August 15th post to see your choices.