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

Bead Table Wednesday

I had two sessions today, one with fiber art and one with polymer clay.
I started by laying out ingredients for a bib necklace and cuff set I am making for my Art Quilt Ect Circles monthly challenge- "Green" being the inspiration.

I bought a huge size 16 wool coat a while back at the local Salvation army store for $6.  I felted it in my washing machine and dryer and have been cutting it up into leaves for many items.  I decided to make leaves by hand needle felting some roving onto these wool leaves and then free motion stitching them with a variegated thread that pops just a little.

As I gathered my materials I remembered I had purchased some felted round beads awhile back and got those out. I also pulled out some polyester satin material and made yo you flowers and beaded the felted balls for centers.
I will be posting the finished necklace and cuff on Saturday so come on back to see it.

My second creative adventure is the beginnings of a piece I have to finish by Sunday for Heather Powers challenge: inspired by nature- this week: feathers.

I decided to make some peacock feather pendants.
I conditioned lots of pearl white polymer clay, laid it on a texture sheet, impressed the front with a peacock feather stamp I have and then painted the feathers with alcohol inks.

I googled peacock feathers and used a photo as a reference for the colors.  I ended up using, pitch black, purple twilight, meadow, citrus, lettuce, stream and copper alcohol inks.

After they were spritzed to blend and dried I added little touches of mica powders in blue, green and copper.  This made them look irridescent.  I cut them with my oval cutter and turned them over to paint the backs.

 After they dried again three were pressed gently onto light bulbs so they would dome and curve and the other five were baked flat.  Come back this weekend to see what I do with them.  I am not sure yet what the next step will be.  All in all it was a very fun and productive day!!

Happy Haunting!!

Traditions!  

 While browsing for information and  images related to Halloween 

I came across this wonderfully carved pumpkin.  

My Celtic blood is boiling as the New Year begins.  

Did you know that part of the tradition of Halloween 

comes from the Celtic Celebration of Samhain, the end of harvest, 

the end of the lighter half of the year and the beginning of the darker half.  

It is believed that the border between this world and the other world is thinner at this time.  Bonfires were a large part of the festival.

 Masks were worn to copy the spirits or placate them. 

Pumpkins, larger and therefore easier to carve than the European traditional Turnip, 

were an American discovery.  

I am going to carve the pumpkin today. 

It will encase a tiny little bonfire 

and brighten the dark outside my door, 

where teams of spirits will come to 

"Trick or Treat".

According to Pliny the Elder, a ritual in Gaul held by the Druids

 (Magician-like Preists),

 involved mistletoe which is rare and grows on a sacred oak. 

It was a cure for infertility and an antidote to all poisons.  

I made mistletoe earrings this last week.  

Here they are: 

Sweet and simple, I was thinking as we all do that mistletoe was about Christmas.  

I guess fertility could be involved, after all we all probably started with a kiss.

My thought, I love a kiss on that tender little part of my neck 

just below the place these earrings will dangle. 

A little romance is good for everyone. 

They can be found in my Etsy Shop