Get Back you Swine!

Well, I am happy to say that I am beginning to feel like my old self again! I was sick with the H1N1 virus and it really kicked my backside for awhile.
I was at work on Monday, October 12th and I felt fine but all of a sudden I became stuffy and I couldn't breathe through my nose. I thought it was allergies. The next morning I woke up with a very sore throat and a cough. The cough was the worst, it felt like my lungs were on fire. Lots and lots of coughing, in fact I'm still coughing nearly two weeks later but it is getting better. The doc prescribed a cough suppressant with codeine. High fever, body aches and a headache that lasted for days.....not fun. There was a point when I thought I might need to call 911 because it was getting harder and harder to breathe! It was rather alarming to say the least.
I'm so glad I stayed home from work when the first flu symptoms appeared. Who knows how many coworkers I would have infected. I just don't know where it came from. Someone told me that the virus can live on an object for about 6 hours or so. I guess if that is true it could have come from any number of things. The handle of a shopping cart, a door knob, money....who knows.
Anyhoo...the good news is I am getting better and better and actually felt like working with clay again. I finished two pieces today that you see here.
I hope you all stay healthy, and if you do get sick I hope you make it through as well as I did. Take care!

A little plug for my talented sister Vicki

My sweet little sister just opened up her first Etsy shop. It is her very first experience with online selling and today is her maiden voyage!
She uses Swarovski crystals, semi-precious stones and sterling silver to make the prettiest necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Click on the title of this blog to go to her new Etsy shop. She will be listing more items each day.
If you see something you like but you wish it was another color, another size etc just send her a message, she would be happy to custom make something just for you!
She is a real sweetheart and does so much for so many people and I really hope that her new venture does well.
Good Luck little sister!

New Fall Themed Polymer Clay Cabochons

Just finished a group of cabochons with a fall flavor. The weather is cooling down and I'm so ready for summer to be over! I will be listing many of these in my Etsy shop soon. Just click on this blog title to be redirected to my shop. These cabochons can be made into pendants, pins or magnets. The could also be little decorations for your desk or used to top a decorative little box. (which is what I will be doing with a few of them. :)

Halloween Treats

Halloween is coming up and I have a few treats for sale in my Etsy shop! A candle holder made of polymer clay over glass. Painted in purple and green and covered in cobwebs and blood red glass gems. Also a sweet little wooden trinket box covered in polymer clay and featuring red glass gems, ghosts, skulls, black cats and jack-o-lanterns. Also a scratchboard ACEO of a Vampire Skull.....yikes! Lastly a Dragon's Eye pin that would be the perfect compliment to a Wizard or Witch's costume! Click on my blog's title and it will take you to my Etsy shop where you will find more views and other handmade treats made by yours truly. Happy Haunting!

Gearing up for the upcoming Holidays!

School is back in session and summer is coming to an end. This is always a bittersweet time of year for me because I hate to see summer end and the days begin to grow shorter but I LOVE autumn and the cooler weather. Ah, I can smell the pumpkin pie, hot spiced cider and roasted turkey....mmmmm yummy! Autumn here in Missouri is a beautiful colorful time of year. Albert Camus said it best "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower"

For those of us that sell our artwork on Etsy and the like now is the time to begin stocking up the 'shelves' in our online shops. I sure hope this selling season is a good one for all of us!

I just finished a new journal and a unique candle holder that I just love. Let me know what you think!

New Whimsical Notebooks and Exciting News!

I just finished a group of fun little notebooks that I found at the craft store. I added my own little polymer clay pieces to customize each one. It was easy to do and they turned out really cute! (IMHO LOL!) I also made another polymer clay ACEO with silver metal tropical fish, glass gems and pearls. All of these pieces are currently for sale in my Etsy shop. Just click on the title to this blog and it will take you there if you are interested. :)

I am so excited about a trade I am making with an artist in Poland. She makes the most beautiful wire wrapped silver jewelry and she approached me about trading for my Seahorse Journal. I enthusiastically agreed. She loves to trade with other artists and you can find her at www.sweetcandydreams.deviantart.com They are shown above along with my whimsical notebooks and new ACEO.

New Jewelry and a Halloween Trinket Box!

Happy Halloween!..............okay, well maybe I'm a bit early. :) I've just finished a Halloween trinket box and three new pieces of polymer clay jewelry.
Some of my friends at PCAGOE gave me a tip on how to get polymer clay to stick to wood and it worked like a charm! First bake the wood at a low temp to ensure that all moisture is removed. Then apply a thin coating of white glue to the surface of the wood (I used Weldbond) and apply your clay to this surface. The glue was dry or nearly dry by the time I applied the clay. Yay! I had some wood boxes and could not get the clay to stick for the life of me!
I'm having fun creating little pieces of jewelry and I've sold one of them to a buyer in Italy. I was so happy! I love the effect the PearlEx powdered pigment has on black clay. It just glows!
It has been a glorious weekend here. Mostly sunny and cool. Unbeieveable for July in Missouri!! I haven't had the air on all weekend and the windows have been open letting the cool breeze in. Ahhh...just wonderful.