2015 Polymer Clay Challenge week 3

A quick post before bed for week 3. An egg, but one with a neutral color scheme. It was hard not to add color, and that was definitely a challenge.

Week 2 of 2015 Polymer Clay Challenge

Yes, I know - I did not post a week one! I'm hoping to catch up and post an extra piece to make up for that lost week.

This piece is an extension of my doodling creations. I used a vase that I found in my stash that had an interesting shape and went to town. I photographed it from different sides - this is all one vase. I love it, and it may have a buyer.

2015 Polymer Clay Challenge

At the end of last year, I made the decision to sign up for the 2015 Polymer Clay Challenge. I will be making something for this challenge each week. Here are the "rules" via Katie of Kater's Acres:

How to Join

1. Make a decision what you will commit to making from clay during the course of 2015.
2. Write a blog post announcing your commitment to join the 2015 Polymer Clay Challenge.
3. Grab the button below & add it to your website.
4. Leave your name & website in the COMMENTS below linking your written statement of what you will commit to making with polymer clay in 2015.
5. Throughout the year, write a blog post and tell us (the polymer clay community) how you are doing.
6. Share throughout social media using #2015PCchallenge
7. Join the FaceBook Group here.

This is a free endeavor with no strings attached! Simply challenge yourself & commit to being creative in 2015.

I hadn't decided what I was going to challenge myself to do, but I knew I wanted to challenge myself to do something! Then, several things happened all at once. 

Our little Miss Charlie kitty became very ill and was diagnosed with kidney failure at 21 years of age, and we had to make that tough decision to let her go with dignity. At the same time, demolition of our upstairs bathrooms began... a very much needed renovation, but full of noise and decision making stress. I've seen more of Menards, Lowes and Home Depot than I thought I'd see in my lifetime. And finally, my hands got progressively more painful, with my trigger finger (middle finger, right hand, of course) really seizing up.

So. I did not get started on the first week of the challenge as I had planned.

But now, one bathroom is finished and usable. Okay, it's usable, still needs some final touches. And I was drawn to my clay table.

So, long story short, even though my hands are still a problem, I have made a decision on what I will be doing for my challenge. I want to challenge myself to create one large piece per week - larger than bead sized. Vases, bowls, frames, sculptural pieces, you name it. I have completed my first piece, which I will present in the next blog post.

Let the games begin!!

Choosy Chicks Choose Chicklets Challenge: Reveal!

When Toltec Jewels mentioned on a facebook group that she was going to be having sign-ups for a challenge using SueBeads' chicklet beads, I was practically chomping at the bit. I knew right away that I wanted to make earrings from them, so I signed up as soon as I could!!

I received an orangish bead. I admit, not my favorite color... but oddly enough, one that I've been leaning toward more often subconsciously! I immediately purchased a second one from Sue. Then, of course, I procrastinated about making something with them.

Three days ago, I suddenly realized that the time was fast approaching! So, I made my earrings, and I like them. Not sure this will be the final incarnation, but for now, I will wear them proudly. The beads are accompanied by my own polymer clay round beads and some pale yellow swarovski dangles.

No doubt I will need some other colors in the not so distant future.

Guest of Honor & Featured Artist:  Susan Kennedy

Sue Kennedy's blogs:                               SueBeads...A Beady Girl's blog
                                                               Art Jewelry Elements
Sue Kennedy's website                            SueBeads
SueBeads Art Beads                                SueBeads

Hostess:

Toltec Jewels                                           http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Artists:

Linda Anderson                                       http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno                                           http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Shirley Moore                                          http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com/

Kristen Stevens                                        http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Marybeth Rich                                         http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com

Jael Thorp                                                http://jaelsjewels.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger                                     http://Beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick                                            http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith                                                http://wirednan.blogspot.com

Blanca Medina                                         www.peru-medesigns.com

Shai Williams                                            http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson                                       http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Rana Wilson                                             http://Ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com

Robin Reed                                              http://willowdragon.blogspot.com

Robin Showstack                                     http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/

Sheila Prosterman                                     http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan                                          http://Texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

Kari Asbury                                             http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Kelly Rodgers                                          https://www.facebook.com/BeadinBlackBlue

Jayne Capps                                            https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/

Mischelle Andrade Fanucchi                    https://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Heather Richter                                       http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg                                       www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Kathleen Breeding                                   http://www.zibbet.com/99BottlesofBeadsontheWall

Linda Landig                                           http://lindalandig.wordpress.com

Crystal Thain                                           http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Cheri Reed                                              http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Heather d-Entremont                               http://frugalmacdougall.wordpress.com/

Dini Bruinsma                                          http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/

Lori Schneider                                         http://www.beadaddicted.blogspot.com/

Tammy Adams                                        http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog.html

Melinda Orr                                            http://bandanagirl.indiemade.com/blog

Lennis Carrier                                         http://windbent.wordpress.com/

Cynthia Machata                                     http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Hodges                                    http://thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com

Debbie Rasmussen                                  http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/

Tanya McGuire                                       http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/

Charlie Jacka                                          http://clay-space.com/blog/

Ev Shelby                                               http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson                        http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Jasvanti Patel                                        http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Choosy Chicks Choose Chicklets Design Challenge

Coming August 3!

The 8th Bead Soup Blog Party is here!!

A reminder of what I was fortunate to work with from Genea (click on her name to visit her blog and see what she made with the soup I sent her!):

Packaged so neatly!!

THE NECKLACE

No matter how I looked at it, Genea's soup screamed "BOHO"!! So I first whipped up a herringbone tube, which I threaded a piece of wire through for stability. At each end are lampwork beads from my stash (made by Patsy Leblanc of Killer Beads). 

I square stitched a golden bail and hung the "sea urchin" focal from it with a swarovski crystal and some copper spacers. I then hung a MOP leaf from it. 

Wooly wire is wrapped around the tube and up past the beads. 

The copper chain Genea sent me is attached to the wire threaded through the tube, and then her recycled sari silk forms the ties at the end so that it can fit any size neck.

focal by Genea

wooly wire wrapped around my herringbone tube

THE BRACELET

Next, I created a bracelet using more of the antiqued copper chain. The sea urchin wing ding and silvered ivory spacers were joined by more of Patsy's lampwork, lampwork by Amber Ballard and flat discs, all from my stash. The button closure made by Genea is part of the clasp that holds it together.

wingding by Genea

lampwork button closure by Genea

Here is a link to the other participants in the blog hop (500 links is a bit long for one post!!) 8th annual Bead Soup Blog Hop

Color of Dreams Blog Hop

I chose to participate in the Color of Dreams Blog Hop (click on the picture below to reach the "home blog")

Each participating artist was given an orphan/ooak bead created by artist Patricia Handschuh of The Color of Dreams Boutique to design with. We were to create something with it and post on our blog April 6, Sunday.

Today's the day!!

I received a little round polymer clay bead with floral canes. Being a polymer clay artist myself, I know what it's like to make small beads. I don't make them very often.

As for my dream? My dream is that everyone may experience beauty during their day. A garden, a smiling face, a giggling child, a piece of art... whatever makes them feel alive.

I chose to use a coppery chain and clasp, and used the clasp as part of an accent in a necklace, bringing it to the front. I hung the little bead on the clasp. Then I created my own sculpted leaf beads, and antiqued them. I used my friend Bonnie Polinski's ceramic flower beads and one of her ceramic rounds as well as some sparkly crystals and more of my leaf beads to create a dangle as the focal.

Check out the rest of the artists in the hop:

Honorary Artist: Patricia Handschuh

Patricia's blog:            The Color of Dreams        
Patricias Etsy:             The Color of Dreams
Hostess: TJ                Jewel School Friends
Kay Thomerson           KayzKreationz
Audrey Belanger          Toki No Hourousha

Alicia Marinache          All the Pretty Things
Terry Carter                TappingFlamingo
Lori Schneider             Bead Addict
Jenny Kyrlach             Wonder and Whimsy
Asri Wahyuingsih         Asri's Beadwork
Dini Bruinsma              Angaza by Changes
Karla Morgan              Texas Pepper Jams
Debbie Rasmussen        A Little of This, A Little of That
Veralynne Malone          Designed by Vera
Kathy Stemke               Vintage Memories Jewelry Design
Mowse Doyle               Mowse Made This
Heather Richter             Desert Jewelry Designs
Lori Poppe                   Adventures in Creativity with LorilliJean
Jayne Capps                Mama's Got To Doodle
Andrea Glick                Zenith Jade Creations
Kathleen Breeding         99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall
Becky Pancake             Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Karin Martinez              Fairies Market
Miranda Ackerley          Mirandack
Penny Houghton           Smelly Nelly
Carolyn Lawson           Carolyn's Creations
Chris Eisenberg            Wanderware
Christie Murrow          Charis Designs Jewelry
Monique Urquhart        A Half-Baked Notion
Eve Shelby                  Raindrop Creations Jewelry by Evelyn
Cryss Thain                 Here Bead Dragons
Jasvanti Patel               Jewelry By Jasvanti
Nan Smith                   NanMade Handmade Jewelry
Sue Kennedy               SueBeads
Jean Yates                   Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
Debbie Rogers             Debbies Treasures
Marybeth Rich             A Few Words From Within the Pines
Shirley Moore              Beads and Bread
Shaia Williams             Shaiha's Ramblings
Kathy Lindemer           Bay Moon Design
Linda Anderson           From the Bead Board
Judy Turner               Silver Rains
Gloria Allen                Gloria Allen Designs
Regina Wood              Ginas-Design
Robin Reed                Artistry HCBD
Mary Goovars            MLH Jewelry Designs
Marlene Cupo             Amazing Designs
CJ Bauschka              4 His Glory Creations
Robin Showstack        The Crazy Bead Hoarder
Cynthia O'Toole          Sparkles and Sweets
Jael Thorp                 Jael's Art Jewels
Renetha Stanziano      Lamplight Crafts