Craft Therapy

Poly clay swirlie beads for GRB demo

I found a tutorial online at Desiree's Desired Creations to make these groovy "swirlie" beads, and now I'm hooked! Made some at home yesterday, and these scrumptious green ones in the "Offistudio" today... can't wait to glaze them & see the colors POP!!! Really, who know Future Floor Wax could be so exciting??!!!??

This is what I'm going to demo on Saturday at Grand River Beads!!!

Classes at Grand River Beads at Silverthorne

More fun to come at Grand River Beads! I'm going to be doing a "demo day" there this Saturday, Nov. 3rd.... just mostly sitting around making polymer bead-y goodness, chatting folks up. Kind of a pre-show to the "Intro To Polymer Clay" focal component necklace class there on Thursday, Nov. 8th.  The necklace class is $38.00 and includes all of the clay, beads, tools, and "stuff!" Can't wait! I'm so enthused about some of the new collaborations with Mary and Eva, it's always exciting to drop in and see what we'll all come up with next! If you are in the Cleveland area, directions to the Silverthorne Gallery, home of Grand River Beads, is here.

More PolyClay goodies...

I was working on some more polyclay items a few weeks ago, and never got them posted.... I guess I'm in my autumn mode... everything is "leafy."
It certainly is my favorite season... Ohio/PA falls are marvelous..... and my anniversary is right in the middle of it all!

Autumn Goodness

Ugh. I am filled with self-loathing because I haven't posted in such a while... the good news is that I've been making...and out living. I'm starting a new folder today- "Inspirations" of photos I've been out taking.  Today's inspiration is from last weekend's field trip to Szalay's Farm in Peninsula, OH... our favorite place to pick out pumpkins, apples, indian corn...and to eat fresh apple fritters and wander the corn maze!
Today's Inspiration photo:

I've already been playing around with it-- changing up the color saturation. We'll see where it goes. Now, I have to mention that the first week of October I took a class from Velda Newman. Great lady, AMAZING quilts. She's big into drawing her own templates and painting each component. When I mentioned that I had some sketches that I'd like to translate into quilt art- that I could use some commerical fabric- she told me, "Make your own. It's your art. Don't cheat by using someone else's fabric." Profound. I might have to try her techniques with this photo. 

So OK, one more thing. I LOVE collaboration and/or challenges... I like to see how other folks interpret a theme, use a fabric, etc.... so if you'd like to use this photo, please drop me a line through my Yahoo Groups.... (go ahead as if to sign up, but let me know you want to use a photo.... and I'll e-mail it to you.)