Saturday, December 29, 2007

Next holiday: Valentine's Day!


I know, I know, it's not even New Year's yet, but I can't wait to get started on Valentine's Day items! Hearts are one of my favorite things to make out of clay, and can be for Valentine's Day or any day.


A friend asked me to make her a shawl stick (a pointed thing to keep her shawl closed) out of bright colors to match her yarn. I had some left-over clay and made these two small hearts (1 1/4" wide). They could be finished as pins, pendants or magnets. Such happy colors!

In an entirely different style, here are two larger hearts (2" x 2") made with origami paper on clay. Not sure which of the 4 is my favorite. I love them all. You will find them in my etsy shop.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007



I'm having an after-Christmas sale on selected items in my etsy shop. Check out the "SALE" section!

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Wishing you and yours...



After a busy month of craft shows and custom orders, it's so nice to be able to *breathe* and relax, and enjoy getting together with family and friends.

Wishing everyone a blessed and holy Christmas and peace in the New Year.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Woof! Meow!



A co-worker asked me to make these pins for Christmas gifts for two friends who own these pets and live together in the same house. It was fun to make them in a way that should evoke a smile. Since I made the dog with a bone, I decided to make the cat "dreaming" of a fish. My husband said the cat looks drunk. LOL I love the funny eyelids.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Dogs and Cats





Here are some custom orders I made this week...a clay pin of a darling Bichon Frise named Ruffles...and some cat initial pendants. Custom items are available in my etsy shop.

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Featured Etsy Artist - Dharma Designs



Jasmine Tea at the Garden Necklace and Earrings Set


Do you enjoy jewelry and photos with an Oriental flavor? Then you simply must check out the beautiful designs of Wendy Baylis of Portland, Oregon, at Dharma Designs on etsy. Wendy says she hopes "to promote global peace, acceptance, and understanding of all cultures and faiths through art."

She offers a variety of items including necklaces, earrings, bracelets and photos and plans to add cards, paintings and teas. She says, "I have always had a deep love and respect for other cultures and faiths, particularly those of Asia. I think it really comes across in my work."

Wendy works full time in the semi conductor industry. She explains, "Needless to say, it's not that creative, so my art is my escape, my sanctuary. I also have Fibromyalgia, but I refuse to let it get in the way of having a full and happy life. I've been known to go on five-hour hikes and plan to trek the Himalayas some day."

In addition to creating jewelry, Wendy does pencil portraits, paintings and cards as a hobby - and is writing a fictional novel about a medical evacuation helicopter crew in the Vietnam War. She explains, "My main passion is writing and drawing/painting. I'm also working on a black and white series of portraits of American soldiers in the Vietnam War."

Wendy shares some suggestions for fellow Etsy sellers: "Don't be afraid to focus on your pieces when taking pictures. I used to use lots of props to make it look interesting, but it really detracts from your work. My first pictures were absolutely dreadful!"

A look through her shop shows that she's definitely learned to take great photos. Here's one of my favorites: Kathmandu Turquoise and Silver Earrings

Saturday, December 01, 2007

Candle Making is Fun!


My son, who is almost 17, and I bought a candlemaking kit a couple of years ago, made one candle and never got around to making more. I decided to get it back out of the closet and make some Christmas gifts for family this year. His life is filled with school and work, hanging out with friends, playing video games or talking on the phone - and we don't do much together anymore, so it was SO MUCH FUN to work on this project together!

The white one (transluscent) has different colored chunks inside it and is beautiful. We actually made 2 of them. We added color to white wax to make the blue and yellow ones, and added scent to them all. :) I think everyone will love their sweet-smelling pretty-colored gifts!

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Adorable Christmas Pins by Artsy Clay

I'm starting to get in the Christmas spirit and am busy making lots of new things for my craft show at work next week! These are available in my etsy shop.




Tuesday, November 20, 2007

My 15 minutes of fame!



One of my Christmas ornaments made the Etsy Home Page today in a collection of festive red and green traditional Christmas items for sale!

Here's a close-up of the Star Girl, for sale in my Etsy shop.

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Featured Artist - bookwormknits on Etsy


The scarf at left in bright, happy colors, created for a swap, shows just one of the many talents of this week's featured artist, Amanda of Richmond, Virginia.

A visit to her etsy shop, bookwormknits.etsy.com, reveals "an eclectic mix of everything" -- unique greeting cards, gift tags, wall hangings and jewelry. She is discontinuing her jewelry so get 'em before they are gone!







Visit her blog on Wednesdays for an update on new items being listed in her etsy shop.

I love this "Falling Leaves Bracelet."


These Amazonite Square Earrings are my favorite color!

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Here's your chance to stock up on holiday ornaments!

My next craft sale is the Patchwork Crafters Show on November 9 and 10 at St. Timothy's Methodist Church in Brevard, NC. Stop by if you're in the area!




Christmas ornaments are for sale in my etsy shop! These make great gifts. The angels can be used two different ways. Each has a pinback so you can wear them on your jacket or sweater, or you can tie a ribbon through the halo and hang them on your tree. The Santas have embossing powder sprinkles which make them look like sugar cookies!



Saturday, October 20, 2007

Tips for making and marketing handcrafted jewelry

If you make jewelry, you might be interested in signing up for the newsletter from this website. Full of very helpful tips and ideas!

The Jewelry Sweet Spot

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Featured Artist - Mimpy



I'd like to introduce Mimpy of Langlois, Oregon, who has just opened her etsy shop with some gorgeous and fun items! I met Mimpy through Flickr and want to share her wares with you. She will be listing more soon.

Pictured above is a sampling of Mimpy's art, note card reproductions of original watercolor paintings. All art featured in Oregon galleries. Blank inside with envelopes and packaged in clear cellophane envelope. $10 per pack (assortment of 5) plus shipping.



Next, we have art to hang. You can have pretty flowers to look at all year round in this 5 x 7 beauty. The flowers are locally grown in Oregon, hand pressed, enhanced with watercolors and mounted to cardboard. Small mat included. Each item is unique. $9.50 each plus shipping.



Next is a "homegrown" greeting card featuring handmade paper, local plants, cotton and unbleached paper scraps. Flowers are raised and pressed by artist. Watercolors are used to enhance the flowers. Each card includes matching envelope and protective clear cellophane wrapping. $5.50 each plus shipping.


And, to tickle your funny bone, Mimpy offers this "Ewenique Sheep Puns Book," which she has illustrated, written and published. She says she has sold many of these in her hometown and it's in the 4th printing.

It features 24 pages of original illustrated puns in a 4 3/8 wide by 3 1/2 tall hand stapled book. Pages feature black ink on white; cover is on light blue stock. Includes glossary on back cover for the "sheep deprived." $5 each plus shipping.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

More birdies!



I've been having fun making chickadee pendants in different colors! Thought I'd try gold and beige. These are available in my etsy shop.

Friday, October 05, 2007

Have a Bootiful Halloween! Handmade polymer clay cat and ghost

Celebrate Halloween with a cute pin or pendant, or give someone a little gift! These are available in my etsy shop.

A white cat pin with candy corn ears:

A black cat pin with candy corn ears:

A ghost pin...

and a ghost pendant...


It's so much fun to bend the clay to make the ghosts' mouths and I never know how they will turn out. Each one has its own personality!

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Sale - Stock up on holiday gifts!



I'm in the Storque Showcase (the new Etsy blog) today and in celebration, I'm running a special on my chickadee pendants through Sunday (regular price $12, sale price $8.99). I've made them in various colors and with various stampings on them. Check them out in my etsy shop.

Sunday, September 30, 2007

New critters in my Etsy shop

Earlier this week someone bought four pendants - three cats and one dog, so I've made a couple of new cats. These can be custom made as beads (with a hole bored through instead of the attached bail). Just ask if you'd like anything custom made!





I also made another birdie pendant in lavender. Scroll down to Sept. 16 post or visit my shop to see them in various colors.



Thanks for looking!

Friday, September 28, 2007

Custom Doggie Ornament



I had fun making this custom order today - a Christmas ornament someone ordered for a friend, with the friend's dog, a Maltese-Shih Tzu, done in clay.