Expect the Unexpected

I expected to return from my vacation with design ideas from our scuba diving adventures
I did return with a years worth of under the sea inspiration.
However, I unexpectedly found even more to influence my work !
Who could resist the calm graceful beauty of these koi ?
The pond was at the Key West Butterfly Conservancy,
a place I hoped find inspiring butterfly patterns and colors .
I did have magical butterfly encounters (more about those next Friday)
However, I also brought home many ideas for new koi pendants.

When we seek inspiration
we receive it ...
just not always in the way we expected .....
:) m.e.

How I Sea Things

I'm still reliving my wonderful experiences from my Florida Keys vacation .
My daughter was so excited to have the opportunity to use our new underwater camera
She had decided to concentrate on "things that stay still" ,like corals ,until she honed her skills.
But ,this turtle had other ideas !
It swam by just luring us to follow .
We had over 20 minutes of awe inspiring time ,swimming along with this wonderful creature.

My daughter was thrilled with her many wonderful turtle photos!
We will always treasure this "once in a life time shot "and the memory of the special moment we shared.

The first creation directly inspired by my trip had to be a turtle .
Most of my work is part nature as it is ..part nature as I imagine it .
My pendant is a bit like the turtle I saw .But, I used a fanciful cane to add the magic the encounter held for me .

I think this is the gift art gives us .
Artists (I use the term loosely to describe myself) are able share the world as they experience it
When we share our creations we are sharing the moments of our lives.

PCAGOE challenge

Garden fairies come at dawn,
Bless the flowers then they're gone.
~Author Unknown

This months PCAGOE challenge was to make a "vessel"
Sometime I don't know where my ideas come from!!!
This little fairy's head is an empty vessel
It's just waiting to be filled with all sorts of wonderful flowers and foliage!

Maybe I'm my own inspiration...
my head is often empty ...
just waiting to be filled with fresh ideas !!!
:) m.e.
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The Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy (PCAGOE TEAM) invites all our friends and colleagues to participate in our monthly challenge contest by voting for your favorite entry at our team website at http://pcagoe.com/ between July 1 and midnight, EST of July 7, 2009. Winning entries will be announced on the website on July 8. Five lucky voters, chosen at random, will also receive beautiful polymer clay items handmade by our member artisans, which you may also view at the website. So come join in the fun. You could be a winner, too!

The Inspration Bubble

I'm on inspiration over load !!!
From one week of vacation I stored a year's worth of ideas!
All the floral and fauna of Florida keys are spinning in my mind.
The colors and textures above and below the ocean enchanted me!
My brain can't wait for my fingers to touch clay again!
I'm been looking through our photos trying to decide where to start.
This one made me stop and think...
I won't be making clay bubbles .
But , I am very inspired by this memory ,
not by the shapes or even the colors.
I'm affected by the moment itself.
A fleeting few seconds of magic,a mood.. a feeling....an atmosphere.
This inspiration may not affect the outside of my designs...
But, I think it will affect to soul of them.
:) m.e.

Business Trip....

I'm about to set off for another great day off scuba diving . Last night the sunset at Mallory Square was spectacular . My daughter is in photographer's heaven ! We can't take two steps without her stopping to take a picture! She has taken over 800 shots of floral ,fauna and fish!!!

I am storing away a years worth of wonderful inspiration .
I look forward to to translating my vacation memories into clay creations .
In fact.....
since I 'm using this trip as a source of design and color inspiration...
couldn't I somehow deduct the cost as a business express ? ? ?
off to dive ...see you next Friday
:D m.e.

Packing for Vacation

I'm soooooo excited !
I'm leaving for the Florida Keys tomorrow !
My vacation time is almost here ! !!
However, there is a stress factor involved .I have to get everything ready !I have to PACK !!!!
I'll admit, I find myself obsessing over what to take .
I have to be sure we have all our scuba gear , clean clothes,
camera ,suntan lotion,toothpaste ,deodorant, ...............
the list goes on and on .....
what if my glasses break ..better take spare pair !
what if I get a blister...throw in a few bandages !
we might get sunburned...pack the aloe gel !
what if I forget something I need!!!!!!!
wait............
what if I do ? ??
Dive shops rent gear
They DO have stores in the Keys !
and changes of clothes....
" no shoes , no shirt , no problem!"

I REALLY need a vacation..
I think I'll revise my list

Things to Bring on Vacation:

sense of humor
flexible schedule
imagination/inspiration
ability to compromise
relaxed attitude
open mind

I think that's better ...
did I forget any thing ???
:) m.e.

What bugs me...

I never seem to have enough time !!!
Good news is, I am very busy with orders for Custom Wedding Cake toppers !
Bad news is , I am sadly neglecting my blog :(

It really BUGS me when I find a great blog ..
return hoping to read more interesting "stuff "
only to find that the blog is rarely , if ever updated !!!

I promised myself when I started I would post daily...
well ....
maybe every other day...
how 'bout trying for 3 times a week...

alas I have become my own Blog Bugger !!!
I'm not finding the time post here !
Perhaps no one reads my blog anyway.
But, I have my personal goals to reach!

I here by swear, I WILL post something new here EVERY Friday !

I WILL achieved the goals I set for myself.
(even if it means lowering the bar )
if you're out there,
have a Wonderful Weekend
I 'll be back next Friday !
really ....
I will ........ :D m.e.