Clay Trippin'

I've been officially "snowed in" by the Baltimore blizzard of 2010 !
I have finally been able to make it to work . Wheeew ...I need the paycheck !!!
But, giant piles of snow and ice make it unwise to venture out just for fun.
I guess I have been hit with a kind of cabin fever . I have Clay Cabin fever !!!
The symptoms are a very strong desire to stay in ,to stay warm and to play with clay !!!
The cure ...avoid unnecessary housework and include as many carbs in the diet as humanly possible ! And of course, play with clay !!!

I finished my entry for the PCAGOE monthly challenge "texture"
I've never actually been to the desert .
But ,creating a Cactus Flower Pendant took me to a hot sunny place for awhile
A perfect trip of imagination for a cold snowy day !
We have some amazing entries far ...
and as always, a chance to win fabulous prizes just for voting ! http://pcagoe.com/

I also made a entry for The Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge .
This month' s inspiration is
"Luna Park " by Vestie Davis http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2010/02/february-monthly-challenge.html

I took a mind trip to an amusement park that resulted in a new fun Spinner Pendant design !
Check out all the wonderful entries http://www.flickr.com/groups/artbeadscene/

Now I'm off to the garden of imagination to grow some poly spring flowers !

Hope your week has been filled with pleasant journeys too.
Bead Happy,
m.e :)

Clay Dreams

24 inches of snow on the ground .... and 10 more in today's forecast!!!
I do love the winter landscape.
There is a certain beauty to my garden all covered in glistening white .
I have enjoyed the snow .But, enough already !!!
I need a dose of bright , hot sunshine !
Alas ,I am snowed in until who knows when .
However, I can clay- dream .
I've been busy mixing nice tropical colors and making little sea creatures.
Clay-dreamin' about the Florida Keys

Just to kick the heat up a notch, I decided to dream about places I've never been.
I imagined myself in a desert scenario .
After a few hours of shoveling snow , I 'd like to be a reptile warming myself on smooth warm rock.
I can just feel the heat !
What would I like in my fantasy desert ? Maybe some cactus?
How about cactus flowers !
I completed one ...now I'm working on another for the next PCAGOE challenge .
The theme is "texture" Plenty of great textures in the desert !
I feel warmer already !
Back to my clay-dreamin'
stay warm and ...
Bead Happy ,
m.e . :)
Desert Spring Pendant

I wasn't born yesterday....

Its' PCAGOE challenge time !
Time to vote for your favorite !
This month's theme is " birthstones and flowers "
Each artist created a piece using the symbols of their own birth month as the inspiration .

My entry is a pendant. A spray of Gladiolus with Peridot centers.
I thought the cooling colors would be nice for the usual hot humid August days
A perfect piece to celebrate my thirty- sixth consecutive 29 th Birthday party! LOL!!!
I do like my August Birthday . I don't have to share my day with any other holiday.
My oldest son was born September 7.Often his birthday fell on the first day of school!!!
Not cause for joy when you are a child !
Do you like your special day?

love'em or not ,birthdays seem to keep on coming ...
PCAGOE members have created some wonderful entries .
You might find a nice item for your Birthday bash !
And don't forget there are Fabulous prizes you could win !!!
When you vote you are entered in the drawing for some Amazing goodies.
Members donate their Best work to our prize pool !!!
HURRY OVER to the PCAGOE blog
http://pcagoe.com/
see the Entries , check out the Prizes and VOTE !!!
and don't forget...
Bead Happy !!! m.e. :)

Carnival !

It's almost time for Carnival celebrations !
New Orleans will once again throw the Ultimate PARTY !

What is the only required party attire ?
BEADS ... of course !!!
Beads and more beads ! Beautiful beads!!!

Part of my personal yearly celebration is to make a few Mardi Gras clown pendants.
I love making these happy, dancing little guys !
How could I not be inspired by a festival that makes beads one of the star attractions?

This year I have a special reason to be excited.
In February, Art Bead Scene will be beginning it's own Carnival !
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/
A blog carnival !!!
Sixteen bloggers, divided into two teams ,will be coordinating their individual blogs once each month .
Each team will write about the same subject .But, each person will be putting their own spin on the topic !
I 'm soooooooooo thrilled to be participating !
A blog party of Bead ideas and inspiration !!!
Just when the winter blahs really seem to set in..... it's Carnival time !!!
Grab your beads and let the PARTY begin !!!!
Bead Happy !!!
:D m.e.

Visit from Ms. Muse

Funny how my muse works ...
When I first saw the Art Bead Scene inspiration painting ,I was thinking shades of grays,blue grays and whites. These are the colors I perceive as snow colors.
My muse was having none of that idea !!!
I had set aside all manner of pearls and silvery stuff. But, she said in no uncertain terms " CHOOSE THE CHIPS !"
So I did .
If you don't listen to your muse you could be in BIG Trouble.
I believe forced designs and lack of inspiration will show in your final product.
My semi- precious gem chips lost their tags . Maybe somebody out there can tell me what they are ???
I do think they fit the textures in the painting perfectly . I added some of my own floral beads to "match " because....well... I am addicted to making flowers...lol!
My design need a "magpie "
I found a wonderful pewter bead at Green Girl studios . I think it made the perfect pendant !
I am really enjoying my new necklace ! Just right with my warm woolly winter wear !
Thank you for the inspiration,
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2010/01/january-monthly-challenge.html
http://www.greengirlstudios.com/
and
Ms. Muse !!!

I hope you and your muse are keeping busy!
Bead Happy, m.e. :)

Snowy and cold today....

One of my goals for the New Year is to enter the ArtBead Scene monthly challenge as often a possible.
Be sure to check out their wonderful blog at http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/

The painting chosen for this month's inspiration is "The Magpie" by Monet

Perfect !!! Almost like the view out my window !
We're having a VERY Cold Snowy winter thus far.
Inside ,I'm managing to say cozy.Got Coffee,got Clay and I'm feeling Creative !
Hope you are feeling warm and worry free too !

I was thinking of organizing my bead stash this year.......
But, instead I'm riffling through my beads and findings trying to come up with an idea for my Art Bead Scene entry.

My creative process goes something like this :
fix cup of coffee
print inspiration picture and put on my bed
dump all beads and findings onto my bed
sort out anything that seems to "go with "the painting
stuff all other items back into storage boxes
sit on bed and stare at items that "match" til my muse sends me a design idea

I am currently at the sit and stare stage
I did take a break to go outside and snap a photo of my Ice Queen Fairy pendant.
I was trying for a Monet inspired shot ! Maybe I should cut back on the coffee... lol !
For now , back to staring at beads and waiting for my muse to arrive...
Stay warm and
Bead Happy ! :) m.e.

Butterflies in Winter ?

I am thinking Spring and so are the members of PCAGOE
Our monthly challenge theme is Butterflies !
Members have created all manner of wonderful butterfly creations!
New rules this month ! you can vote for your 3 favorite entries !!!
We have an amazing grab bag of poly- prizes ! You are eligible for the prize drawing just by casting a vote! Hurry on over and pick your favorites !
http://pcagoe.com/

My entry is a tiny Butterfly Fairy . I love this Fairy clan .
This particular one is responsible for those little flutters of the heart we feel from time to time .
Cupid gets all the press when it comes to falling in love. But, he's the one who shoots us with arrows ! Ouch ..love can hurt!
I prefer the romantic feelings the Butterfly Fairies spread.
Those little flutters and the way your heart skips a beat when you think of someone special. Butterfly Fairies are busy year round . But, they become more active as Spring draws near .
I think they are much nicer for Valentines day festivities than Cupid and his arrows !!!
I hope they will fill your heart with love this year !
Bead Happy , m.e. :)