Bead Dreams Peoples Choice Awards

It is that time of year again.  I am honored to have TWO pieces accepted into the Polymer Clay category of Bead Dreams.  We find out next friday (the 10th) who takes ribbons in each category.  

Here are the pieces I have in the competition

 Sunset Gold Rush

and 

Zen Cairn

However, there is another way to win, and that is the Peoples Choice award.  You get to vote for your favorite!

So you can win first second or third place in your category, and then ONE person also wins the Peoples Choice award.  

If you would like to vote for Sunset Gold Rush
  


And if you would like to vote for Zen Cairn



Thanks to everyone who is always so supportive of me and my art!  You guys rock.  I am really honored to be part of this competition for a third year in a row!

Also, if you will be at Bead and Button in person, please snap a picture for me of the pieces in the case!  I would be forever grateful!  

And if you would like to buy some of my beads while you are there, the lovely Nikki Thornburg of Thornburg Bead Studio and Marsha Neal will have some of my beads at their booth #608!!!!

(Nikki's practice set up)

Bead Fest Spring: Shopping Class and more.....

My mom and Julia accompanied me this weekend to Bead Fest.  We headed out Friday night and stayed at the Marriot Courtyard.   We had dinner, went swimming and enjoyed some girl time together.  

Saturday we ate breakfast and prepared to BEAD SHOP!  The show opened at 10 and I was due to demo at Parawire at 11.  So I made a quick stop at Holy and Pure Gems.....got a nice batch of beads there.  Then we went and said Hi to our vending friends.  

Demo'ing was a lot of fun.  I got to meet some people who follow online.  Its always nice to be able to meet people in person! 

I used parawire to make some of my donut pendants while sitting there- a fun in and out sort of weave that can be used lots of ways- and I made some clasps with it as well.  I found that the Vintage Bronze is my most favorite color.  Sort of like an old antique brass- so rich.  

Then I had an hour to shop before returning to ParaWire. I made sure to go and see my art bead friends again, and we traded for some goodies.  Heather of HMB and Michelle of Firefly Design Studio traded with me for some art beads.  I ended up chatting with them for my break and then back to Para Wire.  

My mom and Julia went to see a movie and then checked out an antique store nearby until I was done the demo's.  Then we shopped.  We made our way around the whole show.  

I got to see CB & Co and C-koop's booth.  Looked really nice, and I just love Kristi's jewelry.  It was even better in person.  I knew my mom would like it too, and she ended up buying a pair of earrings from her.  

 

CB& Co Booth

I made sure to hit Hands of the Hills for my unique goodies and beads- and I picked up an antique brass belt.  Its soooo amazing.  I also got some brass do-dads for the boys, and some other bone antiquities.  

Then, I just peeked in Intrinsic's booth, and ended up with a heavy bag of gemstones.  They also had nice $2 bags of metal beads and Aiden's big request from me was to get him some metal beads.  Julia hit their $1 section.  I told her she could get 3 and when I checked out there were 11 in my basket.  That's my little bead addict!  How could I say no?  

I came home with some REALLY good loot and can't wait to create now.

 left to right:  ammonite faceted beads, matte kyanite top drilled, faceted pyrite, LARGE labradorite beads, two strands of lovely turquoise, antique brass belt, goldish druzy beads and center drilled rutilated quartz

top to bottom- art beads from Firefly Studio, HMB Beads, bone beads, rough kyanite coins, charms from HOH, ammonite donut pairs, grey ammonite pendants, and DRUZIES

 Left to right- recycled glass beads, mamoth bone beads, fossil clam shells, kyanite rectangles, small drilled ammonite beads (for earrings), fossil coral slabs, excellent fire agate faceted nuggets

ceramic bee, headpins and fish by Firefly Designs

HMB Glass disc beads

After a long day of bead shopping I was looking forward to a relaxing girls night and early bedtime since I was due to teach Sunday morning.  But Julia got a stomach bug, and we spent our WHOLE night up in the bathroom.  POOR GIRL.  she felt so terrible.  Thankfully she is such a big girl that she let me sleep a couple hours......it was a REALLY tough night.

In the morning she was still not feeling well, so we checked out of the hotel very very early......my mom dropped me off at Beadfest to teach and ran Julia back home.  Then she turned around and came back to help me with class.  (isn't she great?  I would be lost without her)

Not only did she do that all for Julia and me, when she came back she went into the show and picked me up some of the druzy shell cabs that I was drooling over. 

 She really knows how to cheer me up.  

Despite no sleep, my class went well.  It was a small one, but I think we had fun.....lots of gabbing and creating.  Its a packed class, and in 4 hours we go from a pack of white polymer, wire and beads to a finished necklace.  The ladies were wonderful, and they all made amazing pieces of jewelry!

(really bad lighting in the classroom)

I love when the students put their own spin on the pieces!  Alison Lee made a whole new shape for her focal.  That is the magic of polymer clay, you can make it into whatever YOU want.  Make it just your style.

Though it was an exhausting weekend, I had a blast.  I really LOVE teaching.  I enjoy nothing more then watching those light bulbs go off when people learn something new, and then do it.  They all left with pieces to be proud of and techniques they can use a million different ways.  It is so rewarding!

Now to unpack and get back into the swing of things.  Julia is home today to recover, since she is JUST finally eating this morning.

(just a little mess to put away)

Thank you to all who stopped by and said hello or took my class.

Enjoy your week!

Cheers! Holiday Polymer

I am horrible at Christmas Cards.  I never get them done in time, and we take our kids annual Christmas picture, usually on Christmas Eve.  That's how I roll.  

I do however try to make a little something for my friends and family each year.  Usually, its a special Christmas ornament.  This year, I wanted to do something different for them.  Since a few of them are wine drinkers (ok, ok, all of them are!) I thought wine toppers could be cool.  I wasn't sure how they would turn out, but hey, I have polymer, and picked up some corks.

Well, after three leisurely play days in the studio, I have wine toppers-

AND I LOVE THEM!

Here they are before I glued them, all set up ready to go in the studio.  

And here they are all finished and ready for gifts!

(I definitely need to make these to sell as well)

How did I make them?

I created the polymer pieces first, baked and finished them.

Then I drilled a hole in the bottom as well as the cork.  

I fitted in a 14g wire so it attached both of them securely.

Then I mixed up my 2 part epoxy, took them apart one at a time, and glued them.

To ensure a good bond, I tied string around them so the connection was nice and firm.  

I could NOT be more happy, and now they will have something they can use year round...ILO just at the Holidays. 

I never get tired of what you can do with Polymer Clay!