Clay!

Over Labor Day Weekend, a friend came from Wisconsin to visit. While showing her the interesting haunts in the area, I brought her to see Garden Ridge. I know it's not necessarily the best place to hang out, nor would some people even put it NEAR the "things to see" list when they visit somewhere, but for some reason, it's become a favorite place to visit for our Northern friends and family. So we made the pilgrimage to the superstore/party supply mecca of the area, and shopped.

Normally I don't buy things, but I found a book there with some very cool ideas on how to use polymer clay. I've played with clay quite a bit, and I make beads, but I don't like the matte finish on it. For some reason it always feels a bit childish to me. Imagine my excitement to find this book that tells me ways to create very sophisticated beads, boxes, etc, with the polymer clay I've been playing with for years! It's called Artful Ways with Polymer Clay by Dotty McMillan, and it has tons of great ideas.

I just got accepted to have a booth in a Bazaar in the area, so the book is coming in very handy. I've been playing with new techniques like Mokume Gane, and I'm working like crazy to get ready to sell! I don't actually have any pictures of my clay stuff right now... I'll post some as soon as I can!

I love wire!

I've been neglecting you. I'm sorry. If it makes you feel better, though, I've been creative. I have always dappled in wire and jewelry, but I just had a bit of a breakthrough with my wire techniques, and I had to share a few of the results.

Picture the following as a necklace, or suncatcher, or even as a pull for a light...

Calling All Thinkers!

Well, Peter Piper has been going strong these last few weeks, and I'm feeling like he's almost ready to put together in a book. However, I need your help. I want this book to be fun for all ages, so I need to include things that only older people will catch. I'm trying to think of popular sayings that I can make into signs, stores, or something to that effect, but I'm drawing a blank. I've got "cat got your tongue" and that's about it... and that one doesn't make for a very pleasant store title! So, I'm asking your help: comment on this note with any sayings that you know-- especially more recent ones (could I use ROTFL somehow?!), or ideas for cute signs or logos, whatever ideas you have to make this book more for all ages. If I can, I'll definitely work them into it!

Thanks for all your support, and in advance, thanks for your ideas! :)