Helper!

I went to our new church building (under construction) and helped to paint the walls in the sanctuary.  It is a beautiful mid golden latex and it's going to look so great.  We are overly excited to see such progress as the weather has not been helpful this year and what work they've got to do on it has been spastic to say the least.  But every step is one step closer and what a great blessing this place will be to our area.
I still don't know what my mission there will be, but whatever it is, I am looking forward to it.  I know there is still something for me to do...I'm not done yet.
The LORD has been so graciously and wonderfully good to me, changing my attitude, changing my life and I will do what I can to honor Him the rest of my life.  I pray you know HIM and if you'd like some help in that area, just ask.  Ask me if you don't know how to ask Him, but if you do, please know The LORD loves you and has done everything He can to save your soul, it's all up to you.
More about clay later, there are some new things in the works!
Okay, enough for today, take care and thanks for stopping by.

Just So You Know...

I've closed my Etsy Shop.  I am now on Artisan Component Marketplace and Facebook.  Here is the link to my new shop...http://artisancomponentmarketplace.com/martisbuttonsandbeads/

And I cannot believe it's been months since I've been here and posted.  Shame on me, I guess I almost forgot about this blog.  Will do better...


as always, thanks for stopping by and take care!

Summertime!

For the last several days I've been taking pictures of clouds and learning which are which.  I didn't remember from school and the internet has all the information I need.  I may start posting them here.

What are you doing this summer?  Same old, same old here.  We are raising a few tomato plants in hopes of a fresh harvest and in another week I have to have cataract surgery for my left eye and in a couple of weeks after that go back for the right eye.  I am not seeing clearly at all close up and I really need to.

I have a few things bisque firing today.  A couple of new things and some rings.

Well, I hope you are having some fun and doing well, it's been a while since I've posted.
Take care and thanks for stopping by!

8th Bead Soup Results

Marianne Baxter is my partner for this swap, you can find her blog here:
http://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com

I was thrilled with the soup she sent me, it's even in my favorite colors.  Isn't the glass piece beautiful?

Here is the result, I hope Marianne thinks I did a good job!  It is slightly asymmetrical and I used every bead she sent along with some of my green beads that I thought went beautifully with hers.

What do you think?

Here is the link to Lori's blog and the rest of the Bead Soup blogs, this is going to be a blast!

http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2014/05/welcome-to-8th-bead-soup-blog-party.html

Not Another Hobby!

Look what I've been doing the last few days!  It's not finished yet, still have to wash it and finish it up, and it's not perfect and it made my wrists hurt (well, only the French knots), but I am happy with it.

Most of it was done at the end of the day.  I told my husband it is so relaxing and he told me I need something to make me more relaxed…he was joking!  Trust me!

Have you ever done Brazilian Embroidery?  Let me know what you think…

thanks for stopping by, take care!

The Making of my Bead Soup for Marianne

Here is a picture I found somewhere online, probably FaceBook, that I thought was so gorgeous, I had to try to make it in clay.

First I downloaded and made a copy of the picture in the right size for a pendant. 

I cut it out and laid it down on a conditioned and ready piece of clay.  I used a stylus and got an impression of the flower into the clay.  Cut it out and added some detail.

After letting it dry for a couple of days between a couple of ceiling tiles, I used a sponge to wet sand the edges and smooth out what crinkles I could.  

Then the piece was bisque fired, cooled, glazed and fired to cone six which goes to over 2200 degrees.

There it is mixed in with beads that I got for the Soup and the special clasp that was handmade just for me by Jean Wells.

I hope Marianne likes it.  I was happy with the way it turned out and thrilled to be part of this Bead Soup again.  This really gives me a chance to grow in my less than fabulous jewelry skills.  I hope Marianne is happy with what I did with hers.

Got 'Em!

Just received my Bead Soup Blog Hop beads from Marianne Baxter today.  They are perfectly beautiful and in my favorite colors!  Check them out!

There are two little fish that I must do something special with.  I am not really into the Zodiac and horoscopes and all that, but my sign is Pisces and I've a feeling these are going to be a great dangle.  Off to do some chores, then back to think and plot what to do with such loveliness…  

Thank you Marianne!

My Bead Soup Blog Hop Partner is…

Marianne Baxter at:

 http://simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-color-orange.html

Marianne works in glass and metal clay and her work is lovely. I am excited to be her partner!  I have to fire her focal, I just finished glazing it and I just pray it goes as well as I hope it will!

The focal is fired and I will bag this stuff up and on the way before Friday!  It was such a nice bead shopping day for Marianne, I hope she likes it!

thanks for stopping by, take care

New Bones

Suzanne Berk is an animal rescuer.  I love her for what she does and I so appreciate her asking me to make some bones for her to use on her Rescue Bracelets at iRescue.  Here is a link:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/176941833/be-the-change-i-rescue-paw-prints-and?utm_source=etsythemeshop&utm_medium=api&utm_campaign=api

She has used some of my components before and I am thrilled to have some of my pieces in her work!

Here are a couple she sold last year…

Here are the steps to making the bones I did for her:

Step one is conditioning the clay and cutting out same size pieces…

Then make the cuts to shape the bones:

Then, I finalize the shape using my fingers.

Add high fire wire to use as a connector.

Let them all dry for a couple of days after wet sanding them to take down sharp edges and just make them look better.

The results of the fire:

Suzanne, I am honored to do these for you, I pray you will be blessed by using them and those they go to as well.  Thank you for what you do!  

I hope you've enjoyed seeing how these are made as much as I did doing them.

as always, thanks for stopping by and take care

In the Clay

The last few days I've made some new things, but the weather is so bad, with worse weather coming, that I cannot fire the kiln.  Maybe, hopefully, by the middle of next week I can fire.  I have a waiting order and I hate not to be able to get it finished and sent!

Today is the second day I haven't had sugar.  This is a new thing for me and I'm going slow to get myself under better control.  I have always been spoiled rotten and very self indulgent, but I am giving it a go, to try to make myself more healthy, I hope it's not too little too late.

In a little more than a month I'm going to be 58 years old!  Who would have guessed?  Not me, for sure!  You know the old line, if I thought I would have lived this long, I would have taken better care of myself…yeah, that's me!

I'm glad I have this blog where I can write and on occasion get a reply.  I usually have something to show, but today I'm just rambling.

thanks for stopping by and take care!

I'm Baaaccckkk!

I'm back in the clay…it's been months.  Tomorrow I am starting a new thing and I am wondering about how it will go.

I have missed you.  Sorry for not keeping up for so long.  Please hang in there with me and come back to see what's going on.

Take care and thanks for stopping by…be blessed!