lost in translation

I am often asked where I get ideas for the jewelry I make. The answer is cliche'.  I get inspiration everywhere I go. Sometimes from the weirdest of places.


I have a big magnet board in my studio that I use to display items that I love.  I saved the above canvas Prana tag off a pair of pants I bought like three years ago.  I loved the print. I little square is a sample of an Amy Butler fabric. And just who doesn't love anything from Amy Butler?


These items became the inspiration for a polymer clay pendant.  I know it's not exact. That's not the point in case you thought it was.  When I am inspired by something, and I set out to create using that inspiration, I hope something gets lost in translation. That's what makes it mine.


This pendant and many other items will be for sale early this Fall at Spark and then in my shop.  I will be posting photos of different pieces as I make them over the next month or so. If you see something you like, let me know and I'll save it for you.


Did I mention how much fun I'm having lately with clay?  Well I am really enjoying a new found artistic medium to work with.  And the best thing about it is that I can bring it down to the kitchen or outside in the yard and work on a project while the Little Mister sleeps and the other kids play. Although Thom has been sitting by me, having some fun with it as well.

I just love that my son enjoys art as much as I do.

Yesterday he made some marbles.  Today he wants to make little monsters.

Polymer clay is a perfect craft to do with kids.  You may need to knead the clay until it is soft and easy for little fingers to manipulate, but after that you can just let them create until their little hearts content.

The clay is hardened by baking it in the oven.

You can find clay at any craft store. It isn't expensive and comes in a bunch of colors.  But I have to say, mixing your own colors is super enjoyable.

It's serious Summer crafting fun for kids.


Check it.


Crafty Momma over and out.

the cup is half full

Finding inspiration in these gray May days.

Please click photo for credits.

today i'm inspired

this i know for sure

I feel that the world at large is aswirl in uncertainty. There are so many unknowns in the U.S. economy and in world affairs. The rhetoric from the media serves only to futher confuse and befuddle the average American. I do not believe in the ostridge approach. To put your head in the sand and wait for calmer seas is foolish. I think we need to take active steps to secure our way of living. This I know for sure.

Here's a few other things I know for sure:

What you put out in the world will come back to you.

You can't have everything all of the time, but you can have somethings some of the time.

The best thing you can do for your children is to love and honor your spouse.

Belief in God is not insurance against pain, but a resource in the event of pain.

Your children won't remember how clean the house was on Christmas morning, only how happy their mother was.

The more you say, the more your ignorance becomes apparent.

I'm still working on that last one.

Don't forget to put your name in for the hair pins and curly bows from yesterday's post. I'll announce the winners tomorrow morning.

wannabe

The weekend was completely exhausting, exhilarating, frustrating, satisfying and fun. Oh, and did I say exhausting?

The Anahata workshop was amazing. Ana is amazing. She is so loose and free when she paints. Nothing is an accident or unfixable. I could really use a big dose of what she has. Not only does she have wonder talent, she is a completely warm and charismatic person to boot. If I didn't love her, I'd hate her.

We worked on two projects. I hated the piece I did the first day. It has since grown on me and I will be working on it some more to see if I can make it "wall worthy". I ended up really liking the piece I did yesterday. I went into the project with a clear concept in my mind. As I worked my ideas changed and evolved, but the piece still became what I wanted it to be. I will be framing it and putting it up in the nursery. Someday my little girl will look at it and know she was in my heart long before she was born.

I am now completely obsessed with college. I have two canvases that are whispering my name, and a pile of laundry that is screaming. Ahhh- such is the plight of a wannabe artist housewife.

The winner of the Trash Ties is Jill, the girl who left the second comment. The the winner of the birthday banner is Michelle. Congratulations! I'm excited for you. Ladies, please contact me with your shipping information.

This Friday I've got hand printed stationary and children's clothes to give away so stop by!

इन्स्पिरटिओन्

If I could just get over the smell of incense, the idea of worshiping a rat and the oppression of women, I think India would be a wonderful place to live. I get lost in the colors of everyday Indian life.

I won't be packing my bags quite yet. For now, I am happy to glean inspiration from photos. Hummm, what will I make today?

lost

Hokusai Wave Earrings

Nothing can drive me to insanity faster than losing something. It's one of those things that enrages me mostly because I have no one else to blame. When I was little, I simply accused other family members of stealing to save myself some discomfort. I still occasionally try this tactic, with little success.

A while back, my brother bought me a couple Japanese prints. One was by Katsushika Hokusai, one of my all time favorite artists. I am especially taken with his piece called "The Great Wave".

I have hunted and hunted and hunted. I can't remember where I "safely stored" those prints. It has kept me awake at night. At 2:32 am last Tuesday night, my eyes popped open. I laid there with a sweaty back and listened to the chorus of deep breathing from Sugar Daddy and Fin. I mentally searched the house for the prints. I strained to think of new places I might not have checked. I got nothing.

The next morning I sat at my work bench still thinking of my missing prints. The Hokusai Wave earrings were born.