Pendentifs Magnifiques!

I just got these in the mail...my first etsy purchases from France.  :)

I found La Boutique de Cathy - Dumauvobleu - through the Bead Art Originals blog. 

Aren't they cool?!  I don't know why I thought I needed two of them...but I still want more!

Thanks for understanding my oooohing and aaaahing...polymer clay is amazing!  I need to bust out my new pasta machine and get motivated.  Nothing as cool as Cathy's work will ever show up on my table, but it's a great way to work off stress by molding and pounding and shaping.  :)

Adventures in Polymer

Check these out!

Of course there's a story behind these pretties (which are in my Etsy shop if you feel like you have to own them! haaaaaa)

I attempted again, recently, to teach a class.  I'm now officially one of the "visiting instructors" at our new local JoAnn's fabrics.  I'm not a huge fan of the actual specified projects (even though I probably shouldn't say that, they're not very pretty) so I haven't been trying hard enough to market them...I know, my bad.  So, last Sunday, even though I didn't have anyone signed up for the class, I took all my goods into the store's classroom and hung out and played.  The classroom is near the checkout line, so all the folks going through line could see what I was doing...I figure the more curiosity, the better, right?  I ended up with a young lady, Rebecca, and her mother helping me with inspiration.  They stayed and played for nearly an hour and a half!  We had such a great time!  She's a budding fashion designer, so she ended up with quite a few new accessories ready for her mom to bake up when they got home.  And I ended up with some kickass beads.  I have to give two shouts out to my polymer teachers:  Susan Gantz, back in Virginia, and Andrea Beeler, local here in Montgomery.  Susan helped me see all the potential in a little squeezy extruder and Andrea showed me how to shape beads.  I'm not perfect at any of these things, but I still love these results!

Plus, there's a reason I was using these particular colors...the ABS Turquoise Challenge.  This post came out weeks ago and since then I've had lots of ideas bouncing around in my head about how to use these colors.  I obviously have problems because I'm still in the yellows too much...gotta think more orange-y.  I still have plenty of clay and a whole week off of school for spring break next week, so I'm ready!

Doreen's Backyard Beads First Etsy Customer!

I love my morning coffee and blog reading...plus, when there's an opportunity to shop and support a friend, it's even better!  This morning I was thrilled to find Doreen's blog post announcing her new etsy shop!!

Go see....go see:  Doreen's Backyard Beads.  Plus, there's even a giveaway on her blog !  Who doesn't love some free beads!! (Okay, there are probably readers who don't understand what a bead need does to a person, but most of you do!! haaaaaaaaa)

Of course I went to see right away and since I'm only on cup of coffee number two, I had plenty of time to ogle her latest polymer clay coolness...and be the first customer!!!!  Whoo hoo!!!!  Thanks, Doreen, for helping me start the day right...spending money on beads!  haaaaaaaaaaaaaa

So, now that cup number two's almost done, I have to get ready for school.  Today I'm working with my class (there are twelve of us in my "home room") to plan a pretend war based on a pretend scenario using the "official" planning process.  Luckily there are some smart folks in the room who can help me figure out what's going on! 

Congrats, again, Doreen!  Have a great "grand opening" week!!!!  Wish me luck on my war planning!  haaaaaaaa

Jen

Fave Artist Resources - Polymer Clay

It's #4 of 5 in the resource listing extravaganza from last week's giveaway. This one's focused on polymer clay...this is one medium I can actually handle. Mind you, I'm a novice, but it's still such a fun material to work with. Most of the links are shops but some are just for inspiration! I don't intend to generalize an artist into a particular category, but had to make a few choices just to make it easier--so, feel free to explore and see all the cool things these artists have to offer! Most importantly, they're not listed in any particular order...go see them all!

Polymer Clay

http://www.studioartbead.etsy.com/ - Kate
http://www.storiestheytell.etsy.com/ Christine Damm http://www.breathtakingbeadzz.etsy.com/ - Cyndi Styles
http://www.humblebeads.com/ - Heather Powers
http://www.malodora.etsy.com/ - Malodora
http://www.klewexpressions.com/ - Karen Lewis
http://www.bijouxjardin.etsy.com/ - Sharon Palac
http://www.andreabeeler.com/ - Andrea Beeler
http://www.etsy.com/shop/grantdiffendaffer - Grant Diffendaffer
Plus, check out work by Cynthia Toops

Hope you can find some good stuff!

Jen