Friday, December 21, 2012

Signs of Christmas Everywhere...

The west coast has been hit with some fierce storms the past few days and some parts of Vancouver Island, where I live, are in for a white Christmas.... something that doesn't happen all that often.  I love it when it snows around Christmas... especially those big flakes that drift lazily down and if you stick out your tongue you can catch them!

I have been down with a very bad cold and laryngitis this past week (I sound like a fog horn) and with the medication I am taking, all I want to do is sleep.  I have managed to get a few things done although I have not finished Christmas shopping and at this rate, probably won't!  Guess I'll just cut out pictures of what I was going to get, paste them in a card and take advantage of Boxing Day after Christmas sales.

Every year I make an ornament that I give to friends and special people for their tree or desk.  This year, I made some little angels that make up a choir when I put them all together to photograph them.


They stand about 1 inch tall and are as cute as a bug.  If you are interested in making them, there is a wonderful tutorial by Robyn over at Creations by Curry.

During the latest conflict in the Middle East I was inspired to make some clay peace dove pins with peace in English, Arabic and Hebrew stamped into the clay wings.  It may be wishful thinking but perhaps if enough of us think and show support for peace for the Middle East, it will happen.  While I was at it, I also made a dove scarf pin.  It looks lovely with the black knit scarf I have.  I discovered that it's tough to photograph anything white, so I tacked it to some black corrugated paper in the hopes that it would turn out.  Once it was fired in the oven and sanded, it was so smooth.  It's lovely to just run your finger over the top of it and make wishes!


Here's wishing you a very happy Christmas and lovely holiday season for you and your family!  I'll see you again in the new year...

Merry Christmas...

Sharon XOXOXO

Friday, December 14, 2012

Little Things Come in Big Packages

As I was getting ready today to pack up a "gift of polymer clay" for my dear friend Becky in North Carolina, I realized I hadn't taken any photos of some very cute "little clay things" that are going into the package.  Before I mail it today (late as usual!), I thought I would share some photos with you...

These crochet hooks are for Gramma (my friend's Mom whom I just adore).  Gramma is an avid crocheter and will appreciate these along with the little chocolate "calorie free" stitch markers that go with them.



A bit of background.  Becky and I have been close friends for eons and eons.  Even though we are separated by many, many miles and live on opposite coasts now, we still chat with each other every week. Among the other goodies in the package will be some little red running shoes.  Sorry that the photo below is not great... the shoes are so small that it was hard to get a good photo of them but trust me they are adorable.

 So why the red running shoes?

Well, Becky is a nurse and when she was on the floor she used to wear red tennies.  We used to call her Nurse Becky with the Red Tennies.  She is now in nurse management but the red tennies still hold a lot of significance for her.  They are a reminder for her to listen to and stay true to her heart.  Whenever she is in a quandary, is worried about something or needs to make an important decision we talk about her red tennies!!

Becky can make the little tennies into earrings (she is an avid jewelry maker).  They are less than 1" long and have her initials in them.  Along with them will go the larger shoe that she can make into a pendant or put on a chain.



There are some other surprises but I am staying MUM about them for now... don't want to reveal all the surprises in the package. I'll just sit back and wait for the package to arrive because...

It's hilarious when the package is plunked down on her doorstep.  She never waits for Christmas to open it.  Nope she dives right in, rips open the package and calls me!!  Ah, there is nothing like the beauty and love of chatting and being with old friends who know you "inside out" and "outside in" especially at this time of the year.

Santa is definitely on his way folks...

Have a delicious week,
Sharon


Friday, December 7, 2012

AllSorts of claying around...


I was wandering through Costco around mid week looking for some AllSorts candy for my father in law for Christmas.  He loves licorice, especially Allsorts and at nearly 91, I think he should get to eat all he wants.  I found a very big box of it (kinda Costco style, LOL) and when I got it home it only lasted about 10 minutes before the eldest son of my father in law (my dear hubby) decided that Christmas had come early to the House household.  He just had to sample some of Dad's licorice!!  Out came the candy dish and the nibbling began...

I took one look at that candy dish sitting on the table and a thought popped into my head.  "I bet I could make some of those in clay.  John (my father in law) would never be without Allsorts again!" I chuckled to myself as I dashed off to my art room to see what I could do.


So now I have a confession to make.  There weren't any REAL Allsorts left to take a photo of so the photo below is really the FAKE candy made from polymer clay.

Once all the pieces were "cooked", I piled them into the clear candy dish that's been hanging out in my china cabinet for years patiently waiting to be donated or sold at a garage sale LOL and covered the "candy" with resin.  Once everything was dry and touchable, it was time for

The "acid" test.

When eldest son was presented with two candy dishes, one with the real stuff and one with the fake stuff, he chose the fake candy.  He thought it looked more real than the real candy!! Mission Accomplished!!

I think the next time I will do two resin pourings instead of one to get more built up texture on the top but other than that, I am pretty happy with the results.

Oh what a good chuckle we have had with this little project.  It will be interesting to see the look on my father in law's face when he opens this package at Christmas.  And yes, I will buy another big box of the real stuff too... only this time I will smuggle it into the house and hide it!

Have a great week...

Happy Arting,
Sharon