"Tooling" around... some mini "how to" tutorials

After a total *DISASTER* in the computer department, I am finally back online!  The motherboard on my main computer decided to give me a very hard time... three capacitors blew up and that was the end of my computer!  I was *more* than annoyed... the computer wasn't all that old and a well known brand name.  But I heaved a sigh of relief at none of my data being lost!  Doing backups on my external drive made a difference too!  The only problem was... I had to find a computer *somewhere* running XP (I had always refused to upgrade to Vista) in order to access it.  It took a couple of days for hubby to track one down with our local computer guy... who was great.. he switched the drives and I was back in business.  I flipped the switch and  then came the shocking realization I had lost all of my software programs!  Fortunately I had the CD's for some of them (and have most of them now re-loaded) but a lot of programs I had downloaded off the web were lost.  Needless to say, it has been a frustrating and maddening two weeks getting back to this point.

To calm my jangled technology nerves, I whipped out my clay and began to play!!  I have been wanting to cover a needle tool hubby made for me a couple of years ago out of a heavy darning needle and a piece of dowel.  I use it all the time... and not just for claying.  After all that use, it was looking pretty grubby!!

It's the greatest little tool for punching holes in leather, in cloth for putting in grommets or getting a sewn buttonhole started, cleaning those tiny ridges in my clay gun, poking holes in cardboard or paper... oh I could go on and on!!  Want to make one yourself?  Just get a heavy darning needle, drill a hole in a 4" piece of 3/4" doweling that will fit the darning needle and glue it in with some heavy carpenter's glue. Cover it with clay, make a little bead for the end (so you don't poke yourself by accident) and you're done!

While I was at it, I decided to make some little stamps I could use to texture clay from some charms, embellishments and buttons I had lying around my art table.  I simply made an handle out of scrap clay, put a little clay behind the charm, button or embellishment to offset it from the handle, cooked it and voila a bunch of cool little stamps were born.  They work like a charm!  (no pun intended!)

 

Take a look at this photo.  Yep, it's my initial!  Can you guess what it might be?

The mystery thickens with some colourful "pick up sticks"

Now what do you get when you add the two together?  Why a "Bead-0-Matic" baker and glazing tool that looks like this:

Here's what's neat about this "tool":  it won't fall over in the oven (even in a convection oven with all that hot air swirling about) while the "cocktail" toothpicks hold the beads while baking.  You can remove the toothpicks and once you have sanded your beads (if they aren't textured), you can put them back on the toothpick, dip or glaze them and set them back into the holder to dry.  If you happen to lose or break one of the toothpicks, you can simply replace it with another one!

All you need to make it are some cocktail toothpicks and some scrap clay.  Form the clay into an "S", poke your toothpicks into the clay (leave them there while baking the "form"), bake the clay at 275 degrees for about 40 minutes (depending on the thickness of your clay).  Remove it from the oven while hot (I use an "Ove-Glove" in my clay room for handling hot clay coming from the oven) and immediately remove the toothpicks.  Let it cool, then put the toothpicks back into the holes in the form.  You have to remove the toothpicks while the form is hot otherwise they will be very difficult to remove without breaking!

Another use for this tool is using it as a holder for painting small "stuff" or when you are making little embellishments to add to ATC's, cards or other art.

So that's it for today... hope you find these tools useful.  I've got some beads that need sanding...

Happy Arting...

Sharon

P.S.  Have any of you who have blogs had as much frustration as I have had in "transitioning" the Google apps that can't automatically be moved to Google's new structure?  I was ready to tear my hair out...what a process... and I am not sure that I have even got it right.  I consider myself pretty web savvy but boy I found it confusing!  If anyone has some good tips, I'd love to hear from you!

Listening to an inner song

When I realized that well over a month had passed since I last updated my blog, I was rather shocked!

"Where did the time go?" I mused to my SELF.

The answer came back swiftly.  "Listening to the song in your heart." said that voice of SELF.  I smiled.

Allow me to explain.  Around the beginning of June, I was doing some clean up on my computer.  A necessary evil every now and again and not one that I particularly enjoy.  However, I like things relatively tidy and a good "purge" of my inbox, bookmarks, graphics, digitals and files definitely cleans things up... at least for awhile.  Sometimes I am more "ruthless" in my housekeeping than at other times and this time was no exception.  My recycle bin was filling up at a furious pace.  But then.... I came across the digital ATC above that I created at some point last year and had forgotten about.  It stopped me in my tracks... then and there!

I had to admit: "Nope, I haven't been listening."  In my rush to get caught up with all the "stuff" that had languished around for months before and after my foot operation/recuperation, I was going flat out trying to do six months of backlog AND "new stuff" all at once! 

I wish now that I had kept all the sticky notes emblazoned with task after task scattered all over my desk and pasted to my monitor.  It would have made a grand photo to show you!  One thing became clear as I looked at them... I wasn't doing what was most important to me.  It went a long way to explaining why I was feeling so out of sorts, why I was somewhat "grumpy" (not something I am prone to being), headachy and to top it all off, I was "bone" tired!!  I gathered them all up and threw them in the trash.  Boy did that feel "freeing"!

I had come to the sudden realization that I was so intent on crossing off those tasks (and ridding myself of a yellow sticky note) that I had completely forgotten what has worked for me for more years than I can remember:  Every morning, before I start my day, I ask myself this question:  "What are the 3 most important things you have to do today?"  I write them down and get to it.  After those tasks are completed, I get to do whatever I want AND I get to toss that sticky note in the trash!  It has always been amazing to me that once I identify the "must do's", I relax.  Many times I have discovered that once the "must do's" have been completed, I tackle something else that most likely would have ended up on the "must do" list a few days later and because it's not a "must" it miraculously transforms into a "want to".  Strange... but true.  LOL

Having broken the "spell" I was under, I began listening again.  I soon discovered where my headaches were coming from. 

Working on the computer was giving me eye strain even though I was wearing my "regular" glasses.  My eyes blurred up and my head pounded within a short period of time.  I was scheduled for an eye appointment with the opthamologist in a few days so I'd ask her what was going on. 

As it turned out... nothing... my eyesight was perfect BUT my eyes were drying out sitting in front of the computer.  According to the doctor, we tend not to blink as often sitting in front of the screen and should use eye drops regularly.  She also suggested getting a pair of "office" glasses.  These are glasses that are specially made for working on the computer.  Off to the "glasses" store I went to pick out a pair of the funkiest frames I could find!  Well ... what a difference putting in eyedrops regularly throughout the day and my "funky glasses" have made.  Headaches have disappeared and I'm back in business (chuckle).  If you wear glasses and work for more than an hour in front of a computer,  I highly recommend them.

So what have I been up to?  The biggest chunk of my time has been spent on recording stories for a CD I will be releasing soon and hope to get on iTunes.  What fun it has been!  This is a project that I have been wanting to do for close to 12 years now and it feels great "getting on" with it.  Yep, listening to my inner song is definitely working!

During my "sitting around" time earlier this year, I decided to go through my file (upon file, upon file) of stories and choose my absolute favourites.  With over 150 stories that I have gathered over the years, it wasn't an easy task deciding which ones I loved the most.  But... I did manage to boil it down to 50... way more than I will ever need for a couple of CD's.

The next order of business was figuring out how and where to put a proper "recording" area in our house..  When we lived in North Carolina, I had a recording studio built in our home but "lost" it when we moved back to Canada.  But where could I put it in our current house?  Over the past five years, I have filled up any available spot in my creative space with art supplies, paint, clay, fabric, beads, wire... need I continue? LOL.  Add to that rolling carts, cupboards, fridge, oven (for baking clay) and a giantic art table!  I wasn't about to give that up... no way!!

It took some brainstorming, moving stuff around and a couple of "this won't work" tryouts but my new  recording area finally found a home in a tiny corner of my creative space.  Because I stand when I record, I don't need a lot of room to move around (other than for my "flying hands"). 

Hubby put together a tower to hold my microphone, snuggled it and the surrounding area in noise dampening audio foam, added a light, a spot for my laptop, a music stand and a high bar stool that I can straddle (I still have problems standing on my foot for any length of time).  It's perfect!  Very little ambient noise because I am in an enclosed space... a necessity as my microphone is very sensitive and picks up the drop of a pin!  It's like being in a small "British style" telephone booth!.  The only thing I need to do is turn off the fridge (which lives in a distant part of the room, as far away from the mike as we could get it).  I forgot to turn it back on one day last week after I finished recording and had a tiny disaster... it defrosted and the water drained out all over hardwood floor!  Now I have a sticky note on my laptop every time I record:  "Remember to turn the &%"@* fridge back on." Nonetheless, I am a happy camper.  Recording is just plain fun especially so when you can breathe life into a story you love.  Stories just ain't for kids ya know!

Over this past month, I have managed to get a number of stories recorded. Now begins the "grunt work"... editing and getting a "master" done.  This is the part that is so time intensive to do it right but with new "computer" glasses, a tenacious spirit and a bunch of enthusiasm, I am raring to go.... but first...

some beach time this weekend and then back to playing with story.  Yep, life is good!

See you soon...next time I'll show you the CD cover I have designed for these wonderful "vintage" tales.

Sharon

A Wonderful Birthday Surprise!

The day dawned rather cool and cloudy.  "Where's the sun?" I mused to myself.

It had been a rather dull and rainy week but today the sun would shine for sure!  You see, it was my birthday and the sun has shone on my birthday for as long as I can remember.  Sometimes only for a few minutes but it has never disappointed me.... even on that day I turned ten.

A freak snowstorm dumped so much snow (I was living with my family in Ontario then) that the snow drifts were so high that it blocked our front door and I had to cancel my birthday party!  I was so disappointed.  Then, early in the afternoon, the sun came out and sprinkled diamonds in the snow for me.  It was a birthday gift that I have never forgotten and now I have another one to add to the "memory book" of my life...

I fired up my computer and opened my mail. There was an email from the gallery that I had, on a bit of a  dare, submitted three of my pieces for an upcoming art show.  I opened it, just as the sun peaked through the clouds for a few seconds and shone in through the window.

I am certain, that had you seen the look on my face as I read the email, it would have been... well... priceless!  I had to read it three times before it sunk in.  It was an acceptance email for not one, not two but all three of my pieces.  Now THAT is quite an unexpected but very sweet birthday gift.  I was so excited that I thought for a moment my heart would jump right out of my body.  If that's what winning the lottery feels like... BRING IT ON!  I am really looking foward to inviting some of the very special people and friends in my life to the Artist's Reception and Opening on May 28.  The show itself is open to the public from May 26 - June 5.

This particular art gallery has always appealed to the Victoria historian in me and I love going there... even just to wander around the gardens on the property.  In my wildest dreams I never expected to one day have my art shown there. 

Being a "collective" gallery (a community of artists and mainly run by volunteers), I had given some serious thought this past winter to offering some volunteer time at the gallery just to put myself in a community of artists.  I felt it was an opportunity to get to know other artists and their work in our area and perhaps attend some of the art workshops there.  Hubby and I talked about it and he encouraged me to "go for it".  I was all set to contact them after Christmas when, of course, I found out that I was about to be sidelined on the "lazy boy" for a couple of months.  So much for that idea!

In early April, a friend mentioned that the gallery was looking for artists to submit their art for jurying and be included in their upcoming "Anything Goes" art show.  It was an "open" submission... meaning that you didn't have to be an "associate artist" of the gallery in order to submit.  I must admit, I rather scoffed at the idea at the time.

"Oh for Pete's sake, Sharon" she said my friend, rather annoyed.  "You've had pieces juried and accepted in the two biggest shows on Vancouver Island that every artist covets getting into.  Both of those shows accept only about a third of all the submissions they get.  Considering that the percentage of pieces sold at those shows is less than half, that's a big message.  It tells you there are people out there who like "your "stuff".  Your pieces have all sold. You can submit three pieces to the Coast Collective Gallery... just pick three of your favourite pieces that you can part with, fill out the application and submit them for heaven's sake."  So, after thinking it over for a few days, I did!

Have you ever had the experience of initially rejecting an idea because something seemed to be stopping you?  I admit, this "kick in the butt" conversation with my friend  got me thinking.  Was I afaid of being rejected?  Did I not value my own work?  What was going on in that brain of mine?  It took me a couple of days to figure it out.

Working through those questions prompted me to write a new artist's statement.  It's a great exercise I think every artist should be required to do at least once a year (and mine was a couple of years old) I feel really good about my artists statement now... it is definitely more authentic than ever before and  a much truer reflection of where I come from and what my art is all about for me.   Want to have a "conversation" about the process of writing an artist statement?  Let me know and I'll put a blog post together.

In the meantime, a "snippet" of Victoria history that surrounds the Coast Collective Gallery, a photo of the building and photos of my pieces that were accepted into the show.

"Pendray House" - Coast Collective Art Gallery
Havenwood Estates at Esquimalt Lagoon
Colwood, British Columbia

The Gallery is at the end of a winding road in Havenwood Estate (close to Hatley Castle at Royal Roads University) in the historic Pendray House.  Built in 1928 by Herbert Pendray (1883-1956), the son of William Pendray, Herbert worked in the family paint business (the British American Paint Company) in the position of Vice President. 

His father William came to British Columbia in 1869 during the gold rush to work in the mines at Mosquito Creek in the Cariboo.  He struck it rich when he acquired one of the gold mines that turned out to have the richest diggings in the country.  He returned to England for a few years and then made his way back to Victoria and founded the Pendray Soap Factory ((located near the grand Empress Hotel at the head of Victoria's Inner Harbour) and later founded a highly successful paint company known as the British American Paint Company. 

Nestled in the woods overlooking the ocean, Pendray House was built in the English style of a Mediterraean villa.   A Gardener's Cottage, used by the grounds caretaker followed in 1935 along with a greenhouse and barn.

Sold after the death of Herbert's wife, the house has had a few owners over the years. In 1966, it was purchased for use as a country club and later became a rest home for the elderly but sold again  and was leased by the Pacific Center for Family Services up until a few years ago when it became the Coast Collective Gallery. 

Situated in one of the most beautiful settings for a gallery in Victoria, the grounds surrounding the house are absolutely gorgeous.  One highlight is the antique sundial sitting on a plinth of river stones in the garden.  The inscriptions on the sundial are worth noting...
“For every hour that passes, a remembrance;
For every hour that strikes, a happiness;
For every hour that comes, a hope."

The inscription inside the hour circle of the sundial itself reads, “Time is Precious”

Wandering through the “house” with all its little rooms filled with art “goodies” is delightful. There is a lovely gift shop with a “tea veranda” and the main gallery, with its full frontage windows, overlooks the grounds and the ocean… the view is spectacular.  It's a little piece of "heaven" tucked away close to my favourite beach.

Here are photos of the pieces that have been accepted into the show:

Kyoto Geikos - Clay Mixed Media
inspired by the story "Memoirs of a Geisha"



"Tweet T2" - Ceramic/Clay
inspired by birds singing and "tweeting" while I was drinking
some southern "sweet tea" in a garden in Savannah, Georgia

"Sakura Geisha" - Japanese Paper Collage/Drawing
inspired by a tale about a beautiful Japanese
Geisha who was a dancer but sent the man she
loved most of all away for she felt she was
"unworthy"  of his love for her.  A sad but
moving tale of of sacrifice --- she mourned
him deeply to the end of her days.




Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful long weekend.  Now I must take the time today to fill out my forms to become an associate member of the collective!  YIPPEEE!

Sharon



April Blog Giveaway Winner...

The winner of the April Giveaway for followers... a Funky Pendant... is Connie from the Aloha State... Hawaii!

Congratulations Connie!

Thanks to everyone for playing and thanks for being a follower.  I appreciate your support of my blog very much.  Stay tuned.  I have a few surprises up my sleeve coming soon (once I deal with my freezer that decided to pack it in last night :(

Have a great weekend everyone...

Sharon

Claying Around... A Wire, Clay and Bead Embellished Necklace

Here's a fun little bunny hopping by to say Happy Easter to you!

May this Easter bring  you and the special people in your life, lot of Love, Smiles and a chocolate bunny to nibble on.

This week I graduated to an old pair of gardening shoes .. not pretty by any means but boy at least I can get them on my "newly aligned" foot without screeching!  It has amazed me at just how sensitive my foot is since the operation and how I am having to learn how to walk again.  I never realized, until now, just how "off" my gait was before the operation.  The minute I put my foot down in the "old" position, I get a sharp pain in my hip to remind me to "get with the program" and adjust.

I won't be running any marathons soon LOL but slowly and surely I can stand again for longer than 10 minutes.  So I took advantage this week and decided to clay around....

Here's a photo of the "leaf" necklace I made to which I added some wire and beads.  Although it looks "red" in the photo (when will I ever learn how to do photography??? LOL), it is actually a copper metallic colour.  The highlighting, also in metallic was done with a couple of colours... blue, green and purple... and sets it all off very subtly.  I love how it just catches the light and changes colour depending on the angle.

Each of the individual leaves would make a sweet pendant all by itself.  I attached the leaves to an "antiqued" copper chain that I purchased and made a clasp to finish it off.

Just a reminder... there is still time to enter the April giveaway for the rather funky necklace I made some time back.  Just click on the photo in the Popular Posts (Blog Giveaway - A Funky Pendant Necklace) over on the right hand side of this page to see it and how you can enter to win it.

Hope this finds you happy, healthy and ready to gather Easter eggs this weekend,
Sharon

Blog Giveaway - A funky Pendant Necklace

At long last... the blog giveaway for followers!  A very funky pendant encased in a copper edging on a twisted hemp cord!  It looks absolutely fabulous against a black sweater or blouse (or just experiment with your wardrobe for the look you like best).  It will definitely get comments from your friends... I know because every time I wear mine I always hear "Where did you get that?  It's so funky!"

There are only a couple of "rules" for your chance to win this giveaway...

1.  You must be a current or new follower.  If you don't currently follow my blog, it's easy to become a follower.  Just click on the follow button (over there on the left, at the top, where all the pictures of current followers are) and follow the instructions to sign up.
2.  You must leave a comment on this post with a way for me to contact you.
3.  Tell your friends about the giveaway on your blog or facebook page (or both) and you will get another chance to win it.  Just send me a quick email (just click on the "telegram" photo on the right) with a link to your blog or facebook post to let me know.

The draw will take place on April 30 and I will post the winner's name.  Good luck!

Cheers,
Sharon

Two Days We Should Not Worry...

I'd like to say a warm thank you to all of you who have sent me "best wishes" for a speedy recovery from my foot operation.  I am not quite out of the woods yet... but I am getting there.  At least now I can sit for an hour with my foot down... that's a big improvement.  I still have a way to go... I certainly didn't think it was going to take me what seems like FOREVER to be able to get back to art but I am being as patient as I can be so I don't screw it all up by getting too ambitious!  So bear with me folks... my head is brimming with ideas (especially for the giveaway coming in April for blog followers) even though the body isn't quite up to making it happen yet! You know the old story... the heart is willing  but... LOL

But I have discovered one thing I can do while not being very mobile... do some recording.  With this in mind, I have recorded a new (2:36 minute) story for this month called "Two Days We Should Not Worry".  Intrigued?  I hope you enjoy it... Sharon

This story has been moved to the Audio Story Page.  Just click on the Audio Story "Tab" at the top of this page to access it.

A Pretty Necklace and an update...

Hi everyone...

Well, here I am, two weeks plus a couple of days in after my foot operation and although I am doing much better, it has become increasingly clear to me that this is going to take some time yet!!  Am I getting bored?  Oh YES!  I miss doing art. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do "art wise" when you spend most of the day lying on your back with your foot in the air and... daytime television just doesn't do it for me. LOL 

Audiobooks have made it much more pleasant and the music, videos, podcasts, etc. on my IPod have been getting a good workout.  Right now I can spend about 15 minutes on the computer without my foot swelling up (and hurting like mad I might add)  It doesn't seem to like it when I sit with my foot down... even if it is resting on an upside down bucket under my desk...so this post will be short and sweet.  Just long enough to touch base....

I have been anxious to show you the beautiful polymer clay necklace I made at my claying retreat with Helen Briel and Eugenia Chan in Vancouver a couple of weeks ago.  What a fun retreat it was.  Both of these ladies were just absolutely wonderful...  more patience with our group than I could ever muster up I am sure LOL.  If you ever get the opportunity to have a workshop with either of them, I would highly recommend them. I am just tickled with the results...

Isn't that pretty?  You'd never know that it was made of clay!  I especially enjoyed learning some new wire working techniques... now I will just have to practice them. 

Unfortunately I am going to have to put off the special giveaway treat I have for new (and current) followers until around mid to late April... I am sure you can understand.  If you become a follower before then, you will be able to join in.  Just click on the "Follow" button... see over there on the left,  above all the lovely photos of other followers are... to join.

Hope to be back to more regular blogging around the first week or so of April.... so until then... have fun with your art...

Sharon





 

We have a winner...

in the One World One Heart 2011 Giveaway! 

Drum Roll....................

Kathy Kristinnson who lives in Arborg, Manitoba, Canada!

has won the Inukshuk earrings and pendant.  Nope, it wasn't a "fix" that a Canadian won! GRIN... all the names of folks who left comments went into a pot and her name was chosen.  It was a surprise ... I rather expected someone from half way across the world to win.

You can visit her at her delightful blog, Katies Cows and Udder Things!

A HUGE thank you to all of you who entered!  I ventured to some wonderful blogs over the past couple of weeks and discovered some fantastic artists in our blog community.  I have enough bookmarks of blogs I want to return to that will keep me busy all year long LOL

Thanks for playing everyone...

Cheers,
Sharon

Happy Hearts Day...

Happy Valentine's Day!  Today, for your listening pleasure, is a short but old Japanese tale of everlasting love called "The White Butterfly". 

So go ahead, take less than five minutes out of your day to listen to this poignant tale of love that I am sure you will enjoy. Just click on the mp3 player below.

Happy Hearts Everyone... Sharon

Button, button, who's got the ..

buttons!  I DO! 

More about buttons with a mini tutorial for polymer clay buttons  following this BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT...

Looking for the One World, One Heart Giveaway Post?  Just click on the link under Popular Posts to go there or scroll down past this post.

Also... I have a lovely surprise coming towards the end of February for my followers (and anyone who becomes a follower between now and then) so keep a watch out for it.


And now... to this week's post...

Next weekend (the 18th, 19th & 20th) I will be in Vancouver (with my Vancouver Island Guild clay buddies) for a weekend of fun playing with clay.  I have been looking forward to this bi-annual shindig put on by the Vancouver Polymer Clay Artists Guild for months now... I even re-scheduled my foot surgery coming up on February 22...(more about that later) to make sure that I could walk without a cast and have a good time.  Now that is dedication to my art... LOL

With loads of demos planned (color mixing, conditioning, transferring images to clay, making hinges for boxes), a full weekend workshop of creating a pinched leaf necklace (see photo below) with Helen Briel and Eugenia Chan, catching up with Lower Mainland friends, dining out and sipping wine, it promises to be a weekend without much sleep but with a lot of FUN and a LAUGHTER!

Here is a photo of the gorgeous necklace we are going to learn how to make...  I just hope I can create something that even comes remotely close to it... LOL

Helen Briel/Eugenia Chan Design
Photo courtesy of Vancouver Polymer
Clay Guild, Helen Briel and Eugenia Chan

One fun activity that is done on the Friday evening is to exchange polymer clay buttons we have made.  I  have been in a steampunk and faux raku mood lately so here's a photo of the buttons I have made for the exchange:

It was fun making all 30 of them with what I call my "Serendipity Steampunk" method. 

You just take a piece of rolled out on your largest setting black clay, double it, gently roll it smooth to release any air bubbles. 

Now just grab a bunch of "stuff" like toothpicks, screws, little charms, watch faces, fancy buttons, watch parts, little keys, keyholes and so forth and press them randomly into the clay to create a pattern all over your clay.  It helps if you swish them around in a baking soda bath (baking soda poured in a recycled lid) so that they don't stick to the clay when making the impressions.

Next come your cutters... whatever shape you like... and, with "gay abandon" just cut your buttons out from the clay.  Let yourself be surprised by what your "buttons" will look like.  You just never know what you are going to get and it's a fun way to just stay loose and simply create!! 

A small cocktail toothpick will create the holes quite neatly. Punch them from front to back, then back to front.

I dust them with Pearl-Ex, "cook" them (20 minutes at 275 degrees) and when cool put a Varathane finish on them (cause I like shiny!).  This also allows them to be washed.  However you can also cover the "cooked" buttons with Precious Memories III (one coating is enough), Future Floor Wax (several dippings) or just leave them as they are... just lightly sand and buff HARD on your jeans.

These buttons are great for adding to a knit sweater (most knit sweaters have such boring buttons) or even to a top or blouse.  And at the cost of buttons these days, they are CHEAP!  But don't stop there... leave the button holes out and use them as embellishments for altered books, scrapbooking pages, cards, altered art... the list could go on and on...

So there you have it!  Next on my list to make will be some "critter" buttons for my granddaughter.  When she saw these (via Skype) she thought they were pretty cool!

If you are a clayer, when was the last time you made some buttons?  If you aren't a clayer. why not give it a try?  Polymer clay is so easy to work with.  It doesn't take long and you'll have a blast coming up with all sorts of designs that you'll just have to go and buy a new sweater... or blouse... or  ....... start a new altered book... or ... make a fun card for a special someone... or add them to your latest painting.... need I say more?  Didn't think so!
 
On another note...
 
I am going in for surgery on my foot on the 22nd.  As some of you know, I have arthritis and it has taken its toll, destroying cartilage and creating all sorts of grief for me in various parts of my body.  If I want to be able to continue to walk, this operation has become mandatory.  I will be in a non weight bearing cast for about 8 weeks while everything heals... and quite honestly for someone like me with high freedom needs... I am hoping I don't go stir crazy batty!!  It is my right foot so unfortunately driving is OUT!
 
But I am going to ask for a plaster cast for the first one (there are two casts) so that I can have some fun drawing zentangles on it while I recuperate for the first couple of weeks!  I'm going to Michaels this weekend to buy some of those Sharpie paint pens they have on sale to get ready... and  hope the orthopaedic surgeon goes along with my request.
 
During that time I am going to do my best to keep the blog updated.  Time permitting, I will get some writing done beforehand that I can then schedule for publication.  
 
 
Cheers,
Sharon

One World, One Heart, 2011 Edition

**Please note that this post will remain at the top of my posts for the duration of the One World, One Heart event. For newer posts, scroll down and click on the latest posts in the Blog Archive section in the right sidebar.**


Welcome to this year's One World, One Heart magical giveaway event starring bloggers from around the world!  Thank you so much for deciding to stop by myStoryART for a visit today.

Organized by Lisa Swifka, as a way for bloggers to connect with other bloggers from all corners of our wonderful world, this fifth and final year for the One World, One Heart Giveaway event promises to be the best yet!!

If you are a blogger and you'd like more information about how you can participate in this world wide event, just drop by Lisa's blog to read the "rules and regs" .  Many words of thanks and appreciation go to Lisa for all the work, time and effort she has put into this event over the past five years.  It is truly a gift of love on her part.

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If you are a first time visitor to my blog, allow me to introduce myself and give you an idea of what you can expect to find, see or do during your visit to myStoryART.com. 

My name is Sharon House and I'd like to invite you to sample many of the delicious "goodies" you can discover buried in 130+ posts you can find on my blog.   Tasty morsels such as...

• Entering your name for a chance to win the special giveaway gift I have selected for this year's One World, One Heart event.
• Wise woman tales and other delightful, intriguing stories
• Art projects to inspire you
• Hands on projects for all levels of artistic talent
• Tips, techniques and ideas you can use in your art
• Tutorials you can download or request
• Much, much more to delight the eye, tickle your funny bone and stimulate your creativity

If you like what you see and/or hear during your visit and would like to drop by again in the future, may I suggest that you bookmark my blog address in your browser or become a follower or sign up as a subscriber?  And, of course, remember to enter your name for a chance to win my GIVEAWAY. 



(Retail value $25.00)

I chose this funky, handcrafted polymer clay Inukshuk earring and pendant set (it also comes with a story, "The Story of the Inukshuk... The Meaningful Messenger") for my giveaway because of its symbolic meaning. The Inukshuk, originally found in Canada's arctic (and which was also the symbol for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games) is an enduring symbol of the importance of caring friendship between peoples and also serves as a reminder on an individual basis that we always have a choice in the direction we choose to take as we follow our life's path. 

Here's how to enter this Giveaway.

It's very simple!  Leave a comment on THIS POST along with your email address and a link to your blog (I'd like to return the favour and stop by for a visit to your blog)   The draw will take place on February 17 and I will post the winner's name here on my blog. 

**A gentle reminder... you must be a blogger and have your own blog in order to enter the draw.**

Thanks for stopping by today. I sincerely hope your enjoy your visit and come back again soon!

Cheers,
Sharon

Time for a Wise Woman Tale

Hello again and welcome to my blog!

Last Wednesday night, as I turned off the bedside light to go off to sleep, our bedroom was flooded with the silvery light of the moon filtering through the open blinds. 

One of my favourite things to do is to lie in bed and look out at the night sky, especially around the time of the new moon.  As I lay there, feeling quite happy and content, I was reminded of a wise woman story that I have often told around the time of the full moon.

When I sat down to write this week's post, I realized that I haven't told you a wise woman tale for quite a long time now.  So, this week, for your reading or listening pleasure (you decide) is my "cobbled together from different sources" version of an old Hawaiian tale, The Old Woman in the Moon.

This story has been moved to the Audio Story page. Just click on the Audio Story "tab" at the top of the blog to access it.

Aloha!

P.S. In the mood for a good chuckle?  Another recorded story you might enjoy is "Mary Sue's Goin' on a Diet". It's a tale I tell only in January and was the recorded story for January 2010.

 

Have a wonderful week,
Sharon