Happy Halloween

Here is the picture of my front porch where I kept the naughty kid in the big trunk. Every year I would decorate my front door with different spooky themes, just for fun.

Black & White

These Black & White beads are off to the market in Chicago this weekend along with a bunch of snowmen and Christmas beads. As I tried to keep my hands clean between colors, I must have wiped my hand too much that, suddenly while rolling the white beads, I noticed that I had a pink swirl around it. Ew! So, I will be making Black or Red beads for a while. I think I can say that I've worked my fingers to the bone, make myself a name.

Making an IMPRESSION

This is another THANK YOU note to Barbara McGuire whom I met at the Bead Show in Cincinnati. On my way out, I bought a rubber stamp sheet from her. From the moment I pressed the sheet on the clay, I knew, this is what I have been looking for. The upper left corner one is my first necklace. Pretty ha!. I am using less of the metallic powder these days because I am afraid that inhaling too much of it will shorten my life span from 100 to 95 years. I also want to thank my friend from AMACO who (secretly) supply me with FIMO and other wonderful Amaco's products.

Frosty the SNOWMAN

These are my snowman beads. They are 3/4" high, a good size beads for earrings. The very first one I made, it's kinda skinny, my hubby told me he need to have a bigger bottom. ("Just like yours" he said.) Someone should smack him in his head for me, but they'd turned out cute. The white pearl beads around the snowmen are seed bead size 6/0. The bead had hole from top to bottom.

There is no need for an INTRODUCTION

My works had been featured at POLYMERCLAYDAILY website this week. It was such an honor to be recognized by the people with the same interest. I have so many people whom I met along the way that I would like to thank. First of all, The queen of craft, Carol Duvall, whom I had invited into my living room every morning for years and years. I met her at CHA '06 in Chicago. Such a lovely lady.
I also want to thank all the ladies and a few gentlemen at PCC chatroom whom I talk to on Tuesday and Wednesday. Your advises and encouragement had helped me to try and explore the new techniques and end less possibilities of Polymer clay. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

RED, WHITE and GREEN

Christmas is around the Conner. I sold all my Christmas color beads at the bead show, so, here're more beads. I am working on a tiny snowman right now. Please come back and see him soon.

you don't bring me FLOWERS, anymore

These beads are lovely and fun to make. First, I made a Black base beads, then make a tiny snake with different colors and blend them lightly. Twist the snake and roll it up, then stick it to the Black beads. Add the leaves by making a tiny teardrop shape out of green clay, with the end of the knitting needle, draw a line in the middle, stick the leaves next to the flower. With a small knife, draw the small veins. The MENTOS spacer beads make a nice compliment to these flower beads.
My friend, Mammy, send me a floor lamp with magnify glass, so I can see better. Thank you, Mammy!

SKINNER BLEND Swirly beads

My new beads for the month of October. The Skinner Blend technique had provided me with the new way to add colors to my swirly beads. I also tried to stay ahead of the season by making the Christmas color beads early.
The Indiana Bead Society is having the Beads Show this Saturday. I will do demo and also trying to sell my beads. I also was invited to do workshop of Polymer Clay for Pike High School students next month.

when i FALL in love

These are some of the leaf pendants I made. I just walked out to the back door and came back with a Sugar Maple leaf. And the rest is history.
These pendants will go well with Fall Color Outfits at the Boutique. Ok, this is not the imprint of the leaves. I draw each one out, cut a small mesh wire and use it for reinforcement between two clay sheets, cut it out and hand draw (scribble) all the veins. My first year at Ball State U., during Plant Identification Class, we have to walked around campus and studied trees. We learned to ID trees by their leaves. By the time the final came, all the leaves were gone. and I was doomed. They let me passed the test anyway.

Kimono

This necklace reminds me of a red Kimono I got when my mom went to visit Japan in 1960. The red chunky coral beads are the nice complement with the black beads.

Black & White Swirly beads

Black and white bead always sell first at the Bead Show. I got to make more.

Shimmering Raku

I used Fimo metallic powder to make this Raku (look alike) beads.

Sugar Maple

I had always been fasinated with the color of the Sugar Maple's leaves in Autumn. It is so beautiful. The first year at BSU, I worked in the computer room up on the 5th floor. Looking out of the window to see the purplelish sky and yellowish-brown trees, I could spot my orangie Sugar Maple trees down below.
I hope this necklace went home with someone this Saturday.
By the way, this necklace went home with my friend, Karen. Thanks Karen!

Another Blue Necklace

Here is the different design using the same technique. I can feel the little foamy bubbles tingling between my toes.
It's the catch of the day.

She sells seashells on the seashore

This lovely blue necklace reminds me of the time I spend on the beach where sky is bright, water is blue and the white foam that is washed ashore with the waves. Except that the shells here are the Hill Tribe Silver beads from Thailand.

P.S. The technique I used was the same old Mugume Gane. I layered the different shades of blue on top of white, poked the holes with all kinds of thing and slided it in an angle.