Twisted Beads, Jana Robert Benson's style

During the past 6 months that I was away from home, my clay and my pasta machine, surfing the Internet is the only thing that connect me to the outside world. Reading other people blogs, websites and watched my clay friends put their new works on-line make me envy. Every chance I get, I clay. It help me kept my sanity and gave me hope that someday, I will be able to put my new works on my blog again.
With a few minutes here and there, while running from home to the hospital, and a few pack of clays, I can make a few small beads. Put them on the tile and carefully place the tile in the cigar box, bring it home and bake so I can make a few bracelet while I was away. That's how the "Hurricane Beads" came about and I don't need to use pasta machine to make those beads. Jana Robert Benson's twisted beads always make me feel exciting. Last night I came up with these twisted beads made with the mess up "Hurricane beads". They look cute and very organic, and unpredictable. They are fun to make.
Ada and I are home now. I will have a new studio next to her room so I can work and play with clay.
May be, when I have more time to sit down, I can make a larger one.
Thanks Jana.

Here's the bracelet I just finished.

Very "Ponsawan" I might say.

I think I got my "muse" back. What do you think?

Now that I have a bowl of beads

Now that I have a big bowl of colorful beads, I can start making something fun. During the summer, I strung them with some seed beads, tied them up with the waxed cord that I have, and turned them into ankle bracelets. Make it shorter, I get the bracelet, make it a little longer and I get a necklace. This has worked out well because:
1. I cannot repeat myself, yet I still making one-of-a-kind necklaces because they will never look the same.
2. Customers who prefer handmade jewelry are so happy to wear my pieces. It is almost like I made it especially for them when they were told that I made my own beads.
3. With the same material and design concept, I like to experiment many different styles.
4. All I need are some pretty seed beads that will only enhance and compliment with my own beads.
5. I used my handmade button as a clasp so I don't have to worry about the price of the silver that had gone up to the "not affordable" items. The piece looks all together as a complete design.
Ok, I have been making jewelry for many years, this is the design that complete itself and I am still having fun making them.
Many nurses and therapists had become a proud owner of my bracelets. I hope it would remind them of Ada and mom and the time that we spent together. Thank you for everyone who help taking good care of my daughter during our 6 months staying away from home.

Making my own beads

Now that Ada and I had settled down at home, I can continue to blog again. So many things to share but let me start with these little "Hurricane Beads" I made with scrap clay. During the past 6 months, while I stay in the hospital and nursing home with Ada, I found sometime to make small bracelets and anklets and sell them to the nurses. I used to visit my friend who sells good quality Czech beads, but I found out that most people cannot tell the different between top quality glass beads and cheap, China made beads. So I started playing with left over clay and come up with a small size, colorful beads that customer can appreciated more because they are all hand-made.

Not only I have a perfect size beads, but also the color I want and the hole is running from side to side, not top to bottom, which make it lay flat when stung.
I also make the small buttons to use as clasp.
Last week, when Ike landed in Houston, I watch the weather Chanel and it occurred to me that my little beads look like the eye of the hurricane. These beads are easy to make and tomorrow I will show you what I made with those beads.
Happy to be back blogging again. Thanks for everyone who left comments and visit Ada's blog.

With clay in hand

Hello clay friends,
After 5 long months, I can go home in the evening and sleep on my own bed and get a chance to play with clay for a few hour before I go to bed.
My daughter will come home soon and I will becoming a stay-at-home mom again, but this time, I cannot wait to stay home. More time to clay and being able to sell my jewelry on-line is such a blessing. I found a few more local shops that want to sell my jewelry and my friends in Thailand had already place the orders.
I am beginning to pick up the pieces of my life.
Hugs

Dear Ada

I decided to set up another blog for my daughter, so I can update her condition as well as celebrate her life.
Read all about it at www.dearada.blogspot.com

minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day

It had been 16,320 minute, 272 hour, or 11 and a half day since my daughter accident, still, she is in coma. She is showing sign of reflect action; moving her arms and legs when gets pinch, open her eyes half way, twisting her body. She's still unconscious, but hopefully the doctor can wean out the drugs and she can regain consciousness by her own, we hope. No promising what so ever.
I stopped crying after 7 days, no more tear to cry. Fighting my way into the crowded visitor room, gather some couch, chairs and table. I sleep there during the night so I can catch the doctor in the morning then go home. I can see her anytime I want. Many of her friends and my friends had stopped by all day. Many had dropped off dinner. I had my moment but the anger had subsided but the fear of the unknown had set in. What if, what if, what if.
Let's pause our lives for a minute, give your love one a hug, tell them you love them, because you will not know what will happen in the next minute. next hour, or next day. Group hug everyone.
Thanks for all the kind words, pray and encouragement.
Ponsawan

And the wall came tumbling down

Nobody like bad news, but I think I have to tell.
Start with good news. Coming back from Synergy, I received several emails from Magazine Editor who interested in my works and want an article as well as a book.
Then the parent's worst nightmare began. My daughter got a car accident. A (apparently) drunk driver had hit her car head on. With severe brain injury, fracture skull, broken ankle, she is fighting for her life at Critical care unit at the hospital. She is still in coma and I am fighting to be strong.
Sorry about the bad news. Please remember me, I'll be back when I can get my life together.
Hugs
Ponsawan

Out of comfort zone

I took the "Creative Spark" seminar with Dayle Doroshow at Synergy. One of the exercises we did was that each of us had to pick up 4-5 paint chips with color of our choice from the table. Then we had to pass them on to the person that sit next to us. "Do something with those colors" she said. Trying to lead us out of our comfort zone. Go home and do something with it.

My neighbor handed me her choice of color. These are not my color palate. I started to get panic. I have to come up with something quick before I throw those paint chips into my bag and pretend that I've never seen them before. I made a quick sketch and told my neighbor to write down her name and email address. I'll do something with it, I promise her.

It was 1:30 am when I stumbled upon those paint chips. Just do it now, I told myself. Frantically looking for the right color clay. Darn it, this is not my color. Finally, I started mixing the color, as close as possible to the paint chip. How can I put those colors together? Add some pearl into each color. Technique? Skinner blend, of course, works like a charm.

It was 3:00 am when I finished this pendant. It's not my color palate, it's not symmetrical, it is not quite "me" but I like it.

I'll mail this out to Bonnie Platner, my neighbor. Hope she like it too.

Next, I will attempt "Dan Cormier's Blend". It should be fun.

Good night for now.

P.S. This experience can cause painful headache, nauseous, or a panic attack. Please proceed with caution. Take some Advil and a deep breath. Come on , be brave.

Sunday morning in Baltimore

I got up early on Sunday, packed up and headed out the door with my camera. Grant had mentioned about more beautiful buildings up the street, so I went. A short walk turned into a three hour tour.

Travelling alone is not as bad as I thought. I did a lot of thinking and analysing of myself. I really like looking at the building, the structure, the details and the design. I took many pictures of buildings, cityscape, landscape, garden and flowers. What is so special about those buildings you might ask? The design, the process of how you can turn the idea that you have in your head on to the paper, then turn the 2 dimension drawing into the 3 dimension object. Artists with the background in design can see thing differently. We think in 3D. I usually have the whole design of the necklace in my head when I start unwrap the clay package.

So, to all my blog fans, please come along as I attempt to put "The Architectural side of me" and "The Polymer Clay side of me" together and become "One".

For more pictures of the City of Baltiome, you can see them here.

At the Banquet

I can't remember what I had for the main course, chicken may be. But I do remember the dessert.

Good night from Synergy

Last day, an emotional day, I don't want it to end. So much to see, so much to learn, so many people I want to talk too.
This morning I was escorted to the convention hall by the nice young man whose last name is longer than mine. I was admiring the Architectural details of the old buildings in downtown Baltimore, Grant was on his way so we walked together. I took some more pictures of those building and will do more tomorrow before going to the airport. I went downstair to ACC show to help my friend, Wiwat at his booth. Stopping at Ford&Forlano (again), many new pieces were on display today and they are different from what we had seen before in their works. More colors, bright color, more details, small pieces piece together. Rings, bracelets, necklaces, brooches that shows great design, high level of craftsmanship that took 20 some years to develop. While I was down there, someone asked to buy the flower ring that I wore. I looked around and sold it. People are spending money on arts and crafts, lots of money which is good news.
All the seminars at synergy were aimed to teach you how to think, how to design, how to develop your own style, to help you get your work to the next level. I am ready to go home, get on my pasta machine, and find new possibilities, new things that I can make with clay.
I also sold 3 necklaces at the gallery, thank you very much. I also gathered enough courage to talk to Jeff Dever and tell him how much his works had inspired me since the first day that I saw his work in the magazine.
This Polymer clay community are full of generous people. Everyone is so nice to me. Donna Kato gave me a hug and showered me with lots of kind words. She told me to keep doing what I am doing. I hope I can keep it up.
I will miss walking back to the hotel with Maureen Carlson and other girls. It was a nice walk. The one I will remember as well as all the experiences I have at Synergy. I will definitely do it again next year. You should come too.

Synergy

Hello from Synergy
Marian and Thezeda thought I should look more presentable at the conference. They dragged me to the mall to get my eye brown arched (and it hurt really bad), get my nail done and tried on some make up. I went home to dye my hair. It took so much effort to make me look dolled up. Scott reminded me to take business card, my medicine and toothbrush. I tried not to forget anything. It is strange to travel alone, I haven’t done that often.
Ada came home, finally. We talked, she cried, not certain of what to do next. She likes it there in Paris. Very cultural, she said, and people are nice. She cooked Thai food for the family and they love it. I don’t know she can cook.
I finally get to Baltimore in the afternoon, stepping out of the Hotel, and there she was, Mrs. Carol Duvall herself along side with Donna Kato. I wait quietly until Donna turned around and say “Hi Ponsawan”. Wait a minute, she actually knows my name. “I love your work” she said. Ah, excuse me! I just smiled, mumbled thank you. Can't say anything else, I lost my jaw, dropped it on the side walk.
And it had been like that the whole day, many people told me they read my blog and love it. I saw some familiar faces like Grant Diffendaffer, Marla Frankenberg, Judy Belcher, Kim Cavender, Maureen Carlson, Christi Friesen, Kelly Russell, Keila Hernandez. Some long distance friends; Bettina and Iris Mishly. Some famous bloggers; Cynthia Tinapple, Susan Lomuto. My blog’s fans; Jana Roberts Benzon, Seth Savarick and many others who had told me “I love your blog”. Now this is quite overwhelming to me. I better stop blogging until I figure it out what is going on. LOL NOT! I took a seminar with Dan Comier, it was about the new way to make the blend. It got me so excited. Can’t wait to get home and try it. This is good stuff.
The gallery was the highlight of the day. Finally I get to see all the works that had given me all the inspiration and courage to design, to create, to make beautiful things. I saw the works of Jeff Dever, Kathleen Dustin, Elise Winters, Louise Fischer Cozzi, just to name a few.
My roommate from Canada (Cynthia Blanton) thought I was quite a celebrity today. LOL
I am happy to be here among all other fine artists. The first time in 26 years living in this country, I felt that I belong. This is my world, and I am here to stay.
Second day was even better. I hung out at Christi Friesen's table, she handed me some clay to play with. You got to clay everyday, she said. Many new products from many vendors. I bought some faux bone started playing with it right away. Mike and I introduced our self to Staedlter. We both won the Hope-on-a-rope contest last week at CHA. My friend, Wiwat had a booth at ACC show down stair, so I went to see him. Stopping at Kathleen Dustin's booth gave me goose bump. Her new line of Pot purse is so incredible. It gave me hope that, next 20 years, my works can look like her, if I try harder. I had complete my list of what to see when I went to Ford&Forlano booth. Don't make me describe it, i can't. It is my ultimate dream come through to see their works in person. You got to see their works with your own eyes. What can I say? I must have a big crush on those guys who working with Polymer clay. I worship their works. All the edgy design and imagination that we, women can't express.
Tomorrow, I will go down to see Ford&Forlano's works again and again. He might have to shuffle me off his booth. What can I say? I lost my jaw, drop it so many times, many places.
Good night and will report back to you tomorrow.
P.S. For more interesting notes about the seminar, please fast forward to my Synergy roommate; Cynthia Blanton @ www.cynthiablanton.blogspot.com

Hope-on-the-rope

Here is the picture of the Hope-on-the-rope necklace that got me into the winner circuit. I won the Best use of Fimo category. It is a fun necklace. I connected 2 little bottles together to resemble the hour glass, then fill it with tiny little hearts. If you flip it over, the little hearts will fall through to the bottle below. It is designed with kid in mind, just like a toy that a child can play with while getting a treatment or waiting for the doctor to come in. The name of the necklace is Time & Love will heal. It is a perfect theme for Valentines' Day, Isn't it.
You can view the top 25 winner's necklace at www.amaco.com
Congratulation to all the winners. We did good, didn't we? And all for the good course.
Happy Valentines' Day everyone. May peace and love be with you at all time.

Synergy, here I come

I just sign up for Synergy, the conference in Baltimore. First, I'm not sure if I should attend, but when my Green necklace was featured on Polymer Clay Daily, I felt like Cynthia Tinapple was calling me. I should go. This is a chance to put myself out there with other polymer clay artists whome I had been admired for years. A chance to display my works in the same room, same table with "those famous names". I consider myself a beginner compare to those famous names, so this is also a chance to learn, to explore and find out how far I can stretch my creativity, my imagination, and my ideas.
So, go to my Etsy store and buy something, so I don't have to live on cheese and cracker while I'm there. Thanks for you support. :)
Hugs.
Thank you. I would like to sincerely thank the Synergy staff who had worked hard to make everything ready for next week. I like the fact that all my e-mails and requests have been taking care of on the same day. Did you guys ever sleep? :) I think I will give everyone a big hug when I get there.

Ada in Paris

My daughter is in Paris. She went to visit her boyfriend who came over to visit her last August. I told her that if he ever gets himself all the way here across the Atlantic ocean, maybe he really loves her. Remember when we were young and stupid and in love. LOL. I let her go, follow her heart, so at the end of this romantic story, there won't be any "what if" or "I should have". She is happy and David is very nice to her, I like him a lot. She will be back, I think, I hope. I miss her a lot.