A Giant Ladybug

When we first started making our lady bugs, we had no idea they would be so popular.  We sometimes receive requests for custom items from customers at the local shops that sell our work.  One customer asked for a ladybug shawl pin with our "signature leaf" stick.  This is the design we created that has both a green and a black and white leaf stick that can be interchanged for a different look.

Teaching and Learning New Things in Polymer

There are several things I love about working with polymer clay.  I love how I can create so many different colors and color blends.  I love how I can feel the clay in my hands when I work with it and how it is soothing to touch and not sharp or jagged.  What I like most of all is how it can take on so many different forms.  Many techniques I have developed myself or mastered from other ideas and have written tutorials to share them with you.  Other techniques I felt would take too long to figure out and have learned from others who have mastered those.  I have learned over the years that with the polymer community, there is plenty of sharing and exchanging of ideas.  We are all learning from each other and I believe that is how we hone our skills and grow as artists.

Before I discovered polymer clay, I use to spend most of my days sewing and had a real love for fabric and textiles.  It is so cool how one can imitate many of these looks in the clay.  I have tried various techniques and ways to imitate the Ikat fabric but with not much success.  I really liked the look that Lindly Haunani achieved with her Rainbow Ikat technique and finally decided to give it a try.  I must say that I was most impressed how it turned out the very first time.

To make the Ikat pattern that Lindly shows in the lesson, you need to start with three colored clays, a pink, blue and yellow.  I was working with the Pantone fall 2013 fashion colors at the time so decided to try those.   For my pink I used Vivacious, for the blue I used the Mykonos blue and for the yellow, I used the Pantone color Linden which is actually a green but is mostly yellow (click on each of the names to see the clay color recipes).

When working with a lesson, I find it is helpful to follow the original instructions as closely as possible.  Once I feel I get the idea as to how it works, I can begin to play around with it a bit more and experiment with different variations.  This is how one can eventually develop their own "style".  So this is the Ikat "leaf" pattern that Lindly shows how to make which I turned into a scarf clip.

And here is another scarf clip made from the same Ikat cane.

I've had many people ask us where we get the scarf clip findings.  Well I will be revealing that to you very soon and will be sharing a free tutorial on how to attach them so stay tuned.

Leaf Jewelry Dishes

One day while I was making our gigantic leaf buttons I happened to cut a cane slice a little too thick which made my leaf a little larger than I wanted.  A thought then occurred to me that perhaps I could make it even larger to create a decorative dish. I was quite excited with the results and immediately made some more.

These will be for sale at the gift shop in the Shuswap Lake Fesitval of the Arts that opens to the public tomorrow.

Dave and I will be attending the artists' reception tonight and then return there again in the morning as Dave will be doing a volunteer shift in the gift shop while I do a live demo at the juried part of the show upstairs.  Each artist that participates must take at least one shift to help out during the 8 days.  We always look forward to working with the other fellow artists and renewing friendships again.

Gigantic Buttons

These buttons are in our new spring collection for the local yarn and quilt shops.  They are concave or dish shape and quite large so go nicely on a quilted style bag or jacket.  The round ones are in a variety of colors.

The leaves with lady bug are in a traditional olive green as well as in the new Pantone Spring 2013 fashion color combo of Emerald Green and Tender Shoots.

New Stick Shawl Pins for Fall

I've been working on some new scarf or shawl Stick Pins in fall colors and patterns.  The sticks we use are very sturdy and sharp so they go through most looser weave type fabrics as well as tight woven knits. They work great on anything from a scarf to a shawl, shrug or sweater.

Maple Leaf Buttons

Kathy Kinsella is a local artist who creates gorgeous fibre art quilts and handbags.  She sent us a photo showing how she used one of our maple leaf buttons.  I love the bag she created and the buttons goes perfectly on it.  If you click on the photo you will see it listed in her Etsy shop along with some other gorgeous pieces she has listed there.

We have our maple leaf buttons now listed in our Etsy shop and are available in 3 sizes and 3 color choices.

Happy Summer Flowers

I've been busy making new pieces for the upcoming art shows and local galleries.  I am really into making flowers a lot lately as they make me happy.  Dave says it is because of all the colors but he really likes my flowers and is always asking me to make more.  So here are a few scarf pins in my new designs.