Big Sale on All of our Tutorials!

So here is our first surprise sale right now -- All of our tutorial lessons are 50% off both in our online store and in our Etsy shop.  To get your discount, simply enter the coupon code:  HALFOFF at the check-out in either store.  See the links below to shop our tutorials and save.

Our tutorials in our Etsy shop are instant download so if you are from Europe, you will be subject to pay the extra tax.  Any tutorials sold in our online store will be sent to the e-mail address you provide.  You may notice a price difference between the two shops and that is because our Etsy shop is in US dollars and our online store is in Canadian currency.

This offer is for three days only and ends midnight Thursday, (Pacific Standard Time).  You can purchase as many and often as you like until that time.

Polymer Clay Adventure Retreat - payment plan and gift purchases now available.

I am so excited to be a part of the 2016 Polymer Clay Adventure Retreat!  This is a fun way to improve your polymer clay skills, learn some new techniques and make some new friends!  It is more than just lessons but a community you can connect with.  You can ask the teachers questions and share what you have made from the classes with the others.  Here is a cool video put together showing all the teachers and the fun projects that are all included in this year long retreat that you can attend right from the comfort of your own home!

This whole all-inclusive retreat is all for only $99 (U.S.).  And if it is too much to pay for all at once, they are now offering a 3x payment plan!  And now with the holiday season, gift purchases are also available for that special person or loved one.

I am still offering my new tutorial, "From Scrap Clay to Art Deco" as a bonus gift to the first 50 who sign up (click here or on the above photo) for the Polymer Clay Retreat through me.  Even if you are not ready to purchase, click on the link to be sure you will be registered under me later.

I'm Teaching at the 2016 Polymer Clay Adventure Retreat!

I announced in my last post that I will be teaching at the 2016 Polymer Clay Adventure Retreat which I am quite excited about.  It is an all inclusive event and for only $99 (about $4 a lesson!) you will receive 25 tutorials throughout the whole year!  The lessons this year are quite exciting as there are 21 other fellow artists from around the world who will also be sharing their cool stuff.

The tickets do not go up for sale until October 11 but before then you have a chance to win it for free!  So go to my previous post here and click on the picture to enter the contest for a chance to win and follow the other steps for more entries to increase your chances of winning.

Click on the photo below if you would like to find out more about this upcoming retreat:

Ever since introducing my "Summer Magic" Kite Necklace several years ago I have had so many requests for a tutorial on how to make one as well as offers to purchase my piece.  I decided this was the perfect opportunity to finally share it with you in this upcoming retreat.

I am also excited about another surprise which I will reveal more to you soon.  It is a special bonus gift offer to a limited amount of people who sign up for the retreat through me!

Resolutions For a New Year

I am always looking forward to starting a new year.  There is something about out with the old and a fresh new start.  I generally do not make new year's resolutions but this year I decided to make three.

One:  Try new things --  Ever since I have discovered polymer clay I feel I am constantly trying something new and pushing my boundaries.  It is always exciting to discover some new technique or vibrant color combination.  I already got a jump-start on this one.  Ever since I saw Judy Belcher's Micro Knitting in polymer clay, I knew I really wanted to learn how to do that.  Rather than trying to figure it out on my own I decided it was worth going right to the expert and learning directly from her.  I have had a chance to go through the tutorial and now excited about giving it a try.

Two:  Improve on the old.  No matter what we create, I feel there is always room for improvement.  Sometimes that means taking a new course or tutorial.  We all have a different view point and experience and so we can always learn from each other.  One of my favorite polymer clay techniques is mokume gane.  I have been creating with it for several years now but recently discovered how Melanie Muir had really learned how to master it with such a unique style.  While I really wasn't interested in making "Rock Cuffs", I decided to take Melanie's class through Craftcast and see if I could pick up any tips.  I managed to learn a few new things and after trying her method I found my mokume did improve and I was satisfied with the results.

The veneer on this kite bead necklace was created in a mokume using the new Pantone Spring 2013 colors of Monaco Blue, African Violet and Tender Shoots.

These buttons were made using the Pantone Spring 2013 colors of Monaco Blue, Dusk Blue, Emerald and Grayed Jade.  Both the kite beads and these buttons remind me a lot of Batik dyed fabric.

Three:  Don't over do it.  This one will be more of a challenge but sometimes I want to do too much and do not allow myself time for the first and second resolution.  This past year we found ourselves almost too busy at times and after Dave and I discussing things, we both decided that somethings had to give to allow more time for what was really important.  Making these types of decisions should not only reduce some of our stress but allow more time to enjoy the whole process and not feel so overwhelmed.

Now I am off to relax in our new jacuzzi hot tub for a nice relaxing soak.  This was our new addition to our home this year to help with the tendinitis in my shoulder and combat that extra stress.   It will be a good way to relax and unwind before we see in the New Year!