Three Great Etsy Shops I Found To Check Out!

Happy Time Jewelry Box-that is the piece below! Isn't it lovely? It has even been reduced to 25.00 from 45.00! What a great buy! This is at the shop on Etsy called Cookies Creations. What a talented clay artist!

Visit cookiescreations.etsy.com now to find it and other terrific buys!


Here is another shop to check out this week. folkartfromtheheart.etsy.com
Her pieces are very folksy, like rabbits and critters. They're very cool to see-you have to see to get the full gist of them! Here's one example below:



This is a jar (below) done by clay artist Arzumusa (Arzumusa.etsy.com). One of 7 of them. She also makes candle holders, flower pots and other home items that really rock! I love checking out other Etsy clay artists and their work, and this is one artist whose work is astounding to see.
Check it out also! When you do, Stumble (Stumbleupon.com) it for her also and help spread the word!

Since the theme this month for the pcagoe group, I thought it might be interesting to look at what our art would be like without the mediums of TV and theater in our lives? Any comments or ideas about that?
I'd love to hear them, as long as it's clean and decent! Rated no more than PG in other words, and no swear words allowed here.
Think about this-whatever your art or craft-how has TV shows and movies, or just the media in general affected your work, or has it? Do you craft anything to do with movie or TV themes?
I know personally, in my DIY Scene (diyscene.com), many artists do clothing and pendants, jewelry, etc., themed to zombies and living dead type stuff, or the ever-popular skulls and pirates.
Now, I know that comes from TV and movies...they also do things themed toward music groups, another type media, in one respect.
Whether it's a likeness on a clothing article or pendant, or just a generalized theme, I see it everywhere in hand crafted items...what have you noticed or seen in hand crafted items, that you can tell has to do with TV or movies, etc?
Leave your thoughts here...
Pam

The New August Challenge!

There's a new challenge at pcagoe.com! The theme is: "Show Time!" It's all about movies, TV, art from that media...you know, like, what sorts of media themes inspire your art?
So, anything to do with a TV show or movie, etc., whether it be a location, scene, personality, celebrity, show theme, music to do with shows, whatever, it's eligible for the challenge!
Don't forget to go vote too-it's always the 1-the 3rd of the month. So, during August 1-3 go and vote at pcagoe.com! You'll be glad you did-you may even win a prize pack of terrific polymer clay gifts made by our own wonderfully talented artists! Wished I could vote (members aren't allowed to vote)!!! LOL!

www.elementaldragons.etsy.com

The above is the address of an Etsy shop that I really think you should visit and buy from!
Why? Because she does the most awesome dragons you've ever seen, and all from polymer clay!
This is NOT children's play dough or modeling clay, it's the kind of clay that you shape and bake in an oven or kiln and it hardens. Not like plastic, but just hardens into a nice finish.
Anyway, her dragons are absolutely fabulous! And each has a name and back story that goes with it to make it even more fun. And, believe me, they are priced right. It's a great time to start gearing up for Christmas!
These are her own words about her wonderful creations:
"**Elemental Dragons have seven clans within - Forrest, Water, Sky, Celestial, Fire, Earth and Gems. Each has their own personalities.

**What ELSE lives in the forrest???

**PEBBLEONIANs...They are the "listeners" of the Elemental Forrest. Only the best of the best little pebbles are choosen to grow into a Pebbleonian.

**CHERPELLs...A small bird like critter with a very long feather tail (at least it is long for their body size). They have a small golden pad like foot that they can hop with.

**TROLLGONs...Trollish dragonish like critters that enjoy just curling around a tree (although they do OK in the cages also) and just watching what you are doing.

**SNETTLEs...Very small snail like creatures, who make very good pets (for children and adults - great at work). They are easy to care for a little food, water and love and they are good to go. They very much just want a home.

**BOOBALINGs...Small crab like critters that enjoy crawling around, they do need to be caged or you may never see them again. Very curious little ones.

Look for all the accesories to properly care for what ever critter you adopt. All critters will do just fine in any of the habbits that I sell (some of the bigger dragons will not fit in the cages or around a tree).

**MUD HEADs...They are the original dwellers of the forrest. They were stumbled upon not to long ago, so not much is known about the tribe. Information will be giving as it is discovered."

Right now there is even FREE SHIPPING! Wow-can't beat that! Enjoy your visit to the land of dragons and other creatures!

Visit now! www.elementaldragons.etsy.com

What Would I/We Do Without My/Our Craft?

This is a good question that I'm thinking about! It occurs to me now and again, what I would do without my crafts, so I thought it would make for a good blog discussion.
Well, with NO crafts at all, my life would be far less meaningful, I can tell you that! I mean, don't misunderstand, I am a Christian, so obviously, my Faith in God and He comes first in my life. HE gives my life purpose and meaning.
However, my crafts provide an artistic venue in which to express the creative side of me that I can't get anywhere else, or in any other way. I'm totally convinced that if many people could delve more deeply into crafts or arts, they would be far less tempted to drink or do drugs, or engage in other reckless behaviors. Sure, I know that there is the image of the "tortured soul"
of an artist or writer who must drink or drug to bring out their artistic nature, but I think that is not the norm.
I really believe (I have no scientific studies to back me up) that when we engage in arts and crafts, our brains release pleasurable endorphins-I honestly do! Maybe not, but I choose to believe so!
There is something about the joy of seeing the creation brought to life, when I'm sewing a pillow or something for my daughter, or playing with my polymer clay, that is simply indescribable...it's a sheer joy that comes from deep within. It makes me to believe that God must have felt this way when He made man, and said, "It is good." He was pleased with His creation, and I truly feel that in the image of our maker, we are compelled to create and bring about beauty and enjoyable things. It is simply human nature, as God intended from the beginning.
It is a similar feeling to when I am playing a piano or violin, only that feeling is a little different, hard to describe the differences, except that my emotions tend to surface through the music, whereas while creating, I am in constant awe of how wonderful something can be that I did with my own hands.
I hope that didn't sound vain. I don't mean that my creations are so awesome or perfect, hardly, in fact, I feel very much disqualified in light of many of my peers, especially in polymer claying, I mean simply that I am in awe of the beauty that can come of something so plain and simple in its beginning. Like squares of fabric, or blocks of clay.
I truly think that this is how most of us feel. I know that I can feel poorly, whether emotionally or physically (especially having fibromyalgia and related issues), and when I can break through that by crafting or sewing, I can feel so much better. My spirits are raised much higher.
In summary, I just have to say, I just have to know, that if I had no crafts or arts of ANY kind, I would be less of a human for it, of that I am convinced. I would be less cultured, less patient, less
creative, less giving, and less human.
Then again, wouldn't we all?

How Long Have I Been Crafting?

I thought this would be a great time to mention how long I've been crafting. Basically, as long as I can remember! Even as a kid, I remember loving crafts of all sorts-going to Vacation Bible School, or craft classes in the summer, etc., or just at home. I can recall once when my older brothers had a little "printing press" kit, I just had to have one someday, and eventually I did, and made my own little "paper" (kind of crafty).
When I was just 11 or 12, I tumbled rocks in my tumbler and made necklaces, and also made God's Eyes (back in the early 70s), and sold them at the small town flea market!
The crafting bug continued, and I gradually built up supplies, from discount stores or yard sales, etc., until my stash was going pretty good (with the occasional forced "destash" by my mother)!
My love of sewing began very early as well. I remember when I was 13 in Home Ec, we had the assignment of making an entire outfit. After that, I was in love with sewing, well, if not before!
At the age of 15, I made another outfit! A lot of girls then weren't into sewing, anymore than they are today, I suppose.
I have always enjoyed sewing stuffed animals and such also. When my son was only 2, I made him a stuffed bear, made of green fake fur like material, because that's all I had or could afford at the time (a single mom)! He loved it and name it "Pumpkin"-it's still around somewhere!
So now, I sew pillows like my Grandmother sewed, with pictures stuffed in the front.

As for polymer clay, I think I first began with that in the late 80s, when I discovered it. I made some things and carved them with Xacto knives, using patterns from some books I'd gotten in a punch needle kit a few years earlier (at the state fair).
Then, just as recently as early this year, I decided to pick it up again and reenter the magical world of polymer clay! It's a wonderful world, and I'm glad I decided to come back. I still have pieces from back then, believe it or not, that I renovated, plus new ones I've made recently.
I recently purchased some cane ends from a fellow polymer clay artist (Sandi Lee Designs) and will be using some of those for focal beads to sell, and probably personal use-too pretty not to keep a few for myself!
I have an idea that I'm anxious to try also, as soon as I can, incorporating some 4x5 wooden plaques I got a couple of months ago, an idea that I did several years ago, that I'd like to revisit.
It's all about jewelry storage-we'll see how it goes hopefully. So many ideas in my head-it's hard sometimes to get them in order and make a clear choice! But I must, and I will! And the process will be fun! Thanks for reading, if you did!

What I learned from a failed craft effort...

Well, this is a topic from a group I'm in. That's a tough one, because I have made so many errors in my crafting! (Don't we all)! Anyway, I'm big time into polymer clay right now, so, as I'm learning
the processes of claying, and there are many. When I attempted my first "tin," that is to say, you take a mint tin, or small tin, and put clay on it and bake, it was something! My first one was round, (no hinges) and not "too bad" but it is bulky, because I put clay in the bottom of the tin, to cover the brand words! Not my best work, but it was my first. I put butterflies on the side and bottom, and rolled beads on top.

My second tin was for my niece, and geez, I tried it alone without the tute, and the lid wouldn't shut-I had put too much clay up against the hinges! I scraped some off, still wouldn't completely shut, but it would lay down anyway! I put "sea shells" (from a mold) on it all along the top edge.
I painted along where I scraped off the clay.
She like it a lot (it was for her 12th birthday). I don't have it here to show.
So, I truly learned to pay attention to tutes when starting a new project I'm not familiar with!
I soo want to make a beautiful cane, like a butterfly one, but they look so hard-who knows, maybe next! First though, I have to make a couple necklaces, as other late presents for my niece, before she goes back to Prescott Valley. She is staying with us in Tucson for a month. She's leaving next week, so I have to hurry!
Good luck on your next craft adventure!

A Terrific Etsy Shop Worth Seeking

This is a link to a very cool Etsy shop. This woman makes some extremely wonderful looking polymer clay items. Her jewelry is absolutely exquisite! If you have never been to Etsy, visit this shop first and enjoy the view there! You'll love it...
On a personal note, when I first joined my clay group on Etsy, PCAGOE (pcagoe.com), this wonderful woman sent me a box of claying items, AND a pasta machine for my claying, for the mere postage of it! How generous. I could never have afforded them without this aid, believe me!
So, I ask that you help me repay her by going to her site and buy something.
Thanks for reading.

silvergate.etsy.com

Hi all!
It's time to do the monthly PCAGOE challenge! That is the clay group I am in, and proudly so.
There are less this month, so it's easier to choose. The theme is "Personal Hero." Each entrant interpreted that in their own way, so there are a variety of themes in there! It's quite interesting really. I sure wish I could vote, but I'm a member and can't-LOL!
If you vote and win, you just may win a prize, so it's worth it for sure. You would get a cool assembly of clay items made by our members. Just for voting (if you win that is). It's so easy to do too...just go to
www.pcagoe.com
and it is right there on the front page.
We are now experimenting with color changes on the page. It is white but may change. How do you like it? You can always contact the administrators and let them know if you do or don't, but of course be nice about it if you do! They do a wonderful job I think, with the web site, don't they?

Now in other matters, I am soooo happy that I finally finished a couple of necklaces with my polymer pieces AND improved my photos on my shop. YES, they need changing and upgrading, but wow, they are sooo much better! I have heard that perhaps I should use white paper or light colored paper as a background and I'm thinking of doing that, with outdoor lighting.
OR, since I have no colored paper on hand, and no budget at the moment, perhaps I'll take some
watercolor pencils and do a light wash on a couple sheets to use. Maybe a swirl or two, nothing distracting though.
If anyone would like to comment, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, be nice of course!
I only have a 2.1 Mg. camera right now, and it is the best I can do until more funds come in, which may be awhile...so, please understand that part of it all.
PLUS, if you go there to check those out, check out my Thunderbird necklace. I made the actual Thunderbird piece some time ago, but just made the necklace with it a few days ago. It was fun too. I made the other necklace, the cameo, at my parent's house while visiting a couple of weeks ago. It's a choker, as it's only about 13" in length, but fits my neck, or a teen's neck would be fine also.
I have a SLEW full of sea shells and other water critters that I made, and beads to match, that I still need to string up for sale. I'm going to make two each for my niece(12-she's visiting us for a month), and my daughter (8). They are going to model them for me. That will be fun.
I'd better hurry though-she'll only be here another couple weeks, or less!
We're going to bead tomorrow after their chores are done-what a blast that should be! I'm actually going to let them use some of my polymer clay. I say that because I am limited, though I'm expecting about 4 pounds of scrap clay, plus a couple cane ends from a member in my group, that sold them to me really cheap, at cost really. That was sweet and a true blessing! So I know I have more coming. I hope they come soon! They were mailed a few weeks ago, wow, the Post Office is getting slow lately! Oh well...
So, that's enough for now, if anyone sees this! LOL!
SO, go vote and see my shop here, and leave comments on what you think about what I'm planning for my photos...etc...

www.plumuniqprettiesplus.etsy.com

My other shop (Grandma's Pillows Plus www.grandmaspillowsplus.etsy.com) may not work at the time as I cannot pay the fees. I racked up too many show cases! Learned the hard way.
It may though. If you want to buy something from there and can't, please convo me there or at my other shop, and I'll just list it in the other shop for purchase! I'll even give you a 10% off discount for the trouble! In fact I'm offering 15% off everything in that shop anyway, and 10% off anything in the Plumuniq shop. So, see if you like it, and wait for the redone invoice. Oh, just to remind me (I get forgetful at times) just put 10% off in the seller's notes.
THANKS FOR READING!!!!!!!