So, I Thought I'd Get A Reprieve...And She Thinks She's Grown!

Finally, after 4 proms with my 2 oldest girls, and just as many homecoming dances, I thought I'd get a short respite this year, as my next daughter isn't old enough to attend prom, and she's pretty low key when it comes to homecomings.  **Thank you Dear God for giving me a tomboy in between my girlie-girls!**  To be honest I was looking forward to a stress free, no teenage drama meltdowns, and no need to pull my magic wand out of the closet this year.

Enter my niece...and a sweet request last weekend "Aunt Tania can you make me a corsage for prom?"  Course I would, when is it?  "Next Saturday!"

         

But who could have said no to that face?

Please keep in mind this dear, sweet child lives a state away...not around the block.  I literally ran to the closet and started digging like I was looking for Narnia...I found a pair of my favorite sandals, one crutch (not sure where that came from...no one here has ever needed them), and a kitchen sink.  No, really.  My husband is a plumber and we have a new one...because our "under the stairs" closet is the most logical place to store it! *Can't do anything other than shake my head.*  Hmmm...where did I put that damn wand???


Sight unseen (dress wise that is) this is the final result:

And her dress:

But, rest assured, it was shipped off yesterday afternoon, and should (cross everything that the post office doesn't screw this up) be ready for Cinderella's debut on Saturday!

And...while I'm at it, last year's pic of my two girlies:

Lauren & Mariah - Senior Prom - 2011.  My daughter is in white, and my "adopted" (but don't you try to tell me she's not mine...those are fighting words) daughter in the pink.

These two...Geez you can't take them ANYWHERE!!!

We recycled my wedding dress for her to wear....

And last year's creation...

Maybe, I'll get next year off??

To top the day off my oldest is the big one-nine today!  She thinks that she's grown...  I explained to her this evening that by the time I was her age, I had a 1 month old and a house...she wasn't impressed! LOL!

Self portrait of Lauren

Told you she thinks she's grown...as she asks "what's for dinner, ma?" :)

Although she sometimes acts like she's 10!

And yes, that's a "real" tattoo...she gets it honestly...

But, in my eyes she'll always be perpetually 6!!

Happy Birthday Lauren!!

Tree Wings Studio - Giveaway!!!

Rebecka Payne of Tree Wings Studio is hosting a gracious giveaway. Rebekah is a polymer clay artisan and creates the most adorable clay beads...just take a look:

The THREE assortments of beads that Rebecka is giving away...I believe the woodland critters is my favorite set! Who wouldn't want in on this give away?  So, head on over to Tree Wings Studio blog and enter for yourself! Or if you're Jonesing for them, you can pick a few up at her Etsy shop!

And We Have a Winner!!!

Sheesh...I go to eat dinner, and found 10 other things that couldn't wait!  Sorry, guys!

Anyway...I *think* I did the giveaway as fairly as possible.  I gave everyone who commented an entry (first comment was entry #1, and so on), then after that list was compiled, I gave all my Facebook "likes" an additional entry.  I even added the comment I received today.  

I didn't have a clue how to post the actual random number generator here, so I just snapped a screen shot and cropped it.  In all, I had 49 entries (not to shabby for the first time)...so without further ado....

#48 was Rebekah of Tree Wing Studio!!  

Thank you to all who entered!!  This was SO much fun, I'll think I'll do it again in a month or so!!  Next time I'm going with the highly scientific method of drawing a name from a hat...I can't say I'm in love with the number generator!

Thanks again! 

Did Somebody Say Giveaway?

I still haven't finished visiting all the blogs from Lori Anderson's 5th BSBP, but as promised here is my very first giveaway!!  I had a few soup leftovers, and wanted to share what Jennifer Cameron was so gracious to send me.

Jennifer sent me some gorgeous amethyst nuggets, faceted labradorite briolettes/rondelles, dusty purple freshwater pearls, and tiny AB Czech round beads.  I "hodge-podged" them in 2 strands (with a few of my own copper beads), assembled sari silk and copper chain, and placed one of my new framed embroidery bracelet connectors smack dab in the middle!  The tiny rustic copper floral charm was made using Copprclay.   A mold was taken of one of my previously made floral lentil beads, then the Copprclay was molded and fired.  Bracelet has all copper findings and a copper toggle clasp.  

Now the boring stuff...

To enter giveaway:

-Leave a comment below and be a follower of the blog

-Like Moobie Grace's Facebook page for an additional chance

It's that simple!!  Giveaway will close Sunday March 11th, 2012...and the winner will be selected "lottery style" via a random number generator on Monday!

Pssttt:  I'll be adding some of the embroidered connectors to MY ETSY SHOP soon...I'm trying to do them "assembly line" style, which I'm SO not used to doing!!

Happy Saturday

Anticipation!!  Can't wait for all my new goodies to get here!  Until then, here are just a few beads I listed on Etsy yesterday...

Faux brass/bronze hollow lentil 4 bead set - tree of life, sand dollar, flowering vine and cherry blossom

Faux ceramic rustic honey bee bead

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend! I'm going to try and re-organize the studio to make room for new supplies!

Evolution

I'm always in the mind set of evolving, with art.  At times, it gets the best of me.  Painting was a complete disaster...think along the lines of obscure stick people!  Drawing?  Well that's just as sad, believe me!  And forget about me sculpting anything...there are better results from preschoolers!  I've tried my hand at MANY other expressions of art, and it seems that I always come back to polymer clay.

Unfortunately, polymer clay gets a "bad rap" among the general population.  In my experience most (non artisans) equate it to "cheap plastic" that's molded, mass produced, or a child's art medium comparable to Play Doh.  During art/craft shows, I only have a few moments to explain the logistics of what polymer is and what it isn't....extremely hard to do to someone who has no experience with it...believe me!  Hence, the reason, that I always have just as many pieces for sale that DON'T contain any polymer clay in their creation.

The Mr. and I always like to play a discreet game of "What will they pick up first"...are they "clay people" or "non clay people".  Most of the time, I can spot them...they "get" it.  Don't judge us :) ...shows take so much prep, planning and overall stress that we need little diversions or we'd kill each other!  What you see in our booth is months of planning, mock set ups, building of displays, sewing table coverings, and spending MANY hours in our tiny studio together creating.

Our 2011 Booths:

Now, as much as I'd love to try my hand at lampwork, or even pottery, the start up costs intimidate the hell out of me!  Anyone that has teenage children (x4 here) knows that extra funds for such "hobbies" just don't exist.  I have racked my brain on how to mesh my love for polymer clay with another medium.

PMC, or precious metal clay seemed like the best option.  Not only is the consistency somewhat similar, but I have most of the needed/desired tools already on hand here in the studio.  My dear sweet husband bought a torch the other day (talk about a romantic Valentine's gift), so that I could get the feel of working with it without the expense of purchasing a kiln off the bat!  I've ordered a sampling of clay, and I can't wait to dig in when it arrives!!

Just a few excellent examples of PMC art:

Wax seal PMC pendant from New Hope Beading

Bronze Copper Silver PMC ring from Deb Munroe Studio

Silk Ribbon Wrap Bracelet from KLM Designs

And of course I have to include my BSBP partner's creation:

Love Glass Necklace by Jennifer Cameron available at Glass Addictions/Jen Cameron Designs

So, come back in a week or two...maybe I'll have a few pieces completed, and I'm sure many stories to share!

The Bead Soup Has Landed!

My Bead Soup Blog Hop partner, Jennifer Cameron of Glass Addictions received the soup I sent her today!!!

Now, because I'm a complete moron, and packaged, sent, and then realized I forgot to enclose the card with the description of my soup...I'll post a labeled picture here...sorry Jennifer!!!

And a few more shots....

Bead Soup

Close up of the clasp:  Polymer clay floral with copper key toggle

Close up of the polymer clay focal bead

I can't wait to see what Jennifer sent me...I know it'll be to die for though!  I'm even more excited for March 3rd...BSBH day!!!  Seriously, I'm more excited about this than I was at Christmas!

I'll be listing more artisan components in my Etsy store...but it won't be until late next week!

Eye Candy!

I'm too exhausted to post anything with substance...I've spent all day photographing, editing and listing on Etsy.  I can't complain, 74 degree temperatures at the end of November don't happen often here in Virginia, and I soaked up the sun outside most of the day!

So...that leaves me with what to post?  Ahhh....eye candy listed in my Etsy store recently of course!!

Vintage Silverware Bracelet -Hansel & Gretel Upcycled Rare German - Early 1900's

     Fused Plastic Necklace - Modern - Upcycled - Gray - Gunmetal

Polymer Clay - Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Brooch Pin - Floral

                Polymer Clay Necklace - Wisteria

            Polymer Clay Cylinder Necklace - Sunny Days Florals

        Polymer Clay Bib Necklace - Jet Black - Floral - Pink Parisian

                Bohemian Ladder Necklace

          Polymer Clay Necklace - Hand Forged Copper - Purple

                Polymer Clay Bracelet - Florals - Flannel Gray & Coral

I'll be working on more components this week...bead sets, clasps, toggles...hopefully will have them listed by the week's end!!

Lori Anderson's - First Annual Virtual Craft Show

From November 26 - December 3, Lori Anderson is hosting an online craft show featuring 70 artisans and craftspeople. Every day, Lori will be listing all the shops and sales going on which you can view by going to her site (click on the banner above)...and the best part??  THERE'S 70 GIVE-AWAYS TO BE HAD!!!!!!

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Here's how you win: 

Please visit www.Prettythingsblog.com

For each of the 7 days of the show, you get a point for each of the following (you don't have to do all four)....

 Commenting on Pretty Things Blog/First Annual Virtual Craft page

Facebooking Pretty Things Blog/First Annual Virtual Craft page

Twittering Pretty Things Blog/First Annual Virtual Craft page

Blogging about Pretty Things Blog/First Annual Virtual Craft page

Be sure to have either a blog with an email contact, or leave an email in your comment so I can notify you!  

Drawing will be held a couple of days after the show. 

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Here's Moobie Grace Designs' give away:

Designer's Dream Eclectic Mix 

Includes: 

1.  Polymer clay oval toggle clasp in taupe, with a dainty lavender flowering vine and gorgeous antique white sari silk.  Clay toggle measures approximately 1.5" in diameter, not including copper bail.

2.  Polymer clay bead and hammered copper toggle set in rich, woodsy shades of brown.  Accented with topaz hued crystals and beads, and includes sari silk in coordinating color.  Beads measure nearly 2" in diameter, while hammered toggle measures 1" in diameter.

3.  Eclectic mix of lime green and shades of gray polymer focal bead with brass center accents and beads, with cool shade of gray sari silk length. Focal bead measures approximately 1.25" in diameter.

Value $35 


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To celebrate I'm also offering 10% off my Etsy Shop (for all my blog reading friends) November 27th - December 3rd.  Use code VCSBLOG10  at checkout.


You can also check us out on Facebook to keep up with new listings, news, etc!!