Mandarin Moon Art by Chris Kapono

Live and Learn :)

2011-11-12T22:56:00.000-06:00

Well, these three did not turn out quite like I had hoped. The stones are called Sonora Sunrise jasper and I knew their colors were a little too fantastic to be natural. They are dyed and I just found out that they change color with heat. Dern it!

This photo was taken indoors and the colors are off just a bit so I will take new photos outside tomorrow. They were more pastel with yellows, pink, peach, green and blue. Now....not so much. :(

On a less happy note (LOL) I still have not heard from the game developer's lawyer regarding their illegal use of my copyrighted image. A few weeks ago I was playing a hidden object game and to my shock, what I found hidden there were images of one of the vases I made! What are the odds of me stumbling across them?! I can't help but wonder if maybe it is happening much more than I realize.

Have you all heard of Pinterest? It is a place to collect and 'pin' all of your favorite photos, articles, recipes and more. Visit my boards here and check out the 'Loaf of Pug' LOL! People are so crazy and creative. XD Each photo you pin can be clicked on to be taken to the original source.

What are the odds?!

2011-11-03T20:07:00.002-05:00

I just had the weirdest thing happen recently. The odds of me finding this have to be incredibly small. It was one of those jaw-dropping moments...quite literally my jaw dropped LOL! Guess you want to know what it was eh? :)

On a typical Saturday morning I'll sleep in a bit, stumble out to the coffee maker and get that thang going and then settle down at my desk to check emails, surf the web and sometimes I will play a PC game. This particular morning I decided to play a hidden object game. I like the ones with pretty graphics and not too many puzzles or riddles to solve. Hey...I'm just waking up, I don't want to have to think!

Anyhoo, I went to Big Fish Games where you can download a game to try for free. While the game was loading I grabbed my cuppa Joe and settled back down. I was in the second room in this seek and find game, which they called the 'Treasure Room', and my eyes were scanning the room for the first object when it struck me that there was something familiar. I looked closer and it was the image of one of my vases! (this is where my jaw dropped). I was stunned. It was a very surreal experience and it was the last thing I ever expected.

Here is the image they used

Here is a link to a larger image of it in my gallery on deviantART

I really had a hard time believing it for a moment. I had no idea that game developers troll the web for images to steal and use in their games. I am very naive I guess.

Upon further inspection I realize that there is also a much larger image of the same vase in the bottom right corner of the same scene. I began to get mad. Sick to my stomach really.

I know there are art thieves that think nothing of using other artists' images for their own profit. Last year I stumbled upon a person trying to sell images of one of my paintings. I really thought that, since most of my art is 3-dimensional that someone would actually have to make it to re-sell or use it for their profit. In other words I always felt safe and secure.

Not anymore.

I really do not want to start plastering a watermark across my photos. It really spoils the image and, from what I hear with today's technology, that is a very easy thing to remove.

I decided to write a letter to Big Fish Games. I knew that they were not the developers but I hoped they could help me get in touch with them. I contacted Big Fish one other time about a different issue and I was really impressed with their customer service. It is truly outstanding!

Someone responded two days later asking for more information and assured me that they would do everything they could. I then receive an email from their legal department and she gave me the name of the developer and his contact information.

I am trying to decide what I want them to do. Remove the images? Some type of compensation? My name in the credits? Realistically what can I expect?

This is where I am now.

Anyone have any advice or wisdom on such a thing?

My latest project..a Coral Reef!

2011-06-02T18:44:00.000-05:00

I finally started on a project for a co-worker. He asked me to make a journal cover with an ocean theme in turquoise, blue and green. I started on it last night and this is what I have so far.

The polymer clay piece is nearly done, I just need to add a bit more coral and little pebbles. Then I'll add the acrylic patina to bring out the textures. I also plan to paint the book with my new concoction of powdered pigments, alcohol ink and Future floor finish...LOL!

The shells are real and there are glass gems and little metal charms but the rest is handmade out of clay.

I recently bought a book by Donna Kato called 'The Art of Polymer Clay Millefiori Techniques' Oh my gosh...I LOVE it! I can't wait to get started on some of the projects inside. There are examples of works by other PC artists and Kathleen Dustin and Barbara Sperling...and of course Donna Kato are amazing!! You really should check it out. ;)

Diary of a Mad (Scientist) Artist

2011-05-30T21:11:00.000-05:00

I've been experimenting!

Muwahahaha LOL!

I haven't been working much with clay lately. I did finish a couple of things that I will share with you here. One is a book that I lovingly call Cosmic Candy. 'Cosmic' because it looks rather alien and the background looks rather like deep space....with swirls ha ha! Everything I make seems to have swirls...dunno why. It's just how I roll....err..swirl. :) 'Candy' because behind each glass gem is a foil candy wrapper! XD

I couldn't decide whether to paint the clay and I asked the advice of my deviantART friends and we all agreed that I should leave it unpainted or paint it very little. One person said it would look awesome on a red or blue book and that gave me an idea. I decided to paint a book and put the unpainted clay plaque in the center. What I painted it with is where the mad scientist comes in LOL! Before I tell you let me show you a couple of other things that I painted with the same concoction.

All of these books and the business card holders are painted with a mixture of PearlEx powdered pigments (mica powder), alcohol ink and....Future acrylic floor finish! LOL Someone asked me how on the earth did I come up with that mixture and all I can say is that it was all on my art table within my reach. :) Good thing there wasn't anything flammable or I would have been in trouble! (wait...is alcohol ink flammable??) Anyhoo, it has a beautiful luster from the powdered pigments and it dries quickly and is already sealed! I really had fun playing with it and plan to paint more soon.

Oh, I wanted to let you all know that the business card holders came from Moo.com

They are a wonderful source for custom business cards (you can see mine peeking out of the tops of the holders above) but they also make greeting cards, stickers and more. They are super fast, very friendly and fun. :)

Well, that's all for now!

Talk to you soon

Wow....long time No Blog LOL!

2011-04-06T21:04:00.000-05:00

Well it has been a loooooong time since my last blog! I fell into a slump and lost my mojo LOL. I am getting back into my clay and I played around with some pen and ink today so I have a few images to share. An ACEO in pen and ink, various pendants with agates, labradorite and jasper (one I call a Zombie Heart LOL), a mosaic tile I call 'The Juggler'. Oh, and my sweet new baby.

A lot has happened since I last blogged. I have a new puppy named Tali (Tah-lee). She is a boxer/aussie/shepherd mix and she is so adorable! She is 9 weeks old and I have her housebroken and she is doing well on a leash....yay! I live in an apartment and we walk several times a day. We have a lake with a trail that circles it and miles of quiet neighborhoods to walk in. Now I carry a pocket full of plastic grocery bags to pick up the fall out...so to speak. :) Which reminds me; there is a neighbor with a big dog and he brings him into our 'front yard' to do his business...then he LEAVES it. Giant piles of poo. We walk through this grassy area (sometimes at night) to go to the grocery store. I want to say something to him but I don't know if I should. I wish I knew where he lived and I'd let the apartment complex handle it. Anyone have any ideas?

BIG news!! I was contacted by Polyform Products Co. (the people that make Sculpey and Premo! polymer clay) and they asked me to work for them on a commission basis. From time to time they will commission a piece to use for advertising, packaging, promos, website, catalog, signs and tradeshows. I just finished my first job for them; a pendant using a new line of colors they have coming out. I can't show pics of it until the clay is 'released' to the general public but there are some very pretty colors! They are very happy with the pendant so I am relieved. :) The really awesome part is that they sent me tons of clay and tools to use. I only used a couple of packs of clay so I asked if I should hold onto the rest for the next possible project and she said I could use it for whatever I like, they'll send more clay with my next assignment. WOW! I won't have to buy clay for awhile haha!

I can't wait to find my work on a package or sign etc in a store. That would be awesome. :)

Well, here are pics of the pup and a few of my latest projects.

Cheers!

Holiday Sale and Promotion ends soon!

2010-11-29T19:35:00.001-06:00

Happy Holidays!

Have you heard about the big holiday promotion my Etsy team is having? Click here to visit my Etsy shop. The details are in my shop announcement....it's HUGE! Don't miss out! There are 21 participating shops packed with the most incredible variety of unique polymer clay ornaments, jewelry, figurines, boxes and more!

But you have to act fast as the promotion ends tomorrow, November 30th

I'd also like to extend a special offer for those that follow my blog (and your friends if you'd like to spread the love LOL). It is a special coupon code for a 25% off that you can use when you purchase any item(s) in my shop from now through the end of December. Woohoo! Just type in Sweet25Deal when prompted at checkout and it will automatically deduct 25% of the item price. Sweet!

I also have two ArtFire shops. One of my own here and one that I share with my sisters here My sister Vicki makes beautiful jewelry and my sister Sue will be crafting some gorgeous things of her own once she settles into her new home. Come and take a look-see! :)

Here are a few of the things I have been working on lately. Cheers!

Big Holiday Promotion with Awesome Prizes!!

2010-11-17T18:48:00.001-06:00

YES IT’S ON AGAIN SHOPPERS!...
THE POLYMER CLAY ARTISTS GUILD OF ETSY HOLIDAY PROMOTION 2010.
WIN… WIN… WIN… WIN……..REALLY BIG!!!

How can you win?

Shop in one of the participating stores listed below from November 8th until November 30th, 2010 and your name will go in the drawing to win one of our fantastic prizes. OR send us a postcard - details will be in the Etsy shops' announcements. Purchase 1 item, get 1 chance - purchase 10 items, get 10 chances. Send one postcard, get one chance - send 10 postcards, get 10 chances. This is definitely one competition you will want to be in!

What do you win?

You will win a beautiful Christmas package stuffed to the brim with polymer clay goodies handmade by our members.
There are 3 prizes to win and with each prize pack comes a gift certificate.
First Prize - $75 gift certificate plus prize pack.
Second Prize - $50 gift certificate plus prize pack.
Third Prize - $25 gift certificate plus prize pack.
Who wouldn’t want to be in this drawing!!! Find out all the details by visiting any of the participating shops listed below:

I thought I'd also share some photos of what I have been working on lately. The blue and gold vase was one of my donations to the promo prize pool. :)

Wow, that was wierd....

2010-10-09T18:38:00.000-05:00

Every once in awhile I will 'google' my name or my shop name and see what pops up. I've found myself mentioned in all kinds of fun places LOL!

This time I also got a bit of a surprise but it has a happy ending. I found that prints of one of my paintings of an owl were being sold on the site called 'Fine Art America' by a person in India. The name of the town was impossible long; I kid you not, it probably had about 25 or more letters in the name! Anyhoo, he was offering several size prints and greeting cards. It even had my by-line and you could see a portion of my signature. I was rankled. :)

I sent him an email and asked him to remove the image immediately and then I sent an email to the site itself. I didn't know if I would get a response from either of them but within an hour the image was gone! At first I thought the site had removed it but the following day I received a personal email from them. They apologized and said that they had canceled his membership. I felt a pang of guilt at this...it seemed rather harsh but maybe he was 'stealing' from other artists too. Who knows. I was really impressed with how quickly they responded.

I know this type of thievery runs rampant on the internet and there isn't much anyone can do about it. Even a watermark can be removed with the technology out there nowadays. I'm glad that I've moved to mostly three dimensional art. It can still be copied of course but at least the copier has to physically make the copy and not just steal the image.

A fellow artist on deviantART, where I have a gallery, gave me a link to a site called TinEye. It is a reverse image search engine. It finds out where an image came from, how it is being used, if modified versions of the image exist, or if there is a higher resolution version. You can use it to see if anyone is using your image anywhere. How cool is that!
Here is an excerpt from their site:
TinEye is the first image search engine on the web to use image identification technology rather than keywords, metadata or watermarks. It is free to use for non-commercial searching.
TinEye regularly crawls the web for new images, and we also accept contributions of complete online image collections. To date, TinEye has indexed 1,719,139,600 images from the web to help you find what you're looking for.

You can find them at www.tineye.com

I thought I'd share the Owl painting with you plus a handful of other things I finished recently.

Just a few hours to go for ArtFire's once in a lifetime deal!

2010-09-30T20:48:00.001-05:00

ArtFire's super deal ends in just a few hours! Click on the title of this post and it will link to my shop where you can go to their homepage to learn about the deal. I opened up a second shop that I will use to post things made by myself and my two sisters. It will be called 'ThreeLittleAngels' LOL! (inside joke hee hee)

I thought I'd post a few new things I made recently. Some jewelry and such. Let me know what you think!

Cheers!

ArtFire's Once in a Lifetime Deal!

2010-09-16T18:35:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited! I just signed up for an ArtFire Pro account and opted in for this great new deal they are offering for a very limited time! It is just $5.95 a month for life!! (of course, after the first month you can cancel at any time) This charge is all that you pay for a Pro account and there are tons of perks...TONS!! There are no listing fees and no final value fees when an items sells. No matter how many items you list or how much you sell. They are getting ready to exit Beta and want to do so with a Bang! Their normal monthly subscription fee is $15.95 and even this is a good deal but $5.95....well, I just couldn't pass it up! This special deal is contingent upon a minimum of 20,000 participants signing up.....and they are well on their way! This opting in period is open for an undisclosed period of time and they have set the maximum number of available spots to 50,000 so I would check it out ASAP!

Here is a link to the details www.artfire.com/groupdeal

I won't close my Etsy shop, I do love it there so much but this may be an excellent way to get more exposure and more sales! Depending on how I do at ArtFire, it may become my main selling venue. Time will tell. :)

Anyone else have any experience with ArtFire? I had the basic free account and put one or two items in there last year and got nada....no sales and no exposure to speak of but to be fair I didn't really even give it a fair try. I didn't promote it at all. I read many blogs on ArtFire vs Etsy and there are pros and cons for both. At first I was put off by the monthly subscription fee until I realized that this is all you pay...no more! I took a look at the fees I have paying Etsy each month and realized that I'd SAVE a lot of money by switching.

I've built a pretty good customer base on Etsy and I haven't had one bad experience there (just minor frustrations) but sales are S....L...O...W...right now and maybe the added exposure will help. They also automatically upload your items to Google Base on ArtFire which is wonderful for me because I struggled with that on Etsy where you have to upload them yourself. I did this successfully with step by step instructions on Etsy but then Google Base 'disqualified' my items and I could not figure out why. I found out that they don't allow certain words (such as 'Free') so I tried to eliminate that word from all of my listing titles (I had 'free shipping' in some titles) but it didn't change anything. I can't remember what else I tried but it was all to no avail and I gave up. I have four items in my ArtFire studio now and when I completed one listing a warning popped up telling me that Google Base did not allow the words 'vine' (how odd!) and 'strip' so I removed those words and all was hunky dorey. Wow! I never would have known that those two seemingly innocent words would throw it out of Google base. :) I guess I understand strip...perhaps the 'adult' definition of this, but why the word 'vine' for heaven's sake LOL!

Anyhoo, if you are selling your art and spending way too much money you should check this out...woohoo!

I've been working on a few new things since I last blogged.

First, I tried mounting some of my polymer clay ACEO on gallery wrapped canvas. I painted the canvas with colors and designs to compliment the polymer clay piece. It was well received on deviantART where I have a gallery but I haven't sold them yet.

Secondly, I make art tiles of polymer clay (I'll include an image or two here) and I have been thinking about how I can 'dress' them up a bit and offer them as ready to hang wall art. I made one for a co-worker and she loved it and bought a shadow box and some fancy papers made for scrapbooking and mounted it in this frame with some of the fancy papers behind it and it looked fabulous! I was so impressed, she and her husband worked on it together and they did a great job. Her total cost to do this was about $12 but the added value was incredible. Well.....guess what I bought last weekend?....you guessed it! Shadow boxes and fancy papers LOL! I can't wait to dress up a few of my tiles this way.

What I did for her was really cool. She saw some of my work and really liked the way I included trinkets and such in my tiles and ACEO. She wanted to do something special for her daughter's birthday and asked if she could bring in some of her old jewelry and her Mother's jewelry and some odd bits of other things that had special meaning and arrange them artfully on a tile. She gave me an idea of her daughter's taste and the colors in her house and I went to work. Now I have orders from others to make one for them! I am thinking of offering them to the general public but I have to think about this as they would be sending me precious things that may not be expensive but are priceless if you know what I mean.

Well, I'll end this lengthy post with a few new pics. Have a good weekend!!

Mosaic Tiles and Agate Pendants

2010-08-02T13:23:00.000-05:00

I imported some of the most beautiful stones recently and I've finally gotten around to using a few of them LOL! (procrastination is my middle name!) The ones pictured here are agates; spider web agate and orange and blue agate geodes. Gorgeous! I love the contrast of the ebony and tangerine or brilliant blue color on the geodes and the remarkable turtle shell like pattern of the spider web agates. I left the settings open in the back so that the light could shine through showing off the druzy crystals or the intricate pattern.
Secondly, I finally (yep...procrastination) got around to using some polymer clay tiles I made over a year ago. I incorporated them into mosaic tiles using found objects such as marbles, jewelry bits, old keys, watch parts, glass beads, spider web agate, lock mechanism, glass gems, locket and stone cabs. The frames are wood and come from some little puzzles I found a the craft store. So fun to make and relatively easy too!
The faces you see in the tiles come from fellow Etsian Jay King aka TinyGolems on Etsy. I had been following his polymer clay work on deviantART for quite awhile now and encouraged him to open up his own shop. When he did...I was his first customer LOL!
The unusual marbles, locks and keys I received by trading my art for 'treasures' from a friend in England. She scours the boot sales looking for unusual things that I can use. She has found some of the most interesting things!

A passion of mine is collecting trinket boxes and I created a treasury of some of my favorites on Etsy. I call it "A Passion for Boxes". I wish I knew how to include links here. (if some kind reader would like to tell me how...I'm all ears!) In searching for unique boxes I found an Etsy seller that has a shop full of the prettiest decorative and fun boxes. Her Etsy name is FunWallArt (again, no link...sorry!). Check her out!

My new Tutorial and my latest schtuff!

2010-07-09T21:07:00.000-05:00

I recently posted my second tutorial on ClayLessons.com This one is for a mermaid trinket box (see the photo below). I think this is something even someone brand new to clay could do! Just go to www.ClayLessons.com and click on tutorials and you will find it! There are tons of awesome tutorials there. Go ahead and check it out!

I had this idea to take a sheet of clay, cut varying sizes of holes in it and streeeeeetch it over a contrasting color of clay and I tried it with the most interesting results! I had no idea what I was going to do with it....as usual...and I just let the design develop as I went. The first reminds me of sea foam washing up on shore so I added shells and a seahorse. The second looks like an alien planet or skin.....(ewwww!) or some such but I thought they both turned out pretty cool.

I traded some of my art for some awesome old rusty treasures from a friend in England and I have selfishly been holding onto them not wanting to part with any but I finally included a few in a new journal I decorated. For the life of me I cannot get a decent photo of it but I LOVE the way it turned out. I call it 'Beautiful Decay'. :)) A fellow artist on deviantART was talking about how she discovered a way to rust things quickly. It is a nifty trick that I am going to try. Anyhoo....I was laughing about how excited she was (and me too!) to discover how to cover something in rust and I got to thinking about how beautiful rust and decay can be. I seem to be fascinated with decrepit old rusty broken objects lately and I wonder if it has anything to do with my upcoming birthday LOL!! Well, thinking about the beauty of decay inspired the design. :)

Say, everybody else on Etsy probably knows about this but I just discovered Craftopolis.com !!! It offers tons of helpful information for sellers...you won't believe it! I just found out I was in treasuries I didn't even know about! Sheesh, I feel like a heel because I never commented or thank them. *sheepish grin*. If you are a seller on Etsy you gotta go check it out!

www.craftopolis.com

My first Tutorial! Also a Birthday Sale and New Goodies :)

2010-07-01T18:07:00.000-05:00

My First Tutorial!

I just became a teacher at ClayLessons.com and posted my first ever tutorial!

It gives step by step instructions on how to create a dragon eye from polymer clay. No special tools needed and no prior polymer clay experience necessary. :) Just go to www.claylessons.com and search for the Woodland Dragon Eye. Wheeee!

I am so excited. Boy it was really a lot of work to put together a tutorial. I had no idea how much time it takes. You have to stop at every step and take photos (with clay covered hands lol), crop and organize the photos, type up your step by step instructions then create a PDF file. Whew! Luckily they have this nifty thing called 'Tutorial Maker' and it simplified it soooo much.

There are many really really cool tutorials on this site, you should check it out! Many of them are even free! Plus, if you are a polymer clay artist, consider becoming a teacher, it's awesome!

Well, I am celebrating another birthday this month. July 12th Woohoo! I'm not going to say how old I am...but let's just say that I've been 29 for quite a while now LOL!! To celebrate, I'd like to offer any reader, or friends of readers, a 20% discount off of anything in my Etsy shop. (www.mandarinmoon.etsy.com). You can click on the header of this blog and it will take you there. Buy anything from my shop and note that you would like to take advantage of the Birthday Sale and I will instantly refund 20% of the cost of the item you've purchased. It's like Christmas in July! If you buy three or more items I'll even throw in free shipping within the U.S. and discount international shipping by $5.00 Hey, who's birthday is it anyway? *grin*

The photos are new items that I have created recently, including the dragon eye that I made for the tutorial. Have a great summer!!

Hellooo Summer!!

2010-05-25T18:10:00.000-05:00

My gosh....it is nearly June! I have a few new things to show you. I fell into a slump for about a month or so but I'm back! LOL I just finished a few new journals. I am really fond of leaving the raw edges on the clay right now. It gives the look of handmade paper. I have also been blending colors together and using up scrap clay that I am afraid will get dry and crumbly if I don't use it soon. :) I really love the 'Raspberry Dreams' journal and it was made of four different colors of scrap clay. I rolled it through the pasta machine many times, blending the colors and stopped when the color looked just right. The trick is knowing when to stop LOL.

I also made a cute little 'filigree' cat by covering a wooden figurine I found at the thrift store with ropes of clay. I also worked some colorful seed beads into the design. I just can't seem to get a good photo of it....sooooo frustrating!

I am excited that summer is just around the corner and I look forward to swimming and catching some rays. I LOVE to swim. I used to swim every day, even in the winter (we have an indoor pool here) and I got out of the habit...I really need to get back to it. It's a great way to exercise. :)) I am like a cork too so after I have been swimming laps for an hour or so I will stop and just relax on top of the water. I can just lay there as though I were laying on a water bed LOL! One night I swam until well after dark and I was relaxing on top of the water watching for falling stars and I dozed off for a moment. I had to laugh at myself because I could just imagine someone passing by and seeing a 'dead' body floating in the pool ha ha ha!!

Talk to you soon!

April Silliness and new art

2010-04-09T20:09:00.004-05:00

Happy Spring! I LOVE spring, but my allergies......not so much LOL! I don't know what it is like where you live but here the trees have burst into bloom and covered everything in a blanket of pollen. Wow!! I've been busy with some custom orders and thought I'd share a few of them here.
I don't like photos of myself...yuck...but I was being silly and took a couple for April Fool's day and tweaked them a bit in Photoshop for a friend and now I will share them with you. :))

The top image is of a custom journal I created for comedian Ken Ruiz in LA. He asked for a journal cover with the theme 'beast' and let me run with it. I love requests like that...lots of fun!!

The second image is a photo of one of my peepers....what do you think...too much makeup? LOL

The third image is a custom journal for a buyer that wanted something with frogs....ribbit ribbit!

The fourth image is moi....been tanning a bit...maybe a bit TOO much LOL! I am crossing my eyes but you can't really tell....hmmmm...

and last but not least was a fun little journal I made with found objects, bits of jewelry, rocks, glass gems and.....the kitchen sink! (just kiddin' about the sink heh!)

Hope you're having a great spring!

OMG OMG OMG!!

2010-03-05T21:09:00.003-06:00

I am still stunned by this and it feels so surreal....but, I was contacted by an associate producer of the Martha Stewart show and she asked if I would be interested in coming on the show and teaching Martha how to decorate Easter eggs with polymer clay! Ahhh....!!! I answered lots of questions and sent her images of some sample eggs and now I am waiting (im)patiently to hear back. She said that they are choosing between several egg ideas so it is not a sure thing but STILL...I say again...Ahhhhhh!

Even if my ideas are not chosen I am thrilled that I got their attention! Now, my advice to all of my fellow artists is "Be prepared for the unexpected!".....errr, how do you prepare for....oh, nevermind...but you know what I mean. Anything can happen...and when you least expect it.

I am getting ready to put together my first online class. I think people will like what I do because anyone can do it with step by step instructions. I really admire my fellow polymer clay artists and their skill with surface techniques and faux finishes etc but my simple designs could be made by a beginner...which is what I am really LOL.

I am including a few new pieces that I've recently created. Hope you like them! :))

New Pendants and Trinket Box

2009-12-13T16:38:00.006-06:00

Christmas is nearly upon us! Don't you love the holiday season? The sights, sounds and smells and all of the parties and gatherings. So far our weather here hasn't been too bad. Wicked winds recently actually knocked down power lines. I think the wind chill was zero degrees...yikes! Not a good time to be without power.

I am busy working on Christmas presents and I also just finished a little angel trinket box and three new pendants. I imported some polished stones to use in my jewelry and I just love them! I brought in Sea Sediment Jasper, Spider Wed Agate, Botswana Agate Lapis Lazuli, Tiger's Eye, Labradorite, Chohua Jasper, Ocean Jasper and Autumn Leaf Jasper. They are gorgeous! Can you tell I love jasper? LOL

So far sales have been great for the holiday and I am so glad! I just had to have the struts on my car replaced, my daughter's tuition payments begin and she needs a new car. Ahhhhh! I'm so glad that I am able to supplement my income with my art or I don't think we'd make it. :)
Oh, and on an ironic note; I paid my car off and not two or three days later that it started popping and rattling because the struts were bad....three days! Isn't that so cliche LOL

Have a Happy Holiday!

Burning the candle at both ends and lovin' it!

2009-12-06T21:10:00.004-06:00

I can't believe it is already winter! It seems like fall was just yesterday and now Christmas is just over two weeks away. Am I ready people ask....of course not! I always vow to begin my shopping in the summer and summer quickly turns to fall and then before you know it it is nearly here again. Sigh* Live isn't easy for a chronic procrastinator!

I love this time of year (except the part about scraping the windshield lol) Parties and family gatherings, the house all decked out in lights and the Christmas classics on the radio...and my art table stuffed with custom orders in various stages of completion! Ahh, I am so busy with custom requests! All of a sudden people from all over the world began to email me with their requests. I was so surprised and pleased. Then I became worried that I would not be able to get them all done in time. Luckily I completed several this weekend and I have a few more in the final stages.

I love these special requests, they often come up with ideas that I never would have thought of or tried. They can be a real challenge but I think it helps me to think of new ideas and try new things. One project I'll begin this week is a steampunk box for a compass that someone is going to give for Christmas. They would like gears and that sort of thing included in the design. I love steampunk, it's so fun. :) I decided to take apart some old watches I was given and use the parts inside. Much to my dismay they were mostly plastic. The really curious thing was that no matter what shape the watch was, the inner workings all looked exactly the same. There must be some watch maker in China that everyone buys their inexpensive watch parts from LOL.

I decided to go to a local antique mall and see what I could find there and oh my gosh, it is a haven for unusual one of a kind things! (but sadly no watch parts). I am so excited with my finds and I can't wait to incorporate some of them into new designs. I also bought jasper, agate, lapis lazuli and tiger's eye cabochons from China. They are so beautiful, I can't wait to use them. I really need to learn to wire wrap. I'd also like to learn to use silver clay but I can't afford the special kiln right now but.....someday.....*gazes wistfully to the heavens*

Some very exciting news...I was contacted by "That Creative Place" and I may begin teaching an online class early next year! I am excited and nervous and I am thinking of projects that people may like to learn how to do. How cool is that! I was also contacted by a woman in Spain that would like to incorporate some of my designs into her metal work. She is fabulous! Check out her work at www.kabiliam.com

Well, that's all for now. Now I have to get to bed. Sweet Dreams!

Get Back you Swine!

2009-10-24T22:13:00.003-05:00

Well, I am happy to say that I am beginning to feel like my old self again! I was sick with the H1N1 virus and it really kicked my backside for awhile.
I was at work on Monday, October 12th and I felt fine but all of a sudden I became stuffy and I couldn't breathe through my nose. I thought it was allergies. The next morning I woke up with a very sore throat and a cough. The cough was the worst, it felt like my lungs were on fire. Lots and lots of coughing, in fact I'm still coughing nearly two weeks later but it is getting better. The doc prescribed a cough suppressant with codeine. High fever, body aches and a headache that lasted for days.....not fun. There was a point when I thought I might need to call 911 because it was getting harder and harder to breathe! It was rather alarming to say the least.
I'm so glad I stayed home from work when the first flu symptoms appeared. Who knows how many coworkers I would have infected. I just don't know where it came from. Someone told me that the virus can live on an object for about 6 hours or so. I guess if that is true it could have come from any number of things. The handle of a shopping cart, a door knob, money....who knows.
Anyhoo...the good news is I am getting better and better and actually felt like working with clay again. I finished two pieces today that you see here.
I hope you all stay healthy, and if you do get sick I hope you make it through as well as I did. Take care!

A little plug for my talented sister Vicki

2009-10-11T16:39:00.002-05:00

My sweet little sister just opened up her first Etsy shop. It is her very first experience with online selling and today is her maiden voyage!
She uses Swarovski crystals, semi-precious stones and sterling silver to make the prettiest necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Click on the title of this blog to go to her new Etsy shop. She will be listing more items each day.
If you see something you like but you wish it was another color, another size etc just send her a message, she would be happy to custom make something just for you!
She is a real sweetheart and does so much for so many people and I really hope that her new venture does well.
Good Luck little sister!

New Fall Themed Polymer Clay Cabochons

2009-09-20T15:19:00.002-05:00

Just finished a group of cabochons with a fall flavor. The weather is cooling down and I'm so ready for summer to be over! I will be listing many of these in my Etsy shop soon. Just click on this blog title to be redirected to my shop. These cabochons can be made into pendants, pins or magnets. The could also be little decorations for your desk or used to top a decorative little box. (which is what I will be doing with a few of them. :)

Halloween Treats

2009-09-07T12:52:00.008-05:00

Halloween is coming up and I have a few treats for sale in my Etsy shop! A candle holder made of polymer clay over glass. Painted in purple and green and covered in cobwebs and blood red glass gems. Also a sweet little wooden trinket box covered in polymer clay and featuring red glass gems, ghosts, skulls, black cats and jack-o-lanterns. Also a scratchboard ACEO of a Vampire Skull.....yikes! Lastly a Dragon's Eye pin that would be the perfect compliment to a Wizard or Witch's costume! Click on my blog's title and it will take you to my Etsy shop where you will find more views and other handmade treats made by yours truly. Happy Haunting!

Gearing up for the upcoming Holidays!

2009-08-24T16:44:00.005-05:00

School is back in session and summer is coming to an end. This is always a bittersweet time of year for me because I hate to see summer end and the days begin to grow shorter but I LOVE autumn and the cooler weather. Ah, I can smell the pumpkin pie, hot spiced cider and roasted turkey....mmmmm yummy! Autumn here in Missouri is a beautiful colorful time of year. Albert Camus said it best "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower"

For those of us that sell our artwork on Etsy and the like now is the time to begin stocking up the 'shelves' in our online shops. I sure hope this selling season is a good one for all of us!

I just finished a new journal and a unique candle holder that I just love. Let me know what you think!

New Whimsical Notebooks and Exciting News!

2009-08-02T14:14:00.005-05:00

I just finished a group of fun little notebooks that I found at the craft store. I added my own little polymer clay pieces to customize each one. It was easy to do and they turned out really cute! (IMHO LOL!) I also made another polymer clay ACEO with silver metal tropical fish, glass gems and pearls. All of these pieces are currently for sale in my Etsy shop. Just click on the title to this blog and it will take you there if you are interested. :)

I am so excited about a trade I am making with an artist in Poland. She makes the most beautiful wire wrapped silver jewelry and she approached me about trading for my Seahorse Journal. I enthusiastically agreed. She loves to trade with other artists and you can find her at www.sweetcandydreams.deviantart.com They are shown above along with my whimsical notebooks and new ACEO.

New Jewelry and a Halloween Trinket Box!

2009-07-19T18:58:00.003-05:00

Happy Halloween!..............okay, well maybe I'm a bit early. :) I've just finished a Halloween trinket box and three new pieces of polymer clay jewelry.
Some of my friends at PCAGOE gave me a tip on how to get polymer clay to stick to wood and it worked like a charm! First bake the wood at a low temp to ensure that all moisture is removed. Then apply a thin coating of white glue to the surface of the wood (I used Weldbond) and apply your clay to this surface. The glue was dry or nearly dry by the time I applied the clay. Yay! I had some wood boxes and could not get the clay to stick for the life of me!
I'm having fun creating little pieces of jewelry and I've sold one of them to a buyer in Italy. I was so happy! I love the effect the PearlEx powdered pigment has on black clay. It just glows!
It has been a glorious weekend here. Mostly sunny and cool. Unbeieveable for July in Missouri!! I haven't had the air on all weekend and the windows have been open letting the cool breeze in. Ahhh...just wonderful.

My Green Eyed Goddess book is finished!

2009-07-07T18:33:00.004-05:00

Well, I've finally finished my latest journal. It is a blank book that I've decorated with polymer clay and solid brass sea creatures. I found those pretty brass pieces and I just had to tangle them up in her hair! This sultry beauty is made of polymer clay in various shades of brown and light flesh and was painted here and there with acrylic paint. The background color is a metallic emerald green.
Each strand of hair was placed individually which took some time but I love the result!
For more views click on the title of this post and it will take you to my Etsy shop where she is for sale!
On a sad note, my Aunt Amma passed away today. She had been suffering for quite some time and even though she is now at peace, she will be deeply missed. She and my Uncle just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and I am so glad that they were able to celebrate their marriage with lots and lots of family. Love you Aunt Amma!

My Latest Project a 'Goddess' Journal

2009-07-06T21:28:00.003-05:00

This is what I am working on now! It is a work in progress and I may add a few more touches before I attach it to the book. It is a bit different for me but it's fun! It is all polymer clay with solid brass starfish, shells, sand dollar and fishes. She was going to be a Goddess and then I happened upon these neat little solid brass things that I just had to add and so she became a Mermaid...or a Siren, I haven't decided which yet!
There are several things that I will do differently next time. As my daughter said...'she has a very strong chin'....yes indeed! I may paint the background a green and paint her face a bit. Highlight the lips so they don't look quite so flat. Hmmm...not sure what else yet. I'd love to hear your thoughts or suggestions for this or my next 'goddess'. Let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-03T09:03:00.007-05:00

Happy 4th of July to all of those in the U.S.!

I'm excited! A few of my journals have been featured in an online magazine called MetaCreative Magazine put out by Mystikka Jade. You can find the magazine at www.metacreativemagazine.com
One of my vases will also be featured in a 2010 calendar! I'll post a link when it becomes available. I have three comissions to work on, so I will go for now.
Have a safe holiday!!!

One Lovely Blog Award twice!

2009-06-21T19:38:00.004-05:00

Thanks so much to Arlene Harrison from Harrison Hollow Designs www.harrisonhollowdesigns.blogspot.com and Maria Psaltis www.mariapsaltis.blogspot.com for the One Lovely Blog Award! If you have not visited their blogs please do, they have the most wonderful creations there!

Now it's my turn to pass this award on to some of my newly discovered favorites. Here are the rules:

~Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

~Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.

~Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award!

My 15 newly-discovered lovely blogs (not in any particular order):

www.polymerclaychameleon.blogspot.com
www.treewingsstudio.blogspot.com
www.alidilibellula.blogspot.com
www.aufildespates.canalblog.com
www.ametistadea.blogspot.com
www.tonjastreasures.com/wordpress/
www.livingwithwall.blogspot.com
www.polyclaykunst.de
www.doreenwilley.blogspot.com
www.kimcavender.blogspot.com
www.alkhymeia.jimdo.com
www.forgottenobjects.blogspot.com
www.marciapalmer.blogspot.com
www.beadbunny.blogspot.com
www.garritygal.blogspot.com

Such wonderful varied talents and styles. Take time to visit each of them, you'll be amazed and inspired. I know I was!

Happy Father's Day! New Organic Pod Vase finished

2009-06-21T15:05:00.004-05:00

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there!

This is a vase/candle holder that I just finished for my Dad. It has an organic look to it don't you think? Lotus pod type texture and roots or vines meandering across the surface. It is a glass bubble bowl covered in black and brown Fimo and painted here and there with acrylic and metallic paint. There are holes cut in the clay to allow the light to shine through. Hope he likes it! You can click on this blog title and it will take you to my deviantART gallery with more views.

The second photo is a little arrangement I made using things that I found on my walks through the woods; a fungus of some sort, a small stone, galls on a twig, a spikey dried seed pod and artificial ivy leaves and berries (didn't find those on my walks of course :) ) all arranged in a little ceramic pot.

New Vase completed and in my Etsy shop!

2009-06-20T14:17:00.005-05:00

Hi everyone!
I'm so excited about my new vase, it turned out so pretty! I love PearlEx Powdered Pigments and especially if you use them over black Fimo. Shimmery, shiny metallic sheen that changes depending on how the light hits it. Soooo pretty :)
This is a small ceramic Mikasa vase covered in polymer clay. I added glass gems, the pigments and metallic gold leaf Rub-n-buff then rubbed it to a satiny shine.
It measures 4" x 4" and is water-tight.
Also pictured is a fun little Halloween trinket box that was a custom order for a buyer on Etsy. I hope they like it! It is a metal tin and the lid is covered in polymer clay. The jack-o-lantern was formed around a cobalt blue glass gem and was painted with acrylic paint.

My New facebook fan page

2009-06-17T21:26:00.004-05:00

Yep, can you believe it. I've created a fan page on facebook. I cringe everytime I say that LOL! Like I'm some super star or something heh heh! No no no, it is just a way to promote your art on facebook. Posts on your fan page can be viewed by anyone, not just your friends. Anyhoo...I' m giving it a try. I am hopelessly clueless and it is pretty basic and boring right now but, if you'd like to stop by and offer comments or suggestions, please do! . If you have a fan page of your own, I'd love to see it and become your fan.

I was uploading photos last night and was falling asleep at the keyboard! (I have to get up every morning at 3:30-4:30am so by 10pm my behind is dragging!) So... you may notice there are photos without descriptions yet! I will rectify the situation very soon. LOL!

I plan to post some of my ACEOs such as the one in this post. (Who doesn't love a Rainbow Rhino right?) That particular ACEO was purchased by Wendy Gaffaney. I was so honored! Have you ever heard of Wendy. She is an incredible artist. She was selling her ACEOs on eBay and Etsy but some of her work can now be found at stabandstash.com I own a couple of her original ACEOs and they blow me away. The incredible detail she can put in a tiny painting and her wonderful, whimsical imagination is such an inspiration. Google her, you'll find some of the most adorable paintings ever.

I'm Excited! Two New Vases Just Finished!

2009-06-14T13:38:00.005-05:00

I've just finished two new vases and I'm really pleased with the way they've turned out!
One is a Mikasa ceramic vase that I have covered in polymer clay in various shades of green and blue-green. I added a brass butterfly and aqua blue glass gems then textured the clay. After it was cured I gave it an acrylic wash in burnt umber and black and wiped it off the raised areas. This adds 'shadows' and gives depth. It also tones down the bright color of the clay. Once that was dry I added touches of metallic Rub-n-buff in emerald, jade, gold leaf and chinese red.
The second vase is my most favorite. This little stoneware vase was covered in black Fimo Soft polymer clay, the texture was added then the czech iridescent glass beads, iridescent red glass gems, clay ropes and pebbly bits were added. Once cured I added Rub-n-buff in Chinese Red, ruby, emerald and jade green and gold leaf.
They are both water-tight and could be used for fresh, silk or dried flowers. They also look pretty all by themselves. :)

Today is the last day for the 'Yart' Sale on Etsy! Lots of juicy deals in my shop with free shipping offers, discounts and free OOAK handmade (by me) gifts! Check it out! Just click on this blog title to visit my shop. To see other great deals just search "Yart Sale" and for other wonderful polymer clay creations search "PCAGOE" (Polymer Clay Artist Guild of Etsy)

Thanks!

Etsy's Yart Sale is in full Swing and last minute Father's Day Gifts!

2009-06-13T10:30:00.003-05:00

Hey Everyone! The Grande Finale of Etsy's 'Yart Sale' ends tomorrow evening ('Yart'= 'Yard' + 'Art') Don't miss out on great discounts, discounted or Free shipping and Free gifts! Click on my link above to check out my deals then search 'Yart Sale' or 'Father's Day' for some great ideas and great offers! Don't forget Etsy sellers offer Edibles and Plants too. :)

Above are pics of a few of my items above and here are some links to items from other Etsy sellers. If these items are sold by the time you read this blog-Check out their other offerings, these Etsians have some unbelievable handmade one of a kind treasures Dad's would really love.

Whimseyandspice-A Father's Day Gift Box full of tasty unique treats like; Beer marshmallows-a Chocolate Stout Marshmallow infused with Fort Collins Chocolate Stout, Cashew Cocoa Nib Chipotle Brittle, Hazelnut Whisky Sandwich Cookies, Chocolate Orange Cardamom Cookies, and Espresso Dulce de Leche brownies. Yumm! Great presentation too.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26413812

rah4mu-One of the cutest handmade Father's Day cards I have ever seen!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22777411

GlassyArt-My Dad is a cat lover and this stained glass suncatcher is precious!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26013082

julieboyles-A beautiful handmade leather bound journal
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26389791

WindwoodGlass-Stained Glass Necktie jewelry box that would be perfect for Dad's watch, change, cufflinks etc.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25733919

Just opened up an ArtFire Sudio!

2009-06-12T18:18:00.005-05:00

I finally found out why I was having problems with my ArtFire gallery. I set it up back in March and just recently posted my first item. I was so excited and watched as the views rose rapidly. (New postings are on the front page until they get bumped off by newer posts. Great exposure, if only for a little while!)
But...when I clicked on my item (a polymer clay decorated flask) it flipped to the front page instead of my Studio/gallery. I tried all kinds of things to try to fix this but to no avail.
What reminded me of my ArtFire account was that I stumbled upon the President and founder of ArtFire; John Jacobs on Twitter (ArtFireJohn on Twitter). He sent me a message introducing himself and said to contact him if I had any questions etc. I was impressed that he takes the time to touch base with people and makes himself personally available. So...I trotted off to my ArtFire account and opened it up again.
After trying everything I could think of to fix my problem, I thought I would take advantage of his offer and contacted him. He responded so quickly and gave me their toll free number. I called and pressed the appropriate buttons for ArtFire customer service and was connected almost instantly with a live person......that is almost unheard of these days! She was really pleasant and helpful and in less than a minute had activated my account for me. (something I had failed to do back in March when I initially signed up....enter sheepish grin here).
I'm very impressed with their customer service and invite all artists and crafters to give them a try. Oh, and did I mention that it is all FREE! Basic accounts such as mine are completely free.
"No listing fees, No final fees, No hidden fees, No kidding!"
Now, I shall create more goodies and fill my shop.....If you build it, they will come
Wish me luck!

Yart Sale in my Etsy Shop June 10th-14th!

2009-06-09T21:03:00.003-05:00

Team ESST on Etsy is sponsoring their second annual Yart Sale! This sale runs June 10th through June 14th. All sellers can participate just search 'Yart' on Etsy to find all the great deals! I am offering discounts, free shipping and free gifts with purchase. Check out my shop for the details! www.mandarinmoon.etsy.com Here are some of the great items you'll find in my shop. Cheers!

A few more photos of new jewelry

2009-06-08T21:07:00.003-05:00

Here are a few pics of new pieces of my polymer clay decorative pins or brooches. Brooches seems much too prim and proper for my style but...for lack of a better word.....:) The dragon eye pin features an old watch face for his eye. He really is....are you ready....."watch"-ing you. (sorry for the terrible pun heh heh) Let me know what you think!

PCAGOE and New Polymer Clay Jewelry!

2009-06-05T23:44:00.005-05:00

Today I decided to try my hand at polymer clay jewelry. I made nine brooches out of various colored clays and added iridescent crystals, sterling silver, rhinestones, turquoise, pearls and glass cabochons among other things. Lots of sparkly bling!

I'm really pleased with the way they turned out and hope that they will draw more attention to my Etsy shop.

Hurrah! I just became a member of the Polymer Clay Artist Guild of Etsy (PCAGOE) and I'm really excited to be a part of this Etsy team!! It's an amazing active group of Etsy artists. You can visit their website at www.pcagoe.com Check them out!

My Secret Potion Bottle

2009-06-03T19:30:00.004-05:00

Just finished this polymer clay and glass flask. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out! I took a glass flask and covered it in black and brown Fimo, gave it texture in some areas, then added some creamy glass gems and pieces of chain. I added the swirls and little pebbly bits of clay (it takes forever!) and then it was put in the oven to cure.
After the clay was cured, I put a wash of burnt umber and black acrylic over the surface and wiped it from the raised areas. Then I touched it here and there with metallic paint. It looks like it is covered in tanned leather. My friends say that it looks like a secret potion bottle or that a genie will appear if you rub it.....hmmm....let's give that a try! It is listed for sale in my Etsy shop.

2009-05-31T17:13:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy weekend, I can't believe it is almost over! I never get everything done but I did accomplish much in the way of art. I finished a stained glass mosaic jar, two ACEO holders, a decorative box and a new blank journal. All totally new ideas for me. Ones that I've been thinking about for awhile.

My idea for the new blank journal was to embed puzzle pieces into the clay. My worry was that the puzzle pieces would burst into flames or discolor while curing the clay. I'm pleased to announce that neither mishap happened. Whew!

The idea for the Mosaic glass jar was to use art glass and surround it with black polymer clay to give the illusion of stained glass. It worked perfectly though the finished piece may have a bit too much texture. I used hundreds (thousands?) of little clay balls and that made it pretty busy. Next time I will do it a little differently.

The ACEO holders turned out really cute and were relatively easy to make. I had little Christmas ornament photo holders and I covered them with polymer clay and added catseye cabochons to one and made the other to look like a little seed pod (my favorite!)

The box was covered in polymer clay and I placed a tooled copper foil Cicada in the center. The tooled copper cicada was purchased on eBay from an artist in Thailand who goes by the name of waemam. Beautiful detailed pieces!

Sales on Etsy have been reallllly slow and I hope these new pieces will bring some attention to my shop. There are a few other art sites that I may have to try to increase my exposure. All my fellow artist friends on deviantART are really supportive and seem to like the new pieces. That is really a wonderful site for an artist. Not only is it packed with some amazing artwork, but the people there are friendly and supportive of one another.

Woah, this is the first time that I have included images in my post...they look huge! Hmmm...(making a mental note to post SMALL images in the future)

Stormy Weather Miracle

2009-05-22T16:34:00.000-05:00

Well, it's spring in Missouri and with that come the storms. I love thunderstorms. The foreboding dark clouds rolling in. The wind kicking up and rustling the leaves in the trees. The cooler air blowing in with the smell of rain. Distant thunder getting ever closer. Suddenly....crackle..Crackle..KABOOM!! As if on cue the rain begins pouring down. Ahhh......so exciting and exhilarating. The best ending to a wonderful thunderstorm is for the clouds to break apart revealing deep blue sky and sunshine splashes down sparkling on the newly washed grass and trees.

One of the most memorable storms in my life happened about 9 years ago. I lived in a cute little house in South Saint Louis City and severe weather warnings were out. The sky was getting darker and darker and tornado warnings were issued. I wasn't paying too much attention but when I glanced out the window I saw something that was so strange that I rushed outside to take a closer look.

The daylight had that eerie greenish yellow color. I'm not sure what causes this but it usually means things are going to get ugly. What caught my attention were the clouds. They were like none I have ever seen before. The strangest sculpted, rolling shapes and the lower clouds were blowing one direction while the higher clouds blew the opposite way. Does this happen often?! It was the first time I had noticed it.

Advancing toward me in the sky was what had brought me outside. It was a wall of black cloud so menacing that my heart started pounding. It was a straight line across the sky and tall like a floating dark cliff. I noticed others were standing outside watching it too. As I stood there on my front step I looked up and straight above my head, the clouds were swirling around in a circle. I shouted and pointed up and the neighbors all gasped and started chattering. Yikes!

Suddenly lightning struck close by with a thunderclap so sudden and deafening that it left my nerves ragged and my ears ringing.

Right before me, like a stone dropped from the sky, fell a Swallow. The rain was coming down in torrents and I dashed out to the street and scooped up the lifeless little body. She was so pretty. I'd never seen a Swallow up so close. I took her up onto the porch and gently laid her down. I thought I would bury the poor creature after the storm blew over. I watched the storm for a little while and when it began to die down I turned to the little bird and held her in my hand. What had caused her to drop from the sky? Was it the loud bang of the thunder? As I pondered this, she opened her eyes and stirred. She was still alive! She righted herself and stood in my hands for a moment then flew away. It was magical and I'll always remember that moment. It was as if she had come back to life. Reborn.

Now, I don't remember if the clouds parted and the sun came out that day but wouldn't that have been the perfect ending?

Going to Costa Rica!

2009-04-19T09:08:00.000-05:00

...not me, sadly, but one of my journals! I was contacted by a woman in Boca Raton and she comissioned a journal for her trip to Costa Rica for research. How exciting! She provided photos of the native wildlife and a few examples of my previous work to give me an idea of what she would like. That was perfect and I was able to make something that she loves. Yay! She said her next trip will probably be to Alaska...what an interesting life she has...I'm jealous LOL!
The second bit of exciting news is that I was contacted by an online magazine and she wants to feature my work in an upcoming issue. I need to supply high res photos and a short bio. Which reminds me, I have to jump on that now that the comissioned journal is finished!
I was also contacted by Soleyne.com and invited to join their invitation-only selling gallery site. Sounds exciting and I am going to take 5 of my journals and tiles from my Etsy site and move them over and see what happens. They are a juried gallery and have to approve all submissions. They are promoting themselves to be a premier online selling gallery much like a brick and mortar gallery and are gearing up to hit the market with an ad campaign in May 2009. I am looking forward to this new exposure!

Where are you spring?

2009-04-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

Here it is, nearly mid April and the weather is almost winter like. In fact less than a week ago after a streak of warm wonderful spring-like weather, we had a snowstorm! The snow melted quickly but still....!
I often dream of moving to Southern California or New Mexico where the temperature remains fairly consistent, at least compared to Missouri. There have been times, here in the Midwest, when the temperature dropped 50 degrees or more in one day. Some say " if you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes" It seems to be true quite often. So, thoughts of palm trees swaying in the breeze and temps in the 70's most days sounds simply wonderful.
But, you know...I think I'd actually miss the change of the seasons. Especially the remarkable transformation from dead, brown foliage and naked trees to the day that the trees burst into full bloom seemingly over night. Suddenly there are flowers everywhere, the grass is bright green and lush and the birds are in full chorus.
My second favorite season is fall. It is such a relief when the temperature drops from the 90's and 100's to 60 or 70 degrees. Ahhh......! Even though it is sad to see the days growing shorter, I love all of the sights and smells of fall. Albert Camus said "Autumn is like a second spring, when every leaf is a flower" How true!
I have to get busy with my clay before the weather gets too hot. My little toaster/convection oven works great to cure my polymer clay and doesn't heat up the house like the regular stove does but the temp in my house, with the air conditioner running constantly, never drops below 80 degrees and the clay gets all sticky and squishy. What a mess LOL!
Well, here's to spring! Don't be shy, we are waiting for you!

Wow! My first sale to Russia!!

2009-04-04T09:50:00.000-05:00

I am so excited! After a few weeks of little sales in my Etsy shop, I found that I had sold a jewelry box that I decorated months ago. The most expensive piece I had for sale. Next thing I knew, this same buyer chose two other pieces also! I was so happy and when I learned that he is in Moscow, that was the icing on the cake. I love selling to buyers in new countries. There is something about the thought of my art now all over the world that is thrilling. :)
One of the first pieces I ever sold was a dragon called Ferdinand and he now lives in New Zealand. It's like a part of me now lives in these exotic lands. And yet, boring ol' me has never even been out of the United States....sigh*

I'm Featured!

2009-03-12T12:20:00.000-05:00

Eugena at polymerclaychameleon.blogspot.com has featured a few of my decorated blank journals in her blog! She features a polymer clay artist daily and there are some incredible items featured. You should check it out! You can also visit her Etsy shop at www.eugena777.etsy.com Her shop is filled with gorgeous polymer clay and resin jewelry.

I've started a series of ACEO and journals with seed pods that I've made from polymer clay and glass gems. They are a big hit on deviantART where artists showcase their work. I've also experimented with polymer clay on clear acrylic tiles for a stained glass type effect with really interesting results. Visit my gallery on deviantART at www.mandarinmoon.deviantart.com to see a few examples.

In other news :) Happy Birthday to my son Eric who celebrates his 28th birthday today!

A Most Exciting Day!

2009-01-31T18:58:00.000-06:00

I had the best surprise this morning! I post my art on a site call deviantART and, on any given day, I usually find a handful of comments on my work. Well, imagine my surprise when I logged on to find 240 comments!! I wondered what was going on when I found out that one of my journals was featured as a "Daily Deviation" This is a showcase of work that people nominate and the dA admin choose. I was so HAPPY! I started answering all of the comments but, much to my delight, the more I replied to, the more comments there were. By the end of the day, I had about one thousand comments and people that marked my work as one of their favorites! Yipee! It was also great for my sales on Etsy. I am just thrilled! You can visit my site at www.mandarinmoon.deviantart.com

Exciting News!

2008-11-15T12:12:00.000-06:00

I just finished voting for my picks in the ACEO YBA 2008 and discovered that I am a finalist in six different categories! Woohoo! I am up against some incredible art so I am really happy just to be a finalist and we will find out who the winners are after the 24th of November.
With the fate of the eBay community forums in question, two of my favorite ACEO groups have created websites of their own. Visit ACEOaddix by clicking here

You can also visit ACEO Enthusiasts at www.aceoenthusiasts.com
ACEO stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals. They are tiny works of art that measure
2.5" x 3.5" which is the size of a baseball trading card. They can be made of any medium or material, the only rule is their size. You can learn more about them by visiting the two sites above or search for them on sites such as Etsy and eBay or simply google the word ACEO and see what you find!
Artist Lisa Luree or bone*diva on eBay started the whole ACEO movement. You can see her work at www.lisaluree.com she is amazing!
I have my CafePress shop up and running now. Check out my wares at www.cafepress.com/MandarinMoon

All a Twitter

2008-11-06T18:08:00.000-06:00

I was reading Etsy articles on blogging and how to increase visitors to your blog and they mentioned a couple of interesting things.

One is a site called "Twitter" at www.twitter.com You can sign up for free and there you post little short paragraphs in 140 characters or less that answers the question "What are you doing right now?". It's an interesting idea but I am still trying to figure out how to use it and how to find others I know. I think it may be that they have to be in your email address bo0k (?) I'm still not sure lol!

The second piece of advice was to claim my blog at Technorati and I have just done that. Not really sure what I have done by claiming my blog but it is done nonetheless, I have staked my claim!

On another subject...I was on deviantART last night and I searched for scratchboard and I was blown away by the art that I found! Check these out! I'm not sure how to create links yet but if you copy and paste each of these in your browser window you will be blown away! Whoa!

http://smorrisonart.deviantart.com/art/Satyr-97604487
http://kittykicker.deviantart.com/art/Squirrel-Scratchboard-5839206
http://longlivethenova.deviantart.com/art/Iguana-Scratchboard-52695206

For more excellent art go to my devinatART page at www.mandarinmoon.deviantart.com and check out my favorites!

The perfect fall day!

2008-10-25T11:29:00.000-05:00

It is so beautiful this morning! I have all the windows open and there is a nice cool breeze . Ahhhhh. I have been so lax with my art lately. I've spent alot of time trying to market myself by getting my name out there and linking my different sites to each other. No real success yet but I think I am being impatient. I haven't had any significant sales lately and I am thinking it may have alot to do with the state of the economy and the upcoming election. It is still discouraging and may be part of the reason I am in a slump. I'm hearing more about another economic stimulus refund. Yippee! Hope it passes. I also want to attract buyers from other parts of the world that can take advantage of the things we Americans are selling. Gotta work harder on that. I have sold alot to Australia and New Zealand which I think is really cool. I love the thought of my art in the hands of people all over the world! I have been working on scratchboard ACEOs lately. It lends itself really well to creepy Halloween type drawings. There are two posted eBay and my user name there is crevecoeur712.
I actually set up a free spot on Classmates.com. It will be interesting to see if anything comes of it.

Well, off I go!!

Oodles of Doodles

2008-10-22T16:20:00.000-05:00

I just finished another of my ACEO Scratchboard "doodles". I call them doodles because I just randomly draw whatever comes to mind. This one has a creepy Halloween feel to it with a skull, cobweb and a spider dangling from a silken thread. (and, of course, eyes here and there)
I'll put it up for auction on eBay and see if anyone is interested. If not, then I will list it on Etsy and see what happens. The last couple that I posted on eBay sold for $30 and up. Not bad for a little doodle!
I love this scratchboard paper that I found. It is easy to cut into whatever size you need, like the ACEO size that I've been doing. They are alot less expensive than the Ampersand Scratchbord too. You can't get quite the same effect as you can on the Ampersand board but, with practice, you can acheive similar results.
Lately these scratchboard ACEOs have been selling on eBay, but no sales to speak of on Etsy. Maybe sales will pick up after the election. One can only hope!
I also heard rumors of another Economic Stimulus check that may be sent out soon. Wouldn't that be great! Maybe they could send it out right before Christmas, that would ensure that it is put right back into the economy!

Sweet Saturday

2008-10-18T10:46:00.000-05:00

Ahhh...the weekend is here and it is a beautiful fall day; blue skys, cool breeze and a touch of color in the trees.

Today I am going to concentrate on marketing my art. I am thinking of setting up an account on MySpace. My daughter says that you have lots of options to customize your page (?). I want to delve further into how other artists market themselves.

I saw a thread on eBay groups that said something about ACEO groups going "Bye Bye" as they put it. That's really curious and I wonder if it is true and why?!

I also have to get out and enjoy this weather!

Thank heavens it's hump day!

2008-10-15T18:54:00.000-05:00

Fridays are my favorite day, Thursdays are my second favorite (payday...yay!) but Wednesdays aren't bad either because it means the week is half over. Yippee! (I love my weekends can you tell?)
Just alot of the same ol' same ol' going on here. Still trying to scare up some sales.....hello.....anyone out there?
Cheers!

Manic...Tuesday?

2008-10-14T19:01:00.000-05:00

I've been up since 4:30am and I haven't stopped all day! Work was hectic and after work I had to run to the store, then take my daughter to school during rush hour, then off I went to the art store for supplies. Now it is 7pm, I just got home and I have housework to do then run to pick my daughter up after her classes are over. Whew!
Luckily most of my days are not this crazy.
I've opened the Cafe Press shop but the selection of offerings are overwhelming. I have to find out how to attract customers to my little shop. I also need to create larger works so that they will fit nicely on t-shirts, sweatshirts etc. I'll get the hang of it eventually. :)

Cafe Press

2008-10-13T20:36:00.000-05:00

Well, today I opened up a little shop at Cafe Press. My shop is at www.cafepress.com/MandarinMoon
I just opened up a basic shop to see what happens. If I begin making some sales, I may consider up grading. Right now, I can only offer one of each type of item which is a little restrictive but it is free so I have nothing to lose!
Now I am off to work on some new ideas. Wheeee!

Projects...so many projects, so little time!

2008-10-12T13:09:00.000-05:00

Ahhh! It's Sunday and I didn't accomplish all that I had hoped to this weekend. Oh well, that is the way it usually goes. Luckily, I am so busy at work that the weeks fly by just as fast.

I am going to work on another blank journal. My first sold fairly quickly and at a nice price. I decorated it with polymer clay, glass gems, bits of jewelry and a broken watch. I have a photo of it here on my blog page.

Right now I am working on more little boxes in polymer clay. This is the perfect time of year for working with polymer clay; it is cool enough that I can cure them in the oven and not heat up the house!

I'm starting to develop my own style and so far, people seem to like it. I just get so impatient; I want to sell things more quickly. My daughter is in college and tuition and books are so expensive!

Well, off I go to create!

My Maiden Voyage

2008-10-11T16:21:00.000-05:00

This is my very first experience with blogging! I was told recently by a fellow artist on EBSQ that I really need to do this, so here I am. Thank you Laurie!

Just a couple of years ago, I discovered ACEO on eBay. When I found out what they were I was really excited because I have always wanted to own works from other artists but could not afford them. Sigh*
Soon, I had amassed a collection of the coolest drawings and paintings! They are very addictive and I was hooked. It was becoming an expensive habit and one day a light bulb went off and I thought "why don't I try selling some myself?" I was so excited when I made my first sale! Wheeee!

Then, I made the mistake of calculating how much I was paying in eBay listing and final value fees and the fees I paid Paypal to collect the money. I realized with dismay that a big chunk of each sale went to these fees! I figured that was the price you pay for the exposure and knew that I would not be selling my art at all if not for eBay. But, when they changed the default search to "Best Match" and began the DSR, I became even more disenchanted. Even with a 100% positive feedback and 4.9-5.0 DSR I was getting more and more lost in the shuffle.

A fellow artist on eBay told me that she was also selling on a site called Etsy and said I should give it a try. I was a bit skeptical but when I checked them out, it seemed like a wonderful place for artists of all kinds! Only handmade items are sold there, not all of the mass produced things you may find elsewhere. The listing fees are only twenty cents for four months and you get your own little shop. I set up my shop and filled it with a few of my ACEOs and paintings, then proceeded to spend money on some of the wonderful things listed there! :) It is working out very well for me.

Now, I only use eBay to research how much an item will sell for. Etsy is a fixed price format and I wanted to price my items fairly without giving them away. One thing I will say for an auction format is that I was often surprised by how much one of my paintings would sell for. I would never have thought to ask so much for it. It really depends on who is shopping, what they love, and how badly they want to own it. The best thing for an artist is to have a few people that are determined to own your work and they get into a bidding war. It is so exciting!!

Thanks so much for listening to me ramble!

Most of my art is available in my Etsy shop at http://www.mandarinmoon.etsy.com/
My user name on eBay is crevecoeur712
I have much of my art posted on deviantART at http://www.mandarinmoon.deviantart.com/
My member name on EBSQ is MandarinMoon

Check it out!