Stone and Wood Cairn Earrings

Hi Everyone!

Today, I'm taking some time to play.  I haven't had time lately to try a challenge, but I finally have the energy and time to try one.  One of my favorites is on the We're All Ears challenge with Erin Prais-Hintz on the Earrings Everyday blog.

Here's February's We're All Ears challenge.  It's based on the land art by an artist from Wales, Jon Foreman.  His website, Sculpt the World, shows his amazing natural art.  He uses leaves, shells, stones and sand drawing to create wonderful patterns.

Here is one of his stone patterns:

Sculpt the World

Here are the amazing beads Erin created for the Reveal:

I was so inspired, I had to try something similar.  I had some polymer clay lying around that I bought to try some time ago.  It is Sculpey Premo in Granite, so it's perfect to create rock beads.

Here's what I created - some stone beads, a molded face and a donut.

I took some of the stones, some wood chips and some waxed thread and created some rustic earrings.

Stone and Wood Cairn Earrings

I like the natural woodsy look of these.  Working with the polymer clay turned out to be so fun!  I'm ready to try more!  Now, I need a bead rack, some mica, a clay oven, etc. etc!

Take a look at more of our inspiration at Sculpt the World.  And, check out the other wonderful designs at the Reveal.

Fringed Rope Earrings

Hi Everyone!  Thanks for stopping by.

I had time for some fun this week and created these earrings using Hemptique rope and TierraCast hoops.

Fringed Rope Earrings

Should I write up a tutorial for these?  Let me know in the comments.

Happy Creating!

Post Creativation

Hi everyone!

Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the internet.

January has been very busy since I got back from Creativation.  I prepare tax forms for our family business plus I had three projects to finish by the end of January.  So, there will be more jewelry and plastic canvas kits coming in the future!

I didn't take many photos at Creativation.  Sometime it's just a blue and I forget.  I am too busy ooh-ing and ah-ing and talking and touching!  I took a few, but I'll point you to a couple of my friends who took a lot more.

Here are mine.  Even though I don't scrapbook or make many cards, I just love the paper from Graphic 45.  Here are a couple from their booth - Farmhouse and Ocean Blue.

Graphic 45

Graphic 45

Here's a few from Plaid.  If you are into cosplay, they have paints for you to transform the foam you use to construct these costumes.

I thought this display at the Plaid booth was cool, especially the barnacles made from egg cartons over on the left.  Clever!

And, this showcases their Mod Podge Ultra.  This display is right up my alley with the driftwood and other pieces hanging in the old window and old bottles crusted in sand

Here Lorrie and Sue helped me take a selfie at the StyleTech booth.

I spent a few hours in the Hemptique booth creating a tassel with some of their hemp fabric, rope and twine.  Great materials with which to work!  You'll see more of this in my designs!

I also took a couple of classes - one in needle felting from Clover and one creating a sculptured journal with Quick Cure Clay with Jamie Dougherty.  Both were great classes and amazing techniques, which I hope to incorporate somewhere down the line.

Here's the journal:

It was an amazing trip this year.  I got to see family, had two fantastic roommates, hung out with designers from all over the world and saw some exciting new products.

But, this is just a tidbit.  For lots of photos from the show floor, see Julie McGuffee's blog, Life in the Craft Lane.  For another view on trends, see Cindy DeRosier's site.

Enjoy!