SJ Designs Jewelry January Inspiration

Well I'm late as usual but here is Erick's inspiration for January. 

When I was young I wanted a parakeet but my mom got me a parrot instead. I liked him but I was afraid of him. This inspiration took me back. 

My son wanted a Budgie, which I think are beautiful too. I was able to rescue two blue ones. I still have some feathers. So in turn I approached this challenge with a feather.

Because I am pressed for energy I used color from the January Art Bead Scene challenge but if you look closely at the bird Erick presented to us there are many colors.

At first I didn't think it was good enough, (as usual) but I liked it. So here it is.

Polymer clay pendant.

You can see it in my Etsy shop!

Here are some polymer clay beads that I made for the Art Bead Scene Studio's January Challenge.

I am happy to see myself learning about bead making with this medium. I spent the last month feeling like a creative sludge. It seemed whatever I did was not worthy!  I do know that when my brain is working on learning, or moving past what I have already learned, nothing turns out then, pow! There it is. I'm not saying I'm there but I am definitely happy to see progress.

Yay!!! I got the perfect pairings on Art Bead Scene Studio!!!

I can't believe it. I was struggling so much with my creative abilities and talent and this just really put a cherry on my day!

It is hard when I feel like I can't do anything good enough. It seems to come from being in my own world and comparing myself to myself.

Well I was just happy to get something posted and then what a happy suprise!

Thank you

January Challenge

Well it's been a while but I do have a good excuse, 2 hip replacements in 7 months. Needless to say it can wear a person out. I think though the part that hinders the creative mind the most is the sluggy brain syndrome from the medication. Any how I am trying to get back into the swing of it all!

Here is the beautiful Art Bead Scene Studio's January Challenge

This is my first bead which is a focal pendant. Polymer clay and layers of stuff. I have been experimenting with making polymer clay have a ceramic look. So there is lots of experimenting going on, that's why I say stuff. This seems to be the closest I've gotten!

Another polymer clay focal with Swarovski Crystal Pearls

I have to add these beads from last month's Honey Do List from SJ Designs. Again my excuse is not from loss of motivation, because Eric's photographs are motivating. But my own recuperation. Obviously I am feeling a bit better as I am posting again. Not the greatest photos but I'm just glad to have them on!

All of these beads are polymer clay I think they somewhat go with Art Bead Scene's challenge this month.  After seeing Sarajo's pieces I realized that I did not see the warmth in the photo. I saw misty pinks and purples.

Eric's Honey Do List 

From SJ Designs Jewelry and boy does she. Sunflowers for one last hurrah of summer. Works for me!

Though I am not one to design beads with predominately bright yellow I do enjoy it in my garden. 

My experience with sunflowers is the birds being all over them when the seeds mature. 

Well Eric you have re-inspired me to grow them again next year.

I made a polymer clay pendant. Well actually I made more than that but I was not happy enough about them to put them on. I do like this one though.

Thank you again Eric!

September Art Bead Scene Studio Challenge

Insects

Eugene Seguy

Published in 1920

Pochoir Print

Image Credit: Special Collections Research Center at NCSU Libraries

It's funny that this month is bugs when I have been collecting several bug pins on Pinterest

I have always been intrigued by dragonflies so I used a pearl polymer clay which I love, and came up with this pendant that strings through the back so it doesn't flip around and the beads. 

I equate my use of polymer clay to painting and sculpting at the same time and I love it!
So here is my bug painting, yes abstract but that's the way it is sometimes.
It is a pendant by the way.

 I also do a lot of gardening for insects. The bees and butterflies are having a hard time. I was making butterfly wing patterns and ended up with this necklace.
The black and white part of the bottom right bug pattern caught my eye and I guess it stayed in my head. So I combined the wing patterns with the black and white patterned clay. The white beads are white turquoise and the matt black beads are Czech from Art Beads.

If You Plant It They Will Come

One reason that I love the Butterfly Bush is that the minute they start blooming you get butterflies! Not hard to guess that one. This is a Miss Molly. It doesn't get overly large and the color and smell is outstanding. There is an even smaller one that I have to look up the name.

 Here's Peetie Not-a-Help! 

He likes to follow me around the garden.

This is a nine bark and a little pink cat tail plant. I got it from a friend and I don't know what it is called but it lasts a long time and had a nice leaf that gets a burgundy splash to it and is has and airy quality that is nice against a solid background.

My Phlox were outstanding this year. They were very tall and lasted a long time.

Blue Spirea or Caryoptris or Blue Mist Spirea, 3'-3.5' H x 3'-3.5' W. It blooms from July to September and the bloom and can stand hot dry areas. I starts blooming when most flowers are fading away. I have been trying to add more blues into my garden pallette.

Hardy Glads so beautiful!

Oak Leaf Hydreangea - no flowers yet but hopefully next year.

This Coral Bell is from 2 summers ago. It is Fire Alarm and boy do I love it. You can see some of the Rozanne Geranium trailing into it, love!

Miss Molly, Rozanne, and creeping Jenny.

New in my garden, Twirling Butterflies. Light , airy but super bloomer. Bees love it.

A Seedum I've had for so many years I don't know what it's called but it is a beautiful color.

The Rozanne behind a shorter coral Phlox. 

Pink Anemone what a show and it lasts a long time!

Left to right, Brunera, Coral Bell, raspberry ?, Coral Belle Southern Comfort (likes some shade for better color),

It doesn't look to hot but next years blooms are waiting to be planted!