Is it only Wednesday? Hmm.

I got off of work a little early today so to take advantage of the extra time I decided to work on some product photos. A few that had not yet been photographed and some that needed some serious re-photographing.

I just worked on these the other night- they will probably be used as center pieces for more of my brooches mentioned here. I absolutely LOVE working with the pressed flowers/leaves again. I'm almost out so I picked some more flowers and leaves to press yesterday while out on a walk :)

I had actually forgotten about this pendant I made earlier this spring I believe. Its an earth made with white, blue, and green polymer clay attached to a circular glass tile. I didn't have my new camera at the time I made it so the photos needed an upgrade!

I made this wood burning semi recently and originally attached a hair comb to the back to wear in your hair but it just didn't quite work out the way I had hoped so I removed it and experimented around a bit and ended up taking a small strip of fabric and drilling tiny screws to secure it. Quite fun actually!

Anyway now it can be more versatile:

(click this one to see it enlarged for better detail!)

And around the neck:

Goodnight!

-Julie

paper and fabric and wood...OH MY!

I tried out wood burning over the weekend- 50% off coupon at Joanns and a $30 "Versa Tool" creative wood burner= a new hobby for $15. Well- then must acquire wood- but you can buy little pieces for super cheap. Although I am going to have my dad send me some slices of wood from back home. I purchased my dad a wood burner from Amazon for Father's Day because he has been a huge wood crafter lately. Apparently spending hours out in his shop using one of his (yes he has multiple) wood lathes crafting up all kinds of awesomeness.

He made this for me upon my request- an oak log candle holder :)

(oh and he actually said this to me "I know you are all Los Angeles..Respect Your Mother...blah blah so I made this from an oak tree that fell during hurricane Ike. HA! my dad is so Texas- but he tries to understand)

This is just a hobby of his, he is a full time business owner of a water well drilling company back home in Texas but I think he has potential to make this wood lathing a profitable hobby. He actually drove out for a "visit" to California last summer- but really for the sole purpose of buying another wood lathe from someone out here, visiting his daughter was just an added bonus. Haha.

My crafting has gotten out of control and if I thought I had a medium problem in my last entry I suppose it has only increased, I'm just learning to roll with it. Lately it's been paper crafting (cutting):

 that I just started experimenting with weekend before last, a little fabric fusing:

(thanks to Sister Diane over at CraftyPod for this fun idea!)

and now wood crafting (burning):

My first official wood burn I made last night. I'm still figuring out all of the strokes and which tip does what, etc... I think I will watch a few videos on the internet to learn some real techniques.

 Ahhh. Lots of fun. I can't wait to start making jewelry and all kinds of things with the wood. I have been wanting to do that for a while now- with just painting in mind, but now- combining that with burning is twice as exciting!

Cheers,

Julie

A new year, a new blog. Enjoy!

Where do we begin? Well... last spring I started a website and a blog through Yahoo web hosting where I displayed/discussed my crafts. I had just begun to create a batch of my earth inspired items to be sold online, it was certainly an exciting time. I had been making various pieces for myself to wear, mainly clay necklaces, shoe adornments and a shirt- they had captured the attention of strangers and family members who told me I should sell my creations online and well, one thing led to another and I started my website and soon after opened a shop on Etsy. I quickly turned a fourth of our (my husband Matt and I) tiny hillside studio into my "art studio" and have been an obsessed crafter ever since. I'm sure many of you have the same story, I think crafting is just one of those things that eventually takes you over.

Anyhow- one day my website was just gone, as well as my blog, I guess the term I had signed up for had lapsed with no warning email asking if I would like to renew. I'm not super website savvy so I never figured out how to get it back, I hope to one day, but for now I will continue to use Etsy and use this blog as a means to connect and display with other like minded and interested individuals. My posts may be spastic for a while but I assume over time they will find their way and purpose. I hope to talk about life, the planet, share new pieces, other crafter's pieces, demonstrations, and promote.

$1 from each of my sales (whether online or at a craft show) are donated to an environmental organization. Even though its small it makes me feel better about my place in this world, knowing that I am, and that I can in some way, help the planet. I am actually trying to seek out a sponsor who would be interested in meeting me dollar for dollar per each sell to donate that way the impact would be larger. Please let me know if you think you may know a person or company who would be interested. I don't make a ton of sales (as of yet) and my pieces are not expensive so the sponsor wouldn't be shelling out a crap load of money ;)

I like to look at blogs that have photos, so being mindful of that, I will try to keep this interesting with photos whether it be my crafts, another crafter's pieces, or random photos I will take with my new (yay!) camera :)
So tonight, I think I will sign off with a photo of one of my most recent pieces. I actually haven't made anything new in a couple of weeks due to the holidays, etc. I can't wait to start again. Plus, I got a sewing machine for Christmas so my shop should be expanding soon!! Until next time...




(I love this piece, I need to make more- this particular one was sold at my mother in law's booth at a show in Texas. Tree and bird made out of polymer clay.)