Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Wednesday Wonder- I wonder if I am going to get it all done?

Sorry, I have been missing in action. I am getting ready to go to CHA, http://www.hobby.org/,  there are many things to do. Making biz cards, prepping for my classes, making notes on who to see and what to do. Plus getting my clothes together, packing, on and on.
I love going.
I am also getting ready for OWOH and I haven't even started that yet. OH NO!!
I must have that ready before I leave, LOL!
Ok, now I am crazy.
Also, I have been loading up my new esty story and trying to load the other one too.
That is really a lot of work, taking pictures, editing them, writing something clever, measuring the pieces, loading it in, re reading for mistakes which you never find when you are proofing all of your own writing.
I thought when I first started I would just put stuff in the stores and it would magically sell, LOL!!!
No, there are treasuries, networking, preparations, blogging, facebooking, making pages, favoriting people and their stores, OMG it is never ending.
LOL! I love it and I am in front of the computer as much as I can.
I really enjoy being busy and being productive, so I am grateful.
Something does get put a little in the background though and instead of trying to keep up with everything by taxing myself, my little blog space has slipped a tiny bit.
I am sorry you guys, I will be back and I will visit, just give me a little time.
Thank you all so very much for your support and lovely comments on The Bottles of Hope post. I am so glad I posted it now.
Thank you again, Love and huge hugs to all of you!

Oh and Happy Anniversary Honey, here is to another 32 years.
I love you! We are blessed!
And to my blog buddy Anne and her darling husband, Happy Anniversary to you two too. Theirs was yesterday.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Monday Updates- I have opened another Etsy store



I have opened another Etsy store.
I am not crazy enough. ;-D
Please come take a look. Click on the banner or the link.
Thank you so much for looking.
Happy Monday, blessings all over you all.
Start the week believing miracles can happen and then go out and look for them.
You are perfect.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Bottles of Hope, Moore's Cancer Center, Dr. Danielle Casden and Me

For those of you that know me. You know that I have been involved in Bottles of Hope of since I first met Diane Gregoire in 1999.
She was a light in my life, I love her attitude, and I have been making bottles for people and cancer patients ever since.
I have been making bottles with my guild since I came back from that fateful Connecticut retreat where I met Diane and then came back and told my guild, the San Diego Polymer clay, guild about them. We now do BOH Clay Days 3 to 4 times a year.
Dr. Daniell Casden is one of the reasons we keep making, making, and making them, she is so excited and supportive of our guild and this program.
Over those 12 years, Cancer has become very, very personal for me and also a lot of members in our guild.
To all my dear family who have gone on from this earthly plane, to all my dear friends who have done the same, and to all of you who have gone through cancer and lived to see another day, this is for you.
I honor you all and thank you for these lessons.
I do not like to be on camera, but I thought the message out weighed my vanity.



Moore's Cancer Center is celebrating its 5th anniversary of being under one roof!
Film credit to K. Edwards.

Other links in this blog that have Bottles of Hope in them.
http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2010/11/oh-wooden-it-be-lovely-diy-story-part-3.html

http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2010/08/clay-day-bottles-of-hope.html

http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2009/04/renee-award.html

http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2010/11/angel-maker.html

Friday, January 21, 2011

Making rose and leaves for "I heart you" hearts video 3

Ok, I am back for another try at this. I made this video for making the flowers and the rose for the "I heart you" hearts. Is there something wrong with me. Do you too suffer from obsession?
I have taken the film off of the lens. I almost had enough light to film this.
Here is video one-making the jump rings
Here is video two- making the "I heart you" hearts

I have to work around my grand daughter's, Madi, naps and those are slightly different everyday. Sigh...I used to love planning things. I am also learning to love not planning. Gift in strange wrapping paper, I guess.
I do, though, want to thank you all for putting up with my learning process and me having a little fun.
You guys are great sports and I appreciate you all.
Thank you for your encouraging words and laughing with me.
Happy friday. have a blessed weekend. Look for miracles, they are everywhere.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

"I Heart you hearts" Video 2

Okay, at this point I am wondering if I will ever get this right.
I cleared a nice work area and set up the camera. I just couldn't seem to get the damned thing focused.
I moved it around the room and then moved the light around, light, no light, this window, that window, back and forth, zoom in, zoom out.
Moved the camera and set up to another window, thought if I just taped it that the camera might focus itself, I have no idea what I am doing. Messed around wasting all of my precious time with out a 2 year old to work on this.
Said "screw it" and just taped it.
Brought it in to load in to my computer and discover...
I left the plastic cover over the lense in my effort to protect it the day before when Madi was very interested in it.
Thus the reason the non focus, this camera is my twin.
I thought I would go ahead and share with you so you could see what a wonderful time I am having of this.
I mean seriously "How does it get better than this?"
I know, welcome to the underwater series of filming "I Heart you" hearts ;-D
Still laughing.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Wednesday Wonder- I wonder why we work against each other

“Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I wonder what people are thinking when they perform acts of violence against each other?
I wonder what this accomplishes?
I wonder how much they hate themselves?
I want you to visit a place where you can make a statement as an artist, let us help heal the hatred.
Art From the HeART: Healing Hatred in America

An Online Exhibit to Counter Hatred in the United States
In Memory of: Lives lost and changed forever in the shootings at 10:11 AM on January 8, 2011 in Tucson, Arizona.

Who: Any artist who wishes to express his/herself about the growing problem of hatred, hate speech, discrimination, prejudice, and political vitriol in the United States. Any artist who wishes to express his/herself about the need for peace and nonviolence from our neighborhoods to the planet.


What: an online exhibit, complete with process descriptions, of art designed to bring attention to the growing problems of hatred and violence in the United States, as well as the need for peace and nonviolence on the planet.

When: starting as soon as possible and continuing until such time as violence and hatred are no longer problems within the United States.

Organizers: Linda Moran, digital and fiber artist, Tucson, AZ; S. L. Drury, digital and fiber artist, Sedona, AZ; Anne Huskey-Lockard, mixed media artist, Peru, Indiana.
Ongoing Prospectus Submission Guidelines
 
I wonder why we don't say something?
I wonder why we don't' see the beauty in each individual?
I wonder why we don't work together?
We are all we have.
Namaste (The Divinity within me perceives and adores the Divinity within you.)
 
Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/pages/Art-From-the-Heart-Healing-Hatred-in-America/180205382012486

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

I heart this!

Well , I didn't get to post early this morning, I had to go shopping last night. It is one of those never-ending jobs, like dishes and cleaning bathrooms. And someone has to do it.
Anyway, I have some heart or hearts to show you from people with heart. Sonja and Susan made these hearts from my tutorial here.
You can see the finished ones here

Sonja's heart. Thank you Sonja for trying the tutorial and the link.
It is gorgeous.


I have thoroughly enjoyed all of your comments and this has been a fun couple of days.
Thank you for taking the time and caring enough to help me get better and thank you so much for being gentle, I really appreciate that.

Let me explain about the video, such as it is.
You can see said video here
My best friend bought me a little video camera for Christmas and I was playing with it on Sunday.
The video you saw yesterday is from that little escapade. It is 3 minutes and 40+ seconds long.
It took me all day to set up an account and figure you tube out, then do a profile page, figure out some of the lighting for the video and where I was going to place the camera on my desk in 6" square of space, record the video, then install the programs for the camera and figure out the programs once they were installed, edit the video for the front page and credits 5 times LOL,  then to go back in to you tube and figure out how to upload it there, wait an hour for it to upload (I forgot to do an important step in the finalizing of the movie) and then sign back on to you tube cause it took so long and then I couldn't get back in because I had also added another account, took me a few to figure that out, finally uploaded and figured out all of the controls to publish it, except for I made it private because I thought it was mickey mouse but fun, and then posted in my blog, only to get up the next day and not be able to view it, and then to go back into you tube and change all of the settings again, and then re-post on the blog. Whew!!
I was so proud of myself, I was chuckling all the way through this whole day and even in the video, which you heard, because I was so unprepared in so many ways. I loved all of your comments and even my husband threw in: the lighting is not right, the music is too loud, you got too close, and the you should have could have done this, this, and that too.

Susan's heart


I was still laughing and I only posted it so my friend could see that I was playing with the present. She reads my blog and doesn't post, so it was my way of saying, see, I am playing with my new toy and thank you.
See, pretty funny!
I have learned so much from doing this and learned it pretty quickly, all in all, for me. I am kind of proud of myself actually and all the while laughing through the day. I finished at 9 pm Sunday night. Laughing, I said, what's up with that? Not my usual, while working with my friend, the computer and all of his friends.
So there is the story.
I thought you would enjoy hearing the behind the scenes low down.
Have a great day and thank you for spending some of your precious and valuable time with me.
Thank you, Susan and Sonja, for trying the tutorial, your hearts are just wonderful and I love them.

Sonja's second heart

Monday, January 17, 2011

How to make the Jump rings 1st video

This is my first video on you tube, I made it myself. I am working on all kinds of angles and lighting. I am pretty excited to be able to do this.
It was fun.
Some things are so much easier to do if you see them


Thanks for watching.
The next jump ring that you make from this spiral of wire should have the end cut off the wire again with the flush side of the cutters on the end of the wire.
You do not have to cut off a huge piece of wire just enough to make the end of the wire flush.
You can see how to make the hearts here
Happy Monday my pretties!!
Have a wonderful week everyone!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Finished Hearts from yesterdays tutorial

I wrote the I heart you tutorial yesterday for the Fave Crafts Blog hop and these are the finished hearts.
I like the one with the love stamped in to it.

I went to our San Diego Polymer Clay Guild Clay Day and hung out with some awesome people and made more hearts, I am having a heart art attack.
Have a wonderful day every one!!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Fave Crafts Blog Hop-I heart you!!!

Click on the blog hop button above to take you there.

Fave Crafts has their "Finished on the 15th" blog hop every month and this is the one for the 15th of December to 15th of January.
I had a lot of stuff going on in December, making gifts and holiday cooking, so I didn't get much posted on my blog as far as what I finished, so I am posting my only how to project right in this post.
Welcome Fave Crafts people and thank you so much for coming!!
And for my regular followers, thank you so much for being here for me.
I heart you all!!!



Textured hearts with a rose and leaves

You will need:
Lumiere Metallic Olive
Knitting needle
Clay slicing blade
3/8" teardrop cutter APC3T
Piece of cotton lace
Piece of window screen
Letter stamps-instructions for these here
Large 16 gauge jump rings out of Artistic wire- instructions for these here
Stencil brush 1/2" round
old piece of towel
1/4" flat brush

Sorry some of the pics are a little iffy, I am trying something new.
Also please pretend that I never use my hands and they are perfectly manicured and do not look as crappy as they do! ;-D



Make jump rings first.

For each heart you will need 1/8 block of Poppy red Cernit.
Condition the 1/8 and roll it in to a ball and then roll it in to a teardrop.















Flatten the thick end of the teardrop until it is about 3/8" in thickness.











Like this.

















Hold the middle lower part of the point end of the heart and rock the point of your knitting needle down in the middle of the thick end of the flattened teardrop to make the indentation for the lobes of the heart.
I rock it back and forth to make the indent and then I shape a little with my fingers and then use the knitting needle again.
i proceed like this until I get the shape I want and it is smooth and pretty.















Like this.















I hold the heart by the middle to the point again and then slice into the top middle of the lobes.
Rock the blade a little in the opposite direction that the cut to open the cut.

















Like this.















Take one of the jump rings you have made and stick the part of the jump ring where the two wires meet in to the slit.















Press the slit together over the jump ring.
Work the slit closed gently from one end to the other.
















With  the point of the knitting needle roll it over the cut and seal the edges together and then smooth them with the knitting needle until closed  and finished.
Shape back with fingers.














Lay the heart on the lace in the place where you want the pattern to appear on your heart.














Place the other part of the lace over the heart on top where you want the pattern to be on your heart,
Press down with the center of your palm with out smashing or destroying and then work the lace down on the dies or the heart.











With the screen you lay down the heart. This is fabric like screen, not metal.
















Place the other half of the lace over the top of the heart and press gently with the palm and then press the screen down on the sides. take your time and make sure the screen is pressed all the way around.














Here is the front and you can see the rounded edges and the pattern. Click the pic for a little better view.















And here is the back.

















Here I use the letter stamps to stamp in the word "Love" The link for making these stamps is above in the "you will need" paragraph.
I used the screened heart for this.


I will put a pic of this one when I finish them, maybe Sunday!














I am going to arc the word a little and start with the letter "L".
















And the "O", you get the drill, right?


















And done, you can leave the heart just like this and it will look good, but I am going to add a pair of leaves and a rose to each heart.













Roll 4- 1/4" balls of the mint or a green you like in to balls and then in to teardrops.
















Place them on to each heart, like this.

















Mark the center vein with the back of the blade, please do be careful.

















Use the teardrop cutter to make the side vein marks by placing the point of the tear drop into the center vein and pushing it in a little.














Roll a small 3/16" ball of pink into a teardrop and flatten with your finger.















Roll the teardrop from the thicker end to the pointed end.

AHGGGGGGGGGGG! look at the lovely manicured hands. No, no don't look!










Make 3 more 3/16" balls of pink and flatten one with your finger and thumb.
















Press against the coiled center at the bottom only.


















Flatten the next ball, most of the time they stick to my thumb and I press the flatten round against the bottom only of the coiled center.

Do it again with the last pink ball.
Like this.












Then I pinch the little ends of the petals a little.
















Place in to the center of the leaf set.


You are done with this one!














Now make another rose, I used turquoise Cernit for this one.


Start the same way.













Here it is finished.



Tah-dah!!

Bake both hearts in your preheated 275F degree home oven on a piece of box top corrugated cardboard for 30 minutes, shut off the oven and let cool.
When completely cool using the stencil brush, punch in some of the white Ne-opaque until the whole heart is covered. Let dry a little and then wet a small area of the old towel and squeeze out the excess, rub off the white paint.
With the 1/4" flat brush paint the leaves with a tiny amount of the olive green Lumiere.
With your finger blush the top of the rose with gold Lumiere.
You are done.

The Winner of the 18th giveaway


Caroline  this is yours! From my heart to yours.
Get your address to me as soon as you can .
Email is on the contact page.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Who Owns Your Creativity Rights?

Lots of hearts for you!!
Who Owns Your Creativity Rights?
This is very profound.
I really loved reading it!
Please take the time to read it for you.
It is a quick read and very well written.
I think you will be pleased!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Wednesday Wonder-body part art

From Rachel's Esty store it is only 45$
OK, I have to admit that this kind of grosses me out and in a weird way I can not stop looking at it.
I wonder if she peroxides them before she use them.?
I think this does qualify for non traditional medium, even though we have been making brushes out of hair and lockets of hair to remember loved ones, but Fingernails?????????????
Does she only use her fingernails?? And toenails? Ewwwwwwwwwwww!
Do you ship your cuttings to her to work with? Ewwwwwwww!
Oh the questions in my mind are just jumping, nothing new though.
I am looking at my fingernails now and thinking ewwwwwwww!

This is from an Etsy shop from bettyraecase-Human Ivory & Other Objects of Curiosity. You know you have to go look now.


How about a Belly Button Lint bear  you buy 4 you get one free.
You know you want to. :-D

"Rachel Case was born in 1985 and raised in Lopatcong, NJ. As a child, she loved viewing and making art. Both of her parents were very supportive of her creativity and gave her complete artistic freedom in her bedroom. The walls were covered with doodles, messages, and image clippings. Childhood is a large influence in Rachel’s artwork today."
From the http://www.thatwomanmakescrazyart.com/rachelbiography

This is the link to her shoppe page
http://www.thatwomanmakescrazyart.com/shoppe


When I first saw this I somehow pictured a man doing it. Look at that judgement getting in my way. You go girl!


they really are amazing, yes?? all Photos courtesy of Rachel
http://www.etsy.com/listing/59400000/nectar-wasp-in-human-ivory-with-glass
THIS PIECE FEATURED IN NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS MAGAZINE SUMMER 2010! Oh! And to think it could be yours!


 Know that when you order from Rachel it is going to take up to a month to get your special piece.


Fetus Skeleton


"AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A GUEST APPEARANCE ON THE TELEVISION SHOW "ODDITIES," I HAVE BEEN GENEROUSLY FLOODED WITH ORDERS AND CUSTOM PIECES! THIS IS A SUPER EXCITING TIME FOR ME AND I AM HAPPY TO HAVE ALL OF THE WORK. HOWEVER, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW THAT WHATEVER YOU ORDER HAS A PRODUCTION TURN-AROUND TIME OF 3 WEEKS TO A MONTH. MY PROCESS IS TIME CONSUMING (creating micro sculptures, the curing of resins, hand sanding, etc.) AND I TAKE CARE IN ALL THAT I DO. I'M HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT YOUR IDEAS, SO PLEASE CONVO ME. OTHERWISE, EXPECT A SWEET PACKAGE FROM ME IN A MONTH AND A FEW DAYS. AND THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!"

Check out Rachel's portfolio
http://www.thatwomanmakescrazyart.com/portfolio

And here some of my questions answered
http://www.thatwomanmakescrazyart.com/RiversideLetter



I love Wednesday wonders.