New Cutters from Makin's Clay

I just got in some new cutters from Makin's clay, (well, I have had them for awhile but I just got the pictures taken, shame on me)
an ice cream cone M36022

They are here and in stock.

And a Ribbon M36022

Isn't that the cutest ribbon bow?


Also, there are more cutters coming and you can see those below these on that same page. http://www.clayfactory.net/makins/mclaycutsets.htm

House, Teapot, Umbrella, Airplane, Cupcake and a Holly leaf! Coming soon. YAY!!

Happy Birthday my friend!

I am posting this late because I just finished it last night, the pictures are not that great, but I won't have it shortly,  and I don't want my friend to see it before she gets it.

I will see her soon and I will give it to her for her birthday.
I love this piece and I think I am going to make more.

Very fun, but I have a lot to work out yet.
This friend will not mind that it is rough.

She will have the first one.
We like the same things and I am so glad to have her in my life.

Happy Birthday Dear one! I hope you like it.
If not give it back!! ;-D

More new pieces- not listed yet.

I love making the little Steampunk hearts I make, quick little doses of steampunk clay. I enjoy how different I can make one from the other.
I make them when I am in the mood.
Do you do that, get on a roll with something and make them over and over?
Do you enjoy something so much that you forget how many you have made?

I adore these Steampunk Bobbies. I sell these heart Bobbie pins in the Hoarders Closet. Cute little finding, this one.

I love this one too, but I am having a hard time getting a good picture of it. It looks so much better in person. I may have to keep this one if I can not photograph it right ;-D
Kind of an Angel Straight Jacket Steampunk heart. Sounds like me!

A simple, but totally sweet one. I tend to get too busy sometimes for these small pieces and this one is not so! The metal hearts that I use to put the clay into are in my Etsy shop too! The metal bail on the top is even attached and come with the heart.

And this one busy and fun like I like them.
There is a Claddagh symbol with two hands, the heart, and the crown on it!
These are not listed in my Etsy shop yet, if you want one let me know!

"The Claddagh's distinctive design features two hands clasping a heart, and usually surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown).



The way that a Claddagh ring is worn on the hand is usually intended to convey the wearer's romantic availability, or lack thereof.
Traditionally, if the ring is on the right hand with the heart facing outward and away from the body, this indicates that the person wearing the ring is not in any serious relationship, and may in fact be single and looking for a relationship: "their heart is open."
When worn on the right hand but with the heart facing inward toward the body, this indicates the person wearing the ring is in a relationship, or that "someone has captured their heart".


A Claddagh worn on the left hand ring finger facing outward away from the body generally indicates that the wearer is engaged.
When the ring is on the left hand ring finger and facing inward toward the body, it generally means that the person wearing the ring is married." [1]


quoted from the Claddagh Ring website
They quoted it from
[1] Murphy, Colin, and Donal O'Dea (2006) The Feckin' Book of Everything Irish. New York, Barnes & Noble. p.126 ISBN 0-7607-8219-9

African Trade Beads- Part 11

Remember this cane
http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/04/african-trade-beads-part-8.html

I am going to share with you how to make this center piece above.
I also use this technique to do these earrings below.

So get some of the cane from African trade beads part 8, I like the canes with stripes on the outside for this technique.

Roll the cane down to 1/4" in diameter and cut 1/4" sections.

Separate the sections and place them about 1/8" apart.

 One in the middle and 6 around the outside.

Take your time and place them all the same distance apart. If you are doing the ring of canes that you see in the earrings above. I set the canes right next to each other in a circle.

Look closely there is a piece of Plexiglas over the canes that were set out. Press down evenly and flatten to about 1/8" thick.

I also have the canes sitting on a work surface or a marble top when I do this.

Peel off of the surface that the canes stick to or run your clay slicing blade under it to remove from the surface.

It is thin, see!

Using a knitting needle poke the hole where you would like it to be!
You can move the point in little circles to widen it.

Part 12
http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/05/african-trade-beads-part-12-shinning.html

Some new stuff

The post was titled Happy Monday, I missed that ;-D Madi has a cold and I am coming down with it I guess. I keep thinking to myself "boy is her resistance going to be good". Mine too?? I thought it was.
I have been working away though.
I am so glad that you liked Heart of America. Donna and I loved that you did.
I have another one
Heart of America 2 Salt of the Earth

I love this one too! The turquoise one is so wonderful but this one has more of a subtle beauty to it.

I also came up with this over the weekend.
There is much ado about the royal wedding  and I guess I have been bitten by the bug too.
I am also watch a series on TV called the "Game of Thrones" I am intrigued with it, so I guess this was brewing below the surface.

The Royal Wedding Marie

I named it Marie because it is the first and I really am in love with it and there was a queen named Marie.


I also have some Dead flowers ;-D
I really like these too and they were fun, I like fun.

Dead Flowers Brooch 2 Pretty peach

These are tie tack pins or brooches and they have a little crystal drop hanging from the filigree in the background.
Sweet little skulls peek out from the center of the rose.
I also made some more of the Small Steampunk hearts.
I love making these and they seems to be a favorite in my shop. It is funny how they all come out different every time.
I did 6 of these this weekend, but I only have 3 in the shop.
I had the hardest time getting them photographed though, the sun was hidden most of the time and the battery in my camera pooped out too. I don't know about you but I love my camera and not having it is scary. I have another battery but I put it in my camera and got the same error message, I did have a melt down for a minute, but I charged it all the way and it worked, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Steampunk Heart 9

I had a great weekend and I was supposed to be working on something else. I had a hard time trying to stay focused on what I was supposed to be doing.
I hope you all are having a great week

Heart of America- Broken Heart- the story

I have a friend that has dreams. She dreams about designs, for me!
I love this.
She "saw" this sacred heart I did.
This one...

This is one of my favorite pieces.

My friend will send me a message and maybe a small description, but what comes across to me though is a feeling and a light in my mind's eye of the beginning of a design starting to come to life. You can read the story of the sacred heart and see the prototype of this necklace here http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/01/little-reminder-about-giveaway-and.html

Well... my friend is very tuned in and she had another dream quite a while ago, only a month or two after the sacred heart dream I think.

She wrote me a note with a small description and quick doodle to go along with it.  

I loved it and I said I would get right on it.

Sometimes, though, my brain doesn't cooperate with my plans and I have learned over time that somethings can not be rushed, ever. If I do rush it will only be a part or a piece of the full manifestation of what could be something truly wonderful if left to incubate for a while and cook!

I didn't say anything to my friend and kept up with everything else that was going on and pretty much let go of making the dream a reality right away.

Last week though, that dream was resurrected with a flash of a picture and the idea in my mind flashing in neon and would not give up until I went and made it.

This is the result of this collaboration my friend and I have.

Heart of America- Broken heart



Heart of America- Broken Heart
Listed in my Etsy Store now.

 I am in love with this piece also and adore that I had been gifted a gift of insight in the process.
Thank you, Donna, from the bottom of my heart.
Maybe someday I will be able to reciprocate with dreams of pieces for you. One can only hope!
I believe these are special pieces, there is just something about them that speaks. Maybe it is the gift of collaboration, listening to another speak their dreams and being able to bring them to reality.

I love this! How could it get any better? I am so grateful.

African Trade beads-part 10c

This is continued from the second part http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/04/african-trade-beads-part-10b-and-my.html from there you can find the first part.

 This is the last picture from the second part.

Condition and roll out the black clay on the thickest setting in the clay machine.
Make the sheet as wide as is the can above is long.
Trim the sheet to that width. Your cane should be about 3" long but it might be a little longer from working with it.

It should be about 5" long.
Make a white sheet of the same size and stack these two together.

Cut the black and white sheet 1/8" slide the blade forward to attach the slice to it.
Place the slice and the blade over the sheet using the last cut on your blade to measure the next cut. Cut the next cut and slide the blade towards you to attach the next cut. Place the slice and the blade over the sheet using the last cut on your blade to measure the next cut.

I just love it when this happens.
Lots of stacked cuts.

Wrap what you have cut around the cane and then cut some more.

Here it is wrapped all the way around the center heart cane.

I place the cane in my hand between the thumb and forefinger  and grip it to make it smaller (a little at a time mind you) and squeeze, rotate the cane a little and squeeze again, rotate a little and squeeze, rotate and little and squeeze. I move towards one of the ends and start again, rotate a little and squeeze same as before while I continue moving up to the end of the cane.
I reduce the cane to half the diameter before I start to roll it on the work surface.

Working my way up to the end a little at a time.
I then turn the cane over and start in the middle and proceed the same as before to the other end of the cane.

I start in the middle of the cane and roll from the tip of my fingers all the way to the end of my palm, short rolls will roll in dips in the cane. I do this while moving my hands gently out to the ends of the cane.

After my hands reach the outside I start with them together in the middle again and roll out again while roll from the base of  palm to the tip of my fingers.
Roll down to 3/4" or you can leave it larger if you wish.

I cut the cane in half by rolling the cane forward and moving the blade forward at the same time. I call this a rolling cut and works well with clay that is warm from working with it.
There you go you have it all now!
Go make something.
Have a great friday and a lovely weekend, no matter what you celebrate.
Peace.
Part 11
http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/04/african-trade-beads-part-11.html

Winner of the other pair of EarringsAfrican Trade Beads Giveaway 9d

     JLaine

Is the winner of these earrings from Giveaway 9d the fifth giveaway!
That is the final giveaway for this series.
Of course unless I change my mind, it has been known to happen. LOL!
http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/04/african-trade-beads-part-9d-fifth.html
Please get me your name and address JLaine you have 48 hours or it goes back to the draw.
It is good to be santa!
Have a great thursday everyone, blessings all over you!

Winner of the buttons from the African Trade bead giveaway!

Norma's Clay

Is the winner of the buttons from giveaway 9c the fourth giveaway http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/04/african-trade-beads-part-9c-fourth.html. Thank you for the great advice about my Grand daughter. Yes, I knew it was a stage and we found out she is cutting her 2 year old molars, all at the same time, I would be crabby too. I was going through a stage too! LOL!
Thank you Norma!
CONGRATULATIONS!! Sorry didn't mean to yell, I just get so excited. ;-D

I hope you all are having a wonderful, magical, and prosperous week. Are you remembering to breathe?
The week is almost over and the weekend is almost here.

Are you having good weather, have you been to the lake or beach yet? Are the birds in your neighborhood singing up a storm? Ours are crazy, the crows are hap hap happy! I got in the middle of a hummingbird territorial dispute this week and I was standing on the ground. They were so busy protecting their space they didn't realise I was standing there I guess. Sounded like dive bombers around my head and they were moving so fast I didn't know what was going on.

I am awaiting the arrival of the swallows. Messy but happy, darlings of the sky.

The gophers and squirrels and I have resumed our yearly fight over my garden if that is what I could call it. I plant things and they eat them, sometimes even before they sprout. I am just planting for the local rodents, I guess. It is very frustrating, but I do get a little exercise.

I am glad to be out there with them finally though. They have built runways into the garden from underground so they can make a fast getaway. I plug the holes with huge rocks and they hide the holes behind things. I only notice when there is huge mounds of dirt displaced.
Madi and I are growing a-matoes. She can not say the "t" yet. The girl loves them and will eat a whole one by herself. I can hardly wait to show her fresh ones right off the bush. I planted them in a bucket the first time and came back out 1/2 hour later and the seeds were gone, so I covered it with metal screen and you can see where they walked all over the top and tried to lift up the sides, LOL!!
They haven't got in so far. Today is a new day though, I haven't checked yet. We have small seedlings and Madi and I check them everyday. Tomatoes do really well here and the last time I grew them I had tons.
I might even attempt to can them this year, there is absolutely nothing like a home grown tomato, I probably shouldn't count my tomatoes before they bloom though.
Have a great rest of the week you all and surprise someone with your smile and your light every chance you get.
You just never know how you could brighten some one's day.
Show them your stuff, baby!

African Trade beads-part 10b and my winner for the 1st set of earrings

Carol D. 

is the winner for the double ring earrings from Part 9b, the third giveaway

http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/04/african-trade-beads-part-9b-third.html

Congratulations Carol, get me your address so I can send them out to you!
You have 48 hours to get back to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now to the rest of the tutorial.

 

 

This tutorial is continued from 10a here http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/04/african-trade-beads-part-10.html

 

The supply list is on that post.

Hope you having a wonderful week so far.

Thanks for making me laugh yesterday. It felt good and I am so glad you are enjoying this.

Last picture from yesterday.

Cut half of the coil in half. I push my thumb and forefinger down and apart on the end of the coil and slice through. If I press the coil on each side of the end together, I will trap the blade there and it is hard to cut.

This is the half of the coil.

You are going to put the round side in to the dip of the heart above the point on both sides of the point. So I flatten out the rounded side of the coil and little and make the curve flatter.



See the flat edge is curved slightly now too!

Cut off another section from the coil you made in the beginning to do these coils. I cut off a little over an inch.

Roll the coil out to about 3".

Press down to the table or work surface with your thumb and forefinger forming an upside down "V". Press down the length of the coil.

Like this.

Put the point you made on the coil in to the dip between the upper lobes of the heart on top.
Then take the edges and flatten to the lobes or around them.

Like this.

Roll out a sheet of yellow on the thickest setting in the clay machine. Cut off the leading edge for a straight edge to start with that is at least as wide as the heart cane coil center.





 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Trim it on the side so it is the same width as the coil is long.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wrap the coil and roll the leading edge over the other end of the sheet and gently make a mark on the other side of the sheet. With your blade cut just inside that little line with the clay blade at an angle so the edges meet.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

Cover the coil again the same way with yellow.

You will have two layers of yellow on the coil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover now with a sheet of red that is rolled out on the thickest setting in the clay machine like you did with the yellow sheets.

Here is the cane so far.

I am going to stop here and continue this is part 10c.

Sorry, but blogger starts to get weird on me with these long ones and it is so much easier to do them in parts.
Part 10c http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/04/african-trade-beads-part-10c.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See you tomorrow and have a great tuesday!

Breathe in, breathe out.