I created this quick slideshow a few years ago.  It's an easy way to make Christmas ornaments, gifts tags or brooches.  Frosty uses the "Organic" CaBezel mold and "Santa" uses the oval from the "Geometrics" set. I'm sure someone could easily adapt this method to make a reindeer or two!!!! Click here to view the slideshow. (you may have to click on the "back" arrow to get to the beginning. You should be able to adjust the speed) 
There MUST be a better way to embed it but for the life of me, I just can't figure it out on the 2 hours of sleep that i managed to get last night!

Day 319: Self-help Advice from a 2 year old

Day 319: Self-help Advice from a 2 year old

I was spoon-fed this link from another blog that i follow. It goes great with a cup of coffee. It sure made me laugh out loud this morning.  Enjoy!!

Awwwwww

This is my daughter's cat Leah. (Of course it's never my daughter that gets up at 6:30am to feed her!)
She is the best cat ever though!!!!

Thank-you from the bottom of my heart!! (pun intended of course!)

You guys have been awesome! Your responses and comments started rolling in just minutes after I posted and they kept on coming!
I'm so grateful for all of your help that I am going to draw 2 winning names instead of just one!
I wish I could reply to all of you individually! Please accept my thanks and gratitude.
Are you ready for the winning "heart" ?
It was chosen by a landslide of 59 votes!!

Drum roll please..............................
The winner is # 10
#4 came in 2nd with 22 votes
#6 and#7 tied for third with 18 votes each




I mentioned that this vote was for a new series of CaBezels.  Sort of an all-in-one type of mold.You'll even get to decide how thick and what shape the bezel will be.  These will be very customizable!!! They are going to be great for transfers too!!
Now for the really important stuff!!  The winners of the raffle!
I photocopied everyone's name, cut it out and placed them in a hat (OK, it wasn't a hat. It was a really pretty wooden box) and then i drew 2 names.  These ladies will each receive the new  Heart mold as soon as they   are available!!!
Another drum roll please.........

The winners are:   Gillian Wiseman and Kam Kirsch 
Congratulations ladies!!  Please contact me with your snailmail information!
I'm hoping that these will be available very soon!

Thanks again to all who participated!    
.
Through this process, I have discovered just much you love your "hearts" so I have decided that i will also create  the original type CaBezel mold. It will have a few  different shaped hearts with a few different sizes all in one mold!!!! (I'll see how many I can squeeze in!)

Do you want to be a WINNER!!!!!

Of course you do darlings ,everyone wants to be a winner, and in this case it couldn't be easier!

I'd like to ask for YOUR input!
I have been working on a new concept for the CaBezels.  I hope to introduce them soon, but first, I'd like to get your input on one of the shapes.  So many people love hearts and  of course I've have had a few requests for them. So this time I'm going to introduce one!!  The trouble is, that there are sooo may different styles to choose from.  Elongated, voluminous, stylized and on and on (you get the picture). 
Soooooo, here is where YOU come in!!!
 I have drawn several different styles but I just can't decide. So i thought that i would ask you for some help.  I want to get moving on this so i'd like your opinion by Monday evening at 10:00pm. Heck, you can even send me a scan of the heart shape that your little heart desires if you want to.  These new CaBezel molds will be larger than any that I've done in the past.(note the dines that I've included next to the hearts)  Of course I'm thinking "jewelry" but mini book covers, belt buckles, or tiles would work well too.
As my way of saying "Thank-you" when you give me your input, I will put your name in a draw and the winner will get a "Heart shaped CaBezel mold!!!!

Just choose your 2 favourites and send  the corresponding #'s to me in an email.  Please put "Hearts" in the subject line.  worlowski@sympatico.ca 

There will be 5 new shapes in all.  If you have any shapes that you've been dreaming about, send me an email and I'll see about adding it too!

Thanks in advance for all your input.  You gals are the best!!

Pretty in Pink

I just love seeing how one texture stamp can be translated so many different ways just by changing the colour scheme.  I tend to have difficulty moving away from the greens and blues so when I saw how Carolyn, from Queens, New York used the Gingko Collage texture stamp I  wanted to post the pic.  Some of Carolyn's other work  can be found here on Etsy.

i

Just Steampunk!!!

For those of us that just can't seem to get enough Steampunk.  Scott Publications has a special publication on the stands now. It covers everything from dolls to decor to jewelry and more!  Over 100 pages of inspiring ideas! 

Some of my designs are on pages 24 and 25 so if you are looking for ideas on how you can use your new "Straight and Narrow" texture stamp ofryour "Blocks 'n Dots" CaBezel mold you'll find some ideas there.

Here's how Steampunk is described by Scott publications:


"Steampunk is the future as dreamt by the past." Think bits of broken jewelry, corroded clock gears and vintage anything. But don’t forget the fantasy, the whimsy or most definitely the metallic. And Just Steampunk! features this unique style in all its glory, highlighting works of art in all types of media: paper arts, polymer clay, dolls, jewelry, accessories and more. Including over 300 full color photographs showcasing projects from a variety of talented designers, Just Steampunk is sure to satisfy the demand of die hard fans, or whet the appetite of the newly curious. Warning: Steampunk art may become addictive!"

Lizard CaBezel collar necklace. Gorgeous!!!!!

Look at what else Carolyn of 2 Good Claymates has been up to.  This necklace is gorgeous! I think Carolyn is managing to play around with the CaBezels molds more than I  have. If you go to Carolyn's blog you'll see links to her artfire and Etsy sites.  I really wish I could use my time as profoundly as she does.  She must be one organized woman!

What a great idea!

Carolyn of 2 Good Claymates has come up with a great gift giving idea.  How much simpler can shopping be? She has created gift certificates and packaged them in beautifully covered tins. She used the Feather Boa texture stamp here.

Happy Friday!!!!

Just thought that i would share a pic i just took of my favourite flower!  The Gerbera daisy.  I smile everytime i look at them.  When i have a bouquet of these flowers I tend to split them up into groups of 3 and put them in vases made of milk glass (something else that i collect) I put a vase in the living room, one on my nightstand, one in the washroom and the single, leftover daisy goes on my desk beside my computer. Flowers give off good energy and make you happy.  What could be more simple and joyful than that!  Go out and treat yourselves to some flowers today! You deserve it!

Fabulous looking new book

I love beads and I love books! 

I know that sooo many of us have a weakness when it comes to collecting inspirational books. I have quite the collection myself.  Most of them are are sitting neatly on a shelf less than 3 feet away from where I'm sitting.  So much of what I have learned comes from books. I've snuggled up with many of them when It's just too yucky to go outside or I'm too tired to move or just when i want a little quiet time to myself.  Allowing myself time with my books is a little bit of a ritual. I'll make myself a cup of tea or a latte in my favourite mug before plunking myself down in my favourite chair to read or just browse through a stack of books.

I'm not a beader, (i wish) but I am very attracted to a lot of it, especially the bead embroidery.  That stuff is so yummy looking especially the cuff bracelets.  I can't help but wonder what i could come up with using  cabochons made with my CaBezel molds !!!!!  Sadly, this will never happen, at least not if I have to do it.  Beading and polymer cabochons are a match made in heaven no???  

If anyone out there reading this does bead embroidery and has used cabochons from my molds I would absolutely love to see some pictures!!!  

Now, back to this  book.  If you click here  You can actually take a peek inside the book.  Major eye candy.  The cuff bracelets on page 9 are to die for.  I think i'd just leave them on my coffee table all the time so that i could just look at them daily!!!

Here are a few of my books!!!

I don't how things are going for you, but for me, this was the most perfect post to find in my inbox this  morning!  I would like to recommend that you read the post here.  Have a great Monday!

is was 

They're here! They're here! "Entwined" texture stamp

I can't believe it, after so many weeks of waiting my texture stamps are finally here and available !!!

Entwined
Dragon scales and vines? Oh my!

Fluid and organic, this stamp contains elements reminiscent of dragons and nature. The gentle embrace of the two different textures evokes a feeling of serenity. (I must have been slightly sleep deprived when I came up with this description!)

"Entwined"

Now available

I made some jewelry samples a while back with "Entwined" and Even though i shouldn't have blogged about it before it was through the production process i did (i just couldn't help myself!)  That's when it got picked up on Polymer Clay Daily. It's such a compliment to be mentioned on Cynthia Tinapple's blog. It's epic actually! (now i'm starting to sound like my kids! yikes)

If you missed it here is the post.

Here is the jewelry I made with "Entwined"

Guilder's paste and alcohol inks were used for the jewelry to get that ancient, unearthed look.

Gingko Collage

Gingko Collage

The unique fan shaped leaf of the gingko tree remains a favourite of many. Could it be because of the way that the veins radiate out into the leaf blade? Maybe because the leaves are reminiscent of wings.
Either way, It’s a strong form with delicate lines. Lots of visual movement in this texture stamp!

Gingko Collage

(From the Impress It! line formerly called Gingko leaf 2)

I'm loving the Guilder's paste! I haven't been using it for very long but so far the results are amazing! This sample was made using black clay with Copper and Patina guilder's paste.added to the surface.

Gingko Collage
Available at Shades of Clay



Feather Boa texture stamp

This is a quick pic that I created to show how great "Feather Boa" can look! Both examples started out with black clay that I used the Guilder's paste on. For the example on the left, I ran the black clay through the pasta machine with the texture stamp. Then, i just lightly rubbed a few different colours of the GP on the top surface,  For the second example on the right, i covered the clay with Germsn silver GP and let it dry for a bit before running it through the pasta machine with the texture. Then I added different colours of the GP to the surface.

Feather Boa
Now available here!

 

Medallion video, That was easy!

What a difference a day makes! Last night I couldn't figure out how to embed this video.  It just shows what a difference a good night's sleep can do for you. (Even if the sleep wasn't nearly long enough!)

a "How to" video for 'the "Straight and Narrow" texture stamp

Here's a "how to" video to help get you started with the "Straight and Narrow" texture sheet. It's very unique in that it measures 2' X 8" and it was designed to be cut apart into long strips and used to make medallions.  It's also great for making borders and frames and of course you don't have to cut the strips apart.  Let me know if you can come up with another interesting way of using it!
I can't for the life of me figure out how to embed the video this late at night so I'll just leave you with the link for now. 
http://www.youtube.com/user/theartofmyclay#p/u/0/r6X40Daigb4

I posted some other "how tos" ages ago but apparently under different user names. I've managed to gather them up and put them all in one place. You may recognise a few.

"Straight and Narrow" texture stamp
Now available here!

It's way too late to post anything else.  I'll be back soon with more details and samples!!!!!  Thanks for all of the interest and support surrounding this new line of textures!  I hope that you'll think it was worth the wait.

Polymer CAFE magazine

The October issue of PolymerCafe is on the newstands now. (ok, ok, it's been available for a little while now. I just forgot to mention it)  This issue is full of ideas on sculpting faces.  A must have if you're a fan of the magazine. And yes, of course, I have a tutorial in there as well on making "Earth Crystal Pendants". Yet another way of using the CaBezel molds.

The CaBezels go "down under"

It's great to find out about all of the different places that the CaBezels are travelling to these days!  I came across this post by Davinia. She claims to be a newby working with the molds but her first attempts are fantastic.  If you've been hesitating about trying out the CaBezels because you think they  might be too difficult, then you can read all about Davinia's efforts here on her blog.

Image transfers and the CaBezel molds

Cynthia Blanton has been playing with transfering vintage images and turning them into cabochons using my molds.  Of course this means that the clay is un-baked when the transfer is done.  Her pendants/pins are beautiflly done.  You can read more about it here on her blog.

CaBezel ideas from Claire Maunsell

  Claire Maunsell has just recently started using the CaBezels. She refers to them as a  "great production tool" and also says that she wishes she had thought of a tool like them! (what a great compliment huh?) She often alters the Cabezels by  stretching them . She uses them to make shank  buttons too!  This  pic shows  some connectors she made with the Mini Cabezel mold and some crackled polymer....These particular ones were not thinned out, but used as is. You can see more of her work here on her blog. If your're not familiar with Claire's work you need to take a look. Her shapes and colours are so yummy and organic! I hope she'll send more photos in the future!

A different way to use your cabochon molds

While I was using my cabezel mold to make some bezels I accidentally rubbed over top of the cabochon part of the mold. Since I was using black clay, my first thought was to just scrap the impressions. 'Cause who the heck wants black cabochons? Then I thought hmmmmm, why not use some small rubber stamps to make an impression and make something usable? Then I cut around them with cookie cutters (for the round ones) and purposely off-set the cut. Then using my Inka Gold paints I applied some colour! So easy! For the heart I just used a small cutter first to remove a heart from the cab and then again (with thin plastic wrap this time) to make a replacement heart. Turn them into pendants or charms easily using Japanese paper clips, chain links or even rivets.

I'm going to try to post more ideas on how to use your CaBezel molds.

If you look in the right margin of this blog you will see that you can now easily subscribe to my blog by email. All this means is, that whenever I publish a new post it will automatically go to your inbox. No more checking my blog to see if there is anything new. You'll be the first to know!! How cool is that?

2 new CaBezel mold designs now available!

Well they're here. 2 new designs to help you create more bezels with matching cabochons. The bezels are nice and deep so you can fill them (the baked clay bezels) with liquid clay or resin or use the cabochon mold for a perfect fit.

The top one is called Fab Focals 2.

I don't think that there can ever be enough large Fabulous Focal bead shapes, so I've created 3 more.

This set is called "Blocks 'n dots" The frames are nice and chunky . Who doesn't like to use circles and squares in combination with each other.? The sizes for each bezel are listed on the Shades Of Clay site where they are available for purchase. (scroll way down) These are totally different in size and frame thickness than the"Geometrics "mold.  

Delayed again!!!!

It seems like so many months ago that I embarked on this journey, but, apparently the journey continues! Don't get me wrong, it has been an interesting and exciting trip. I just wish this first leg of it would end! But, as the saying goes "everything good is worth waiting for". Right? It seems that the manufacturer has hit a small bump on the road of production. I'm keeping my fingers crossed though that the texture stamps will arrive in a week or so. (at Shades Of Clay) Thanks for staying tuned!

Texture stamps

Here is a sneak peak of my new texture stamp called "Entwined" I love it! It's so organic. Shades of Clay will have them available for sale very soon.