Monday, January 28, 2013

Fairy Door Swap


Fairy Door in polymer clay - by Jainnie Jenkins

In December, the Polymer Clay Swaps group did a Fairy Door Swap. Fairy Doors are supposed to be portals that fairies come through when you're not looking (how cute is that?!?) I was paired with a lovely woman named Sherryl. You can view my door, above, with a tree growing around it, and you can view hers below, with all of the precious details. Did you notice the heart-shaped stepping stones?

Fairy Door by Sherryl R.

I am involved in one more swap for February, which is texture sheets and hearts. That should be exciting. I'll post about it after my partner and I receive our pieces.


Saturday, October 27, 2012

Polymer Clay Journal Cover Swap


Awhile back I signed up for a Polymer Clay Journal Cover Swap over at the Polymer Clay Swaps group on Facebook. I was paired up with a lovely gal, Pat S., in Canada. This swap was originally to be one journal cover that the recipient could attach to a pre-existing journal. But since Pat was great at binding journals, she offered to make me a completed one. I let her know that since I had maybe bound one book waaaaay back when, I would at least make her two covers and include some beads. She likes to add tassels of beads hanging from the spine (very cool!).

Although we had both asked each other about favorite colors, themes, etc., we basically let our creativity take over knowing that we'd each be happy with what we received. Here is the beautifully detailed journal that Pat sent me:


I love all the detail in her canework and texture! What a lovely combination of purples and blues. Thanks, Pat!

As always, part of me always complains after I've signed up for a swap. Sometimes it can be where you have to make a whole set/theme of something depending on how many are in the group. Other times, like this one, you swap with just one person. But if you have ever debated about doing a swap, I would say this...do it because it's a great challenge for yourself. Look at it that way. Make your best work possible with the focus on the giving, not the receiving. Sometimes you may enjoy and love what you receive (as I have, with Pat), sometimes it might not be your taste, but participate with the intention of giving away the best you can do. I have come across new ideas and ways of working due to these different swaps, and I might not have come across or been pushed to that point of an idea had it not been for these challenges. And as a bonus, Pat and I have become good email friends, and I'm sure we will continue our correspondence in the years to come.



Thursday, August 23, 2012

Frustration, Fluster-Busters and Little Successes!

Yesterday was just one of those days. I had grand ideas floating around in my head and they looked oh-so-good. Then I tried to create them. And they looked oh-so-ehhh...

But I mean, that's fine. I know about frustration, and I actually embrace it these days. It's part of the creative process. You have to experience frustration at some point in order to have a breakthrough, you just HAVE TO.  But everyone deals with it differently.

Here are my go-to Fluster-Busters:
  1. Keep doing what I'm doing (because sooner or later I learn something, either what to do or what not to do)
  2. Do something else to give my mind a break. Go for a walk, do some yardwork, etc.
  3. Eat. This has its own number because eating really is not giving your mind a break. It just causes a whole set of problems: what do I want to eat? leftovers? cook something? hey, didn't the Pioneer Woman have a recipe for a yummy chocolate something or other??

I actually ended up going to sleep. I guess that should've been #4.

Today was a better day, as I finished the 2nd crown from Tejae's tutorial. That was my first little success. Like I mentioned before, following a tutorial or project can be helpful when you're stuck in a rut. It actually gives my mind a break, temporarily (until lots of ideas and versions come flooding in).

Then I wanted to post a pic of the crowns, but I had taken the lazyman's way out and took pics of them on the kitchen counter. So what did I do? Played around with Photoshop (obviously not the lazyman's way to do things). This is the result, my second little success:


I tried to have fun without making it too cheesy. What do you think? I'm still quite chuffed with myself...that's me in the corner, queen of my own little world...

Do you have any fluster-busters to share? Any little or BIG successes? No? Then leave me your favorite recipe (or a link to it)! :)



Wednesday, August 22, 2012

An Enchanting Crown

Recently I felt stuck in a rut. Not inspired, not excited about anything.

Then I tried out a new CraftArtEdu.com tutorial, "Enchanting Crowns," from my friend, Tejae Floyde. Talk about a lot of fun!


What excited me was that I would be able to pull out my stash of paints and go to town. I enjoy mixed media pieces and I liked being able to add crystals and layer on all these metallic paints.  Tejae discusses how the options and variations are endless. In fact, I have lots of ideas brewing now!

Tutorials are a fun diversion when you don't feel inspired. Whether it's a technique or a project, you're bound to learn something new. Here's to more creative exploration and possibilities!

Have you used tutorials? Do you like online tutorials? Videos? Let me know. :)



Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Flower pendants and rings

Hello everyone!

It's been awhile, hasn't it? I hope you are all enjoying your summer. We have been having such warm weather here in Colorado with very little rain. I've been trying to keep my flowers alive and from becoming deer snacks! Even with "deer resistant" plants, like the garden store guy told me, "The problem is the deer don't read too good." Hah. I should've known!

Just wanted to share some pendants and rings I've made recently.  All deer resistant. :) Most will be listed on my Etsy site in the next couple days.