Meet Reanna, my new model!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

 I for one have so much to be grateful for 

and fresh in my heart is my wonderful volunteer model, Reanna. 

Reanna is a 22 year old College Gal studying to become a Nurse. 

We took a ride out to Red Rock and took pictures on a couple of the trails. 

The rock backgrounds and shrubbery were fabulous.  

It was clouded over so even though the photos were a bit bright 

we were able to spend a lot more time than usual 

and avoid the harsh shadows of our usual desert sun.  

Here are some of the fabric scarves I made for my Artist Boutique Sale- 

and retakes of the Raggedy Bags I have left ON SALE for $15- 

I will be listing these items this week in my Aquariart Etsy shop. 

Mini Blues Scarf

Maxi Blues Scarf

Turquoise Plaid Scarf

Blue-Green Boa Scarf

Magenta Burn-out Organza Scarf

Desert Paint Ruffle Scarf

Purple Haze Organza Boa Scarf

Red Haze Organza Boa Scarf

Fiesta Ribbon Hairpin Lace Scarf 

My own design- Zig Zag Scarf in Soy Silk blend

Flower Lady Raggedy Bag

Southwest Hued Raggedy Bag

Lovin' Lavender Raggedy Bag

Garden Delight Raggedy Bag

 

Come on back to see more next week!  

Heather - Aquariart

More clay, much more clay

I had a marathon week with polymer clay because my husband has been out of town 

and I could leave my work space messy and ready for 4 days in a row!! 

Love it when I don't have to put everything away and drag it all out again the next day. 

Then I had to catch the early sunrise at the right moments to photograph it all.  

It seems like the sun rises faster this time of year- 

the angle is different in my backyard giving my a very short window 
before big shadows start appearing.

I may have to switch to the front yard. 

So, 

here are some of the lovely pieces I created:

I experimented with a new technique called the Stroppel cane 

using different base colors, black, white and gold. 

This is a great way to use up old canes and scraps of clay. 

I also made 3 Mokume Gane buttons for my crochet student to choose from for her felted bag.

What I do with scraps- make beads.

 

Mokume Gane layered on scraps from the buttons

The same color combo sliced in the Natashia Bead technique and then twisted.

I love how this one came out, especially after it is all sanded and buffed. 

These were made with a variation of the bargello technique.

If there is enough scrap clay I make a button.

Chatoyant scraps made this bead. 

Note what polymer clay does to my poor hands- so dry. 

And these were made with scraps from some foiled pieces I worked on 

that are not ready to be seen because they need to be painted first.  

I should be able to post them for  BTW. (Bead Table Wednesday)

 

 I try to make at least one mold each clay session- 

Here is a tiny leaf mold for disk beads or buttons.

I used a leaf button from Walmart and then hand sculpted the surrounding texture.  

I have been extremely productive this month as I get ready for 
The Artist's Boutique I was invited to sell at coming up November 19 and 20th.  
This is a local event by invitation only-
 if you are local and interested in coming shoot me an email. 

I have whipped up 7 more crochet scarves and 4 sets of fingerless gloves.

With my sewing machine I have been sewing twirly tucked organza scarves. 

More pictures of those next week! 
Have a great weekend and enjoy your extra hour sponsored by Daylight Savings Time!! 

Heather-Aquariart

A Gift for a Dear Friend

Click HERE if you are still cruising the blogs like I am for the Bead Soup Party.

The Second Kiss Supine

I dabble in some beadwork, 

mostly I like the meditative state 
that making beaded spirals puts me in

and 
the fun of trying new color combinations.  

I experimented with a combination of 
size 8 and 16 seed beads to create this spiral.

And the star pattern was in the book;

 "Beading with Cabochons" by Jamie Cloud Eakin

I picked up at the library last month. 

I found Sandy: Glass Art Cabochons on Etsy 

while browsing another blogger's bead work.

I had to get this cabochon 
and make my friend Diane this necklace for her birthday. 

(She chose the star shaped setting 
because she is an astrologer) 

She guides and inspires me to never give up- 

keep following my creative heart and mind and trust the universe to take care of me.  

She and her husband have a print of the painting-
 "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt.  

She was thrilled that I made this for her.  

I apologize for the lack of pictures this week- 

I dropped my camera while on the tripod 
and thought I broke it. Yes sheer panic!!

After a few hours of browsing 
to see what the damage would be to purchase a new one. 

My daughter, Jessie (McG(eye)ver), 
fiddled with it and fixed it!!

I am eternally grateful to have her in my life and home.

So you will be seeing me on BTW, 
I Heart Macro and Flickr this week.
I will also be adding some new items to my etsy shops. 

Heather-Aquariart

Re-Evalutation Time

Okay, It was one of those weeks where I think the message is- a question: 

"Where do I go from here?"

I have been very happy dabbling in all of my passions. 

Juggling my music lessons, crochet lessons,

blog writing, jewelry making, polymer clay creating, sewing, art quilting, deadlines..ect.

 I finally finished two baby sweaters for my friend Jen who had twins recently.

Still working on a couple commission jobs and

WHAM!!

"Who has your money?"

This past week after no notice my merchant provider decided to overdraft my business account

with some fee I never heard a word about.

or...the more money they make!

In fact they claim they have been sending me statements in the mail

and I have not received one of them.

I have to dispute this with my bank and after being on hold and having the call dropped twice

I am reconsidering if I even want to deal with this bank anymore.

These are the not so fun aspects of trying to run your own business.

The total confidence shaking , trust destroying and motivation killers

that pop up out of nowhere.

I guess I don't need to tell you that merchant account is closed.

I have a craft show next month so I need to have a merchant account set up!

The good news is I am ready for a phone upgrade

so it looks like the Iphone and Square up are my best option.

I am so grateful for the experienced people who have helped me make this decision.

I feel like I am gambling with my life savings.

Which in this economy is truly frightening.

My husband tolerates my artistic nature because it makes me so happy

but I think he just wishes I would go get a regular job.

I have tried and even if I could get one he knows,

after 36 years with me there would be a heavy price to pay if it made me unhappy.

I spend a lot of time pushing away my masked enemies,

guilt, procrastination, the critic and fear of failure.

I don't need these real world parasites in my life too.

So feeling like a jilted ex I am picking myself up,

brushing myself off

and starting over again.

I will smile and have a wonderful weekend!! 

Looking at where I want to go, how I spend my time and who I can trust.

I am stubbornly following my dream, just adjusting the color...

My head is still spinning!!

Dreams do come true!!! Woohoo!! 

And sometimes things happen you haven't even dreamed of yet. 

I am amazed at the snow ball effect that is happening to me this year 

and I am working very hard to keep my heart and head from exploding with joy and excitement 

and I must admit just a little tiny bit of fear I just keep pushing aside. 

I just had a photo shoot yesterday for the http://www.944.com/lasvegas !! 

It is a free publication distributed in the city at places like 

the Neiman Marcus Cafe in Fashion Show Mall downtown!! 

Yes, I am still shaking because I can't believe this is happening.
I will be in the March 2011 issue! 

The photographer, Michael and his loft mates were young and hip and their studio was amazing.

They all loved the suitcase full of my goodies I brought for the shoot. 

As soon as I arrived I felt more relaxed and they made the shoot really fun.  

I had to lay down on the floor under a really large sheet of glass 

and my items were laid on top of the glass all around my face.  

A very creative way to photograph me and my art work. 

It was thrilling to finally meet the wonderful "Ida" who said: 

"I am an etsy addict and when I found your Glam Wrist Pin Cushions

 and 

Felted Scarves

I was in love."

She writes the articles and chooses artists and 

then presents them to her editor for the magazine. 

I let her choose one of the Glam Cuffs as a thank you for choosing me.  

My friend Barbara drove and helped fix my hair and arranged the items 

because when you are propped up on your elbows you can't do any of that yourself 

and then...

drum roll...............

I, who was so high on adrenalin and joy was completely oblivious to my friends crafty ways.  

Barbara whisked me off to a surprise celebration hosted by another 

wonderful, kind and awesome friend Teresa, 

who graciously hosted a surprise celebration for me!  

She had decked out the table in white lace, a vase of roses,

crystal champagne glasses complete with champagne and sliced strawberries, 

popcorn and some of the nicest people I have ever met here in Las Vegas. 

They insisted I drag in my suitcase of goodies 

so they could ooh, aah and touch all of them 

and it looks like I have sold my most recent items before I can even list them in my shop. 

What a fun day!! I am still feeling the effects today!  

The future will tell how this will effect my little Etsy Shop business so 

I plan on being very busy creating.  

Still awaiting my bead soup ingredients so I will post about that when they come!! 

Happy Weekend Everyone!! 

Raggedy Bags!!!

My latest stash busting project has been making what I have named: 

"Raggedy Bags". 

 

I have seen bags and rugs made from braided fabric strips. 

But I haven't seen my technique out there yet.

I crochet 1" strips of fabric that are tied together with square knots. 

This one has an adjustable fabric handle and one of my polymer clay buttons.

Here I added one of my resin faces. 

The bags are also reversible.  

The side in the picture has all the knots 

and the inside is knot free!

They are very sturdy, colorful, machine washable

 and meant to fray and distress a little so 

DO put them in the dryer they just get better and better. 

I use mine to carry things like my wet bathing suit home from pool parties,

 produce from the market, 

anything that needs a soft and washable bag to cushion it.  

I plan on making zippered pouches with a coordinating fabric 

so valuables will not sneak out the natural holes in the crocheted cloth.

My Pink Crackle Jewelry Set featured in...

an etsy team treasury.  

Here is the link: Pink In Vegas Treasury

Here is the necklace

the Bracelet

and the earrings

One of my favorite pink items in the Handmade in Vegas treasury is the Pink Tutu set.

Go check it out it is adorable!!