Perfect Timing?

Amidst a day of laundry, packing, maps and the lashing down of boats it seemed like a perfect time to stop and do a t-shirt transfer project! (Ok, you want the truth? The truth is I've been telling my daughter I would help her with this for two weeks and wanted to complete it for her before we left for vacation.)


My son is developing such an interesting style to his drawing. He did these little houses about a month ago. My daughter decided they would work just great along the bottom hem of a t-shirt. We scanned the images and printed them out on Avery Inkjet Transfer paper. We came up with a fantastic finished project!

We are headed to Maine tomorrow for a two week holiday. I will struggle being away from the studio but I think the distance will make me concentrate on things I have been neglecting like drawing and reading...and dreaming. I expected to come home refreshed and energized!

Fresh Air

We made an impromptu decision to go camping at a nearby state park and because we have pre-packed camping supplies all we really needed to do was pack a change of clothing and some food and we were off. (My husband would have me note here that it took him 1 HOUR to get the sailboat and kayak on top of the car. Credit where credit is due.)

Water.
Blue Heron .
No phone.
Just what I wanted (needed).



All photos courtesy of my daughter, Ema. I'll soon be featuring her work in a series of photo transfer jewelry.

Here and Gone

The necklace below hit my shop today and was sold in under 3 minutes.


A great customer of mine was waiting for what she has titled "doubles" necklaces (two pendants on one chain) for WEEKS now as I got myself back up to speed after getting the new oven. She was very encouraging, checked in once a week or so and literally snatched this one up when I posted it! (Thank you Shari!)

Collaboration

I have had photo transfers to polymer on my list of "things to try" for a while. I decided it would be a great project to collaborate on with the photographers in the household - my husband and my daughter.


Its actually very easy and I am thrilled with the results thus far! This first piece with the hydrangea on white polymer came out of the oven and my head started spinning with the possibilities of application of this process. Isn't it a nice surprise when things just work out?


All the photos below are were all taken by my daughter, Ema. It appears as though taking a risk and buying a 15 year old that Nikon was a good decision after all!

Button Down

Upon the request of Sarah from Old Glory Woolen Co, I am working on some polymer buttons. (I was already working a large focal button for a great sweater I have that sports a bland, single, black button at the chest so the timing was fortuitous!) Its exciting to work on a functional item and think that this coming winter, someone may ward off a chill by buttoning a lovely handmade sweater with one of these!


It wasn't a huge leap from some of my earrings and pendants really since the techniques are essentially the same. I'll be offering them in the etsy shop after I finish Sarah's order.

Bead, all that you can Bead

In a attempt to extend my line of necklaces, I spent a fun afternoon searching through beads at a Rings-n-Things Bead tour location a week ago. What a wonderfully tactile experience! I touched many more beads than I actually purchased. Am I the only one or does anyone else out there have this "need-to-touch" issue with beads?!

Anyway, its good they don't charge you for just picking things up. ("Um, excuse me, Miss? I am sorry but you've caressed that strand of huge turquoise beads three times now - that'll be $30.)


The serious "beaders" were purchasing mountains of beads. I controlled myself realizing that I was there just to choose compliments to my polymer pieces but it wasn't easy. The photos show some of my purchases...beads of glass, jasper, labrodorite and agate, Masai trade beads from Africa and silver beads that actually set me back the most.

Eucalyptus

As an island in the subtropics, Saint Helena has some amazing vegetation not the least of which are these towering eucalyptus trees that stand in groves on steep mountainsides.


I modified what I do for my grass/flax design and used it as stripes that mimic the peeling bark of the eucalyptus tree. Researching the trees a bit more I learned about the painted or rainbow eucalyptus. I'll be exploring this design for a while in both greys and color. I chose brass findings in warmer choices to sterling silver.