Magazines to Inspire

If you are like me, you love to look at the works that other artists create. There are some great magazines available today and I thought I would share with you my favorites.

Somerset Studio is a great magazine full of artwork. If you enjoy Artists Trading Cards, assemblage, altered art, or mixed media, you have to take a peak at this magazine. There are theme based challenges, interviews with artists, tutorials, and spotlights. If I only had one of these magazines, I would get enough ideas to last me years, yet, when I see a new issue, I'm always tempted to buy it. If I look inside, I've committed myself to purchase it. I'm so glad the Joann's lets the customer use coupons on their books and magazines, because they can run from $8.99 to $15.99 . The image you see above is of the Somerset Studio Gallery addition. It showcases the amazing work of many talented artists (more than 400 projects in this addition.)

Art Doll Quarterly is another magazine I really enjoy looking at. I'm always so inspired when I browse the pages. Like Somerset Studios, this magazine has interviews, tutorials and hundreds of wonderful images. There are paper dolls, polymer clay, fabric, found objects, and altered dolls. Some are odd, some cute, and others are amazingly beautiful.



I recently found this magazine, called Cloth, paper, scissors. When I saw this cover, old paint tubes with sculpted faces, I had to have it. The whole magazine is filled with great projects, really emphasizing recycled items. beautifully designed collages, and a great article on journaling.
At the back of the magazine are several ads for art retreats which inspired my friend Mary Ann and I to start planning our own in the late summer. She has a rustic cottage in northern Michigan, a perfect place to immerse ourselves in art.

Finally, my favorite magazine is called Where Women Create. The work spaces that are featured in this magazine are wonderful. The women spot lighted in this magazine are artists, designers, and writers. Just when I think I've seen the most amazing studio, a few pages later I'm in awe again. If you are trying to plan a perfect work space for your craft, Where Women Create will surely inspire!
What I love about these magazines is that the only advertising you see is for art supplies and it's usually near the back pages. The quality of the magazines are superb too. There are pages and pages of free tutorials, descriptions of techniques, and free paper samples. Once you start collecting them, you'll never tire of looking through them, so even though the cost is a little more expensive than Cosmo or Woman's Day, it's well worth the investment.

Colored Pencils

Enjoyed the morning light a few days ago and took some pictures of colored pencils. If you like the pics, feel free to right click and save. You never know when you'll need a graphic of colored pencils.

This and that

I have little bits of information that I'd like to pass along.

First of all, polymer clay is on sale again at Michaels. It's 99 cents for sculpey three. The sale ends on Saturday. I bought some the other day and it was so fresh, I couldn't wait to get home and start working with it.

Secondly, I'd like to share some interesting sites with you.

Mark Kistler's Online Art Lessons is a wonderful website. Mark is an animator and he has online classes. However, you do have to pay ($59.00 for two years), but he does have a lot of free lessons. I spent 10 minutes on his site and wanted to join! (However, I did restrain myself.)
If you have a child who is interested in cartoon or 3 D drawing, check it out.

Another nice site I found is called Drawn! It's all about illustration, cartooning and inspiration! Also has a lot of links to other great sites.

One of my favorite sites that inspires me is Holli Conger, A girl who creates. I've been following her for two years now, and sad to say for myself, she is doing everything that I wished I could have done. She is a designer working with typography, polymer clay, computer generated graphics and colored pencil. She is so driven! This year she is going to Surtex. Surtex is where artists go to show their work to be licensed. It is very expensive, approximately $4000 to do the show and this does not include travel and lodging. I used to dream about going there, but I just can't afford it, at least not now. (not to mention the fact that I'm not very money driven, I guess if I was, maybe I could save up for Surtex and go!) If you want to be inspired, visit Holli Conger's site.

Finally, here is one of my favorite "free fonts" websites. It's called DaFont and it has every kind of font you can imagine. It's easy to navigate around the site and easy to download the fonts. There may be some fonts that you have to pay for, but I've never experienced that.

Gingerbread

I've been making a lot of gingerbread babies lately.

They seem to sell well on ebay.Here are a few I made yesterday.

I have several of these reproduction tins and I love the way the gingers look on them.

Polymer Clay Giveaway *Day Seven*

The winner of the little bear is South. Thanks for commenting.



On this final day of the giveaway, I'm offering four miniature clay babies. Here's a picture to see their true size..Compare to the dime.



The little minis can go in a collection, on a shelf, computer, window sill. With a little blue tac you can attach one to your dashboard.

You get 4 minis, a pig, a rabbit, a single monkey and a pair of monkeys.

Leave a comment if you live in the United States or Canada. You have till tomorrow, Sunday, 4 p.m. EST. Then I'll announce the final winner. Everyone who won can then send me their address.

On Monday, I'll be back to my blogging about polymer clay, creativity, art, inspiration and making the most out of your life.

But, the giveaways will continue, sporadically, so make sure you become a faithful reader. I may giveaway more clay babies, mini canvas art, book markers, charms, etc. These are some plans I have for the near future.

Turning a new leaf

After months of contemplation and discussion, I finally made a decision that I know was the right one to make. I quit my job. I haven't been happy there for awhile and could feel the passion evaporating from my soul each passing month. Working with children used to be fun, but the last year proved to be stressful on me and I felt unappreciated. The parents in my program just didn't seem to really care about what my staff and I were trying to accomplish, and although a little 5 year old telling me they loved me gave me a warm feeling inside, it wasn't enough to keep me there.

My plan? To increase production of my clay and work my business. I also am trying to improve my graphic skills (I'm working on a Bachelor Degree in Graphic Arts)..I keep looking for small graphic jobs that I would feel comfortable doing, but so far, I feel intimidated. In September, I'll be taking three classes that will steadily increase my degree of skill and my self confidence. In a year, if all goes well, I'll have that degree.

Today I really enjoyed being home all day. I worked on cleaning my "studio", designed some Christmas ornaments, worked on my website (www.polymerclaybabies.com), networked a little and had a slight disaster in the kitchen. I burned some angels I was working on. I of all people should have known better. I got a new stove and should have done a clay test. I tell everyone to put a piece of scrap clay in the oven to test it. I didn't bother to do that and I also failed to put the temperature gage (something I got from Polyform Products) into the oven.

These angel wings are supposed to be white!.
.Now I'm going to have to
antique them. I think it should be ok. I'll upload
pictures later of the finished antiqued angels.

In the late afternoon, I took a break and sat out behind my home and listened to the birds. This is the simple pleasure that I love. It's something I do everyday, weather permitting.

I put out some apples and peanut butter
and old crackers to
attract the birds. Tomorrow I'm going
to get some bird seed. I'll probably end up feeding all the squirrels in the woods. Hopefully, the birds will get a chance.

Each night I hear a screech Owl back in the woods. The other day I saw a bird with a great wing span approach a tree behind the house. I only saw it for a second. When I went outside to investigate, I found nothing. I would LOVE to see an owl out back. It would be an honor as my sister says.

I ended my little break by taking a picture of the sky. It's to remind me of what a beautiful day today was!

When I sit and look out at the woods, it clears my head of anything negative, it inspires me and pleases me. I feel close to nature, to God and it gives me peace. After a brief period, I'm ready to come back to my studio and create. If you have a quiet activity you can do each day, try it. Maybe you like to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee before the family awakens. Perhaps an evening walk is your time to reflect. Embrace those gentle moments, inhale the scent and take a mental picture. It doesn't cost a dime and it's rewards are priceless!