Polymer Clay Love Card

I made this little card to share with you. Feel free to right click and save it. It is for your own personal use. Please don't add to any collections that you sell.

You can add Valentine text, happy anniversary text, love, friendship, etc.

I will be offering more graphics in the future in the form of cards, post cards and clip art.

If you like that idea, let me know. I would love to hear suggestions too!

A little critique now and then helps!

Here is a little graphic you can print out and use in collage and jewelry making. I think it's the right size for a scrabble pendant.

Right click and save.

Things about Michigan I'm grateful for...

It seems like everywhere I go, people are talking about the woes of living in Michigan. They think there's a silver lining in Texas or Tennessee or Arizona. Maybe there is, but I'm not going anywhere. I am so tired of hearing bad news, especially concerning Metro Detroit, the car companies, Mayor problems, foreclosed houses, etc, etc, that I decided I wanted to make a list of 10 things that I'm grateful for.

1. Water. Michigan is surrounded by six quadrillion gallons of fresh water, and over 3,000 miles of lake coastline. There are also more than 11,000 inland lakes in Michigan and, according to the Michigan Historical Center, one is never more than six miles from an inland lake or more than 85 miles from one of the Great Lakes. I think I've personally traveled along 1/2 of those 3,000 miles of coastline. I plan on seeing more of it this summer. "We never know the worth of water 'til the well is dry." -English Proverb
2. Pine Trees. I know everyone has pine trees, but can you hike through a forest of white pines, kicking up sand under your feet and come up onto a bluff that looks over miles of sandy dunes that lead down to one of the great lakes? If you can, then you know how wonderful it is.
3. Diversity. A few weeks ago my sister and her family and I went on our annual traditional shopping spree. In 5 hours we bought hot tortillas in Mexican Town, Fresh produce and spices at the Eastern Market, bought kielbasa and pierogis in Hamtramck (had a great Polish dinner there), stopped in Greek town for some sweets, bought fresh Italian sausages and cheeses at a great Italian market in east Dearborn and ended up at an Arabic bakery for Syrian bread and baklava.
   
4. Snow. Seriously, sometimes I like it. Like tonight when I came home from work. It was dark outside my home, and as I got out of my car, I was met with a soft silence as wispy snow floated down from the dark sky. There was a light scent of smoke in the air; someone had lit a fire. It was a pleasant moment.
5. Spring. Do lilacs bloom in warm climates? I'm not sure, but I would hate to live where there were no lilacs. I planted a lilac bush close to my bedroom window so that in the spring I can smell it's perfumy fragrance.
6. Family. My family is here in Michigan. They live 5 miles, 10 miles and 40 miles away. But they are here, close enough for me to see weekly. I can't imagine being any further away.
7. Friends. I have a handful of friends. It is just the right amount for me. I've had friends come and go and now the friends I have are probably the most important I've ever had.
   
8. History. I'm such a nostalgic person. I drive past a bump in the road and can remember something from my past that has to do with that bump. I remember sights and smells and sounds and can only imagine that if I moved anywhere else, my soul would stay in Michigan.
9. Comfort. Yep. It's all about comfort. It's too scary to think of living anywhere else. It's scary to think about leaving behind my friends, my home, my family, my job, my contacts, and my memories.
10. Hope. No matter how dismal the news is, no matter how many people are facing job cuts and loses, people here still have hope. I see it everywhere I go. People still shop, they buy paint to paint their houses, crafts to decorate, fabric to sew, books to read. I know people are suffering and times are hard, but people still smile and laugh and they keep on living.

I understand there is real pain and fear now because of the economy. I am surrounded by it and don't want to act as if trying to change the way I think will make it all go away. But, it's a great coping mechanism that I use. Being grateful for what I do have helps me. I don't practice Buddhism, but I sure like their sayings.....Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.

What did Debbie do today?


I made several embellishments. Here is a picture of some of them. I used rubber stamps and made little words. I'm giving them to a friend of mine who does Artist Trading Cards. I did an alphabet and some faces too. Kind of simple, but she will find many things to do with them.

Little girl with a book

Here's a little girl I made. She is sitting with her cat, holding a McGuffey Reader. I scanned the original book and re- sized it, then printed it. I scanned a bunch of Little Golden Books too.

This little girl is on my etsy site now. My Etsy.

What's going on with Michaels?

Both Michaels' stores that I shop at are going out of business, the Dearborn and Westland stores. I heard a rumor today that they all are going out. I find this hard to believe. Has anyone else heard anything? I hate to be a rumormonger.

Fake it till you make it

In my effort to reinvent myself (which is going horribly), I've read that you must "fake it".

In other words, pretend that you are who you want to be before you actually become that person.
Apparently it works for weight loss, financial success, and other achievements. I have mixed feelings about this idea because I feel like I would be living a lie. But I do use it occasionally.

For instance, ever since I was a child I wanted to have a house with a library. I grew up watching old Gothic and horror movies and read lots of Dickens, Bronte and Poe and there always seemed to be a library somewhere in the story. The rooms were always the same, tall book cases filled with old volumes of classics, science and poetry. Two wing back chairs stood close to a stone fireplace which always was lit with a blazing fire. Nearby a dog or cat would rest. The windows were narrow and tall, decorated with dark drapes that hid a secret window seat. There was usually a storm outside; thunder would rumble around the books and furniture. Can you imagine curling up on a overstuffed sofa, reading "Dracula" while the wind howled and beat against the glass?

That's the ultimate for me. But, alas, I'm too poor to have a house with a library. So, that's where fake it till I make it comes in. In the corner of my living room, I've placed three book cases and a table desk. The shelves are lined with hundreds of books. On the top of one shelf I have a painting I did of Jane Eyre. There's an old clock, a candle stick and some photos. There's also a spot for the cat to lie down. (that's her in the picture)..

I will always dream that I will have a library. Everyone who knows me is aware of that dream. Until that day comes, I'll keep "faking it". Better to have 1/10 of what I'm dreaming about than nothing!

What Did Debbie Do Today?


I made a fairy in a jar. The fairy was already made. I've been meaning to make one of these for a few years now.



She's kind of ethereal and kitchy at the same time.

I'm going to put her on Etsy later on. I liked making this and have been brainstorming some ideas. How does Dick and Jane in a jar sound?
Retro in a jar! Vintage in a jar!
Giraffe in a jar?

Time for a break!

Lots and lots of cake toppers

The last few days I've gotten a lot of work done. It feels good to finish up orders and make new clay babies to put on etsy and ebay.


As you can see, I've had a lot of different requests lately for toppers. Kiwi and asparagus is my favorite. The bride wanted the kiwi to be elongated. That's about the best I could do, as the kiwi started to look like a brown eggplant.

As I mentioned, I'm going to really start working my cake topper business. I'm in a showcase for next Saturday on Etsy. It's the wedding showcase. That will help a little with more exposure.

Polymer Clay Graphics

Here's a few polymer clay graphics that you can use for personal use (website, business cards, tags, newsletters, etc).. Just right click and save to your computer.

I'll be adding more free graphics as I make them.

Spelling

I realized that my last blog had some spelling errors in it. I fixed the errors but it was after I published the blog. So that meant that everyone who subscribes to it read the version with the mistakes.

I fell asleep last night fretting about it and woke up this morning wondering how many people think I'm an uneducated fool.

This little mini update is to apologize for sending a sloppy blog and promising that I will try my best to make sure I PROOF READ and spell check in the future.

I'll be back later on today with some free graphics of polymer clay that you can use (if you'd like)!

Downtown excursion and making clay

For years I've wanted to go to the John K. King's Used and Rare book store in Detroit. I've passed the building hundreds of times and wondered what great books I might find inside, but it wasn't until yesterday that I finally ventured down there.

My good friend Phil drove Mary Ann and I. From my house it took 18 minutes, almost as fast as going to my local library. Parking was limited; we got the last parking spot in the lot. I was told the building was an old glove factory. Proof of that is on a rubber mat by the front door. It says advanced glove company, with an imprint of a glove. There are boxes of free books located near the entrance and two sets of marble steps that lead to the main floor. Although there are 4 floors, I stayed on the main floor for two reasons. One, it was sensory overload for us. Two, my knees were killing me. I could have taken the elevator, but I was too overwhelmed by the amount of books.

I spent most of my time in the children's book section. I found several books I wanted, but settled on one, called "Day In and Day Out". It's an Alice and Jerry book. (similar to Dick and Jane). I love these books. I love the innocence of the children, the family values, the illustrations. The graphics are wonderful.


I found Thoreau's Walden, but it was priced $8.50 and the text was difficult to read. I can buy a new version for the same price at Borders, so I passed on that choice. I did find Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House" priced at $2.50. I saw the movie version "The Haunting" when I was 10 or 11 and it was probably the scariest movie I'd ever seen. I saw it again when I was in my 30s. I was up late, lying on the couch. It was so scary I was paralyzed with fear, too terrified to get up and run to bed. I own the movie now, and it's not so scary when you've seen it 20 times, but it still has it moments. The beginning sentence of the story goes like this..

."No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone."

Reading that sentence gave me goosebumps. I think it's because it's so well written. It's so wonderfully creepy.



I found some magazines from the 50s that were perfect for collage and clip art, but they weren't marked. The cashier had to call the owner who priced them at $5 and $20. I wasn't happy with those prices, or the fact that the magazines weren't priced. However, I admit that I think if I would have more money, or if they would have taken a check, I would have purchased them. When I go back, I'm going to check them out again. I wonder if his price will stay the same.

After spending almost two hours wandering around the main floor, I finally bought my two little books, knowing that I'll return. I found a set of 6 volumes of great children's stories and graphics. It was published in the 1920s and the entire set was $125.00. It's on my wish list now. I want that set!

On the way out of the building I grabbed two books. One called Stay Slim for Life. My mom used to have this book and would make diet recipes from it. I couldn't resist it.



Another book I took for free was the 1952 Who's Who in America. I only wanted it because it has over 2500 pages of tiny print that will look great in collage and ATCs. My favorite actor has always been James Cagney, and I found a little snippet about him. on page 370. I can see myself using the pages of this book for all kinds of art projects.


If you love to collect books, I would recommend visiting King's book store. They don't accept checks but do take credit cards and bank cards. I think I will have to visit many times before I feel comfortable enough to really wander around the massive store. It's a bit unorganized, has an eclectic atmosphere (that includes the customers), made me sneeze a few times and probably has something you are looking for.

What did Debbie make today?

I had a very productive day today. I made four cake toppers and 5 clay babies. I've scanned a few of my babies to show you. I said I would show you daily what I've done, but I have to admit, it's very time consuming to take the pictures, upload them, crop them, etc. It's faster to scan them today, even though the images are not the greatest. I'll have pictures of the toppers later.



PS...if you are reading this in your email, I apologize for the spelling errors. I've since fixed them.

Top Ten Resolutions

Dare I write about my New Year's Resolutions? Is it expected? Does anyone but me really care? If I tell everyone what my resolutions are, via this blog, am I held to those resolutions? If I share them with you and then fail, can I be truthful and admit it? I think the beauty of a blog is that I imagine I'll be held accountable, and I like that. It's the incentive I need to stick to my promises to myself. If I say them out loud (or write them for all to see), then I will try harder to live up to my word. I feel a sense of responsibility towards my readers to stay on course. That being said, here are some resolutions that I'm going to work towards.

1. Fresh blogging. This is something that I really want to achieve. When I miss a few days of blogging and then see that a follower from British Columbia, or St. Petersburg, or Leiden, Zuid-Holland has dropped in several times to read my blog, I'm disappointed in myself that the blog is a few days old. I worry that it could be the last time that reader comes to visit. So I resolve to write daily or every other day. Even if it means going to bed a little later or rising a little earlier, I'm going to write.
2. Daily creativity. Whether it's making something from polymer clay, creating a collage, or designing something in photoshop, I want to stop wasting time and start creating more! I will post my daily creativity here! (oh boy!!)
   
3. Building the cake topper business. I made the decision that I will continue with my cake toppers. My plan is to build the business on etsy and ebay and add more information to my website. I read that approximately 5 million brides and grooms get married each year in the United States and that it's a 50 billion dollar a year industry. I need to keep making my cake toppers! (wedding business)
4. Chair exercising. I have bad arthritis in my knees and a bone spur behind my knee, so I've become more sendentary. I read about a great way to exercise where you sit in a chair, listen to dance music and have a workout. It's been designed for older adults, people with diabetes, wheel-chair pound persons, etc. There can't be any excuses for me with something as low impact as sitting and exercising! (chair exercises)
5. Make more, spend less. I want to have more money for myself. I want to pay less to cable, and gas and electric. I would rather hold on to my money in my pocket, go to the beach more often, or buy myself art supplies than hand it over to the cable company or Utilities. So I've reduced costs already and hopefully, in the future, I'll be able to tell.
6. Simplify. Part of my resolution to spend less. I want to think twice before I buy something. (Do I really need another $5.00 worth of scrapbooking paper when I already have 100's of sheets?)
   
7. Organize. How original. It's probably on everyone's list. But, it's one of my greatest flaws and I have to keep chipping away at my messes. Every time I clean out a box or a closet I find art supplies or craft products, make-up and accessories and even sometimes, money. It pays to get organized!
8. Be happy. I'm pretty happy now and I want to stay that way.
9. Stop and smell the roses. For the longest time now, I've lived my life to savor the small moments: To take a deep breath of autumn leaves, to let the warm summer wind blow on my face, to listen to the gurgling rush of river as it flows behind my house. I've never needed much more than that to feel complete contentment. Anything better than that is icing on my cake. Thoreau said, That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest.
10. Build and maintain good relationships. I want to surround my self with positive friends and family. I want to distance myself from negativity and dysfunction. I want to inspire myself and others to make the best of ourselves. Life's too short to be miserable.
    
    
    There's my list. It's all about improving myself and living my life the way I want to live it.

To start out my resolutions, here's a picture that I painted for my living room. It's a collage, 10 inches by 10 inches.