Tiger Cane

I have a weekly addiction of watching the Clay Tutor Cindy Lietz' videos. Some weeks I try the lessons and others I don't. Well now I have decided to commit myself to attempting the lessons. So this Friday the lesson was a Zebra print cane. I modified the cane to a tiger print cane. I used Premo gold (with mica) and black to create the cane. The gold clay was somewhat of a scrap clay. I surmised that there was a bit of brown clay mixed in with the gold. It was probably a little bit of brown, added. I followed the video half way through. When I began to slice the black stripe pieces, I decided to immediately add them to the gold block. It definitely was not as neat as Cindy's block. When I reduced the cane, following her recommendations about shaping each piece, I was pleased with the results.

I have made a tiger cane before using Desiree's tutorial. In her tutorial I used a skinner blend to create the background. The background was a round log and the strips were added to it. There as in now I was pleased with the stripes, but my skinner blend did not turn out very well. I would say that the amount of blended color was too small. So the blend too quickly jumped from the liter color to the dark color.

Mystic Wynd this Week's Feature

Take a glance at who Mystic Wind is and her shop. This "Windy City" native really presents a diverse shop. One of the first things the entrepreneurial gurus tell you to do is to determine who you want your products to appeal to. In MysticWynd's case, it was obvious - everyone! The career woman looking for that bold and powerful jewelry ensemble.

The stay at home mom looking for something fun and trendy or simple and understated for day to day, or glamorous and exotic for those occasions she gets to break away and let her hair down. Students on a limited budget or who are still exploring a variety of styles. Fashionistas who love to start new trends. Grandmoms who prefer a little bit of nostalgia. Fashion designers and costume designers looking for that one-of-a kind piece that's perfect for a new dress or an old world character. Brides, their mothers and mothers-in-law to-be. Club members looking for a special "trademark" look. Men who are looking for something for the special person in their life. Women who are looking for something special for the special people in their lives. People who have hobbies. People who love life.

Whether your style is simple or bold, classic or trendy, elegant or glitzy, Mystic Wynd has something for you at a price you can afford from a craftsperson with a simple philosophy -



MysticWynd's creations are designed in the hopes of igniting that special spark of uniqueness that lies within us all. Some things are elegant, some are fun, some are outlandish, some are colorful, some are calming - but the great thing is that she know there is someone out there who will recognize something that just makes them feel good about themselves!

This Week's Feature: Miss Pretty Perfect

I am thrilled to present LaToya AKA "Miss Pretty Perfect". She has a wonderful passion for fashion. She also hails for the great state of North Caroline and is a graduate from N.C. A&T State University and Parsons School of Design in New York City. After graduating from Parsons, she worked as a sewer for a Private Label Handbag Designer in Union Square. Her bags were sold in department stores such as Henri Bendel, Bloomingdals and Fred Segal. LaToya learned handbag construction, pattern making and problem solving, just look at her bags. She relocated back to North Carolina, and began her own line of handbags. The Miss Pretty Perfect line of handbags is made of upholstery fabric, patchwork and leather combinations. Miss Pretty Perfect is a brand that will broaden with time. In the future LaToya hopes to create a line of women's and girl's clothing. I know just like me as you click on the bags at Miss Pretty Perfect, you will be awed by her craftsmanship, excuse me "craftwomanship". Awesome!



In addition to creating wonderful handbags LaToya coordinates the "BoostingEstyShopTeam" AKA "BESTeam". She keeps an energetic group of Esty shop keepers / bloggers - blogging weekly about their wonderful team mates. LaToya also finds way to link her team mates to items in her own shop. This is a dedicated and selfless individual likes helping and promoting others. Be sure to stop by her blog, Miss Pretty Perfect Handbags.

Swan Mountain Soaps - This week's featured BESTeam

Swan Mountain Soaps specializes in natural handmade cold-process artisan soaps and body products, all made completely from scratch - never from a pre-made base. Their products contain no detergents, fillers, or lather boosters, no formaldehyde, and no parabens - just naturally-good, skin-loving ingredients like cocoa butter, shea butter and olive oil. Let them pamper your skin with a little taste of luxury!

Six years ago, Christina and Mike were like most Alaskans - tough, rugged, self-reliant ... and itchy. Alaska can be a harsh place to live, especially in winter, when below-zero temperatures and frigid winds combat you on a daily basis. Their skin was dry and scaly. Their kids' skin was dry and scaly. It was not a pretty sight.

Then they discovered the joys of handmade soap. They were instantly addicted, and they learned to make their own soaps and body products. They also started learning about the plants and herbs that grew so abundantly around them in the summertime. . Their garden supplied them with plantain, horsetail, chickweed, chamomile and calendula for their herbal salves and balms. They have discovered the amazing bounty that could be found from wildcrafted herbs and foods. Make sure you stop to visit their Swan Mountains very informative blog.

Vintage Find

I visited Metalliferous Inc. - midtown Manhattan, yesterday. While there I saw a 'clearance' pile, where they were freeing up their clutter. So I decided to make some of it my clutter - at least until I get my creativity juices flowing.

I am considering making chunky rings with these vintage elements. Did you see the date in the bottom right hand corner? It stated 1974. What were you doing in 1974?

Tuesday May 25, I just posted two rings from this collection on my etsy shop Claycass

Sunshine

"You are my sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey..." Nina has a good flair for what is popular, and what is vintage. Her talent is so obvious when you look at her jewelry selections. Yes I like to sing and so does Nina - that's why her Etsy shop is called "You Are My Sunshine".

This grey fabric flower is so classic and current that one can imagine it worn with anything. You could desk it up with a classic cut dress and cardigan, or dress it down with jeans and a t-shirt. The versatile style of Nina's shop makes you drool at all the selections. Nina also has an up-beat blog called Nina's Day, and you should make a date to check it out.

Need Summer Jewelry

Scrap for color challenge
Originally uploaded by claycass

I made these pieces some time ago, but I have not turned them in to something wearable. Now summer is coming and I need to complete these pieces. Say a pair of earrings and a pendant for a necklace or a brooch. Hmmmm! I am not sure about the round object but the little tiles will make a nice pair of dangling earrings. I need to mix up some summer colors and create some more flowery delights. What do you think? Let me know you thoughts.

BESTeam Weekly Feature: Blue Forest Jewelry

Blue Forest Jewellery just loves jewelry! She has always had a passion for jewelry. She states how her grandmother must have been her muse for her love of making things. Her grandmother created most of her own clothes and knitted and crocheted. So now Blue Forest enjoys owning and wearing jewels. Everything she makes she wants to keep.

Only recently did she start making jewelry. Her handmade jewelry is about colors. Color combinations of semi precious stones, beads and pearls accented in silver making interesting and exciting pieces. She hopes you will enjoy her designs. Since her passion is to make jewelry she likes to wear, she hopes you will like to wear it, too.
Be sure to stop by Blue Forest Jewelry