It’s all about the garden right now!

I love this votive candle holder. I found it in one of my favorite thrift store haunts. When I pay, the women working the cash box are always shocked at what I find. It makes me laugh, it’s just about seeing the gem in the rough!

I had the beaded votive from an old project, where I used micro glass beads and adhered them to the glass. Always satisfying when I can reuse from an old project.

Perfect for evenings sitting outside. (Sometimes i just love being all girlie girl!)

Price:$3.00

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After listening to Maggie Maggio on this weeks show, I took out my Crayola crayons and started playing. I came up with a palette I liked and decided to use it in the hanging flower baskets I make for the front porch.

Off I went to the nursery with swatches in hand, and picked some plants that followed the color concept.

They have to be done and up by Tuesday for a photo shoot for the historical society, so I will keep you posted with the finished results!

above: crayola colors: red violet,orchid,green yellow,yellow

above: ‘Baby Duck Yellow’ Petunias, ‘Daffy’ Coleus, Setcreasea ‘Purple Heart’, Ipomoea ‘Margarita’, Oxalis ‘Burgundy Bliss’

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I’m coming up with new projects for the metal working class I teach. These are “in progress” earrings. (I think I was influenced by the CHER billboards in Vegas.)

Students will learn how to cut circles with both the jewelers saw and the die cut tool, as well as bending the metal. I’m still experimenting with how to finish the surface for a hammered look. So far I’ve tried tumbling and a riveting hammer, but I want to take it much further.

Time to snoop around for another tool!

above: 2 inch diameter fine silver earrings in progress

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I’m playing with printing my photos on fabric. I found a product called ‘Bubble Jet Set and Rinse‘ that is used for pre-treating fabric before putting it through an ink jet printer. I’m excited about the possibilities. Next, I am going to experiment with a product by Golden Paints to see what kind of results I get. I have a loose vision of the end results I’m looking for, but I’m open to where the path will lead!

above: “Portrait of a Crocus” printed on muslin

above: the first few samples

above: treating the muslin with Bubble Jet

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Today I am talking with Maggie Maggio, a “color expert” and nationally known polymer clay artist. Maggie explains to me whats a “myth” and what’s the “truth” when it comes to the science of color. Ms. Maggio has studied and played with color for over thirty years, and for the last ten years has traveled the country teaching her unique color workshops to both polymer and fiber artists.

Time to get out that big box of crayons and play!

Black is NOT in the Middle. Mud is in the middle.
~Maggie Maggio

Featured Book: Chicks with Sticks by Nancy Queen and Mary Ellen O’Connell
Musical Guest: Laura Hughes singing Benefit of the Doubt


above: polymer clay vase

above: polymer clay bead selection

above: close-up on polymer clay necklace

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I’m feeling very girly-girl. I guess it’s all the blooming flowers, floral scents and warmer air. So finding this vintage ceramic basket with an accent bouquet was the perfect item. It was way up on a shelf in the corner,gathering dust, forgotten about. Now it’s getting star treatment. Perfect for holding lilacs which are just beginning to open and release their heavenly scent. Price: $3.00

above: vintage ceramic basket

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I’m excited to get back to my Thursday afternoon free-form crochet class. I get so much inspiration from the other women, never mind that the teacher, Beryl Maddalena is just superb.

I have a short cropped vest that I love wearing, so I traced it on some canvas, and cut out the pattern shapes. I’ll use free form crochet pieces and jigsaw puzzle them together on the canvas pattern. When I get them all to fit, I’ll attach them with yarn using a crochet hook and/or embroidery needle. We’ll see how this progresses. Beryl gives great direction and makes it look easy.

I am thoroughly enjoying the process of experimenting with color, texture and form, which is really what it’s all about!

above: my canvas vest pattern and the first few free-form pieces

above: i’m in love with the fibers and colors

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I really, really want to question the term VERY EASY! I think they mean that the instructions are VERY EASY to read, not VERY EASY to make! LOL

Anyway, here is a picture of the progress so far. I have learned it is not EASY to fit a backless bodice garment. I re-did the seams a half dozen times to get rid of that nasty underarm material gap.

Next is to add snaps and hooks for a concealed closing. (I have veered from the pattern which has buttons down the entire front of the dress. That is so NOT very easy!) Also, the hemming, another challenge for the sewing impaired.

As Tim Gunn would say: “Make it work!” And so I will. LOL

above: “Very Easy Vogue” dress in progress

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Going to R & F Paints in Kingston, NY and taking the one day encaustic painting workshop has been on my ‘to do’ list for awhile. I finally made it and will definitely be going back for more. Encaustic paints are pigments that are contained in a mixture of beeswax and resin. The colors of the pigments are pungent and powerful.

above: inside the factory is the pigment room

First we had a tour of the factory. All the products are made and shipped right there. It’s a beautifully restored factory building with lots of care and concern put into their products.
After the tour, there was an hour demo, showing us the basics to get started.

above: workshop where classes are held

Each person had his or her own workstation, complete with an individual ventilation system. The next 2 hours was dedicated to playing with all the materials. A little overwhelming to choose from the color palette, but once you get started, its all so seductive. You have to work on a firm surface; I used their 8″ x 10″ pieces of thick plywood.

If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend the experience!

above: playing with encaustic paint, oil sticks, and gold leaf

above: playing with colors, wax medium,and foil

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Today I am talking with Thomas Mann. Mr. Mann has been an active participant in the contemporary American craft movement for the past thirty years as an artist, gallery owner and lecturer. His gallery is well known in New Orleans, and his jewelry is well known worldwide. Thomas and I spend time talking about where the business of craft is headed, and what new ideas are on the horizon. Thanks Thomas, for sharing your insight.

“I have a mission as a human being, to manifest the un-manifested, for those who can not manifest for themselves.” ~Thomas Mann

Today’s musical guest is Laura Marie singing In Code, and the featured book is Bead One, Pray Too, by Kimberly Winston.

above: Thomas Mann Gallery in New Orleans

above: inside Thomas Mann Gallery

above: Thomas Mann Website

Shop my new STORE for music, books and other fun stuff!

Listen to CRAFTCAST™ for details about the
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Call the CRAFTCAST™ “create-spiration” line and listen to this week’s message and leave one for me.
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