more poly play

So, this is a dual blank - a stamped blank on top of a patera.  Sort of liked how it turned out.  I can dangle from either end.

More steampunk with a little bling:

 Here's a dual layer that I went ahead and finished.  Yes, I might get them all done sometime in the next week!

 For this one, I painted the silver background with pinata inks, then covered with envirotex and laid the sandal charm in it.

 The star will dangle on top of this one

 and the hamsa will dangle on this one

 the background possibilities are just endless

 combine that with all the different shapes - so much fun!

The "babes" are coming to play on Thursday and it looks like we're going to be making more of these!  Should be a fun day!!!

The real meaning of life.

I always thank mom on my birthday for giving me life. What an amazing mom, role model, friend, and confidant she has been through the years. And so much fun to be around. But this year, since I'm doing Jewish genealogy for the Cotopaxi Colony, I wanted to learn a little more about my birthday.

I was born at 5:30 pm on September 29, 1951, at Riverview Hospital in Noblesville, Indiana.  Before Daylight Savings Time.  And why do I care about any of that?

At 5:30 pm in Indiana, it was the 29th of Elul, 5711 in Jerusalem, 11:30 pm.  That is Erev Rosh Hashana - New Year's Eve in other words in Israel.

In the states, it was still Parashas Nitzavim.  The scripture was Deuteronomy 29:9 - 30:20  The day that God established His covenant with Israel.

WOW!  I could not have a more wonderful birthday date.

The words Parashat Nitzavim means "you are standing".

Now, I know that because of the Hebrew calendar, 9/29 does not always fall on this occassion.  As with this year, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are over and Today is the 21st of Tishrei, 5771 which is Sukkos VII, Hoshana Raba.  the day of the final sealing of judgment.  A guten kvitel - a wish that the verdict is positive.

Funny how 9/29/1951 never had much meaning to me - other than I was a year older and there were presents, a cake, and family around.  But to know now that I was born on the eve of the Jewish New Year, the day God established his covenant with Israel - makes this a huge day that I will rejoice in every year, no matter what day it falls on in the Hebrew calendar.

Deut 30:

¹⁹ I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day: I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life — if you and your offspring would live —²⁰ by loving the Lord your God, heeding His commands, and holding fast to Him. For thereby you shall have life and shall long endure upon the soil that the Lord swore to your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give to them.

I have had 59 amazing years of life.  I'm expecting this one to be even better!

Art notes:  The top 2 pendants have inserts made with metal clay.  All use Nunn Designs Patera blanks.  All use Peg Harper's conditioned Kato Clay and swarovsky crystals from Creative-Crystal.

Peg's Poly Play Day

My good friend, Peg Harper, came to play yesterday.  We always have the best time ever.  I had told her I wanted to make pendants to gift to friends in Israel.  Peg always has the most wonderful ideas!!!  We used Kato clay that Peg had conditioned and added leafing to, so it's all blingie and beautiful.  Then we added swarovski crystals and covered with a layer of Envirotex lite.  The Envirotex takes 72hours to cure, but after 12 hours, you can start to photo them....just not assemble them into pendants.  I am so delighted with the results....I'm photoing 12 hours later!  

Peg designed all 4 of these - aren't they gorgeous???

These blanks came from The Bally Bead Company


The blanks are base metal, silver.  Peg painted the backgrounds with Viva inks.  The inks don't burn off when you bake the clay.  We used liquid Kato to adhere the clay to the blanks.

 My blogger pal, Shari Wallace, turned me on to these blanks.  I just love blogging.  I meet the most wonderful people ever!

So Ruth, what do you think about using Kato Clay for our pre-UTM project???  I know - who's thinking that far ahead?  ha ha!

 

You can see all the tiny crystals embedded in this last one.  Just so much fun.  These are intended to be worn as a pendant....but I think they could be used as decorative items as well.  I may cut the top loop off one and adhere it to a journal!


Stay tuned the next few days as I post different designs - not all are Judaica.  I just started with the best!  Peg Harper - Kato Clay artist extraordinare!!!  Thanks Peg for such a fun day!!!


PS.  Today, Tuesday, 1 day before I turn 59.  I am trying my darnest to stay positive about this....but ONE year away from SIXTY?????  I don't feel it.  I don't think I act it (most days).  I don't want it.  So I've been throwing a little temper tantrum this week.  Kerry is just laughing so hard - he's a whole 2  1/2 years younger than I am.  I just tell myself that I act 10 years younger than he does!  Age is not a number, it's a state of mind.  Can I simply say I'm turning 39 tomorrow?  It would make me so much happier!  LOLOL!!!

Alcohol ink on Kato Clay

Peg had made up a bunch of kato clay tiles. Kato has more "plastic" in it and we wanted to see how the alcohol inks worked on them.....I think it's wonderful!


Once I introduced Peg to the metallic AIs - she went crazy! LOL!

I think this might be my favorite......


And here, she even tried it on a flat piece of clay...

She decided that it's best to paint on the metallic AI first, then apply colored AI over that. I have to agree. If you do it the other way around, the metallics tone down the colors a bit too much.

Just blending 2 colors together gives you a wonderful look -

And yes, another day of experiments coming up tomorrow night!