It's almost time!

The last gasp of summer is upon me and today we are off to the waterpark to slide.  This jaunt is very timely as the temperature is supposed to go up to 33 C today!  School starts on Wednesday and it's going to be a hot first day too.   No autumnally crisp first school day for this year!

I'm a bit saddened by the pathetically small amount of work I've mnanged to do this summer.  Except for a tiny bit of experimentation here and there, there simply hasn't been time with the number of trips we've done this summer (small trips requiring, it seems, VAST amounts of preparation!).  I've been trying, with some sucess, to train my children to be a bit more self reliant in the cooking, cleaning and preparation for activities department, with some success.  While also realizing that any lack of competence in this on their part is completely my fault - note - start training them early!

However, lots of ideas are percolating inside my head.  It remains to be seen if they can be dug out of the sludge.  I even fell down on the sketchbook documentation of said ideas.  I have enjoyed reading the blogs I follow when I had time to get on the computer (somehow, there is always time to check one's shop), and I salute you all on your regular blogging habits, and the great posts.  That small injection of the crafty life did a lot to help me feel connected.

Must go and get wet, but I will return, hopefully regularly, starting September 1st.  I leave you with pictures of a hollow bracelet I seem to have been working on ALL summer!  (And it shows in the overworking, too) .  It's on a pearl base and I've discovered I have a love/hate relationship with pearl clay.  When it's right for a project, it's great and when it's not -  it is purely and simply - incredibly tacky looking!

 Sorry about the number of shots.  Hard to find a good one, am out of practice!

Hot times

Is the heat getting to you yet?  My brain feel very sludgey during this heatwave, probably due to waking up 6 or 7 times a night.  It was 35 C here yesterday with the ever helpful weather office reminding us that with the Humidex -'it feel like 42C!'  Hotter than Bangkok!'  At this point, I'd rather not know....must just endure!

Along with the slow brain, I have a case of 'listitis' - that is, being allergic to getting the listings up on Etsy of my (actually) finished work.  Just HATE this part....My daughter tries to help by making me origami containers in which to put my finished items.  I 'm impressed - these ones are round with 5 different sections!  They remind me of water lilies and they actually stack!  I do love my girl...

So to encourage myself, here are a couple of photos of my new lily/lotus containers holding the promise of things to come....
Too many photos, I know.  My excuse is that the colours are waking me up!

Is it just me, or does everyone else online seem energised and super-productive?  Ah, winter is my time....

Voila!

June is the month for - many things (berry-picking and the end-of-year school rush jump to mind) - but now it seems to be my month to be a polymerista on the (relatively) new site of Voila!  This site is really focused on bringing forward what's happening in Europe and I have to say that there is a lot of amazing work to look at.  I'm thrilled and honoured to be selected as one of the 'polymeristas' for the month of June.  Christine Dumont, the creator of Viola, invites guest curators to look at submissions to the site.  For June, her companion was Ronna Sarvas Weltman, so this is all very exciting.  Please add this site to your list to follow and do join if you love to work in polymer!  Next month will see Loretta Lam  taking on the role of guest curator!

I'll leave you with a photo of many earring sets in progress, as I have finally come up with a few methods and designs that work more sucessfully.  My problem lately (oh don't lie, it's not lately...) is that I never want to make more than one or two of anything.  Endless variations on a theme, that's my life. The next idea is always beckoning seductively and I 'm constantly gritting my teeth in disappointment that there is not more time in the day... My theory is that it is the route to artistic happiness, but definitely not the road to riches...but you know, that's OK.  There is a balance to be found here and I will find it!

 Some little post earrings in progress...

A variety of hanging earrings in progress with detail... soon to be in my shop!