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Polymer Cafe

I made it in the Readers Challenge again!
Useful and Beautiful objects
This is a wisk broom called the May QueeN
the Autumn Queen sold last spring before I remembered to take her picture
I love making these little brooms
must make more!

Inspiring? Me?

The following "conversation" is from the Yahoo group that admires Christie friesens polymer clay creations. I am a fan. Her stuff is whimsical and cute and, gee I wished I thought of it first.
Her stuff can be seen at CFOriginals.com

My responces to the conversation is:
SQUEEEEEEEEEE!
Snoopy happy dances
and
WOW

this is just such an awesome compliment, Im all twitchy with enthusiasm!

the posts in reverse order, just to see the progression of thought

Re: 100 Million Dollar Bones
Posted by: "M-H-

Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:43 pm (PST)
Xenia!
I saw that Pirate bead and Loved it! I made my own little fridge magnet copy
for fun and it gets quite a bit of attention. I show the picture in the
magazine and they say "ooOOOooo" and want to go make some too. You're a
great inspiration for a fun day!
M-

(MY POST)
the 4th post
On Jan 27, 2008 6:34 PM, xenia - wrote:

Hi
Ususally I just lurk here, but the replica bones and the skulls I had to chirp in Ive been making Polymer clay skulls for over a year now.
I started with Pirate stuff (my "Pirate Love" bead was in Polymer Cafe's Big Bead challenge)and then I moved on to make fake "sugar skulls" Mexican Day of the Dead style.
I posted a few pics of my decorated skulls, they are really big beads, and fit in the palm of your hand.
I posted them in a new photo album LauraMstuff

The third post

Hirst is very interesting. That skull is impressive. Beautiful and
morbid at the same time. I was looking at some pictures of his work
and I found myself thinking about life' meaning while noticing lots
of his work deals with mortality. He has quite a sense of irony and
dark humor. Just how I like my artists. LOL

I agree that a lot of people have changed their attitudes about our
bodies, the insides anyway. lol I so wish I had seen the Dr's
exhibit while I was in Seattle in 2006. My brother was put off by
the displays being real human bodies and I didn't want to go
alone. . . I'd have spent all day in there anyway. He would have
thought I'd abandoned him. . .lol

The whole thing with IR's finger necklace has me intrigued and
inspired me to try something like that. It's all so fascinating to
think about.

--K

the second post

K, the skull was made by Damien Hirst. He is the artist that won the Turner prise with a controversial display of a calf cut in half. Blah! The skull is worth 100 million dollars! It is a real human skull but is hundred of years old. Look here for a great photo:

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/popup?id=3234825

I think people are looking at the human body differently now. I've seen the body exhibit by the German doctor twice. It is fascinating, often beautiful and also shows a great sense of humor. Whoa! What about a skinned arm showing muscles? Interesting possibilities in this whole body thing.

l-j-

I lost the first post to the thread

the picture are a few of my skulls (Im searching for the Pirate Love bead, the picture is on a disk some place...)

Productive today

Today I was very productive.
I created some new piratical art and I updated 3 of my Cafe Press sites, empire building one t-shirt at a time.
Made changes to my Elements of Art and Design site, added a new design , and added some new products.
Moved products around and populated the new Cafe Press site that will focus on more new-age and fantacy art.
And added the winged skull valentine heart shaped eyepatch image to the smartmule site.
Come by and visit if you can!

This is some of what I do

So what is it that I do artistically?
I fall in love, become obsessed, and bemoan the fact that I can't create art enough.
I like to combine all my interests, and blend cultural influences. Artistically I do a whole bunch, and refuse to limit myself to one medium. I do not feel that means I do not achieve proficiency in any one medium, to me it means I have thousands of outlets for the creative storm in my head.

Professionally I used to be a Graphic Designer. I specialized in Photoshop illustrations, and icons/logos. One of the things I still do is create digital illustration and small iconic illustrations. I primarily utilize this skill in creating t-shirt artwork that I post on my various Café Press sites.
I have in the past painted, and drawn, the traditional way with my hands. I still do. Again most of this artwork I use for t-shirts and other print on demand items, like cards and tote bags.
Ok, that covers some of the how I make art, now what is my subject matter?
My most prolific subject is belly dance related. My belly dance art can be seen at http://www.cafepress.com/mmex_1. I also design costuming patterns and occasionally create one of a kind belly dance costumes. These creations can be found at http://www.madamexcostumes.com.
I also am a big fan of piratical themed items, and am a basic smart-ass. The works that reflect this part of my world can be found at http://www.cafepress.com/smartmule. Now, I will be honest and that one is "under construction," as I am currently getting a new Café Press location for my fantasy and new-age/metaphysical art.
I also make jewelry. I tend to think of it as mini sculpture. I have had a long-term relationship with polymer clays. I took a break when I started having children, because I did not want exposure to any potentially harmful fumes. Yes, polymer clays are labeled non-toxic, but at the time it was a better-safe-than-sorry option, since we lived in a small apartment with poor ventilation. A spin off from the polymer clay was to begin working in Precious Metal Clay. This was obsession-at-first-class. I have become a level two certified instructor, and I love to teach as well as make unique jewelry with PMC. I still make jewelry and small accessory type objects using the polymer clay, and I do combine the two for a unique style.
I recently took a wire wrapping class, strictly to improve my wire skills. At the time I did not plan on adding wire wrapping to my repertoire, but it looks as if I have. I also have inherited a huge amount of vintage buttons, and yes they are making a way into what I do. My jewelry can be found at http://www.zoeowyn.etsy.com.
This year, 2008, I have returned to drawing and am working on a collection of under sea pictures. I am also taking my "mini sculptures" and actually doing just that, making mini sculptures, not necessarily for wear.

Three art books Im starting this year with.

Three books I am starting 2008 with.
I have been perusing these books at Michael's and BAM off and on for months now. I was happy to find them in my library's system.

Book One:


Secrets of Rusty Things by Michael de Meng, published by North Light Books.
De Meng is a sculptural collage artist living somewhere off in Montana. His creations that are featured in this book look like ancient artifacts of personal shrines. He shares some techniques on how certain effects are created. Its not a step-by-step per say, but it is basically a "how-to," ok more of a "how'd you go about doing this." Stylistically the book is designed to look like an artistic sketch/notebook.
His over all style is appealing to me. I recently became interested in creating Milagros art, and taking my mini sculptures into the realm of shrines, and I already like the style of creating art as artifacts.

His website is www.michaeldemeng.com, and it has lots of his cool images

Book Two:

Pretty Little Things by Sally Jean Alexander, also published by North Light Books.
Ok I want to go learn how to solder now. The lady makes sparkly little glass based thinguses (a technical term) that are soldered together using shiny silver solder. This book is laid out more as a "step-by-step" and "how-to." Her work is very cool, but I don't need another hobby. I don’t need to add these skills to my repertoire just yet. (Repeat I don’t need to add soldering skills or supplies) Her work is inspiring, even though I don’t do anything even near what she does.

www.sallyjean.com. goodies and visuals abound, as well as shopping opportunities.


Book Three:


Altered Books Workshop by Bev Brazelton, also published by North Light Books.
This book has the same set-up, not quite a full "step-by-step" book, but definitely a directions based book. This book takes you through various collage techniques and how they apply to altered books. This book, of the three, actually covers information I already utilize in my art occasionally. Still it doesn’t mean I didn’t read the book thinking "why didn’t I think of this first?" And, realistically it does incorporate items I may actually get around to using. The author has a few samples that are very much book shrines. It really sparked the concept of taking my shrines into books.

www.bevbrazelton.com another well desinged website, not so content heavy as the other ones, but still has the information you might want.


All three boooks provide ample food for thought, and are fun to look at as well. MY problem with purchasing books like this is I look at them, think they are cool, put them away for a while and then wonder why did I purchase these? I'm glad I have to opportunity to check them out of the library. The real test for me is if I keep checking them out, then I will go purchase the book. (I have done that many times with polymer clay books.) In the mean time, I'm enjoying these books.

Book cover images borrowed from Amazon so you can see what they look like, Im gaining in no way by sharing these with you.