January Artisan Clay Design Team Reveal!

Today is the day where the Artisan Clay Design team reveals what they have made with the mystery beads which I have sent them!

I can't wait to see what everyone has made.  I sent each designer a different kind of bead, so we should be treated to some very different styles of jewelry.

I took the day off from work today to have an Artisan Clay/Mental Health day and I am really excited about that.... The kids are headed to school in an hour and then I get to be alone.... well not entirely alone, because I live with other people, but more alone than I've been in a long time.

The big plan is
1) kids to school
2) find the sun on this rainy day and get my design team projects photographed and posted.
3) pick up my jewelry and pottery from a store that will no longer be selling it
4) go to a wholesale button appointment
5) find a better shop to sell my jewelry while still visiting the same town

So---- I will blog again once I get good photos of my project, but for the meantime, please visit the design team's blogs and see what they have created.

----UPDATE time--
I looked everywhere for my tripod and I have decided myself an expert tidy-upper... because it is so tucked away in such a perfect spot that it has made itself invisible to me.

So-- here is what I made this month.

It's not a new design for me, but it is new work and I really needed to break back in with some production type making time.... and I have been itching to get out and contact new stores to carry my work and this is what I want someone to carry. 

These necklaces are so fun to wear and I have made quite a few for friends/customers in the past few years.... and they have been loved, really really loved.  It is just a really simple natural style that suits my breezy spirit and seems to suit quite a few other natural breezy spirits too.

Now I'm off into the world-- new necklaces and buttons in hand and adventuring into the shopping district.  Wish me luck!

Don't forget to check out everyone in the design team's blogs.

This month Staci is auctioning off her necklace to help out a friend who is going through a tough time.  SO!  Check it out!

Thanks for coming!

It's Back!!! Artisan Clay Design team.....The beads

Happy New Year!
I hope 2011 was good to you!   Here's to an even better 2012!
These little treats are being mailed out to the Artisan Clay Design team today.....  no one knows which piece they are getting.... and I still didn't pick one for myself.

Stop back on the last Friday of the month to see what everyone comes up with!

And the winner is...................

Alice!!!!!!!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Fashion Show and those who hopped along!

Alice contact me at staci.louise@hotmail.com with your address so I can get your prize out to you:)



Artisan Clay Fall Fashion Show Blog Hop

by staci l. smith

It's time for the Artisan Clay Fall Fashion Show Blog Hop!!!!

In case you missed the last post about the design team this month, here is what is going on- ILO a regular design team this month, we are doing a Fall Fashion Show of Artisan Clay Components in Jewelry.  The cool thing is, everyone can join in, even you!!!!
Just link up below, and make sure your blog is all about your Artisan Clay designs!

Make sure to visit all the blogs!  Because then you can stop back here and leave a comment (just one please) and let us know what your favorite design or component was.  You are then entered for a surprise giveaway~ I will be sharing one of my Artisan Clay components with one lucky winner.  Giveaway ends at the end of the day!

Like always, please make sure you leave an email or you have one linked to your blog to qualify.

Most of all~ have fun hopping!!!!!!!

New work, new studio

I was able to fire for the first time in the new space this weekend.  I fired tiles and I tried to get all the lingering custom orders finished.  Some of the orders lingered longer than I liked.  I am glad to get new work made and I am glad to get the space into working order.  We found an old door to use as a big counter and I found some high metal spinning stools for sale for $10 each down the street from the house.  The stools are the perfect height for the counters and have a nice adjustable back to them... and they spin!  Whoot!  That's a bonus.

tidy :-)

Along the back wall are more shelves made into counter space and my tiles molds and clay is all along the bottom shelf across the entire room.....I am so glad that my fellas helped me move all that clay!

My mom made that sculpture for me when I was pregnant with Lydia ;-)

I really like how the colors turned out on my tiles.  I love when I have multiples of the same tile in the studio.  I look forward to the day when I have a space to tile with my own handmade tiles.  For now, these will go to the Tile Gallery.... I live very close to the Moravian Tile works in Doylestown, PA

That's a town known for handmade tile.

Yeah.... I LOVE how they turn out!  I need to make more....

I made some beads too.... The long buttons are an order to be used on a cape.  Isn't that cool?  I love being able to work with other artists :-)

Most of my paintings are still at my old house, but I did find a few painted glass panels that I had started years ago around the garage to decorate the studio and make it feel more like home.

New donuts! 

And last but not least here is the finished glazed fairy sculpture that Sonya gave to my mom for her birthday...  She loves it! 

My new skirt/dress and Mom's quilt show

This skirt is one of the new sewing projects that I have been working on.  I made it during the recent hurricanes.  It can be worn a million different ways and I am in love with it.  It's a toy.  I will post more photos of it worn in different ways at some point I am sure.

I lost it in my move and searched incessantly for it for weeks until I finally found it just in time to wear to my Mom's Quilt Guild show. I was really inspired my the show and took a few photos of my pieces.

My daughters had quilts in the show :-)   I believe that the girls designed the blocks and set them out and my Mom did the quilting.

I like the edges on these stars.

My mom won a ribbon.

I like the black and white and red folk art designs on this quilt.

I have been noticing line work in folk art symbols lately :-)  I am a fan of the birds.

and the symmetry.

This one was my favorite....... the circles and the colors.. and the folk art lines....and the symmetry.....

September Design team reveal-- Better late than never

It's been a while, hasn't it?  My life is changing.....hopefully for the better.
I just moved.... and man!  my schedule is crazy.  I went from working at my day job 3 days a week to 5 and school starting and moving and yikes!  it is really a tricky time for me. 

This month the design team worked with buttons.  I had been sewing recently and I really wanted to work on a few things that were not jewelry.  I found this great beaded bag at the thrift store and I found a fun fabric/lace/feather flower at the farmer's market.  At first I tried a bronze button....  but it blended a bit to much for my taste.

So.... I took it apart and tried it with a large size turquoise button.

I like it much better. 

I hope to get back in the swing of things around blogland... and etsy.... but I know I shouldn't make any promises.  I miss you guys and I will soon share my days with you once again.  One day I plan to  add mixed lots of older style beads to the etsy shop at quite a deal..... because upon moving them, I realize what a hoarder I have become.