My Neopolitan Necklace Featured in a Treasury!

Thank you so much, JConnor, for featuring my Neopolitan necklace and earrings in your beautiful "Bursts of Brightness" Treasury currently running on Etsy. Y'all please visit it and if you like my necklace, give it some love by clicking and commenting.



What a way to end the year!

PCAGOE January Challenge - Vote to Win!

Here it is, the mosaic for the January challenge! Aren't the entries fantastic? Pick your favorite and vote for it at pcagoe.com and you could win one of several beautiful polymer clay prizes!

Please click the mosaic to see a larger photo of the entries!





















The artists participating this month are:

#1 teric55
#2 beetreebyme
#3 walldancers
#4 peculiarforest
#5 mistymountainrain4
#6 polymerclaycreations
#7 puppykissportraits
#8 naamaza
#9 juliespace
#10 jewelzodonnell
#11 irismishly
#12 Susanne Dingendorf
#13 ljeans
#14 VAharoni
#15 creationsbyyami
#16 tejaesart
#17 scdiva
#18 cocojaneandme
#19 naturevisions
#20 thecolorofdreams
#21 milicabubanja
#22 organicodysseys
#23 divadea

Congratulations to TheCraftyPineapple!

Well, our scavenger hunt is over, and the winner of my $25 Gift Certificate is thecraftypineapple! Congratulations, Katelyn! I can't wait to see what item you choose.

Thanks again to everyone who played our game and entered our drawing. I had 35 entries in my shops, and I had great fun talking to all of you. I appreciate all the nice compliments about my work and hope you'll all come back and visit me. I hope we do this again next year, too. It was great fun!

Lynda

A Treasury For the Scavenger Hunt

Our PCAGOE Scavenger Hunt is in full swing! To find out what prizes are being offered by each shop, and to identify the images to look for in the hunt, please visit pcagoe, then visit the shops (links listed below in the Scavenger Hunt Announcement) and look for one of the images hidden among the participating shops' listings! Each shop owner is giving a different prize! My prize is a $25 Diva Designs Gift Certificate, good in either of my shops (Only one prize will be awarded for both shops.)

Please visit the Treasury, click on each item and leave a comment for us!

Have Fun, and Good Hunting!

I've Been Featured on NowPublic.com!

My handblended Christmas Harvest Jar Potpourri is featured in a segment on NowPublic.com on handmade ornaments and scents! Thanks Josie Mitchell for noticing my photo!

Etsy Treasury Featuring My Tribal Lore Necklace

Thank you, Milica Bubanja for featuring so many PCAGOE members in your newest Etsy Treasury, including my Tribal Lore 1 Necklace and Earrings Set!

Join in our PCAGOE Scavenger Hunt!

See the cute little elfin miss in the upper right hand corner of my blog? She could win you a $25 Gift Certificate which can be redeemed in either of my shops, scdiva.etsy.com or pcdiva.etsy.com! (One GC only will be offered.)

The members of PCAGOE, the Polymer Clay Artist Guild of Etsy, are sponsoring a Christmas Scavenger Hunt. Beginning today, December 10, 2008 and continuing until midnight e.s.t. of December 21, 2008, visit either of my shops (or both to be entered twice!) and find the Elfin Miss hidden among my items. I have hidden one image of her in each of my shops. When you find her, convo me through Etsy and give me either the URL of the listing where she is hidden, or the Transaction Number for the Item.

That's it! You must be a registered Etsy user to qualify, so if you have not already registered, please take a moment to do so, and you can join in our fun! Registering is fast and easy.

On December 22, 2008, I will draw a winner at random using a random generator. I will notify the winner by return convo and issue you a Gift Certificate Code Number, which must be redeemed by December 31, 2008 and is not valid in conjunction with any other promotion or sale I am offering. I will also post the winner's name here on my blog.

Here is a list of the other member shops participating in the hunt. Every member is offering a different prize! And be sure to check our team website for a complete list of participating shops!

tejaesart
divadea
lynnslittlecreations
organicodysseys
VAharoni
chicki
marciapalmer
juliespace
angeli

Finding Inspiration In Everyday Things

I may be the only person who can find inspiration in squash. Sad, but true. I am always on the lookout for inspiration, and often find it in the Produce section. The lumpy little knotty warts on a striped bumpy squash makes me giddy. Nature is a treasure trove of color and texture, and whether it's a walk in the woods or down the grocery store aisles, I usually see something I want to try and duplicate in clay.

I bought some really beautiful chickory and bok choi, and the veins and shapes lines inspired me to try and duplicate the colors, which worked to a certain extent. I was really pleased with these pendants.

Mahogany is my now my new favorite color. I love this step pendant. It has the aubergine/mahogany shades of the chickory and the creamy green of the bok choi.


...now where did I put that bumpy squash?

Etsy Finds...Fillin' That Shopping List!

I am so relieved. I have almost finished my Christmas shopping. I was hoping to do it all at Etsy this year. I made a good dent! Nephew Craig wants an XBox 360 game, whatever that is, so I'll slip over to amazon.com for that, but the majority of "stocking stuffer" stuff is done!

My nephew, Andrew, will love this sterling silver guitar pick engraved with his initials by The Vintage Chain. The leather mini journal is for my sister-in-law, Xan. My mother will go crazy over the Clemson personalized tote. I may have to wrassle that one away from her. The upcycled leather cowboy boot purse is for my sister, Tara (I have GOT to have one!) It was made by PursenBoots. I put her on my favorites list, so y'all don't buy her out before I get mine!

The dachshund is adorable. The one pictured is a Christmas tree ornament, but I bought a felt pillow in a larger size for my niece, Kaitlyn. It arrived yesterday. Kaitlyn has a dachshund named Hunter who is like another child in the family. The pillow was made by Cuore, and I couldn't be more pleased. The workmanship is fabulous. I can't wait for Kaitlyn to see it.

Turning The Spotlight On My Friend Linda Riopel

I thought I'd turn the spotlight on my friend and fellow PCAGOE member, Linda Riopel this week. Linda is my mentor in all things Polymer Clay. She inspires me and is always encouraging me to try new ideas and techniques. I love talking to her. She's a really gifted artist and teacher. I have learned more from Linda than I have from any book or video. She's the real deal, too, an unsung leader in our PCAGOE group. She goes out of her way to research questions, look up tutorials and offer tips and advice to all of us. I tell her she's the best, and I REALLY mean it!

Linda's work is instantly recognizable. She is known for her image transfer work, her beautiful polymer clay canework buttons, and her mokume gane hearts. I love the backgrounds she uses for her image transfer pieces. She recently shipped 100 necklaces (100!) to a friend to sell, and I seriously considered going to NY and hijacking the shipment. I am lucky enough to have one of her image transfer pendants, and I wear it often. I always get wonderful compliments on it!





Linda's store at Etsy is nkdesigns. She also has a blog here at blogspot.







Here are a few of her listings at Etsy:

Holtsville Pendant and Beads











Calla Polymer Clay Buttons

Congratulations Valerie Aharoni!

My fellow PCAGOE guild member, Valerie Aharoni, won the Best in Show Grand Prize in the Bead Star contest chosen by viewers at Beading Daily.com, and First Place Winner in the Seed Bead Division of Fire Mountain's Beading Contest! You can see Valerie's winning design and order component beads to make a similar design yourself from her Etsy shop, vaharoni, or you can purchase a similar necklace, like this one!

The grand prize winning design is on the cover of the inaugural issue of Bead Star, the Fire Mountain winning entry is featured on the back cover in Fire Mountain's ad, and there is a lovely article about Valerie inside!

I'm so proud! Way to go, Valerie! Simply stunning design, and I recognize that global bead on tha back, your Dec. challenge entry, too! I'm off to re-read everything again. CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations To The Winners!

The votes are in, and Lilin's beautiful Winter Dragon won 1st place in the PCAGOE December challenge. Starless' amazing filigree ornament won 2nd, and Peggers' delightful Polar Bears Fishing won 3rd. Congratulations, ladies! Fabulous work!

Lilin's Winter Dragon










Starless' Intricate Filigree Ornament







Peggers' whimsical Polar Bears Fishing

PCAGOE DECEMBER CHALLENGE IS LIVE!

Vote for your favorite entry in the Polymer Clay Artist Guild of Etsy December challenge, the theme of which is "Winter". Several lucky voters will win some fabulous polymer clay prizes, including the 1st place prize, a Christmas Necklace and Earrings Set designed by me exclusively for the challenge! Go to www.pcagoe.com and vote between Dec. 1 and midnight of Dec. 3 for your favorite entry! (My entry is #3, the Winter Wonderland Postcard Ornament!)

My Image Transfers Featured on Squidoo Lens!

How cool is that? These art nouveau pendants I made for a recent Thursday Clay and Play are featured by Gretchen, a/k/a Heartaday, on her Squidoo Lens website. I'm thrilled, thanks so much, Gretchen!

Lynda's Christmas Workshop Is In Full Swing!

No shopping for me this weekend. I am working, sans elves, in my little workshop, creating more Christmas ornaments and holiday themed jewelry pieces for my shops.

I've been working to improve my image transfer pieces. I found some beautiful, vintage Christmas card and advertising designs on a Dover Publications CD, and I collect vintage gift wrap, another good source of inspiration. Here are my latest creations. "Good Cheer" got a big thumbs up from the family, and I think "Wake Up, It's Christmas!" is adorable. What do you think?

The images were saved as TIFF files and then edited in photoshop. I've found the best results come from the image being darkened and the colors more saturated than the original versions, although you have to be careful when manipulating red. It will bleed through white clay in a heartbeat.



These were a bit trickier. The original images are in black and white, and I wanted a red and green silhouette. It took awhile, but I finally got it right.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I love Thanksgiving. It has been my favorite holiday since I was 10 and found out there wasn't a Santa Claus. We learned in school of course that we might not be here if it weren't for the Pilgrims, but that took on a very personal meaning for me when I started doing genealogy research 30 years ago and learned I am a descendant of four of the Mayflower passengers: Isaac Allerton, his wife and daughter, both named Mary, and Richard Warren. Daughter Mary married Thomas Cushman and one of their descendants made his way to the Barnwell District of South Carolina about 1780, and a few generations later, here I am.

I resisted the pull of genealogy research for many years. My paternal grandparents tried to convince me, while I was in high school, to write down our family stories and to go with them to visit cemeteries and dusty, musty old records depositories. Of course, at 13, I couldn't be bothered, and now they are gone and I would give anything to have them back so I could sit at their feet and listen again. So, I urge you to talk to your older family members, learn your history, as much as you can from then, and then start your own journey in genealogical research.

Tomorrow, while I am chowing down on turkey and cornbread dressing and all the fixins' that make a Southern Thanksgiving meal not to be missed, I will remember and honor my Mayflower ancestors, and the sacrifices they made to leave their home in 1620 for a wild new world.

Black Friday-Cyber Monday 50% Off Sale!

If you purchase 4 or more items from either of my Etsy shops, SCDiva.etsy.com or PCDiva.etsy.com between midnight e.s.t. November 28 and midnight e.s.t. December 1, 2008, your discount will be 50%! This offer does not include items already marked down or gift certificates. Standard shipping rates will apply.

If you purchase 4 brooches regularly priced at $20 each, you pay $40 instead of $80! If you purchase 4 necklaces regularly priced at $50 each, you pay $100 instead of $200! You may also combine different items, 2 brooches and 2 necklaces, or 3 brooches and 1 necklace, or 3 necklaces and 1 brooch, ANY combo of 4 pieces from the regularly priced items will get you the discount.

This offer is good in either of my shops, but you may not combine items from both stores to get the discount. You must purchase 4 items or more from SCDiva.etsy.com or 4 items or more from PCDiva.etsy.com.

So, if you have some of my exclusive designs on your wish list, or if you are looking for a one-of-a-kind jewelry design for that special someone on your gift list, there will never be a better time to buy!

Regardless of whether you take advantage of the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale, I have many affordable gift options in both shops, and I'll be adding more this week, right up to midnight of Black Friday!

Here are a few items from my SCDiva shop:

Definitely Diva Southwestern Bling Necklace and Earrings Set
Regular Price $60.00








Earth & Sky Necklace and Earrings Set
Regular Price $85.00











Carved Olive Jade and Tiger Jasper Necklace
Regular Price $75.00







And here are a few items from my PCDiva shop:

Purrfectly Lovely Kitten Pendant
Regular Price: $15.00










Angels Sweetly Singing Pendant
Regular Price: $15.00











Two Little Angels Christmas Ornament
Regular Price: $15.00







Happy Shopping!

Lynda

Angels We Have Heard On High - Sweetly Singing

I am in full Christmas Mode (sorry Thankgsiving, but you're still my favorite holiday!) and I have been experimenting and creating Christmas ornaments over the past several weeks. PCAGOE members are swapping ornaments, and I had three to do for that project. I am very pleased with the way they turned out, and there is a lot of me and my personal taste in them. I hope the people who receive them like them, too.







I also made myself a Frosty. This fine fellow was created from Whipped Cream Studio by Sculpey clay to which I added a touch of Buttercream sculpey. Sounds yummy, doesn't it? I wanted him to look like a fat, little marshmallow and after an hour of sanding his little curves round, and he looks good enoughtto eat!



And, speaking of good enough to eat, among the items listed is my Christmas Kitchen Potpourri blend. I love making potpourri, and this Christmas Kitchen blend is one of my favorites. It is chock full of dried apple and orange slices, orange peel, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, nutmeg, apple pie spice, rosehips and is flavored with orange essential oil. It comes tied with a festive Christmas ribbon attached to a complimentary, handmade Cinnamon and Applesauce heart ornament.

This blend can be displayed in a bowl in the kitchen or simmered on the stovetop in a heavy saucepan or dutch oven. I highly recommend it be simmered. The aroma will float through your house and put anybody in the Christmas spirit! One bag contains 4 very generous cupsful. The ingredients are all natural, no artificial or dyed filler, and because they are natural, the aroma will last a long time.












I also have some great Christmas themed brooches in the shop, including these sweet, little Candy Cane and Christmas Waves brooches.

I have lots more items to add to my scdiva store and my pcdiva holiday shop, so be sure to visit often over the next week. Between November 28, 2008 (Black Friday) and December 2, 2008 (Cyber Monday), I am offering the wholesale price of 50% off list for anyone who purchased Four (4) or more REGULARLY PRICED items purchased in one, single transaction. This offer applies to both my shops. Items cannot be combined between shops. I'll be blogging more about this in the next week, so keep me bookmarked! Thanks so much!

Lynda

Friday Favorites November 21, 2008

I took a trip down memory lane on my weekly cruise through Etsy this week. I found some Mister Potato Head earrings and some ornaments that made me think of toys I received on Christmases past, which in turn got me thinking of other Christmas memories and traditions.

Ever year we got to pick out or make an ornament for the tree. Some years, it meant a trip to the Hallmark store, some years we would make something special, and some years we would hang ornaments given to us at school or church or a party. Of course my mother has saved every one, and it is a treat to see them on the tree every year and to recall how they got there.

So, waxing nostalgic had me searching for ornaments and things which reflect some of the toys I had or favorite ornaments. They just happen to all be made of Polymer Clay! Hmmm...wonder how that happened? These items are fantastic examples of the versatility of Polymer Clay, and I wanted to spotlight some of my fellow PCAGOE members and their sculptures. I envy this kind of talent. This is something way beyond my abilities. Aren't they awesome? There are some fantastic gift ideas in the collection, too.

Remember that beloved sock monkey? He's here! I just love SpiritMama's Sock Monkey ornaments. This one is meditating, but Waxela has several to choose from in her shop.

I have fallen in love with TheGlassPie's earrings. I remember begging for Mr. Potato head stuff one year. That was in the stone age of course, and by "stuff", I mean the plastic ears, nose, glasses, etc. Back then, you had to furnish your own potato! Yes, children, it is true, and decorating old Spud kept me and my brother and sister fascinated for hours. You kids today have it so good, you just don't know how good, because after a day or two, old PH got really smelly and icky. My Mother had a strict one potato per kid rule, although we couldn't help but sneak more. Is it any wonder our french fries all had holes in them? Hee Hee

Polyclarific's Dolly Needs Pie setting takes me back to my pre-teen years, my dollhouse and hours spent playing "family". I used to make my own dolly food, too. This is so special and gets me choked up just looking at it.

Hey, can somebody make me a PC Easy Bake Oven? Seriously? I would love to have one on my tree, but I can't sculpt worth doodly.

I remember trips to the Hallmark store, too, to commemmorate a special occasion, baby's first Christmas, newleyweds' first Christmas together. Lynnslittlecreations' 2008 Snowball Fight ornaments reminds me of that. I just love Lynn's work. She has an amazing imagination.

And how about birthstone guardian angels from polymer clay! Personalized and monogrammed items are cool, and these little angels from Kathys711 are so sweet and would make the perfect gift for the teenager on your list.

So, come on, check out these and more items from our talented PCAGOE artisans!

King Chicken
Dolly Needs Pie
Zen Monkey Meditating
Cheerleader Ornament
Father Christmas Bracelet
From The Tropics Birdy
2008 Snowball Fight Ornament
Mr. Potato Head Earrings
Birthstone Guardian Angel Ornaments
Your Dog As A Superhero
Frog and Flower Fairy Figurine
Bear Booty Photo Ornament

Friday Favorites November 14, 2008

I know I have mentioned before that my favorite color of blue is indigo. Not only is it the color in our state flag, it is just a gorgeous color, and I decided it would be my color of choice for this week's Friday Favorites.

Isn't batfineart's digitally enhanced photograph of pelicans, titled Birds of A Feather amazing? I absolutely love it!

I think my favorite item, however, is JenniferRydinDesigns's limited edition King Lear tile pendant, which features the art Elizabeth Schuch of immortallongings. It is a stunningly beautiful pendant.

Christmas In Paris

Don't I wish! The closest I will get is this "Christmas In Paris" Treasury I made today.

It features a handpainted Christmas Holly Ornament from one of my favorite Etsy artisans, Kirsten of ThePaintedPalmetto, a fellow South Carolinian, no less! You must visit her shop to see all her jaw-droppingly gorgeous, handpainted Christmas ornaments.

Friday Favorites November 7, 2008

I actually grabbed a Treasury slot and filled it with my Friday pics for this week and titled it "A Pink Grapefruit Sunrise", but it expired this morning.

I love these shades of pink, the salmon/coral/peach/blush tones which have a little more orange-red in them than baby pink. There are so many lovely things in this collection: The Fresh Blooms bracelet made by my friend Jacki from CityDetails, the gorgeous Deco Hollow Lentil polymer clay bead, made by my fellow PCAGOE team member Valarie from VAharoni; and the print "I Can See The Whole Farm From Here" from BucksCountyFrames

And, I love the innovative way Mudcakes displays her handmade buttons, don't you? Very cool!

The The Coral Frame by SecondLineFrames, was made with wood salvaged from Hurricane Katrina's damage, a simple but stunning message of survival and rebirth, it just makes me feel happy.

Congratulations, Beetreebyme!

Mary Elizabeth, a/k/a beetreebyme, won first place in the PCAGOE November challenge for her entry "Autumn Fairy". She's a little 3.5" beauty!



Peggers took 2nd place, ArtByLilin 3rd and IrisMishly 4th. Congratulations, ladies! Wonderful pieces!