PCAGOE September Challenge - Image Transfers!

Here are the gorgeous entries in our special September PCAGOE Image Transfer challenge! All the entries feature image transfers in the design. This month, we also have an outside sponsor, Corinna of Piddix, who creates and sells beautiful digital image collage sheets in her Etsy shop.

Corinna gave us 4 collage sheets from which the members could choose 1 to create their entries. It was very interesting seeing which collage sheet each member chose, too.

Corinna will also be providing the prizes to the winning entries and a special "Judges' Prize", a $25 gift certificate to her shop. Man, would I love to have $25 to spend there myself, but alas, I didn't enter because yours truly will be one of the judges of that prize, in addition to Linda Riopel of NKDesigns and Corinna. Because image transfers are our specialty, Linda and I decided not to enter this month. I think it is actually going to be much more difficult to judge! There are some amazing entries this month.



1) BeeTreeByMe
2) 11BoldStreet
3) RiverValleyDesign
4) DebbieCrothers
5) YonatDascalu
6) WiredOrchid
7) MarciaPalmer
8) CraftsbyCAG
9) MichellesClay
10) JKollmann
11) SpiritMama
12) ClayCenter
13) PatiBannister
14) ElementalDragons
15) ArrowdaleArtStudio
16) PolymerClayCreations
17) LaurelSteven
18) BlessedBeadJewelry
19) ClayCass
20) TinFoilHalo

5 lucky voters chosen at random will also receive one of these beautiful polymer clay items created by our talented member artists, so cast your vote for your top 3 favorites at www.pcagoechallenge.blogspot.com between September 1 and September 7, 2010.

Thanks for supporting the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy with your votes and comments, too!

Etsy Front Page! Woo Hoo!

SnowInJune's "Fall Fiesta" treasury featuring my Double-Sided Cayenne Red and Burnt Orange Square Focal Beads made it to big time last night, the front page at Etsy, where all Treasuries aspire to go! Woo Hoo! I haven't been on the Front Page in almost a year, and I was beginning to think I would never get there again. Thanks again to Snow for the feature, and to my friend and fellow PCAGOE member Michelle of IRCrafty for letting me know about it!

Treasury Features This Week - Thank You!

I am apparently not the only one eagerly anticipating Autumn. SnowinJune(LOVE that name) also has a hankering for coolor weather and those glorious turning leaves. She created this "Fall Fiesta" Treasury today and included my Double-Sided Cayenne Red and Burnt Orange Focal Beads.



My friend and fellow PCAGOE member Lisa of HiGirls included my Pair of Faux Amber Ancient Hieroglyphics Tower Focal Beads in her stunning Egyptian-themed Treasury, entitled "Cleopatra's Closet." How cool is that name, too? Love it!

That's Lisa's bangle bracelet next to my beads, which is her entry in this month's PCAGOE challenge, too! Have you voted yet? Time's a wastin'. The deadline to vote is midnight Eastern U.S. time tomorrow night.



I am a sucker for hot air balloons. I have a whole collection of vintage advertising art featuring them, so I was thrilled to be included in JonathanRiley's fabulous "Flights of Fancy" Treasury this week. My Vintage French Ephemera Hot Air Balloon Pendant is featured. Jonathan is a photographer and you have to check out his Asian Peace Lantern photo. It's awesome!



Another of my favorites things, which I use a lot in my work, are gingko leaves. However you spell it, gingko, ginkgo, ginko... they are delicate and beautiful. I love this treasury by MimsiesWhimsies, it's all about the "Ginko Leaves"; and it's a thrill having my Faux Antique Brass Gingko Leaf Focal Beads included in such a lovely treasury. Several items in it are going on my Christmas Wish List... the "get" one, not the "give" one. LOL



Another great treasury by a friend and fellow PCAGOE member is this "All That Glitters" treasury created by Deb of RenGalSA for the August PCAGOE challenge, the theme of which is "Paints, Foils, Leafs and Inks." My entry is not for sale this month, so Deb included my Faux Antique Brass Geisha Buttons, which sold the same day the Treasury debuted!

Deb's entry in the challenge is that kickin' Rock and Roll Bangle Bracelet in the top row, too. Check it out!



Another Fall-themed treasury is this gorgeous one by Jacki of CityDetails. I've known Jacki through Etsy for a couple of years, and was thrilled to find another South Carolina gal there. Jacki is a very talented jewelry designer. I hope you'll check out her shop. She included my Copper Capped Celedon Green Totem Beads in her latest treasury, "Etsy Addictions."



Thank you, everyone! I appreciate your generosity in including me in your beautiful treasuries!

I Am a Polymerista of the Month at Voila!... And That's Me Up There in the Permanent Banner, Too!

This has been a fantastic week for me at Voila!

Christine Dumont, polymer artist extraordinare, and the creator of Voila!, emailed me last week and asked me if I would like to be added to the permanent banner at the Voila! website. I could not answer fast enough. I was afraid she would change her mind before I could get her the photos.

I absolutely love Voila!, a European-based community website open to polymer clay artists worldwide. Christine created it to be a source of inspiration for artists working in the medium of polymer clay, to help us take our work to a higher level. It features the best tutorials, fantastic photos of incredible polymer art, and a forum for discussion (including a newly created critiquing section). As stated on the website, Christine's goal for Voila! was to have a place which would clearly explain how things like line, form and color affect us emotionally so that we can express our artistic vision and appreciate the work of others.

I joined Voila! several months ago and spend a good part of my lunch hour every day just drooling over the new photos and stunning work of many of my favorite Polymer Artists. The talent displayed there is astonishing. If you can't find inspiration there, you better check your pulse, because you're probably dead.





And, if having my work featured in the permanent banner wasn't enough, this month, Christine and her guest judge, Bettina Welker, a former PCAGOE member and very well known polymer artist and author in her own right, chose me as the Polymerista of the month for August in the Proficient Category for my Olive Geisha Necklace! I am thrilled, and honored, considering the talent on display at Voila! It is truly amazing to be named. I will be hanging out again on Cloud 9 for a long time.

Christine, you have become a wonderful friend and mentor, and I appreciate your encouragement and support, more than I could possibly express to you. If not for you, I would never have had the courage to enter the International Polymer Clay Association's 2010 Progress and Possibilities, a journey that was an epiphany to me in so many ways, especially regarding the direction I want to take in the medium of Polymer Clay.

Bettina, I've admired your work for several years, since we were both members of the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy and I got to know your amazing work. It means a lot to me that you think so highly of my work.

Thank you both so much!

PCAGOE August Challenge - Paints, Foils, Leafs and Inks

The Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy's August challenge theme is "Paints, Foils, Leafs and Inks." We had to use at least one of these elements in our entries. 21 members took the challenge, and the entries really show the versatility of polymer clay and the diversity of our members.

Vote for your top 3 favorites at www.pcagoechallenge.blogspot.com between August 1 and August 7, 2010 and you could win a beautiful polymer clay prize handcreated by one of our many talented artist members!

Here are the entries:



1) Big Bites Pendant by BeeTreeByMe
2) Brooch B9026 by JanGeisen
3) Copper and Aqua Gingko Leaves Pendant by SCDiva
4) Fairy Floss Bracelet by OneandOnly
5) Small Dish by ThePleasantPheasant
6) Brown Flower by DebbieCrothers
7) Under the Deep Blue by ArrowdaleArtStudio
8) Roe Doubt by ZoeOwyn
9) Gold Leaf Bangle by HiGirls
10) Rose Copper Silver Enameled Pendant No. 105 by 11BoldStreet
11) Blue Sky Bead by LauraBeeStudios
12) Colorful Water Swirls Necklace by PolymerClayCreations
13) Foil and Ink Polymer Clay Pendant by MirameCreations
14) Rocky Path Tutorial Pendant by RiverValleyDesign
15) Stained by IansCafe
16) Fiery Beads by LaurelSteven
17) Inspire Mosaic Pendant by MarciaPalmer
18) Elabradorite Hydra Choker by TheSageArts
19) Wheels Within Wheels by BlessedBeadJewelry
20) Butterflies in Flight by AshPaints
21) Rock ‘n Roll Bangle by RenGalSA

Treasury Features For the Week - Thank You!

Catching up on the treasuries I've been featured in in the past week. If you follow my blog, you already know I like to blog them and link to the curator's shop to thank them for including me.

The generosity of people always amazes me, especially in this day and age. I knew a few of these lovely people, a couple are fellow PCAGOE members, one is even a customer of mine (thank you, Brandy!), but for the most part, they are strangers who just like my work. They don't have to include me, there are so many other people they could have included, so this is me doing my part to promote them like they've helped promote me. It is NOT bragging, as someone recently insinuated.



Kristen of RecycleJewels' soothing sea green treasury titled "All About The Artisans" features some of my favorite Etsy items. How did she know? I love this treasury so much, and am honored to be included among such talented artists!



Brandy of LooseTooth first noticed my chartreuse beads in my flickr photostream. We talked, and she ended up purchasing a set, and created this beautiful "Putting Chartreuse to Use" treasury at Etsy. You have to visit Brandy's flickr photostream, she is the Queen of Green, Chartreuse green, that is!



ChristmasGal put together this wonderful treasury which she calls "Colors Of The Rainbow In All Of My Favorite Things!" Isn't this a great compilation of color? Very pleasing arrangement! I'm bringing my Christmas list to your shop this year, too!



MurderMitten (I would love to know how she got that name!) must have been in an aqua and pink mood when she created this funky Treasury, titled "Cotton Candy Dreams", another bright, colorful composition.



And speaking of on the mind, I believe my friend Nancy of BytheBead must have been thinking ahead to Autumn when she created her "Darker... Day by Day" Treasury. She filled it with rich, beautiful Fall colors. (These chartreause beads are really popular, I need to make more!)



InkyAndie's soothing, cool color palette really speaks to me. I love aqua and lime together, and this particular compilation, which she calls "Pond" is very pleasing to the eye. I wonder if it is coincidence that it reminds me of Monet's Water Lilies? What about it, Andie?



My fellow PCAGOE team member Lisa of HiGirls included me in her "My Faves" treasury today. One of Lisa's necklaces made it to the coveted Front Page at Etsy this week. Congratulations, Lisa! You go, girl!



Another PCAGOE member created treasury is this "Polymer Clay Inspired" treasury created by Ian of IansCafe, one of our newest members, but he's already one one of our monthly challenges, and I love his unique style!



PCAGOE member Kathy of ElPasoClayNation created this wonderful team treasury in Etsy's Main Treasury, titled "Drama" and boy, isn't that appropriate? It is a very intriguing, sensual, rich compilation of color and texture. Gorgeous!



And last, but certainly not least, is the fantastic team treasury created by fellow PCAGOE member Maria of OneandOnly's fantastic team treasury, "Polymer Delights." I can't beat the company in this treasury, either! PCAGOE MEMBERS ROCK!

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who included me in your treasury. I really appreciate it, and I can't tell you how much your encouragement and support mean to me. Thank you so much!