I can see the basement floor.

I feel bad about neglecting my blog. 

It's Heather's fault. If I left her alone in the basement she would get rid of everything, I can't let that happen, there is lots of good stuff down there.  I'm being good though, getting rid of most of it. Sometimes, after she leaves, I sneak down and rescue an item of two.  

I've been doing research on Etsy, so many talented folks on there!!  I love the "Altered Art" pieces and the "Repurposed" items.... and I learned about "French Flea Market", Country Cottage, "Shabby Chic" and "Romantic Victorian" decor... who knew? I got lots of that stuff, I just called it "Antiques & Collectibles".  So you can see why I had to rescue the white graniteware pieces, the old cookie cutters and the print tablecloths, right? 

 Tomorrow all the boxes we packed will go to the auction barn. We still have lots of paper items to go through but I should be able to return to claying, at least part time,  in a week or so.  I better, cause I have to get my coasters made for the up coming "coaster swap".   I finally came up with a design I like, now all I have to do is condition all that clay and get the coasters made. Easy peazy, right?

Last Sunday, the two granddaughters, Sarah and Amanda,  helped clear the basement by taking home two car loads of stuff.  Sarah took a set of china, a set of silverware, glassware in ruby red and green, a funky vase and other odds and ends. Amanda took a lamp, some glassware including a set of depression glass sherbets, a set of 40's glasses in a wooden holder, a pretty blue vase, a blue glass console bowl,  a yellow and white graniteware teakettle, some old books and a wooden crate.  

I was thrilled that they found so many things they could use.  

Little Lily found a few things she like too.  She was quite taken with this 20's style play cabinet 

and the matching drop leaf table. The table needs to be repainted but it's still nice and sturdy and fun to play with.   I've had the set for years, I used it in the shop and at shows to display children's glassware and china. 

Sarah also took this little school desk.  Isn't it cute?

When the weather cools down we will do the attic.

Antique Jewelry

Fritz watching tv. I have a small tv in my office, it sits on a little foot stool that is about 8" off the floor. It's the perfect height for Fritz to watch his favorite shows.  He likes animal shows, Big Cat Diary is his favorite and anything with domestic cats or dogs. Does your cat watch tv? My other cat, Corny, could care less, she'd rather go outside and hunt little critters, she killed another bunny. 

Click on the photos for a closer look.

 Here is some of the antique jewelry I found while clearing out the basement.  This first photo is single cufflinks that I've acquired over the years. Most were in old button boxes or tins. I've always thought I would find a use for them. Maybe I can figure out a way to use them with polymer clay. Any suggestions?

 Antique pins. The cameo can be worn as a pin or pendant.

 Mostly pins/brooches and a couple lockets.

 A couple tortoise shell brooches, tie clasps, hairwork watch chain & fob, bars pins and rings.

 Another watch chain and fob, slide chain, brooches, stick pins, earrings, and cuff links

 Cuff links,watch fobs, cameo pendant, cameo bracelet and a couple brooches.

 Lots of odds and ends. Mostly small bar pins, some mother of pearls pin, a heart locket and another watch fob.  I still have to sort the sterling and crystal pieces and take photos. I knew there was jewelry down there.... just not that much.

Yesterday I found more buttons. They need to be sorted and then listed on Etsy. I have a gazillon old books, I've been sorting them too. Most will go to the auction but I'm keeping some to list on Etsy.  And I have lots of advertising cook booklets. They have such fun illustrations and the recipes are good too... does anyone cook from scratch anymore? I do, but I'm old and have lots of time on my hands.

Now I am going to go take photos of buttons and books so I can list them in my antique shop on Etsy. My antique shop on Etsy is Swan Song Antiques . I'll let you know what else I find.

Mixed Media PC & Wire Necklaces & A Prize

My muse has been on vacation the last couple weeks, I'm blaming it on the heat.  It's  to hot to go outside. I force myself out for short periods of time to water and pull a few weeds... but  most of the time has been used on my basement clearing project. Daughter Heather is helping me and we are making real progress... I can actually see the floor in a couple areas.  I should have taken "before" photos but I was afraid someone would turn me in to the "Hoarders" tv show.  It's time consuming because I have to go through all the boxes and drawers. Most things will go to auction or in the trash but we've also found lots of cool stuff to use in "altered art" and some interesting items for steampunk,  I was pleasantly surprised to find a treasure trove of antique jewelry... I took photos and will show them to you tomorrow.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

In the mean time I did manage to finish a couple pieces that I started a while back. The first is a polymer clay pendant to which I added laced wire and tinted fresh water pearls. The back of the pendant has cutout stars  The chain is links of black and bronze wire in two sizes.

The second pendant is a vintage glass button embedded in layered copper clay.  The top layer has a stamped design with gold highlights and then embellished with amber wire swirls. All the rhinestone had fallen out of the black glass button so  I filled the holes with Kato liquid clay to which I added copper PearlEx and a little glitter. I used fine amber wireto crochet a tube that I secured to the side with liquid clay. The bail is made from copper wire and black glass beads. I finished the necklace with black rubber cord.  For some reason this pendant didn't photograph well, I tried several backgrounds, this was the best... oh well,.... it's more attractive in person. 

This delightful pendant is the prize I won for voting in this months PCAGOE's challenge. It was made by Lynda of Diva Designs on Etsy . You can visit her shop at   www.scdiva.etsy.com 

More Polymer Clay Steampunk

I am a creature of habit, I don't like change. The town fathers in our little hamlet have hired a new "Refuse Service Company" which has thrown everything into turmoil.  All the years we have lived here our trash  and recycle pickup day has been monday. Now trash is picked up on wednesday,  yard waste on tuesday and recyclables  on friday. I find this mind boggling, it has totally messed up my routine.  I might be able to adjust to one change... but three, this is just not right.

Sunday evening was the time I use to bag up all the trash and clean out the frig... get rid of all those baggies containing left over pizza, half a tomato, small hunks of meat, an ear of corn...all stuff I knew no one would eat but I couldn't bring myself to throw out until it sit in the frig for a week and grew fuzz. It also made room for the food I purchased on monday for the coming week.  Now I'm suppose to clean the frig on tuesday and grocery shop on wednesday, this is not going to be easy. 

The new schedule went into effect July 1st... I did manage to get the trash out for pickup on wednesday but missed the recycle pickup on friday which means I have a full recycle bin sitting on the back porch. This is sunday, I should be bagging trash, tossing baggies of fuzzy food and neatly organizing the recycle bin, you can get more in if its organized, but no, I'm sitting here twiddling my thumbs.  Like I said, I don't like change.

 Okay, done with the rant.... so here is the Steampunk I made this week.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

I used interference PearlEx to give it a little shine and then sealed with Kato liquid clay. It's embellished with watch parts, gold filled chain, glass beads and a little rickshaw pin.  I still need to made a chain to hang it on.

The colors on this one are a little strange but I kinda like it. Heather says it has a "sea life" look. 

 I used blue steel watch hands and a couple blue steel watch gears on this one. I couldn't get the watch hands to stay flat on the clay, the pointed ends kept popping up so I glued faceted crystal beads to cover them.

Polymer Clay Steampunkery

My version of Steampunk. 

Click on the photos for a closer look.

I made a Skinner blend sheet in soft pearly colors, stamped with one of my favorite texture sheets, added a little PearlEx and then decorated with watch parts and wire. I'm not to fond of the coiled wire on the second one, I may take it off and try something else. 

 This one is my favorite, I haven't decided if its a bug or an alien.

 And this of course is an mirror image elephant.  his trunk was inspired by creatures in CF's book. I added some vintage chain, watch gears and Swarovski rhinestones.  He is quite a handsome fellow.

 I liked doing these. I have ideas for more. 

Garden Woes & a New Polymer Clay Cane

As you can see my cane muse is on vacation. Not sure what I had in mind when I put this together.

 Here's some canes I made from it. I'll make tiles tomorrow.

You have to be a glutton for punishment to try and garden in this lousy part of the country. It's a constant battle against heat, humidity, storms, mosquitos and weeds. The hot weather arrived early this year, temp's in the upper 90's and high humidity so when the last couple days we had cooler weather, low 80's and fairly nice humidity, it was almost nice to sit outside and enjoy the flowers.  So what happens?.... the annual invasion of the Japanese beetle.  They are like locust they devour all the pretty blossoms.

This is one of my favorite garden pots. The purple and white flowers are called "Cup and Saucer". They are a double bell shape that kinda looks like a cup and saucer. What  fascinates me is both colors are growing on the same plant.  The beetles haven't attacked them yet, but I'm sure they will.

I can't remember the name of these, they are perennials and have been growing in this spot for several years.  This is what they looked like a couple days ago.

This is what they look like now.  Well not really, there are a few blooms and leaves left in this photo, by now they are completely striped to the stem.

This is one of my cone flowers... see the happy bumble bee? I haven't seen any honey bees this year but quite a few bumble bees. They just wander around on the flower and take a little pollen. 

Not beetles, they are chomping away on the petals and will soon be devouring the lilies.  The trumpet flowers on the gazebo are covered with them and I even found some on the petunias... which they usually leave alone. Needless to say I am not a happy camper.  Time for a Bloody Mary. 

Birthday Roses & A "Floating in Wire" Polymer Clay Pendant

Yesterday was my birthday. I had a wonderful day with good food, lovely gifts and best wishes from my online friends.

My teenage grandson got up early..like 6 Am early, went to my favorite bakery in a neighboring town and brought me mini pies and an assortment of danish to go with my morning coffee. 

Later in the day my daughter, Heather, brought me two new outfits and a birthday cake. Hubby helped me order a new camera (I'm using grandson Brandon's right now, my old one died) and a Dremel Stylus, both are due to arrive on the 29th. 

My sweet son sent me roses. Good thing I don't make my living arranging flowers. Fortunately roses are beautiful no matter how they are arranged.

And there is more to come, daughter Pathena (Moe calls her my "not Heather" daughter), my granddaughters and great granddaughter are coming over this weekend with more gifts. 

And my new Monafied pasta machine with motor arrived today.... how cool is that? I condition a couple batches of clay... it's a little scary, has anyone ever flattened a finger (or a cat), I'll probably be the first.... and I was surprised that it's so noisy. Is it suppose to sound like a table saw? Having said that I really like it. Conditioning goes much faster and is easier on my arm and wrist. I hope to get a cane or two made over the weekend.

I made another wire and bead pendant and "floated" a MG polymer clay chard in the center.  I'm experimenting with photo backgrounds.  Son Brad sent his dad a gift assortment of cheeses from IGourmet for Father's Day. It was packaged in a wooden box lined in straw...which I immediately glommed on to.  I thought it would make a cool background for photos.  The pendant gets a little lost in this photo

In this one I added a vintage light blue nylon hanky over the straw. I like the results, the pendant shows up really well.  I have more ideas on how to use the straw filled box so I'm sure you will be seeing it again. 

Click on the photos for a closer look.