A Special Post to My Family and Yours

The fourth is about over. I am hearing the fireworks going off all over the city. It was a beautiful day, with sunny skies and temperatures in the 80's.

Then, the clouds rolled in and then rain came and stopped. Only to have large hail rain down for over 20 minutes. I could see it bouncing off of my car and hear it hitting the roof sounding like it was going to come right through the roof. My dogs were scared barking and pacing the room.

It stopped just as suddenly as it started. I went out and looked at my car. Should not have done that.  Yes, it is pretty bad, and the depression set in.

After crying in my soup (old expression) I thought about how it is just a car. It is not up side down or in a tree. My home is still whole with a roof.

My Grandson, Lt. Tyler Oliphant and many others are off risking their lives in a Afghanistan  Tyler got married one year ago. His wife is also serving and is in the Army stationed at Fort Campbell. As a married couple, they have had about a month living together. Oh, It is also his birthday.

And, I was crying over a few dents in a car!!!!

Happy Birthday Tyler. Happy Anniversary Tyler and Cathy. And Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary to all the many that are in far away lands and not celebrating with family.

And a very Happy Fourth of July to all. May we all remember to celebrate our independence each and every day.
Barb

Grogon Medusa has New Hair - Tillandsia caput-medusae

Once Upon a Very Long Time Ago - The Gorgon Medusa was a monstrous, yet mortal creature that had the power to turn anyone who looked at her into stone.

Medusa and two sisters of hers, Stheno and Evryale, were Gorgons, with frightful eyes, brass hands and living snakes on their head instead of hair. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal, however she was more powerful than her sisters.

caput-medusae

caput-medusae in bloom

A very popular Tillandsia is the caput-medusae. Its leaves curl in all directions and look like snakes swirling about in the air. It is an unusual and very unique. Given good light and water it will bloom and the leaves get a reddest blush when blooming. After the bloom comes its pups! And then there were two!
Of couse, after reading about the Gorgon Medusae, the ideas for clay containers just started crowding my brain! And here is the final results. You can find them onCreation-in-Clay.

Gorgon Medusa with caput-medusae

Just for Fun - shown in negative

 

 

 

The Tulsa Flea........Market

Welcome to all of you that I met and talked to yesterday at the Tulsa Flea market. Doing the flea market again after about 10 years was exciting and lots of fun. Having to do it alone, took a lot of thought and worry. But it worked out just fine. The two gentleman that were on either side of me were fun to talk to and watched my booth the two times I had to step away. (you can guess why!)

And of course I was thrilled at the response to the Tillandsias (airplants). Wish there had been a little more interest in my clay works, but oh well, maybe next time.

This week will be busy with adding more airplants and more clay containers.

 Please visit my booth Saturday June 22 in booth 87. For those of you that were there last Sat. that is the same spot. Look for the purple table coverings.

More in a day or two.

Have a Great Sunday,
Barb
http:creation-in-clay.artfire.com
barb1839@ymail.com

My New Venture - Tillandsias commonly called AirPlants

  I have been so busy this past month, planning, buying, and working on my new venture.

 Do you like Tillandsias, commonly called AirPlants?  When ever  I could find them I would always buy a couple. These little plants are irresistible! They are easy to care. You can kill them, but it is hard.

They are a perfect match for clay things. Here are a few pictures of some. I am in the process of putting them on my Artfire studio and will be putting interesting tidbits on this blog.

This last one is the icing on the cake!! Called xerographica, it is very large and very different from most other Tillandsia, in its size and shape of leaves.

Polymer Clay Teapot with Squiggles and Dots

Around Christmas time, my daughter-in-law brought me a plain white teapot and said: "Do something with it." It sat around until last month, when I decided to use lots of color and with clay ropes. 

I had been looking for a table vice to use on my dining room table which doubles as my work bench. I needed one that would clamp to the edge. Thinking that there surely was such a thing, I looked and could not find. My son and family gave me one for Christmas. Just exactly what I needed.

What was it for you ask? I had bought a very good extruder, but even it was hard to hold with the left hand while I turned the crank with my right. Clay is not easy to press through a tiny hole!

Ok, I will get to the point! This teapot is entirely made with ropes made with the extruder. Even the round dots. to make them, I laid a clay rope straight and cut in equal portions. Then I made even size balls and pushed them onto the teapot.

No place on the pot is the same as the opposite spot, as you can see.

(I wish I could figure out how to move the pictures in the order I want. I am use to being able to move pictures anywhere on the page, but with blogger I have not figured it out!!)

The reason the handle, spout and cap are left without any clay, is because I wanted this teapot to be used for tea! 

This is what I call "Clay being useful". 

Have a great day!

Barb

You really need to visit http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/Wyverndesigns  She has some very unique and delightful gift ideas.

She has also been helpful in promoting other artfire shops. Like Mine!! This is the very nice words she has written about my snowflake on her blog. http://wyverndesigns.blogspot.com

 Although winter is over, at least in most of the country, this pale blue Shimmering Star Snowflake Ornament by Creation In Clay 
caught my eye for its intricacy and beauty.

 

Thank you, Wyvern for all your help in the past and now this. 

More Wild Flowers to Make into Polymer Clay

   Finally! The weather has warmed and a couple of wild flowers have poked their heads through the grass. 

This one, I believe, is a wild morning glory.  I have watched the progression of this flower over

three days. First, it opens all white, then shades of light pink, then the third day, it ends up with a pink and white striped petal. I took these in the bright sun, so the pink just doesn't show up!

Study the flower. It is only 4 petals overlapping. Yellow center and small white stamens. Make this using a rose petal cutter. I use the Kemper tools. 

I have no idea what this little clump of seed pods are. They are similar to wild onion, but I don't believe this is what they are. If you know, kindly let all of us know in the comment section below. 

You can see, the stems are large and round. I could see no leaves. 

This pretty little flower is the common oxalis. A wild form of the four-leaf clover. So simple and yet so charming. 

Make a few of all these flowers when you are in between projects. Or when your brain is on hold for good ideas. The Oxalis is always yellow, but that doesn't mean you can't make them all colors. Any of them would look so good in a fairy garden. After sculpting your beautiful fairy, she will need a nice garden. Go through your stash of flowers and add them. Instant garden!

As soon as I get through with the project I am on right now, it will be flower making time!

Have a great day!
Barb