Leftover trash = treasure art!

Almost every day I look at the magazines and pinterest postings full of beautiful creations and wonder how someone thought to make those things. It often leaves me feeling inadequate and wishing I had the gift of ‘vision’ myself. Once I’ve seen an item I can make it. But create something totally different out of a bunch of stuff? Not me!

SO a couple weeks ago, during my manic gardening and garage cleaning episode, I stacked up a pile of unused pots and had a thought. Although this is nothing new, it was a fun exercise for me. These pots were mostly the same color and just called to be flipped and glued and made into a totem. After I spray painted the bottom terra cotta pot to match the others and found a ceramic bird on clearance, I had created a sweet addition to my garden! IMG_0705

It was totally out of my usual range of artwork, but it was fun and freeing. There is something to be said for following a different path to see what will come of it. My creation isn’t ‘new’ or especially creative, but it put to use some items that would have just returned to a shelf to gather more dust. I don’t know that I feel any more adequate as a crafts designer, but these days we need to take our joys where we find them!

Have you turned some trash into treasure lately?

 

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Creative Classes!

Bronze Toggle Treasure Class

Bronze Toggle Treasure Class June 1

 

Do you need something different to do? Spring hasn’t quite sprung you out of the winter doldrums? Do you want to be creative, but don’t know how? Just itching to make something?

Take a Class!!!

It’s a funny thing, but when you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, taking a class to learn something entirely different from your daily routine can make a difference. It helps your brain to chill for a while. And making something with your very own hands lifts your spirits.

There are lots of ways to take classes these days. Online courses abound. Video instruction is as close as your library or bookstore. Schools and centers in cities offer all kinds of interesting things on a regular schedule. But don’t hesitate to look for some short and simple classes in your own neighborhood.

If you haven’t’ yet checked into my local store – BeadStash – then now is the time to click on over and check out the list of classes. Among the selection of beading classes, I’ve got some scheduled in metals and wire and even one in bronze clay! Here’s the list:

My class this saturday – Jumpring Jumble – is filled again! (This is the second time I’m teaching this one!) But the others were just posted, so it pays to register early! If you are in the Dayton area, why not come take a class with us and scratch that creative itch!

 

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Run Away and Play!

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My batch of Bash beads!

 EVERYBODY NEEDS  to run away from their everyday life.  At least once a year you need some play time. Even if just for 3-4 days. Vacations don’t count – they’re different. Though it has been well over a month since my last “run away” the creative glow still lingers within me today. (Luckily, I have another planned for June.)

There is nothing like getting away with 50+ creative people who share techniques, new ideas and inspiration and PLAY with CLAY. Everyone is a master at something and the air is just alive with creative energy. It doesn’t matter what you don’t know, someone else will share their knowledge with you. There is all day – and night – to make whatever you choose to explore. It doesn’t matter who you sit next to or across from, everyone encourages you. It may just be the dynamics of this group, but I have to say it is the best retreat in the USA!

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My first creation – a hinged Box!

Of all the conferences and retreats I’ve been to, The Buckeye Bash is the best!  This year was the 10th anniversary and 5 of their past guest artists – such notables as Marie Segal, Leslie Blackford, Jean Compton, Marla Frankenberg, and Sue Kelsy – came to share their techniques and ideas with us. The two polymer clay guilds who sponsor this event, The Columbus Polymer Clay Guild and the Dayton Polymer Clay Guild, both have members who are masters in their own right. So there is a continual exchange of potentiality bouncing along from table to table. I’m happy that I was in the right place for some of it to slam into me!

This was my second year in attendance and I have to say that the first year I was such a newbie! I gawked at all the activity and sat frozen not knowing what to tackle. This year however, I packed in my carts (yes multiple carts with 5+drawers) and boxes of clay and tools with the rest of them and really made good use of my time. I had to polish a few pieces when I returned home, but I was able to create some pretty neat things using what I learned from the demos. (See my photos!)

Two different techniques for bracelets. I want more!

Two different techniques for bracelets. I want more!

Yes, more than a month has passed, but the energy created still resonates. Those of us that are part of the two groups have bonded in ways that don’t happen with less casual affairs. You can bet I will be first to register next year.

And in the meantime, I can’t wait to get at the clay again and continue my exploration of some of these techniques and create my own riffs on them. Just maybe I’ll win the fabulous door prize drawing again!

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