The pattern is complete!

After more hard work than I realized it could possibly be, my pattern, Dance of the Japanese Lanterns, is now for sale on Etsy. 

I have added a link on the sidebar at the right of this page so you can get there easily. And here I am repeating it:

While it only shows five in stock, I will have more available.  Right now I am "testing the waters."   

If you are international (not USA) and would like to purchase a copy you may email me, or leave a message here asking me to email you.   But be sure if you ask me to email you, that I have your email address.  We can determine shipping costs and I can list one just for you. 

Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive while I have worked on this pattern.  You are the wind beneath my wings...oh watch out or I will start singing! ha ha.  I do appreciate you all.

A touch of gold

I thought for post #249 I would feature an item I have in my Etsy shop along with some information on the evolution of the piece.
This pendant is one I chose to call "A Touch of Gold" It is hand made of polymer clay. When I first started playing with polymer clay, I found that just rolling the clay in your hands is therapeutic. (or is that just me?) Anyway, I started making freeform beads. There are all types of molds, etc you can buy to work with polymer clay. For me that is NOT the artistic option. I prefer to shape things with my hands.
Having said that, the design on the piece is impressed from a carving. Don't get excited, I carved the piece myself from a rubber block. Thus I did shape it with my own hands. The design is original with me. I see some personal symbolism in it. I don't explain what I see in an abstract piece until the viewer has made a statement of what they see. So I won't be posting that here. I will say that it is a symbol of my belief system.

After shaping and imprinting the design on the pendant, I baked the clay to harden the polymer and retain the shape. After baking, I painted, with artist acrylics - not the cheap stuff- and let that dry. There is more than one application of paint and then it is sealed.

So that is the basics of how it was created, and here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Update on the winner and the "unchosen"

As you probably know, part of my giveaway involved picking the pendant of your choice. Leta picked the pendant on the left. So the "unchosen" one is now in my Etsy store.

In case you have forgotten, here is a picture of it.

The price is right and it would look lovely on you or your loved one.

((yes that was a shameless self-promotion!))

Adding to my Etsy Store

I have added a new journal to my Etsy store.
I made it just this morning.

You can go there and look. (I wish you would)

But I will post a picture here too. There are additional views on Etsy.



You might recognize that I took one of the blocks from this post And added to it to make the cover.