MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas.....and a Happy New Year!!!

I have a quiet Christmas Eve to reflect on all the joys we have experienced this year. With a new grandson born in August and another grandchild due very soon, we are so blessed with precious children to love. We get to experience the fun and joys of all ages from teen to newborn. I am so thankful for the Lord's provisions and many blessings He lavishes upon us. But most of all I am thankful that He so loved the world that he sent Jesus as a baby, to grow and live and be one of us, to give His life so we can be His. Amazing love, amazing grace.....

I pray that you may have a lovely and blessed time of sharing with friends and family.
blessings, ZudaGay

Flower Garden Brooches

I love these new brooches, and they give me something to blog about!! Yippeeeee!!! Well, show on my blog anyway. They look great on my wool blazers as well as on my jean jacket. So without any more words, here are a couple of pictures.





















Blessings, ZudaGay

7 Random Things

I have been trying to come up with something to write for what....two weeks now!!! My lovely BBEST friend Marion at Art Mixter tagged me to do the 7 random things meme and gave me a kick start on a post. I did a random meme before, so I will try to come up with different randomness than before......if I could only remember what random things I wrote about before. Here are the rules:

1. link to the person who tagged you: Marion 2. Post the rules. 3. List seven random things about yourself. (see below) 4. Tag seven random people 5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

If I can come up with seven people who haven't done this recently, I'll tag them.

Seven Random Things About Zuda Gay:
1. My favorite way to eat ice cream is to chop up Reece's Peanut Butter Cups and mix them into vanilla ice cream.

2. I love to listen to old standards and big band style music.

3. I make my own boxes for shipping out of any single walled box I can get my hands on.

4. A lady my Mama sewed for offered my Mama $100 for a painting I did in 4th grade that was hanging on the wall next to the sewing machine. Mama wouldn't sell it....I have no idea what happened to that painting.

5. When I was a child I picked the blossoms off of the apricot tree in the back yard, put them in my saucer sled and carried it around the neighborhood trying to sell them.

6. I was always trying to figure out a way to make some money....I have no idea why. I had everything I could possibly need or want.

7. The song SNOW from White Christmas is playing on the holiday music channel on TV reminds me that my favorite Christmas movie is White Christmas. I love it!!!!

Blessings, ZudaGay

And The Winner Is

Gibee from Kisses Of Sunshine!!!
Second runner up is:
Michelle from Thus Far With God!!!
And...third runner up is:
Elizabeth at A Humble Cup Of Lukewarm Tea!!!

Thank you to everyone who played along and signed my comments!!! It was great fun and I would love to do it again! So be looking sometime in the future for a give away for one of my Christmas ornaments.

blessings, ZudaGay

WELCOME TO MY FIRST BLOGGY GIVEAWAY!!!

I decided when I first heard that Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer was hosting a give away carnival I knew I wanted to participate. So here it is....ZudaGay's first bloggy giveaway!!!! I am giving away one of my lovely big flower pendants. This pendant features sculpted petals made from my own color mix of polymer clay on a matching base with a gorgeous vintage button in the center. It measures 2.5" across and has two wire bails near the top for hanging. I am including an adjustable double black cord but you can wear this pendant on a ribbon of your choice or if you do beading it would look amazing on a beaded necklace. To enter this drawing, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. I will then put all your names in a hat and have one of my grandkids draw out a winner and two runners up on November 4th. If your name is drawn, I will contact you for your mailing information. The two runners up will receive a surprise.

This is the give away pendant:




















I invite you to take a look at my Etsy shop.
Blessings, ZudaGay

I Heart You!!!

Hearts are a big thing on Etsy! I got so excited with each new heart the first few weeks my shop was open. I kept thinking....."They like me, they really like me!!!!" hehehe..... What is that from, anyway? After five months I am still thrilled with each new heart. I don't get quite as excited, but I am still a bit in awe that they like me. I always check out the shop or profile of the the new heart-er and their other favorites just to check out the company I am with. Getting hearts is fun!!!!

Making hearts is fun too! It seems like if I get a lump of clay in my hands with no idea of what I am going to make it becomes a flower or a heart. In the case of these hearts - both. I even do this when I'm playing with play-dough with my grandkids. Or I make a pinch pot....I don't know why I never make a pinch pot with polymer clay. Hummm, I will have to think that one over.

These hearts have all been sold over the course of the last five months. (and quite a few others as well) I think it is a paradox to sell my hearts to those who may have given me a heart.

HEARTS:










I just have to share the blog of a very sweet lady who has featured me. I am honored by her lovely and kind words. Take a moment to visit Carol at Ingeniously Creative. Thank you, Carol!!!

blessings, ZudaGay

Beads

A customer recently asked me if I would make some beads. What a novel idea!! I have made beads practically since I began this fascination with polymer clay. I've always made beads out of scraps of veneer that I made to cover things or Mokume Gane. Scraps make lovely beads!!!! But...there hasn't been too many times that I made beads as the goal rather than an after thought. I suppose that most of my hearts are actually focal beads as they have a hole that runs through them. I mostly make pendants. I love making pendants!!!! I don't really know why pendants fulfill some basic need in my creativity ....at least at this time in my life they do. All things are subject to change at this stage in my life.......pun intended. Oh yeah, this post is about beads. Anyway, this lovely customer wanted me to make beads, focal beads to use in bracelets. Here are some of the beads that I actually made on purpose to be beads.







blessings, ZudaGay

The Story of My Name, as I remember it

I've had many questions about my name as it is a bit different. One question is, "What kind of name is Zuda?" The answer is, I have no idea! I had someone leave a comment on my pbase photo site that Zuda is her family name and she lives in Germany. She is the only person I've come across with my name...even though it is her last name.

So here is the story as best I remember it. I have one sister who was born while Daddy was serving somewhere in the South Pacific in the Navy during WWII. Mama named her Donetta after Daddy and Kay I guess because it goes well with Donetta. My brother came along seven years later and Mama had a name all picked out and named him Charles, I guess because she liked the name and Marshall which was Daddy's father's middle name....his name was Nova Marshall. I came along 5 years later and Mama had a name all picked out, I think it was Candita or something like that. Well Daddy thought it was his turn to get to name the baby. Mama didn't think so, after all she was the one who did all the work giving birth and all. Mama's mom gave her a talking to and convinced her to let Daddy name the baby. So my Daddy named me Zuda which was his mother's name. She died shortly after his birth. No one knows were the name came from. And he decided on Gay as my middle name. He had a good friend when he was growing up named Gay (who was male) and he always liked the name. And that is how I became named Zuda Gay.

Mama never did like the Zuda part and so I was called Gay most of my life. Daddy called all three of us kids Butch for the most part - big Butch, Butch and Little Butch. Hehehe.....I'm not sure why.

I had a thrill when I woke up Wednesday morning and saw that I was featured on Cynthia Tinapple's Polymer Clay Daily blog. Oh my goodness!!!! I've read PCD practically every day since she started it. To say that I am thrilled and honored and shocked would be putting it mildly.

I want to share some of my favorite pieces that I've made recently.

A Study in Golds and Browns

Red Flower on Gold Leaf Pendant


Fairy Garden Pendant

blessings, ZudaGay

Do Souls Have A Color?

I've seen this quiz on several blogs recently and it intrigued me. Color is such a huge part of my world that I needed to know what color this quiz would reveal. I can live with being pink.


What color is your soul painted?

Pink

Your soul is painted the color pink, which embodies the characteristics of love, friendship, compassion, femininity, relaxation, ability to overcome evil, honor, morality, general success, gratitude, appreciation, admiration, sympathy, health, and marriage. Pink falls under the element of Air, and is symbolic of gentle emotions and of emotional unions.

Click Here to Take This Quiz
Quizzes and Personality Tests

blessings, ZudaGay

A Band of Brooches

For a change I am going to show just brooches instead of pendants. They are a bit different style than most of my pendants as they have a cabochon that I surrounded with a bezel....all polymer clay. I get in a cab mood every so often and make up a bunch of cabochons then they sit in baggies until I decide to make something with them. These represent a time that I was really experimenting with faux stones. In this batch we have a couple of faux ivory, a faux opal, turquois and um...a..... I have no idea what it is stone. Most of them still have the flowers and leaves that I just can't seem to stop making. I hope you enjoy this little change.

blessings,
ZudaGay


This brooch has a new home.





This brooch has a new home........

Six Things....

I have been tagged by L at Luchi Creations to tell six things about myself and then tag six people. So, here goes.

1. My darling husband, Danny, and I will celebrate our 33rd wedding anniversary at the end of November.

2. I love animals! At one time we had sheep, goats, a calf, rabbits, dogs, cats, a ferret and a cockatiel. But right now we just have one very wild and crazy cat named Rusty.

3. I've read The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings trilogy through every few years for the last30 years or so.

4. I hate to follow directions and rarely make a recipe the way it is written. (I'm not sure what that says about me?)

5. I collect Noah's Ark things. I have way too many of them!

6. I am so glad this is only 6 and not eight again!!!!! Is that a fact, umm, probably not. We eat peanut butter and tomato sandwiches. If you haven't tried it, don't knock it until you have! Yummy!!!!! I also like peanut butter and banana sandwiches, peanut butter and dill pickle sandwiches and I like to dip pretzel sticks in peanut butter. And of course the famous PB & J.

Now I am suppose to tag six people, so here goes..... I will go read their lists in a couple of days.

Green Circle Studio
Crochet2Macrame
Urban Knit
Microwave Girl
Fine Art By Renee
Tilly Types

blessings, ZudaGay

A Long Time Ago....

Well it seems like a long time ago, I started this blog with very good intentions of posting several times a week. I'm not sure where last week went. Our bathroom remodel is pretty much completed as of today. Hurray!!! It took about 3 weeks. I have a very itchy rash that has attacked my face and neck. I look so pretty! I am really bad at not scratching. I've always had that trouble and this lack of self-control hasn't improved with age. Well enough about my failures, faults and afflictions....I will share some pictures of things I have created in the past week, at least the ones I've gotten around to photographing.

blessings, ZudaGay

All On A Sunday

First off....I get to do a meme....my very first on my blog. I was tagged by Lisa at Polka Dot Creations.

Here are the rules:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. List eight (8) random facts about yourself.
3. Tag eight people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving them a comment on their blogs.

Fact 1. Some years ago (I won't say how many) Danny and I competed in target archery and some 3-D shooting. I won the Illinois State Tournament a couple of years in my division and the Regional Tournament one year.

Fact 2. I love to read. I read all kinds of things. Right now I'm reading grandson T's Harry Potter books. I'm on the fourth one. T thinks Gramma is cool.

Fact 3. I love music. I have daydreams of being a piano bar singer leaning on the piano or heading a big band like Doris Day. I play my guitar and sing in the praise band at our church which isn't quite the same thing, but I get to use what musical talent I have.

Fact 4. I have been sewing since I was tall enough to stand and see the needle and step on the pedal. I would cut out doll clothes and wait until Mama got up from her machine and sew my seam while she pressed hers. Mama took in sewing for a while when I was growing up and was an amazing seamstress.

Fact 5. Daddy was a printer. We owned and ran the weekly newspaper in LaGrange, MO when I was small. He could spell every word there was....I can't spell worth a fig!

Fact 6. I am the baby of the family. I was a bit of a surprise. I still am!!

Fact 7. I love old movies and movie stars. Bing and Bob and Danny and Cary and Fred and........

Fact 8. My goodness, this is harder than I thought it would be! I love cats! I get to have one, his name is Rusty and he is the prettiest red tabby with a bullseye marking on his side. After he uses his litter box he runs out of it as fast as he can go to escape the smell. That is a random fact about Rusty, but it will have to do.

I don't think that I have many readers, yet, so I will just leave this open ended. Anyone who hasn't done this one yet, consider yourself tagged!


I had fun yesterday in my studio. I am stuck on making big flower pendants. I love them and I think they look so pretty hanging on a ribbon or cord. So, I will end this with a few pictures of big flower pendants.





Blessings, ZudaGay

A Little E Story

Little E is our 4 year old grandson. I've taken care of him while his mommy works during the school year since he was around 6 weeks old. E is a character! An adorable red haired, freckle faced, precious little boy. A little bit Opie-ish. I was emptying the dish drainer this morning and Little E came in to see what I was doing. I asked him to open the drawers as I put in the utensils and then the top drawer to put away the silverware.

As I was placing the spoons and forks in the correct slots he was digging through the odd pieces that reside in the front part of the drawer. He lifted out a baby fork and wanted to know if he could play with it. I told him he sure could, so he took off for the toy cars he had left on the living room floor. I finished what I was doing and sat down at my desk to work a bit at the computer while E was occupied playing. After a little while Little E said, "Gramma, Look! It's a forklift!" He was lifting one of his toy cars up on his fork. I don't believe E thought it was as funny as Gramma.........

A picture of our little guy deep in play mode:

Wonderful Wednesday!

This week is half over and it just got started. Monday holidays always seem to throw my internal calendar off. I can't believe how well my sunflowers are being received. It seems like I put one up and it quickly sells. It is a good thing that I am having so much fun making them. I am also enjoying using vintage buttons in my work. I think they go very well with polymer clay. I like how the different materials contrast with the clay especially metal and leather.

METAL BUTTON CENTERS:


LEATHER BUTTON CENTER:



We are having a lovely day in Illinois. It is in the mid 80's.....but I'm holding out for 70 degrees or so. I love the cooler temps of fall. It won't be long I'm sure.
blessings, ZudaGay

Studio Time

Life has been a bit busy and....ummmm.....messy this week. Our one and only little bathroom is being remodeled from studs out. That means they ripped out all the old plaster and lath. Today we have use of the shower and the toilet and have hot water. We've been borrowing Jessica and Todd's shower and using the toilet at the church, which is a block away, when ours was out of commission. I also used the one at church when there were men in the basement and there were holes in the bathroom floor.......like a 2' hole!!!! Not tinkling with men down below!!!!! Needless to say I needed some time of quiet and creativity!

I spent quite a bit of time in my studio today. It was very nice and I enjoyed the time so much and I love the results!!!!! One pendant I listed in my Etsy shop this evening, but I'm going to show all of them here. Lord willing, I am going to work in my studio most of Monday.







I don't think that I will post tomorrow as it will be a busy day. We have our time of worship and then a family picnic. Just what Sundays are suppose to be full of - worshiping our God and spending time with our loved ones......what a joy!!!!
blessings, ZudaGay

The End Of August

I was telling our little E that today is the last day of August and tomorrow is the first day of September. I don't think he quite got what I was telling him so I went on to tell him that fall was coming when the leaves turn colors and fall from the trees. He remembers jumping in piles of leaves and seemed excited about that prospect. His favorite thing to do right now is for us to go to the Methodist Church's paved parking lot, in the next block, so he can ride his Big Wheel. The lot has a half circle sidewalk attached to it with a bit of a hill. He rides his trike up the little hill and then pauses then takes off as fast as he can down the hill and skids on the pea gravel in the alley that runs along the side of the paved lot. I don't know about Papa, but it scares Gramma just a little bit!

Jessica, the girls and baby A came over after everyone was home from school. Little M wanted to play with little E and they got into a couple of fights. Maybe that is the way 4 and 5 year olds play. But I got to sit and hold our sweet baby A, so all was well with me.

For my show and tell today I am showing a bright and happy flower pendant that I haven't listed yet. I like it, but I'm not thrilled with it so if anyone who happens to be reading this would take a second and tell me what you think about it, I would appreciate it!
blessings, ZudaGay

A Little Art Nouveau

What a lovely day it has been in west central Illinois!!! I can handle 70 degree temps for a while.

Today I listed this Art Nouveau pendant. It is really different from the direction I've been in here lately with flowers and leaves. I'm not stopping flowers, but this is fun once in a while. I've done this style before in years past and the clean lines and simplicity always feels peaceful to me. The only problem with this type of piece is it takes three bakings. I can do a Flower Garden pendant in one.

I've included a back view of this piece just to show my signature cane. It is a Z and a G together. I had someone ask me one day what it was, so now you know.

blessings, ZudaGay

What Happened to Tuesday?

I have no idea where Tuesday went. All of a sudden I'm living in Wednesday. Strange how that happens!

I loved the Sunflower Pendant I listed on Monday in my Etsy shop. I guess that others did too, it ended up in two Treasuries and was sold! How cool is that? This morning I listed another leaf. A maple leaf this time. I did something a bit different, I carved the veins out with a gouge....and I didn't cut myself!!! I can be a danger to myself with sharp tools. Then I used Genesis Metallic Heat Set Oil Paint in the veins and edges. It is such a cool paint because I can use my heat gun and have instant gratification.

Our little E started Head Start on Monday. He gets to ride a little school bus to school and then he gets to ride home with his mommy who teaches the other Head Start class. So far he is excited to get on the bus. I sure hope he continues this way. I'd hate to have to make him go if he didn't want to go. I was a terrible soft touch with our girls. I imagine that they stayed home "sick" more than they actually needed to......but I liked having them home.

Well, I will end with a picture of my Maple leaf for a little taste of fall.
Blessings, ZudaGay

Yep, It's Monday!!!

Today was the beginning of a couple of things. Our grandson E begins his school today. The bus is suppose to show up at 11:49 am to pick him up. We will see what time it gets here. I wonder why they didn't just put 11:50? Today a crew is here demolishing our bathroom. First they are tearing down the chimney and running the water heater flue out a different way. We may or may not have use of a bathroom in the house throughout the week. Or at least they are saying a week. I hope they aren't being optimistic!!! We have offers of a couple of different showers to use if needed...which I'm sure they will be needed!
I will leave you with a happy picture. I've been seeing sunflowers all over and they just look like autumn to me. I just had to try my hand at making one. I love how it turned out!!!! Here is my sunflower.

I Can't Leave Out Granddaughters!

First of all, I am so sorry for the quality of the pictures! I take terrible pictures without a tripod and I didn't bring my tripod to the hospital when baby A was born. And, these are the most recent pictures I have of the girls. They are each holding their baby brother. First up is big sister A who just turned 14!!!


Next in line is middle big sister B who will be 10 very soon.


And last but definitely not least is little big sister M who is 5 and just started Kindergarten and loves her teacher!!!



At this time we have three girls and three boys, but that will change in January when Little E's sibling will be born. We don't know if it is a boy or girls but we do know it will be a tie-breaker! We are so abundantly blessed!!!!!!!