I Am Honored and Blessed!

I am thrilled and honored to be a featured artist on the World Artisan Gems blog! They contacted me and then sent me questions to answer. Please go and have a look at the amazing jewelry designers and bead artists they have featured. It is a joy and inspiration to browse through their site.

The second honor I received recently is a lovely award passed on to me by my sweet friend, Sharon from Mana Moon Studios.

For the Bloggy Goodness Award the rules are:
1. Post a copy on your blog
2. Mention who gave you the award
3. Pass the award on to 6 others
4. Leave a message on their blog letting them know
the honor has been bestowed upon them.
I will try to choose six blogs that I would like to honor when I have the time, but I wanted to get this much accomplished.



Blessings, ZudaGay

It's A Wonderful Life....OH! I Mean, SALE!!!

I have mentioned it before that I am a member of a wonderful Etsy Street team called Boomers & Beyond Etsy Street Team or BBEST for short. :) A wonderful group of people who just happen to be over 40. AND, we're having a SALE!!!

It's A Wonderful Sale runs from November 12 - 18. Each shop is offering it's own unique sale specials. Not only are we having a sale...but we are offering THREE prize packages you may have a chance to win!!!

How do I win one of these wonderful packages? You ask... Good question! There are two ways!! First of all, for every dollar you spend in participating shops you will be entered into a drawing. (You spend $10, you are entered 10 times!) If by some strange quirk you don't find a thing you want to buy....or you are like me and just don't have any money...you may enter by playing Holiday Hide & Seek. You may see all the rules in the It's A Wonderful Sale & HOLIDAY Prize thread in the Etsy forums. :)

I am thrilled to be participating in It's A Wonderful Sale, because sales are SO fun!!! ZudaGay's Shop is offering free shipping on all items. ALSO...Buy One at the regular price and I will take 10% off all other items bought at the same time. **PLEASE put BBEST in your "note to seller"** You may convo me before your purchase and I will edit the listing(s) you are purchasing...OR...You may purchase the item(s) you want, don't pay and I will send you a revised invoice through Paypal...OR...You may purchase the item(s) you want, pay for them and I will send you a refund through Paypal.

Happy Shopping!!!!

blessings, ZudaGay

Purple and Green - One of my Favorite Combos!

I have no idea how many times I've used purple and green together. I think the only combo I like better is something with red and black or gray. I played on Saturday afternoon. YAY! Time for playing has been very hard to come by in the last couple of weeks for some reason. And I don't have much to show for my busy-ness. Ah well...such is life at times. Anyway...the free time to play is that much more precious. I made several pieces that could be used together. I think I will list the leaves and the tiny flowers together and the bigger ones separate. Maybe they will spark someone's creativity.

A Purple and Green Grouping

Center Hole Bead

Four Leaves and Two Center Hole Flower Beads

Center Hole Bead

Flower Focal - hole drilled horizontally near the top

Pendant

Blessings, ZudaGay

Poinsettia Mode

OK, I have no idea what day I'm on. I've lost some here and there and keeping track of time and days is just totally beyond me! So, I'm dropping off the day count and I will just post about what I've been doing. There, I feel much better...a load has been lifted! hehehe....

I have been making poinsettias. These are the ones I have baked so far. I have some other colors I want to play with. There is a purple one that I saw that is just gorgeous...and I love those speckled wine colored ones. But for now these are a few of the ones I made....humm...I think it was Saturday.

Traditional Red and Green

Silver Tipped Pink with Aqua Leaves

Midnight Blue and Chartreuse

Pink and Green
Chartreuse

I'm sure there will be at least one more Poinsettia post. I have to get them out of my system, then off to something else.

blessings, ZudaGay

Day 4 is a Day of Red

My favorite color is red. It started when I was a child, in fact I don't remember a time when I didn't love red. Red was my Daddy's absolute favorite color- which might have had something to do with it being mine. When I was a little girl my Daddy was my favorite person in the world. I thought I would just make red flowers and see how many different ones I could come up with in a half an hour...actually it was getting closer to an hour when I stopped. Here is my Red Flower Show:

It is time for making Poinsettias.

A very cool button from Pearl!

A Red Dahlia!

Another cool button on a little flower bead.

I love black with red!!

Blessings, ZudaGay

Days 4 and 5 or....Flowers of Different Colors

On day 4 I played with lumps of clay that were laying on my work table. I really do need to clean up my work area once in a while! I like to mix colors!!! Mixing colors is one of my favorite things to do. Not just clay...I like mixing paint colors, too. I mixed several lumps together and got a lovely coral color. I decided it looked pretty good with some left over Midnight Blue that was sitting there so this is the flower that came from this combo.


Next I had some of the coral left over so I lightened it with white and put it with some lavender.


For this last flower I used the left over lightened coral and added some yellow that was sitting there to get more of an orange. I put the orange with some brown and a buttery yellow that were just waiting for this opportunity and got two canes with a bit of a Mexican flare. I really like how this flower turned out!!


Just a note: I made the canes on day 4 and the flowers on day 5.

blessings, ZudaGay

Day 2 & 3 of 30....or...Purple Petals aPlenty

I was looking through treasuries on Etsy the other day and came across one made up of purple and pale blue items. The color combo attached itself to my brain and I had to play. First of all I mixed the purple and the pale blue I wanted to use to make my canes. This is the beginning of the blend: (sorry about the picture...but I have a terrible time taking good pictures inside)

Once I got the blend completed I had a sheet of clay that went from deep purple on one side to pale blue on the other side. I cut it in two and made two separate canes....one with purple on the outside and the other with pale blue on the outside. You can see the different petal canes in this grouping of flowers.

I also used some scraps to make a Dahlia that is suppose to be graduated from lighter on the outside to dark in the center...but I need some work to get the look I want.


I made up a rose and three buds for this pendant.

And lastly....this adorable pod. I guess it is a pod. What do you think, should I start making these?
Blessings, ZudaGay

Day 1 of the 30/30 Day Challenge.

My friend Di put forth a challenge for the month of October to spend 30 minutes a day for 30 days to form a positive habit. There are 12 of us who have taken up the challenge. My goal is to just "play" with clay for 30 minutes every day. Some may think that I play all the time...but actually I've kind of got myself in a rut of making the same type of cane and making flowers. I LOVE making flowers!!! don't get me wrong...I just need to add a little freshness to the whole process. I get fresh by playing. I am going to try to post about what I did the day before. So...here is what I did on October 1st.

I love making a Mokume' Gane' block or stack. You take several different colors of clay (I used a deep maroon, a raspberry pink, silver and translucent with silver ink spread on the sheet and allowed to dry) you roll them out into thin sheets and stack them.



I cut my short stack into quarters and stacked them up..and repeated a couple more times. Then comes the fun part!


You get to poke objects into the stack and cut it and just make a mess out of it! Then you need to moosh it all back together into a rectangle or square. You get to cut thin slices off of this stack and cover scrap clay and make beads...I made a heart. LOVELY and FUN!!!

What am I going to play with next??
blessings, ZudaGay

An Orange Treasury From the BBEST Team

I know I've not posted for so very long....so, I'm going to copy something from my friend Myfanwy. She has been doing a small treasury on her blog and I've enjoyed looking at her picks so I decided to give it a shot. Here are a variety of orangy items from some of my BBEST (Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team) friends.

And adorable hand panted floppy hat from
Talking Dog's shop.

Decorate your window for fall with this beautiful hand painted window cling
from Clinging Images.

AJ's candles have the yummiest sounding scents and oh so pretty colors!
Find candles, soaps and wax melts/tarts at AJs Country Cottage.

My fourth orangy pick for today is this beautiful handspun yarn
from the shop of The Knotty Sheep.

Please check out the wonderful items in these shops, you will be glad you did!!!

blessings, ZudaGay

We Wish You A Merry Christmas.....In July!!!

Boomers and Beyond Christmas In July Sale ends at Midnight EST Monday, July 21st. But there are many shops that will still have sales going on throughout the month.

Many on Etsy are having Christmas In July sales and our Boomer and Beyond Etsy Team decided to join in the holiday type fun. There are some great prices on some wonderful items!!!! These are the shops that are participating. Have fun shopping or even just browsing!

Collage & Painting - 2 Star Studio, http://2starstudio.etsy.com
Bath & Body Beauties - A Breath of French Air, http://abreathoffrenchair.etsy.com
Textile Art - Alis Clair, http://alisclair.etsy.com
Silk painting - Althea Peregrine, http://AltheaP.etsy.com
Knit & Crocheted Works - Alysa Merle Handcrafts, http://AlysaMerle.etsy.com
Mixed Media - Artmixter, http://artmixter.etsy.com
Recycled fabric art - Attack of the Vintage, http://attackofthevintage.etsy.com
Hats, Scarves and Bags - Bags and More by Pam, http://bagsandmorebypam.etsy.com
Photography - Beth Peardon Prods, http://BethPeardonProds.etsy.com
Unique and Fun gifts - Big Island Rose Designs, http://birose.etsy.com
Knitted and Crocheted - Blazing Needles, http://blazingneedles.etsy.com
Fused Glass- Chauncey Design, http://Chauncey.etsy.com
Fun variety - Circle In The Sand, http://circleinthesand.etsy.com
Window Clings - Clinging Images, http://clingingimages.etsy.com
Fused Glass - Designs by Christine, http://Chris1.etsy.com
Paintings, Animal & color - Diane Clancy's Art, http://DianeClancy.etsy.com
Destash & Supplies - ElectricMiscellany http://eclecticmiscellany.etsy.com
Beautiful Jewelry - Ever so Dear, http://eversoDear.etsy.com
Quilts, Bags & More - Fabric Art by Debby, http://fabricartbydebby.etsy.com
Raku Stoneware & More - Fehu Stoneware, http://fehustoneware.etsy.com
Steampunk & More - Figments by Kathleen, http://Figments.etsy.com
Painted Glass & Jewelry - Glitz n Glass, http://GlitznGlass.etsy.com
Painted Works of Art - Heron Kate, http://heronkate.etsy.com
Original oil and watercolor paintings - Jean Levert Hood, http://JeanHood.etsy.com
Ceramics, Wood, & Jewelry - Jill's Treasure Chest, http://JillsTreasureChest.etsy.com
Textile Accessories - JN Originals, http://jnoriginals.etsy.com
Eco Friendly Art - Joonbeam, http://joonbeam.etsy.com
Beautiful Beadwork - Kathy's Krafty Kreations, http://kathyskraftykreation.etsy.com
Fabulous Jewelry - Katz's Kreations, http://katzskreations.etsy.com
Polymer Clay & More - Lemachi Designs, http://LemachiDesigns.etsy.com
Textile Art - Lizplummer, http://lizplummer.etsy.com
Wearable Notebooks - Memo-Pause, http://memopause.etsy.com
Fabulous Jewelry - Night Sky Jewelry, http://nightskyjewelry.etsy.com
Glass Creations, Jewelry & More - Nonnie's Treasures, http://Nonnie60.etsy.com
Encaustic art - On A Whimsey, http://onawhimsey.etsy.com
Lovely Bags - Posey Patch Creations, http://poseypatch.etsy.com
Quilts, Blankets & more - Precious Quilts, http://preciousquilts.etsy.com
Fine Art - Purely Painting, http://purelypainting.etsy.com
Wonderful Wirewrapping - Rosegardenfae, http://rosegardenfae.etsy.com
Varied Vintage - Rosegardenfae2 http://rosegardenfae2.etsy.com.
Stunning Threads & Yarn - Sassa Lynne at Etsy, http://sassalynne.etsy.com
Scottie Designs for People - Scottie Acres Boutique, http://scottieacres.etsy.com
Fantasy Painting - Sixsisters, http://sixsisters.etsy.com
Eclectic Adornments - Studio a la Mode, http://studioalamode.etsy.com
One Of A Kind Accessories - Talking Dog Productions, http://TalkingDog.etsy.com
Beautiful Jewelry - TCP Jewelry, http://tcpjewelry.etsy.com
Buttons & more - The Button Hole, http://ButtonHole.etsy.com
Fine Art - The Creators Palette, http://TheCreatorsPalette.etsy.com
Fabulous Jewelery - The Filigree Garden, http://thefiligreegarden.etsy.com
Vintage Accessories & More - The Good Old Days, http://GoodOldDays.etsy.com
Handspun yarn & more - The Knotty Sheep, http://theknottysheep.etsy.com
Fine & Fun Artist - Van Fleet Street Design, http://VanFleetStreetDesign.etsy.com
Fabric Fancy Whimseys, http://whimseys.etsy.com
Gorgeous Watercolors - Yankeegirl's Watercolors, http://yankeegirl.etsy.com
Polymer Clay Beauties - ZudaGay, http://ZudaGay.etsy.com

blessings, ZudaGay

And.....The WINNER is......

Number 6 is the winner of the ACEO and number 16 is the winner of a custom flower (or if they would rather, they may pick their favorite flower from the flower pendants and focal beads in my shop. Now I need to go see who these lucky people are! (off to count and recount to make sure my counting is correct)

Number 6 is, Alis from AlisClare. Alis, I will send you your new ACEO in the mail on Monday. Congratulations!!

And, number 16, is Rosepostcards - Beth! Beth, be thinking what kind of flower you want.

Thank you all for helping me celebrate my 1 year anniversary!!

blessings, ZudaGay

First Annual Anniversary Contest

Hehehe, my title tickles me! You always see fifth annual or tenth annual, but they had to begin at first, didn't they? May 24 was the first anniversary of my Etsy shop. I am having a 10% off sale until 11 pm EST May 31. That is the first phase of my celebration and thank you to my customers. The next phase is what you are reading about right now! WOOHOO!!! I am giving away this ACEO titled "Family".


The next give away is a custom designed Flower Pendant on a cord or ribbon. You will say size, shape of petals, color scheme and if you prefer a wire bail or a focal bead style.


Also, anyone who leaves a comment on this post is entitled to a 20% discount until 11 pm EST, June 7th. Just write bloggy discount in your message to seller, don't hit the pay button and I will send a revised invoice. Or....convo me to tell me what you want to buy and I will revise the listing and put Reserved for you in the title.

What do you do??? Leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite flower. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.....make sure you leave a way for me to contact you. Some blogger profiles are private and they don't tell me a thing. I hate drawing a number and finding that I have no way of contacting that person.....it makes me sad! I will draw the winners on Sunday, June 8 at Noon CST using a random number generator.

I want to thank everyone who has made this year totally amazing for me. First of all to God who has blessed my efforts and has provided for us in some very imaginative ways. To all my customers....you are the best customers....EVER!!! And last but certainly not least, thank you to all the wonderful friends I have made this year - especially the BBEST team who laugh, cry, encourage, bully, dance and share their chocolate every day.

blessings, ZudaGay

It's Been So Long!

Obviously my "new year's resolution" to post three times a week didn't stick! It has been over a month!!! I really do have an excuse...it isn't good, but it's an excuse which I won't bore you with. This is just an update on what is going on, and I really will try to post more often. First of all, we have been taking care of two grandkids about 9 hours a day which takes up time and a whole lot of energy!!! What a delight they are- most of the time. The second thing is I have four (I think) items in a book called "1000 Jewelry Inspirations" which will be on sale next month. Also, a treasury, created by Block Party Press that I am honored to be in, was sellected to be on Etsy's home page.


To be on the front page is a thrill for any Etsy shop!!!

blessings, ZudaGay

It's A New Thang...for me anyway

ACEOs!!! I just may become addicted to this new thing. New to me anyway. Artist Trading Cards and Artist Cards, Editions and Originals have been around for a while. I'm not too sure exactly how long, maybe around ten years or so. Although miniature artwork has probably been around about as long as there have been artists. Historically miniatures really didn't have any guidelines, they were very small works of art that the artist made either to show off their work or to enable people to carry around an image of their loved one. This new age of ATCs and ACEOs does have one guideline - for size. ACEOs must be 2.5" X 3.5" the same size as baseball cards. They may be made in any medium the artist chooses to use. In this post I am showing what I have been doing, the next one I will show you some of the ACEOs of some artists whose work I desire to add to my ACEO collection.

Secret Garden Fairy Door

Happy Tree

Just to show what happens when the oven spikes:
Burnt to a crisp Secret Garden Fairy Door

Waiting for Emily

My first one Butterfly Garden

blessings, ZudaGay

Longing For Spring Give Away

THE WINNER IS:
I picked two winners. I wasn't going to do that, but......when it comes down to the time to give away I wish I could afford to let everyone win! Thank you so much for all the lovely color combo ideas!!!! I appreciate your input and your comments! ***cue the drum roll***
Comment #5 is......Kary!!!! Kary can go pick anything she wants from my shop.
and Comment #13......Joon.....you can choose anything from the Small Pendant or Oopsie sections of my shop.

I thought that I would like to break up the monotony of winter a little bit and have a give away this week. But you have to work a little bit for this one. I want some information....what are your favorite color combinations? My daughter Jessica loves greens and purples together.

Now, here are a few springy flowers for your viewing pleasure.










To enter my Longing For Spring Contest, leave a comment telling me your favorite color combination. Don't forget to make sure I have a way to get a hold of you!!! Oh, I almost forgot to tell you what you get!!!! You may choose any item from my shop! I will use the random number generator on Sunday, February 24 at 1 pm Central to choose a winner.

blessings, ZudaGay

Knitsteel - Handforged by Kirsten Skiles

I remember, as a child, reading stories about blacksmiths making horseshoes and various tools . In my little girl mind I envisioned a person who worked with metals as a big guy who pounded steel and iron into shape. I can remember at a young age standing and watching a blacksmith working. It must have been at the county fair. This person wasn't large and he wasn't making horseshoes. He was making lovely graceful wall sconces and hooks. I love when our preconceptions are jolted into change!

I'd like to introduce you to a lovely artist whose work literally takes my breath away. I came across Kirsten's Etsy shop a couple of months after I joined Etsy. I loved her crosses which were elegant, rugged and very powerful! Her leaves so lifelike and beautiful and the tools she creates for other artist to use have these lovely simple lines that somehow call me to pick them up and do something. Kirsten lives in Wisconsin with her family. Here is an excerpt from her Etsy Bio.

"Kirsten Skiles is an Artist Blacksmith and Jeweler creating nature themed romantic home decor and jewelry.

Kirsten has taught at a number of well known craft schools, including Touchstone School of Crafts, John C. Campbell Folk School and Appalachian Center for Crafts.

She has exhibited both nationally and abroad. As a self-employed artist she works frequently on commissions for private residences through interior designers, architects, and other blacksmiths."

Here are some of the lovely items you will find to purchase in Kirsten's Etsy shop, Knitsteel.

This piece is my favorite in Kirsten's shop right now!!
Hand Hammered Sterling Silver Ginkgo Leaf Pendant No. 2

This lovely Textured Twiggy Copper Bangle Bracelet

And this beautiful Grape Leaf Trio - wall art

Kirsten also does commission work. I had such a hard time choosing what two pictures of Kirsten's commission work to share! They are all so amazing!! I implore you to take some time and go look at Kirsten's Flickr site.

Water Lily Railing

Copper Angelic Lectern
a commission piece for the Trinity Lutheran Church in La Crosse, WI

If you would like to know more about Kirsten Skiles and her work please visit her blog Hand Forged by Kirsten Skiles. To see more of Kirsten's work visit her Flickr site. And to buy Kirsten's lovely work you may browse in her Etsy shop, Knitsteel.

Blessings, ZudaGay