I am very proud to be part of the Etsy Angels team. Each year the team raises funds for several different charity organizations and each October we raise funds for breast cancer awareness. Being a small group of women, this is something that is very important to all of us. Our team members include a gal currently going through treatment for breast cancer, a breast cancer survivor, members who have friends and family that are survivors, as well as, members who have lost loved ones to this terrible disease.

Just a reminder that I will be out of town November 10th through the 16th. My Etsy shop will be on vacation during that time. Polymer clay color recipe ebooks and tutorials will still be available for purchase though my website….look for the “shop” link above. The shopping cart is through e-junkie.com and the products can be instantly downloaded after payment. No waiting around for me to send the files.

And speaking of color recipe ebooks….I’ve already been asked when the spring 2012 color recipe ebooks will be out. The color recipe ebooks will start showing up in December. I do them in order of number of sales, so Premo! will be first, followed by FIMO Classic and then Kato.

13 pages including 34 step by step photos and instructions.

Materials:
Scrap clay for bead base
Premo in the following colors:
cobalt blue hue
black
fuchsia
cadmium yellow hue
ultramarine blue
pearl
ecru
zinc yellow
turquoise
embossing powders in cobalt blue, dusky violet,
tropical tan, jade green, terra cotta, and iron
red*

*can use any color embossing powders

Tools:
Pasta machine
Tissue blade
Knitting needle or pencil
Needle tool
Stylus or ball point pen
Finger cots (optional)

Price: $7.00

Tutorial is in PDF format.
Tools
* Pasta machine (can also roll flat with a glass)
* Tissue blade (exato knive will work also)
* Small paint brush
* Rubber tip tool (the flat end of a pencil eraser will also work)
* Ceramic tile or cookie sheet
* Wet/dry sanding pad
* Wet/dry sandpaper (multiple grits)

Materials
* Scrap clay for bead base
* Premo in the following colors:
Gold
Black
Green Pearl
Alzarin crimson
Orange
Burnt umber
* Translucent Liquid Sculpey

Price: $5.00

What’s up besides the heat? My pottery beads tutorial is listed my Etsy shop and ArtFire shop.

I’m also working on an inspiration/color ebook, which I’ll talk about more later. Just getting started, so we’ll see how it shapes up. I had another idea to challenge myself to make a focal bead a day. However, after thinking about our crazy summer schedule and the fact that my daughter is getting married next month, I decided that would have to wait until this Fall….I suppose I could shoot for a focal bead a week. Hmmmm….

I think I will work with some cool colors today while I stay inside and enjoy the air conditioning. Sounds like a good plan to me.

I enjoyed some much needed down time, but now it’s back to work. Today I’m working on editing some photo retakes for my pottery beads tutorial. The tutorial should be finished in the next day or two. Still need to complete the written instructions and get it all put together. I need to rethink my work space as it is not ideal for taking photos, which means I go back and forth between my work space and photo set-up…..

sneak peak at upcoming tutorial

Tutorials take quite a bit of time and effort. You need to plan out the steps that need to be photographed, take the step by step photos, edit the photos, possibly retake photos that aren’t clear or perhaps a different angle would be better, more editing, format the tutorial, write out a materials and tools list, and write step by step instructions that go with the photos. Then there’s proofreading for typos and to make sure that the instructions are absolutely clear.

Time to get back to work.

I ordered some of the new Pardo Art Clay recently for a project. I need the strength and flexibility of the Pardo Jewellery Clay for thin pieces, but find it’s softness hard to work with. Of course I can’t buy just one or two…..I MUST have all the colors. Is there a 12-step program for this? I hope to try it out today or tomorrow and will let you know what I think.

Next on the agenda is a requested tutorial for my earthstone pottery beads, which I hope to have ready soon. I’m also supposed to be getting ready for a yard sale with my mom this weekend….And the fabric store just called to tell me my special order fabric is in. What’s a girl to do?

Even through it is technically spring, why not get a head start on those fall/winter designs. I am personally lovin’ the bold, bright colors of the fall/winter color forecast. The fall/winter 2010/2011 color recipes ebook is now available in my Etsy shop and my ArtFire shop. The ebook includes 36 polymer clay color recipes and is set up as printable recipe cards.

Whether you have a hard time mixing colors, knowing what colors to use or just want to save some time this is a great resource for you.

I’m working on finishing up some orders, a tutorial and hopefully some new beads in there as well.