House Plant Creatures!!

 

Here's a couple of House Plant Pot Sitters!

I'll be teaching how to make these cuties at The Muskie Center in Waterville next week!

Poly Clay Beginners Class @ Sweetland Retreat

Click on the pic to see the whole album.

 

Check out pics from last Saturday's class! We had SUCH a good time!

Theresa and I want to thank everyone who came and especially to Joy, Jaime and Brian for being such AWESOME hosts!! I hope to have a long a prosperous connection for us all!

Oh! Can't forget SAMMY!! Yay Sammy!

Be on the Look Out for missing polymer clay beads!

A horrible thing has happened in our clay community...

Jenny Patterson http://www.quiltedinclay.com/ was packing up from a show she did in Iowa when a box of her beads went missing!

If you see any of these beads on the many online selling venues, or a local bead shop, PLEASE contact her!

Here is a selection of quotes from Jenny describing what happened.

"2 weeks ago while packing up after a show, my case with ALL my finished "Quilted in Clay" beads was stolen out of my trailer. Along with all my findings, crystals and beads I use as accents to make necklaces.

I am estimating that I had upwards of 4500 clay beads in various sizes inside that case! I make beads in in 4 different sizes and shapes, in EACH of the 33 designs I currently have listed on my web site. Plus a number that I don't have on the website.

These shapes are 3/4" mobius beads, 5/8" square, 1/2" square and 3/8" square. All finished and drilled.

It was suggested to me to keep an eye on eBay and Etsy for these. Which I plan on doing, but these are huge shops and I can't monitor them alone, so I am asking for help.

If you all would not mind taking a look at the current designs on my website:

http://www.quiltedinclay.com/products/jewelry/quilted_jewelry1.htm

And if you happen to see something that might be my beads, please let me know.

I am devastated! We are talking hours and hours of work just GONE! Some of these designs, I don't have any cane left, so I can't even make any more beads, unless I remake the cane. I am having to call customers and tell them I can't sell them the items they ordered, and ask them to choose something I have on hand, or give them a refund...

Yes I am working with the police in Des Moines, where this happened. I have filed a report.

I fear what happened is that someone spied this case, and decided to take it. Not only did I have my beads in it, I also had my sterling and gold findings in it. I am thinking that the thief could care less about my beads, but will take the gold and sterling and turn them in for cash.

I do have insurance, which I am working filing.

As for the designs involved, it's hard to say, I KNOW I had between 12 and 72 beads in each style (mobius, 5/8"square etc) in EACH of my 33 designs currently on my web site.

I have not put it on my website yet, only because I have been so busy with orders, and figuring out what was in the case that I have not had time....

The show was the AQS Quilt show in Des Moines Iowa, the theft happened sometime between 8PM and 9:30PM, as we were loading after the show. The case is silver, wheeled, with locks on it, about the size of a suitcase.

  I do have to say the security at the event center was very good! I really have no clue as to how this happened, they even have video camera's in the loading dock area, but unfortunately there was nothing to help me. The angles were wrong or something. I have been working closely with the police department there.

There IS good to come of this! I have put off putting together a better way of tracking my inventory for a couple years. This is forcing me to take care of that, and re-organize!

Since I had to provide documentation of how I price my product to my insurance, It has also forced me to take a good hard look at how I price my work. I am glad to say that I feel that part is in good order....

Basically  we had finished tearing down our display, I finished packing stuff up while the DH went and got the van and trailer. When he got to the loading area, he came to the booth with our 2 wheeled cart, and took a load out. He had brought in some boxes I needed, so I stayed and filled them. Then pushed out one of our other wheeled carts, and this case that is missing. I met him on the dock, and we switched, he took the cart and the case, and I took the empty 2 wheeled cart. He went out and loaded the 2 items into the trailer, I loaded the 2 wheeler, we met on the dock and switched again. We continued this until all was loaded. Then we locked the trailer and went home.

2 days later it was time to unload the trailer, all the locks were in good shape, they had not been tampered with. When we unloaded we realized my case was no where to be found. I can only conclude that someone took it when we had our backs turned.

I have discovered after sitting down and doing a mental inventory, that I have greatly underestimated the number and $$ amount of things I kept in that case. Of course the DH has been telling me this for ages, but I was to stubborn to believe HIM! LOL

And although I have to call my customers, explain the situation, and re-vamp some orders, this is actually making for better customer relations. 

Moral of the story, it's a good thing I took out insurance for just this sort of thing!"

What I lost on Tuesday

 

Why am I so outraged about the outcome of last Tuesday's vote?

Let me spell it out for you.

Recently in our lives, Nancy and I have been embroiled in "family issues". Her Dad died two weeks ago on Tuesday, all the related issues that go with that sad situation have us both on edge and really stressed out. Add to that, my Mom lives with us and has the beginning inklings of a health issue, the details of which I won't go into yet as nothing has been confirmed. Both of us are being pulled in opposite directions, doing our level best to be supportive of and helpful to our family. We are worried and concerned about our family.

Our Family.

Us. Love. Responsibility. Respect. Caring. Support.

Our Family

[Bahram Maskanian, defines family] "A family is a primary social group in any society, typically consisting of a man and a woman, or any two individuals who wish to share their lives together in a long-term committed relationship with one another, raising offspring and usually residing in the same dwelling.

Family is the main building block of a community; family structure and upbringing determines the social character and personality of any given society. - Family is where we all learn: love, caring, compassion, ethics, honesty, fairness, common sense, reason, peaceful conflict resolution and respect for ourselves and others, which are the vital fundamental skills, and family values, necessary to live an honorable and prospers life in harmony, in the world community."

The Definition of Family.

Governor Baldacci signed the Marriage Equality bill into law last spring here in Maine. That law gave legal backing to our family and all other families in Maine. We had the rights that we'd fought for for so long and so hard. It was right in our hands...

We have what's called the People's Veto in Maine. http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/peoppak.htm

Before the law could officially go into effect a Peoples Veto was enacted. The political process in action....

In essence the veto was asking that a right, a law that the legislators and Governor agreed upon was to be put to a peoples vote to over turn it. To remove a right that was given. To take something away from a group of people.

What decade are we in again??

Tuesday, the law was repealed.

What did that do exactly?

Well... I'll tell you.

One of the arguments was that we already had the ability to have a civil union or a domestic partnership.

Would you give up your marriage license to get one of these?

What does your marriage license afford you that these don't?

At the very least your marriage license allows you - without question, to go into your husband or wife's hospital room and hold their hand as the die.

To support your spouse on their deathbed... without question -  access to your family.

Nancy and I don't automatically get that right. When I was in the hospital last year for my knee replacement, we had to FIGHT with the recovery nurses to let her in to see me after surgery. Even though we placed her on all the forms and spoke to everyone we could that she was my next of kin...

Completely unacceptable.

Your marriage license grants you, the surviving member of this union to your spouses Social Security and pensions, if they are larger than your own... financial security, financially responsible for each other.

Legally.

Responsibility for your family.

Nancy and I don't automatically get that. Should she pass before I do, the mortgage on this house will be automatically paid off... but can I, on partial disability, working a part time job and getting the occasional teaching gig with my artwork, could I afford to keep this house up alone? I doubt it.

By repealing this law they have denied us and every other gay and Lesbian family the right to be legally and financially responsible for each other.

That's what the repeal of this law did to us on Tuesday.

Rights were taken away from me.

Us.

In America....

Today, in 2009.

Outraged?

Yep. 

However, mostly I'm ashamed of our society and I vow to educate people about my life.

Education and telling my truth... that's what will change this wrong.

How I feel after the passage of the people's referendum to repeal the Equal Marriage Law in Maine, November 4 2009.

---

November Workshop Changes!!!

 

 

Come take a peek at some of the examples of the "Make and Takes" you'll get to make during the half Day (10am to 3pm) Workshop for Beginners to Polymer Clay at Sweetland Retreat in November...

 

We've just lowered

the class price...

to $30!!

Grab a friend and come have some fun playing with clay!

Message the gals at Sweetland Retreat over on Facebook to sign up!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=100000165810595

Or check out the Sweetland Retreat webpage!

http://www.sweetlandretreat.com/workshops.htm

Check out some of the examples of the Make and Takes pics!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=125320&id=622506921&l=87be3d3726

Retail Venues

 

I just updated both my Etsy and Artfire Store. Free Shipping... ALWAYS!

I'll also be at the Fine Arts & Craft Fair sponsored by the Music Department at Hall-Dale High School on October 31st.

Come check me out!!

Map to Hall-Dale High School

holey mouth and other news

Yay!

I finally have that rotten tooth out of my mouth! It took all of ten minutes! I still have a cavity that needs filling, a crown done and some major cleaning.

I HATE dental work! Who does though?? So I sit here attempting to drink and dribble warmish coffee and catch up on a few neglected items in my online venues and such.... work later this afternoon.

In other news....

I got the nod to be in the Hall-Dale High School Fine Art show and sale on October 31st from 9AM to 3PM. It's sponsored by the Music Department and is a benefit for them so they can attend the Great East Music Festival in May of 2010. http://www.greateastfestivals.com/home.html

Still working on some new samples of the make and take's that you'll get to make during the upcoming class at Sweetland Retreat in November.

http://constancepelkeydesigns.blogspot.com/2009/08/november-class-sign-up-and-start-saving.html

Lot's happening!

Some upcoming class examples….

 

If you’ve never touched clay, or you’re a seasoned clayer, come join us for a day long workshop! In the morning I’ll be speaking about how to work with artist grade Polymer clay – KATO brand. This is a wonderful clay that works up beautifully!

Bring a bag lunch and afterward we’ll split up and start making stuff!!

We’ll have a FUN day of creativity!!

This is a smattering of the projects that you’ll be able to *make and take* during my upcoming class at Sweetland Retreat. Come join us and learn from each other!

View Full Album

 

Check me out on Facebook to get timely updates!

How I condition the new formula KATO poly clay

I always keep a small conditioned sheet of each color… no less than 3”X3”…

mine happens to be #1.

NEVER run clay through the machine in bunches… only feed slices no thicker than your thickest setting into the rollers!

KATO is a tough firm clay that works up beautifully! However, you CAN NOT expect to work with it and have your finished pieces last for any length of time without proper conditioning.

 

By all means, if you can make it happen – GET A MOTOR!

Especially if you have joint issues in your arms… I had TWO torn rotator cuff surgeries in two years. I couldn’t clay using the crank. I went NUTZ without my clay!

 

flip so the fold goes through first, always! It prevents bubbles.

 

 

 

take a thin slice off the block – I use the 1 LB blocks

place on the bottom edge

 

  

I’ve found that the lighter colors tend to crumble more… it varies from batch to batch, color to color.

 

always fold left to right with edges slightly off… turn fold to face down, run through PM, repeat.

 

Your mileage may vary with this method, but it works well for me and is the way I teach how to work with KATO, something I’ve done exclusively since Donna and Vern developed it years ago.