Constance Pelkey Designs

Name Cane. FAIL!

2011-01-18T15:32:00.001-05:00

My caning abilities have clearly suffered since my time in the studio has diminished!

I'll be so glad when we are completely done with the house and I can devote more time to being in the studio! I do however, have to get back up to speed with my caning, and I have to do it soon, as I have another commission to get started on!

This one involves a picture cane! Better come out nicer than this name cane!

*sigh*

To think, people actually used to buy my picture canes!

*hanging head in shame*

Evolution of lamp

2011-01-09T13:33:00.001-05:00

Journey from lumps of clay to a sentimental sculpture for a dear friend.

The box in Wisconsin!

2010-08-24T09:26:00.001-04:00

This is what Liz had to say about the box on August 23rd.

Ok, Here's the pictures of what I put in and what I took out. It doesn't look like I took a lot out, but I really did. Everything I took was in small bags, so it doesn't look like a big bunch of stuff.

It was fun going through the box. I wish I had a need for buttons or knew someone who sewed or knitted; there are some cool buttons in the box.

Putting things in the box was good practice for getting organized in the near future (ah right, roll eyes). I gathered up things that I have been meaning to use as well as things that I use but have too many of. The screw eyes are something I use, but geez, I had to order a gross of each finish. I don't need that many so I hope someone else can put them to good use. Same with the leather cord. I had to buy a whole spool which is more than I can use in a year.

I haven't opened up the book I put in for two years, so in it went. BTW, that book is out of print. The 3 Fossil tins are from the dumpster at work. For some strange reason they were unpacking the Fossil watches and throwing away the tins. I couldn't stand to see perfectly good containers going in the trash, so I brought them home with me. Now three years later I decided I really should part with some of them. I haven't done a thing with them in the 3 years they have been stored in the linen closet.

I hope these pics are going to be ok. I set the camera for the lowest resolution thinking the pics have to be small. Now that I've mailed the box I'm thinking maybe I should have used a slightly higher resolution. Too late...the box is half way to Michigan now.

Liz

Added

Took

Claudia in Michigan is up next!

Beautiful canes from BJ!

2010-08-24T08:50:00.001-04:00

Bj in Illinois had the box on August 17th and this is what she posted on her blog about her time with the box!

http://knighttwork.blogspot.com/2010/08/2nd-trash-to-treasure-swap-box-its-here.html

What she kept!

What she put in!

And a few pressie's too!

Liz in Wisconsin is up next!

Box in Georgia

2010-08-24T08:38:00.001-04:00

Sorry gals, I've been remiss in posting updates... been kind of busy on the home front.

Jackie in Georgia had the box on August 12 and here's a couple pics of what she took and put in!

Nice stuff Jackie!

removed

added

Betty in Illinois is next!

For my desert dwellers

2010-08-13T13:56:00.001-04:00

Nancy Mows the lawn

Moving again!

2010-08-11T07:58:00.001-04:00

Gloria had the box over the weekend and now Jackie has it already! Wow! Moving right along! Fun!!

"Box is on it's way to Jackie Mellow.

Gosh..I could have saved a few dollars and just walked it to her.

Jackie, I was at Mall of Ga. yesterday. We could have met."

Kept

Added

10th leg!

2010-08-11T07:37:00.001-04:00

Pat finally got her pics put up from her time with the swap!

Here's what she had to say:

"Well, I finally got things back together with my printer and loaded the pictures. I will attach the two. This has been a fun swap, in spite of the quantity, LOL, hope everyone is enjoying the goodies they get. It occurred to me last night that I don't remember putting stickers on the three books I put in the box, so it the next person to receive would please email me I can tell you which three they are and ask you to please put a note on them for me, please.

I have lots going on, Chartpak has just hired me to teach their fine arts program for Michael's locally, and samples have to be ready to hang within a couple weeks. This means more hours, YES! when most needed.

Here are the two pics. Pat :c)"

What she kept

What she added

Gloria? You're next!

7th leg

2010-08-04T08:51:00.001-04:00

Jackies time with the box:

(originally posted at Life Art Designs http://www.1000markets.com/blog_posts/31771 )

It's all about the clay for me. I love working with both materials, whether it's polymer clay or precious metal silver clay. On the polymer clay side, I belong to a wonderful group of polymer artists online at www.polymerclaycentral.com. One thing we all have in common is that after a while, we begin to accumulate a large amount of tools, and various unfinished pieces and parts. To help clear out our clutter and sort of pay it forward to each other, we decided to have a trash to treasure swap.

This is our second swap of this kind. First, a person fills a box part way with all their "extras". A list of participants is made and a route of travel for the box is decided based on the listed locations. Each time someone receives the box, they take out what they want to keep. Then, they put in the same amount of items from their "extras" as they took out and send the box to the next person on the list. Each time, photos are taken of what you keep and what you put inside the box. The photos and delivery conformation are posted at our online site for the others to see.

This brings me to the point of this blog post. The photos of what I kept and gave are to the right. The top photo shows the contents of the box after I opened it. The second photo shows what items I kept, and the third photo shows what I donated to the box.

Pat? You're up!

The Box left the desert!

2010-08-04T08:32:00.001-04:00

Your humble swap hostess was MIA for a few days there. My apologies, swappers!

The box is moving right along without me! Here's Jodies' story of the T2T swap box!

OK...I got the box on [July] 22nd...and sent it out this morning to Janie in AL.

The box is getting rather full. :) I sent off the bead rollers separately, as they were taking up too much space!!! (This leaves more room for stuff!!!)

Here's the scoop on the attached pix:

The Box...self explanatory!

T2T_Xof4...took me 4 pic to get it all in!

gifties...things getting passed on to others in the Swap!

Jodie_Out...what I took!

Jodie_In...what I added!

Hope you all enjoy the goodies as much I as enjoyed looking at them all!

One thing...please make sure you put your name or a card in with the items you've added! Some of the earrings and beads started to get separated from their cards...and there was no way of knowing who made what!!!

Janie? You're up!

Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. ~George F. Will

2010-07-21T06:58:00.001-04:00

The box is headed to Arizona!!

This is what Jackie posted about the box's stay at here place!

I took a few photos of the T2T box, here they are.

The box is crammed full - I mean crammed!! So future swappers might want to think about putting small and flat items in there. Or something. It was hard to get it all back in.

(contents)

(Close up)

(taken)

(added)

The postage amount for the box (large flat rate box) is $15.20 so start saving your pennies. It's going to be on its way to Jodie in Arizona tomorrow!

Jodie I am posting it to your PO box so it doesn't get melted on your doorstep.

Jackie

Edited to add: thanks for swapping, everyone. For those behind me - you are going to love Moe's beads! You would have loved Jeanann's things, too, LOL, but I'm afraid some of them are now in MY possession! And Sue C - I now own one of your lizard tails & matching beads, yay. Mary Kay and Rebecca - great tools you guys added. If I forgot anyone forgive me - I'm worn out today.

Thanks so much for sharing, Jackie!! Great pictures!!

Jodie in Arizona?? You're up!!

Constance Pelkey Designs on Facebook!

2010-07-12T17:35:00.001-04:00

For those of you on my personal Facebook account, you might want to make sure you "like" my Constance Pelkey Designs - http://www.facebook.com/Constance.Pelkey.Designs - page.

Because if you are strictly a crafty-type friend, you'll run the risk of being 'unfriended' on my personal account. If you WANT to remain on both accounts I'll gladly keep you, but you have to let me know before August 1st!

I plan on doing a LOT more on my business page in upcoming months and needed to streamline FB friends lists!

Thanks for following me!!

Connie

The box - livin' the good life in Hawaii!

2010-07-10T10:45:00.001-04:00

copied from Moe's blog, over here - http://moeart.blogspot.com/

"So, we had a fun swap with all the great people from Polymer Clay Central. Connie, The Purple Princess was our hostess and today I got the box! Heee. Lots of goodies and prezzies and fun stuff! So, pix! I opened the box.

Ipo has to check it out

Goodies galore!

Hmm, this is the end of the box?

more goodies

and more!

and more....

lotta stuff in this box!

What I took out to keep

box is packed up and almost ready to go but wait!!! what happened to the stuff I have to put in! OIKS!

here it is

now it's ready to go but... is it???

opened my present! Is I a lucky girl, or what? :)

Ipo wanted to check out the cupboard and my purse. :D

And so, the box isn't full so I will toddle off to my studio and find even more goodies to put in. Howz dat, clay pals? ;D

Thanks so much for sharing the box's journey to the beautiful Hawaiian Isle!! *wink* - the purple princess!

Here's the map thus far! Fun, huh?

Next up?

Jackie in Nevada!

Connie

The box is going on VACATION!!!

2010-07-06T08:11:00.001-04:00

It's headed from Missouri to Hawaii!!

I'm so jealous!! LOL

Here's what Marykay had to say about her time with the box! !

All I put in was a book called Spirit Clay, I think, some tools and a bag of pendants and such. Right now I just feel totally wilted. We have only had 1/4 inch rain in the last month and usually have around 6 inches. Our grass crunches when we walk across it and we are watering our gardens morning and night just to keep them alive until it rains. And the heat index of near 100 for the last several weeks has gotten really, really old! (we did get a break for a couple of days!!) I'll bribe Moe to take pics for both of us!

MaryKay Ozarks

Hopefully, (batting eyes) Moe will take lots of pics as poor Marykay's head is addled from all the heat! Whew! Have a glass of sweet tea for me Marykay! Hope it rains on your gardens soon!

Next up? Moe in Hawaii!!

click for a bigger pic!

Leg #4 of the swap!

2010-06-30T18:51:00.001-04:00

The box is moving again!!

Jeanann sorted through and decided what she wanted and then added some more treasures! Here's pics!

What she took out:

And what she added:

And now the box is on it's way to Mary Kay in Missouri!

The swap outgrew it's box already!

2010-06-26T14:43:00.001-04:00

The swap box has started on it's 3rd leg already!!

Rebecca in TX wrote to the group this morning:

Package just left my house and is now headed to Jeanann in MT.

I upgraded us to a large priority mail box!

I added the following:

Makins book and Molds
3 silk necklace cords
Red bouillon wire
Magnetic clasps
Metal Bracelet blank
Cowboy hat cutter
Set of Notebooks to cover with clay
A bag full of large syringes. (I use them with liquid clay)
3 rolls of embossing foils. (blue, gold and silver)
4 Silver conches for belt buckles
a bag of necklace cords
a package of ultra light
a package of google eyes
a string a pearl drop beads
2 sheets of temporary tattoos
dicrochic plastic wrap (use under clear embossing powder
for faux dichroic look)
a bunch of black gift bags
Dowel rods
a package of black satin cord
a blank sheet of lino to cut your own stamp.

I took out the following.

Magazine
lady bug cane
bangles
wire chokers
Buttons
glass ducks
face cane brooch
bag of tile slices

I did toss a few pieces that were broken beyond repair.
Rebecca
www.sublimeclay.com

The upgraded box on it's way to Jeanann in Montana!

Second leg of swap!

2010-06-23T15:16:00.001-04:00

This morning I received an email from Gillian in Waco, TX, and she said this:

" The box is packed and ready to drop off in the morning.

Here are pictures of "what I took"

I took the maple leaf hole punch (yay!), 2 sets of glass beads, a pouch of blue seed beads, a gorgeous fish pendant, some lovely dichroic drops, and 3 pendants (2 floral, one abstract). Not shown, I took two glass plates that will make lovely candy dishes for my mother-in-law's Christmas gift.

and "what I added".

I added 4 canes, 1 package of assorted clear stamps, a tube of gold glass beads, some swirly bronzy tube beads of polymer clay, some glass "duck" beads, polymer clay roses and rose leaves I made years ago, some bargello type pendant pieces, some wire spirals, and a set of copper bead caps (10, I think). Not shown are 1 large round mirror (6", I think) and a package of smaller rectangular mirrors.

Gillian "

Such fun!

Thanks so much for sharing that with us Gillian! I'm so glad you are happy with the maple leaf hole punch! Why so happy? May I ask? Are you, perhaps originally from Canada?

If you didn't remember the box on your way out the door this morning, I'm sure all the gals in the swap won't be too upset with you! LOL

So.. the box is on it's second leg of it's journey! From Waco to Friendswood TX!

Your updated map!!

Swap box goodies

2010-06-19T09:24:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I posted about the swap box getting underway.

Today it's pics of the contents!

The box spilled all over the table on our deck!

WOW!

Tonja, the host of the first swap sent me the remnants of what was left and she added even more goodies of her own - AGAIN! -

THANKS TONJA LEDERMAN!

Why don't you click on over and thank her personally??!! *evil grin*

http://tonjastreasures.com/wordpress/

So, the box was already stuffed with tons of goodies before I got a chance to add anything!! Ha ha! You'll have to wait to see in person what I put in! *wink*

I took out a few finished prize pieces and some supplies to keep for or myself!

I love seeing pics of what's happening with the box on it's travels! I'm so looking forward to seeing what all the other gals do with the box!

Here's an updated map for you all to see the the box, "enroute"!

(All pics are clickable!)

2nd Polymer Clay Central Trash to Treasure Swap Box!

2010-06-18T09:25:00.002-04:00

The second T2T swap is officially underway!!
First leg? It's on it's way from Maine to Texas!
I'll post about the swap here on my blog and on the PCC message boards! (http://forums.delphiforums.com/polymerclay/start)'s
It's gonna be fun!!
Rules:
We will be using a medium flat rate priority box in the USA. (Obviously, those shipping around Europe, etc. won't be) The med. flat rate box costs $10.35. So please set aside the money so you are ready to go when it's your turn.
Rules:
1) Please take no more than 25 items from the box. We want it to be fair to everyone else that comes later down the list and it keeps a nice variety building up. You need to put back in the box at least as much as you took out.
2) If you have a few beads or stuff that is meant to be a set. Put them together in a bag and mark it "counts as 1 item". Please make sure you also put your name on your items so we know who added it to the box. :)
3) If you see a name on the list that you want to send a specific item to just put that persons name on that item so they know it's meant for them.
4) You can include items other than pieces made of clay. If it can be used with clay, on clay, around clay, it's fair game. Canes, tools, supplies, magazines, all are acceptable to be added to the box.
5) The mailing list will be included in the box. (I will also have a copy) Please mail the box to the name just under yours and check it off, the box must have a confirmation number. Everyone please keep us informed, by posting on the PCC message boards as to the arrival and shipping of the box, also post the confirmation number. That way we know where the package is at all times.
6) Please try very hard to mail the box 2 days after you get it. Or this could be a very long swap. If something comes up that makes this impossible, please just let me know right away.

Watch this map to see where the box is!

Click the pic to make it bigger!

February Work

2010-02-16T13:10:00.001-05:00

So, I have decided to enter a piece or two in the Harlow Art Galley 15th annual juried art show http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=295855958452&ref=mf this spring, sponsored by the Kennebec Valley's Art Association. This first one work is the beginnings of my Gaia, Earth Mother sculpture. She will have wild and crazy hair with tiny animals, plants and people strewn about through it.

These second pictures are of the beginnings of my felted backpack. This is a Tree of Life image. It will have more branches with leaves interspersed on top.

I'll post more pics as I finish these projects up.

Back issues of Bead and Button magazine

2010-02-09T11:10:00.001-05:00

I just listed a bunch of back issues of Bead and Button magazine on my Face Book Storefront!

Like new top quality magazines!

Listed under Supplies/ Components.

Check it out!!

http://www.facebook.com/Constance.Pelkey.Designs?v=app_135607783795

UPDATE!! Polymer Clay Bug Swap UPDATE!!

2010-02-08T08:49:00.003-05:00

Hi potential bug swappers!!
Seems folks are concerned about the postage costs I've set forth the swap. So, in the interest of getting this swap underway I've changed a few things. New Bug size limits and postage costs.
This year the deadline for sign up is Sunday February 28th.

ALL participants must email me their contact information from a valid email address. No one will be placed on the swap list without emailing me this information first!
My email address: conniepelkey@gmail.com

Information from you that I'll need:
Full name:
Full postal address:
Valid email address: (email me from this address)
Phone number:
Number of groups of six you want to join:

In return, I will email you back my contact information, including my phone number.

I absolutely need ALL of this information from each swap member. Swaps are meant to be fun, however recently there has been a "rash" of troubled swaps out there. Bad swap issues have included folks not staying in contact with the hostess, the hostess herself "falling off the edge of the planet", items being lost in the mail, incorrect postal amounts being sent, etc, etc...

The details of the swap are as follows:

For those living in the continental USA, you'll be identified as GROUP A:
The deadline for your completed buggy groups is Friday April 30, 2009.

For those in Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and overseas locations, you'll be identified as GROUP B:
The deadline for your completed buggy groups is Friday April 16, 2009.

I will do my utmost best to photograph, swap out and mail the bugs back to you all by May 15th. I WILL keep you all posted.
The 2010 Polymer Clay Bug Swap will consist of groups of six (6). What this means is you will make and send out to me 6 bugs. Your bugs must be made primarily of polymer clay, but feel free to use any mixed media to dress up your bugs. They do not have to be realistic! Let your imagination run wild!
The down and dirty basics are:

Sign up deadline: Feb 28th
Group A postmark deadline: April 30
Group B postmark deadline: April 16
Each bug MUST fit inside a 3X3 inch square. NO larger! It also needs to be no smaller that a 2X2 inch square! You will receive back 5 different bugs plus one of your own.
Group A: Package each bug individually in a zipper plastic bag along with your business card or a slip of paper with your name and email address.
Package your groups in a flat rate priority mail box
Each box gets a confirmation number
Include return postage
Group B: discuss w/ me mailing options

Those in GROUP A will carefully package your groups up in a FLAT RATE PRIORITY MAIL box. You will also include as much return postage you paid to ship it to me! Alternatively you can PayPal me the return postage. When mailing, you must also request a package confirmation number and let me know what that number is.
You may sign up for and make as many groups as you like!

Those in GROUP B will contact me personally about how to ship your packages, various countries have different shipping options to the US and we can discuss those.

Lets have a GREAT swap!!

Flickr Tags: bug swap

My latest project

2010-01-25T19:42:00.001-05:00

I just finished up this cell phone case. I'm pretty happy with how it came out.

It's made of silver plate wire that was strung with a variety of glass seed beads - exploding in colors and sizes - then single stitch crocheted into a mesh envelope. I then sewed a purple with white polka dots linen liner and secured it inside the wire mesh envelope.

After choosing a beautiful dichroic glass cabochon that was made by Tonja Lenderman of Tonja's Treasures, I wire wrapped and secured it onto the flap for use as the button portion of the closure. Then, I made the clasp portion from rubber cording that was also wire wrapped onto the front of the case.

I single crocheted a luscious variegated yarn into a small loop for a handle and together with a silver plate "C" charm secured them to the case as a final flair.

The measurements are approximately three and one half inches by two inches and the case was made to fit an LG Banter cell phone.

The following pictures are all clickable, for a closer view.

My cell phone case. Front, closed.

My cell phone case. Front, open, w/ phone peeking out

My cell phone case. Back, open.

My cell phone case. Close up of charm and rubber closure.

My cell phone case. Close up of wire wrapped cabochon button closure.

My cell phone case. Close up of flap and closure.

Holding my cell phone case for scale.

Flickr Tags: cell phone case,wire wrap,crochet,seed beads,dichroic class cabochon

Business stuff

2010-01-13T13:11:00.001-05:00

So one my my "New Years things" I'm working on is to be more business minded and work on it more. So, I've been working on taking new pictures of all my inventory and loading up my new storefront. I opened a store on my Face Book Biz page.

http://www.facebook.com/Constance.Pelkey.Designs

Click on the "storefront" tab and check things out!

"Friends"

2010-01-11T15:52:00.001-05:00

Over on Face Book, I have 299 friends.

Here's a fun idea; Suggest someone new to me and I'll send them a FREE little gift from me (Constance Pelkey Designs) Can't beat that with a stick, now can ya?

"Inchies" swap!!

2010-01-07T07:49:00.001-05:00

Barbara-P-W, (BDPW10, over over at the PCC message boards - http://forums.delphiforums.com/polymerclay/?) is hosting an "Inchies" tile swap. The tiles need to be an inch square and made primarily of polymer clay. The details are below. Join us!

1 - Tiles have to be 1 inch square. You can embellish/decorate/create them any way you wish as long as the base is polymer.

2 - Tiles should have your name and/or PCC alias written on the back.

3 - You can send as little as 5 tiles and as many as 25 tiles (if anyone thinks they want to make more than this, let me know, this is just a number that came to mind). I will randomly choose tiles from other swappers to send back to you. If we run short or I somehow miscount, I will make up the difference with my own tiles.

4 - Send your tiles to me in a flat rate priority mail box ($4.95) and include $5.00 for returning the tiles to you.

(Remember, tiles you receive may be used in any project you wish to create, for sale or for yourself.)

5 - Deadline for getting the tiles to me is February 26th. I will do my best to turn them around and send them out within 1-2 weeks after that.

6 - Anyone who's interested, please send me your name, e-mail address, PCC alias, and your home address to me at bdbear10@yahoo.com (so I can better keep track of who will participate).

7 - Lastly, please DON'T commit to participating if you think you may not be able to fulfill your part of the swap. I don't mind having to make a few extra tiles here and there, but nobody wants all of MY tiles, they want to see a little bit of everyone's. And it just stinks when people drop out after agreeing to play.

8 - Deadline for getting the tiles to me is February 26th. I will do my best to turn them around and send them out within 1-2 weeks after that.

Any questions, please send them to me at my e-mail address or post in this thread!

Barbara

Here's a few pictures of some inchies:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/beadingvera/4165423587/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/clay-variationen/4166124432/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/crafty_dez/2412620496/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13632391@N06/2264931613/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shoeberli/4171402404/

New Year

2010-01-04T10:37:00.001-05:00

I don't normally "do" new years resolutions, however this year there are a few personal things I plan on working on.

1. Putting Me first, then My Partner and my Relationship next, extended family 3rd and everything else last!

2. Consciously working toward having more positive thoughts, and just noticing and letting go of negativity.

3. Doing more FUN things. They don't have to be big, small things count too!

4. Working more on my art.

5. Working more towards teaching.

Best wishes to everyone for the upcoming days and months!

Christmas is yucky!

2009-12-30T10:18:00.001-05:00

About 15 years ago my then partner and I celebrated the holiday - big time. Her two nephews (whom I was "Nanny Nonnie" for about 5 years were a huge part of this. When the relationship ended it was at Xmas time, a week before she cheated on me and due to financial reasons and emotional entanglement it took a couple months before we finally extracted ourselves from each other. This included two extended stays at The Ha Ha Hotel for me. Not pleasant.

Fast forward to 2000, 9 years ago. My Dad died on the 29th of December. During this time I was still healing from a TERRIBLE staff infection in the incision from my hysterectomy. Awful, awful time.

Christmas was NOT fun for so many years.

When Nancy and I got together we sort of went through the motions with the holidays. Xmas eve was spent with her family (the niece and nephew are always a source of laughter) Xmas morning was spent with my Mom, but we never made special celebrations for us as a family.

This fall her Dad died.

We needed to make some changes because both of us were just horribly resentful around the commercialism, $$ problems and bad past circumstances surrounding this time of year.

For a while now I've wanted to actively celebrate Solstice and/ or Yule.

This year, with intent, we decorated a little artificial tree that was her grandmothers. We went through all the old decorations in the attic and picked out items that were memorable, cute or otherwise "spoke to us". All the rest went to Goodwill.

We lit candles and spoke of hopes and dreams for the coming year, we celebrated the return of the light - we both suffer from SAD so this has double meaning for us both. A day or two later, we then celebrated our Yule Tree and had our own presents to each other.

We still had Christmas eve with the kids and exchanged presents with my Mom too. We also had a feast, of course. I am a trained cook after all!

Our celebrations will evolve as the years go on, but the whole Solstice/ Yule, special celebrations just for us - as a family - were nice this year... with intent.

Christmas doesn't HAVE to be yucky - it's what we make of it.

And along those same lines... 20010 HAS to be better than 09 was. WE get to make it a good one.

Happy New Year to all!

Bright Blessing of The Sun's Return!

2009-12-21T10:41:00.001-05:00

Happy, happy Solstice to all my dear friends and family! May the Blessings of the the coming warmth be a beacon of hope for the coming year to you and yours!

A Bottle of Hope

2009-12-12T08:08:00.001-05:00

I made this little Bottle of Hope for a friend in California.. she has a young friend "in the battle" and has been collecting bottles for a couple months now.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=143203&id=622506921&l=88a2c719e5

There's a page describing the beginnings of the bottles. http://www.bottlesofhope.org/

Polymer Clay Swaps

2009-12-09T14:53:00.001-05:00

I joined Tonja's Round Robin Trash To Treasure world wide swap a few months ago. Yesterday it was my turn to get the box in the mail!!

(http://tonjastreasures.com/wordpress/?p=2191)

It came to Maine all the way from Sweden! It started back in Washington State and went to Europe, made the rounds there and now it's back in the States! After I get done sorting through and choosing what I want to take and adding my own bag of goodies, I ship it off to Pennsylvania and from there it makes it's way across the country and eventually back to Washington!

This is shot of all the goodies I chose and I put back a whole bunch more!

I love swaps!

House Plant Creatures!!

2009-11-19T15:51:00.001-05:00

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

2009-11-18T07:16:00.001-05:00

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!

2009-11-17T07:24:00.001-05:00

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

2009-11-05T09:45:00.001-05:00

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.

2009-11-04T13:25:00.000-05:00

November Workshop Changes!!!

2009-10-14T13:56:00.001-04:00

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

2009-10-13T13:44:00.001-04:00

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

2009-10-06T10:00:00.001-04:00

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….

2009-10-01T08:34:00.001-04:00

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

2009-09-29T18:48:00.001-04:00

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.

Presents, and work, and fun! Oh my!

2009-09-23T09:38:00.001-04:00

** edited to add pictures**

My Sweetmeat had a pressie waiting for me tucked under the blankie last night!

(Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww!) She is so good to me!

Found it when I was getting in bed. Pulled down the blanket and there it was! A knock off Dremel! JUST what I need to do all the drilling I need to in order to complete one of my class examples, plus I have a whole bowlful of beads that need drilling! YEEEEHAW!

I’m having a Studio Marathon Day today! YAY!!!!

Gonna work on my beads for class demo and the upcoming show. I’m gonna work on more of my class demo examples. I’ll finish up my student tool bags, and perhaps do some caning. I’ll be taking pics and will post them to my facebook and flickr pages soon.

Sunday I’ll be volunteering at The Common Ground Fair at the VSA Maine Children's Tent. We’ll be making lots of fun stuff with the kids! Like “Hay Teddy Bears”. Can’t wait! It’ll be fun! Come look for me!!

Getting ready!

2009-09-16T11:20:00.001-04:00

The floor of my studio is covered with all my teaching supplies! Why you may ask?

I’m getting ready for my teaching gig at Sweetland Retreat in November!

I found these cute little mini-multi pocketed pink and green totes to use as my student tool bags! Aren’t they just perfect!? I always provide for my beginners classes a tool bag full of PC tools for their use during the class only. All these tools I’ve made or purchased myself. They aren’t up for sale. There’s things like a length of PVC pipe, a tile, some straight edge razor blades, hand made sculpting tools, needle, clay pushers..etc. I’ve struggled as to how to neatly contain these tools ,yet be able to quickly hand them out when needed. I found these at Goodwill for 2 bux a bag! I love them!

AK! Introspection ~ OR ~ realizations of a belly button gazer.

2009-09-10T13:50:00.001-04:00

We changed from all Time Warner service's (Internet, digital phone, & DVR TV) to Direct TV for DVR TV services and Time Warner for digital phone and internet services. We're saving TONS of cash! And getting way more channels!! All is good.

Except when it’s not so good.

Two men were here for nearly 7 hours and it didn't work correctly when I turned it on this morning! I spent some time on the phone with customer service and after a while it seems to be working.

Change.

It sucketh.

I HATE programming remotes! I spent another few hours this morning programming 3 remotes!

Setting up brand new record lists, favorite channels lists and on and on! It really makes me want to poke hot needles in my eyes!!

Seriously.

Then! - explaining to my legally blind, very stubborn 78 year old Mom how the remote works for her TVs is making me want to sh*t razor blades!

I JUST WANT IT TO WORK WHEN I PICK IT UP AND PUSH THE BUTTONS!!!!!!!

The whole experience and my horrible reaction to it (can we say “Stressed so badly that I yelled at my Mom!” AK! Not good!) has convinced me that I need to start see someone again. A counselor.

*sigh*

November class! Sign up and start saving now!!

2009-08-20T18:57:00.001-04:00

Feeling down about not having much fun lately?

Well, change it! That's right!

Change it!!

Come join me and a group of fine folks who are interested in the same thing you are!

POLYMER CLAY!!!

And change that "down" feeling to an
~UP~
feeling!

Come learn something fun and find a new friend or two who shares something with you!

Theresa Chioffi of Dragon Fire Designs and I, Connie Pelkey of Constance Pelkey Designs invite you to a full day of learning about artist grade polymer clay, a very approachable and versatile medium.

In the morning, on Saturday, November 14th we will learn the basics of polymer clay – conditioning, mixing colors (the Skinner blend), creating simple canes, baking and finishing techniques, basic tool use and care, storage options, the differences in brand names, and fun tips and tricks will be discussed!

After a bag lunch, you will split into groups to work closer with the instructors and “get your hands dirty”! Whether you have dabbled with this medium or never touched it, you will successfully complete a small project of your choice to take home!

Join us for a day of Fun and new Friends!

$50 includes supplies

Check it out at Sweetland Retreat!

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

Thanks!
Connie
.·:*¨¨*:·Constance Pelkey Designs.·:*¨¨*:·.
Polymer Clay, Fine Silver, Fiber Arts Jewelry & Accessories ~ Art for you and your home!
207.333.1145
ConstancePelkeyDesigns.blogspot.com

Technorati Tags: class

ETSY TREASURY

2009-08-17T10:26:00.003-04:00

OOooooo!

I’m featured in a Treasury!

Cool!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=76826

I’m teachin’ a workshop! Y’all come!

2009-08-10T15:55:00.001-04:00

Check it out!

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

Technorati Tags: polymer clay workshop

Polymer Clay: Beginner's Workshop
Saturday November 14th, 9am - 5pm

Join instructors Connie Pelkey of Constance Pelkey Designs & Theresa Chioffi of Dragon Fire Designs for a full day of learning about artist grade polymer clay, a very approachable and versatile medium.

In the morning we will learn the basics of polymer clay – conditioning, mixing colors (the Skinner blend), creating simple canes, baking and finishing techniques, basic tool use and care, storage options, the differences in brand names, and fun tips and tricks will be discussed!

Join us for a day of Fun and new Friends!

$50 includes supplies

Instructor: Connie Pelkey, Augusta, ME
Connie makes wearable art and more! This includes bags, accessories, art beads, boxes, scarfs, functional and fun sculpture and just about anything else she takes a fancy to! From design to construction, ahe does her best work and hopes that it shows in her items. She's happy to answer any and all questions related to her work. See more of Connie's work here: http://constancepelkeydesigns.blogspot.com/

Weekend Gratitude's

2009-07-27T09:11:00.001-04:00

Free stuff at the brand new GREEN grocery store
Nancy’s 30th HS reunion – fun, but buggy!!
Breakfast with GOOD friends and live jazz music in the background
Nancy snoring in her chair during a mid morning nap
Picnic at the Bicentennial Park here in town, DESPITE the rain and gloom
Nero seeing a pond for the first time and walking off the dock and being SHOCKED at walking off the edge of the dock and into the water! LOL
Nero continuing to jump into the water! Too cute!
A bottle falling into the water and Nancy having to get wet up to her ear to rescue it! HA!
Bog Dog and Bog GF – stinky and wet in the car! LOL
Eating our picnic lunch in the car due to bugs and rain! Yum!
Roast Pork simmering in the crock pot all day – Yummy smells
MOUSSING Nero’s head and ears after he and Nancy had a shower! Fun!
Chilaxin’ in front of the tube for the evening!

G R E A T W e e k e n d !!!

Molting Hermies! whoop, whoop, whoop!

2009-07-10T09:59:00.002-04:00

After I cleaned and rearranged my hermies home the other day, one of them promptly buried herself! This is a good thing! It means she is molting. Not to be confused with changing her shell.

Hermits are decapod crustaceans, they have their own shell or exoskeleton, except in the most vulnerable spot, the abdomen. As a result, they take over outer shells left abandoned by other sea creatures. As they grow, or sometimes by whim they change these shells.

Once a year or so they molt. They bury themselves in damp sand and break out of the exoskeleton and the new one takes a few days to harden. They are VERY vulnerable to attack, especially from other hermies, at this point, so we need to be VERY vigilant and keep a close eye on her this week or so. I might even remove the hermies that aren’t molting to a covered plastic shoebox until she emerges from the sand.

Videos of my critters!!

2009-07-07T17:28:00.001-04:00

Nero's new Summer'do!

2009-07-02T11:24:00.002-04:00

Nero's new 'do!

River Front Art Fair, Hallowell, Maine 6.27.2009

2009-06-26T12:08:00.001-04:00

Kate, Theresa and I will be at the Art Fair in Hallowell tomorrow!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=75850308947&ref=mf

Come see us!

More importantly though...PRAY FOR SUN!!!!!

*So much so - notice me NOT mentioning the “R” word in this post!*

And speaking of which... if ANYONE has or knows of someone having a free standing awing that'll keep us out of the sun *wink, wink* and would be willing to loan it to me for the day... email, or better yet, call me!!
Thanks so much!!

Connie
Polymer Clay, Fine Silver, Fiber Arts Jewelry & Accessories ~ Art for you and your home!
207.333.1145
ConniePelkey@gmail.com

Open Letter to Shaw’s Supermarkets in Maine

2009-06-04T15:44:00.001-04:00

From: b woods
Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 1:50 PM
To:
Subject: Shaw's Anti-Marriage support

Dear Friends,

This morning, at Shaw’s in Augusta, my partner came across a petition table for the collection of signatures to repeal Maine’s same sex marriage law. He made a complaint to the store manager and was told Shaw’s could not be selective about who they allowed to petition at their store. My partner informed the manager he would no longer be shopping at Shaw’s.

I called and spoke to the store manager informing him that I would no longer shop or use the pharmacy at Shaw’s because they were allowing the petition drive to discriminate in matters of civil marriage in their store. I told him I thought that I found it highly offensive that Shaw’s was allowing an organization, aimed at discriminating against a class of people in the law led mainly by select religious groups, to operate on their premises. His response was that Shaw’s was not taking a stand on the issue, just allowing the collection of signatures as they did with other petitions, according to their policies. I asked him if Shaw’s would allow the KKK to collect signatures for a petition to remove racial and religious protections of Maine Law, and he seemed to agree they would not. I said I believe that Shaw’s did not therefore seem to have a blanket policy about allowing any group to collect petitions in their stores and by allowing the anti-marriage organization to advance their petition at Shaw’s, to my mind, meant that Shaw’s was supporting legal efforts at discrimination and also a particular religious dogma. He said he would talk with other management and try to rectify the situation.

I have no idea if anything will happen. But I believe it’s worth letting businesses know that if they’re going to support anti-discriminatory efforts, they’re not getting your business.

I urge other people to take a simple action if you run into any petition collectors in businesses you frequent:
Inform the manager that you find it offensive that the business is allowing and thereby supporting efforts to change Maine law to discriminate against a group of Maine citizens. Further inform the manager that you will stop doing business with them (if you can) and that you will be urging your friends to do the same. Any action needs to be taken swiftly because in Shaw’s case, they allow the petitioners there for only two days.
Local businesses should know it is a bad idea to allow these petition drives at their store and it will cost them. If we are vigilant and quickly confront businesses about the negative message they are giving if they allow anti-marriage (and how it compares to other discriminatory efforts) petition drives in their stores and that they will lose business if they do, it may prevent a lot of shoppers from unintentionally signing a petition they would not otherwise. Please consider forwarding this message to your friends and associates and social justice organizations in Maine.

Bob Woods

Web Cam!! Now!

2009-06-04T11:12:00.001-04:00

Check me out! I’ll be working on my latest marionette today! "ALIEN!"

Come have a peek!

conniepelkey@yahoo.com

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

View Full Album

In prep for the Riverfront Art Fair in Hallowell, Maine

2009-06-02T15:10:00.001-04:00

I’m temporarily closing both my ARTFIRE and ETSY store fronts! I’ll be kind of scarce around here at the blog too! Don’t miss me too much, in fact, come to the fair! I’ll be in that parking lot!!

11AM to 5PM

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=75850308947&ref=mf

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-27T09:28:00.001-04:00

Memorial Day motorcycle ride to Doubling Point Light, Arrowsic, Maine

Web Cam!

2009-05-26T09:45:00.001-04:00

Web cam is on! Working on my Butch Shoe sculpt this morning! Come watch me!

Wordless Wednesday – Late Spring in Maine

2009-05-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

It’s Tuesday Twofer again!

2009-05-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

It seems that there’s been some confusion as to WHAT Tuesday Twofer is all about!

Not good.

Not fun at all.

Tuesday Twofer is all about FUN!

It’s about TREASURE HUNTS!! Just look around on both my ARTFIRE and ETSY stores.

Be the first to find the item priced for a penny, purchase it, and it’s yours!

~OR~

Find the (♥) in the description, message me here that you found it, purchase it, and I’ll refund back to your PayPal account half of the price for you!!

EASY PEASY! No catches, no fuss, no muss! AND, no postage! Just post about me and my blog on your blog, or message boards you frequent! That’s all. I’ll post back here when you receive your prize!

So, get to searching and find your goodies

The hunt ends when I reply to this post and tell ya it’s ovah! *smile*

HAVE FUN!!!

Don’t be shy!

Wordless Wednesday just became…..

2009-05-13T09:17:00.002-04:00

Web Cam Wednesday!!!!!!!! YAY!!!

Heh!

This week only!

I’ll have the cam on most of the day today! I have the day off from work and I need to finish up some stock for my upcoming show - the Hallowell Riverfront Festival, which is a part of the larger, week long event called Whatever Family Festival, coming right up at the end of June!!

I’m doing some clip-type business card holders with my rainbow cane I did last week. I might even put a few stitches on that shoe too!

Wish me luck on that!!

Later this afternoon I be doing some mending on the *GASP!!* SEWING MACHINE!!!!

That oughta be fun!

AK!!

Twofer Tuesday!

2009-05-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

Look around on my ARTFIRE and ETSY stores!!

Be the first to find the item priced for a penny, and it’s yours!!

Or find the (♥) in the description and it’s half price!!

The hunt ends when I reply to this post and tell ya it’s ovah!

*smile*

HAVE FUN!!!

Hi, ho!

2009-05-11T08:12:00.001-04:00

It’s nose to the grindstone day!! So, off to work I go!

I’ll be home shortly after 2PM eastern time and I’ll be in the studio around 3-ish. Come watch me on the web cam while I make beads with my rainbow cane I made last week!

We had a WONDERFUL weekend! Saturday was Nancy’s birthday and yesterday was Mom’s day! Great times!!

I hope everyone else had a good weekend too!

Conditioning and show prep

2009-05-08T10:22:00.001-04:00

Ok, ok! This post isn’t ALL about the title! I HATE coming up with cute or all encompassing blog post titles!!

Here’s a sneak peek at my latest effort in sculpting. I still have to make and add the wee folk who live in this shoe, other than the cat and dog peeking out the window! I also need to add all the nitpicky stitches all over the shoe, where you see the little circle indentations! Whew! That’ll be time consuming!

On other clay fronts, I found out about the Hallowell, ME Riverfront Art fair and decided it was time to do another show! Plus, it was FREE! No space cost!! It’s been a while since I did a show.. probably three years now?

I’m excited and I have plenty of stock! I did find myself looking through my supplies earlier this week and decided I could make a few new items for this show! So I got busy making a few pens and some key chains and a few clip-style business card holders! All of these need some serious tumble time over the weekend, I asked for this weekend off due to Nancy’s birthday and Mom’s day. Since all my electrical tools are in the basement, I don’t like to leave things running unless I’m here at the house and paying attention. Tumbling is so time consuming! I’m hoping to be able to finish these items up on Monday, aka; buffing and final assembly. I work until 2 on Monday due to having the weekend off, so my web cam time will be as soon as I get home and can set it up! Come watch!

While conditioning the purple clay for my rainbow cane I was webcaming the other day, I discovered that using Studio by Sculpey clay and old formula Kato, just wasn't cutting it! I purchased some of the SBS clay to try it out when it first arrived at my local A. C. Moore's and it just wasn’t for me! So, I’ve been adding small amounts of it to projects to just use it up. I LOVED the shade of the purple I had and wanted to tone down the violet Kato, Uh huh!! The two just weren’t blending! So I added tiny amounts of liquid Kato clear medium to them as I was running the clay through the pasta machine and slowly they became one! Still, it was a much softer clay that resulted and it could have been disastrous had the violet been placed anywhere else the cane make up. It ended up on the outside, before I kaleidoscoped it so the distortion of the different hardness's of the clays in the cane was very minimal. Moral? DON’T cane with different hardness clay colors in the same cane! I KNOW better! LOL!!

I really like the way the cane ended up! I have yet to actually make anything with it, though! I used up the scrap ends first, and made some swirly lentils and Natasha slices. Kinda neat! I LOVE the contrast in colors!!

So, when I finish up these little items, I’ll get back to my shoe sculpt, finish it up, and I also want to make one more marionette for this upcoming show!

Technorati Tags: shows,constance pelkey designs

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

Jester

Technorati Tags: Wordless Wednesday,Constance Pelkey Designs

Tuesday Twofer!

2009-05-05T08:05:00.001-04:00

It’s Tuesday Twofer again!

Look around on both my ARTFIRE and ETSY stores. Be the first to find the item priced for a penny and it’s yours! Also, find the (♥) in the description, purchase it, and I’ll refund half of the price for you!!

Don’t forget, Mom’s Day is coming right up!!!

The hunt ends when I reply to this post and tell ya it’s ovah! *smile*

HAVE FUN!!!

Technorati Tags: tuesday twofer,constance pelkey designs

Craft Gossip gossiped about my Bug Swap!!

2009-05-04T08:04:00.001-04:00

Great post Jules! Thanks again!!

Craft gossip, gossiping about me again!

<- ISEEYOUOPODA OCULARIS

These “eye” related bugs, complete with “Jules encrusted” eyelash legs were made by DancinJules, Julie, the Polymer Clay Editor on Craft Gossip!

VERY fun, cute buggies!

Elaine, over at TOOAQUARIUS.com posted about the swa p too! Check out her blog!!

Thanks for the mention, Elaine!!

Technorati Tags: bug swap

Atlanta Woman, Polymer Clay Artist, Bug Swapper, Two Time Breast Cancer Survivor!!

2009-05-01T08:02:00.001-04:00

Technorati Tags: breast cancer survivor

My Mom is also a breast cancer survivor, so this is close to my heart.

Carolyn Stearns, is a two time breast cancer survivor! Keeping a good attitude and staying as active and creative during her treatments as possible helped her recovery - TREMENDOUSLY!!

Carolyn has also been a participant in bug swaps over the years! She truly is a wonderful artist and proves that working creatively helps keep you happy and healthy!!

This is one of her groups of bugs from this years swap!

FUN!!

CONGRATULATIONS Carolyn!!

YOU are an inspiration!!!

Time Management

2009-04-30T00:00:00.001-04:00

Now that I’m back to work after my medical leave of 4 months (!!) I’m finding it real necessary to schedule my time efficiently!

Mondays I have off from work so that is my Studio Day. I spend the majority of my time working in there on Mondays. In the afternoons I turn on the web cam so you can come peek over my shoulder if you like! I work on whatever happens to be on my work table at the moment. Lately I’ve been obsessing about puppets and shoes. Yes! Believe it or don’t, I’ve been working on sculptures!! Me!? Never thought it’d happen, but here I am!! Sculpting puppets and such – And shoes???! More on that later!!Whew!

Tuesdays I have my newly minted treasure hunts on my Artfire and Etsy stores! Follow my Tweets and Facebook updates as well as here at the good ol’ blog to learn more! I usually work on computer stuff on this day too, photo editing, newsletter writing and future blog posts. I need some sit down time, after all! *smile*

The rest of the week, I am spending at work. I try to squeeze in some hours of studio time, too! I HAVE to have some play time! *smile*

This weekend at work is PetSmart’s National Spring Adoption Event! I’ll be working with the local Kennebec Valley Humane Society to ensure a fun weekend at the store! Stop in and adopt someone!!! You’ll be glad you did!

Technorati Tags: Time Management,work in progress

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

Technorati Tags: Wordless Wednesday,Constance Pelkey Designs,2009 Bug Swap

Tuesday Twofer!

2009-04-28T08:34:00.001-04:00

Find the item in my ARTFIRE store that’s marked down to one penny, purchase it, and it’s yours!! NO SHIPPING CHARGES!

Search my ETSY store for the item with the (♥) in either the title or description, come back here and be the first to post the item number in the comments section, and I’ll refund half the purchase price for you!! NO SHIPPING CHARGES!

At some point today, after both items have been found, I’ll post a response here, ending the hunts!

Remember, Mom’s Day is coming right up!!

HAVE FUN!!

Technorati Tags: Tuesday Twofer

Constance Pelkey Designs Newsletter

2009-04-27T08:48:00.001-04:00

Technorati Tags: Constance Pelkey Designs monthly newsletter,Artfire,Etsy

Publisher: Constance Pelkey

Issue Number: 1

Date May 2009

Open Studio!

On the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Mondays of the month at 1PM est. to 3PM est. come watch on the web cam & see what I'm working on!
conniepelkey@yahoo.com

Selling Venues!

Constance Pelkey Designs on Artfire

Constance Pelkey Designs on Etsy

Follow Me!

This month’s Promo Code!

Nan61

Place this in the comments section during check out and I’ll refund 10% of your total purchase

Hi everyone and welcome to my revamped newsletter!

You’ll notice a few new changes, mostly down along the left side of the letter.

The most important are links to both my stores and my Twitter and Facebook pages! If you pay attention to my blog, you’ll be privy to special deals and lots of fun throughout the month!

For instance, on Mondays come watch me on my web cam! Whatever I happen to be working on, you can peek over my shoulder and watch me! I’ve been working on some sculptures lately. I’ll be (finally) stringing up my black and white jester puppet. I had some mechanical troubles in figuring out how my marionettes where going to work, but I have that ironed out now! So, Mr. Jester-Man will be able to dance soon! I’ll also be continuing to work on my very colorful “Old Woman” in the shoe sculpt! Lot’s of work and I’ll soon be unwrapping the the secrecy of this one soon! Fun!

Tuesday will be a fun day because it’s Twofer Tuesdays!

On Tuesday I’ll be zeroing out the price of an item in my Artfire store, it’s up to you to find it and purchase it first! That’s right! One of the items in my Artfire store will be FREE to whomever finds and purchases it first!!

In my Etsy store, you’ll have a scavenger hunt every week! Find the text heart (♥) somewhere in the description or title of one of my items and go back to my blog and post the item number in the comments section of that weeks blog post. You have from the time I make my Tuesday Twofer post - until the time I respond to that post - ending the hunt!

Remember, follow me on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date on all the fun stuff happening at Constance Pelkey Designs!!

To subscribe, please email: conniepelkey@gmail.com and place "ADD ME!" in the subject line.

If you are receiving this newsletter it is because you have expressed an interest in my work in the past. If you wish to be removed, please email me ASAP and I'll remove you!

Please feel free to pass this newsletter along to anyone who might be interested!

Sleepy Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

Technorati Tags: wordless wednesday,sleepy puppy,cute

Tuesday Twofers!!

2009-04-21T15:55:00.001-04:00

Every Tuesday I’ll be zeroing out an item’s price at my ARTFIRE shop! Be the first to find that FREE item, and it’s YOURS!!

In my ETSY shop, find the item with a text heart (♥) on it – SOMEWHERE in the items’ Description or Title.

Come back here and post about it with a link to the item and it’s yours for half price!!!

No additional charges!

Technorati Tags: tuesday twofer,free,half price,free shipping,shops,Constance Pelkey Designs

Indigo Girls!!!

2009-04-20T09:31:00.001-04:00

Amy Rae

*drool*

Closer To Fine!

‘Nuff said.

Technorati Tags: Indigo Girls

Mini Vacation!

2009-04-18T08:47:00.002-04:00

Monday is a holiday here in New England. My partner Nancy took Friday off and she is off on Monday too! So, we are in the midst of a mini vacation!

She got caught up on some yard work yesterday while the weather was EXCELLANT! Beautiful day!! Today is a “lazy bum day” and then tomorrow we are off to Portland with a group of friends for dinner and the Indigo Girls concert at Merrill Auditorium! Yippee!!!

Monday we go over to our friend’s who lets us winter store “the girls” (our motorcycles) in her large garage. We are bringing them home for the season!! YAY! We may even take a short ride after we get them home, depends on how cool it is.

All this rambling just to tell you I WON’T be having Open Studio Time on Monday. But, be certain to check out my little smiley face Yahoo messenger guy over there on the top right column, ya never know when I’ll be broadcasting from the studio. I’ll be working on my Old Lady in the Shoe sculpt and I’ll be stringing my black and white jester marionette this coming week!

Technorati Tags: mini vacation,webcam,work in progress,polymer clay puppet,polymer clay shoe sculpt,Indigo Girls

Wordless Wednesday - Beautiful bugs!!

2009-04-15T00:00:00.002-04:00

Open Studio today!

2009-04-13T11:21:00.001-04:00

Today I’ll be working in the studio!

I’m taking a wee break from my marionette making to continue working on my bugs!

I just swapped out all the bugs from this years swap on Saturday! So I have all my own completed groups I received, I was in 3 groups, that’s 18 bugs! So I’ve been admiring them and I realized that this was the 4th swap I’d hosted and it was time to truly give ALL my bugs from this and past bug swaps a proper home!

So today I’ll be constructing, painting and decorating the display for my buggy collection!

My Yahoo ID is conniepelkey@yahoo.com, so check me out this afternoon and watch me work!

**Caution**
Possible 2009 swap bug spoilers!

Technorati Tags: webcam,open studio,bug swap,painting

Go Rachel!

2009-04-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

Technorati Tags: Rachel Maddow

Craft Gossip posted about me!

2009-04-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

Me! Lil’ ol’ me!

Julie, the polymer clay editor over at Craft Gossip.com blogged about my airplane puppet control!

Cool!

Thanks so much, Jules!! Fun!

Technorati Tags: craft gossip

Cool Spring Bugs!

2009-04-10T09:55:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I spent the morning and afternoon chasing the sun around the outside of my house so I could get good pictures of all the groups of bugs I have in this years swap! 42 groups in all!! I’d grabbed a few hours of sun Sunday morning and then it was dark and dreary for the rest of the week! So, yesterday was my first opportunity to get it done!

Spring in Maine!! Don’t we love it!?

Actually, we do! We LIVE for days like yesterday! Warm sun! Warm enough so that you could stay outside and work on something for more than 2 minutes without freezing some important body part off! Yes, I started my morning off on the front porch, in front of the house so I was getting a wind block. It was nice and sunny but quite windy! Wind does NOT make for good polymer – clay - bug picture taking! They may have wings, many of these bugs, but they only fly in our imagination! The wind does nasty things to cute little defenseless polyclay bugs! Blowing and crashing them about! Not pretty!

So, the first pic is of my morning escapades and then after lunch while I was in the driveway! I needed a wind block in both locations!

Really, it really was a nice day here in Maine… really it was.

Nero helping me take buggy pics!

My set up at the back door, by the garage, which was my windbreak here in the afternoon!

Pauline made the most adorable bugs! She apparently has had a rough few weeks of late, as she explains on the little note she enclosed in each little buggy baggie! As I was reading this note that spoke of her inspiration for her work in this swap and the "craziness" of her life of late, I glanced over into the box she sent her bugs to me in and there I spied my hostess gift from Pauline!*squeal!*

Oh, Pauline!

I LOVE it! It’s just what I needed!

Packing tape for the swap hostess!

I have all these buggies that need to be packaged and taped up for shipping!

Thanks so much!

Perfect!!

It’s just what I needed as the hostess!

Technorati Tags: Spring in Maine,polymer clay,Spring Bug swap

A pretty cool commute!

2009-04-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

Technorati Tags: Julie Andews,cool commute,video

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

Technorati Tags: wordless wednesday,airplane control,marrionette,puppet

Bugs and Puppets Mania!!

2009-04-07T00:00:00.001-04:00

It seems I’ve certainly been bitten by the bugs this early spring!!

As you know, I’m hosting the Spring Bug Swap again this year, so my house has been infested with bugs! Polymer clay bugs that is! What a gorgeous batch of bugs this year!! Wow!! Beautiful stuff ladies and gent! This year we had swappers from all over the United States, one from Canada and one from Belgium, too! We mostly had women swappers this year, but we also had a gentleman join us this time around! He certainly stepped right up to the plate! GORGEOUS work!

GORGEOUS WORK EVERYONE, IN FACT!!!

Oh my goddess! Every day I gathered the mail and when bug boxes where on the porch it was like opening gifts on your birthday!! So much talent, imagery, fun and pure genius coming out of every box!! I can’t wait to get to finished taking pictures of them all and posting for you all to see too!! These are some of the best bugs I’ve seen in a long time! Congrats to all my swappers this year!! Job well done!!

I hope to get enough time to take pictures of all the groups later in the week, when the weather report is much more cooperative! I did get a few hours of sun Sunday morning and got a chunk taken out of my stack of boxes! 42 groups this year!

I’ve also been bitten by the puppet making bug. I started making art doll puppets last December and haven’t been able to stop yet! I love it! I made an art doll/ puppet wind chime for a friend, then I made two hand puppets for some more friends and I’ve been working on a marionette lately!

I had the web cam on a number of times last week while I was working on the marionette and it was fun! Thanks to those of you who watched!

Check out the little “I’m on line” yahoo messenger guy over there on the left of this blog.. if he’s awake, I’m in the studio and I’m broadcasting! Come watch!

Technorati Tags: puppets,bugs,swaps

Our friends puggy pups

2009-04-06T09:02:00.001-04:00

Brutie in the rear (the happy birthday singing pug!) and his little brother Ozzie who is up front!!!

Technorati Tags: pugs,cute,spring,wagon

Local kids do good!

2009-04-05T09:44:00.001-04:00

Technorati Tags: downs syndrom,autism,final four,basketball,local Maine kids

Cops Bust Stool Fool

2009-04-02T08:46:00.001-04:00

We read about this innovative guy who created and crashed a motorized barstool and laughed ‘til we cried!!! Check it over at the smoking gun!!

Technorati Tags: motorized barstool,funny

Wordless Wednesday Weight Loss

2009-04-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

Technorati Tags: weight loss surgery,before and after,gastric bypass

February ‘07

April ‘08

March ‘09

Web Cam – anyone? Open Studio

2009-03-31T00:00:00.001-04:00

Technorati Tags: web cam,polymer clay puppet,making,jester,marionette

Check me out this afternoon! At 1PM eastern time, I’ll be working on my newest puppet, a black and white jester marionette!

I’ll turn on the web cam, conniepelkey@yahoo.com and you can watch me work! I might not answer a chat from you, as I’m concentrating! Please, don’t be offended!

I’m still new at this, so let me know if the light is bad or the camera angle is off. Post a comment here please! I’ll be doing this, soon on a regular basis! It will be on Monday afternoons from 1PM eastern time to 3PM eastern time. Set your reminders and come watch what I’m doing!!

Marriage Equality – The Way Life Should Be!! (in Maine)

2009-03-30T07:36:00.001-04:00

A video on basic human rights… Freedom to marry.

Technorati Tags: freedom to marry,equal rights,marriage,human rights,equality

Product Review and Giveaway: Lisa Pavelka Signature Series

2009-03-27T16:36:00.001-04:00

This post was made over at www.favcrafts.com and if I post there and here about it, I get double the chances to win! YAY!

So…. here’s the info! I’ve worked with Lisa in person, and she is kind and patient, a wonderful teacher!! So talented!!

The Lisa Pavelka Signature Series JHB International includes a variety of tools for polymer clay: Border Molds, Texture Stamps, Craft Foil, Magic Gloss, Embossing Cutters, and Claying Around DVD.

Product Review By Maria Nerius

Technorati Tags: polymer clay,giveaway,lisa pavelka

At least one member of the testing team has had the pleasure to watch Lisa Pavelka in action demonstrating her signature series product line. Lisa has made it easy to create designer pieces with polymer clay. The tools are efficient and easy to use. The Border Mold makes impressive boarders that are thick and well detailed. The cutters are some of the best the testing team has every tried. The Texture Stamps are richly detailed. Magic Gloss is pretty cool and again, so easy to use. This is a very complete product line. If you’d like to learn more about working with polymer clay the Claying Around DVD is done in a fun and informative fashion.

Tester Feedback

•    Great product line, anything you need is there for working with polymer clay from start to finish of any project.
•    Excellent detail on the border molds and texture stamps. Fresh and fashionable patterns.
•    Magic Gloss adds a shiny finishing touch. Easy to use and no mess with the tip.
•    Foil was interesting to use and results were perfect.
•    Claying Around was fun to watch and there was a ton of great information on technique.

WIN THE POLYMER CLAY TOOLS AND DVD !

We are giving away one set of the Lisa Pavelka Signature Series polymer clay tools and DVD to a lucky reader. Just post a comment on this blog and you’ll automatically be entered to win. The deadline to enter is April 3, 2009 at 5 pm CST. We’ll send an email to the winner so please check to make sure your email is correct. You’ll get an extra entry for EACH of the following (if you comment and do all four things, you’ll be entered FOUR times):

If you blog about this giveaway at your blog, we’ll give you an extra entry. Contact us with a link to the blog post.
If you twitter about this giveaway, you’ll get an extra entry. Again, contact us with a link to the tweet.
If you add a link to us on your blogroll or website, we’ll give you an extra entry. Again, contact us!

Craft Giveaway Summary

Prize: 1 set of Lisa Pavelka Signature Series polymer clay tools and DVD

Deadline: April 3, 2009 5pm CST

Good luck!

Spring Equinox Puppet – one on one swap

2009-03-26T14:23:00.001-04:00

Technorati Tags: puppet,spring equinox,flowers,color,little girl

This is the fun little girl I made for the one on one swap I joined over at swap-bot.com. It was a spring equinox theme, so she has lots of cane slices on her torso and very colorful skirts! She’s also carrying some polymer clay flowers and a pair of heart shaped opera glasses!!

Ha! Ha! My muse! Such a goofball!!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-25T00:00:00.000-04:00

Sterling silver and glass bead soup mix (including white turquoise and hematite chips) and fiber strung necklace!

Birdie Googins – too funny!

2009-03-24T14:12:00.001-04:00

Technorati Tags: Birdie Googins,Mardens,Maine,weather in maine,spring jurried coop,bug swap

We, here in Maine LOVE watching this local actress who advertises for Mardens, a local salvage retail store. (Big Lots on a local level) Just watch the ads on her website, and then check out the local TV stations interview with her. She is very cute and funny. Very “back woods Maine”! HA!!

I almost hate to say it, but we just might miss out on mud season this spring! It been a couple of LOVELY February days these last couple days of late March! BBBbbbbbbbrrrrrr!!!

On a quick business note, I finished up a box of items that I was finishing and getting ready for jury. I’m trying to get admitted into a co-op and I had to prep up some items for retail sale… adding hang tags/ packaging etc… So, I go tomorrow to drop off this box. *crossing fingers*

Bugs are coming in fast and furious at this point! So fun to open a box and goodies every day! It’s like your birthday every time the mail comes! Too fun!!

Web Cam

2009-03-22T07:39:00.001-04:00

I got my new laptop last week and I've been playing with all my new bells and whistles! YAY! I have a web cam now and I'll be working out the kinks of how to use it. Add me to your Yahoo list so you can come watch me when I do something on it!

conniepelkey is my Yahoo ID, so add me!

Thanks!

Technorati Tags: web cam,yahoo ID,add me

VERY Fun Video!!

2009-03-21T06:31:00.001-04:00

Technorati Tags: sheep,video,led lights

Spring is riz I wonder where da boidies iz?

2009-03-20T17:17:00.001-04:00

Spring is sprung

Da grass is riz

I wonder where dem boidies iz

Da little boids is on da wing

Ain't dat absoid

Da little wings is on da boid

~ Anonymous

Dad used to quote this poem every spring. I miss him this time of year. He loved to be outside working in the good weather.

Happy Spring, Dad!

Wordless Wednesday - Miss Mary-Alice Mayflower!

2009-03-18T00:00:00.003-04:00

Sarajane - SPOILER ALERT!! Don't look if you don't want to spoil your gift surprise!

SPOILER ALERT!!

SPOILER ALERT!!

SPOILER ALERT!!

SPOILER ALERT!!

SPOILER ALERT!!

SPOILER ALERT!!

SPOILER ALERT!!

SPOILER ALERT!!

SPOILER ALERT!!

SPOILER ALERT!!

Rest easy now, Henry - we shall meet again

2009-03-17T08:07:00.003-04:00

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Henry has not been doing well this winter.... lost a lot of weight and was begining to loose control of his hind quarters. It was time.

Mrs. Potatohead gives birth

2009-03-16T09:26:00.000-04:00

Constance Pelkey Designs

Name Cane. FAIL!

Evolution of lamp

The box in Wisconsin!

Beautiful canes from BJ!

Box in Georgia

For my desert dwellers

Moving again!

10th leg!

7th leg

The Box left the desert!

Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. ~George F. Will

Constance Pelkey Designs on Facebook!

The box - livin' the good life in Hawaii!

The box is going on VACATION!!!

Leg #4 of the swap!

The swap outgrew it's box already!

Second leg of swap!

This morning I received an email from Gillian in Waco, TX, and she said this:

Swap box goodies

2nd Polymer Clay Central Trash to Treasure Swap Box!

February Work

Back issues of Bead and Button magazine

UPDATE!! Polymer Clay Bug Swap UPDATE!!

My latest project

Business stuff

"Friends"

"Inchies" swap!!

New Year

Christmas is yucky!

Bright Blessing of The Sun's Return!

A Bottle of Hope

Polymer Clay Swaps

House Plant Creatures!!

Poly Clay Beginners Class @ Sweetland Retreat

Be on the Look Out for missing polymer clay beads!

What I lost on Tuesday

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

Retail Venues

holey mouth and other news

Some upcoming class examples….

How I condition the new formula KATO poly clay

Presents, and work, and fun! Oh my!

Getting ready!

AK! Introspection ~ OR ~ realizations of a belly button gazer.

November class! Sign up and start saving now!!

ETSY TREASURY

I’m teachin’ a workshop! Y’all come!

Weekend Gratitude's

Molting Hermies! *whoop, whoop, whoop!*

Videos of my critters!!

Nero's new Summer'do!

River Front Art Fair, Hallowell, Maine 6.27.2009

Open Letter to Shaw’s Supermarkets in Maine

Web Cam!! Now!

Wordless Wednesday

In prep for the Riverfront Art Fair in Hallowell, Maine

Wordless Wednesday

Web Cam!

Wordless Wednesday – Late Spring in Maine

It’s Tuesday Twofer again!

Wordless Wednesday just became…..

Twofer Tuesday!

Hi, ho!

Conditioning and show prep

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Twofer!

Craft Gossip gossiped about my Bug Swap!!

Atlanta Woman, Polymer Clay Artist, Bug Swapper, Two Time Breast Cancer Survivor!!

Time Management

Molting Hermies! whoop, whoop, whoop!