Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday. ~Author Unknown

• Worried about the state of the economy??
• Maybe not quite so much now that we have a brand new president??
• How about that ever growing grocery bill??
• Wouldn't it be nice to have a little stress reliever right there, handy-like in your pocket??

These beauties will do the trick! Polymer Clay Worry Stones from Constance Pelkey Designs!

Feeling a bit stressed and need a healthy release? Rub one of these soothing little stones and feel the tension melt away!

These little polymer clay worry stones have been impressed with inspirational words, such as

"Dream"

"Create"

"Wish"

to name just a few. They come in various colored mesh gift bags and are shaped into pleasing "stones" that comfortably fit in the palm of your hand.

No two are alike, therefore we cannot specifically guarantee which stone you will receive.

Thanks for your interest!!

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Copyright © 2008 by Constance Pelkey.

This bloggy feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this content in a news reader or on a website related to Constance Pelkey, then where you are reading it from is in violation of copyright!
Thanks!! Connie

New Year, Old Health Issues and New Business Commitments

I'm not big on new years resolutions.

However,

This new year I am committing to make a strong "go" at my little business, Constance Pelkey Designs.

Over the last couple years I have had both my shoulders done. I had TWO torn rotator cuffs. My right arm needed my bicep reattached too! It was bad! It took many, many months of rehab to get them both back in shape... unfortunately that meant I could do very little in the way of creativity. I was however, able to crochet. Now, don't get me wrong, I like crocheting, but that being my only outlet was somewhat limiting!

I'm so glad that I can play with my polymer clay and precious metal clay, and bead, and sew, AND crochet again! YAY!

In the meantime.

I've had a "gut" issue for the last couple months that involved emergency surgery for a bowel blockage early in November, on voting day in fact, and the ensuing severe pain in a knot of scar tissue and nerves along my waist next to my belly button that's the ultimate result of this and a few other abdominal surgeries. Because of severe pain in this area I was hospitalized again for a couple days the week before Christmas. This issue isn't resolved yet. I have an appointment to see the original surgeon who cleared the blockage and I'm awaiting a second opinion appointment with another surgeon, hopefully that will happen next week.

I need to get THIS issue resolved - SOON - because I was scheduled for total knee replacement surgery on January 6th.

AK!!!!!!!

That's been postponed until the gut issue is resolved!

*shaking head and rolling eyes*

*sigh*

I've been out of work and in limbo, essentially since the beginning of November.

Best thoughts and wishes will be greatly appreciated during this whole process of resolving the gut issue - SOON - so I can go ahead and deal with the knee issue!

At any rate.

During the time, I continue to be laid up with all this health stuff, my "resolution" is to concentrate on my business. I have an ETSY store and I also recently opened an ARTFIRE storefront as well. I've joined a couple of "teams" on ETSY, I also joined Facebook and still belong to the Polymer Clay Central message boards. I've been taking good pictures of all my inventory (finally!). I plan on continuing to photo edit and will be listing new items on a weekly basis to both stores. I'll be trying some different marketing techniques, too. I'll also be creating new items and I hope to join my sister in law in attending one or two larger crafty type selling venues this summer and joining a couple Maine based craft and art associations.

Keep your eyes pealed here at this blog to be updated and PLEASE, pass on my URL http://ConstancePelkeyDesigns.blogspot.com to ANYONE who might be interested in my "stuff"!

Happy New Year to all and best of luck to me in sales this new year of 2009!!

Copyright © 2008 by Constance Pelkey.

This bloggy feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this content in a news reader or on a website related to Constance Pelkey, then where you are reading it from is in violation of copyright!
Thanks!! Connie

Wire Crochet purse pouch w/ Polymer Clay closure

I just finished up this little purse pouch. The phone in the photo is a Samsung A737, which measures 10 x 4.8 x 1.55 cm.

It's beaded silver tone bright wire crochet with black freshwater pearls, red coral chips, turquoise chips, assorted size glass seed beads and a couple fine silver beads thrown into the mix.

I lined it with a purple polka dot fabric and the elastic closure fits over a blue mica shift polymer clay button.

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Uniquely Handcrafted ~ Polymer Clay, Fine Silver, Fiber Arts
ConniePelkey@gmail.com
ConstancePelkeyDesigns.blogspot.com
My FaceBook Page

Lot's done today!

I worked upstairs in the newly set up photo studio from 8:30AM to 11:45, then after lunch I was back up there at 1:30 and stayed until 3:00PM! In the last shot down below is a sample of the photo's I took today... I have over 150 still to edit and probably another 50 to 75 pictures to take. I plan on editing these over the next few weeks so that when I'm laid up from my knee surgery, I'll have new items all ready to upload to my ETSY shop. While I'm taking these photos - I'm going through old stock, reassessing and reevaluating my pieces, some are being unceremoniously tossed, while others are being looked at in a whole new light! It's been over two years since I've looked at most of this stuff! Wow! I'm so glad to be over the shoulder surgeries!! I feel alive and creative again! I missed it so much! Pretty much all I could do for two years was crochet! Now, I LIKE to crochet, but I also like to bead, and work with polymer clay, and precious metal clay, and wire wrap, sew a little and string beads and I even like to sculpt a bit... I'll tell ya, crocheting got old fast! I have lots to show for what I crocheted, but I have yet to take good pics of those items... all in due time!

That's the items waiting to be shot in the right pictures and yes, that's the laptop with my iTunes blaring!

During lunch I did laundry, worked on my wire and bead crochet pouch I started last night, and now, I've been photo editing since 5PM. Oh! I also had a tubby time in the late afternoon too! Yummy!

I can't believe that I can so easily walk from the basement, where the washer and dryer are - to the first floor kitchen (to check on the fish chowder in the crock pot) - then up again to the 3rd floor attic where I was shooting pictures - without even being winded!!! When we first moved in to this house I LITERALLY did not FIT down the cellar stairs! Wow! Loosing 270 lbs has sooooo changed my life!!

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Copyright © 2008 by Constance Pelkey.

This bloggy feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this content in a news reader or on a website related to Constance Pelkey, then where you are reading it from is in violation of copyright!
Thanks!! Conni

Grand Reopening of Constance Pelkey Designs - ETSY

I'm VERY excited to announce the Grand Reopening of my ETSY store!!!

After a long hiatus due to TWO torn rotator cuff surgeries that placed me on the sidelines for nearly two years, I'm proudly announcing the GRAND REOPENING of my "Constance Pelkey Designs" ETSY (ConniesClay) storefront!!

From now until the first day of the New Year I'll be offering FREE SHIPPING ANYWHERE!!!

Uniquely Handmade. Poly Clay, Fine Silver, Fiber Arts.!

These mixed media items were created primarily from artist-grade polymer clay, Fine Silver and Fiber Arts.

My Etsy, ConniesClay.etsy.com

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Copyright © 2008 by Constance Pelkey.

This bloggy feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this content in a news reader or on a website related to Constance Pelkey, then where you are reading it from is in violation of copyright!

New Items - xmas pressies

These are some xmas pressie's I just finished up last night. My picture taking skills are getting a little better. I learned a lot on this round of photos. I need to readjust a few things on my "photo lab set up", once I get everything redone I'll post about it.

In the meantime.....


This is a basket weave (klew design) and floral cuff bracelet.



This is a blue swirl on square velum pendant with a heart shaped peek a boo key.



A multi - element blue swirl pendant.


A clip on flash light.


A hidden compartment emergency whistle and key chain. The triangle cane was made by Kathi.



An art doll wind chime. I LOVE her feet!!


And a cute little piggy bank!

I won second place!!

I won second place in 106th Polymer Clay Central Challenge, celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the new Polymer Clay Central website and forum!

Thanks to everyone who voted for me!!

Click for the contest page.

And a few pics of the winning tin and of the model for it... MIDAS - he-of-the-many-names-and-many-talents! (Midas, Mido, Fluffy)


Me and Midas


Side view of the tin.


Front/ top view

Midas, sliding down "The Bowl"

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Copyright © 2008 by Constance Pelkey.

This bloggy feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this content in a news reader or on a website related to Constance Pelkey Designs, the you are reading it from is in violation of copyright!
Thanks!! Connie

The cost of George Bush's war

Reposted from Judy Dunn's website.

"... I finally made a video I had been planning for about two weeks. As I told everyone at the retreat on Saturday night, I had folded a crane to represent Bobby a few days prior to the retreat. I never knew Bobby personally, but his story played an important role in shifting how I looked at my cranes, and what they could represent. Once again, the production is far from perfect, but I think it conveys his story, and why I feel compelled to take on this major project. I have titled the video Bobby's Crane. I struggled with my video editing software yesterday, so the title is not on the video itself. Things I could do the last time I made a video suddenly seemed impossible! But the message comes through. Hope you like it."

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Copyright © 2008 by Constance Pelkey.

This bloggy feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this content in a news reader or on a website related to Constance Pelkey Designs, the you are reading it from is in violation of copyright!
Thanks!! Connie

Polymer Clay Creativity Workshops!

Polymer Clay Creativity Workshops!

Taught by Connie of “Constance Pelkey Designs”

Workshop dates:

September 13 & 14 ~ or ~ October 11 & 12

Polymer Clay offers a rich and varied playground for artists of all ages and skills. It is a medium that appears almost eager to please, allowing its use in a surprisingly wide range of styles and rendering techniques.

It can be made into flat collage illustrations and surface decorations of all sorts. It's also great for sculpting figures, creating decorative household items or beads and personal adornment.

These workshops take the students from the beginning basics of working with Polymer Clay to an intensive look at the wide variety of creative uses and embellishment potentials of polymer clay.

A wide array of techniques will be covered. Included are basics of preparation, color blending and simple "cane work" or millefiore. Then we will move to surface decorating techniques like mokume gane (a technique taken from Japanese metal and wood working) stamping, inclusions, ghost imaging, texturing and faux effects (mimicking bone, wood, turquoise, etc). Storage and baking, safety issues, and finishing options will also be covered.

Each workshop will be given as a two day session (ten total hours) with technique demonstrations by the teacher and plenty of student 'hands on' work time. We will start off with polymer clay basics and work our way to more in-depth detail of the various surface embellishment techniques. Students will ultimately make a variety of bead "samplers" and decorate small storage boxes with mosaic tiles and pieces using the techniques learned in class.

Students will need:

• a healthy curiosity and willingness to have FUN!

• a work surface (acrylic plate, ceramic tile or other similar non porous surface)

• other tools as desired, including, but not necessary; a pasta machine

Many tools and supplies such as clay, foils, powders, inks and stamps, texture plates. and more will be provided for use in class.

There will be two motorized pasta machines available.

• Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian, sugar free lunches will be provided. Bring your own drinks.

• Unfortunately my studio is not handicap accessible, as it's located on the second floor of my home. If you can not do stairs, PLEASE let me know and we can arrange a time and price for me to come to you!

COST OF TWO DAY WORKSHOP IS $135

TO REGISTER FOR A WORKSHOP PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL:

conniepelkey@gmail.com 207.333.1145

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Copyright © 2008 by Constance Pelkey.

This bloggy feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this content in a news reader or on a website related to Constance Pelkey Designs, this site is in violation of copyright!
Thanks!! Connie

Painting the bathroom.

Here's a few shots of my work from today. Tomorrow morning I work until 10 and then it's up to Mom's. She's been feeling poorly, the humidity is really kicking her ass this summer and she's been having bronchial troubles.

I work again Wednesday morning until 10 and then I'll work some more on the walls in here in the afternoon.


The bathroom - looking in the door, after texturing, before painting.


Standing at the toilet, looking out into the dining room.


Cutting in the sky blue ceiling.


More ceiling and some of the unfinished shower surround.


The sky is blue... and still wet.


After cutting in, rolling and then touching up the ceiling - twice! - it's acoustic tiles! - AKK!! - my arms were waaay too tired to do any detail work, so I just rolled out some of the fields on the walls. My shoulder is doing soooooo well, but working over head is VERY tiring, still!!


Looking back out to the dining room.


Close up of the texturing. Before you judge, be certain to wait on the final effect. The color looks like baby poop smeared on the walls at this point! There will be a darker color glaze wiped on and then off for an antiquing faux effect.


Here's the ugly tile surfaces (in the pictures above and below this text) that will be covered with polymer clay tiles of suns and Saguaro cactus and then 2 part epoxy resin will be poured over them to make them water proof.


All the trim work and cabinets will remain the lighter color with no faux-ing on them. I'll also cover the door knobs and drawer pulls in polymer clay to match the colors.

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Copyright © 2008 by Constance Pelkey.

This bloggy feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this content in a news reader or on a website related to Constance Pelkey Designs, this site is in violation of copyright!
Thanks!! Connie

My Tutorial

A while ago, November of '06 actually... I wrote up and submitted my tutorial on a Leafy Tile Bracelet to Lisa over at Polka Dot Creations, she published it for me. Yay!! I've been meaning to post a link to it here on this blog and have been forgetting it! AK!

So, I finally did it - look over on the side bar.

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Copyright © 2008 by Constance Pelkey.

This bloggy feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this content in a news reader or on a website related to Constance Pelkey Designs, this site is in violation of copyright!
Thanks!! Connie

Flower caners challenge

Just a quick post before work this morning!

I posted a flower caners challenge over at Polymer Clay Centrals message boards.

Just in case y'all forgot that I really DO work with polymer clay! I just happen to be caught up in interior decorators land of late! LOL!!!

Creativity and time

So, I've been thinking a lot lately about creativity. I haven't been able to work in my studio for any length of time in the last few weeks. I miss it. When I'm doing other things, like caulking, taping, painting, cleaning brushes, vacuuming up paint chips etc... I daydream about working in the studio. I have a couple ideas running around in my head, like polymer clay critter faces in sea shells, (I have a big box full of shells, have had 'em for years now and suddenly they are calling my name) wooden box purses, lined with fleece and flannel, and sewing up a new pair of lounge pants using a comfy pair I already own and really love as a pattern. Beading projects are roaming around in my head, I have a pile of necklaces that either need repair or finishing. I have some faux turquoise cabochons that need some kind of bezels, I'd like for one of them to be a PMC one and another to have silver seed beads peyote'd around it, and perhaps that becoming the focal of a free form piece??

*SIGH*

Even after we get the rooms up stairs painted, we are then moving down into the bathroom to finish it, and then back upstairs to the new living room, then back down here in the downstairs double living room. After that I'll start moving my studio upstairs. THEN I'll be packing up Mom in preparation for her to move down here.

I'm not anticipating being able to get back to my studio until - maybe the fall?? *pout*

That doesn't mean I won't be making and working on things, it's just that my studio will be upside down for a while and I'll work out of boxes. *sigh* I *thought* I finally had a permanently dedicated studio space in this house. Nope. I'll have come full circle after this next move. My stuff will have been in 4 different places, one will be the second time around.

*dream* A dedicated studio space in our new place in the southwest. *heaven*

So, I'm wondering how in the heck do you all find time to be creative on stuff just for you??


In the meantime, I've been shopping for new bedding. I found this 12 piece Bed in a Bag on line at smartbargains.com. We really like it and think it will go well in our new room!

*squeeeee!*






~~~

Connie

Grand opening!!

Grand opening!!

Come shop "on the moon" at my new eCrater store (ConstancePelkeyDesigns.ecrater.com) !! Free shipping to the US Mainland!!

I'm also celebrating the opening of my new eCrater store at my Etsy store (ConniesClay.etsy.com) by offering free shipping ANYWHERE until June 7th!!

Just a few examples of what you'll find at my stores!

~~~

Connie

.·:*¨¨*:· Constance Pelkey Designs ·:*¨¨*:·.

Polymer Clay, Fine Silver, Fiber Arts Jewelry & Accessories - Art for you and your home!

My Blogspot

Constance Pelkey Designs - Etsy

Constance Pelkey Designs - shopping on The Moon!