Polymer Clay Daily!

Cynthia Tinapple's wonderful blog, Polymer Clay Daily, posted about me over the weekend! The site is a wonderful resource to discover inventive and inspiring artists working with polymer clay. Check out the post about my blog and all of the other magical work featured!


Isn't life funny, the necklace that was featured was actually returned by a dissatisfied gallery. (FYI- when you are dealing long distance by email, make sure to get confirmation of your prices from the stores.) Life continues to be amusing!

Body and Soul

BODY AND SOUL: Ornaments and Ornamentations
A celebration of the poinsettia and sale of handcrafted ornaments and ornamentation.

The Howard P. Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park
Gwynn Falls Parkway & Swan Drive
Baltimore, MD 21217
December 12, 2010 10am-4pm

Featuring work & wares by Gloria Askin (me!), Joyce J. Scott, Oletha DeVane, Francisco Loza, Leslie King Hammond, Espi Frazier, Joan Gaither, Jose Mapily, and Leslie Portney

Spring?

Spring is blooming in my living room!

We had a busy, stuffed-up, full Thanksgiving that generated lots of ideas. Again, I learned the lesson that it's not about struggling, it's about relaxing, and then the ideas come.

Fancy Fall Drop

These are our new earrings for fall! We finally got to our new fall colors--now that it's almost Christmas. We'll have to do better for spring. Ah, the wonderful world of fashion, where you have to plan two seasons ahead.

We're wishing everybody a happy Thanksgiving and thinking about all the things that we are thankful for!

Fun in the Fall

We've been working on some new fall colors! Our autumn palette includes pumpkin orange, gold, turquoise, plum, and a gold-army green. We think it is very pretty.

Well the necklace is finished! I think it is absolutely fabulous. It was lots of hard work, but well worth it.
I have learned alot this week about the business and dealing with clients. Unfortunately, Brigitta owner of 3 Crowns in Lahaina was not pleased with the necklace's length and just generally appalled by it. When I was trying to appease the situation and offer suggestions for improvement, she was dumbfounded by my behavior. Well, you cant always please a client no matter how hard you try, I kept my composer and think that overall I lost a client but I got a great necklace out of it.

On another note.... I got some fabulous shoes this week.



These shoes are absolutely great! They are so comfortable and great looking, that I ordered one in red and one in black. They are by FitFlop... check them out its great designer!! I ordered off endless.com... what a great site!! If you have not checked endless out, you must, the deals are great and is a really easy website to deal with, its absolutely fantastic!!!

Well... working on some fall stuff so will post again soon with new fun things!!

Today's Troubles...

The necklace I'm working on has 59 pieces.

It takes at least a 9-step process to make each piece. First the clay is chosen, colors mixed, flattened, cut-out, then the colors for the rim are mixed, the snakes are made, and glued on. In the meantime while that bakes, the colors for the ball must be mixed, the balls must be made with holes in them, and then glued to the flower piece once those are out of the oven. Then they all have to bake again.

No wonder it took me a lot longer than I thought it would! Some days the clay cooperates, some days the weather is off and the clay gets harder to work with, and some days it's just difficult.

I thought I had it finished, but it got into a funny place, and now it's not finished and I may even have to start again.

Aren't I lucky that I love doing what I do?

Back to School

A gardenia blooms in Baltimore.

Shadows dancing on the floor.

Working on a new necklace.

What a great weekend. A perfect introduction to Fall. I rested, worked, played, saw friends and family. Altogether a wonderful time. I'm so excited that our gardenia is trying to bloom. I just love the smell of gardenias. I put it next to my bed and float in the scent all night.

A Full Day at the Beach

From dawn to dusk - a full day at the beach. We had fun looking at sandcastles and riding the rides at Fun Land.




But now I'm back to work making a one-of-a-kind for 3 Crowns in Hawaii. What color is turquoise again?

Final

It's a wonderful feeling to have completed this! This is what happens when your attentions are focused. I am finally pleased with it.

Hooray

I am so excited to have finished a necklace that I approve of for Evan. Now on to conquer the rest of the world!

Working away

We're here in the studio filling orders and working hard.
Aren't I so lucky to work at something I love so much.

Memories

I can't believe it's been a week since I was at the PMC conference. What a great time! So much fun to see everyone, and all the artistic developments that PMC allows.

For anyone who doesn't know, PMC stands for Precious Metal Clay, and is a 21st century technology that allows for new jewelry possibilities. The beads on my blog below are made out of pure Silver PMC.

For more information on this product or the conference, visit these links!

PMC Conference homepage
Info on PMC

Here I am in less than sunny Lafayette, Indiana. Had a drink with Juliette, dinner with Kelly and watched the gathering storm break for a few minutes and then...night, night.

The Gathering Storm...

Up up and away!

Leaving in the morning for the PMC conference at Purdue. Can't wait. So many people to see and things to do and learn about all the new clays. Whopee! What a fun time this will be.

Beads for Evan

Eyeglass Jewelry

Hooray! Worked out,shopped and ready to work. Lots to do on this beautiful day.

Welcome to Gloria's blog! Jewelry will be the main focus here but, being me, I can't resist including some thoughts on life and art as well as my other loves solar plate etching and encaustics.