Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Say Goodbye Say Hello

Hard to believe 2013 is coming to an end very soon!!
The technique I played with in 2013 is not really a technique but a medium. I have been wanting to jump in to Polymer clay for a couple of years, I finally did it this year.

I started with mostly painting these flowers and starfish with Alcohol Inks.


then I moved on to mixing color combinations
 and of course I had to start using Ammonite and Sea Urchin
 textures which have been a favorite of mine using PMC since I began in 2008.


Had fun with my Wonky Bead Blog hop!

Wonky Bead Blog Hop REVEAL

The links are still active so you can still see the wonderful creations that were made
 using these Wonky Beads.

I can't say I have anything specific I want to learn in 2014,
 I just want to continue expanding my Polymer Clay techniques and continue working with Copper.
I want to play more with my own textures using
 Photo Polymer Plates
 and my Sillhouette Cameo Machine.

Thank you all for coming along on this ride with me and I hope to continue with the fun in 2014!

animated fireworks photo: animated fireworks ambeaupic1.gif


Kristi

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday

This weekend my sister and I took a drive up to the Skagit Valley to see the Snow Geese. I think we saw some snow geese but they were always very far away. But the trip was lots of fun and we got to see lots of other birds along the way.

We saw a number of groups of Trumpeter Swan, they were still a little far away to get really good photos, this was the best of the bunch. They make the cutest little beeping noises when they are just hanging out on the ground.

Trumpeter Swan

We saw quite a few pair and small groups flying overhead, I managed to get this picture.


We saw a few Great Blue Heron hanging out by the water, this one was on the side of the road. My sister and her Eagle eye caught a glimpse of it as we drove by so we turned around and found a fairly good spot to view it and take pictures.

Great Blue Heron

This pair was way off in the trees, I really had to zoom to get any photos and this not very good one is the best one I could manage. A pair of Red Tailed Hawks I believe.

Red Tailed Hawks

As we were heading home we spotted this little cutie at the tippy top branch of this tree in somebody's yard. Can't see the white on the top of it's head but I'm fairly sure it's a White Crowned Sparrow.

White Crowned Sparrow?
I'm wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday however you choose to celebrate, and an amazingly awesome 2014!!!

I took this picture of one of my regular resident Anna's Hummingbird perched on my Christmas Lights near the hummingbird feeder.



Click the picture below to see the other participants in Wild Bird Wednesday.




Kristi

Sunday, December 22, 2013

End of Year AJE Earring Challenge REVEAL

This is the Finale of this years AJE Earring Challenge!!!
Like many of you with the Holiday fast approaching I didn't have a chance to make many earrings.

I really love the one pair I managed to make!

Hippie Chic

Wire hoops wrapped in Sari Silk Yarn with a big Flower textured Copper Button attached at the bottom.

I can't believe out little Challenge is done,
at once I'm both relieved and sad.
I hope you all had fun creating earrings and hopping along to see what everybody else created.

Have a fabulous Holiday however you celebrate it and a most wonderful New Year to come!!




Kristi

Friday, December 13, 2013

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday

It's been so cold here the last few days, on Saturday I spent the whole day rotating feeders and keeping them thawed for the little ones. I finally broke down that evening and bought a couple of lamps to keep them above freezing.

This little one spent most of the day at the feeder, perched there staying warm...
eating and pooping, eating and pooping lol


This is the first morning I had the light on, those Christmas lights come in handy don't they!



He spent the better part of the day right here!


This is the end of the day, it's completely dark out and it stayed well in to the evening. I left the light on all night just in case it came back.

I was on hummer watch the next morning and he showed up quite early, before light.


Again he stayed there for long stretches enjoying the warmth and the sugar water buffet.


As the temperature finally got above freezing he didn't spend as much time at the feeder but I did catch him taking advantage of the Christmas lights again.


I turned the light off mid day, the feeders were no longer in danger of freezing.
He did still spend time there but not as much as the day before.
I use "he" for the most part but I don't actually know if it's a male or female. I'm assuming it's an Anna's because they seem to be the ones that stay through the winter.

http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com/2013/12/wild-bird-wednesday-74-magpie-lark.html


Kristi


Sunday, December 8, 2013

AJE Earring Challenge Reveal #23 weeks 47-48/52

3 pair to share for this AJE Earring Challenge Reveal.
 We're almost to the end of this years Challenge, I hope you've been enjoying creating earrings and seeing what these wonderful Artisans create each week.

Arrowhead
Copper Arrowhead and Lampwork beads by Judith Billig.

Blue Frost
Leafy Porcelain Squares by O'Sullivan, Lampwork Headpins by HavanaBeads
and Sari Silk Yarn from SwallowtailFiberArts

Dreamin of Spring
Bronzy Freshwater Discs, Lampwork headpins by HavanaBeads,
 Czech Glass Beads and Sari Silk.

All 3 pair of earrings are available in my Artfire Studio.

Be sure to see the Links below, check throughout the day to see what everybody else created for this reveal.

Kristi

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday

It's been some time since I've joined in the fun on Wild Bird Wednesday.
I have a very special bird to share.
It's not my first sighting of Cedar Waxwing but by far the best!
 The first time a few months back I only caught a glimpse,
 just enough to know what I had seen and was unable to get a good picture.
This time there were at least 2 munching on the fruit of this tree and this one gave me a nice photo opportunity. When I first saw them I wasn't sure what they were, then I spotted the yellow band across the bottom edge of the tail!!! I barely resisted doing the happy dance right then and there :)





Coopers Hawk above, that one little leaf was not in a good spot but I managed to get a couple of good pics anyway even though I was quite far away. 


Never get enough of these cute little White Crowned Sparrows!


Scrub Jay


Fluffy little Finch, not sure which variety but it's a cutie!


Another favorite, just love photographing Robins.


Lots of Gold Finch!

All these photos were taken in the Reno area over the Thanksgiving Weekend.

Thanks for stopping by!
Click on the picture below to see the other participants this week.

 Wild Bird Wednesday



Kristi

Monday, December 2, 2013

AJE November Component of the Month REVEAL

  The November Component of the Month are these amazing Beaded Beads by Kristen Stevens.



I admit I was a little nervous about these, they are so pretty and elegant I wasn't sure that was in my realm of creativity but I am super pleased with what I made.



I was a little nervous about this beautiful soft Ivory color but I squealed with glee when I saw how beautiful some of the headpins I have in my stash go with them AND I had some pale yellow sari silk to add in and make them even more special

https://www.etsy.com/listing/171594980/handmade-copper-on-copper-beaded-beads

Some of you may recognize the texture on these copper drops, if not take a look HERE
They are a beautiful compliment to Kristen's amazing beaded beads. I am in love with these, I'd have a very tough time choosing a favorite from these 2 pair!

These will be available for sale in my HERE Etsy Shop.
I'd love to know what you think of them, feel free to comment.

 
Kristi

Sunday, November 24, 2013

AJE Earring Challenge Reveal 22 Weeks 45-46/52

It's the Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge reveal again!!
Only a few more left before the end of the year.
I've been busy, I know I won't catch up I don't even know how close I am to making a total of 52 pair this year but I think I'm close.

Fuschia Fantasy
These start out with gorgeous Headpins from SueBeads, stacked with Freshwater Pearls and a Czech Glass bead on top. Wrapped a little brightly colored Sari Silk roughly with copper to finish them off.


Tribal X

Some Copper drops and Bone Beads all with X's on them topped with a little Turquoise Square.

Mystic Wand
Copper Feathers snugged up to wonderful Ceramic/Porcelain tubes from O'Sullivan and heavily wrapped with Copper Wire. A bright Turquoise Square on top!


Fuscia Disc

Another set of amazing Lampwork Headpins from SueBeads dangling from one of my brightly colored Polymer Clay discs again roughly wrapped in Sari Silk and Copper Wire.

Stalactite
Incredible Headpins from Lori Lochner. They are such statement pieces on their own I wanted to do something fairly simple to enhance. I've been using Sari Silk in so many of my designs lately and it worked out perfectly for these Stalactite Earrings!


Lollipop earrings using Glass Headpins from Numinosity, I made a ring on top and wrapped it with Sari Silk and lots of Copper wire.

All of these earrings are availabe in either my Etsy or Artfire shops.
And don't miss the linky tool, please check out what the other Artisans created this time.
See links below.

Kristi