Buddha Jewelry Set

 Today I got beads together to work on some Buddha jewelry with the "heads" I received over the weekend.  This one is done with various turquoise and off white beads along with Tierra Cast Clasps, Wings, and Floral barrel beads which my daughter sells on her Dragynsfyre Etsy site.

I also finished another Buddha set in purple which I will take photos of tomorrow when I have totally completed the set.  I have yet another one to do in "greens" and may just order soome more focals for additional sets.   Each one, although the focal bead is the same, will be different.  I am not sure just which one I will claim as mine…..so will need to wait until all are completely finished.

My Buttons … Artisan Wrap Bracelets

One of my "button" customers  (Brooke G.)  is in the process of opening her own Etsy shoppe and will be making wrap bracelets using a lot of the buttons I sell as well as others, beads, charms, etc.   Photo #1  is one of her 2 daughters modeling one of the longer lengths.  SWEET.

#2.  One of the celtic buttons I sell with a single wrap.                                                                        

#3. A small orbital button with a single wrap

#4.  Steampunk Wrap


I have been wanting a purple bracelet so I have asked for a multiple wrap using the steampunk button in photo #4 with purple beads.  The button I believe is brass (but it also comes in copper).  I love jewelry that is handmade, unique, one of a kind,  and fun to wear.  These wraps are perfect.


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As soon as she gets her shoppe up and running I will post a photo of my purple one along with her new shoppe name.   If there is a button you like from my Etsy shoppe you can request a custom bracelet.

Life Cycle

 Early this spring one of our weeping pine trees was the fruitful recipient of beautiful small red and beige pinecones…. progressing on to the bright green and then into the really pretty finished brown shade.
It has been neat to watch the progress as to color, shade, shape, texture etc. as is normal and typical of human life also….the stages
we all go through….and we don't need to do a thing,  it just happens….magical, mystical,  and weathering the storms.

I have a distressed cream colored 3 opening picture frame so I think I am going to use these three photos…  and hang in my Etsy office….

Have a great week everyone…

diana

AWARENESS

TITLE:     AWARENESS
ARTIST:  Diana Putnam  
Date:        2014

This piece of CitrArt turned out awesome and I wonder if what "I See" they will see?  It will be interesting.  My sister in law was here this weekend and she saw something totally different as did my daughter…..  Sometimes you can see what another person sees and sometimes you just can't…. which is why I love this technique procedure so much.   I matted this one with yellow and it looks totally different than the one I have double matted in purple and grey…..and I don't see what I see as sharply as I do with the yellow.  I "try on" a mat before making my final decision.  I love the yellow and black together.

Depending on where you are with your own personal spirituality will influence your feeling in regard to this piece as well as several others which I have done.  I find I have a story that goes with this piece.


So what do you see?

The Now. Getting in Touch with your Touch

I love working with clay, and preferably a soft clay.  My hands tend to be quite warm so there are times it gets too soft and I have to stop.  Sometimes a short trip into the refrigerator does the trick, especially in the summer months.    Scuplty lll is my clay of choice….at least right now in my beginning stages of "playdom".

The shapers to the left are my preference and I have learned they come in different sizes…..  I sell these on Etsy and there is no size given but in terms of small, medium and larger, I would have to say I would be using these on medium sized projects.

There are also stiffer rubber claying tools but I don't like them at all and find they don't do what I need them to do…..  Since my clay is soft the stiffer rubbered ones easily mark the clay in a negative way.  I tend to use the softer rubber types as one would an eraser if they were drawing.   To erase mistakes, marks, etc. that I do NOT want left on/in the clay.

So many things should be taken into consideration when purchasing a tool…… an extension of our hand and based "on our hands' touch"….  Some are heavy handed and some of us are very light handed and this is the "category" I seem to find myself when it comes to art.  I found the same to be true in painting…..I was always "taught" to paint with the largest brush available for the space……  I tend to use smaller brushes, because they provide me more control and yet the looseness I want to see.  Tools based upon me….not someone else.

I love sculpting clay ….  I like the feeling of creation it provides and what happens,  happens from inside rather than outside….and time tends to just "stand still" and I am in the NOW…. not the past, not the future but the NOW and it is pure joy watching what is happening.

Get in touch with your touch and choose your tools accordingly.   Art is healing,  spiritual,  provides us the ability to go inside, is an emotional outlet and provides us the abillity to transcend time so the proper tools are personally important to achieve these goals.





Just my two cents.

POSSIBLE NEW PROJECT (s) ??

TWO OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS OF CAMP SHERMAN METOLIOUS RIVER AREA.  I AM NOT SURE WHICH ONE IT WILL BE,  BOTH OF THEM, OR BOTH IN ONE.   I HAVE REALLY BEEN WANTING TO WORK ON MOSS SO I HAVE A SNEAKY FEELING I AM GOING TO BE DOING 2 PAINTINGS…

I also ordered some different colors of wire in 2 different sizes so I feel some wire sculptures might just be coming up also.  I want to do some overly big flowers for wall art.  

I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT I AM RETIRED AND HAVE THE TIME TO "PLAY"…..  AND THE ROOM TO HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROJECTS GOING AT THE SAME TIME.  One provides inspiration for the others…
kinda neat.

Have a Great Tuesday everyone.

HANDMADE Turqoise Lampwork Bead Necklace/Bracelet

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I have had these two focal beads for what seems like forever so I decided it was time to sort through my stash and see if I could come up with enough complimentary small spacer beads to make a simple necklace and bracelet….this is the result.  I have several different tops that I can wear these with.

I buy my cording at the Military Surplus store.  Who would have "thunk it" but they had the major colors and I also purchase patches, zipper pulls (5 cents each) etc. there.  I don't go often but when I do I never come out empty handed.

All of the beads are handmade and the findings/clasps, etc are sold by my daughter on Etsy…as well as her handmade lamp work beads at www.dragynsfyre.etsy.com.

What's Next?

A couple of necklaces,,,, and a mixed media wire piece I have been thinking about….or maybe I need to play with some clay and rubber stamps, or maybe another painting.  I most generally have several pieces going at the same time.

ACRYLIC PAINTING The Metolious River …. Camp Sherman, Oregon

After spending a few days here I knew that I had to do a painting (or two, or three) from the photos I took.  It is hard to believe that the water is this blue….but it is….  No matter where you are on the river it is a gorgeous site…. and different.  The water mesmerizes and is a great place to meditate.  Quiet, water sounds, a few birds chirping, people voices in the far distance, a nice breeze and solitude.

This was painted with Liquitex Soft Body acrylics and a minimum of brushes by Dynasty.  Love their dry and foliage brushes and use them pretty much for  everything just by using different sizes or from different lines.   IMHO the best performing brushes on the market.

The canvas is a square gallery canvas from JoAnnes which is normally not my choice but it was the right size so I struggled through ----  I usually use portrait grade hand wrapped canvas boards by Sharks so the bigger nubbies gave me a few problems…..Normally I use these less expensive and nubbier canvas pieces for mixed media paper work as it gives the paper a faux painted look.    I painted the four sides with Paynes Grey (one of my favorite colors) and when I was done I used Glamour Dust Ice Crystal paint by Americana (to shimmer with colors) on the water portion for the sparkle the way the river does naturally.  A gorgeous place to camp or visit…..  some sites are RIGHT on the river just a few feet from your camper.  Totally relaxing….and one hates to leave, but only an hour drive from where we live….

This was fun to watch it "develop" and exciting as I neared completion.  I have a Dead End sign photo I want to paint and another of a fly fisherman in the river with chest waders.

Enjoy.