More charms!

I'm continuing my quest to learn now to make/get better at making clay charms and figures.  I'm running into a few problems: Controlling the dust that keeps getting into the clay, keeping my fingernails from puncturing everything, keeping colors from mixing, attempting to not be so ham fisted, etc. etc. etc.

Still, here are my latest attempts!

She's supposed to be Ponyo. I haven't decided whether to draw a mouth and/or a nose for her yet.  It might make or break the look, but if I do it and it fails, it's a lot of wasted effort.  So right now she's just like this.

This is a centerpiece for a clip, shown below.

 

Dreamcicle!

Probably my favorite thing so far.

S'mores!

Freehanding these have been a headache.  I'm going to keep trying to make them so that I can eventually make molds.

Too many fish!

A couple of months ago, one of my Mollies from the brackish tank had babies. By the time I realized it, there were only two left swimming around. I never wanted to deal with fry so I intentionally bought only female Mollies. Couple that with the carnivorous bumblebee gobies and I thought I was free from that potential problem.

Unfortunately one of the Mollies was pregnant when I bought her and, as I learned later, can release babies for months. I am completely incapable of dealing with knowing there were little fish in there awaiting their doom so I saved them, thinking I could handle two more in the tank and hoping neither was male.  I took good care of them and patiently waited for the day they would be big enough to be released from their fry tank.

Today I was walking by the tank when what caught my eye? More fry, desperately trying to avoid the gobies. I instinctively ran for the net and saved nine of them. So now I have 11 fry to deal with. More than I can handle. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I can't knowingly and purposefully kill them, and yet I don't have the space for them.

I think I'll call a couple fish stores for advice.

The floozy and her offspring

More charms and clips to go with them

Needless to say, I am in love with making charms.  I'm not any good at it and I really don't have the tools/colors/etc. to really go nuts, but I love it.  I was feeling pretty sick this weekend and wasn't motivated to do anything except make a few of these.

Cupcakes!

Lollipops!

Lauren "designed" this cupcake

Hello Kitty! (sorta)

 

My First Step in Making Charms

I've been interested in creating charms from clay for some time. I love them myself and thought they might make a good addition to my hair clips. This was my first attempt. Minnie Mouse was obviously a very easy choice to start with but I think it ended up beyond cute. Lauren loves the completed clip and I plan to make many, many more.

Blogger's Choice

Quokka Quilts is having a kind of contest, sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop,  to see who will make the next Blogger's Choice bundle for the shop.  Here's my entry!  I started off with a couple Happy Mochi Yum Yum as I've been in love with that fabric for ages and am just looking for an excuse (and the money!) to buy some.  Wish me luck, though I'm fairly certain I'm the only one in the world who would like this and think it looks nice together!

Top Row (left-right):

 Bella Solids Amelia Green

Garden District Green French Ribbon

Happy Mochi Yum Yum Cherry Floraburst

Row 2

Happy Mochi Yum Yum Lime India

I Heart Green Oval Geo

Kona Orange

Row 3

Kona Peony

Pimatex Basics Pink Dotted Lines

Pimatex Basics Pink Lovely Circles

Row 4

Pinfeathers Pink Birds of a Feather

Power Pop Strawberry Girlfriend

Power Pop Strawberry Big Star

Row 5

Prince Charming Olive Dew Drop

Taza Pink Josephine

Taza Fuchsia Geo