Heart Dish

IMG_6105
Originally uploaded by seeshells.

I didn't think of myself as an 'artist' throughout most of my elementary school days. There were two or there boys in my class who would meticulously draw the most detailed cars, maybe one drew ships, but I was in awe of this talent. They drew realism, and were the same ones I had drafting classes with later in high school. They were the future draftsmen and designers whose artistic talent lay in the perfection of realism.
I have never been good at or interested in doing realism myself, and realized later that I was an artist, I am an artist, despite making things that are not photo representations.
I made this little dish when I was still in that period of my life of not thinking that I was an artist. I had just turned 10, and was much more interested in the literature we read that year, which included The Hobbit, and A Wrinkle In Time (if you've never read this book-go read it now!).
I don't remember the actual making of this dish, I remember that we wouldn't know what the glaze actually looked like until it came out of the kiln, which was very intriguing to me, the not knowing. I think, since I didn't consider myself an artist, I didn't care so much about making it perfect or symmetrical, but the asymmetrical-ness was what I realized I really loved about it.
I really think that creating this particular piece helped me start to see the artist inside me, the artist who isn't about realism, but more about the beauty in asymmetry, the artist who doesn't need to know everything is perfect, but can experiment and play and be happy with the results!

My Etsy Purchases

My Etsy Purchases
Originally uploaded by seeshells.

Here they are in person!
Lucky Pants pin was purchased from Lupin, and the Glow-In-The-Dark Fishbones earrings were purchased from Rainbow Mermaid.
I love them!

Etsy Treats Arrived Today!

I was surprised to find that both of my Etsy packages, both coming 'across the pond' arrived in my mailbox on the same day! Today!
They are cuter than even the pictures could show! And the little fishie earrings do glow in the dark. So cute!
(I'll try to get pictures up later this week)

I {heart} PayPal!

When PayPal says they guarantee unauthorized transactions 100%, they mean it!
I had over $300 stolen from me late Monday, and by Friday morning it was back in my bank account! Turns out, my password into PayPal had been hacked, it wasn't very secure, and it was the same password I had used other places, stupid me. But after changing my password (and making it more secure and singular), updating a few things on the PayPal account to prove it was me, one phone call, a little patience, and viola! I am no longer ripped off. WHEW!
Now, I don't want to embarrass myself, but I haven't always been that good with my budget, but recently, after a Rude Awakening, I have gotten all organized with my budget, made a spreadsheet, check my balance daily, all that. So let me just say that this could have been a whole heck-of-a-lot worse!
As a little reward to myself for having my budget straight enough that this little adventure didn't have to turn my world upside down completely, I decided to buy two things from Etsy that I have had my eye on. From two of my Etsy and crafty heroes to boot! (Rainbow Mermaid and Bugs & Fishes) They are both in England, so it will probably take a little while to get here, but I'm so excited!
Thankfully, except for the patience part being kinda hard, it wasn't a terrible experience. And the guy in customer service that helped me at PayPal was awesome!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR PAYPAL PASSWORD SECURE AND DON'T USE IT OTHER PLACES AND CHANGE IT EVERY SIX MONTHS OR SO!

Felted Bag: Finished Felting

Finished Felted Bag
Originally uploaded by seeshells.

So way, waaaaay, back when, I was felting this purse. Wow, I checked the date, I took this picture over 2 months ago. Here's the bag after the second trip through the washer. It shrunk up just perfectly, I was so pleased. I figured where I had added the fun fur, it wouldn't felt as much, but I didn't realize it would end up this cute. One of my kids said it looks like a little skirt flaring out at the bottom. I have yet to make a button for it, I'm thinking I'll use poly clay in the fun fur colors, try to match those colors pretty closely, that should tie the color scheme all together nicely. This bag is pretty small, which is what I wanted, so that's fine, I wanted a purse to carry at times when you really don't want to carry a purse, but can't stuff the essentials in your pocket. I really love the felting process, and I've been antsy to do something else. In my stash of gifted yarn, I did just find two skeins of off white wool. (from Woolworths-LOL!) So I may experiment with Kool-Aid dying and felting on the same project.

A Few Photos to Follow

Well, it's been hard not being able to get photos uploaded, but I've been being patient, and there is probably a most awesome overall fix that is coming later this summer, so I will continue to be patient.
In the mean time, I did figure out a work-around, that involves me using the BFF's computer. It's time-consuming and rather annoying, and I'll only be able to do it when he's not using his computer himself, but I did get a few photos uploaded to flickr this morning!
Stay tuned!