The Robins Have Moved Back In...

Same nest as last year....only spruced up a little...Look how textural it is:) Glad now that I did not try to take it down. Now, this brings a smile to my face!! Enjoy!

It's the Year of the Rabbit You Know! And So Does SimpleeYou...

Fereshteh from SimpleeYou at Etsy  has done some amazing things using my little raku rabbits.

Fereshteh  says of her wonderful creations...."Norouz (Norooz) means new day, as the Iranians call it, is a Persian New year to celebrate spring Equinox. It is kinda similar to Easter, full with colored eggs but instead of bunnies, goldfish is the favorite pet for Persians! But I do prefer bunnies, no hard feeling Goldfish:)
My new designs are reflecting my nostalgic moments and memories of Norouz back home. I called the Bunny Series "Ban Ban" after my little sis who owned a little bunny pet for a while but asked me to take after the bunny when he peed all over her room:)This one is called BanBani (The mighty majestic BanBan) because it is made of the larger bunny cab:)

BanBans are my favorite rabbits. Thanks to the wonderful artist "Wondrousstrange" who crafted these beautiful Raku Rabbit cabochons with the most beautiful colors (http://www.etsy.com/shop/wondrousstrange?ref=pr_shop_more), I was able to create two of my favorite organic statement copper neck pieces!

BanBani is made out of a thick copper circle that I hammered and domed. I used patina to give it a black color and then adorned it with the this beautiful raku bunny cab. I sanded and polished the copper disk to bring out the copper color and only left the black patina around the bunny. The cab is securely welded to the copper disk and the black patina is sealed so it will not fade. The chain is made of three lovely genuine copper ball beads, and copper chain. These new pieces are organic, original and unique. You will get a lot of compliments on these hopping bunnies!

You will find my signature on little copper hand on the chain as a cute touch (as my husband calls it!) from a beginner artist."

Click on the title above to go to SimpleeYou to see the complete collection of lovelies!

It's One World One Heart Blog Hopping Event Time Again...I'm a Hopping!

Welcome bloggers from all over the world to the

One World One Heart 2011 Blogging Event!

And especially Welcome to my blog...This event was so much fun last year...my first to participate. So many blogs to read and blogger artists to get to know. So very many kindred spirits!

My name is Dorcas and I'm an artist who dabbles in many mediums:) But my real passions include a ceramic process called Raku, Photography and Digital Alterations! I love making mistakes...mistakes you say? Yes, next to a good old fashioned workshop...a mistake is my best learning tool:) I am experimenting and learning all the time...such fun to play with the tools of my passions!

I thought I would offer three prizes...one in each medium. So do you want to know how you can go about winning a prize from me? Easy as pie! No hoops to jump through....

Simply leave a comment on this post.

You have until February 17th to comment and then perhaps you will be one of three names to be picked by a number generator.

Please make sure I can contact you by having a current email.

First name picked will receive a Raku two hole pendant in vibrant colors similar to this one.
It will measure approx.
1 1/2 inches out of square. Slightly primitive in nature.

Second name drawn will receive a 4x6 of this photo. Taken in September of 2002 in rural Rockingham County, NC...this is one of my favorite photos. I have used it frequently by carving the image into clay to fashion platters or plates.

Third name drawn will receive this ACEO. This is an art card that uses digital collage elements from Haeckel images, DaVinci and Galileo drawings and background from one of my own personal photographs.
Size is 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

Original hand done embellishments of micro glitter will be added as the muse demands:)

Good luck to you all!! Have fun on your blogging adventure...I know I certainly will!!
Click on the link above to go to the participants page!

Let Me Introduce You To...StudioLaBue

One of my raku circle pendants is used here....

One of my primitive hearts for this lovely piece and....

My little raku wings are part of the focal piece for this necklace.

Etsy newcomer, Emily, of StudioLaBue.etsy.com says in her profile:
"My jewelry design is the result of a combination of artistic energy, long Wisconsin winters, and a studio that has to fit on a table top and pack into a few laundry baskets!
As a kid all I wanted to do was be an artist. I went to school for woodworking and functional art in the hopes of designing things that could function and be used.

I love to make jewelry because it is both personal and creative. I started selling my jewelry in a local flower shop and my designs are inspired by the colorful blooms...and people that would filter in and out of the shop. Everyone has a story to tell-and flower shops attract people with stories! I hope you will feel a little of that flower shop feel at my shop. You are welcome to send me a message anytime!

My goal is to be able to hand-make pieces of jewelry that feel custom-made, with small-town flower shop personality!"

Lovely work, lovely soul...click on title to go to Emily's shop...Enjoy!!

OscarCrow Amazes Again:)

Harry has framed one of my raku spiral tube beads with an acid etched brass frame and suspended it on a brass chain 18 inches in length.
Clever guy:) If course I am taken with this creation...but look below!

Bird Skull Talisman Box Necklace

Iconic image of a silver plated bird skull in a copper framed bocote wood box is backed by a brass etching. The pendant is 2.25 inches tall by 1.5 inches wide by 5/8 inch thick. It is suspended on a double ring chain 18 inches long.

I love the back of this piece as much as the front!!
As always, click on the title to go to Harry's shop...Enjoy!

Eclectic Artistry....Perfumery, Soap and Jewelry by Galahad40

Update....This photo just came in from Ross...isn't it stunning...so organic yet native looking!!

New Zealand native Ross is proprietor of Galahad40.etsy.com. He has incorporated one of my angel cabochons in this wonderful beaded work filled with soft colors and movement. He creates beautiful and intricate chain maille work and to round out his shop...soaps and perfumery.

With intriguing names like Caine, Vetchling and Tin Star...Ross's Perfumery promises to be unique and earthy.

He describes Tin Star as "Denim and cotton, the dust of the road, the dry grasses of the plains and cactus flower. The scent of a good and righteous keeper of the peace ."

Medusa is brought to life as a "Once a beautiful maiden cursed by Athena who changed her beautiful ringlets into hissing serpents and made her so frightening that no living thing could behold her without being turned into stone."

Loam, slithery greenery, dry and dark patchouli, nutmeg and gardenia."

A visit to his shop will be a treat! Click on the title above to go to his Etsy shop and read the description of "Caine"...and see the rest of his collection!

Treasure At The End Of The Rainbow.....A Great Raku Firing..

I feel like I have raided an ancient treasure chest...hidden by the fairies at the end of the rainbow! Can you believe the richness of the colors from this firing? The kiln God is mostly kind to me and my creations:) But She has out done Herself in this firing.

The glazes are always nice in their coppers and silver and gold tones, but the richness of the blues and magenta are splendid. There are pinks and teals and colors I can't describe.

I can not take credit for this!! The outside temperature, the time to get these into reduction, the time these sat to soak at the 1850 plus degrees are all a variable. This is what I always hope for from a firing, but rarely get:)

It is a shame that no matter how I photograph these, I can not get the richness of color. There is a worn shine on the ridges of the golden yellows like they have been touched and loved for years.

I am working on getting many of these listed. I have cabochons, and pendants. There are insects, and crosses and Guardian Angels. There is even a four eyed catfish in the mix...only from Wondrousstrange would you find a four eyed catfish:)

To say I am proud of this firing is an under statement...now I have to start at the beginning again and create some new designs in wet clay, bisque, glaze and try to repeat this firing...hoping for another like this. I love this process...I am so happy to be able to work in this medium!! This firing is my passion revealed:)

I'm Late...so Late for a Very Important Date... ABS Ornament Blog Hop

Though I was a last minute entrant....I am so please to participate. This is my little offering in the Art Bead Scene Ornament Blog Hop. We just had our first snow of the season here in northern North Carolina! What do you do when it snows...gotta hold that hand out to see if you can catch those wonderfully intricate flakes. This was actually made as a sample for a special request I had. I really like how the design turned out and the raku firing was fantastic! It was fired the same day as the snow...and I think the low temps outside made the glaze cool a little quicker before reduction...and that is how these beautiful colors entered the world. Every firing that day had spectacular coloring:) This little treasure has a fired in loop on the back so that it can hang or it could set on a table as a penny or ring catcher. I think this will be a permanent design in my shop:)

I don't know if this link will work or not...but if you click on the title above you will be transported to the Art Bead Scene blog listing all the links to other bead artists who will share their Winter Treasures with you:) Happy Holidays!!!

The blog hop participants:

Art Bead Scene - you are here!

Creative Impressions in Clay

Diva Designs

Elysian Studios

Fab Fibers

For the Love of Beads

Humblebeads

Island Girl's Insights

Jangles

Jeannie's Blog

Lampwork Diva/Cindy Gimbrone

Mary Harding

Michelle Mach

Spirit Rattles

Wondrous Strange Designs

Pretty In Pink...Etsy Artist's Style

This was an interesting group of finds. Pink just kept coming up in the Pounce Undiscovered section...so it really called for a treasury:) I love the hints of pink in each of these items...or backgrounds. Hope you will take time to visit each artists' shop. Click on the title above to go directly to this treasury page. All your clicks and comments help these wonderful artists make it to the Front Page of Etsy....which translates into sells!! Go Pink!!!

While I have your attention:) Harry at www.oscarcrow.etsy.com has added another creation using one of my little raku beads.

This is a 2 inch disk of brass is hand embossed and treated with a blue patina. Surmounting this is the image of the full moon face in shiny brass. Hung below is a handmade raku sphere (my raku), and suspended below that are three silver hearts with a vintage patina. Supporting the whole is a fine brass chain 18 inches long.Total length is about 5 inches.

Harry would love a visit from you as well!! Thanks Bunches!!

Sunshine and Navels....What do these have in common?

This treasury I called "Thank You For All Your Support" cause all these lovely artists have bought from me the past month. Just a small way to say Thanks Bunches!! The silk sari ribbon reminds me of rays of sunshine...

This is titled " What is Black and White...and Gift Worthy" The majority of these shops I found in the Pounce Undiscovered section. Why? Is there a single gift you would not love to own:)

RGMPHotography wrote in his comment..."So glad to see I'm not the only one who feels my work is gift worthy! Fans of this particular piece have often called it "The Navel." Why, you ask? Well, because it does, in fact resemble a person's navel!

Although this was purely unintentional when I took the photo I now find myself in awe of how we can sometimes discover aspects of the human form reflected in nature. "

If you have time...go visit each of the shops. I would love it if you could comment and visit each shop so we can get all these artists noticed and on the Front Page of Etsy...and their inventories depleted for the holiday season!! Just click on the title to go to Treasury Lists curated by me...Wondrousstrange :)

Happy Holidays everyone!

"When you are inspired...and talents become alive,you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be."

Can you believe the color...the design...the absolute beauty of these creations? I can take credit for the teardrop pendants...but the genius is that of LaShell from Designtalentedone.etsy.com

I could not wait to share these with you...because you might want a chance to grab these up before someone else gets them! LaShell just emailed me to let me know they were listed in her etsy shop.

Taken from LaShell's listing....."This beautiful piece of silk sari ribbon had to be more than just a supply, it longed for it's best friend "Raku" The ribbon is just gorgeous with it's tones of pale turquoise and copper. In different lighting it shows more color! This beautiful Leaf piece of Raku came from wonderful Artisian "wondrousstrange". She fell in love with my ribbon, and I in love with her Raku, we belong together as you can see! The raku leaf is 3" long by 1.5" wide. I'm a bit more on the bling side so I used her leaf as a back drop to my large glass faceted with copper bead. I gently coiled copper wire that is coated (for non-tarnish effect)with glass rainbow beads on the ends. The neat thing about this necklace is it's adjustable, just pull on the tie ends to make it go up or down. You can have many different looks this way with your silk sari ribbon necklace. I don't know that I will ever find this type of silk sari ribbon again, so with one hand hanging on to this, I might have to let go, because someone is going to see how beautiful this really is and buy it. :) "

"Just something about Silk Sari Ribbon in the color of purple, teal, turquoise, it just belongs with copper raku like eggs in mother natures nest. I have also added beautiful strands onf a shiney copper fiber in with the sari ribbon to adorn the raku beads and pendant. On top of the raku clay pendant I have a large glass faceted bead for gorgeous elegance. The Pendant is 3" long x 1.5" wide. The raku beads above it are special made for me by another artist and the pendant by another artist. Now we have a beautiful necklace complimented by 3 creators."

"Color, Color, and more color is what I say! Color is our joy and silk sari ribbon of blue, turquoise, orange and greens are all making a nest for this pretty raku leaf pendant! This leave is 3" long by 1.5" wide and has been adorned with glass flower beads and crystal. Juat a lovely unique piece that would be beautiful on you. Are you brave enough, do you love color enough???, then this is for you, but you may feel a tug as I hold on to one end when you buy it. :) The necklace is a 23" loop of beautiful silk sari ribbon. There are solid copper rings on each end and a lobster claw clasp for secure holding. You can wear this over black and make it pop, or pick any color in the necklace to wear. You will be the beautiful back drop canvas of this pretty necklace. "

Just click on the title above to go directly to her shop....be ready for true eye candy in the colors of her silk sari ribbon....I can't seem to get enough of it!! Quote in title is take from LaShell's Etsy profile.

Frisky Is As Frisky Does...

Red for Christmas Cheer

The Emerald Forest

Let me Teal you a Secret...It's Holiday Time

I was in a treasury kind of mood last night and managed to put together three treasuries back to back...frisky, like I said:) Like dressing a Macy's window for the Christmas parade these were so much fun to do. There are some wonderfully creative folk featured here...hope you will take time to visit and even comment. Every visit to the shops gives them a better chance for front page status...and more sales!! Enjoy!!

Click on the title above and you will go to my treasury page creation list. Better hurry...some of these items have already sold:)

PS Don't forget my sale for this weekend only...see previous blog posting for the discount code:)

Black Friday Sale...20 Percent Off Code...For This Weekend Too!

Thanks to all of you for following my little world of creating. Looking at not only my little treasures...but especially those creations made by other artists that favor me with including my work in their wonderful pieces.

Until Sunday at midnight, I am offering a 20% discount on all items in my Etsy shop. Just enter the code BLOGREADER20 at checkout and I will send your new treasures right along to you:) I'll make every effort to get everything mailed out next week so you will have time to be inspired by what you receive:) This includes photography, finished jewelry, supplies and ACEO's. The photography takes a little longer, but usually in your hands within two weeks...I am at the mercy of the printer for this:)

Hope you will take time to visit the shop. I truly want you to be delighted and inspired...even if you don't choose to purchase a single item!! Have fun out there in cyperworld with the Black Friday Sales!! Happy Holidays!!

Beads and Pendants Bundled Together...It's a Good Thing.

I'll be adding these little bundles of raku beads and pendants over the next few days.

I have a large inventory of raku pieces that I would like to share...most at a lower price
for the Bundle grouping than if bought individually.

Some of the pendants are one of a kind designs, and others like the spiral above
I do on a regular basis.
This button/pendant has a hunter and his dog as relief on the clay piece, and the beads are all different sizes and shapes.

This bundle set is already in the shop. I call it Izzy's Tree of Life, inspired by the movie "The Fountain"

I have many more bundles that I am putting together...so stop by and and take a look if you find time over the holiday season:)

Have a Wonderfully Happy Thanksgiving ...each and everyone of you!!! Many Blessings are wished for you!

ACEO...The Weeping Man

This is an art card using digital collage elements from the Haeckel images, DaVinci drawings, Galileo drawings and my own photograph and elements.
Size is 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

The base photograph is of an old tobacco barn way past it's prime and covered in Kudzu vines and moss. This photo was over saturated to get the intense colors. There was an evening sun and reflection on my lens that I softened and accented to get the surreal glow.

There are approximately four layers using different vintage elements. I have used different degrees of transparency brushes on each to achieve the proper effect.

After each card is printed I add touches of micro glitter in various places to make each trading card a one of a kind. I sign and date the cards on the back and send them in a cellophane sleeve for protection.

This is for sale with others in my Etsy shop:) Shameless promotion I know...but if you don't promote your self...who will?:)