Beads of Courage

Well I finally got it all together but in my defense the sun has been hiding which makes photo taking a little arduous. Nevertheless, I photographed all the lovely beads donated by the Clayamies, Canadian Polymer Clay Guild during the Morrisburg Retreat, a couple of weeks ago (Oh my! Already!). We amassed about 4 lbs (2 kg) of polymer clay beads. I counted and we have 989 beads to donate to this very worthy cause. The original plan was to send them off to a fellow member of PCAGOE so she could send them all together with everyone's donation. After realizing the multitude of beads that I gathered, it was decided that they will be sent directly as a separate donation from the Canadian Guild. It would be silly to pay for shipping twice.
So, to all who donated I thank you  for your generosity. There are some beautiful pieces in the bunch, some of which will make the children receiving the beads very happy. It's a good thing!
I'm including a photo of the beads all laid out. It is quite a sight.

Button Swap and Just Under the Deadline!

So, I've been playing with making buttons since I entered Cindy Wimmer's swap and having a great time. But I had to stop and choose some buttons to send my partner, Teri Baskett, well, because she's waiting for them. Making buttons is fun and a lot more creative that I would have thought. This could be another great activity to do with polymer clay.

This is the ones I'm sending Teri. I hope she likes them.

Something new to work on!

Happy Easter, everyone and with this holiday, a reminder that we all get second chances ( and thirds and fourths, etc...) to redo, start over, regroup, change course or to finally do what we want to do.

I am deviating from my usual course of making beads for jewelry and have tried my hand at making buttons. The photo is a small sample of this experiment. I found them to be fun to make and while I was making these I was thinking of other kinds I could do. I love polymer clay!

I've been neglecting this blog

Life has been getting in the way of my finding my way for a little quiet reflection at this blog. I have to admit that finding quiet reflection time is mostly made up of stolen moments. So, I vow again to find more time for my thoughts and myself.
On another note, I've joined a button swap organized by Cindy Wimmer and my partner is Teri Baskett. Can't wait to meet her. So stay tuned for pics of my buttons and her buttons and all kinds of buttons.
I remember sifting and sorting my great aunt Bea's buttons jars. She was a seamstress and had jars and jars of buttons. I loved the sounds they'd make and the colors and shapes. She'd tell me stories of the people who would wear the clothes that belonged to her repurposed buttons. I'd imagine long lost loves and soldiers and such. That is what I remember when I go to my own jars of buttons. It makes me feel small and safe and secure.
In the meantime, this pic of what I've been working on alot lately and that is covering glass nail files. My files got a good reception at a craft this week-end.