[Challenge] A Whimsical Eggciting Birthday!

Today is an "Eggciting Day" for me and the blog because it's my birthday!   Wooohooo.  Thank you for all 

your love and kind greetings.  Early this morning, we were able to catch the first of the Four Blood Moons - NASA says that seeing four complete lunar eclipses in a row is very rare and we will have one every 6 months until October 2015.  We have never seen one so we stayed up late for it and it was amazing! We just stood in awe at how great and might God is - He who created the heavens and the earth.

This project is part of the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild's "Something Whimsical Challenge" and Martha Stewarts "marthasgoodeggs" intsagram post.  The first challenge for me was to figure how to remove the contents of the egg while keeping the shell intact.  So, I did some research and ewwww... it was totally gross!  Let me be graphic here:  make 2 holes on both ends of the egg, burst the egg and mix it up with a needle tool and finally blowing the contents out.  Now don't tell me I didn't warn you.  Anyway, after cleaning and drying the eggshell for 24 hours, I got to work on it.

Friends, meet "Mini-Me."  Oh, isn't she cute?  She's having a wonderful time strolling with her yellow birthday balloon, enjoying the sight of bluebonnets and other wildflowers.

This is made from 100% Premo sculpey polymer clay using the applique technique which is a very tedious and meticulous process that takes a lot of patience, gentle hands and the ability to hold your breath for a long time.  The latter helps to concentrate in order to be precise in putting the components in place.  Whew!

May your days be blessed!

♥ michelle

[Bottles of Hope] Spreading Good Cheer through Art

"Hello.  My name is Princess Zita.  Would you like to have tea with me?"

"Have Tea with Me"
Polymer Clay

Isn't she adorable?  She is going to a special patient as part of Bottles of Hope.  The Bottles of Hope project started in  1999 by Diane Gregoire, a polymer clay artist and cancer survivor who used her talents to bring cheer to cancer patients by covering glass medicine bottles with art and giving it to them.  The members of the Houston Polymer Clay Guild has been actively participating in this endeavor.  I always look forward to coming to the guild once a month to chat, to learn and to see what projects the others have done.

Houston Polymer Clay Guild
Bottles of Hope
March 2014

Look at these unique pieces of art.   There are a variety of techniques that were used to make each bottle - oh, the wonderful world of making canes! 

Houston Polymer Clay Guild
Bottles of Hope
February 2014

Last February, I made a bottle using colors that were southern/rodeo inspired.  I also added rope and tassels.  As always, all the bottles were beautiful but one of the hits that brought us to the moon (no pun intended) was this NASA astronaut... oh, the details on the logo and flag were just amazing!

It is my prayer that each bottle of hope would bring love, joy and a sweet smile to each recipient.

Blessings!
♥ michelle