So this is what I have been looking at lately... a whole bunch of spooky little eyes looking back at me! This is a pile of about 150 assorted Spookyhead charms that I made for an order. The buyer is getting ready early for the halloween season (ooh my favorite time of year!) These charms are all handmade, without molds. Each starts as a ball of clay, and more clay is added and lines and marks pressed into the clay to make the faces. So each one is just a tiny bit different from each other, even if they are the same design. While this is time consuming and requires concentration and skill, I think it is one of my favorite ways to make beads. I like the simplicity of using just the clay and a few very simple tools to create an endless variety of designs. Its my favorite kind of production.

I was very excited yesterday to ship these charms all out to the customer (well, all that I have... I still need to make about 80 more) but I was short ONE black robot! It was frustrating that I miscounted! So I spent the day glazing not only the one robot, but about 80 more beads to fill the rest of the kiln. Took me quite a while and changed my plans, but it had to get done eventually. Sometimes I wake up, form the day's work plan, and some little twist like that makes me have to scrap the plan for a new one. I have become accustomed to having to be flexible like that with work, but once and a while it is frustrating!

So the plan today is to get these shipped, do some clay work, walk the Zo, and pick up some veggie sausages for the planning party for Construct tonight. That's the plan right now at least... only time will tell if it has to change! *laugh*

I'm 37. I'm not old.

Happy Birthday to Chuck! 

Oh My! Where did the morning go? I woke up late, at 10 am, when the dog simply insisted I was to sleep no longer, and it was time for me to get up and get her a cookie so she could go back to bed. grrr.

 

Anyway, I have been up reading my emails and blogs and was really disturbed by a post over on a feminist blog I read called Feministing about a jeweler that I love, Margaux Lange. She works with silver and Barbie doll heads and parts, and it obviously pushes buttons all over the place. I want to write about it but I think I need to gather my thoughts a bit. Maybe tomorrow. Now I am all paranoid that my beads are "dismembered" which is ridiculous to be honest. I know it's different, but still...

 

So quick post today with a picture of the newest Spookyheads. I am happy with about half of them. I don't like the color on the Tiki, I think it needs to be dark brown wood. So I will do him again. And the red and white skull face has potential, but there is too much going on. I love the 'stache and eyebrows but not with the red. I do like the Luche Libre look of him, but I want to do one that is more intentional and mask like. I don't like the alien, although I like his mouth and nose. Love the others...I am very happy with them. They will be on the website soon.

 

Have a great Halloween everyone!

'Did I request thee, Maker from my clay
To mould Me man? Did I solicit thee
From darkness to promote me?'
John Milton's Paradise Lost.

I rarely share pictures of beads in process, simply because I have never been able to get a decent photograph of dry bone white bisque ware. The details usually wash out. But I think this picture came out ok, thanks to my new/old camera. The black velvet helps, it also sets a mood! 

I would like to announce that Rachel of Fancy Pants is the winner of the Scary Movie Moment bead giveaway! YAY! I am familiar with Rachel's wide range of work. She not only makes beautiful glass beads and jewelry, but she also works in sugar. The bats above are called Sugar Toppers, and they are made of fondant. You can buy them from her and use them to make your cakes and cupcakes extra fancy! Isn't that a great idea? I always wanted to be a pastry chef...I think fondant and icing and marzipan are very similar to porcelain. Check out her Flickr photos and her Etsy Shop! Rachel, contact me with your address and I will send you your bead goodies. And I will have to send some extra cupcake charms for you too!