Memories, Keepsakes, and Talented Friends

We've almost reached the 2nd anniversary of Pooch's passing. While we've enjoyed the freedom from caring for a terminally ill pet, we still miss him something awful. This upcoming anniversary coincides with a fun contest blog buddy and portrait painter, Enzie Shahmiri, was having on her Facebook page last month, titled "Dogs With Attitude". She needed to get some paintings done for a May showing, and asked for photos of dogs. If she chose a photo to paint, the photo's owner would win a prize.

Well, our little Pooch certainly had attitude! We used to refer to him as an 80 pound personality in a 12 pound body. So, I dug around in the photo box and came up with one to send. Enzie loved it and got to work on a painting. She captured his expression perfectly:

... that look he'd get when he was ripping the guts out of a fleece toy. If he could talk he would have been saying, "Oh, so you think you're going to get this away from me? HA!"

I had to have it. And now I do. It's even more charming "in the paint", so to speak.

"Love Them Bones", oil on linen, 6"x 6"

If you aren't familiar with Enzie's wonderful painting style, stop by her website to see what's on her easel. Her blog for Pet Portraits has lots of furry eye candy. There are also gardening, cooking, and Orientalist painting blogs. Where does she find the time? I'd like a sip of what's in her cup...


copyright 2011 Shibori Girl

We Have a Winner!

And the winner of the Mad Hatter Tea Party necklace contest is....

Snap, of Tales From The Twisty Lane (It's on it's way to you as I type.) Be sure to stop by her blog and swoon over the beautiful photos she posts.

Thank you to all who left comments here for the contest. I hope you'll stop by again soon.

copyright 2010 Shibori Girl

It's Mad Hatter Tea Party Time Again

I heard a whisper through the grapevine that it's Party Time again, thanks to that wonderfully whacky hostess, Vanessa Valencia of A Fanciful Twist.

If you've fallen down the rabbit hole and found yourself here, you're in for a treat. I'm giving away a piece of my polymer clay hand-made jewelry. It's a piece that will complement any blue Alice frock.

The flower pendant is made from individual slices of petal and leaf polymer clay canes. The brass chain is embellished with pretty Alice-blue Swarovski crystals. The chain is 18" long.

All you need to do to qualify for this giveaway is to leave a comment on this post. The giveaway will end on July 15th, when I'll draw a name out of the Mad Hatter's Hat to pick the winner.

So I hope you've got your comfy shoes on for your trip around Blogland. Visit A Fanciful Twist for the list of party goers and have a sparklie good time!


copyright 2010 Shibori Girl

200th Post Contest Winner

I dipped my hand into the hat and pulled out a name for my 200th post giveaway contest. *drumroll please...* The winner is:

Lori Vliegen of Elvie Studio

Thank you to everyone who participated and left comments. Here's to another 200.

copyright 2010 Shibori Girl

200th Blog Post Coming Up!

Marble Man might argue but... I can't believe I had enough to say to fill nearly 200 posts. Today's post is number 199. So, to celebrate, I'm starting a giveaway contest. To participate, just leave a comment on this post (be SURE to leave contact info if you aren't a blogger!) and on March 15th, I'll draw a name out of a hat. The lucky winner will receive this necklace:

The pendant is a slice of one of my polymer clay kaleidoscope canes. The slice was baked, then sanded, buffed, and polished with an acrylic coating to protect it from skin contact. The finished size of the pendant is 1.125 inches wide and 1.25 inches long.

I've taken many small slices of a bullseye cane and marched them around the edge for interest.

The necklace is made from antiqued brass chain and Czech fire-polished crystals with sweet little brass bead caps. The finishing touch is a brass-toned "S" clasp.

The necklace is 18" long, but if the winner wants it longer, I can do that. We'll tawk.

Be sure to spread the word - the winner need not be a regular reader. I'm so happy to have kept this blog going for so long, I want to share my joy.



copyright 2010 Shibori Girl

One World One Heart

This year, One World, One Heart really snuck up on me. I've been playing in my studio and haven't looked up from my work table in over a month! I loved participating in this event last year, and hope to make many new friends this time too.

My offering this year is a pretty pair of polymer clay earrings - JUST finished. I made the kaleidoscope cane myself. The earrings have been baked, sanded, buffed, and polished with an acrylic coating to protect them from skin contact. They have green glass beads to decorate them and sterling silver ear wires.

The card they are presented on features one of my drawings.

The only requirement I have for eligibility is that you have an active blog. Leave a comment on this post, and at the end of the event (February 15th, 2010), I'll pick a name out of a hat. These pretty baubles will climb on their magic carpet and wing their way to you ASAP. Be sure to leave contact info in your comment!

It's going to take me a while to make the rounds, so be patient... I'll get to you as soon as I can.

To see the list of participating blogs, click here and you'll find it in the sidebar of the page you'll go to. Thanks for visiting!

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1/30/10:

Note: I've had SO MANY people leave comments, that I'm expanding my giveaway to at least FIVE (5) pairs of earrings - maybe even more! They won't all be the same as the ones pictured above, but they will all be gorgeous. I promise. As I finish each pair, I'll post pictures so you'll have an inkling of what's what.

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Feb 1, 2010:

OK, my giveaway offering is now SIX (6) pairs of earrings. In addition to the pair featured above, there are three round pairs, one teardrop pair, and one very funky loop pair:

The five new pairs shown on their presentation cards

Kaleidoscope cane polymer clay with Czech fire-polished crystals, pewter rondelles, and sterling silver ear wires. (3 pairs available)

Polymer clay kaleidoscope cane with a freshwater pearl dangle, brass findings and ear wires. (1 pair available)

Polymer clay kaleidoscope cane slices looped up to meet at the top with skinner blend accents, Swarovski crystals and gold-filled ear wires. (1 pair available)

Click on any of the images to see a zoomed up version. Enjoy and good luck to all!


copyright 2010 Shibori Girl

A Magical Mystery Tour

This morning, as I walked outside, I spied The White Rabbit in my front yard. Resplendent in a fancy jacket and with a wicked twinkle in his eye, he told me he was rounding up the guests for Vanessa Valencia’s Mad Hatter Tea Party.

“But, how will I ever get to that magical land called A Fanciful Twist” I asked? It’s a legendary spot, but nowhere to be found on a map.

The rabbit got very close, and whispered, “look over there”.

Nestled in the grass was this:

What? Vanessa sent a Mad Hat? Such a clever hostess! I peeked underneath the hat, and there was a rabbit hole.

I stepped in and…

I landed with a thud and a light bounce. "Ooof!" Wandering to the end of the rabbit tunnel, I found the door to A Fanciful Twist. But, being a magical door, it was too big – I couldn’t reach the door handle!

A plate of cupcakes topped with mountains of magic frosting (and instructions) sat by the door.

Being magic cupcakes, they will always be your favorite flavor. “Mmmm… mine’s red velvet!”

Aw fowt m'sewf gwah-ing tower... "Pardon me!" How rude... speaking with my mouth full like that! Let me try that again:

I felt myself growing taller with each bite. I easily reached the door and stepped through.... There was Vanessa's marvelous garden gate:

Image provided by A Fanciful Twist

Park your tricycles outside the gate and walk through for a Sparkly Good Time. With any luck, He’ll be there…

Be sure to follow me down the rabbit hole to A Fanciful Twist. You don't want to miss the Fabulous Soiree she's got going on over there. You'll find the list of party guests in her sidebar.

"Oh, My Ears and Whiskers!..."

"I'm so very late", said the White Rabbit.

I've been so caught up in my beading that I completely lost sight of the fact that Vanessa's party is THIS Saturday!!! Oh, dear... and I haven't done a thing to prepare yet. I've got some plans in my head, but getting them into the computer is a different story altogether.

I've put this aside for today and have knuckled down at my drawing board to lay in the structure of my party post. I'll leave you with a little taste of what you'll find when you come back on Saturday:

"Party on, Dudes!"

I do hope you'll come by for the sparkly festivities. Last year's event was a Thing To Behold. Such revelries, and so many blog buddies made...

One World, One Heart

To all of you who have commented on this post:

I am overwhelmed by the reaction I have received with this giveaway. As of 11:30 AM on February 11th, comments are closed for these prizes. It's going to take me all day to pick the winners from the nearly 600 comments you have all left!

Thank you so much, and I hope you will come back again for a visit. I'll keep the cookie jar full.

Kate

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Be still, my heart… One World One Heart is Here! We’ve been thinking about it for weeks and weeks, and now, here you are!

I’ve been writing my blog since early 2005. I had some false starts, but finally found my groove last year. Things I love about blogging: the spontaneity, the freedom, and the friendships I’ve formed with people I probably would never have met otherwise. This blog-wide celebration is a fabulous chance to increase my sphere of friends and I embrace it. If you want to know more about this event, please click on the logo above.

My participation includes two (count ‘em: TWO) giveaways - one for two lucky customers! They are:

1) a handmade, silk ribbon embroidered picture frame

The frame is 5” x 7”, is covered with a lovely pale blue rayon/acetate moiré faille, and has an acetate insert to protect your photo.

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2) My other giveaway is a pair of my handmade earrings

These earrings have sterling silver filigree ear wires, agate stones, sterling silver bead caps, and freshwater pearls. They are approximately 1.5 inches long.

They will arrive packaged on a small earring card featuring a copy one of my own sketches:

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To qualify for these giveaways,
1) you do not need to be an active blogger
2) please leave a comment here on this post (and this post only please)
3) be sure to include contact information, preferably an email address or link to your own blog.
4) if you have a preference for either one of the two giveaway items, please specify in your comment which one you would like. I'll have two hats ready and toss your name into the appropriate one of your choosing. If not, then I'll surprise you when your name is picked.
5) you do not have be participate in One World, One Heart. Just the act of stopping by and commenting qualifies you for the drawing.

The drawing will be on February 12, when two lucky people’s names will be drawn out of the hat.

Meanwhile, grab a cookie, and stay awhile to say “hello” to the other visitors…

Blueberry Corn Muffins

I had so many exclamations of "I've never heard of blueberry corn muffins!" at the tea party, that I thought I'd post the recipe here for anyone interested:

Blueberry Corn Muffins:

Makes 12
Preheat oven to 400 degrees

1-1/3 C all-purpose white flour
2/3 C yellow cornmeal
1 T baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 C blueberries, washed and stemmed
1 egg
2/3 C skim milk
1/2 C honey
3 T vegetable oil
1 tsp sugar

Spray muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray.

In large bowl, stir or whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add the blueberries and toss to coat with flour mixture.

In smaller bowl, lightly beat the egg. Add the milk, honey, and oil, whisking until well combined.

Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. Do NOT over-mix!

Divide the batter equally between the 12 muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. Sprinkle the tops with sugar.

Bake 18-22 minutes, until risen and golden. Turn onto a baking rack to cool.

169 calories
4 grams fat
143 mg sodium
18 mgs cholesterol

Note: If using frozen blueberries, don't thaw them. Just rinse off ice crystals and pat dry. Toss separately with 3 T of the flour and stir in after liquid is added.

**These muffins go stale very quickly, but then taste fabulous cut in half, toasted, and spread with some sweet butter.

And the Winners Are...

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I've just completed the name-drawing for the pink flower earrings giveaway contest and we have some winners: (drumroll please... and perhaps a flourish of trumpets)

somepinkflowers

Fete et Fleur

Rochambeau

Congratulations All! What I need from you now is your snail mail addresses so these little beauties can start their adventures.

Thanks to all who participated.

1:00PM Follow-up:

I thank all of you for getting your mailing info to me so super-quick! I'm sending them this afternoon.

Be sure to tell all your friends where you got the earrings when they "ooh" and "ahh" over them!