Getting back to another love of mine and that is working with leather. Fooling around with some ideas for earrings. We will see if they take shape, hmmmmm. Below are two of cutout masks I have just put up on www.etsy.com/shop/shoftmystsculpture.

Look out below!!!!!! You can see how tech challenged I am! LOL Was trying to get an Etsy link for a slideshow to work. Yeah, right! Just copy the code and paste, yeah, you see how well that worked! Oh well. Onward and upward.

<script type='text/javascript' src='http://www.etsy.com/assets/js/etsy_mini_shop.js'></script><script type='text/javascript'>new Etsy.Mini(6836201,'gallery',4,4,0,'http://www.etsy.com');</script>

    I am using this Sculpty white clay and it is driving me crazy.  Mush it and roll it and it is extremely soft and pliable, BUT leave your piece sit for an hour or so and is is very firm.  Firm enough that things like fingers and fins start breaking off.  Very annoying and difficult to continue working on.

    Explains why my little white Mermaid is fighting me all the way.  Should have been done weeks ago.  Sooooooooo, I finally get her tail fin done the way I want it without the wire sticking out.  I go to work on her left hand which I put on the other night and her %&* thumb breaks right off.  It is only about 1/4 of an inch long so mushing up a new piece and trying to blend it into the  firm hand is going to be fun.  Have had this happen before with this clay and honestly, it is easier to just make a new hand.  BUT THE OTHER FINGERS LOOK SO GOOD ON THIS ONE!

     Done ranting, thinking she might not be done till winter.  By then her jellyfish will be dried up!

                                                Newest pair of earring below. 
                                                Wait till you see my turkey legs!  Hahahaha

     I truly have not been procrastinating.  My daughter and her family surprised me with a visit and made me sooooo happy!  Everyone looked great, my granddaughter is growing like a weed.  Spent several days swimming in the pool, getting sunburned, feeding the ducks in the pond, making all kinds of clay creations and friendship bracelets.  Between my daughter and I we cooked up a storm and basically just all hung out having a great time. 

     Now for the update on how my little mermaid is coming along.  Still have to do her hands, work on her tail and tone done those muscular arms, LOL. 

     Okay, sitting here pondering over an article on "How To Be A Better Blogger".  The first suggestion the writer found helpful was to blog at the same time every day.  Really?  He even suggested setting a timer.  Seriously?  Look pal, I am retired.  Fought the control of clocks and calendars all through my corporate life.  No way am I going to set a timer!

     Second suggestion, write about yourself, what you do during the day, where you go.  Understandably I can see this as giving the reader a little insight into my life.  Having said that, do they really want to know about my exploits at the supermarket or gas station?  Although as a Jersey Girl it still goes against my grain to have to pump my own gas!  I mean, what is with that anyway?  At least they should knock off 10 to 20 cents a gallon since they don't have to pay an attendant. 

    The third is about the only suggestion I have be faithfully following so far.  Post  your creations, your wares, your talent, whatever the latest tag is for what you do.  As you can see below, I have recently posted my "Dragon Vase" during the making process and two views of it finished.  Thought about another shot of flowers in the vase but decided that just might be overkill.

     Now for the real reason I stopped back in today.  Below is a shot of my current work in progress.  More shots to follow as this little creature comes to life.

All finished and sitting in my Etsy shop waiting for a new home. 
www.Etsy.com/shop/softmystsculpture

  

   Busy, busy, busy.  Finished up four more pairs of Halloween earrings and one pair for Thanksgiving.  Can't wait to post them.     www.etsy.com/shop/softmyst.

  Currently working on a bud vase or two or three which I will be selling on  www.etsy.com/shop/softmystsculpture   The photo is showing the first one just starting to take shape.  Trying to decide if it should be a male breathing fire or a girl with flowers and vines.  Hmmmmm.  What do you think?

   Another shot of this little Dragon is shown  in the right side of the following photo.  Can you guess what I have sitting on this glass drying?