The Oops Opportunity (or how to turn your mistakes into something unique)

The other day, while showing off one of my finished pieces to my husband, he said "I just don't know how you have the patience to do this. I would make so many mistakes!"

Mistakes???? Moi???? Ha ha ha! Of course I make mistakes - plenty of them, in fact. You name it - burn it, melt it, break it, I've done it all!  But it brings to mind something one of my instructors, often said to our class, "Turn your mistakes into a creative opportunity!" OK, sometimes it's just gone....but many times it does present itself as a ceative opportunity. I've had a lot of fun figuring out what to do with that burned hole in the middle of my cuff....or the wire embellishment that wasn't meant to be melted in half.

For those of us who create - opportunities often present themselves in strange ways. But we wouldn't continue to try if we didn't really love what we do....we'd just give up everytime we made a mistake and that would be sad.

Here's an example of a mistake that gave me pause. While trying to use the torch to get an organic appearing texture, I applied too much heat in one spot and burned a hole right through it. What to do, I thought????  Well, after putting it aside for a few days, I went back to it with a new perspective...and here's what happened.

I definitely had the texture I was going for, so I added the hammered copper wires, protruding from the hole and oxidized it to bring out that molten lava look and aptly named it "Eruption".  I liked the way it turned out and put it in my Etsy shop - and it sold right away.  Obviously I will not be able to recreate it, but it's a good example of using an Oops opportunity!

So don't give up when you make a mistake....put it aside and go back to it later. You'll be surprised at what you might think of!

Happy creating...
Toodles

2012 FEST January Giveaway!

Ring in the New Year with a Special Treat from The WoodenBee for our January FEST Blog Giveaway. Bee started it all with a love for the environment and partnered with Busby Cabinets recycling pieces of wood and other materials to make her wonderful art and product lines.

We are delighted to offer, as this month's Giveaway, the beautifully fashioned Wall Hanger seen above. It's made from reclaimed cherry wood with a merlot brown stain and would be perfect for organizing keys, necklaces, belts, pet leashes, aprons and much, much more

Each item is one of a kind and requires "following the wood" to unlock the beauty within and create masterfully finished products, giving reclaimed materials new life. You will find Wall Art, Bulletin Boards, DYI Wine Cork Kits, Mirrors with Hangers and a myriad of interesting finds in Bee's Etsy Shop.

You can visit Bee at her Etsy Store to see more of her unique and original wares at The WoodenBee . Find the perfect item for your home and save the environment too.


HOW TO ENTER: Enter to win this versatile Wall Hanger by visiting The WoodenBee or any of the FEST member shops listed on the top of our Blog Page. Find your favorite item, share it with us and tell us why you love it. Remember to add your email address or contact info so we can contact you if you are the Winner! Winner picked on 02/05/12. Simple and Easy!

December is Almost Over!

Well, this month has been one hustle! Very little studio time, unfortunately, so I have nothing new to show you, though there are several new style rings in the works.

What I have done is reconnect with friends from all over...party....eat....drink....eat....did I mention eat???

First up was the opening of the Altered Minds Christmas Shoppe at the Progress Energy Gallery. We do this every year, and it's always a great time. Most of the Altered Minds gals offer up items that they've been working on all year. It's a glorious collection of arts and crafts. We started earlier this month - just after Thanksgiving to allow the good folks of New Port Richey enough time to do their Christmas shopping. And of course we started with a party!

Some of the gang!

Great kids gifts!

Ila demonstration her spinning wheel technique!

Dolls by Diane

And lots of food! (Thanks Audrey!)

I inventoried and packed up the last of what was left yesterday. Kinda sad, but Christmas comes again next year, and I'm sure we'll all be there. It's something we look forward to every year.

Next on the agenda was the Altered Minds Christmas party. This year the party was hosted by Jill Marcus, at her wonderful home on the river. Everyone brought food to pass....did I mention we ate?....and a great time was had by all.

Ellen, Audrey and Betty

Our wonderfull hostess, Jill

Um, did I mention the food?

It was a wonderful luncheon, in a gorgeous setting on the water....great friends, beautiful weather.

Thanks Jill!

I think this is long enough, so I'll continue with the month's activities in the next post. Wishing you all a Happy Holiday!

Toodles,

FEST Holiday Blog Give Away!

We are delighted to feature as our Happy Holidays Giveaway three colorful and fun polymer clay sculptures from Kathy of SmallThingsClay. Kathy creates fanciful clay sculptures of frogs, toads, lizards, crabs and all things whimsical from the sea and sand. She utilizes glass beads, colored wires, found shells and other items to produce unique and happy figures sure to bring a smile.

Kathy is providing a set of three of her wall hanging Nubibranches from her Epicenter Gene Pool Series as our December Giveaway, two of which are pictured. Each one of a kind Gene Pool is created with polymer clay, fired to specifications, painted in the best acrylics and sealed for UV protection. A swipe of a soft damp rag is all you need on cleaning day. They are durable enough to gift to a child and also perfect for adults

As a sponsor of the Florida Parrot Rescue, Kathy donates $5 to the FPR for every item she sells and helps in the effort to rescue, rehab and rehome Companion Birds throughout the State of Florida. Below is another of her creative figurines.

You can visit Kathy at her Etsy Store to see more of her clever creations at SmallThingsClay. HOW TO ENTER: Enter to win the Nubibranch Set by visiting SmallThingsClay or any of the FEST members listed on the top of our Blog Page. Find your favorite item, share it with us and tell us why you love it. Remember to add your email address or contact info so we can contact you if you are the Winner! Winner picked on 01/10/12. Simple and Easy!

November Giveaway!

It's Giveaway Time Again!!!
We are so delighted to have our November FEST Giveaway sponsored by Cory of Aquarian Bath from Daytona Beach. Cory is a herbalist who makes wonderful and delicious natural soaps, specialty salves and natural perfumes and grows her own herbs for her organic products.


Cory is getting us ready for the Holidays with her wonderful Christmas Gingerbread Man Soap on a Rope Ornament of Ginger, Cinnamon, Clove and Essential Oils.

Her veggie soaps are hand cut and strung with natural hemp. Gingerbread men soaps are a great gift for co-workers, family or friends. Cold-process soap and Orangutan friendly; no palm oils are included.

All of Cory's items, such as those pictured below, are made from scratch and formulated by her and are either unscented or lightly scented with pure essential oils

HOW TO ENTER: Enter to win this darling Gingerbread Man by visiting AquarianBath at her Etsy Shop or any of the FEST members listed on the top of our Blog Page. Find your favorite item, share it with us and tell us why you love it. Remember to add your email address or contact info so we can contact you if you are the Winner! Winner picked on 12/10/11. Simple and Easy!

Toodles,

Forms and Shapes to Inspire you!

I talk a lot about what gives me inspiration so I thought I'd share some photos of shapes that just might inspire you. My inspirations so often come from the things I see around me - architecture, sculptures, nature- and I'm wondering where all of you get yours.

Do you carry a camera around with you (or cell phone with a camera) everywhere you go? I do! Nothing is safe nor sacred! My family has threatened me with bodily harm if I dare share some I've taken of them....so I'll stay on a safe subject here! Forms and shapes!

Here's what I'd like to see.....no matter what type of art you create, take a look at these pictures to see if any inspire you. Then create a little something and send a pic to me. I'll post it here. In fact, I'd love to interview you about your piece and what inspired it for this blog. I'll be nice, I promise. But I'm challenging you to stretch a little and use one of these pics! Fair 'nuff?

OK, here goes!

No, these are not bowling balls!

This is the inside of a very old Steinway Piano I saw at the BMW museum in Munich!

A tree in Romania

Ornate Gate from Eastern Europe somewhere! I can't remember! (memory is the first to go!)

This is a sign above a store!

Ok, so there you go! Show me what you can do!

Toodles,

August HOT Fest BLOG GIVEAWAY!!!

Our FEST Blog Giveaway for August is a sensational Lily Inspired Dragonfly Hug Ring by MadScientistsDesigns . Mad uses beautiful antique copper to fashion her whimsical jewelry masterpieces. Her creative and lifelike representations are fanciful and exotic and this wonderful Dragonfly Ring is no exception. It conforms to your finger, is adjustable and comfortable with wings that hug your finger and a tail with a fanciful curl.

Mad loves designing jewelry to match steam punk and goth fashion and also is committed to rescuing cats and giving them a good home. She initially started selling on Etsy to help pay for their food and care and this charitable endeavor has blossomed into her wonderful Etsy Shop with so many fabulous offerings such as the Vacuum Tube Necklace pictured below.
 

HOW TO ENTER: Enter to win by visiting Mad at MadScientistDesigns or any of the FEST Team members in the Member Section. Find your favorite item, share it with us and tell us why you love it. Remember to add your email address so we can contact you if you are the Winner! Winner picked on 09/05/11. Simple and Easy! Open to EVERYONE!