Flower Pots

Winter time is always fun for me to wind down and try out new things.

I have been collecting forms to cover with clay since I started about 8 years ago and I am looking at this huge pile of "stuff" to one day cover in clay. Well, today is the day.
These are little wood pumpkin boxes. After I got a hold of them my girls thought they should be called "flower pots".

Great for holding life's little treasures.

Snow Day

Wow.... This is Dec.1 and apparently it never snows like this here. They cancelled school so my girls were happy but hard to think that last week we were wearing shorts. My sister said it snowed like this to make us feel at home.

Just like Utah today.

Here we are on the day after Thanksgiving at White Sands National Park.

What an amazingly beautiful place. We are wearing shorts and it is a gorgeous day. We went sledding down the soft sandy dunes and laugh at the dog who keeps thinking it is snow and trying to eat it. Ewww!

Hard to believe it is November 27th.

Holiday Portals

They're here...

Holiday Portals in time for Thanksgiving.

Lots of you have requested a portal for your "elf on a shelf". These might do the trick.

http://www.amazon.com/Elf-Shelf-Christmas-Tradition-Gift/dp/B000XR6MBQ

No Pain , No Gain

Yesterday I said my Orange wall sounded "yucky". Not that any of you care what my walls look like but I have to share my orange wall.

I used to paint my house whenever the mood the struck me. I would change colors whenever we got tired of the old colors which could be quite frequent. I used to paint other peoples walls too. Murals, colors, whatever. Well, I was younger too. I painted this wall yesterday and it is a pretty good size wall. It is texured in that orange peel type texture which I have never dealt with. This is a stucko town. Every wall in New Mexico must be stucko or some textured version. Anyway, it is a lot more work to get the paint into the texture.

I used a dark yellow base then went over the whole thing with a dragging brush and a rag in a burnt umber glaze. The glazing part took about 2 and a half hours. I finished up, cleaned up and went to put my paint away. I reached up and thought my arm was going to fall off. Oooo the burn in my shoulder.Oh my. I have not been able to move my arm for two days. I guess I am out of painting shape. Like I said, I used to be younger too.

I love my ORANGE wall !

Home

Home...

We are getting settled in our new home.

It does not quite feel like home yet. I need color on my walls for it to be familiar. I did paint my living room orange yesterday. It sounds yucky but it turned out very colorful and we love it. Makes us happy.

This is the view from the front porch. The sunsets here are so amazingly beautiful that it makes up for the lack of green...my grass and trees that I am missing.

There are other kinds of beauty here in the desert and I look forward to see what all of the growing things do in the spring.

I will post more as I slowly get unpacked. I did find my clay and I am starting to work on some fairy portals for the holiday elves.

Until then, Thanks ! xoxoxox

I never know what to "blog" about.

I always feel kind of uncomfortable writing about myself. I started my blog so that people could find my artwork when I was not vending at shows.

I joined esty shortly after and so my blog became secondary and kind of a back up.

I am going to try to be a better blogger after my big move.

Here is some news on my big move.... This is a picture of the New Mexico, White Sands balloon festival held a couple of weekends ago in Alamogordo, NM.

This will be my new home. Ahhhh! I have lived in Salt Lake City, Utah my whole life. This is an adventure of enormous proportions for me and my family. Alamogordo is a very small city compared to SL.

I hear they have lots of festivals so I will continue to be able to set up my little clay booth and sell my art.

My kids are kind of excited for a change and my hubby has a great new job so all will be ok.

I have to thank everyone who was so supportive during our transition and for those scary months when we were without a job and insurance and pretty much terrified of what the future held for us.

I can't wait to get settled into our new home and meet new friends and see where my art takes me next.

I will miss my friends in SL and all of my market friends (You know who you are!) and the great experiences I shared with the wonderful art community in Utah. You are an amazing bunch and I hope we will cross paths again.

Talk to you all when we get settled. Thanks and BE HAPPY !

Brass Bugs

Try, try, try again... Success!

Cross Pollination...

I have been overwhelmed with the kindness of strangers. I feel like I shouldn't really say strangers because we share a talent and a desire to create things. It puts us together as peers, mentors, someone who inspires us and makes us want to be better .

I only say strangers because we have never met in person. I don't really know anything about them other than I get words of encouragement, a kind message on my etsy shop , blog or a really nice compliment on my work.

I have kept my blog just about my work but today I am joining the other nice "strangers" and I am going to occasionally post other works that inspire and make me want to be better. I call it cross pollination and like in the garden, we all benefit. So here's to all of you bloggers, artists, patrons of the arts, and strangers....Thanks from the very bottom of my heart. I am inspired by all of you.

I am starting with this amazing self taught artist Tonja Lenderman who heard I was having a tough time and really went out of her to way to make me feel better. She featured me on her blog today which is so beautiful and I was so excited to find her etsy shop. www.tonjastreasures.etsy.com

Just when I thought there were no more fresh ideas... Look at her cute little flower canes. They arrive to you already cured and are used for nail art or scrap booking. Genius!
http://tonjastreasures.com/wordpress/

Thanks Tonja, Thanks Dayna and Rana, Thanks Polymer Clay Daily, Thanks Libby, Thanks to all of you anonymous posters and everyone else who goes out of their way to be kind to a friend or "stranger".
You make the world a better place.

Thanks

Thanks to everyone who has sent me good wishes latelty. My family has been going through a real tough time as of late but it is all working out .

Life can be crazy at times and mine is upside down right now. We are unexpectedly moving to New Mexico.

I have lived in Utah my whole life so this is a big move for us but we are up to the adventure and hoping for a great new start.

Meanwhile I have had to put away my clay and start packing up my house. Ahhhhh!!!!

My U of U jewelry and many other items will soon start appearing on my etsy shop so keep checking www.claybykim.etsy.com if you want to purchase any. For now I am still vending at the art market on Saturdays until I sell my home.

Thanks again for all of the kind words and support.

"Life is what happens when we are making other plans."

Crafter License for the U of U

Yeah!!!

I am the first ever officially licensed crafter for the University of Utah.

Thanks to everyone who supported me, signed my petition and sent good thoughts my way.

I will be selling U of U Saturday at the market. GO UTES!!!

It is refreshing to have a BIG corporation go to bat for us local little guys and have a good outcome. I have to thank Brett at the U's licensing department for making this happen and I hope all of you other crafters who sell U items get on board and sign up.

Events

The applications went out and the verdicts are in...

I will be at the Riverton Arts Festival on June 5th -6th

http://www.webspawner.com/users/rivertonartsfest/

I will also be at the downtown art and craft market , Saturdays June 13th thru Oct 17th

http://www.downtownslc.org/events/art-craft-market.htm

I would love to see you! Stop by and say hello.

Color

I love the bright colors on this one.

He will be for sale at the downtown art and craft market at pioneer park. June 13 - Oct. 17th.

Click here for more info

http://www.downtownslc.org/events/art-craft-market.htm

Art Nouveau Bugs

Still using up my vintage brass findings.

Sssnakes

If you don't like snakes then please avert you eyes.

I love this snake. He is so colorful and I think would great in anyones garden.

Mums the word...

Mum vases.

I love how bright these are!

It is a test tube and they are perfect for those beautiful spring blooms.

P.S.

I still need lots of signatures for my petition to get a crafters license implimented at the U of U. Please forward it to all of your Utah fans and friends. Thanks to everyone who has signed...http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/localcraftersUtah

CraziBeautifulWomen of Utah

I am the featured artist today ...

http://www.crazibeautiful.com/gettinCrazi/

I am giving away two fun items so check it out.

Local Artists Please Help

SHOP LOCAL, BUY HANDMADE
I have created a petition to help local Utah artists get a crafters license in place so that we can sell our U of U products locally in small venues and be in compliance with the University of Utah licensing perimeters. The University is trying to get a license approved and feel that input from local artisans will help with their efforts. This is an important issue for anyone who has ever or is interested in selling or buying U of U products and will benefit all of us as well as help the University monitor trademark infringement etc... We do not fit into the large mass produced items and therefore gaining a traditional collegiate license is near impossible. This will help us to sell locally and legally and keep it in our community. Please help by signing this petition.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/localcraftersUtah

Deep Orange

Here is the finished product.

I love how they turned out. I actually kept a pair for myself and I really do not need another pair of earrings.

I am usually a green girl but there is just something about the orange this year. Orange does not rhyme with anything but it looks good with almost everything!

What's cookin'

Here's what I'm cooking today.

Garden Beads

There is always HOPE in the garden...

I love spring and even though it is snowing right now in Utah, I have been looking for all of those wonderful spring flowers.

This is a cute little flower slide I made and it fits on a watch strap type bracelet. I guess I could make a flower in each color of the rainbow and they could be interchangeable. Now I have something to tide me over until the snow melts.

Happy Colors

Ever hear that song by Jimmy Cliff. "I can see clearly now the rain has gone...it's gonna be a bright, bright , sunshiney day."

I dare anyone to give it a listen and tell me it does'nt make you smile. It makes me feel happy, just like the colors on these earrings.

Inklings & Imprints

I bought these amazingly beautiful rubber stamps from an etsy seller a while back and have just now had the time to put them to use. Check out their shop for the most gorgeous original designs ever!

http://www.inklingsandimprints.net/

Bangles

I love spring !

I never get tired of making flower canes.

Shamrock

Erin Go Braugh !

Easter Bunny

Gearing up for the Easter Bunny.

Spring Fever

Springtime in Utah.

Vacation

I just returned from my "big adventure" with my family. We took the kids on a 14 day cruise to New Zealand, Tasmania and Australia. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of New Zealand and the grandeur of Australia.

One thing we learned is that people are pretty much the same all over. We have the same hopes, dreams and generally, most people are nice. We discovered some new friends and were inspired by the kindness of strangers. We saw a Tasmanian Devil and fed a Koala Bear. It was such an amazing journey half way around the world and one we won't ever forget.

Photo is Dunedin, NZ and the Sydney Opera House in Australia

Conversation Hearts

These speak for themselves.

I have listed them on my etsy shop for one week only.

Getting ready for my family's big adventure. We are sailing away to New Zealand, Tasmania and Australia in one week. I am getting anxious about the UBER long plane ride but looking forward to seeing another part of the world. Going to feed a Kangaroo and visit the Sea Dragons. Can't wait!

Valentine

This week I'm making valentines.

Vintage Treasures

I am in trouble again. Add vintage brass and findings to my new list of addictions. I cannot stop looking, (and buying) all of that splendid treasure from the past. My supply cupboard has spilled out onto the work table and I feel as though I have raided the royal coffers. Lovin it!

Give me some SUGAR baby! Go Utes!

New for 09.

Cherub Bracelets

Some of the "New Stuff".