The BIG News!

So........
The big secret I've been keeping.  The one I've been teasing you with.  The one I keep hinting at and then run away giggling to myself......

Well....
Here it is!!!!

 

I'm Published!!!!!!

 

 

My Halloween sculptures made it into this issue!

I don't know if you remember, but those were my first attempt at sculpting....ever!  You can read that post HERE.

 

I submitted them over a year and a half ago and heard just before going on vacation that they were selected!  I have to admit I blabbed a little, but I was waiting....waiting until I could hold the magazine in my trembling hands and shout from the rooftops....

I'M PUBLISHED!!!

 

Can you tell I'm excited?!

I've been so excited, I made new sculptures to commemorate the event!

Before I show you I wanted to tell you that I added a CLEARANCE Section to my store where I drastically reduced a bunch of paintings and other goodies.  I won't be renewing them, so grab them now....stock up on gifts....and use this 10% OFF coupon on your entire purchase to sweeten the deal!

 

Enter CELEBRATEWITHME at checkout :)

 

I gave you this sneak peek on Facebook a couple weeks back.

 

 

This became my very first try at a doll.  This is Mango :)

 

 

 

I love cat paw pads....so he had to have them, too.

 

After I made him.  I tried a different face shape.

 

 

This is "Spats"

Tuxedo cats are special to me now that I own one :)

 

 

These really were labor intensive.  I have one more body ready to apply clay to, but to be honest, I don't think I'm going to tackle that anytime soon.  These may be the only two I ever make. 

Who knows.... 

 

I've been working in clay so much over the past few weeks!

 

Look at these cool pumpkins I made.

I call them my "Sleepy Hollow" Series.

 

(sold)

 

All the text is cut from a vintage copy of the book.

"Sleepy Hollow was famous for Goblin Pumpkins"

 

 

"Sleepy Hollow is the most haunted spot in the world"

 

"shocking things happen in Sleepy Hollow"

 

 

"Sleepy Hollow is full of strange spirits"

 

"Welcome to Sleepy Hollow"

 

These are fun to make.  Each takes on a personality of its own.  I like flipping through the pages of the book and trying to make phrases that go with their expression.

 

...and because Halloween is not complete without a bit of the macabre, I made these:

 

 

4 pairs of fangs for your curiousity cabinet.

 

This little piggy had rigor mortis.....

 

 

 (Sorry, Natasha May) She hates it when I show digits in jars..haha!

I used driftwood as the bones. 

They are perfect for this because they are already discolored and rounded....and the paperclay sticks to the wood easily.

 

They are all in the shop....get 'em while they're hot!

Don't forget to use the coupon code CELEBRATEWITHME to get even more off :)

 

Thank you, thank you to all of you for your support, excitement and friendship!

It makes me so happy to share my life, creative and otherwise, with you!!

 

Biggest hugs!

Cam

 

Show, Tell and Share

Hello Dear Bloggy Friends!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  I'm thrilled that I was able to finally finish up the Snowy Quartet....

You remember, right?  They looked like this.....

 

They've come a long way....and after a few color changes and lots and lots of layers of paint, they are ready for their big reveal ;)

 

We'll start with Mr. Shivers.

 

 

 

With his bright blue eyes and Santa cap, he's all set for the Season.  I just love the way the crackle medium lends such a wonderful vintage look to the sculptures.

 

This is Topper.

 

 

He sure is a sweetie....and more delicious crackling!

 

 

Next up is a snowman bust (is it wrong that the word bust makes me giggle....heehee) entitled "Winter Wishes".

 

 

It's hard to see in the photos, but the front of that star is completely covered in sparkles :)

 

 

Last, but not least, is a little bird loving Snowman.

I haven't decided on a name for him yet.

 

 

I chose not to crackle him so his colors would be more vibrant and his look more whimsical.

 

 

That fabric around his neck is beautiful....it has birds on it!  I got this when I did a  fantabulous fabric swap with my friend, Heather.  I love the fabric so much, I made heart pillow ornaments from it, too :)

 

These are all in the shop, if you see something you like :)

 

I wanted to quickly pass along some neat things to you, just in case you didn't know about them.

 

Kim Klassen is offering a FREE mini course to help you learn to use Photoshop Elements better.  Here is the LINK to find out more.  Her textures are amazing!

 

Also, Strathmore (the paper company) is offering free classes, once again, for 2013.  You can find out about those, HERE.

 

Lastly, there is a woman named Kitty Hockman who runs an animal sanctuary in her big backyard.  She does her best to rescue abused and neglected animals of all sorts and give all a chance to live their lives in a safe and nurturing environment.  She crafts and has an Etsy store to help raise funds for these creatures she feels priviledged to care for and she blogs, to help spread the word about proper and fair treatment for our animal kin ....and the antics of the furry friends who call her ranch home.

She is hosting a wonderful opportunity to make art for a good cause.

Hockman Ranch's First Annual Artist Event

 

I urge you to take a look and see if it is something that calls to you.  I'm signing up.....hope a few of you will join me :)

Well, that's it for now....back to stocking the store I go....such a busy shopping week it'll be!!
Biggest hugs to you all!

Cameron

Claying in the Snow

Okay, maybe I'm trying too hard with that title....haha! 
I'm not actually in snow, but am making snowy things out of clay :)

I was hoping to do a big reveal of these snow gents during this post, too....but the painting is slow going.

So, another post then....

 

But, there is still fun to be had!  I have these fun snowy claythings to share with you.

 

Ornaments :)

 

 

I love the snow glitter crystals on their noses.

 

 

 

 

It's finally cooled down here....so painting these guys in my warm jammies on a gray, windy day has just been perfect!

 

I tried some Woodland Critter ornaments, too.

 

 

 

Paperclay gives you all the lovely plastery look of heavy duty clay, but dries light as styrofoam.  It is such neat stuff.

 

They are up for grabs.  I thought grouping them as sets would be a nice way to offer them :)

 

It's a 3 day weekend here in the States, I just wanted to be sure I got a post in before I was MIA for 4 days or so....haha!

 

Hot chocolate hugs and candy cane kisses,

Cameron

Claythings

There's been a strange, new development in my studio lately....
I go to bed with a new Paperclay package set out for the next day...
and when I wake up......a figurine is standing on my desk next to an empty wrapper....
Those clay elves must be at it again!

Ahhhh, if only that were true! 
I bought a large amount of the stuff back in January and just now started to try my hand at it.

It's not easy......

But I quickly became addicted!
Now, in addition to the usual paint smears on my clothes and skin, you can now find clay bits under my nails and gesso in my hair :)

What do you think of this guy?

I call him Bug~a~Boo because of his buggy eyed expression....
He's actually a functioning box for.....wait for it....

......creepsakes...haha!

Move over Martha Boowart!
Here is the Hostess with the Grossest!
She comes with accessories like these Black Widow cookies....Devil's Food, of course!

All these fun, spooky things....

This grinning witch really turned into a labor of love....I kept adding more and more to her....I had to completely repaint her dress 3 times!

But I think she's frightfully delightful now!

She stands almost 10 inches (24 cm) high!

Did those cookies make you hungry?  I have just the thing for you!

Btw, do you like the neat filters I'm using on some of the photos? I got them here!

Creepy Crawly Confections, anyone?

Just something fun for staging a witchy tea party scene ;P

And then, there is Smudge...

With book in hand, he keeps secrets and sorts spells....a cute little Witch's Apprentice!

Have Magic, will travel ;P

I had to add the pumkin to make him balance....look at that tail...haha!

And, not to leave out my Christmas loving friends....

Jingles is my very first snowman...

I gave him actual twig arms...just like a real snowman!

All these creations are in my shop ready to find new homes :)

What will the clay elves make next?

Heeheehee!

Biggest hugs!

Cam