Charmed, I'm Sure!

Welcome to my staging area for the 2012 Art Charm Swap. What is an art charm, you ask? A charm that has been either created or altered by the designer; by their nature most are one-of-a-kind, miniature works of art. 

I have made my charms with my favourite creative medium: polymer clay. 

On the left is a multicolour cane of swirled Kato (I used the standard colours, something I seldom do, but I wanted the impact of the intense primaries in this case). At right are the baked slices. Each is unique!

On the back of each baked disc I then added a cute pink heart with some text:

Each charm was baked, sanded and buffed at every stage. Next came the fronts, in two further steps, the base (arms) of the sun was formed and added to the disc, and detailed. Lastly the face was carefully made using only basic etching and pearling tools. Custom-tinted glaze was applied as a final finish. I think I'll call him "Sunny".

Each of these cousins is a unique item. The jump-rings are niobium in a rainbow of colours!

I hope my loving, laughing suns will bring some cheer wherever they have travelled! Now please do check these other artists and find some unique charmers that speak to you. Then, starting at 3:00 pm EST, click here for Jennifer's charm auction for "Beads of Courage", a fantastic program helping seriously ill children to bravely face difficult challenges!

Alenka Obid http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-exchage-reveal.html
Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal-blog-hop-and-auction.html 
Babette Cox http://babettecox.com/blog.htm
Carol Watson http://www.carolwatsonartglass.blogspot.com
Carolyn Chenault http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/beads-of-courage-auction-2/
Cassi Paslick http://cassisbeads.blogspot.com/2012/11/beads-of-courage-charm-swap-reveal.html
Charlene Jacka http://clay-space.com/2012/11/early-christmas/
Cheri Reed http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/2012/11/to-participate-in-charm-swap-you-must.html
Cheryl McCloud http://cherylmccloud.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal-blog-hop-and-beads-of.html
Deb Kauzlarich http://debkauzlarich.blogspot.com
Denielle Hagerman http://somebeadsandotherthings.com
Emma Todd http://apolymerpenchant.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap-in-aid-of-boc.html
Erin Prais-Hintz http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap-laugh.html
Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-exchange-2012.html
Inge vonRoos http://ingetraud.wordpress.com
Jean Peter http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/ http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-charm-swap.html
Jeannie K Dukic http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog/2012/11/12/beads-of-courage/
Jennifer Cameron http://wp.me/p1xIa0-wn
Kia Dallons http://kiadallonsstudio.blogspot.jp/2012/11/laughter-is-best-medicine.html
Kimberly Roberts http://bahamadawn.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap.html
Kristy Bowman http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal-hop.html
Lea Avroch http://lajewelrydesign.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-beads-of-courage-art-charm-swap.html
Leslie Schenkel http://twistedchicken.wordpress.com/?p=171
Linda Florian http://www.lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com/
Lori Greenberg http://lorigreenberg.com/blog/?p=3068
Lynnea Bennett http://designsbylynnea.blogspot.com
Mallory Hoffman http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-time-has-come-art-charm-blog-reveal.html
Marcy Lamberson http://studiomarcy.blogspot.com/2012/11/charmed-by-minions-im-sure.html
Marsha Neal Studio http://marshanealstudio.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-exchange-and-beads-of-courage.html
Maureen Connolly http://mrsbeadsley.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-reveal.html
Melissa Meman http://melissameman.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap-blog-hop.html
*YOU ARE HERE* http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/2012/11/charmed-im-sure.html
Natalie McKenna http://www.grubbi.co.uk/
Perri Jackson http://shaktipajdesigns.com/11/blog/reveal-the-laughter-art-charms/
Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-exchange-auction-and-reveal.html
Robin Koza http://www.robinkoza.com
Shaiha Williams http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-hop.html
Shannon Hicks http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/
Shelby Foxwell http://sundownbeaddesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal.html
Shelley Graham Turner http://shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/2012/11/reveal-2012-charm-swap.html
Shirley Moore http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com/2012/11/beads-of-courage-art-charm-reveal.html
Stephanie Haussler http://pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/laughter-art-bead-charm-swap-auction.html
Susan Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com/2012/11/beads-of-courage-charm-swap-reveal-and.html
Toltec Jewels http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/2012/11/BOCArtCharmRevealBlogHop.html
Vanessa Gilkes http://culturezine.com/blog/?p=550

Frivolous and Fabulous

Buddy the Elf Cat Hat
Go ahead and laugh... I DARE YOU!

My Etsy Finds newsletter just featured Sara, who calls herself "the cat hat lady", and her adorable creations over at scooterKnits. Of course, they showed another  hat, but I am in love with this one. I am probably Will Farrell's biggest non-fan, but I accidentally saw him in "ELF". I fell in love with his hilarious and innocent Buddy the Elf character. Farrell IS Buddy in my mind. Well worth watching if you are a sucker for Christmas movies (I still cry every time I watch "It's a Wonderful Life").

Now if I can just talk my kitties into wearing hats...

Stay tuned for some charming characters!

On Monday, November 12, please join us for a "charming" event. A large group of artisans, working in a variety of materials and styles, have created and swapped charms around a special theme. We will be revealing our designs, and possibly some ideas for future projects; in addition you will be directed to an online auction to raise funds for a wonderful cause: the Beads of Courage, a program which helps seriously ill children in participating hospitals throughout many countries. 

This auction will be administered by the charming Jennifer Stout Cameron who will offer for sale charms donated by all the artisans! The money raised will be donated to Beads of Courage. What a great way to pick up some special one-of-a-kind creations AND help bring smiles to sick children! Drop in here on Monday and link to all the blogs for some early Holiday Cheer!

Relatively wordless...

Earrings to match yesterday's bracelet. Yummy. Nuff said.

You all didn't think I could actually do WORDLESS, right?

A Lingering Taste of Summer...

Now that the days are getting shorter (and colder!) I love anything that reminds me of summer. What a great treat to receive some fresh strawberries in my mailbox today...

Say what!?

Well, almost fresh... actually some fresh-looking polymer clay strawberry charms, handmade by Hazel Ward of Nottingham, UK based Continuum Designs. Hazel specializes in elegant nature-inspired beads and charms. Waaay back in late July, I asked to take part in Hazel's blog hop. It was a strange summer and it seems that my little berries were lost at sea somewhere in the North Atlantic. We chatted a few times since then and Hazel kindly offered to send me another set. I had prepared a bracelet specifically for this project quite a while back so I quickly added three of the berries and voilà:

I am of course aware that dragonflies are carnivorous, so I suppose this little fellow (in antique copper from Trinity Brass) is just admiring the life-like berries and not eating them LOL.

Some 4 mm sunshine yellow Swarovski for the dear departed summer sun. If you are reading this in the Southern Hemisphere, then YOUR summer is just around the corner. Enjoy!

Don't those berries look good enough to eat? They have a luscious golden glow. Thank you so much, Hazel... these were worth the wait! I have two left, so I think a little pair of earrings is in the plans for later tonight.

If anyone is experiencing a sudden craving, strawberries are  available in two sizes and as either charms (like mine), or as beads with a hole from top to bottom. Check Hazel's Etsy shop for other unique styles, too.