November Challenge

It's November challenge time at PCAGOE.com (polymer clay artisan's guild of Etsy).

I have entered my little Leaf Elf, "Lelf". He is enjoying the first snow.

Go to pcagoe.com between Nov 1 at noon, and Nov 3 at midnight to vote for your favorite (there are some fantastic entries this month) and you may win some fabulous prizes!

The Way-a-ay-ting is the hard-est part.

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Tom Petty said it best, the waiting is the hardest part. I'm referring to being 3 days overdue in my pregnancy, as if 40 weeks isn't enough! I'm beginning to wonder if he's ever coming out!


So I've been absorbing myself in sock monkeys.


Yes, I have no doubt this is a very unconventional approach to dealing with the uncontrollable world of overdue pregnancy. But sock monkeys are my muse and thank goodness for them, they have even been dancing through my dreams lately. At least they keep me smiling!

:- )

Learn more about "Zen Monkey" HERE.

Happy Halloween!

I Will Wash My Hands Among The Innocent

This is an original art doll and shadowbox collage by me.




The bat man came to me after a nightmare. I woke up in a terror, and I had been working on this art doll's face. I had the idea to make him into a batman because bats are so sweet and innocent, yet so misunderstood by humanity.


How I made the art doll:


I sculpted the face and torso first with polymer clay, using glass eyes. I thought for days about what to make him into. His face has a sweetness and an innocent look. I considered a monk, I settled on a bat.I first researched the body structure of a bat. I sculpted the bone structure of the wings and added them to his torso. I decided to use liquid sculpey for the wings. They were a challenge and I baked them no less than a dozen times to get them the consistency I desired. Now they are elastic and membrane-like, very cool. I sculpted each tiny claw and got a wonderful bat claw effect. I collaged in pieces from my 1914 prayer book after digitally creating a spiral effect. I chose the title because that is the quote under the bat's left wing.


The shadowbox is 9"x11" The bat art doll has a 7" wingspan. See more pics on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiritmama/

Baby Sock Monkey Ornaments

What's cuter than a sock monkey? A baby sock monkey!

Made of polymer clay with yarn hair and a cute ribbon to hang on your tree, or in the nursery. Available at SpiritMama.etsy.com.

Cousin Leland, AKA Sock Monkey

Three Sock Monkeys walked into a bar... These guys could have fun anywhere!

I have decided to explore my long time love of sock monkeys. As a child my great aunt Jenny had one she called "Cousin Leland", and I didn't know they were called sock monkeys until I was an adult (fairly recently, actually). Whenever I would see one somewhere I would say "Oh look, it's cousin Leland!" I never met the actual cousin Leland, but apparently the resemblance is striking.

These monkeys are ornaments made of polymer clay and jointed with beads and wire. I have hung them on a pretty red ribbon, and these guys are not just for Christmas trees, mind you. You'll enjoy them so much that you will want them hanging around all year!

They can sit, hang, and lay down for a nap (don't expect them to sleep though). Each monkey is handmade, one of a kind, by me, so the details will vary slightly. He will be about 3" long, and ready for a good time. You can get one here: SpiritMama.etsy.com

I Voted Today!

My baby is due any day, which means I may not get out on election day. So to be safe my husband and I went first thing this morning and voted. We didn't have to wait in line at all, and we were out of there in less then 10 minutes!

They gave me a cute sticker which I wore all day on my belly too:

Fab Witch Art

In honor of the nearness of Halloween, I will share my favorite witchy art with you today!


Here is one I did:

Isaura the Spell Casting Witch Concocts Her Best Brew



She is a mixed media art doll in a shadowbox, and you can read all about her here: SpiritMama.etsy.com




Look at this one, called "The Owlchemist" from Leilalou's shop on etsy:

Here's a cutie Folk Art Witch by FunkyFolky:

and finally one of my favorite polymer sculptors, MealyMonster, brings us Molly and the Zombie Baby:

I had another opportunity to wear the $7.48 black dress last weekend. It was a wedding reception for two dear friends who got married in Honduras last August. It took place at a beautiful ranch, and most people had to park and walk, but not me! They had a special area for the soon-to-be Mamas...

Frog Prince Dreams ACEO

Click on the picture for a close up : )




I have finally completed my Frog Prince ACEO!



I will be sending copies of it to the winners of the "complete my frog prince challenge" once they arrive, in about two weeks.



After some researching I decided to have them printed professionally instead of doing it myself. I think the cost will end up about the same and I know a professional service will do it right! And I don't have to shop for the paper, sealant, and plastic sleeves, AND I don't have to do the work!



I'll let you know how the quality is and I'll plug the service I used if they turn out great.

9 Months Pregnant IN the New Dress

OK, I promised a 9 month pregnant picture of me in the black dress at my husband's 20th class reunion, so here it is:


It was strange meeting all these old friends of Brett's who are brand new people to me, in this 9 month pregnant package I'm wearing. The good thing is, next time I meet any of them they'll think "Wow, she's really lost weight, I remember her being a lot bigger." With my purse hanging there it really looks like I'm 3 feet wide!

Isn't Brett cute! He keeps reminding me this is temporary. And it is, as of today I have 21 days to my due date, and I'm guessing Baby G will come early, so 2 to 3 weeks to go.

PCAGOE October Challenge

I'm so excited about winning the Day of the Dead Challenge for PCAGOE (polymer clay artisans guild of Etsy). I just joined the PCAGOE in September, so this was my first challenge. Thanks so much to all who voted. Visit PCAGOE.com to see all of the entries.

The second place was a tie by juliespace and ametistagirl.

And third went to (another tie) pollyhyper and beetreebyme.

Congrats to all the winners, and thank you to all who voted!

Nine Months Pregnant and a New Dress

I'm 37 weeks pregnant. I could burst any day. If you read my post a few weeks ago with the belly pictures, I'm EVEN BIGGER now!

So guess what... My husband's 20 year class reunion is this weekend, starting tonight. I'm going to meet all of these people Brett has been telling me about for years, for the first time tonight, and I'm 50+ pounds over my normal weight. Yesterday I realized I have nothing to wear (my daily maternity stretch pants won't cut it for this event). Brett informed me he's wearing a suit. A SUIT!

I don't want to spend any money on clothes right now. Trying anything on at this point is a sad and self-defeating event. My chiropracter suggested I go as a Jack-O-Lantern, but this isn't a Halloween party!

I was considering my dilema as I ran my errands yesterday. I was at Target when I walked by the maternity section. There was a 75% off rack. I couldn't help myself, I dove in and grabbed every massive maternity dress on the rack!

The dressing room is a scary and comical place at 9 months pregnant. Most of the large dresses fit me like Saran Wrap. However, there was one large maternity dress, all black, knee length, not 100% polyester, that fit. I admit it looks like a tent from the belly down, but I prefer tent over saran at this point. I looked at the tag. $7.48. It's a deal!

I now have a dress. I'll have someone take a picture of me in it tonight any you can laugh too after I post it tomorrow!

Etsy Bloggers Street Team Blogger of the Month

Congrats to Etsy Bloggers Street Team Blogger of the Month, Jen from BFBeads (Baby Friendly Beads, that is) and MamasMagicStudio. Check out Jen's blog too!

Jen's baby friendly beads can be worn while nursing and give baby something to look at and play with during meal time. What a creative idea!

I have an entry in the PCAGOE (polymer clay artisans guild of Etsy) this month, for Day of the Dead. If you go to http://www.pcagoe.com/ right now and vote for your favorite entry (it doesn't have to be mine!), you will automatically be entered to win a prize package of handmade items just for voting! The entries are really fun to look at too!

Here is a picture of all the entries: