Ten Days and Counting!

I think that one of the most stressful times can be the last stretch before a show.  This will be only my second one and I'm excited, as well as nervous.  Be sure to check out my Facebook page, which I am updating more frequently with work in progress (WIP) pics and mini-updates!

Last year was amazing and I was able to share a booth with Yarn Twisters, two fabulous ladies, who make the most awesome knitted nerdy items!  This year, we will continue the nerdy fun together, so stop by to say hello!  Go to their Facebook page to check out some of their wonderful designs!

I am hoping that we will have some gorgeous weather, but it is always a challenge in the autumn!

Yarn Twisters and myself have some new designs and layouts that we will be showcasing at this festival.  The first few people that come by to say hi to me on each day will receive a free goody! Just mention this blog post or my Facebook page!

Check out the Central NC Pagan Pride Days Festival page for more information on the festival.  You will find schedules of events, vendor info, raffle pictures and much more!  Be sure to register for the Blood Drive in advance and score a swag bag!  I have donated thirty-six handmade bead pendants for the bags, along with a magnetic business card.

There are so many awesome raffle prizes donated each year!  I always buy tickets myself, since we are located very close to the raffle announcement booth!  It's so much fun to see what everyone is donating, fund raise and have a chance to win something amazing.  I have donated an Itty Bitty Witchy Cthulhu for this year.  Check out some of the other donations here!

Hope to see you at the fair!

Works in Progress

Having been insanely busy over the last week, then catching some nasty cold that has dragged me down...I thought I would share a WIP (work in progress) pic from Thursday night.

More Itty Bitty Cthulhus, along with another pendant.  These are definitely works in progress and will be polished up soon.  That is, when I can stand to sit vertically for longer than 10 minutes. ;)

Have a wonderful holiday weekend and a HUGE thank you to all of our armed forces for your service, currently serving or having formerly served. <3 p="">

Exciting Things Are Happening...

Things have been so hectic lately, I have barely had time to keep my head straight!  My day job has kept me on my toes, with training new personnel, helping with projects and trying to finish up my own.  My SO and I also just celebrated our tenth anniversary this past week. Appropriately enough, part of it was in the local craft store, picking up new supplies. :)

If you have "Liked" my Facebook Page, then you will have seen some big developments occurring in the world of Bewitching Dreams.  If not, then I'll give you a quick rundown! :)

Located in Cary, NC, The Gamer's Armory is an awesome game store that has been very supportive of the local gaming community.  The owners are amazing people and I was honored when they reached out to me a few weeks ago to inquire about my little Itty Bitty Cthulhu sculptures! They carry several local artists and were looking to expand their selection of gaming/geekery items.  I was thrilled to receive the email and met with the owners to show them some of my latest creations.

First, I had to show off the Sentimental Cthulhu....Cthulhu has a softer side.  He enjoys stopping to smell the roses...before eating them.  

(Psst!  This was my first attempt ever at making roses...I had a lot of fun with them!)

Then, I wanted to show the Gamer Cthulhu.  You just know that he's screaming all sorts of insanity-inducing expletives over his gaming headset, don't you?

Then, there is the Romantic Cthulhu.  Cthulhu has a heart...truly...it might not be his own, but he is still presenting you with it. Aww...so romantic...and messy.

Then, there is Cthulhu...holding a brain.  Because, why shouldn't he? Where does the yummy soul lie....in the heart, or in the brain?  That is the true question...and the true connoisseur that Cthulhu is, has to try both to find out.

Which is your favorite?  If you are in North Carolina, stop by The Gamer's Armory to see some of my work, along with other great artists and check out the wonderful gaming groups that meet up there on a regular basis! They have a wonderful selection of miniatures, tabletop, card games and more!

Edit: After much deliberation, my friend ColtPixy helped me narrow down a name for these guys! Thank you so much!  I love my Itty Bitty Cthulhu!

Where does the time go...

It is amazing how time flies when life pulls you away from your favorite things!

So, I'm still working overtime on Cthulhus...lots of them.  This little guy was from last weekend, but he is joined by two more brothers.  All ready to be painted and accessorized!  

I went supply shopping yesterday, using a coupon at one of my favorite supply stores.  When I got home, I was all ready to do some creating, which Arkham was obviously going to supervise.  However, we ended up having an impromptu dinner and night out with friends...which to be honest, was much better for me!  The creativity was able to percolate and I have even more ideas than before.

Today, I went with a friend to our local fairgrounds for the weekly flea market.  They were also hosting a gem/mineral/fossil show in one of the buildings.  I was so excited to talk to vendors, get some great deals and find these awesome Megalodon teeth.  The one on the left will be for my dad's birthday in a couple of weeks.  The one on the right I am going to practice wire wrapping with and create a necklace for myself. :)

Lastly, my friend and I wandered into the yard sale section of the fairgrounds and I stumbled across this beautiful Lenox witch kitty!  Isn't she perfect?  I am absolutely in love with her...she has such a mischievous smile.  And yes, that is a vintage Tupperware cake storage container in the background   I found it for a $1!  I did a happy dance...I am not ashamed.  I love vintage Tupperware.  How did you spend your weekend?

Work Table Wednesday

So, while at work the other day...my mind started to wander towards the upcoming holiday and it hit me!

Easter Cthulhu!

This is a work in progress (WIP) picture, but he's slowly starting to develop...stay tuned as this creation grows, along with his story ;)  If you are good, maybe he will bring you a basket of 'goodies!'

Hamlet Cthulhu

To be....or not to be....there is no question when it comes to Hamlet Cthulhu.  All that is, will not be and all that will be, is not.

Ok, so that's enough Shakespearean butchery from me for one day.  You might be asking, how in the world did you come up with a Hamlet Cthuhlu idea?

I will tell you; gather around the fire and sit a spell.  I was sculpting mini skulls awhile back, which you might remember.  The first one I made, well, it was too big for the miniatures and was cast aside for even smaller, more delicate skulls.  So, here I have this lone, rogue skull, rolling back and forth on my work tray.  He's all painted up, ready to go, but has no ~body~ to go with *insert drum solo for bad pun.*

Then, I look over and I have this little Cthulhu.  He's lonely.  All of his tentacle buddies have left for their new homes and he's just sitting there...giving me the sad, evil glare.  I look between the skull and Cthulhu...Cthulhu and the skull.

*insert cheesy romantic music*

Thus, Cthulhu got a new friend and Mr. Skully got a nice, supportive tentacle arm to hold him securely while he checks out the world.  Seems like the perfect match to me!  What do you think?

Work Table Wednesday

Remember the miniature koi pond that I made last fall for the state fair?

With the tiny koi, all three of which fit on a single dime?

Well, I couldn't stop just there...I had to expand...or...well, miniaturize!

Three little koi, swimming on a dime...

Three little koi, swimming in their pendant pond...

 

Three little koi, having such a fun time!

This is only the first of a few koi pond pendants that I plan to make...I am testing out some techniques and finding what looks just right.  I also have a few other ideas, but one project at a time! ;)

Work Table Weekend

So, I've been fairly busy this weekend.  I purchased a new table for my boyfriend and I to share while working on our hobbies.  He has one half for his miniatures and I have the other half for my sculptures.

Speaking of which, he asked me to make a few accessories for his miniatures.  He is working on this undead army, so what better than to have a tombstone and a ~tiny~ skull to go along with it?

So....very...tiny!

This was the first skull I made, just to see if I could pull it off...but it was 'too' big.

I've been working a couple of other pieces, including a commissioned pendant, but I won't show pictures until I hear back from my friend first to see if she likes it. :)

Work Table Weekend

Here are a couple of projects that I have been working on this weekend...

A little brown mouse that hopped onto my table...

  

He is a bit droopy, but he makes me smile.  He was made using a base brown clay, then layered meticulously with various metallic paints to give his coat more detail.

The other piece I finally finished from a couple of weeks ago is a mini Dalek.

I think this little guy is perfectly harmless...wait...what is that noise?....

Work Table Wednesday

The final touches have been added to the Santa Cthulhu and he is getting ready to travel to his new home.  Hopefully the snowballs won't melt, considering how warm it is here at the moment!

As I finish up a couple of more sculptures, I will be embarking on a new project..trying to mesh a couple of techniques into one item.  As it progresses, I will post pictures along the way for you to see.

When I came home tonight, I had a wonderful surprise waiting for me!  Star from Coltpixy.com and I did an exchange recently...I sent her a miniature koi pond, hermit crab with betta fish and a snail necklace...in return, she sent me this gorgeous black and white mosaic keepsake box that she created using multiple techniques, including Sutton Slice, stamping and sculpting. 

It's absolutely amazing and pictures cannot do it justice, because it is so beautiful.  And let me tell you something...working with white clay is probably one of the hardest things to master...the fact that she was able to blend white and black polymer clays in such an elegant fashion continues to amaze me!

If you haven't checked out her blog or her Etsy shop...you really should!  She is one of the most talented artists I have the pleasure of knowing and I am honored to call her a friend.

 

 An even bigger surprise were these three little treasures tucked safely inside of the jewelry box!  A tiny, miniature mask that is just gorgeous in detail, a bunny booty pendant, which she is a master at making and a gorgeous tiny glass bottle that she created.  I have collected mini bottles and vases since I was young..Star did not know this, but she has sent me something that immediately reminded me of my collection and happy times. :)

Pirate Crab!

So, my dad requested a special sculpture from me for Christmas. He wanted a pirate blue crab that had taken up residence on Blackbeard's sunken ship.

After baking, before painting:

We brainstormed for quite awhile on all the different options before settling on a crab with an eyepatch and missing claw that was replaced by a fishing hook, of course!

After baking, painting and giving:

Argh...I'll guard yer parents' kitchen table with me broadsword!

Seriously, I forgot to take his picture before wrapping him up and traveling home for Christmas.  So, enter beautiful green tablecloth backdrop :p

Oh, and did I mention my Dad also wanted an oyster..."with attitude"..this one turned out more like a muppet...

But, he had such a hilariously cute expression, I couldn't bear to smoosh him back up into a lump of clay.  That happens sometimes..what you start out creating, might not turn out like you envisioned him...but maybe something better.  He even got a pearl!

Work Table Weekend

Now that I have given some of our holiday gifts out, I feel like I can share the final pictures with you all.  :)

First, the Santa Cthulhu's on their snowy drifts....though, I have to admit, this isn't the final picture.  I added snowballs to each Cthulhu and they were hilarious!  They actually looked like they were having a snowball fight with each other and I regret not getting a picture of that! :) 

I bet you can guess where the snowballs went though ;)  So, just use your imagination.

The finished unicorn went to another friend, who absolutely loves and collects various unicorns.  I used roving wool for the mane, tail and feathering around the hooves.  It was a pretty white, but when I think of mythical creatures, I think of glitter, etc.  After some pondering, I tried out some beautiful violet mica powder that I had and was able to actually "paint" it onto the wool to create an iridescent and glittery appearance.

To commemorate the engagement of two friends, I thought of what better way than interwoven rings.  I used another color of mica powder to create an antique silver finish.

Finally, a friend of ours just recently bought a farm and has been raising beautiful fancy chickens for some time now.  I thought a bird's nest pendant with colorful green eggs (textured glass beads) would be something she could enjoy.

I have several more projects I am going to be working on in the coming weeks before Christmas, so check back to see what is meandering across my work table!

On the worktable...

I have been so busy with sculptures, I keep forgetting to take really good pictures of any of my current projects.  Toss in the fact that a lot of them are gifts and I really don't want to give away any good surprises too soon!

But, here's one that I think is safe to share....

Work Table Weekend

This is what is currently on my work table.  No, I did not make the blue crab...he is just currently visiting from my kitchen so I can make certain to get the colors right for a work in progress. ;)