Happy New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and a delightful New Year!

It has been very busy over the last several weeks, but as things begin to calm down and the weather turns gloomy here...I am able to sit more and more at my craft table to focus.

One project that I had a great deal of fun creating were these racing pigeons:

During the holidays, two of my other creations found new homes!  My Itty Bitty Santa Cthulhu and my miniature Koi Pond both traveled to their new owners.  I am so thrilled that they arrived safely!

I am trying out a few new techniques, at the suggestion of my fellow polymer clay artists.  So far, I am liking the effects, but you will have to stay tuned to see what those changes will be!

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!

What's been on my culinary table...

So, I'm alternating between my clay table and my kitchen.  This week, I've been making candies and goodies for presents.  I love making things for others, whether it's with clay or dough, chocolate or stones.  There's something about putting your heart into a gift and seeing it received with joy.

Now, for my utter geekdom.  I bought the Han Solo in Carbonite Ice Cube Tray from ThinkGeek for my boyfriend's birthday last month. After stumbling across it the other day while going through some of my candy molds, I had a "EUREKA" moment.

Yes, it's Han...in chocolate.  Actually, it's Han in Peppermint Bark!  Hey, just because you are frozen in carbonite does not mean that you cannot celebrate the holiday season.  I mean, seriously....who wants to miss out on winter peppermint goodies??

Han, in festive winter packaging!

Other goodies that I worked on for my co-workers included pumpkin spice cookies with white chocolate drizzle and soft peppermint sticks dipped in dark chocolate, followed by white chocolate. 

I cannot get the smell of peppermint off of me.  At all.  The cats won't stop following me around the house...help!