It's SPRING!

It's amazing to me that the last time I was here I was posting about Christmas, and now Easter is just days away!  Where does the time go? 

Mostly, I take the month of January off from working, since I usually am so crazy busy making custom orders right up until Christmas.  Last year was no exception, and I finished my last order at about 3:30pm on December 23rd!  Cutting it a little too close, I know!  So, January was a deserved month of rest from the studio!

I have been making my way back to work, and itching to get busy with all the new ideas I have banging around in my head.  But this week I had another custom order to work on, and I'm going to show it to you today.

A customer who purchased several snowmen from me at one of my fall art fairs contacted me about making a group of Easter bunnies for her.  Since I didn't do any spring shows this year, and I've been slow to get back to work and get things listed in my etsy shop, I wasn't sure I would be making any spring pieces.  It was nice to have to do these.....they were so much fun!

This is Ellie.  She is a small girl, about 6-1/4".  A pink or purple dress was requested, so I did a bit of both.  The polka dot fabric reminds me of Easter eggs, so I pulled the pink out to make her clay bodice, and then trimmed it with purple ribbon, crepe paper and Swarovski crystals.  She carries a basket with little eggs.

Tessa is wearing a teal dress, with a floral patterned skirt and clay bodice.  I didn't have crepe paper to match this color, so chose to use white.  I added the white lacy ribbon to balance the collar.  She has eggs and little yellow ribbon roses in her basket.  She is much taller than Ellie.

Vivian is much like Tessa in both size and the way she is dressed.  I love this vibrant violet color.  The little purple flowers in her basket are a nice match.

I was asked to create one little boy, wearing a short blue suit, and here he is.  I named him Will.  After taking this picture, I decided he needed a little 'something', so I added a lavender felt flower with a yellow Swarovski crystal center to the lapel of his suit.  It is s subtle but nice finishing touch. 

 

These two pictures show the difference in the sizes of the bunnies.  The client asked for two small ones and two larger ones.  The small girl and the boy are for her grandkids.  The bigger girls are for her daughters.  I will be delivering these tomorrow.  I hope she loves them as much as I do! 

 

 

I don't know about the rest of you, but I sure am ready for spring!  We didn't have that much snow in my neck of the woods, so we were lucky in that regard.  But we had some very bitterly cold weather.  Personally, I would rather have the snow!  Of course, someone from Boston or one of the other cities that got nailed really hard would probably disagree!  But now it's over, the trees are budding, tulips are blooming, and my lilac bush is about ready to pop out full of wonderfully fragrant blooms!  We had a nice rain storm last night, and the grass is even greener this morning!  It's a wonderful rebirth!

 

I hope you all have a joyous Easter!  I promise to be back soon!

Lisa

 

 

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Oh, one other thing to share with you.  This is one reason why my studio time has been compromised in recent weeks.  On December 6th I got the best Christmas present ever!  An adorable Brittany spaniel.  I named him Rudy. 

 

This is what he looked like a couple days after I got him.

 

This is what he looks like now!  It's amazing how fast they go from roly-poly puppy to looking like a real dog!  He's a handful, but a ADORE him! 

 



A Final Spring Fling

I didn't get here to wish you all a Happy Easter.  I hope you had a joyous day.  I did! 

I thought I would show you one last bunny before I move on to Halloween.  (Yes, you read that right! HALLOWEEN!  I have SIX big shows planned for fall, so I need to start cranking out the spooks!)

Here is one of my favorite bunnies:

Pretty in Pink

 

Isn't she lovely?  I have a thing about these fluffy tutu dresses!  This one is made from pale pink sparkle tulle and tied with a pink satin ribbon.  (I should have used a different colored background for my pictures, because it doesn't show up as well as I would like it to.)

I added pink Swarovski crystals to her clay bodice and crepe paper for her collar.  I just love the pink fabric flowers she is holding.  They are vintage flowers I got from my friend Marian.  (When I was visiting her in February, she let me 'shop' her stash for things I could use in my work! What a terrific friend!  She has an AWESOME stash!!)

 

 

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am SOOO ready for spring!  The grass is finally getting green.  The tulips are blooming.  Our lilac bush is full of buds and will be gorgeous very soon.  The trees are about ready to pop.  YAY!! 

 

It seems silly to be so excited about spring, but ready to move on to fall/Halloween, winter/Christmas art!  But that's the way it is in my biz....always a season or two ahead (or you are playing desperate catch-up in crunch time!)

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa



Bunnies and Carrots

Seems like bunnies and carrots just go together. Every year the rabbits in our neighborhood manage to find our carrot patch and mow them off.  Frustrating, to say the least, but I suppose they have to eat, right? 

Today I have two different versions of a bunny with carrots to show you.  Both are newly listed in my etsy shop, A Piece of Lisa.  These are not really Easter specific bunnies....more of a spring thing.  I hope you like them.

CHOCOLATE CHUNK WITH CARROT

 

I've had a thing for these sort of egg-shaped bunnies this year.  They are a different approach than I have taken before and I really like them.  On this one I added some big buck teeth....he's ready to get chomping on that carrot.  I used green tinsel rope for the carrot tops.  Isn't he cute?

 

GARDEN FRESH

 

This big white bunny has been out working in the garden all day.  He's wearing his work overalls and a white crepe paper collar and carrying his shovel.  He's gathered a nice bunch of carrots for his lunch.

 

 

I hope you are all enjoying your spring.  It's supposed to be lovely here today....nearly 80 degrees!  I think, perhaps, winter is finally over!  YAY! 

 

And hey, two blogs already this week!  Maybe I'm back on track....

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa

 



Spring Lambs

It's about time I get back to blogging!  I've been working on all sorts of new pieces, but haven't taken much time to photograph things until today.  Spring is here, and Easter is just around the corner, so it's about time I show you some of the adorable spring creations I have ready.

Spring isn't all about bunnies.  What about sweet little lambs?  I am IN LOVE with these two precious lambs, all dressed up in their pretty spring dresses.  And these girls are not just for Easter.  No, you can leave these out all spring....or all year if you are so inclined.  (Wouldn't they be adorable in a baby nursery?)

Baa-Baa Birdie

This sweet little lamb, Birdie,  is dressed in an adorable green gingham paper dress with a crepe paper collar.  She wears bobby socks and Mary Janes and a pretty lavender flower is tucked in her ear.  A little blue and white bird has landed on her wrist.  I used real kid mohair for her curls. 

Baa-Baa Blossom

Birdie's sister, Blossom, is dressed in a pretty lavender top and a flowered paper skirt trimmed with a blue satin ribbon and crepe paper collar.  She carries a bouquet of freshly-picked flowers and has another one tucked behind her ear.  I used kid mohair for her curls.

 

 

I had so much fun creating these little lambs.  I hope you enjoy them. They will soon be listed in my etsy shop.

 

Have a great spring day!

Lisa



Spring is coming, right?

It's been a harsh winter.  While we haven't gotten very much snow here in Omaha, our temperatures have been brutal!  I'm really ready for spring, and I think I'm not alone!  So now that I am finally back to work in the newly remodeled studio (posts about that coming this week, I promise!) I have been working on a few new Easter pieces. 

These three Easter sweeties can be found on my Pfatt Marketplace page later today. 

Bonnie Bunny is all dressed up in her finest Easter dress.  The bodice is sculpted from lavender clay, and the skirt is hand sewn from a cute polka dot print and edged with ribbon and lace.  I finished the look with a crepe paper collar and Swarovski crystals.  She wears a clay hat trimmed with flowers and holds an Easter basket filled with moss and tiny eggs, tied with a pretty silk ribbon.

Eggbert with Bunny Ears is another version of a design I did last year.  I love him!  My sister says he reminds her of the m&m guy, and she's right!  He is sculpted from blue clay with yellow and pink accents.  His grey boots are trimmed with pink chenille and blue Swarovski crystals.  I made his bunny ears from wool felt and fluffy chenille.  A bit of wire allows them to be bent at a quirky angle.  His clay basket is filled with moss and tiny eggs and trimmed with a pink satin bow.

Chocolate Chunk with an Egg is a different style of Easter bunny than I have done before.  A bit more egg-shaped with a quirky face and hand-painted yellow-green eyes, she has a pretty pink gingham bow on her ear.  The big egg is sculpted from yellow clay with pink and white flowers and is covered with very fine pink glitter.  It looks like it's sugar coated!  The brown clay is the color and sheen of chocolate, so this bunny looks good enough to eat! 

 

I hope you will hop on over to Pfatt Marketplace this afternoon and have a look around.  And not just at my page.  Check out everyone!  I'm sure there will be lots of sweet Easter surprises over there.  I know for sure my friend LeeAnn Kress of Charmed Confections has one ADORABLE bunny!  You MUST go have a look!  Pfatt will update around mid-day. 

 

Oh, and the time change.....UGH!!  I think we'll all agree about that, right?

Lisa

 

Remember, if you click the links to Pfatt and you see my snowmen, the page hasn't updated yet.  Be sure to go this afternoon, and you will find the newest listings!





Friday Favorite--Garden Markers

Have you missed my Friday Favorite series?  I have!  I'm sorry I haven't gotten a favorite shop listed for the past couple of weeks.  I'm going to make up for that today by listing three different shops.  Switch things up a little bit.

So, it's spring, right?  Well, at least according to the calendar!  This year's weather has been nutso-crazy!  But the promise of warmer weather is out there, and soon everyone will be planting their gardens.  Today I thought I would show you three different etsy shops that make adorable garden markers. 

First up, Amy Lea 'n Me.  Amy makes these adorable garden markers with forks.  She embosses a colorful piece of clay (she doesn't say, but it appears to be polymer clay) with the name of a veggie or herb (she can also do flowers on request).  The pieces have been sealed so they are good to go out in the weather.  I love how colorful they are!

 

 

Amy Lea 'n Me Vegetable and Herb Garden Markers

 

This listing is for a set of five, you pick the veggies you want, but she can do any quantity you want, just send her a message.

 

My next shop is Bowen Design.  Glen hand-draws a picture of the fruit, vegetable or herb on to all weather, non-fading vinyl and includes a dowel for sticking them in the ground.  I think the drawings are really nicely done--they sort of remind me of seed packets. 

 



Hand Drawn Garden Markers by Bowen Design

 

        

 

This listing is for 15 garden markers, and again, you get to choose which ones you want.

 

Our final stop is From Artisan Hands.  Barbara creates her garden markers by rolling a slab of stoneware and cutting it into a unique wedge shape.  They are then stamped, glazed and fired.  I think the colors are quite earthy and beautiful.

 

 

Stoneware Garden Markers by From Artisan Hands

 

Barbara sells her garden markers in sets of three, your choice of words and colors.  She offers a flat rate shipping if you want to order multiple sets (which of course you would!)

 

I hope you have enjoyed our trip to the garden shops today.  Which group of garden markers is your favorite?

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lisa





A New Ladybug

I have another brand new piece to show today.  I've made Ladybugs before, but she is my newest one.  I like the way she has a 'coat' of red.  The first ladybug I made only had red wings on the back and you couldn't see them as well.  I know Ladybugs aren't red on their bellies, but for this I think it works.

 

She is carrying a little clay basket filled with daisies (because as we all know, daisies are my favorite flower!).  She has a fluffy crepe paper collar and a pretty red satin bow on her head.  I think she is adorable, but then, I'm a bit biased! LOL!

 

This darling ladybug will be available this afternoon over at Pfatt Marketplace, along with two other whimsical critters.  I hope you will go have a look!  (Pfatt Marketplacee will update around 1:00 Central time, so if you go and there are still bunnies on my page, please try again later today.)

 

Now that my spring shows are over, I'm taking a break from clay work to tackle a serious spring cleaning of the house.  Boy does it need it!  I actually enjoy cleaning, when I'm in the right mood and don't have other projects on my mind!  I know, sick, isn't it?

 

Have a great day!

Lisa



Bunnies in the Garden

Well, spring just might be here for real!  YAY!!  The days are getting longer.  The sun has been shining.  The temperatures are climbing.  The tulips are up but not yet blooming.  Robins are here in abundance.  Yes, I think it's spring!  I have a couple of adorable spring bunnies to show you today, both of which are still available in my etsy shop.

Not all bunnies are meant for Easter.  I like to make some that are simply all about spring.  No eggs.  No chocolate.  That means you can keep them up well after the Easter candy is gone, which is especially nice this year since Easter came so early in March. 

Fresh from the Garden

 

This bunny has been hard at work, tending his garden.  He has a wonderful crop of carrots to show for his work.

 

 

He is wearing his favorite blue denim overalls and has a little white crepe paper collar.  The tops of the carrots are made with green tinsel and he carries a little shovel that I salvaged from a snowman in a jar that I broke.  (Don't ever throw stuff away like that!)

 

Pretty Posies

 

This adorable bunny is all dressed up in her favorite green gingham dress, made from paper.  She has a matching fluffy green crepe paper collar.  Two Swarovski crystals and a gingham bow (on the back) trim the dress.

 

 

She carries a bouquet of delicate lavender flowers tied with a white satin bow.  She is bringing these flowers to her grandma to brighten her day. 

 

I tried a new way of making the heads and faces on these bunnies.  Instead of long and pointy I made them more football shaped.  I'm torn as to which face I like the best.  David says these.  A friend of mine says the other.  I guess I will keep doing both! 

 

I hope you are all enjoying your spring! 

Lisa









Friday Favorite--My Craft Garden

This week sure got away from me quickly!  I've been in the studio working on some brand new ideas that I hope to be able to show you next week.  But for now, it's Friday, and time for a Friday Favorite.

Spring is here.  (Right?)  At least the calendar says so.  Nothing says spring to me like seeing the first flowers of the season pop out in bloom.  Well, that's not happening around here yet, so I went looking for some on etsy.  I have had this shop, My Craft Garden, in my favorites folder forever.  I found them early on when I was putting together a treasury.  Being a polymer clay artist, I was highly impressed.

Now I've done my fair share of miniature work, with lots of tiny details.  I've rolled many an itsy-bitsy rose in my day.  However.  I have NEVER done flowers with the sort of realistic detail that these have.  And they are TINY!  All of these wonderful bouquets and mini gardens are made to dollhouse scale, so that means most of them are maybe an inch high!  Oh my!!  Go have a look around their shop.  I know you will be impressed.

Mini Pot with Red Verbena

 

 

Daffodils and Daisies

 

Mini Garden

 

Daffodils, Tulips and Iris in a Rattan Basket

 

Roses

 

Aren't these lovely?  I hope you will go have a look at My Craft Garden.  They have almost 300 items in their shop, all as beautiful as these I've chosen here.

 

I wish you all a very Blessed and Happy Easter!

Lisa

 

 

 

A Pretty Pair of Bunnies

Spring is coming, right?  After 9 inches of snow last week, I'm hoping it is coming soon!  (Truth be told, I don't HATE snow.  I actually sort of like it.  Of course, I don't have to go out in it if I don't want to, since I work from home.  But it's getting to be that time of year when I am longing for spring.)

With spring, comes Easter, and Easter is early this year.  Did you know that already?  I checked a few weeks ago so I could plan my spring accordingly. Which of my spring shows will fall before Easter and which will be after?  How many bunnies will I need to make? 

This pair of bunnies is actually left from last year, but I love them so much I wanted to share them.  Don't they make a lovely couple?

 

 

 

 

 

These two adorable bunnies are currently available in my etsy shop.  Click here to find the boy.  Click here to find the girl. 

 

I've been working on this year's batch of bunnies and hope to have some new ones to show you very soon.

 

Have a great day!

Lisa