The Mighty Oak

The weather is cool and rainy today and very much like Autumn.  After walking the dogs in the rain and smelling the crisp air my mind turned to changing leaves and Oak trees in particular.  So I was inspired to put together this collection of awesome Oak trees and Oak leaves.  I found lots of great Oak themed items, everything from Tree of Life pendants, to vinyl wall decor, to paintings, photos, and sculptural wall decor.

The Mighty Oak

   Curated By: CreativeCritt...

ArtFire.com

Craft Supplies

I hope you enjoyed this little taste of Autumn- I know I enjoyed putting it together! :-)

~Michelle of CreativeCritters

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Find CreativeCritters on Fiverr

I recently discovered a site called Fiverr, where you can find a huge variety of items and services for sale, all for just $5.00.  Since it was free to join I figured I'd list a few different items on there and see what happened.  Within just a few days I had my first order!  You can check out CreativeCritter on Fiverr to see everything I have to offer.  I decided to start with a catnip mouse, which I will make in your choice of colors (or you can let me decide what color to make him).  The pictures are just examples of what your finished creation will look like.
 
I also can sculpt a miniature cat that resembles your cat, or you can have me sculpt him in your choice of colors.
 
I can do the same for your dog.

I can also turn creations like this cat or owl into pendants, pins, or magnets- your choice!
 
 
So far everything I have listed here is customizable to some degree.  Any of these would make thoughtful, personalized gifts that won't break the bank!  And as always, they're all hand crafted by me.  If you click on any of the pictures above you can read the full listing and get all the details about each piece.  And anyone can feel free to contact me about any custom order they may have in mind, even if I don't have anything like it listed.  Thanks for stopping by and checking out my latest creative adventures!
-Michelle of CreativeCritters

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My Mulberry tree and the animals it attracted

The topic for the Polymer Clay Smooshers Blog Ring this week is Mulberry.  First I thought of the color, then my own Mulberry tree popped into my thoughts.  I saved that tree, you know.  The birds must have planted it right next to the downspout on the house, and by the time I noticed it growing there it was about two feet tall. It was already getting cramped in that small space, and wouldn't have survived another year there.  I had no idea what type of plant it was, but it looked healthy and pretty, so I transplanted it to the middle of the yard where it would have some room to grow.  It was a fast grower and before long it became a good sized tree loaded with delicious mulberries.  This is why I save plants- you never know what they might become!

 

The Owl Tree pendant from CatsWire 

I wasn't the only one who enjoyed those sweet and juicy berries though.  Birds of all types flocked to the tree to devour the fruit.

 

Loving Critters Holiday Tree from ClayCatShop

And the groundhog, squirrels, chipmunks, and other critters would gather underneath the tree to gobble up all the fallen berries.  And the berries would rain down every time  the birds would shake a branch!

 

Steampunk Bat Pendant from Desert Rubble

I even spotted  bats flitting around the tree at night!  I think they were attracted to the insects feeding on the berries.  Bats eat lots of bugs (especially mosquitoes!) and they're always welcome in my yard!

Sadly my productive Mulberry tree got sick and died last year :(  It's bark started peeling and all the leaves dried up and fell off.  My animals friends were very upset that there were no berries this year, but I may plant them another tree next year.  I miss seeing some of the different birds that were drawn to the tree, and i know my chipmunk family just loved those berries.  My fat old groundhog even climbed the tree to get at the best ones (which was a really funny sight)!  You wouldn't think those roly poly groundhogs would be able to climb trees very well.  Even if i end up moving soon, I might plant a mulberry tree before I leave.  A little gift to all the animals who have been my friends and neighbors in this house ;-)

-Michelle of CreativeCritters

Pastels in Polymer Clay

Spring is the time for pretty pastel colors- soft daffodil yellow, pale pink flowers peeking through the leaves in the flower bed, soft lilac purples bursting into bloom.  And the Polymer Clay Smooshers Guild on ArtFire does pastel so well!

This Yellow Heart Pendant from DreamWeaversDesigns makes me think of all the pretty yellow daffodils nodding their heads in the spring breeze.  These are some of the first flowers to bloom in my yard and I welcome their sunny color!

 

And this beautiful tile from Harrison Hollow Designs has all sorts of pretty pastels.  And it would make a lovely gift for Mother's Day too ;-)

I love all the different colors and textures on this piece- the more I look at it, the more I like it!

And I am absolutely in love with this lavender flower pendant from Life Art Designs!

Pastel perfection!  I love flowers, and any shade of purple, so you can see why this beauty caught my eye! ;-)

And here's a lovely polymer clay cane in shades of peach, purple, and teal.  My Polymer Clay Canes has all sorts of intricate and pretty canes available.

I love the way the colors soften and blur slightly.  I don't make many canes myself, and these pretty designs always impress me. 

Although it's been a gray and wet Spring so far, all these pretty colors give me a bit of hope for better weather and brighter blooms in the near future!  I hope you enjoyed my pastel picks from a few of the very talented members of the Polymer Clay Smooshers guild!

-Michelle of CreativeCritters

Spring Beauties from the Polymer Clay Smooshers

When I think of Spring I think of flowers blooming, little critters being born, insects coming out of hiberbation, and the whole world waking up from a long winter of cold dreary weather.  I just love this unique pendant from ArtmakersWorlds.  Once I see the first bee of the season I know Spring is really here!

And this sculpture from Claycatshop pretty much says it all!  This is how I feel when I stand in the warm spring sunshine and feel the fresh breeze blowing through my hair.  A picture is worth a thousand words, but a sculpture is worth at million! ;-)

And this pendant from DanasJewelryEtc reminds me of the noisy black birds that start chattering in the trees as soon as the weather starts to warm up.  I know the bird in this pendant is actually a parrot, but the first thing that came to mind when I saw it was the black birds in my yard ;-)

And this is only a tiny sample of the wonderful items from the Polymer Clay Smooshers guild that make me think of Spring.  Be sure to stop by these shops and check out everything they have to offer!

-Michelle of CreativeCritters

The Mushroom Grove

The Mushroom Grove on ArtFire.com offers historical-inspired rosaries and rosary jewelry, engraved eggs, recycled glass, sculpture, vibrant hand dyed silks, OOAK flameworked glass pieces, paintings and sculpture among other things.  Will and Bekka are the artists behind The Mushroom Grove.  Their Bio reads "William Bonnichsen was a Friday the 13th baby! He was born on a Naval base in Illinois to two Navy parents.  He showed talent as an artist from an early age and enjoyed sketching and painting as hobbies.  He attended school in Pennsylvania and after High School, attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.  He traveled the United States extensively and worked as a conservation framer in Hawaii. He also sold a line of recycled glass jewelry both online and at galleries.

Bekka was born on the South Shore of Long Island, NY.  She always had an affinity for the arts and enjoyed creating in her spare time. She is also a licensed cosmetologist who enjoys the transformative powers of modern beauty techniques.  The couple met on Etsy in early 2010 and made a real life connection that turned into a lifelong partnership."  

I must say, this partnership certainly has worked out, creatively speaking.  Their shop is full of beautiful and unique handcrafted items.  You can also find them online at http://www.engravedegg.com/, http://www.themushroomgrove.blogspot.com/, and on Twitter.  Below is just a small sample of the beautiful work available in The Mushroom Grove.  Be sure to stop in and see all they have to offer!   

There's a lot more where these cool pieces came from!

-Michelle of CreativeCritters

New Year, New Beginnings

The start of a new year motivates many people to make resolutions and try to improve their health, finances, relationships, and life in general.  For me, I'd like to concentrate more on my business: add new items, try different techniques, and spread my creative wings a bit.  This actually comes quite naturally to me- I really enjoy trying new things and testing my creative boundaries.  I also want to delve deeper into videos and learn more about creating them.  Eventually I want to try my hand at some "how to" videos and post them on YouTube. 
Tutorials are always a great way to learn new things, and can be the beginning of all sorts of wonderful projects.  2 Good Claymates on Artfire loves to share their knowledge and help artists learn new skills.  This tutorial on making beautiful buttons is a great way to start! 
Starting the new year off with a positive attitude is definitely the way to go!  This pendant from Bewitching Dreams is a simple reminder to wish, love, and hope.  After all, what is life without our hopes and dreams?  And love can get you through some of the toughest times.  Wear this pendant and never forget the importance of these words!
 
For those of you beginning the new year on a diet, this doughnut pendant from JanetSaw has 0 calories!  Her shop is full of delicious looking mini foods sculpted from polymer clay- perfect for those watching their calories ;-)


Everyone begins the new year in their own way- try to make it a positive start!  I hope everyone has a wonderful year ahead of them filled with creativity, love, and happiness. :)
-Michelle of CreativeCritters

Beautiful Creations from LisianBlue

 Kris of  LisianBlue, on ArtFire.com creates absolutely gorgeous hand painted Christmas ornaments, stained glass, pendants, earrings, glassware, and wind chimes.  You'll find a lot of items inspired by her love of birds, animals, plants and flowers.  She says: "My Grandmother taught me how to crochet and knit when I was about 8, and to never stop learning. My mother taught me a love of nature, along with the joy of making presents for our loved ones. My dad taught me to do whatever I do, to do it well. We made a lot of candles, painted many a card, decorated soaps, sewed a variety of items, each item was made for a specific person in mind.

Creating has always been my strongest ability. I made boats during our monsoons to float down the street, my 1st skateboard from my old roller skates, little chairs and tables for my dolls, and thankfully my dad allowed me to use the tools as long as I put them away!
So, I keep learning new things, I still love making things for those I love, and I keep working at whatever I do, until I can do it well, maybe not always perfect."
You can also find LisianBlue online at www.lisianblue.com, lisianblue.blogspot.com, Flickr, and Twitter. Below is just a sample of the beautiful items you can find in her shop.  Be sure to stop in and see all she has to offer!

Her work is just so pretty!  I love the natures themes and colors she uses too!
-Michelle of CreativeCritters

Pretty things of adornment from Baublezptoa

Baublezptoa on ArtFire.com creates beautiful jewelry from beads, gemstones, and precious metal clay. Her biography reads: "When I finished high school in Richmond, Va. and began taking accounting courses and working during the day, I used to walk around the block from where I worked to the only bead shop in town, and the only one in existence that I knew then. It was a hippie time of life and stringing beads for necklaces, bracelets and earrings to give to friends and family was just the thing, and I was enthralled with all of those beads!
Well the bead store closed, I no longer had a bead source and I really had to keep my head down with classes and work. Years later, on vacation I found another bead shop in Colorado. Oh Oh. but nothing serious happened until I left Corporate America to try a different approach to life.
So I learned about beads, and the history of them, trade beads, and what they meant, ancient beads and their values, vintage beads, and then gemstones and silver, then silversmithing, and more classes and lots of creativity, or so I thought until I discover Precious Metal Clay.
That is my medium of choice and I can still use beads and gemstones,! I have since gotten Precious Metal Clay Certification, and have many ruined blobs of silver behind me. It is one of the things I love to do, and it is an outlet for my desire to use my hands to create. And of course the positive feedback of someone wearing my creations is a marvelous reward."

Baublezptoa can also be found on www.baublez.themooaany.com, http://blog.themooaany.com, Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter. Below is a sample of some of the beautiful jewelry available from this very talented artist. Be sure to stop in and see all she ahs to offer!

-Michelle of CreativeCritters