Life's a hoot!

Today, the July 2012 issue of Art Jewelry magazine comes out for sale - and included in the magazine is a beginner's step-by-step project that I wrote on how to make my sculpted owl necklace "Life's a hoot" (Page 70).

I was asked by the magazine to write a "sculptural bird project" quite a while ago.  Years ago,  in fact. So it's nice to see it in print. The project shows you how to sculpt basic shapes in metal clay and then put them together and add details to make an owl.

I was also asked to submit a photo of my studio - so one rare day when it was tidy, I took a photo  and it's on the front cover of the magazine - and also page 65!  It shows off my lovely window seat - a favorite place to sit.

I have to say that the people I worked with at Art Jewelry magazine were just a delight - especially Annie.

Hope you like the project!

Bird Signs - The Owl

For my birthday, I got a book entitled "Bird Signs - guidance and wisdom from our feathered friends" by G.G. Carbone.  The book comes with a set of 52 cards too. The idea is that you can chose a card a day for quick inspiration, one a week for more in depth consideration, or use the cards to resolve a problem in your life. Also, if a particular bird appears in your life, the book will tell you its meaning.

So I thought I'd choose a card this Friday and see what comes up for this next week.  I've spread the cards out and the idea is that I slowly pass my hand over the cards - without touching them and see if I feel heat from any of them.  Hmmm - seems a little odd to me - but I did it - and sure enough - one area did seem much warmer - so I investigated and the card I chose (or the card that chose me?) was the Owl.

Photos by Johan J.Ingles-Le Nobel

Hmmm. Interestingly enough, the day I got these cards - the only other day I have tried this - I also got the owl!

OWL
Inspiration: Wisdom
Healing colors: Brown, white, yellow
Message: Wisdom provides the knowledge to discern the truth


Key characteristics of the owl are that they have excellent hearing and eyesight, and fly silently through the air.

The book suggests the following as an interpretation for the choosing the owl card:
Owls large eyes are on the front of their head - not on the sides like most birds - so they have binocular vision. And also night vision.  This suggests that maybe the owl wants me to see something that I'm not seeing clearly and discern the truth. 

Owls also fly silently so this suggests that I listen carefully for a sign that will guide me further in my path for wisdom.

I'll keep my owl card on my table for the week and see what I discern.  The "brown" as a healing color doesn't appeal to me...I hate brown...

Here are a couple of owls I've made in the past....maybe I need to find one to wear this week...

Bubo the flying owl - pull on the chain and his wings flap

Life's a hoot - a design I used for creating a step by step project for a magazine

Any wisdom from you?

Sculpting in metal clay

The lovely Wendy from metal clay magic just wrote up a lovely piece about my work today on her http://metalclaymagic.com site.

Thanks Wendy. And for all of you out there who fear sculpting in metal clay - don't worry! Just give it a try!

And Alida selected my Birds on a perch to join her bird collection from Dawanda. Thanks Alida. Click on the picture to go to her blog.

Life's a Hoot - owl necklace

I've been working on a new owl. Yes, still calling him "Life's a hoot". More definition, and details than the previous ones. Hope you like him.

All my others have sold so obviously they are popular birds!

Etsy Front Page

My little "life's a hoot" owl necklace was on the front page of Etsy yesterday. It was funny - I got loads of convo's yesterday from Etsy people enquiring about pieces and wondered why there were so many all at once....so it was nice to be told by one of the etsy metal clay team that it was the front page giving me all this publicity! Here he is - bottom, left:

Life's a hoot! - owl necklace

We came home the other night - around 7.30pm so still light - and a big bird flew over the car as we came through the gate. I guessed it was an owl, but then he perched on one of the electricity poles and it was clear to see it was a great horned owl. It was so great to see him and be able to watch him for a while.

We drove into the garage and I quickly picked up my camera - but when I went back out to take his photo, he flew away. Just a handsome looking bird though. The photo is courtesy AP. Next time, I'll get one!



We sometimes hear them hooting at night time in the woods - such a distinctive sound - but this wonderful creature just sat and looked down at us. Here's what they sound like:




Now of course, this sighting meant I had to make an owl! So here is "life's a hoot" - he is a small great horned owl! Either a charm or for a necklace. I want to make a bigger one now.....