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!

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!

Life's a hoot - Etsy Front Page....again

My "Life's a Hoot" owl necklace made it to the front page again this week - on Wednesday. He therefore made the front page on 17th August and 26th August and then I sold him on the 26th! What a hoot he was!


So I made another. Hope "Hoot II" gets to see the front page too!


He's a little different from the first Hoot but hope you'll like him.

Perfect timing too, as I've just finished reading the book "Wesley the owl" all about this woman who hand-reared a barn owl. Sweet little story with lots of owl antics! Wonder if Hoot II will have as many?

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.....