I just love those necklaces that feature a tiny terrarium scene in a small dome or glass vial.  But most of the time I find myself dissatisfied with the little sculpted critters inside.  They are cute to be sure, but I crave more believability and detail even in tiny polymer clay pieces.  Dryads seem a perfect addition to a faux terrarium. So I stretched out my eyeballs and set to work making teensy teeny tiny dryad.  

My eyes are crossing, but here she is.  I could not resist adding in ludicrously tiny bracket fungus and moss.  

Susan B. Anthony watches over the super small mushrooms I made.  So my dryad will be a fungus herder.  The other little bits I'll be adding, some plastic greenery, some semi-precious stone chips (amethyst, jasper, rose quartz, carnelian).  Now comes the best part, getting dizzy from the glue fumes as I glue faux moss all over this thing!

I had to battle an attention seeking kitty, but I got all the moss on there and added the resin to the little pool at the base of her roots.  I've got little bits of faux moss in my hair and glued to my arms.  It's always fun to find hunks of that hours later.  Now I need to glue on the plastic dome, perhaps add some epoxy details over it, and make a chain.  

She is permanently a resident of her plastic dome.  It's OK, she'll stay warm and properly hydrated that way.  I decided that the dome looked sort of chintzy and it really didn't fit the feel of the teensy sculpt within.  So I worked some woodsy motifs along the base.  Now to decide on the chain!

Many of my Facebook friends suggested I use a beaded chain to accent the colors.  So here is the completed piece.  There will be an e-book on creating these tiny wearable worlds coming soon!

I am positively obsessed with making the perfect wing jewelry.  I experiment all the time in my mad scientist wing lab.  Oh don't misunderstand.  I don't have fairies and bugs in cages, ripping their wings off to make diabolically glittery necklaces and such.  I choose to believe they shed them naturally in the fall and spring to match their seasonal outfits.  Or you can make them for your OOAK art dolls, Monster High or My Little Pony clothes, the possibilities are endless.

But I digress.  Here is a way to craft some detailed little wings to wear anytime.  My step by step instructions will make these sparkly creations a breeze to make!  And after you are finished learning this technique, you can add some really expert tips in my Filigree Cicada Wings Tutorial.  

Fantasy film can be found at Art Institute Glitter  And the little brass connector I used is sold aon ebay by seller casajewelry

Just because it is the kind of day where I am really not sure the sun ever came up, doesn't mean I can't take a stroll in a beautiful polymer clay flower garden.  I swear there are more than 50 shades of grey out there.  Maybe that is why I seem determined to cram as many pretty little flower beads as I can onto this commission I am finishing!  Got my fuzzy lounge pants on, got my hot chocolate, and plenty of cat help.

I'll add more pictures as it takes shape today.

Almost time to bake some flowers!

I just couldn't stop adding flowers and leaves.  But isn't that how nature is really?  Nature isn't shy.  Nature doesn't say, 'hey this could do with way less flowers and leaves'.  No.  Nature explodes in color and diversity.  So I did too :).  The piece is all sculpted and dusted with magic fairy dust (known in the mortal realm as Pearl-Ex).  I added an earthy brown acrylic pant wash to really pop out the detail.  Ready to make the beaded chain!

Anna's commission is complete and ready to fly to Idaho!  Just in time for snow here in PA.

My newsletter peeps are my favorite people anywhere!  A few times a year I host a giveaway for subscribers as one way I say thank you.  This year I chose one of my favorite pieces, this beautiful LED lit crystal necklace from my Will O'Wisp collection.  

Most of you know there is a strong streak of crystal waving hippie in me.  I love to study stone metaphysical meanings and work that meaning into my pieces.  Well this is sort of the necklace of universal love!  Let's take a walk on the magical side and check out the meanings of the stones in the necklace.

ROSE QUARTZ:  The crystal of Unconditional love.  This rock oozes pink fuzzy dreams of love and understanding.  It is believed to dissolve old fears and resentments and open the heart to love.  In European countries it was a stone of nurturing and was known to strengthen romantic relationships.  Who knew a hunk of silicon dioxide crystal could pack such a wallop?

RHODOCROSITE:  I am not generally a 'Pink" person.  Pink makes me think of saccharine Barbie smiles, but I love rhodocrosite and work with it a lot.  I LOVE Colorado and this is the official state mineral of Colorado.  Rhodocrosite is a stone of love and balance.  It paves the way for true love by calming the passions and eases inner conflict.  Maybe that is why I used to keep a big chunk of it in the office I did family therapy in.

CHERRY QUARTZ:  Hah!  Tricked you!  Cherry quartz is just colored glass.  No properties except that the color is pretty awesome and it goes really well with rhodocrosite.

PERUVIAN OPAL:  This is a gift from Pachamama, the earth mother to the peoples of Peru.  It is very helpful for those who feel overwhelmed by life (everyone?).  It increases the love of the earth and an awareness of the need to heal the earth.

SUNSTONE:  Associated with Ra, the sun god whose rays bring forth the potential of life within the earth.  It is a stone of optimism, of expanded consciousness and benevolence.  

And then the coolest thing is the necklace lights up!  Many kinds of love are represented in the stones; love of self, motherly love, romantic love, love of the earth.  And the balance of the Sun and the Earth, what greater love affair than this?

So if you are not on the newsletter list, you can join in the upper right and the goblins and house cat will do their dance of joy and welcome you to our crafty, creative tribe!