Rejuvenate Reuse Recycle - NEW Section in my Etsy store

Check back often, I am having a blast making a ton, can't keep up with photos/posting....
Pendants, Rings, Earrings, more Hair Items, Sets.....

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArdentDesigns?section_id=5757006

Raspberry Vinegrette

Raspberry Vinegrette

1/2 C Rasberry Vinager
1/2 C Olive Oil
1/2 C Peanut oil (or Walnut)
1/2 C Maple Syrup
1 T Dijan Mustard
1 T Tarragon
1 t sea salt

Goes great on greens w/ blue cheese & walnuts & dried cherries or fresh red pears

Pa Pas Valentines Day gift

Mya & Aiden and I made this for Joe for Valentines Day. It is fused glass cut into the shape of a heart with gold mica for the prints and text. The purple side has Mya's hand print & name, the red side has Aiden's feet and name. It just came out of the kiln, but I think we will end up putting it in a square frame.

Sorry for the poor quality snapshots, I took them on the dining room table quick so I could post tonight, or it may never happen as it will quickly fall to the bottom of my long list of things to think about....

Myas 1st Acrylic Painting (at 6 yrs & 10 mths old)

Well this was a long fun adventure... I worked with Mya (note, I have no painting skills...)
I tried to show her the concepts of different textures, blending colors....
She did most of this painting herself. I helped smooth edges & outlines of the more complicated components for her to color in... (wings, wands, bodies...), but in general I tried to have her do as much of it as possible. Also, she controlled all choices of colors and did the more simple components completely alone (sky, bushes, mushrooms, flowers, butterflies....). She did most of the grass with brushes and toothpicks, but got "sick of it so I had to finish a section. The bush was her idea and I taught her how to make it reds in addition to greens with a textured brush.

I am so excited that we were able to enjoy this activity together. Normally she is "done" with a project after minutes. It is neat to see her at an age with an attention span that if I say "are you sure you're done? or would you like to learn how to make the grass look more real by making a pattern with a toothpick" - that she will say "Show me" instead of "no this is good, I'm done" : )  The sunset colors in the sky were her idea after she painted it all 1 plain flat color blue and I showed her on another piece of paper how to blend shades of blues and whites to create a more realistic sky.... It was a blast, even if it did take us way longer (weeks) than I expected.

In the end, CREDIT must go to Aunt Cindy for the facial features. She is a professional artist and we just felt that neither of us could draw mouths or eyes that didn't ruin the whole thing... so Cindy was kind enough to paint very simple features to compliment the rest of Mya's piece - THANKS CINDY