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Try the new 'follow this blog' button. I just added a button to my blog (on the left just under my banner) and hope you'll add your blog to my list.

It's a new feature that allows you to let the bloggers you follow know that you are a fan. As a follower to my blog, it also ensures you get linked!

Warm Ruffles

New in my Etsy store today.... 3 new golden brown ruffle beads. Just the colors you need to comlpiment any winter outfit and warm up a cold day.

Color on a rainy day

The vibrant colors of the Birds of Paradise are always a inspiration to me.

Strelitzia, or Crane Flower as we sometimes call it, is a plant native to South Africa and reminds me of the lively colors of my homeland.

Have a creative and colorful weekend!

Summer lilies

Although I love the rich reds, yellows, oranges and browns of autumn I sometimes miss the whimsy of summer.

This pair of earrings is probably one of the sets I made that I like the most.... happy colors, soft lines and a wonderfull reminder of a beautiful summer.

Available in my Etsy store.

Golden inspiration

Little towers of precious gold created by German artist Christa Lühtje.

These earrings takes me into the wonderful world of Aladdin and his magic lamp. They remind me of far way exotic places still to be explored and enjoyed.

Dream

Explore

Visualize

Create

Etsy find of the day

In Lana's Etsy store Easternsky I found these colorful bracelets made with hand dyed cotton yarn.

A carnival of color!

I won an award!

Thank you to Jael for giving me this award! Such an honor!

In accepting this award, I agree to:

1. Display the logo and link to the one who awarded it.

2. Nominate at least 7 blogs to receive the award.

3. Add links to those 7 blogs to my blog.

4. Leave the nominees a message that they have been nominated to receive the award.

These are the 7 blogs I have chosen (in no particular order):

Beetles memories 'n ramblings

Deronda Designs

Laaneworld

Iris Mishly

Dear Ada

Clayhappenings

Libby Mills

Addictive polymer

Gudrun Stolz describes working with polymer clay as addictive.... I cannot agree more:-)

Trained as a graphic designer in Austria, she's only been working with the medium about a year. Her designs are clean and crisp....beautiful simplicity at it's best.

You can see more of her work in her Flickr album.

Peas in a Pod

In Cambridge England, Magrietjie creates whimsical and unique polymer clay pendants. Each one tells a little story, takes you on a journey.... takes me back to the magical dreamworld of my childhood.

Trained as an architect she found the delicate balance between conceptual exploration and attention to detail.... her passion for her art apparent in every design.

Thank you Lis of Lillybriar Studios in Brisbane for this link.

Ruffle beads

I was honored to find my Autumn ruffles featured on Art Zoo, a photo blog featuring independent artists, this morning.

I started making the ruffle beads about 2 years ago and have since then made them in my favorite colors, sometimes with a little gold or silver leaf or other inclusions.

My all time favorite..... it will always be Lailie... the 1st set of ruffles I made.

The ruffle beads are available through custom order. The sets can be in different colors and number of beads in a set. Please contact me at spokielief2@yahoo.com

StellarDust

I first saw Lisa Henderson from Brisbane Australia's work on The Australian Polymer clay guild's website and was absolutely without words. She creates dream beads from another world.... I lose myself in the wonder and possibilities in each piece.

StellarDust is a piece she entered in the Washington DC beadmuseum's Design Competition. The name to me says it all..... a little piece of heaven!

The combination of polymer clay, gold foil, sterling silver, cubic zirconia's, micro beads and metalic thread is reflective of her detailed and intricate work.

Sea inspired

The sea - the place where probably the most interesting and unique inspirations are found, color, pattern and texture. I was always fascinated by sea urchins. As children we went to the rock pools at low tide to search for our little green treasures. Great was the pleasure if we found one that was not broken against the rocks by the waves.

I stumbled upon the work of artists Esther and Estella , a mother and daughter team from Turkey's, work on Etsy. There I found the most beautiful jewelry pieces made from real sea urchins.

Another Etsy artist, Tina Holden from Vancouver Island in British Columbia, makes the most beautiful sea urchin beads using polymer clay.

And finally from France, this beautiful brooch by Celine, gRiS bLEu on Flickr, also polymer clay.