New Etsy Items

Hey you!  I just wanted to drop a quick line to let you know I posted some craft books on Etsy!  For the full story, go to my other blog and read this!

Also, if you'd like to do an interview here at One of a Kind Art, please contact me!

An Unusual Find

I ran across something really different today. I have never seen anything like it, but I just love it!


It's one of many interesting projects by a person on Flickr. Please go check out all their images!

It makes me want to go out and find some of my own driftwood! How about you? LOL

Sweet and Whimsical

I have just come across an artist whose drawings just make me feel like a little girl! LOL She lives in Italy, and does several different types of art, but from what I've seen, I like the drawings best. Not that there's anything wrong with the other, but the drawings just speak to me.

How do you feel about it? Does it say sweet and whimsical to you, too?

I just love this! And she has more drawings that are similar characters! They just make me giggle! And giggling is GOOD!!!

Go check out her blog and other works of art at http://gufobardo.blogspot.com/. You'll be happy you did!

New for St. Patrick's Day!

Saint Patricks Day is always fun for me, because it means we're just that much closer to Spring!  And, since I hate the cold weather, the coming of Spring is a big deal for me!  LOL  

I love how everyone gets into the spirit, and wears shamrocks and leprechaun hats with child-like abandon!  It's the perfect time for us artists and crafters to get our fingers green!  LOL  And there are all sorts of things being made.

Now, I couldn't grab a link to a picture of this one, but you have to go check it out!  Someone got one of their trees involved in the fun!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sweetcreations/2342424471/

Now, this is truly one of a kind, although, not technically a craft.  LOL  It's a cake!  It was made for a woman who's birthday falls on St. Patrick's Day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mycrayonbox/2036052099/

Isn't this a cute little guy?  And the puppet ain't bad either!  LOL  Isn't this a fun way to celebrate St. Patty's?  And guess what???  There is even a tutorial, so you can make your own!  I just love leprechauns!

How do you feel about sock monkeys?  Or, maybe I should say, sock leprechauns?  Check out this cutie!  

How about a 1920's flapper all done up in green for St. Patrick's Day?  Isn't she lovely?  You really must go check out the website of the artist!

http://www.artsycraftsyfolks.com/servlet/the-516/Primitive-Leprechaun-Doll-for/Detail

And one more, for those of you who love primitive decor for your home!  Isn't he cute?  There are also other things related to St. Patty's day on that site.  Looks like lots of nice prim items.

If you make any OOAK art, or have a St. Patrick's Day craft to show off, post your url in your comment!  We'd all love to see it!

Learn a new craft skill

Image by clayladyinred via FlickrHey there! If you're here, it's very likely you're into arts and crafts. Am I right? I thought so! LOL

I'd like to share a few videos with you that I'm sure would be a great help to anyone. By clicking on the links, you will be taken to a site called SmartFlix. They rent only videos that help you learn something. Isn't that neat? If you're like me, and have a hard time spending money on expensive how-to dvds, this is a great way to test drive them first!

(The doll above is one of mine. She's a cheerleader made after my daughter!)

The first one is from my great love. Sculpting figures/dolls with polymer clay. It's called Sculpting Polymer figures for Beginners, and is made by the renowned Patricia Rose! She makes the most beautiful art dolls, and does a lot of teaching. The techniques she uses on her dolls are a bit complicated, so I'd start with this video, and work up to the more advanced ones.

Or, you may like a different style of doll, more like the ones Jack Johnston teaches in Making Art Dolls. I just love Jack's style! And I actually own these dvds! Some of the ideas I learned from them helped me make my Native American Indian doll I showed you in a previous post. Plus, if you have any questions, he is really great about answering emails!

Now, if you're into jewelry, you might enjoy this video called Essential Beadmaking. It is great for the beginner glass beadmaker, or anyone wanting to try a new technique! And, it's got great reviews! You can read all about it on the page!

A very hot craft right now is knitting! I have never really been interested in doing it, but I admire anyone who does! I just don't have the patience for it. When I make my dolls, I can see the results almost immediately! But, if you have been wanting to try it, then check out Knitting Workshop with Elizabeth Zimmermann.

Now, I won't try to con you. Yes, these are affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission if you sign up and rent after clicking a link here. Us stay at home moms gotta make a living somehow! LOL But, I wouldn't suggest these to you, if I didn't believe in them. That's just not right, and I would feel horrible if I tried to talk you into something that wasn't any good. So, if you are wanting to try something new (and there are hundreds of videos, btw), then please help me out by clicking through with one of my links! Thanks so much!

My Indian is Finished!

As promised, here are the pictures of my finished Native American Indian! I'm sorry, but I was in too much of a time crunch to get pics of the wrapping and clothes making. Enjoy!

I made a fish pendant, and a bowl and spoon, which is in his lap.

I used a matte varnish, but it still had a bit of a shine, which showed up more with the flash from the camera.


Uck, the camera really makes the varnish show up, but it didn't look like that in person. Granny was tickled pink with her present, anyway! I forgot to take my camera when we visited her in the nursing home, but my sister-in-law is supposed to get a pic of her with her doll when she visits her. If so, I'll post that pic a little later!

My Native American Art Doll

Image by clayladyinred via FlickrHello Everyone!

I wanted to share with you really quick the early parts of my Native American Indian doll. I am trying to get him finished by Christmas, as he's a present for my hubby's Granny, so I'm really working a lot, but I wanted to take a few minutes to show you how far I am right now.

Oh, here (to the right) is a pic of the first Native American I made. He is solid clay, and lives with my father-in-law.

Now these photos represent a few days worth of work. Didn't want you to think I did all this in one day. I'd be ..... Da da da daaaaa... SUPER SCULPTOR!!! LOL Which I'm not. So, without further ado, here are the photos!

These are the eyes I made and baked. I like to make more than I need, so I'll have some to work with if some don't fit or get lost, etc.

These are two sets of eyes I had begun painting. I made brown for this doll, and blue for the Willy Wonka doll I want to do next. In this pic, I still needed to paint the pupil and accent dot. After I did that, I painted them with a super shiny varnish!

These are the hands almost ready for baking. I still need to tweek them just a touch. They are on a wire armature that has been wrapped with floral tape. If you haven't tried this, I highly recommend it. It makes things sooo much easier!

Here is the baked head. As you can see, I added just a touch of the shoulders and chest, so the clothing wouldn't expose any batting in the finished peice. I still need to paint him, and coat him with a matte varnish. And, of course, add the hair. LOL

This shows everything I have at the moment. By the hands are a bowl, feather for his hair, fish bead for a pendant, and a spoon. They all still need to be baked and painted. You can sort of see that I drew out my skeleton pattern on paper, then cut all the wire, and floral taped it together. That floral tape seems flimsy, but it really holds it together well!

So, that's it! I'll post more pics probably after Christmas. I have a feeling I'll be pretty busy till then! LOL