This is my last blog post for 2009. It’s always kind of sad when a year is to an end, isn’t it? 2009 was a good year for me…not a lot of major changes in my life but i had the chance to really improve my skills as an artist, which I’m really thankful for and I made a lot of new friends . I’m also very excited about the challenges the New 2010 will bring for me. I hope it will be a wonderful year for all of us. What about New Year resolutions? I never really formed a
habit of setting up a new Year resolutions, that is because I’ve always been very impatient . And by that I mean I would always try to reach my goals asap according to my possibilities…..”know what to do and do it now”. That works for me. Another thing is: I hate procrastinating. I feel really bad when putting off things, so I don’t.
Beside all this I want to mention few more things that will be happening on the site next year, starting the very first days of it. I’m planning to have a giveaway every month when you will have a chance to win a prize if you comment twice or more times in a month. Check back in a week for more information. I’m also doing some changes on this website as speaking: some new pages, improvements in the shop section and of course many new art projects. I will keep my word, just be patient with me as I’ll will have a very busy semester in college on top of everything else.
Also a quick reminder about clamzee’s fan page on Facebook: become a fan and you will get 10% OFF your next purchase, just mention you found out from this blog. If you refer a friend to clamzee’s fan page you will get 20% OFF your next purchase, just make them mention your name on the wall. That’s all for this year, have a very successful 2010. See you next year:)

A few pictures that I took last summer and have forgotten. I was just digging into my photography files and remembered that I really like them but never showed them to anyone. And there’s something very interesting about the place they were taken at. These rocks formations are called Pobiti Kamani, , “the petrified forest”. One of the most incredible natural phenomena in Bulgaria, and the first place in Bulgaria to be officially declared a protected nature reserve. It consists of 14 groups of natural rock formations, located in the “small stone desert” in the eastern part of the Varna lowland. Formed some 50 million years ago, Pobiti Kamani’s origin has been the debate subject of many scientists and lay people. There are several theories regarding the phenomenon’s origin, divided roughly into two groups — supporting an organic or a mineral origin — the formations are the result of some coral activity, or the prismatic weathering of the rocks, the formation of sand and limestone concretions of the lower Eocene bubbling reefs — or , as some of the stones have a zoomorphic and anthropomorphic profiles, many of them were places of worship or consecrated grounds during Thracian, Slavonic, and ancient Bulgarian times. It is easy to see phallic symbols of a sexual nature, temples or fossil trees but sorry, they are none of these. However, this is a fantastic place to visit.

I’ve been asked few times how Exactly do I make the polymer clay little pendants and rings, so I decided to make a little tutorial for something quite simple. It is a blue translucent pendant with embossed floral pattern colored in gold.

A. First you gonna need the following materials:
1. Polymer clay, color of your choice; 2. Rubber stamp; 3. Acrylic craft paint; 4. Cookie or some kind of small soft material cutter; 5. Jump ring 4-5 mm ( i’m using silver plated jump rings-5 mm ) 6. Craft blade (Just shown in the picture but not needed for this exact project)

B. Cut a small piece of your clay, condition and roll it to desired thickness. I usually roll it to a 3 to 4 mm thick.

C. Press the rubber stamp over the clay sheet.

D. Cut a shape with the cookie cutter:

E. This is what the shape looks like before baking:

F. Make a hole for attaching the jump ring

G.Bake the pendant in the oven according to your polymer clay baking directions:

H. Color the pattern carefully in the desired color with your aclylic craft paint. I chose gold color.

I. Attach the jump ring after the paint is dry.

J. This is the finished pendant on a chain.

Hope you like the tutorial. I will appreciate any relevant comments and suggestions.
My handmade shop

As I’ll be out of the city for the next 3 days, (will be visiting the in-laws) I wont have much time for blogging, so I decided to show you two of my resent photographs at this time. The first one is a panoramic of West Hollywood I took couple a weeks ago. I learned this really interesting technique of stitching photographs in panorama from my Photography teacher Peter Phun. And I thought I know Photoshop very well as I work with it almost every day. But apparently there’s lot more to learn. Ok here is my panorama:

Notice: I had to considerably resize the photo so it fits in here.

You might think I’m crazy, but I think it was worthed doing this. I took the following picture few days ago while I was driving on the highway and this beautiful sunset appeared in front of me reflecting the ground surface. It was begging to be photographed and it was quite of an adrenaline rush to do it….. I tried to find the proper settings as I shoot only on manual and that took 4-5 extra shots.
I don’t encourage you to do this ….it’s was quite dangerous. But hey, at least I don’t text while I’m driving:))

A quick recap with my latest handmade pieces of jewelry. I don’t have much to say today , I just want to show you some pictures and I hope my art will speak for itself:) I have a friend that says “I’m an artist, not a socialist” That’s how I feel too. I like to express myself with art, not with words. I didn’t have the time to take photos of everything I made but I will do it very soon.

A little 3/4 of an inch bird nest with 3 eggs pendant.

Cute little sea turtle earrings:


Glow in the dark octopus tentacle. Great for a night out.

Making your own gifts …. nothing is more personal than that. I firmly believe in giving handmade (If I have the time to make it), either buying handmade. It makes the holiday season so much more personal. I also appreciate handmade gifts I receive, especially If the person made it himself. Like the nice camera Santa gave me last year )) Ok, I didn’t mind that one
I’m back with some more beautiful creations as I mentioned in the previous post. I found some time and shot the rest. My fav at the moment is the turtle necklace, I’m keeping one for myself for sure. Here they are:

Broken heart with cuts and stitches adjustable ring.

Blue and translucent yellow swirls adjustable ring.

Japanese cherry blossom on a oval pink plate.

Blue & translucent yellow turtle pendant.

Yummy Chocolate truffle with mocha filling adjustable ring. (not edible:))

Blue & Translucent yellow flower pendant

Chocolate cake with raspberry filling earings. (not edible:))

Chocolate truffle with mocha filling key chain. (key not included)

accessories
I was planning to change my nail polish for the different rings but I didn’t have much time so don’t mind the color if you can.

I’m so trilled to share with you some of the new stuff I’ve been working on the last week or so. I’ve been ……. baking:) No no, don’t expect to see food on this blog, I can’t cook …… Yes, shame on me but this is a fact: even the best cookbook is not able to help me much. Ok lets get to the point. I like to experiment with stuff and I got some polymer clay planing to make some cool Christmas gifts for my friends and family. I got so hooked up that I can’t go to sleep before making something out of polymer clay every evening. I’m lacking sleep but hey, it’s addictive. And I said baking earlier because after sculpting polymer clay has to be baked to become hard.
And you can make anything and everything of it. Some people are making miniature food of it, sooo cute:) And of course I couldn’t resist but try (making, not eating it:)). I made some Christmas tree ornaments, jewelry and accessories. I showed them to some of my friends and the really liked it. I think they turned out great as well. If you like them too you will be able to purchase at a very reasonable price very soon. I’m working on shop page as I want to make it easy, convenient and shopper friendly. Just a quick note: The products I make are not toys and they are not meant for kids although they are safe and non-toxic. I had to mention this because I also make illustrations for baby and kids apparel, which has nothing to do with polymer clay. I’m posting few pictures and if you have a second please let me know what you think.

Angel Guardian – Christmas tree ornament

Snowman – Christmas tree ornament

Quarter size miniatures of pot & tea cups