FREE SHIPPING...

Be sure to take advantage of our holiday FREE shipping offer at our online shops, Ametista AND CalKat

What's Your Sign?

Our latest Etsy! Anyone who knows me, know how much I love the study of astrology, so when the chance to grab an Etsy treasury came my way, I HAD to honor the wheel!

In memorium....

I'm very sad today, because my dear Prometheus has gone beyond the veil. He was a good fish, as fish go and he lived a long (5 years) and reasonably full life.

I wish this was a picture of him, but I never could figure out how to take a photo of him without the flash shining back at me from the glass bowl and whiting out the whole thing. This is a photo I pulled from Google. But he looked a lot like this, only a more vibrant and deeper shade of red.

He was a happy little guy and a joy to watch and I will miss him greatly.

These could be yours! Enter to WIN...

"imagine - explore - Create"!

These colorful magnets give inspirational reminders while they brighten up your home or office space.

The three art magnets are about 1.5" x .75" (3.75cm x 1.9cm). Embossed polymer clay, colored, and varnished. Each magnet is backed by a strong neodymium magnet able to hold several sheets of paper. Great accents for any home or office. The perfect little gift! ☺☺☺

Here's what you need to do to enter:
1. Click here to visit her shop MarciaPalmer.
2. Once there, pick out your favorite item in her shop.....When your finished, exit her shop and you'll return to this blog.
3. Come back to this post and post a comment telling everyone what you liked about the item you picked. (See "Comment" button below.)
4. PLEASE be sure to leave your contact information, either your email address or Etsy shop if you have one, so we can reach you if you win! The winner will be contacted on November 30th. If after a week we haven't heard from that winner, we'll pick another winner.

5. We will draw the winner's name on the last day of the month, 11/30/08 after 5pm/pst.

Please note:
This month's featured artist ships world wide! All are welcome to participate in this fabulous drawing! Good luck!

Our latest Etsy Treasury...La Bella Luna

I know I've said this before, but there are SO many talented artists on Etsy, it just takes my breath away! This is just a small sample of some of our favorites.

It always feels great to be featured on Etsy...

Our very own Maple Bramblethorn has been featured in this fabulously Fall Etsy Treasury!

Seven Secrets...

I was tagged by "liletsyshop" (of the EtsyBloggers team) to tell seven secrets about myself, and then tag seven more team members to do the same...

1) My favorite color is violet/purple, and has been since I was three.

2) I like to eat alone and rarely sit at a table.

3) I intensely dislike wearing shoes.

4) In a high school I sang classical coral, madrigals ( 1st and 2nd Soprano ) and opera.

5) I don't watch network tv as the programming and commercials make me sad for the human race as a whole. Particularly day time tv and reality shows...you can almost feel the intelligence being sucked right out of your head!

6) I'm a huge HP fan...although that's not really a secret.

7) I have an irrational fear of going to the grocery store and I have NO idea why....I did say it was irrational!

I tagged these 7 fellow EtsyBloggers:

lonestarvintageclothing.blogspot.com
jmwjewelry.blogspot.com
wildonezdiaperz.blogspot.com
calkatthejewelryjunkie.blogspot.com
nanjodogz.blogspot.com
demandablueblog.blogspot.com
jerseygirldesign.blogspot.com

Get out there and vote!!

If you haven't already, get to the polls and vote! Today is the day!

PCAGOE November Challenge Entries

Vote for your favorite entry at pcagoe.com between November 1 and 4. You could win a prize!

How to use Ametista's molds for Polymer Clay and PMC

How to use an Ametista mold with Polymer Clay

Some of our customers at The Clay Shoppe have asked us for instructions on how to achieve the best impressions from our molds, so here you have it...step by step instructions.


Step 1 - Condition your clay. Clay must be worked or softened and free of air bubbles. Please note, clay that is too soft will not give you the desired effect. We recommend clay that is the same consistency as Fimo Classic.
Step 2 - Roll your conditioned clay about 1/4" thick or thicker if desired on to a baking tile. We use 4x4" standard bathroom tiles. You can buy them by the box load at any hardware store.
Step 3 - Using a fine mist spray bottle, lightly mist rolled clay with water and impression side of mold.
Step 4 - Set misted mold on to clay. Using a second tile to sandwich the mold and clay.
Step 5 - With two hands firmly but evenly apply pressure. DO NOT lift or move the tile during this process, as this may cause the mold to move and you will not receive a sharp impression. Step 6 - Remove top tile and then carefully lift mold from clay. It should lift easily.
Step 7 - Now cut, shape, fix, add pigment, inks, paints...let you imagination take over!
Step 8 - Bake your finished project according to the clay manufacture's instructions.

How to use an Ametista mold with Precious Metal Clay (PMC).

Step 1 - Cut required gram size piece of pmc from newly opened package.
Step 2 - Lightly coat with olive or mineral oil. Roughly shape clay piece to fully fit into mold impression. There should not be any over hang, all of the pmc clay should be firmly packed using your thumb making sure to all clay makes contact with the impression.
Step 3 - To release pmc from mold, turn mold upside down on to drying tile. We use 4x4" standard bathroom tiles. Clay should release from mold with relative ease.
Step 4 - Now follow the manufacture's instructions for drying and firing.

Keeping your molds clean

Keeping your molds clean will insure better impressions. The best way to clean your molds is simply by using mild dish soap and warm water and a soft toothbrush. If possible let them air dry or use a lint free cloth (old t-shirts are good for this).