thinking....

about throwing in the towel. I'm not getting any response on my art on my blog, ebay or facebook!!! Really dont know what to do anymore. Just very discouraging. I just posted 7 items on ebay and the highest look I got was 24. I just dont get it. I've asked for advice and encouragment and I am just not getting any. Just very tired!!!

not much time.....http://shop.ebay.com/codys_keepsakes/m.html

http://shop.ebay.com/codys_keepsakes/m.html
Great items for a great price!!!

Need some....

Encouragement!!!
I feel like my art is going downhill.
I know I need to concentrate on different areas of
advertising as far as my etsy, ebay and post more on my blog.
So I am asking for some advice on how to get motivated.
Thank you tOoDleS....Kathren

HaPpY TuRkeY Day!!!

Haven't posted in awhile. Life is a mess right now but I'm trying to get back in the groove of things. I am very thankful for all my friends real and cyber ones. I want to thank all the troops for everything they do and all our in my prayers. I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

tOodLes,
KathRen

cHeEse and RiCe.....

haven't been on e-bay in awhile and I guess the punishment was it took me over an hour to list my moOn MaN!! Had to call them to verify my identity then they wouldn't let me post because Iwas trying to give free shipping and for some reason it wouldn't let me....after a few choice words and almost throwing things I finally was able to post two items.

http://shop.ebay.com/codys_keepsakes/m.html

I am also going to start adding things to my Etsy store. I have been very neglectful of posting items on my blog and etsy. I just haven't been very healthy these last few weeks and hopefully with the meds I'm on now will help. Christmas is only a few months away and I will admit it is my favorite time of year and I love making things for Christmas. So I need to get the lead out of my booty and get to work. So watch for new items!!!

tOoDles,
Kathren

Peek....

Here is a little pEeK at what I have been doing in the StUdIo. I know the pics are not that great!! I have been working with a new program and trying to figure it out(UGH) It is really trying my PaTieNcE!!! Hopefully I can figure it out a little better, then I will post some better pics.
tOodLes,
Kathren

finally done....

and trying to edit using photo explosion which I haven't used in years!!!! So please bare with me but I am so excited to show this piece.....better pics to come!!!

tOodLes

Kathren

some WIP....

Finally made it in the studio and this is what I started!! Its a candle stick about 10" high. I am going to add a wooden ball on top as a moon but am undecided on if I want to paint it or cover it with paperclay(leaning towards paperclay) there will be bats, a tree and an owl. SOOO fun!!! I am so glad my honey is a flea market junkie, look at the box of goodies he got for me!!! love him!!! OHHH the possibilitys!

tOoDleS,

Kathren

Lots of GoOdieS

Hope everyone had a safe and happy LaBor Day!!! I labored for 2 days in the studio....organizing and trashing alot of stuff. My daughter, Kaitlyn just moved out so we are turning her bedroom into a office!! But on to the goodies!!! My honey loves LOVES flea markets and goes to the one in town every weekend. This trip he found me a box of unpainted wood items, everything from wood boxes, balls, little wood bowls with lids and just alot of other stuff. I can't WAIT to get started on them I have so many IdEAs already going through my head!!! And I also am going to have a GIVEAWAY in the near future!!! Have a creative day!!!!!
tOoDlEs,
Kathren

WhhhhhhOOO......

is that I hear. Finally finished my Owl. He is made from papyclay. he is wearing a blue velvet cape with blue taffita over it. His orange necklace says "who who" and made from polymer clay. If you look close enough you can see his wings under the taffita. He stands about 6in. I know its been awhile since I added new pieces but family life is a bit in turmoil so not much time in the studio for me.

tOodLes

Kathren

can you say WhO WhO.....

well he can....here is a "peek" at my paperclay owl that I have been working on for weeks. He is almost complete. I will finish him today!!! Here is a watercan I painted with a TerryE French design. Normally I do not paint chickens or rooster but I really like how this turned out!! Inside the watercan are assorted dryed flowers with little eggs. Both of these items will be going on E-Bay sometime this week!!!!

I hope everyone is having a productive weekend!! Sorry it took me so long to post pics but "that thing called life" interupts my studio time alot lately!!

ToOdLeS

Kathren

plAyiNg....

Ok so I got a start on a new MaKeOvEr for my blog, not quite how I want it yet. Have some more playing to do but I'm starting to get a headache so I am done for right now. Need to go grocery shopping(JOY) and then its into the studio for me. I started 3 new paperclay sculpts and they are dry and ready to paint. BUT I guess feeding the family comes first....OY!!!!
ToOdLeS
KatHren
P.s please leave me a comment and let me know how you like the new look so far!!! Thanks

ugh!!! cOmPutErs

Hi all....I haven't posted in awhile and I try to keep my PeRSOnAL life away from my blog. I started my blog to sHoWCaSe my work and that was it. Unfortunatly my personal life has taken over my creative life. The last few months have consisted of taking care of my father-in-law 24/7 and we are also going through a rough patch with my mother-in-law and trying to get her into assissted living. Since it is basically ONLY Skip and myself that are doing all of this alone, it causes alot of stress which in turn puts my "studio" time on hold. If I am under stress I can not focus or CoNcENtRatE on my work. Which is putting me into a depressive state, because I love creating art!!! I am however going to TRY and work on my blog and learn how to do all the fancy stuff I see on everyones blogs. Mine is just kinda plain and since not a lot of people know my work I am going through my files and plan on putting my past work on the blog. Any suggestions or advice would be great!!! So PLEASE bare with me through this transition.
tOoDleS
Kathren

Finally did it......

Yes I finally have some items in my Etsy shop. I don't know why it took me so long, its super easy!!!! Now I just need to go get some measurements and I will be posting items all day. So please show me some support and check it out!!!!
ToOdLes
Kathren

Happy Mothers Day.....

Hope all the great mothers out there have a great day!!! enjoy your kids no one is ever promised tommorrow!!!

AYYYyeeee...

Some people have been asking where I have been. We have been pretty busy with Family. But I need to get back in the studio. I have several pieces I have finished and previewed on my blog but have not put them on E-bay as of yet!!! I am however going to work on that this weekend hopefully if nothing comes up.
They are finally moving mom to heartland rehab today!!! She will probably no doubt stay there. Please bare with me as I try to get back to "normal".
ToOdLeS,
Kathren

SoRrY.....

for the lack of posts and new art but things around here have become very hectic. Many of you know that we take care of my father-in-law 24/7. He was living at his own home with mom but mom had to go to the hospital for a pacemaker 3 weeks ago which we thought went very well. 2 days after surgery we got a call from the ER that they were doing CPR on her. She went at least 4-5min without oxygen. She was in an induced coma for almost a week and just started waking up and talking somewhat but is still very touch and go. We have moved Dad to our house and he is doing very well. But for right now I, unfortunatly have no desire to be in the studio. I hope that everyone understands this. I do however have some pieces I will be posting on e-bay during the week. I have been trying to support my husband as best I can. Thank you for understanding!! Hope to be back soon!!
ToOdLes,
Kathren

SpRiNg......

is in the air....then it goes away.....THEN it comes back! Yes I live in MiChIgAn(wait 5min and the weather will change). Below is a lil chicky I made from Polymer clay, added a felt hat with glitter and a Pink jewel hanging from it. He is sitting on a antique spoon with purple wire wrapped around the handle and a polymer clay purple flower that reads "chicky" Here is another antique spoon(3in X1in) with polymer clay sugar cubes and a polymer clay flower that reads "sugar"

I must say this is my favorite. Polymer clay bunny with glitter, flowers, and beads inside the bottle so when you give it a shake it is all Purty(giggle)

and last of all.....paperclay victorian bunny!!

enjoy.....

tOoDles

Kathren

yeah.....ArT

Finished up some projects in the studio friday!!! The lil guy below is a polymer clay snowman on parade!! I took a metal candel holder and removed the glass and stuck the snowman inside, by the look on his face I don't think he was very happy about it. There are snowballs and polymer clay lollipops on the front. This fella is happy not to be in a cage(giggle) He is all polymer clay. So is his reindeer.

I handpainted this wood plaque with a few different Terrye French designs! I added some grapvine and flowers to the top and made a "garden Angel" tag out of polymer clay.

All of these items will be available on e-bay soon or if anyone is interested they can email me.

tOoDleS

Kathren

Where is SpRiNG......

spring is in the air......I hope!!! This winter weather is taking its toll on me. I haven't been able to go in the studio like I want. Alot of family issues right now with My honeys parents and stress!!! I do have a few easter/spring items in the works though and I am hoping to make it to the studio today!! I have been scrolling my favorite blogs and it looks like everyone is in the SpRiNG "mode". Will hopefully be able to post new work soon.
tOoDleS
Kathren

WeLl HEEELLLOOO!!!

Been pretty busy here!!! Had some more hospital visits. Mom ended up in the hospital this time with a bad infection so we had to scramble to get dad somewhere, he is 24 hr care and on hospice. We managed to get him into a hospice house for a few days until mom was released from the hospital. So NOW everything is a bit quieter here. I managed to make it in the studio Monday and finsihed sculpting a bunny out of paperclay. Hopefully I will have him done by the weekend and I can put all my new work on ebay.

On another note I have also been working on our new group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=313322746754

This is our paranormal site on facebook. Bay city paranormal research society. I hope you can take a minute and check it out.

tOoDlEs
Kathren

feeling a bit SpRinGy....

Here are ThReE spring items I finished up the other day. They are all Terrye French designs!!!
The chicky in the water can is made from polymer clay. There is also some light glitter around the top of the can, it doesn't show up very good!!


This wallpocket is painted with my favorite color. The carrots inside are also made from polymer clay. You can see some of the glitter on this one. This is my favorite one!!

and last....AnOthEr wallpocket. I love these. This is just a simple one. Somthing light and cheery!

I will be posting these on E-bay sometime this week, but if anyone is interested in them before I post them just e-mail me. Hopefully I can get some bEtTeR pics for e-bay!!

tOoDleS

Kathren

back in the grOoOve....

yeah YEAH yeah.....went into the studio a few days ago and finished.....well I didn't FiNish them yet, but I am on my way. I went to Jo-Ann's today to get some PaPeRClAy but NOOOO they don't carry it anymore. I did pick up some pastel ribbon and some spring-eastery florals. I went to Hobby Lobby for the paperclay. So I plan on going in the studio tommorrow to finish my 3 spring items. So look for new pics in the next few days. I also plan on sculpting some spring bunnies and chicks. Boy its good to be BaCk!!!!
tOoDleS,
Kathren

Keeping head above water....

is hard to do when there's a flood. Dad was rushed back to the hospital last week with breathing problems and irregular heart beats. He is DNR so they just made him comfortable. We finally got hospice set up and he came home a few days ago. We all know it will only be a matter of time before he goes "home". He is ready to go and understands everything that is going on. I have not been in the studio for almost 2 weeks now. I just don't feel very creative at this point. So there will be some slacking on my part as far as posts and new art. Please bare with me.
kathren

Etsy shop....

well I started on my etsy shop yesturday but didn't get very far! As I started going through all my files on the PC I discovered that I had pics all over the place so I am trying to consolidate them all into one file......what a mess!! I also need to take some new pics of my stuff because some of the ones I have are not the greatest...UGH!!! But I will be working on this all week and hopefully....HoPEfUllY, I will have my shop stocked with all my goodies!! so hang in there I'm working on it!!!

I am also going to work on doing a FaCE liFt for my blog. I am learning as I go!!
Hope everyone is having a creative week and praying for sPrInG!!!
ToOdLes
Kathren

E-bay

Finally had a break from the hospital to list 3 items on E-bay!! Make sure to check them out, as always they are priced to sell.
http://shop.ebay.com/codys_keepsakes/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340

Thank you and god bless!!
ToOdLes,
Kathren

Bring it on.....

Things just keep getting better!! After everything that has happened last week I thought things would start looking better...NOT!! Dad had another heart attack friday night and almost died. His heart is wearing out and it won't be much longer. They have him on an IV drip to control his heart beat. They will put him on an oral med today to see how his heart responds. Right now its just a waiting game. I have not been able to list my e-bay items. We have been up to the CCU all weekend. As soon as I am able to list I will put the link on my blog.

Kathren

SanTa and BunnYs...

I finally finished my SaNTa that I started months ago! He is made out of paperclay. His face was sculpted from polymer clay. I LoVe how he turned out. My BuNny Bucket is a Terrye French design. I added my own touches to the design. On the side of the bucket I added a white bow with two polymer clay carrots.

and finally my sKeLetOn keys. I painted these last year. I love to actually see how small I can paint. All of these items will be listed on E-Bay tonight

hope everyone has a great weekend.

tOoDleS,

Kathren

Happy New WHAT!!!!

Boy has this year been a bUmpY ride already!! I couldn't wait to go pick my daughter up from the airport on wednesday, I was so excited!! Unfortunatly I was unable to go!!! Tuesday night I was in the hOsPital with the flu. I was sick all week. Thursday we had a snow storm with 7in of snow. My daughter had class that night. I didn't want her to drive in that mess so I was going to drive her Kia, which I nEvEr drive!! Well I lost control of it and after bouncing around on the bridge like a piNbAll we came to rest on the mediun of the bridge. Not a good place to be. We were ok and managed not to hit anyone. Her jeep was towed home. The only damage was a blown out tire and a broken tranny line. THANK GOD!!!
Sunday we did manage to celebrate ChRiStmAs and it was a good day! So now that I feel better and can actually function I plan on being in the studio. I also will be opening my EtSy sHop, so stay tuned!!
ToOdlEs,
Kathren