New Silk Combo Packs

Today I spent a lot of time photographing silks for my Etsy Shop Silk Update (now completed).

I thought it was time for a change for some of my silk photos...

And tonight made this collage with some of the New Silk Combo packs.
The Silk combo packs are 20 silks (10 ~ 2mm, 5 ~ Silky, 5 ~ Fairy).

And you can pick any of these 6 color palettes!

I have a thing for color and texture.
And I love creating silk knot bundles...

And for those people that love to create with various types of silks, but don't have the time to pick out individual colors - these palettes are pretty helpful.

And of course - there are a ton of projects, challenges and blog hops that inspire me to pick color palettes out, like this month's Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge:

Brandi Hussey's ABS Color Palette Inspiration based on Maurice Utrillo's painting.  

Marsha Neal Studio 2mm Silk Cord Set (Palette #187)

And you can see (& purchase) special palettes that some of my friends picked out:

When it comes down to it, it can be overwhelming to pick out colors and styles while staying within a budget (trust me - I know - I started ordering these silks by a couple hundred, and now I order them by the thousands - talk about addicted...).

I just love it...

Love having all these colors and textures in hand to help you with your next project!

I'm starting to accept that I am a components person.

And I am totally ok with that.

I really enjoy working with people and making things for their creations...

Another thing I love - hanging out with my kids:

For a few hours at the end of the day today, after picking up my little ones from school, then my sister, we headed out on our annual excursion to the Wilmington Flower market for some kiddy rides, carnival food, live music, and lots of cool artwork by local vendors.

It is one of those things that we can look back and see how much they have grown from year to year.
Next year, Chloe will be big enough to get on rides all by herself.
RJ - another two probably...

Where does the time go?

Enjoy the new palettes over on my Etsy shop!

Three Giveaway Winners May 10!!!

I was holding three drawings, each for a $25 gift certificate to use in my Etsy shop.

And I've got three winners!!!

First Drawing for $25 gift certificate is one that only my Newsletter customers knew about.

(Want to get in on that kind of stuff? Sign Up HERE)

They had a special coupon code for a discount and to get them entered into their drawing.

Which was this item:

Chocolate Stoneware Clay Butterfly with Glacier Glaze

The Second Drawing for a $25 gift certificate from my Etsy Shop was from customers that used the BOCFFAW coupon code that was posted on my blog to get 10% off their order through Midnight May 9, 2012.

Which was this item:

Porcelain Pendant, Flower Design, in OOAK Washed Out Purple Blue Glaze

The Third Drawing for a $25 gift certificate to my Etsy shop is from all the comments left on the original Etsy Shop Update and Giveaway Post.

These awesome group of people helped me promote my work through all kinds of social media outlets, and I really appreciate it! 

Thank you all for liking my work enough to want to share it and get a chance at winning so you can add items to your collection!

The commenter picked left this comment:

So CONGRATS to the three winners for the gift certificates!

Thank You all for continuing to support my artwork!

I'm off to go photograph some of these as long as the sun stays out...

They will be showing up in my Etsy shop in my Silks section.

Bohemian Inspired Jewelry Book - The Silk Ribbons!

Have you seen all the hype about this new book:

Bohemian Inspired Jewelry

Not only is it full of fun projects that fit my fashion style, I'm personally really excited because I was asked to contribute some info on the care of Silk Ribbon (page 11 in the book) that I sell through my Marsha Neal Studio website and Etsy shop.

I couldn't wait to get a copy in my hand, so I had to download a pdf copy!

And now that I've got a copy in hand, I can see just how many of the projects that have the Silk Painting Is Fun (Ute hand paints these silks, but sells in bulk) silks that I've been selling with my ceramic beads and pendants since I first met her back in early 2005.

Here are the three types of Ute's silks I carry:

2mm silk cord

Fairy Ribbon

Silky Ribbons

Sometimes it gets overwhelming trying to pick out individual color strands and let's not even talk about color resolution and how different colors look on your monitor, so I offer silks in 10-strand "Silk Knot Bundles" which are pre-selected color palette bundles of 2mm, Fairy or Silky Silk Ribbons to make it easier to buy and still feel inspired and not overwhelmed by choices.

The color palette in the three photos above were inspired by the 2011 Fall Pantone Fashion Colors.

One project in the Bohemian Inspired Jewelry Book that uses almost a full 2mm Silk Knot Bundle
is Lorelei's "Ocean Love" project.

(10) 2mm Silks for Bohemian Inspired Jewelry Book Project: Ocean Love

She came up with this "Ocean Love Silk Cord Set" herself.

From the Beads of Clay Blog, a photo of it:

You could use this palette to make the project in the book, or pick another color palette that is pre-selected, or - make up your own palette (for a similar effect to the project in the book, pick 2 of each of 5 colors for 10 silks total).
Use her project for inspiration to fuel your creativity!

I'll be updating my blog here with lots more palettes for projects related to this inspirational book!
I can't wait to get into my jewelry studio and start playing with all these materials I've got at my disposal.
I promise to keep some for those of you that want to order some for your projects too!

Like working with silks?

Love picking out color palettes?

Check out my Silk Color Palette Challenge.

Etsy Shop Update Status and Giveaway!

Hi everyone! I just wanted to give you a quick heads up about what I've listed so far in this Etsy shop update and what is coming up. I've got a few, couple of hour windows to work with, and a LOT of work to update...

Marsha Neal Studio Clay Shards in Dusty Denim Glaze

So far I have listed all of my Clay Shards including a bunch in this Dusty Denim glaze above (I LOVE how that blue puddles against the bronze brown color!)

Marsha Neal Studio Line Curls Butterfly Pendant

The butterfly pendants are listed and as of Friday morning can be found around page 5 & 6...

Marsha Neal Studio Porcelain Bat Pendant

As are the couple of new bats are there too. These things with wings part of the shop will be moving to page 7, 8, 9 etc as I add new items this afternoon through Saturday.

Marsha Neal Studio Hibiscus Cutout Flower in Lime Green Glaze

There is a small garden full of these cutout flowers (hibiscus texture and flower texture).

Marsha Neal Studio Porcelain Multi-Hole Pendant 

And just a few of these multi-hole pendants for those of you that like to add multiple strands or dangle beads...

Marsha Neal Studio Round Pendant Set

Then I got to listing a few round sets before I had to run to pick up the kids from school.

I am going to start to list more of these standard shaped sets including my hand carved textured series of pieces, my nature series, and then some new crescent pieces and sets like these after this blog post

Marsha Neal Studio Peacock Teal Glaze Nature Series Set

Marsha Neal Studio Black and Blue Crescent Pendant

Marsha Neal Studio Aqua Watery Teal Blue Crescent Pendant Set

So here is where the GIVEAWAY comes in...

FIRST GIVEAWAY - $25 to use in my Etsy Shop!

For any of you over on Etsy - favorite some of these new pieces in my shop (favorite whatever you want).

If you prefer Pinterest, pin my Marsha Neal Studio items (whatever you really like!)

Social media lover? Click the FB like button, twitter, etc and help share my work.

Come back here and leave me a comment that you did it (one entry per social media outlet please) then I will pick a random winner from the comments on this post made by Midnight EST, Wednesday, May 9, 2012 and that winner will get a $25 gift certificate to my Etsy shop.

SECOND GIVEAWAY - $25 to use in my Etsy Shop!

If you make a purchase during this update over this First Friday Art Walk Weekend, you can use coupon code BOCFFAW for 10% off your purchase of CLAY items from my Marsha Neal Studio Etsy shop (good now through Midnight EST, Wednesday, May 9, 2012) and I will enter you into a bonus drawing for a $25 gift certificate.

Every clay item you purchase with this coupon code gets you one entry for the drawing. 2 items with code = 2 entries, etc.

Winners will be picked on Thursday, May 10, 2012 and will be contacted directly if I can locate you and as a backup, the winning item purchased will be posted here as will the comment winner. So make sure to check back here on Thursday afternoon...

Thanks for your continued support of my work!

*I'm part of the Beads of Clay Professional Artists Team, participating in this weekend's First Friday Art Walk on Etsy.com! Check out some of my friends work HERE.

Etsy Shop Update Coming Very Soon!

I've gone through inventory.

I have photographed pieces.

I'm almost done cropping them...

Marsha Neal Studio Etsy Shop Items

In the next couple of days, I will be updating my Etsy shop with some new clay work!

Just in time for First Friday!!!

Keep an eye out - pieces might start arriving tonight...

And hopefully next week I will have time to start to glaze these beads:

Marsha Neal Studio Chocolate Clay and Porcelain Clay Beads (ready for glaze).

And enjoy some time in the garden watching all the plants with buds start to bloom:

Marsha Neal Studio Columbine In My Garden Starting To Bloom

If you are on my newsletter, you have been sent notice of this tonight and a couple of little extras in there for you! 

Want in on the next one? 

Sign Up to receive the infrequent at best Marsha Neal Studio email newsletter.

And keep up with me on:

Marsha Neal Studio Facebook

Marsha Neal Studio Twitter

Marsha Neal Studio Pinterest

My Mom Pattie Etsy Shop

Some of you may know that I've got a second Etsy shop for my mom, Pattie.

She passed away back in September of 2007 after battling a rare form of Leukemia.

There are some fantastic artists that have created work with my ceramic pieces and have donated them for sale to my shop.

MJ Dodd's: To Help You See

I just thought with mothers day coming up, there might be some extra special pieces in there that you might consider adding to your collection for yourself for this mothers day - in honor of yourself being a mother or just mother like...

Lorelei Eurto's: Hawaiian Hibiscus

Maybe you would consider giving something to a friend?

Jenny Davies-Reazor's: Bird Song

A mother you know (aunts are quite mother-like too right)? 

Maybe your own mother or grandmother?

Erin PraisHintz's: Mariposa Mirage

I'm not too sure how much longer I will be running the My Mom Pattie shop as a second shop, but think it would be better as a section in my main shop during September (the month she was born and died in), or as a section on my website.

So if you want to check it out and purchase anything, this might be the last of these great handmade items in there for a while...

And Happy Mothers Day to all you that are mothers or act like one...

I'm not sure that I've ever met a person that doesn't have some sort of motherly instinct - so you should all be celebrating mothers day with a little treat for yourself!