deadline approaching

I’m bleary-eyed.  I’ve been working with tons of images, matching raw and jpg files and naming them according to protocol for my publisher.  One more chapter’s worth of files to name, then the rest of the writing….

What am I writing this time?  A beginner polymer clay book focused on the technique of caning.  I have been working on it for a couple of months and I have just a few weeks to go before my manuscript deadline.

Want a peek?  This is my table in the midst of some of the cane assembly and photography:

messy workspace

This book has been an interesting and fun challenge for me.  I’ve had to keep “beginner” in mind, yet I wanted the canes and the finished jewelry and beads to maintain a high standard of good design and excellent technical detail and finish.

Here’s another peek.  This drawer contains many of the canes I made for the book.  The first part of the book is very simple, basic canes, the second half is more complex canes and combinations of the basics.

canes in progress

Ok.  Time to go back to my bleary task of file naming.   BKS–64506-….I’m gonna be typing this code in my sleep!!

Blessings,

Patti

And the winner is…

We had 21 entries from comments in the book drawing.  This morning my husband pulled a name out of the bowl and the winner is TLCCreates.  Congrats Terry!

Thanks for playing everyone!  Stay tuned for more fun and excitement.

Have a great weekend!

Patti

My turn for a give-away!!

I got my big box of author copies this weekend!!  So even though Lisa beat me to it, I’m going to hold a give-away of a signed copy of my book! Leave a comment to be entered!  Tell your polymer and metal clay friends!   I’ll choose a winner Saturday 3/27.

{I also decided to do this today because my computer was infected with a lovely virus over the weekend, so I’m temporarily hooked up on one of my hubby’s old (and very cranky) laptops.  So, no new pics until I get my machine back…  I’m hoping that the virus didn’t chew up data, but I don’t know the damage yet.  Cross your fingers with me?}

Have a great week,

Patti

Student and reader feedback

One of the great things about teaching is seeing what students come up with as they synthesize the information I present and express it with their own artistic voice.  In the old days, that teacher gratification came only during the class if the students were able to complete something during the class.  Now, with the blogosphere, I can get feedback beyond the class, as well as feedback from those who’ve only met me through the pages of my books.

That’s so cool!

Here’s what one of my Indy students told me:  “It was an eye opening learning experience and really will change the way I do some things.  The two days were a creative kick in the butt and something I occasionally need to get the mojo going again.  So, a big THANK YOU!”

Go check out what Lisa at Polka Dot Cottage did.  My editor sent her more copies than I got so far, (how’d that happen, Karin??!!) so she’s beating me to the “give away” punchline.

Patti

It’s here! It’s here!

I arrived home this afternoon from Indianapolis to find my advance copy of the book on my desk.  I’ve been expecting it and I’m just sorry I couldn’t take it with me to the workshop.

Anyway, It’s beautiful, if I do say so myself!  I really want to thank my editor, Karin Buckingham, and all the great people at Kalmbach Books who did a wonderful job.  I’ve always felt that they produced some of the best looking books in the craft market.  Now I have to say it’s true!

So, for all who have pre-ordered, hang in there, it should be coming soon!

Have an awesome weekend, everyone!

It’s finished!

I’m pleased to announce that my second book has gone to press.  Perfectly Paired:  Designing Jewelry with Polymer and Metal Clays will be released in April by Kalmbach Books.

The good folks at Kalmbach also publish Bead & Button magazine, Art Jewelry magazine, and sponsor the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee in June.  I’ll be teaching there again, several classes that relate directly to the subject of the book!