Starting A New Journey

When my daughters were born I discovered my purpose in life. They have been a joy from the start and I have made it my mission that whatever job I had I would first and foremost be there for them. I was blessed to find a passion for teaching Pre-K. I taught the little ones and elementary art where my girls attended.

When my girls were in middle school I found myself at home and in desperate need of a hobby. For as long as I can remember I have loved all things creative from drawing and painting to building things with my hands. Little did I know what began in my dining room would become a business that I absolutely love. I found that polymer clay offered endless possibilities and the thought of creating something truly unique is a driving force behind each piece I make.

I began visiting the local boutiques and soon found my jewelry, buttons, and other knitting accessories in 8 wonderful stores. Three of the store owners came to me and requested that I begin teaching polymer clay classes. I was blown away and have thoroughly enjoyed combining both art and teaching once again.

I am so excited to be taking the next step and having space of my own. There will be demonstrations, classes and an array of polymer clay items that are one of a kind. From “Fem-Punk”, my version of Steam Punk with a feminine twist, to pieces that look like natural stone, there is something for everyone.

I look forward to seeing you at The Cottage Collective. In the meantime please take a moment and check out my facebook page and my website.
Missy Chester

www.poemacreations.com

What's Hot in Jewelry Design?

Well this has been an interesting journey. I embarked thinking I new what jewelry I liked and what I liked to create. Funny thing is I thought I knew what everyone else liked also.

As my creations began to evolve I've discovered I like a few too many things. It's always been this way. Art classes proved that my favorite was painting...no wait it's pen and ink. Any way I started looking at what was out there and as I am finding my niche I am moving more toward simple, maybe a little more funky or romantic.

In my search I noticed a lot of mixed metal. Totally fun! I love it and it is a good stretch for this matchy matchy 80's girl. My favorite is antique bronze with a touch of copper.

Another fun trend is metal stamping. No I am not going to start the metal stamping. I mean it! The use of words in my polymer clay pieces, however, has been fun and challenging.

There are many more things in store as I figure my definition of "What's Hot" Thanks for tagging along with me.

Many blessings
Missy

The Bead Making Process

I thought I would share with you the process that I go through when I create polymer clay beads.

Making beads is something that I really enjoy doing. I realized recently that not many people have heard of polymer clay, let alone understand what goes in to making a bead.

After the clay is softend the first thing I do is chop the color(s) of clay in to small pieces. Then the clay is painted usually with black paint, sometimes silver, gold or bronze create a nice effect. This paint technique is the viening that creates a faux stone look.

When the paint is dry I then form the beads in to the desired shape. Many different types of tools are used to create the look I want to achieve.

The clay is then baked in an oven and cooled.

To remove the paint the beads are rinsed in alcohol then put through a series of sanding that takes about 48 hours.

When the beads are smoothed they are ready to be buffed. Each one is individually buffed by hand on a bench grinder and buffing wheel.

Each set is then beaded up and ready to be worn and enjoyed.

Be sure to check out my Cyber Monday sale starting at Midnight tonight. As always I welcome any questions or comments.

Until next time God bless

Thankful for my Dear Friends

I thought perhaps I would list off the things I am thankful for today.
After some consideration I decided it would take much to long to write and read. God has blessed my life in so many ways.

I have been thinking about friends lately. I am so thankful God has brought so many wonderful friends into my life. There was a time when my kids were young that friends were a bit scarce. Today I can tell you
I not only have one "best friend" but I have many. I know the thought of "best" indicates one but that just puts limits on the amazing group of people I call my "best" friends. Each relationship is as unique as the people in them. Some are closer than others but I call them all my best.

First ofcourse is my amazing husband. A true blessing to my life. He has been in my corner through thick and thin, rough and easy times. He is always "on my team" or I am "on his team", does'nt matter much because it's the same team!

My mom. We have a unique friendship that is rare. Since I was in highschool we have been more than mother and daughter. We have laughed till we cried and cried till we laughed. A true blessing.

My Sista! No she is not my sister but we get mistaken for sisters...and each other sometimes. I can't imagine sisters being closer. We think so much alike that it makes us laugh and so different that we don't kill each other. :) A better friend I challenge anyone to find.

I have an amazing friend that is a constant example of living out the call God has placed on her and her growing family.

Then there is the friend who I met when she was very young and perky. I now know that even then her testimony was amazing of what God has done and I see God use the talents and gifts He gave her. She leads people to worship Him and she leads people to the feet of Jesus to find answers for their lives.

One of my "bests" is an amazing cook, she will always tell you what she thinks and respect your opinion at the same time.

Another dear friend has seen excruciating pain over the last few months. The kind that makes even the strongest mom curl up in a ball in the corner, and yet she chooses to seek the Lord and praise Him.

Amazing people! I could go on and on. My friends if you don't recognize your self in these lines, please know you are on my mind and I am thankful for you too.

What does this have to do with beads, jewelry, and my business. Not much other than each of my friends have been such an encouragement and support to me.

Thanks guys for everything you mean to my life and know I thank the Lord for you. I pray that somehow I could bless your life a fraction of how you have blessed mine.

Happy Thanksgiving

Yikes Thanksgiving and Christmas Already

Ok it's true I love this time of year. Getting together with the fam, cozy fire place snuggles, and all the beautiful decor. Most of all I am reminded of the gift Jesus gave for me and how blessed I am.
With all of that said somebody put on the brakes!!!! I just finished protesting about summer being over. It can't be time for things to get even busier. With getting my business going and regular life happenings, I find even as I write this I am realizing that I have made life a bit too "busy".
Does anybody remember the booklet Tyranny of the Urgent? Well it's been a while but the jist from what I remember is we can get so caught up in what we think is urgent we miss what is needful. Sounds a bit like Mary and Martha. I guess the trick is finding a balance between what has to be done and what needs to be done. "Need" being sitting at the feet of the Father, spending time - real time - with family and friends and serving those in need.
So I guess the "Urgent" things will need to become the things that fall through the cracks. Oh life will continue, laundry will still be piled up and there will always be more beads and jewelry to make, but it's time for what's NEEDED.
Till next time have a happy Thanksgiving and Christmas season and I pray you are blessed with what you need.

To all the "lefties"

Ok I am so not going to blog everyday but this I have to get off my chest! The other day my dearest friend in the whole world tells me "did you know you are beading left handed?" I'm thinking "WHAT! Are you kidding me?". I had no idea there was such a thing. Well it figures. It's probably just another way to discriminate against those of us who are left handed. You remember always getting stuck on the side or back of the class room in the "left handed desk", or there's the well meaning teacher always turning your paper to the wrong angle, or my personal favorite the "left handed scissors" that never worked anyway. Now you tell me that the clasp of my necklaces needs to be on the right? Wow! So I will tell you I am trying to be an equal opportunity clasper and bead the "right" way. Try as I may and as adaptable as I've become over the years...Well lets just say this. I will not offend or discriminate against you right handed people out there. You may still purchase any item you see that you like. When you go to clasp it and you find your left hand fingers doing more work than they are used to just smile to yourself and remember someday we lefties will rule the world! :)
So until next time God bless you whether your left or right handed.