a gloomy and rainy day

So what do you do on a rainy, chilly, gloomy Saturday? Popcorn and movie? Good book and a glass of wine? Meander through your local art (or history) museum? Gather your friends for a three hour lunch? Take photos of your dogs and list new items in your online store?

Hmm…Lets consider…. The first choice – a matinee. Especially nice if you have a great little venue, not one of the monster plexes : For example, in Columbus, we have the marvelous Drexel theater. Nice hot bucket of popcorn, happiness ensues. And, this choice does have a twist, if you don’t feel like leaving home, you don’t have to! Press play  and pop your own!

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Both bunny and pendant available on Valerie Cheski Polymer Clay.)

 

 

 

 

 

What’s next?  Ah yes.  Two of my favorites: good books. and wine.  I still love my trips to the library.  I’ve recently started reading Christopher Fowler’s Bryant & May series.  I know he’s been writing these for quite some time, but I’ve only just “discovered” them.  On the wine front, I’ve started buying a bottle from Whole Foods – conveniently on sale  – La Vieille Ferme.  (It has a chicken and rooster on the label.  There is another wine (also French) that has one rooster (or is it a chicken?) on the label – also good.  Bottom line – wine from France with a chicken label = good.)

Now.  A museum trip?  Wonderful!  How could you go wrong spending time  surrounded by beauty?  You can daydream your way through the afternoon, alternately soothed and inspired by the impressionists and the modernists.

History your cup of tea?  Perfect!  Nothing more inspiring than experiencing our common threads.

(Pendant now available at  Valerie Cheski Polymer Clay.)

Confession time.  I am “a lady who lunches” wannabe.  I have successfully lunched one or twice with my very good friend Maggie at my favorite place, The Worthington Inn.  Quite simply a must for four star cookery.  At lunch, their hamburgers and Bloody Marys are a must.

Or you could just stay home.  Take photos of the dogs (c’mon, it really is good practice!).  List a few items.  You know.

color vs. black and white photos

Black and white or color photos? I admit these are not the best, but I think both color and black white are equally eloquent each in its own way.

Here are two more:

What do you think?

new black and white photo

I’m still experimenting with black and white photos, shadows and depth. It’s pretty dark but I kinda like it.

P. S. I found my favorite selfie:

saturday 4/18/15

This Saturday, April 18, I will be vending at:

How Art Thou? Art Show and Sale

Gahanna Community Congregational Church

470 Havens Corners Rd

Gahanna, OH 43230

10:30 a. m. to 4:00 P. M.

For the occasion, I have made more ‘Rabbits in Hats’.  (Of course, I will have my jewelry as well).  Please stop by!

still working

on photography:

I am proud of this one and wanted to share. But then again, how could I go wrong with my little super model???

clay day

Handmade nautilus necklace

Not so very long ago, a new friend of mine, Nancy Nearing, graciously invited me into her home for a day, (which turned into two days), of claying.
I had a blast!
Nancy taught me a couple of basic canes, (I recently received an extruder – my first.), and this marvelous nautilus technique.
I love it!
Next for me…..canes,canes and still more canes!

valerie cheski polymer clay

I’m moving!
After much pondering, (okay..not that much), I’ve decided to move my polymer clay items to a new website….Square Marketplace. I’m still getting the feel of the site, but I am very pleased thus far.
I have also decided on a somewhat major change. Namely, the name. I am now using my name for site. It is now:

Valerie Cheski Polymer Clay

I have a new banner too:

I’ll be keeping my Etsy shop open for a little bit longer.

Please pop by my new place and feel free to let me know what you think!

i’m distraught

and outright sad.
(so sadly distraught I’m blogging twice in one day….but not so much so I abandon my beloved parentheses.)
My story:
On May 3, 2012, I quit smoking after 30+ years.
It was every bit as difficult as you’ve read (I’m still trying to lose the 20 pounds. And, by the way, it has to be that difficult ’cause if it wasn’t, I, (and everyone else who has ever done this) would be smoking right now.) I got through the early days and nights by joining QuitNet.com. It was a big/little online town with chat rooms and clubs as well as the usual general threads. It came with smoking cessation counselors and information packed blogs. We all went by nicknames and pledged. and talked. and celebrated anniversaries. (A former member (may he rest in peace) created special designations for each milestone achieved. for example, after one year ‘smober’ you achieved your “Doctorate of Quitology” and on 500 days your Knighthood etc.) Testimonials were left from successful – and unsuccessful quitters – and these were poured over during the worst twitchiest moments. I logged on everyday for a very long time…until the beginning of this fall. At that point, I needed to make the final clean break. I still logged on several times a week – but not often enough to prepare for the changes that were coming.
Quitnet has redone..well..everything. Journals, clubs, chat rooms, testimonials and nicknames are all gone. I was unprepared. I don’t know anyone’s real name. I missed the window of opportunity. So. Because online was my lifeline and sanity for so long, I will take this time, online, to salute and thank those who helped me, whom I feel so very much for .. we never met but:
(((((((harleyjohn)))))))) thank you!!!! You too Karen aka Derey! lesliejean.. you can do it this time!!!!!! Huge hugs to you too! Sir Walt – thank you for knighting me. And thank you too Neel, rabbitbrush, mytime, torres…everyone…thank you!
Finally…
I poured over testimonials. There were people who inspired me like pjlsan and hizzah. Hugs ladies. and will someone please tell me if janey who states she was “fairly ill” with smoking related diseases in 2005 (or words to that effect) ever made it??
Anyway. Goodbye. Thank you. I love you all.
P. S. I’m sure the new QuitNet.com will be effective if you should wish to use it.
P. P. S. Emotions usually get a bit jiggy when you quit. just saying..
nice cry. thank you again and always.

new light box

I have a new light box.

I bought one a couple of years back…and lamented ad nauseam about it. It was a “portable-photo-lighting-studio-in-a-box” kit. Picture a sort of origami box – when in use, it was a large cloth box which would collapse into a flat square. It came with three lights. One of these lights exploded with a lovely little blue flame after about three days. Another one never did light up. Not a terribly successful venture into photography for me.

Since those less than successful days, I have acquired a wonderful Canon Rebel (a birthday gift) and have taken an introductory course in photography. (I can’t wait to take more classes!) I enjoy taking all kinds of photos, and pride myself on being pretty good – albeit for a beginner. One thing I still dreaded .. taking photos of my polymer clay jewelry for valeriesstuff. My “portable-photo-lighting-studio-in-a-box” kit was unusable (well, for me at least) so I returned to squatting outside in bright sun. Which is sometimes quite successful, others, not. I decided to try, once again, another light box.

Enter the Sanoto.

I bought it on ebay (free shipping, comes in a couple of sizes) official name: “Sanoto Mini kit Series of Built-in Lighting Studio’s”. Four thin plastic walls with a curving insert and two tube lights. It looks a bit like white microwave oven. Assembly is required. I lovelovelovelove it. Looky here:

Modern and vivid, polymer clay abstract pendant in blue and crimson

or….

Lavender and magenta one of a kind polymer clay button stud earrings

Have I mentioned I love this light box?????

I am slowly and steadily changing all my photos to the light box version. I think it makes for a cleaner look.

So… this light box story has a happy ending (although I did manage to sneak in a little whining about my previous experience). This little white box really does get that nice clean look – and – you don’t have to crouch outdoors! If you are in the market for a portable light studio, I strongly recommend you try Sanoto.

liberty antiques

Ever have a chore you keep putting off?
It lurks in the back of your mind.
It puts down roots.
It is still possible to ignore. So you do.
While paying attention to other stuff, your chore starts to grow.
Somehow it has now become a task.
Irksome yes, but still possible to kinda sorta put off.
Until, seemingly without warning, it blossoms – Into a – *gasp*- situation.

My situation was the slow, consistent accumulation of ‘stuff’. I have collections. And pretty bits and pieces. In drawers, the basement, and attic. I needed a clear out – and fast. After attacking one drawer, one closet, one box at a time, I was very pleased with my progress. But what to do with my items I did not wish to donate? And then it struck me…….I could combine my collectables and my jewelry and sell them at….

Liberty Antiques
18 N. Liberty St.
Powell OH

I have a fabulous space! I have stocked it with goodies I have amassed over the years as well as my jewelry and my photos!
Right now I have a huge sale on my jewelry in my little space. So….if you happen to be near Powell OH, please stop in and see all the antiques…including mine!