A Very Special Thank You!!

Dear Friends, I would like to thank everyone that came and supported us and the Benton County Sunshine School at A Very Special Art Show last night. Through your generosity, over $5,000 was raised from admission,silent auction,and sales of art and jewelry. BCSS is a wonderful organization that helps children and individuals in the community with developemental disabilities and special needs. Your support helps them assist over 500 families in our community. Just goes to show what wonderful folks you all are!! Hugs&Kisses, Miranda

All Things Octopi

Greetings and hello!! Of late the curious creature the octopus has been particularly interesting to me. They have been seen climbing through frames, gracing porthole pendants, and occassionally just lounging in a fancy chair. Whilst my child was eating ice cream the other nite, inspiration struck. I just happened to have a little cordial glass laying around waiting for Neopolitan Octopi....

Fall Festivities

All sorts of exciting events are happening at the Cove!! First of all, be sure to order the new issue of Damsel in this Dress magazine!! Beautiful corsets, makeup tips, and us!! Proud to say that my husband, Chef Steven Brooks, is the Chef for Ronald McDonald House Charities Red Shoe Shindig being held at the Ft. Smith Arkansas Convention Center on October 22nd. Also, he has donated a dinner prepared at your home for six guests to be auctioned off in the silent auction that evening. Then, on November 17th, SMCTC has teamed up with Allison Jones Artist for an evening of art, food, and wine to benefit the Benton County Sunshine School. We hope to see you at all of these events!! For all your online needs, our online store is open, conveinently attached to both our blog and our facebook page, and I'll soon be listing items in our Etsy store!! Exciting busy times with lots of fun mixed in. We hope that you can join us on our journey, support some great causes, and get yourself something marvelous in the process! Happy Fall everyone!!

Online Store is Open!!

Dear Friends, Thanks to everyone who came out to First Thursday Fayetteville!! Lots of fun!! Got some things straightened out so now our online store is open!! Wooohoo!! Simply look to the right of your screen and there it is. Fall special, free shipping!!

Fall Happenings

Dear Friends, Fall is an exciting time here at the Cove. First of all, we have new creations looking for new homes. Yay!! Also, we will be doing two fabulous events!! The first is October 6th at First Thursday Fayetteville AR. It's a wonderful outdoor art walk event in downtown Fayetteville. Live music, talented artists, kids activities, and a beer garden. What more could you want? Then, a few short weeks later, SMCTC is teaming up with Arkansas artist Allison Jones for A Very Special Art Show. An evening of art, wine, and food from Ruth Chris, all to benefit Benton Co. Sunshine School. It is a wonderful place that not only helps developmentally disabled preschool children but also older children and adults in the community who need a little extra help. That event will be held November 17th from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the Metropolitan National Bank in the Pinnacle Hills area of Rogers AR. In preparation for these events and also due to some unplanned traveling, I will temporarily be closing my online store. If you need anything, come see me at the events or send me an email. Hope to see everyone out and about!!!

Exploring "Found" Objects

So, what are "found" objects? Straight and simple. Anything that i have found. It could be an old pendant, an earring, or perhaps a gasket or a thing-a-majig out of a whatsit. They are so impossibly fun!! And as long as they don't melt in the oven, produce toxic fumes, or are radio active, they can be incorporated into clay!!! Woohoo!!! Flood gates of possibilities open before me. Where do I source such untold treasures? Garage sales, estate sales, flea markets, friends jewelry boxes.... Which makes each one special and unique. That being said, if I can possibly bear to part any of these lovelies, and perchance put them in my online store, and then you see one that you want...I wouldn't wait to get it. Since these pieces come from such random origins the chance of me finding one again are slim. Pictures of my new creations will be posted to my Facebook fan page, and ones currently for sale will be conveinently in my online store to the left of your computer screen. See how handy that is? You're welcome. :)

Revamping The Store

Yes, I am still learning all the in and outs of the store, but it is coming together. Soon it will be marvelously fantastically fabulous!! Thanks for your patience!!!

LOOKIT!!!!

Zootaloo!!!! The much awaited and highly anticipated store is open!! Woot woot!! Now, I'm still figuring out all this high tech stuff. I prefer clay, less buttons. So the first few items I am offering are HALF PRICE!! Simply because I need the practice to work out all the in and outs of invoicing, paypaling, and shipping. So snatch you up a fabulous deal!! Hugs a bunches!

Coming Soon.....a store!!!!

First of all, a big THANKYOU to all the wonderful folks who came and supported me for my very first craft fair! It was a wonderful learning experience in a beautiful setting. Just the boost my studio needed to go to the next step. If you look to the right (on your screen) you will see that there is a cute little sign that says "Shop closed for maintenance". That's right, a shop!! Very soon you will be able to add to your own collection of lovelies right from the comfort of your own home!! Woohoo!!!! And the first few things I list will be at amazing prices because you will be volunteering to be my test subjects so I can work out all the bugs. :)

Adventures in Caning...

No, not the outlawed form of torture. Neither am I talking about the art of weaving seating for chairs. No, it's the process of layering different colored clays into a pattern and pressing them together so that when they are cut they form a distinct pattern or even a picture in the finished piece that looks like it is just naturally part of the clay. A good relatable example of awesome caning is that shiney sugar candy that is usually only available in December. You know the ones. Old fashioned, usually colored on the outside with white center and a picture in the middle, perhaps a flower, star, or evergreen tree. All that was made by a confectioner strategically layering and stretching molten bands of colored sugar. Pretty awesome, huh? Food Network is an amazing source of info!! Translate that to the clay world, and you can make some fabulous patterns to work with, or if you are really good, follow the confectioner's footsteps and make them form pictures that you can slice off and make into nifty beads!! Sadly, I am not yet one of those people. :( But, I DID try caning to make some pretty nifty leaves for some jungley fun. Here is the result, what do you think?

It's cold outside, let's heat things up!!!

All righty, lets have some fun!! To the ones that are already following my blog, THANKYOU! You are all awesome!! From now until February 15th, either become a follower or suggest others become a follower to our blog. When you become a follower, you will get one entry. You will receive an addtional entry for each person that you suggest our blog to that becomes a follower. Here is where the work comes in, please keep track of your friends that join in and make a comment or email me with their names so I give your proper credit. Then on February 15th I will draw a name and the winner will recieve an awesome prize!!! Woohoo!!! Good times, good times.