Donna Marie Strachan

My favourite polymer clay piece to date, and the first of my Enchanted Forest series. The leaves are all cut and veined by hand, then a selection of metallic pearl ex powders are blended over the surface to create an autumnal warmth. A handmade chain forms the base (gold plated).

For more information, photographs and pricing, please visit this link.

You’ll find an informative article about mineral identification here

Definitely worth a read if you thought a stone could be identified just by looking in a photo book - if only it was always that easy!

Later, I’d also recommend visiting a good museum that keeps rock samples.  Seeing gemstones in their raw natural form, particularly the huge crystal formations… well let’s just say it’s inspiring.

Lily Christmas

Originally uploaded by DonnaMarieStrachan
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for 2008.

From Donna, Darren and the menagerie.

There’s a reason I’ve not been posting much recently.  She’s called Lily.

This is Lily before we got her, with all her face trimmed “smart” -

It wasn’t a difficult decision whether we should get her or not - how could you resist that face?
Continue Reading »

…when your muse arrives in a dream, asking for advice as a blocked artist!  I

swear, that muse of mine has both a wicked sense of humour and the ability to get straight to the point.  Painfully to the point.  I am now getting back on track… albeit slowly… with the novel.  If procrastination was an Olympic sport, I’d have medals covering the walls.

Foot and mouth has returned to the UK again.  I can’t describe the sick feeling in my stomach when the news came on.  Swftly followed by anger - has it come from a research facility, and why are horses seemingly considered ok to move around? Continue Reading »

I’m now back temping to get some extra cash in while I get my business going down here.  Taking a bit of getting used to, but it’s been great fun.  That said, I’m once again reminded of how little you can get done in evenings and weekends after holding down a full-time job.  You certainly take free time for granted when you work for yourself, that’s for sure! On the up side, I’m taking home much more of my pay now I’m not driving to work, so I won’t need to make this a long term commitment. Continue Reading »

I think I’ve brought some Scottish weather down to London with me!  Just as we approach the weekend, the heavens open.  Peachy. I’ve been job hunting for some temp work, just to give me extra cash till I get my business established here.

I’m still looking at different markets, seems like there’s a never-ending supply of markets in London.  Camden was exactly as I imagined it, only huge.  I don’t know what was more tempting at Camden Market, the merchandise or the food stalls.  Definately not a place to go if you’re a) on a diet, or b) hungry. Continue Reading »

I’m going to be working and living in London for…Well I’m not sure how long yet! Darren and I got fed up of living apart, and my mum planted the seed by suggesting I work in London. I felt it was a lot to ask my folks to babysit the animals, but they know the opportunities I’d have, and my earning potential here vs London. If mum hadn’t said it herself, I’d have been too scared to ask. But it just wasn’t making sense to live up here in the short term. Continue Reading »

I’m still having lambs. Well not me personally… Typically the day after my last sheep post, I had 3 lambs. All white. I’m sure one of my sheep is a secret web surfer. I can just imagine them round the laptop reading. Pointing out the stories about themselves, then laughing that I’ve announced the end of lambing season.

The good news is that I’ve had 2 beautiful lambs and another 2 are moorit (red-brown) and fill a gap in my flock colour wise. Continue Reading »