Showing posts with label celtic fairy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label celtic fairy. Show all posts

Friday, March 9, 2012

The Final Entries in the Smooshers Celtic Challenge

And here's a look at the last of the entries in the Polymer Clay Smooshers Celtic Challenge.  Each of these items was sculpted specifically for this challenge, and each is available for sale in the artist's ArtFire shop.  Just click on the picture to be directed to the listing, and while you're there be sure to check out all the other wonderful items available from each artist.
Valerie's Stuff created this beautiful Polymer Clay Celtic Inspired Necklace as her entry for the challenge.
 
The description reads: This lovely and simple necklace is comprised of five polymer clay pieces - stamped with Celtic inspired designs - which are discreetly accented with glass and hematite beads. The chain is gunmetal (base metal iron).
The overall length of the necklace is 16 3/4" with lobster claw clasp. The center piece is approx. 1 1/4" square and each side piece is approx 1" by 3/4".
The center piece is a wonderful navy granite polymer clay to which I have added a dusting of gold mica powder. The side pieces are a copper colored polymer clay.
LeslieMarie by Design made this lovely Celtic Tree of Life Necklace as her entry.
 Celtic Tree of Life Necklace Handmade Polymer Clay 
The description reads: "Crann Bethadh" or the Tree of life is a symbol of power that endures time.
Symbolizing balance between life and nature, the tree is usually depicted with roots to show the balance between Life, Death, and Rebirth. When the roots and branches interlock, this is considered representation of eternity.
The Celtic people believed trees were a symbol of Wisdom, Strength, and longevity. Many Celtic rituals were centered around trees. Trees provided food, warmth and shelter to humans. With their natural cycles of Life, Death, and Rebirth, they were an obvious choice for sacred symbols.
This Celtic Tree of Life pendant is made from polymer clay and copper jeweler's wire. It hangs beautifully from four strands of seed beads and glass pearls. It is finished with a copper S hook.
This Tree of Life necklace sits just below the collar bone when worn.
And this magical Irish Celtic Fairy sculpture is the second entry for CreativeCritters.
Irish Celtic Fairy in Green Sitting with Cross Fox OOAK Sculpture
The description reads:  This Celtic fairy was sculpted by hand using Premo polymer clay. She wears a sparkling green polymer clay dress and her green slippers were painted on with acrylic paint. The laces are thin strings of polymer clay. Her glossy black hair is also polymer clay and has been textured for added realism. Her ruffled wings were made from a blue, green, yellow, and glow in the dark polymer clay cane (which I created just for this project). The veins and outer edges of the wings on both sides glow in the dark creating a truly magical effect. The last picture shows the back of the wings in the dark, although in reality the glowing sections are much clearer and more defined. The pretty fairy is petting and talking to a cross fox, which is a color variant of the red fox and can be found in Ireland. The fox was also sculpted by hand from Premo polymer clay. He has a red and black coat with a white tipped tail and I coated his nose and eyes with high gloss varnish for a realistic shine. I used acrylic paint to add the black coloration to the fox's underbelly, legs, face, ears, back, and tail. The rocks that the fairy is sitting on were also created from polymer clay, as were the yellow flowers at her feet. I mixed equal amounts of yellow and glow in the dark clay, so the flowers also glow nicely in the dark. The sculpture measures 4 1/2 inches tall ans the base is 4 inches wide. I covered the bottom of the base in felt, which I've signed and dated so you know this is an original creation.

I want to thank all of the guild members who entered this challenge, as well as though who have helped promote it.  And of course a big thank you to all of our wonderful fans for your support and and comments!  And don't forget, there's just one day left to vote on the theme for our next challenge- the poll can be found on the upper right side of the blog.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

What is Celtic?

The theme for the next Smooshers challenge is Celtic (as chosen by our our wonderful followers) and many guild members have asked "What exactly IS Celtic".  One short definition reads "Celt·ic [kel-tik, sel-] noun
1.a branch of the Indo-European family of languages, including especially Irish, Scots gaelic, Welsh, and Breton, which survive now in Ireland, the Scottish Highlands, Wales, and Brittany. Abbreviation:  Celt".  For a more in depth description you can visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celts.  
Personally, images have always worked better than than written descriptions when it comes to formulating themed creations.  When you do an image search on Google for Celtic one of the first things that pops up are Celtic knot designs.  Generally speaking, Celtic knots represent the repeated crossings of the spiritual and physical paths in our lives and the permanence and continuum of life, love, and faith.
Some of our members have already come up with some lovely jewelry incorporating versions of Celtic knots.  But what if you're looking for something a little different?
One of our members suggested searching Celtic Mythology for something beyond just Celtic knot designs.  One prominent image is the Celtic Green Man.  In Celtic mythology the Green Man is a god of Spring and Summer who disappears and returns year after year enacting themes of death and resurrection and the ebb and flow of life and creativity. This is certainly something artists and crafters can relate to!
Another prominent figure in Celtic mythology is Epona, the Horse Goddess (and one of my favorites).  Sometimes Epona is depicted as a woman, and sometimes as a white mare.  Epona was the protector of horses and other equines and was a goddess of fertility.  Some believe that Epona and her horses were the leaders of the souls in the afterlife ride.  
  And then there are the Celtic fairies, which come a quite an array of sizes, shapes and styles.  Celtic folklore is filled with supernatural creatures, many of which are considered fairies, commonly called faerie or fey folk.  These can include the little people, leprechauns, and banshees.  Modern versions of Celtic fairies abound in the artistic world as well.
I hope this helps clarify the meaning and imagery behind the word "Celtic".  This post is by no means comprehensive, just a tiny sampling of some of the legends, symbols, and mythology connected to the Celts.  I hope this helps spark a bit of inspiration for the Smooshers Celtic Challenge and an appreciation for all things Celtic ;-)