About Me

Hi! I'm Sheryl, I'm a sculptor and jewelry designer, I create in polymer clay and mixed media, please visit Noadi's Art to see my work. I'm obsessed with cephalopods as you will see in many of my lenses.







I live in Maine with my family and large menagerie of pets including dogs, cats, goats, and a llama.

Sheryl's Scribblings | Shop Blossom Social Network | Noadi's Directory

Polymer Clay Sculpting Tips and Tutorials

Polymer clay is a wonderful medium for sculpture. You can create one of a kind sculptures without the need for an expensive kiln or messy mold materials. You can create everything from very simple animals made from basic shapes to detailed, complex,...

Cephalopod Craft Patterns

Make your own stuffed octopus, squid, and cuttlefish. Free crochet, knit, and sewing patterns for cephalopods (and a few other sea creatures thrown in).

Introduction to Sculpting in Polymer Clay

I have many lenses here on Squidoo about sculpting in polymer clay but none that really give a good overview of what you need to get started. This lens is about the essential information you need to get started sculpting in polymer clay, then you can...

How to Start Selling on eCrater

ECrater is a free webstore service that is easy to set up and charges no fees for standard services. ECrater is easy to learn and is a perfect solution for anyone brand new to selling online.

Paper Mache as an Art Medium

Paper Mache requires few tools, simple materials, and recycles old paper into art. Now we associate it with children's school projects but paper mache started out as and remains a medium for fine art. Read on to learn more about this great medium (an...

Nigerian Dwarf Goats - Cute and Friendly Miniature Goats

Nigerian dwarf goats are a miniature goat breed. They're hardy, friendly, and utterly adorable. Their friendly dispositions and compact size makes them perfect for small farm, 4H, and as pets.

Building Armatures for Polymer Clay Sculpture

Armatures are vital to strong sculptures. Learn about different methods for building strong armatures. A strong armature can hold polymer clay in virtually any complicated or precarious position, even look like it's floating in air.

Making Molds of Polymer Clay Sculpture

The wonderful thing about polymer clay is that you can create one of a kind sculpture with it but sometimes you might want to make copies of a sculpture. For that you need to make a mold and then cast in a material like resin, plaster, or porcelain....

Creating with Cold Porcelain

Make delicate creations using this easy to make homemade air dry clay. Cold porcelain dries to a beautiful and durable finish perfect for making tiny flowers and other miniatures.

Painting Polymer Clay Sculptures

Polymer clay comes in a rainbow of colors but some projects can be greatly improved by a little paint or other surface treatment. Read on to learn about different techniques and materials to paint your clay creations.

Raising Barred Rock Laying Hens

I'm raising Barred Rock hens this year to have fresh eggs once they are grown. I've raised chickens before, mostly bantams as pets and a few broilers for meat. Egg prices have increased by around 40% in the last year, raising your own laying hens ca...

Fantasy and Animal Sculpture by Noadi's Art

Noadi's Art is my little world of fantasy art.  Mainly I'm a sculptor though I do dabble in other mediums.  Fantasy gives me such a range of subjects to explore so I've sculpted everything from fairies to gods to octopuppies in jars. ...

Fun Science - How to Grow Crystals

Crystals are a fascinating natural phenomenon and you can with a little time and effort grow some at home. Great for teaching kids about chemistry and geology it's also fun, even for adults. Most of these methods require only commonly found househol...

Using Liquid Polymer Clay

Liquid Polymer Clay is a fairly new medium, only being around for a few years now. However in a few short years artists and crafters have found hundreds of ways to use this new medium.

Making Your Own Recycled Yarn

Make cool stuff and help the Earth at the same time. If you like to knit, crochet, or any other yarn craft have a go at using recycled materials. You can make your own yarn using plastic bags, thrift store sweaters, scraps, and t-shirts.

Techniques for Curing Polymer Clay

No subject in polymer clay has more controversy than how to best cure polymer clay. This lens gives an over view of the main techniques used.

Altoids Tins - A Myriad of Uses

Altoids and other candies sometimes come in great little tins. It really seems a shame to throw away such useful little boxes, they just call out to be made into something new. There are so many things that can be done with these little mint tins.

Make your Handmade Products Stand Out! Using Creative Packaging

There are some easy and creative ways to make your handmade products different from the rest at festivals or shows and make a special surprise for customers ordering your products. This lens is all about using creative packaging to make your creation...

The Cabinet of Curiosities

During the Victorian era Cabinets of Curiosity were all the rage. They collected natural specimens, fossils, artifacts, and oddities. Take a peak into that world.

Basics of Casting Sculpture

So you've got your molds ready now it's time to cast some sculpture. This lens is all about how to cast your sculptures using a variety of materials, polymer clay, plaster, resin, porcelain, and more.

Who would win in a fight? Shark or Giant Octopus?

Imagine you're in an aquarium tank. There are spiny dogfish sharks swimming around and giant octopus lurking on the bottom. Which would you be more afraid of? The shark or the octopus? Who would win in a fight between the two?

Resources for Figure Artists

This lens has the best reference sources for figure artists as I've found so far, from poses to anatomy to hands and feet.  I've compiled it for anyone who loves to create artwork portraying the human figure, whether you draw, sculpt, or paint I...

Polymer Clay Sculpting Tools

I'm absolutely addicted to getting new sculpting tools, both buying and making them. If you need some help deciding on what tools you need to get started or want to make some of your own keep reading.

I Love Cephalopods

I'm fascinated by all sea creatures but in particular cephalopods give me endless inspiration for my artwork.  So this lens is all about my love of tentacled animals.

Where to Find Free Audio Books Online

There are a number of sites online which provide free audiobooks for download and many more with podcasts. This lens is to help you get started finding something to listen to.

Feature Focus: Sculpting Eyes

Welcome to the first in a series of lenses about sculpting specific features. Eyes portray much of the emotion in a sculpture and are where you first focus when looking at a face. So come learn about the anatomy of the eye, sculpting, using glass eye...

Noadi's Art Fantasy and Cephalopod Jewelry Designs

Noadi's Art fantasy jewelry designs make great holiday gifts for Halloween, Christmas, or any other special occation.  Get them for the people in your life who like things a little creepy or whimsical.

Resources for Animal Artists

Unlike with humans it can sometimes be impossible to work from life with many animals especially exotic wildlife so reference photos are a must.  Also as with all art based on life a good grasp of the anatomy is important.  I've compiled a...

Raising Pheasants for the First Time

My family is raising pheasants for the first time this year. We've raised chickens before but this is a little different. Come follow along with our experiences.

Taking Successful Photos of your Artwork for your Website Gallery

If you're an artist you need to present your artwork to it's best effect on your website. You can hire a professional photographer to photograph your work and you'll get beautiful results but it's expensive. Taking your own photographs that look grea...

Preparing for an Art or Craft Festival

Art and craft festivals are a lot of work but worth it for the exposure you get and the great people you meet. Here is a guide to preparing for a show and having a great time. Oh yeah, and did I mention selling your creations?

Using Squidoo to Promote Your Handmade Business

Squidoo is a great, easy way for anyone selling handmade items to promote their creations. Display your knitting, painting, sculpting, jewelry making, etc. and generate more visits (and hopefully sales) on your website or webstore.

Noadi's Lensography

This is a directory lens of all the Squidoo lenses, mostly art and craft related I also have lenses about authors, artists, animals, farm life, and more.

Needhams - Maine's Favorite Candy

Needhams are a traditional potato candy for Mainers. They are especially popular during the holidays and just about everyone has a recipe. The base for the filling is actually mashed potatoes!

Suspense! Classic Radio Show

These radio shows are guaranteed to leave you in Suspense! Suspense was one of the most popular radio shows of all time running for 20 years.

Brian Froud

From beautifully illustrated books like Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book and Good Fairies/Bad Fairies to concept art for the movies the Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, Brian Froud is one of the most talented and prolific fantasy illustrators out ther...

All About Polymer Clay

A collection of websites, books, and other resources full of great information about polymer clay. Whether you're already have experience with polymer clay or are just starting out, these resources will have something for you.

Running a Handmade Business

So you're an artist, designer, or craftsperson and want to take your first steps into making money from your talent and skills? This lens is full of advice for anyone starting a handmade business.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini - The Great Sculptor of the Baroque

Gian Lorenzo Bernini was one of the sculptural geniuses of history.  His personal life and rivalry with Boromini was as exciting and famous as his sculpture and architecture.

Noadi's Art Studio

Come wander through a tour of my studio. It's small, only a corner of the living room but it gets the job done. If you are an artist, crafter, or want to be one, learn how to set up your own creative space.

Where to Find Free eBooks Online

Need something to read? Don't feel like going to the library or bookstore. Check out some of these links for free eBooks to download. All these links are completely legal, no pirated copies. Some of these are .pdf files, will need a copy of the free...

Rent the Musical and the Movie

Based on the opera 'La Boheme' Rent is the story of young artists living in New York in the early 90s. Dealing with relationships, AIDs, and trying to survive in the city. It's one of the most amazing Broadway musicals in recent history.

Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell was one of the most brilliant scholars in America studying and teaching about mythology, folklore and comparative religion.

Artisan Jewelry on eCrater.com

Here you can find jewelry artists selling their beaded, wire wrapped, and polymer clay creations on eCrater. All the stores featured here sell original handmade jewelry. eCrater.com is a free web store marketplace. Sellers can easily set up a store...

Lauren the Llama - Follow Along with First Time Llama Owners

Lauren is a sweet female gelding llama my family recently rescued. He was kept in awful filthy conditions and not given proper care. It will take months if not longer to repair the damage done, this lens is meant to chronicle that process.

Branding Your Handmade Products

Learn about building a brand as an indie artist or designer. Branding helps create an image for you and your business. It helps generate repeat business and word of mouth which is so important for small business.

Buy a Custom Lens Designed by Noadi

Squidoo is a great platform to promote anything you want, your business, online store, charity or other organization. Squidoo can help you drive traffic to your site, sell your products, or inform people about you. I can build you a great lens (or t...

Sheryl's Special Parmesan Meatballs: The Best Meatball Recipe Ever

This meatball recipe is full of flavor and is perfect for spaghetti, homemade meatball subs, or as an appetizer. So read on for how to make the best meatballs ever!

Norse Mythology: Odin's Runesong

I'm fascinated by mythology, not surprisingly for a fantasy artist.  One of my favorite stories is from Norse mythology.  Odin sacrifices himself on the world tree Yggdrasil in order to learn the secret of the runes.

Squidoodling with Noadi

By squidlings of course I mean my lenses. This lens is my way of keeping track of my lens stats, sharing tips, and other fun Squidoo stuff.

Geoffrey Chaucer

Prior to Geoffrey Chaucer most literature in England was written in French or Latin. Chaucer proved that vernacular English could be just as great a vehicle for literature.

A.J. Raffles

Created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's brother-in-law E.W.Hornung's A.J. Raffles in a gentleman thief. After being strapped for cash once he committed his first burglary and kept at it afterwards with the help of his friend and chronicler Bunny Manders.

Philip Marlowe

Raymond Chandler's philosophical private detective. Philip Marlowe solves mysteries on his own terms.

Fawlty Towers is the Greatest Show with John Cleese

Fawlty Towers is the Greatest Show with John Cleese Monty Python gets all the attention but for absolute British comedy genius from John Cleese you must watch Fawlty Towers.

H.P. Lovecraft

H.P. Lovecraft created one of the scariest and most amazing horror mythology with his stories concerning Cthulhu, the Elder Ones, and others.

Sam Spade

Dashiell Hammett in only a handful of stories created one of the most enduring detectives in literature. The Maltese Falcon made Sam Spade one of the most famous detectives in fiction.

P.T. Barnum

Introducing the greatest showman on earth, P.T. Barnum. The founder of the modern circus, purveyor of hoaxes, and owner of a long lost spectacular museum.

Squidpunk - Literature of the Cephalopod

Come celebrate the literature of the cephalopod! Short stories and poetry about our tentacled friends.

Red Green - The Leader of Possum Lodge

Meet the leader of Possum Lodge, your hero and mine, Red Green! Fearlessly wielding his roll of duct tape.

Cthulhu

Cthulhu is H.P. Lovecraft's most famous and enduring creation.  The Great Old One is a massive ancient creature, the reach of his tentacles from R'lyeh should be feared by all mankind.

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Richard Diamond started on radio with Dick Powell as the singing, joke making, frequently pummeled private detective. He's one of the most unique and entertaining detective during the Golden Age of Radio.

Guillermo Del Toro

Guillermo del Toro is one of the most talented and creative directors out there right now.  His films create some of the strangest and most beautiful worlds you'll ever see.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The most wholly entertaining book never to come out of the great publishing houses of Ursa Minor.

Perma-Pet Sculptures by Noadi's Art

Perma-Pets are one of a kind mixed media sculptures by artist Sheryl Westleigh. Each pet is sculpted from polymer clay and suspended in clear acrylic resin. Create your own Cabinet of Curiosity.

Creative Uses for LED Lights

LEDs are energy efficient, long lived lights that can be used for hundred if not thousands of uses. This lens is all about the lighter side of LEDs, building creative projects using these great little lights.

Ooak Artists on eCrater.com

eCrater.com is a free web store marketplace. Sellers can easily set up a store in a short time. Here you can find ooak (one of a kind) artists who have store on eCrater.com selling their beautiful creations.

Using eCrater RSS Feeds

Every eCrater store have multiple rss feeds available. Learn how to use these RSS feeds to promote your store items on other websites such as Squidoo, Zimbio, and blogs.

Displaying your Artwork on YouTube

I've recently been experimenting with creating videos to display my artwork. Not only does it give me a new source of traffic to my website Noadi's Art but also is a lot of fun.

Cuttlefish Jewelry by Noadi's Art

Sculpted polymer clay cuttlefish jewelry designed by artist Sheryl Westleigh. Cute and cuddly cephalopods.

Noadi's Art Tutorial Lensography

I've written a number of tutorials both here on Squidoo and elsewhere. Most are about sculpting but there are also a few for drawing, painting, and all artists.

Rent Lyrics - Tango Maureen

The Tango Maureen is Mark and Joann lamenting the fickle nature of Maureen, Mark's ex and Joann's current girlfriend. It's set to a wonderful tango rhythm. First opening on Broadway in 1996 (and later made into a movie) Rent was one of the most popul...

Norway Sidewalk Art Show in Norway, Maine

The Norway Sidewalk Art Show is the largest art show in western Maine. Featuring over 100 artists, along with entertainers and food booths. It's a fun event for art lovers, families, and anyone else.

Sheryl Westleigh's Associated Content Articles

Associated Content publishes my articles and even pays me for them. It's a fun way to make a few dollars. It's almost as fun as Squidoo!

Trilobite Jewelry by Noadi's Art

I've been fascinated by fossils since I was a little kid, I even have a small collection. Of all fossils those of trilobites have always attracted me the most so I've sculpted a line of trilobite inspired jewelry using polymer clay, glass cabochons,...

Promoting your Shop with eCrater Widgets

Widgets are a fairly new feature from eCrater for promoting your products. Give them a try and get more exposure for your shop.

Wallace - Animated Inventor

Along with his faithful (and brainy) dog Gromit, Wallace has starred in 3 Academy Award winning stop motion films.

The Shadow

The Shadow was the most popular radio show in history. Come explore his world.

Noadi's Art: The Coolest Gifts Ever

Noadi's Art creates one of a kind sculpted artwork and jewelry. Completely unique and even custom gifts for your friends and family.

Rent Lyrics - Seasons of Love

Seasons of Love is the most popular and well known song from the musical Rent. First opening on Broadway in 1996 (and later made into a movie) Rent was one of the most popular musicals of the 1990s and still draws crowds.

Prose Edda

Snorri Sturluson wrote the Prose Edda as a guide for Icelandic poets so they would not lose knowledge of the styles and stories told in traditional poetry. His book has become one of the greatest works (along with the Poetic Edda) letting us view the...

Miss Marple

Miss Jane Marple, an unassuming old lady is one of the greatest detectives in mystery fiction.

Rent Lyrics - One Song Glory

One Song Glory is sung by Roger in Rent. It's a ballad about what he's lost in life and his desire to create one final good thing before he dies of AIDs.

Rent Lyrics - Today 4 U, Tomorrow 4 Me

Today 4 U, Tomorrow 4 Me is the first real introduction of Angel in Rent. The cheerful drag queen dealing with AIDs is the emotional heart of the show.

Noadi: Biography

Noadi is the alter ego of fantasy artist Sheryl Westleigh.  She creates detailed sculpture in polymer clay and mixed media.  Everything from satyrs and mermaids to turtles and octopuppies.

Gromit the Faithful Companion of Wallace

Gromit is the silent long suffering dog of Wallace a sweet if slightly crazy inventor of cracking contraptions. Together they have starred in three 30-minute short films, ten 3-minute shorts, and a feature length film, in the process they won many aw...

The Shy, Novice, and Closeted Art Show in Bethel, ME

The Shy, Novice, and Closeted Art Show is all about celebrating artists who are just starting out, a little unsure of themselves, or who don't otherwise have time to do shows. The artists displaying their work range from highschool students up to ret...

How To Make Your Own Business Cards

This lens is all about doing it yourself with business cards. Designing them and printing them, coming up with a card that is uniquely you. Even in this digital age the business card is still important. They can be left just about anywhere, tucked i...

Rent Lyrics - Another Day

A hard song between Roger and Mimi. He's rejecting her because he doesn't want to get hurt and because of her drug use. She's pushing back telling him to live for today.

Ammonites - Amazing Fossil Cephalopods

Like the modern Nautilus these relatives of the squid and octopus had beautiful spiraled shells and swam backwards. Also among the most common marine fossils ammonites are a wonderful way to start exploring what fossils can tell us about evolution an...

Jules Verne

Verne's Voyages Extraordinaire take us from the depths of the sea with Captain Nemo to the center or the earth to all the way to the moon.

We love the Dark Crystal

A world of gentle Mystics and evil Skeksis. The two Gelflings Kira and Jen caught in the middle of everything trying to heal the Dark Crystal.

Shop Blossom Social Network

Shop Blossom is a social network for small online merchants. The goal of Shop Blossom is to help business owners learn from each other and promote their business.

Rent Lyrics - Over the Moon

Over the Moon is the quirky protest performance by Maureen in Rent. Benny wants to bulldoze the area to make room for building, throwing out all the homeless who find shelter there in the middle of a New York winter. It ends in a small riot.

We love Hellboy II: The Golden Army

In the sequel to Hellboy, Guillermo del Toro takes us into the world of faerie. Don't mistake these fairies and elves for the nice, sweet, creatures of modern books and movies, these are more like the fairies of celtic folklore brought into the moder...

Wallace And Gromit Video Showcase

Sample some videos from cheese enthusiast inventor Wallace and his faithful but silent dog Gromit. The pair have won fans around the world, 3 Oscars, and numerous other awards and accolades.

All Cephalopods: The Greatest Cephalopods Ever

Squid, octopus, cuttlefish, nautilus, along with several extinct varieties make up the cephalopods. Cephalopods are the smartest of all invertebrates and with their tentacles and color changing skin they are soem of the strangest creatures in the sea...

World Record Breaking Snow Woman In Bethel, ME: The Biggest Snow Woman Ever

She is 122 feet 1 inch tall, 13,000,000 lbs, and beautiful. Meet Olympia SnowWoman, the world record breaking snow woman named for Maine's senator Olympia Snowe.

Rent Lyrics - Take Me or Leave Me

A musical fight and breakup between Maureen and Joann in Rent on the day they are supposed to be celebrating their commitment to each other.

Rent Lyrics - Your Eyes

Roger sings this song as he holds a weak and sick Mimi in Rent. It's a beautiful song about realizing how he loves her.

Rent Lyrics - Light My Candle

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The Greatest Fictional Detectives Ever

Fiction abounds with great detective and criminals. Who do you think is the greatest?

Rent Lyrics - What You Own

Mark and Roger's realization of what they need to do sung out in What You Own. Mark finishing his movie and Reger coming back for Mimi.

Rent Lyrics - Life Support

Sung by the members of a support meeting for people living with AIDs this song is all about living for today which is a big theme in Rent.

Feature Focus: Sculpting Hands

Many sculptors, even very talented ones, have trouble sculpting hands. They are one of the most complex features of the body to sculpt. This lens can't make sculpting hands easy or teach you overnight, but it will give you a good overview of the anat...

Rent Lyrics - Rent

Rent is the title song from the Broadway musical of the same name. First opening on Broadway in 1996 (and later made into a movie) Rent was one of the most popular musicals of the 1990s and still draws crowds.

Rent Lyrics - I'll Cover You

I'll Cover You is a beautiful romantic song sung by Angel and Collins in Rent. It perfectly captures two people completely smitten with each other.

All About Noadi's Art Blog

Noadi's Art Blog is the journal of sculptor and jewelry designer Sheryl Westleigh. It chronicles her polymer clay and mixed media creations, sculptors who inspire her, useful sculpting resources, and the art business.

Art Education Resources Online

One of the guiding philosophies in my life is to never stop learning. The internet now gives us access to educational resources that were unavailable for those who don't live near a college or university. Now you can find a wealth of college courses...

Noadi's Art on CafePress

Since my sculptures are all one of a kind creations I can't just make copies. So if you love my artwork you can get Noadi's Art on a t-shirt to wear! They looks great when paired up with my jewelry too!

Arsène Lupin

Arsene Lupin was created by french author Maurice LeBlanc in the early 20th century, the same time that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective was solving crimes. Lupin was a master of disguise, a sense of humor that at times is a bit twisted, and...

Rent Lyrics - I Should Tell You

Roger and Mimi profess their love for each other and their flaws in this romantic and melancholy song.

All About Sheryl's Scribblings

News, writings, and happenings in the life of artist Sheryl Westleigh. All about writing online, web design, Squidoo, pets, and more.

Boston Blackie

Starting out as a burglar and jewel thief over time Boston Blackie evolved into a private detective. The Boston Blackie Radio shows are some of the most entertaining with Blackie constantly one upping the police and Inspector Farraday in particular.