Monday, January 31, 2011

Pottery and Polymer Clay!

This is something new I started. I took some pottery classes beginning of January 2010 throughout the year at Warwick Pottery. It was awesome, the best thing I have ever done. Marilyn, the owner, is such a great teacher and fun person. If you ever want to take classes, this is the place to go.
However, the plan was tho combine Polymer Clay with pottery. I got some tips and tricks from Marilyn, got my own kiln and wheel and got started. This is one of the pieces I finished. I save the other ones for another time :-).

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Bracelet with Charms!

I finally had some time to make a few jewelry pieces which I am going to show through out the week. I had the two flat round Polymer Clay beads for a while now and couldn't figure out what to do with them. I think I finally got it and I am happy with the result.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Monday, January 24, 2011

Yeah, I got my Bead Soup!

My bead soup partner is Debbie Goering from Prairie Emporium. I love her jewelry and I just love the 
 beads she sent me,

Now I just hope she likes the beads I sent her :-). Here is another close up.



The mix in the first picture is handmade by her, Copper, Brass and Sterling Silver. Isn't that pendant just awesome? The second picture shows a Czeck glass bead mix, and the third some pearls. The fourth one is a copper chain and ring that she patinaed and sealed with wax, and a sterling silver toggle clasp. Here is some of her work.
This is how she sent me these great treats, wrapped in a hand painted fabric, makes me feel bad I just put my beads in a little plastic zipper bag.  It's my first party, I know more the second one. I wasn't sure what to expect. This is definitely something I would do again!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Heart Pendants!

I am still working on perfecting the image transfers on Polymer Clay. For these pendants I used the images, added some slices from a flowers cane, and attached a bail in the back..

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Bead Mix!

I finally finished my first ceramic beads and pendant. I actually made quite a few more, but I am still learning and all the pendants, except this one, stuck together as well as some of the beads. I guess I put to many beads  and pendants on one wire and it got to heavy. I'll try again and next time I am going to put only one or two beads on each wire. I can't wait to use them and added some of my Polymer Clay beads. Now I just  have to figure out if I am going to add silver or copper.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Bead Soup Blog Party!

I am looking forward to the Bead Soup Blog Party. Lori Anderson from "Pretty Things" is organizing the whole event. What a great idea! You get teamed up with another jewelry artist and send each other a set of matching beads to create some jewelry. I love the idea and I am looking  forward to receive my beads! I will keep you updated. I am already thinking about the beads that I am going to send.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Crochet Hook Set

I decided to that I am going to list some crochet hook sets in the future. Here is the first one!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

New Heart Bracelet!

I just got this heart bracelet finished and I am quite happy with it. The big black beads, the small lentil charm and the red heart beads are my handmade Polymer Clay beads. I just love copper jewelry :-)

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Monday, January 3, 2011

Polymer Clay Tutorial

This little tutorial is for those new to the medium Polymer Clay and should explain a little how those little flowers end up on  beads, pendants, tins, pens, etc.
1. Roll a log of clay and cut of straight on both ends.

2. Cover the log with thin sheet of darker clay, I used a dark purple.  Reduce the covered log by pinching       and rolling. You end up with a long thin log.

3. Cut the log into even pieces, these will be the flower pedals. I cut 7 pieces, but it could be any number. Roll another log in a different color, this will be the center of the flower.

4. Arrange you flower pedals and the center that it looks like a flower.
5. fill in the gaps with translucent clay. This will become see through ones it is baked in the oven. After the gaps between the flowers are filled, I usually put a thin sheet of translucent clay all the way around the flower.





6. This is the difficult part and requires a little practice: Reducing the flower cane.
 This is achieved by pinching the clay length wise turning it a little do the same again until you went around one time, roll a little to make it smooth again. Do the same again. This takes some time and patience. You might feel the temptation to pull it while pinching :-)  -Worst thing to do, it will distort the flower. Once you have it down to the size you like, cut very thin slices of you cane. The thinner the slices the less visible the translucent clay will be.
7. Layer the the slices you cut of on a sheet of clay, I used teal.



8. Now you are ready to cover almost anything. Some examples are wood, plastic, glass.
9. You can also cut out shapes with cookie cutters to make pendants.

Your piece is than baked according to the manufacture by 275 degrees F for 20 minutes. Ones it is cooled down it can be sanded with wet sandpaper and polished, or it can be varnished with a water based finish.



Sunday, January 2, 2011

Pill Holders!

A few of the new tins, they are little smaller than the ones I used to cover. The tins are sanded and polished to give them a nice shiny look. They are about 1 1/8 in diameter and 7/8 inches in height and have a screw top.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Valentines Day is approaching!


With Valentines Day approaching I started working on some heart shaped beads and pendants. These aren't finished yet, but I am going to show another picture once they are done.