Polymer Clay Bytes! - Bead Embroidery

After I complete a couple more Polymer Clay jewelry related orders, I have just received an order for a custom design bracelet cuff. One of the galleries I sell my work through has notified me via phone and jokingly told me to hold my breath because an Opera Singer has decided to purchase my "Freya's Brisingamen". Now the challenge is to design a matching bracelet cuff with plenty of fringe as it must be a showy piece for a performance. I am so pleased that this piece was chosen as another Opera Singer had 'almost' purchased it last October. I'll be designing a piece with a showy ring to match as well.

About Freya...
Freya is famed for her great beauty, and indeed is often known as "The Fair One". Freya is quite independent, being chief of the Valkyries, the demi-goddesses who select the noble and heroic dead and carry them to the Realm of the Gods. Freya is the Daughter of Time, as well as the patron and protectress of the human race. On her breast she wears "the jewel whose power cannot be resisted," Brisingamen. Brising meaning fire, specifically the fire of the enlightened mind and men meaning jewel. In ancient times the winter constellation which we today know as Orion was at that time called "Freya's Gown" by the Norse and Teutons, and the sword belt in Orion was called "Freya's Girdle." She is as strong, beautiful and wise as any of the "Eldest Ones." Very labour-intensive beadembroidery on Ultrasuede using Swarovski Rivoli Stones, Blue Faceted Goldstone, Hematite, Purple Iris Freshwater Pearls, Firepolished Crystal and a Pewter medallion mandala representing Life's Eternal Cycles and Our passage through them.

Polymer Clay Bytes! - Lariats, Doublets and Belts

These are really versatile and can be worn in a few ways as they have heavy links of chain and a lobster clasp to allow for various sizes...

• Belt...loose on hip or tighter around waist
• long lariat
• doubled as a two strand necklace

 Chain and links are soldered copper, driftwood, abalone shell and handcrafted beach pebbles

 

  

 

Polymer Clay Bytes! - Inukshuk Pendants

I've created a few Polymer Clay Inukshuk pendants while making imitative beach pebbles. The Inukshuk is the official Olympic Symbol of the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
Mine are almost camouflaged by the real stones, maybe a more colourful background was needed. Oh well, I don't claim to be good at taking photos. The two inukshuk disc pendants are on their way to Norway!

 

 

Go Canada Go! is being shouted here at home at our television screens as if the athletes could hear us, lol. We've been watching a lot of the Events while assembling items that we are readying for various destinations. I permanently have a bookmark open to the Olympic schedule so I know what is happening and when. Visitors to Vancouver are actually quite fortunate with the weather...sunny and Spring seems to be just around the corner. Imagine having to travel between Vancouver and Whistler, even via Coach, while it was snowing or with slush and ice on the roads. The warmer weathers seems to be a blessing after all.

Polymer Clay Bytes! - Turtles

Well, these Polymer Clay Turtles don't bite, but some have gears. You know those wind up toys? My daughter put one in my stocking for Christmas and been thinking of trying that with polymer clay, but the gears those toys come with would in all likely-hood melt before making it out of the oven safely...
Anyway here are a few turtles, some with resin, some with glass...

Dragonflies and Butterflies

Am having a good response to these crackled resin and polymer clay insects to which I'm adding a little hardware or watch gears. Am having a lot of fun with making dragonflies and butterflies, arranging them on barrettes, as pins, earrings and pendants. Right now the barrettes are in the oven as I decided to attach the metal clips with clay strips. The 2 part epoxy I had applied yesterday...they just snapped off when I pried them. Perhaps I wasn't totally accurate with the mixing of hardener and resin. As I mentioned before I have a hard time with 'measuring', lol.

 

  

 

Cornstarch your Polymer Clay

The photo really doesn't express how many pebbles there are. Ok, it isn't exactly a beach full, but I can tell you I spent hours on these polymer clay beach stones. I don't make entire batches of the 'same' rocks, but just like in nature will add cracks, crevices, veins and form each one individually.

Here's a tip for you...if you don't like fingerprints on your polymer clay creations or perhaps you do to make sure people know they are handmade :) smooth beads by dusting your hands and fingers with cornstarch! I'm quite finicky with my beads and personally don't like sanding or tumbling, so cornstarch does the trick for me. Also, it washes off. The pebbles with Quartz inclusions, I like tossing in a bucket of ice cold water to enhance the translucency of the Quartz.

mmm....that bottom pebble has a vein that reminds me of a whaletail...I've made a few of these recently...