Peacock Shimmer Polymer Clay - Cabochons

I am going to be making more cuff bracelets with bead embroidery and need some special and unique cabochons to set them off. Polymer Clay is the perfect material and allows me to make something that defines my work, emphasizes originality and at same time gives me a bit of a niche. The local gallery requested some simpler bead embroidered pendants and earrings that can be affordable by almost anyone, along with the more exquisite pieces for the clientèle that wants to make a statement with what they wear. I'll still be incorporating semi-precious stones and crystal, but adding polymer clay will also allow me to express my creativity in a broader way.
I've been back in my experimental mode and am delighted to have discovered a new technique. Well, perhaps it isn't new, but I haven't seen this before, so this is new to me. I wish the photo could convey the dimensional chatoyancy of the metallics that shift in the light with whatever angle the piece is held at. I think these will be called Peacock Shimmer...I already have some Lustrous Sunset in mind.
...here is a sneak preview at a few.

Polymer Clay metallic and resin pendants

Between finishing the bead embroidered cuff I managed to finish off a few metallic and resin pendants. I thought I'd make a few pendants to match the stud and clip on earrings I had a request for.
I have two 6 oz bottles of magic glos to use up and after all 50 pairs of studs and about 10 pendants I'm still good with about 1 1/4 bottles. Good thing because I need to make more! Will also list a few on Etsy and ArtFire in the next couple of days.

Since getting the bigger lamp, production is a little quicker, although all pendants still require the 2 layers of resin to prevent the resin from pulling away from itself along the edges. Am very pleased the way these ones turned out.

Polymer Clay Rings and Accessories

While the cuff bracelet is strictly bead embroidery, the ring is made from polymer clay, metal and a crystal rivoli cabochon. Finally finished, the set is going to the Gallery tomorrow morning to be shipped to Vancouver asap as the performance takes place March 20th, so I am told.

I'm told I will be sent a photo of the Star herself, but when is unclear and permission to post will be another matter. I always ask. If the answer is 'no', I can respect that. Nevertheless, I'm quite excited to be able to add this to my portfolio and as the 4th Star I've been able to adorn. A Singer-Songwriter, one actress and actor and now an Opera Diva...how wonderful. What is missing...? lol

The bracelet is quite heavy, so finished it with adjustable chain and lobster clasps in back to prevent it from falling off should the performer flick her arm or hand. The base of the embroidery is a metal cuff armature over which is sewn ultrasuede. The criss-cross effect of the chain gives the cuff a corset laced look and the beads that dangle from the chain add extra movement with the hand.

Apparently I have gotten good reaction from the purchaser when the gallery sent the previous photo with a sample ring...I think she'll like this better matching one even more.

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...

Polymer Clay and Resin play

I've tinkered with various types of resins for my polymer clay jewelry and until now have not found the right product for me. I've tried Envirotex and some other 2 part resin that my husband likes to use and while he is very good at mixing 2 part resins, I am not. I think my equal measuring with specific cups is not working out too well, but apparently temperature is a factor also. I've ended up with sticky pieces that ended up in the garbage bin and was not too pleased because I didn't do it on a 'test' piece, ahem. No wonder I didn't do so well in High School Chemistry, lol. I've tried Judikins Diamond Glaze and DG3 Art gel and Glossy Accents which are dimensional glosses. Since they are water-based however they do not stand up to a lot of wear. I've tried UTEE and I do like it for 'round' objects, but for tougher wear I need something stronger.

Most of you know about the 1 part resin, Magic Glos, by Lisa Pavelka. I like it a lot, but it is a bit pricey. I'm glad it is available in larger bottles now which does bring cost down. It cures wonderfully under my 9 Watt UV lamp, but I find I have to do two steps and sometimes two layers to get it right. You can see my post about it here
About lamps...I just ordered a larger lamp, a 36 Watt one like this one. I'll be able to cure more pendants at a time (instead of 2 or 3) and with a quicker cure time.

Anyway...last year I had some UV resin sent to me by a manufacturer in the US. I'll have to dig out the flyer and info they sent me and tell you more about who, where and what, but I finally used it and WOW! am I happy I did. If you saw my last post you saw one of the pieces I did with this.
Here are a few more pics

 

This stuff, which is an Epoxy, cures relatively fast, about the same time as Magic Glos. What I do is a thin layer at first, cure and do another layer. What I found so far is that:

• it does not recede from the edge
• after curing it can be baked (if you need to add to your piece)
• it can be sanded (and I've got to do a bit of that)