Just finished 3 items…a UFO Pin and Flower Pin, both for hats but can be worn as brooches or necklaces as well. I have more of those on the way… And a ‘Card chair’ for a Hair Salon...
Feb 8, 2013
Jan 25, 2013
Heaps of Cabochons to sell
Funny how I think that I have never enough cabochons, pendants and even buttons for jewelry and I definitely do! What happens is that I’ll need a certain colour and shape and make a larger batch than needed for a project instead of scrapping the clay that has been inked, crackled, silkscreened. patterned etc.
This means I don’t use them all and they pile up! then I repeat the process because I want something different instead of looking through what I already have. Told myself that this year I will need to make some changes, but I’ve decided I should sell some of these to give myself a fresh start. I need to empty some of these tins and boxes. Most items are from 2010 to 2012, so not out-dated nor rejects. Here are more! (but not all, lol)
and there are already started projects as well as many cabochons clued on Lacy’s Stiff Stuff in preparation for beadwork. Perhaps I should offer some ‘kits’ and work up some tutorials for the mounted ones and perhaps from the first photo pile.
Here are a couple along with a recent necklace I finished…so kits with a tutorial might work…what do you think?
Jan 24, 2013
Horizons 2013 – Vancouver Polymer Clay Guild Retreat
There is still time to register for the Retreat which the Vancouver Polymer Clay Guild will be hosting next month, held at the Park Inn in beautiful Downtown Vancouver, Friday Feb 15 –17.
They have a great line up of workshops and demos. I’m sad that I can’t attend this one and know I’m going to miss a great time shared by all. Will miss seeing some good friends and familiar faces there as well.
Jan 22, 2013
Chameleon – a Polymer Clay Exhibition
CHAMELEON will be opening on Sunday February 10th and is running until March 3rd, 2013 at the Seymour Art Gallery in North Vancouver.
The show celebrates polymer clay as a means of playful artistic expression, and reflects the diversity which is possible within the medium.
Meet many of the artists and watch demonstrations of polymer clay techniques at the reception: Sunday, February 10, 2013, 2- 4 pm
Gera Scott Chandler, Rachel Gourley, Carolyn Joy Good, Tina Holden (yep, that’s me!), Joan Tayler, Wanda Shum, and a selection of work by members of the Vancouver and Vancouver Island Polymer Clay Guilds.
I’m very excited about this show!
Jan 7, 2013
Glow in the dark and Faux Fun
I sat down at my desk to try a Glow in the Dark shot with a borrowed camera. It’s just a simple Fuji, but has a manual setting and my older Sony only has Auto focus which isn’t possible to use in the dark. These dagger beads made from Glow-in-the-dark Premo will be for some earrings and necklace…might be interesting for a night out on the town. I mixed another colour into the clay as it was a bit too green in daylight.
The shot in the dark isn’t as crisp, but then it’s virtually impossible to focus a camera in the dark, even with ‘manual’ and a tripod…or I don’t understand how to use the camera correctly which is entirely possible since I don’t have the instructions.
This shot conveys the glitter quite well.
Ok…perhaps this is boring stuff for you, but I’ve also been working on some Faux things like Turquoise and Nephrite Jade. The slab is faux and for the Jade, the ovals are real. I hand carved the tubes. Hadn't done that for a while. One of my directions this year will be to create more focal beads and incorporating them with bead embroidery. Actually I don’t have a real plan yet.
What’s on your clay table?
Dec 21, 2012
Jewelry Class in a Box Review
Although I don’t usually assemble jewelry from kits, perhaps that is why I was a bit hesitant (I design my own jewelry), there are times when I either lack motivation, can’t decide ‘what’ to create, what colors to choose or just don’t feel creative, so a kit is a welcome change of pace. And those bauble earrings for the holiday were calling, lol. If you are new to jewelry or have been wanting to create something fashionable, or live in a remote area or can’t visit the nearest bead shop for a class or the class is too pricey, then a kit like this is perfect to learn at your own leisure. PRIMA Beads offers a variety of classes in a box. Their chain class looks alluring…
“Jewelry Class in a Box!” includes everything a beginner would need to create several follow along projects, even good quality multi functional round-nose pliers with cutters. Taking things out of the box there is even a plush reusable bead mat which provides the ideal work surface as it prevents round beads from rolling off your table. Of course it didn’t save my fumble fingers from promptly dropping a crimp bead on the carpet, nowhere to be found, but fortunate for me, for the extras included so save me from having to look with a magnifying glass on my hands and knees, lol. Saved my back too.
There are beginners kits out there, but I haven’t come across many that are geared toward adults. There is nothing childish about this kit, and a student learns a variety of things, including stringing, crimping, and wirework. The 6 projects consist of 2 Necklaces, 2 Bracelets and 2 Earring Sets. The instructions are concise and even in 3 major languages: English, Spanish and French.
There are Pros and Cons to everything. Like I said, I was pleased that there were extra pins and beads. A few of the beads were stuck together or needed cleaning with a pin to unplug the holes for stringing, especially when using the elastic. I ended up with a few beads left over and breathed a sigh of relief. The tigertail while tightly coiled (3 inches or so of the ends are wrapped around the coil and needed to be snipped off), the rest of the coil straightens with the weight of the beads. The photographic and pictoral instructions along with text are easy to follow and understand.
The biggest downside is perhaps that this kit lacks consideration for those with nickel allergies. So many are severely affected by this metal, not being able to wear certain fashion earrings because of major skin reactions and yes, the earring hooks, jump rings and pins contain nickel (you can test with a magnet…magnetic = nickel) and you may want to use alternative nickel free supplies. The clasps, chain and charms are non-magnetic and are nickel-free. One needs to remember this is a ‘class’, to learn various techniques, so the quality is not High-High grade. Just like any beginner class, one wouldn’t use sterling silver when first learning to crochet wire, copper would be a better alternative. Still, the overall supplies make for some pretty jewelry.
After using this kit, one could use the pattern again, perhaps with some lovely quality beads and supplies from PRIMA Bead. Their catalog is beautifully laid out. Over 3,500 products and even includes PROJECTS! a bead size and wire size chart, approximate bead counts in both metric and inch and other helpful charts. Their website also has techniques and tips. The supplies they carry are quite unique and they have things I haven’t seen elsewhere. PRIMA is located in Florida and they offer volume discounts as well as FREE shipping in the USA.
I especially like this set, with cute Key and Lock charms, but wouldn’t you agree the earring baubles are just perfect for the Holidays? Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all you you!!
Dec 1, 2012
Angel Collar
Last night I finished my newest bead embroidered collar. It’s encrusted with a Polymer clay Angel focal, several clay cabochons, Swarovski Rivoli, Turquoise and Pearls. It was a process that took me several weeks. I’m happy to present:
Nov 27, 2012
‘Tis the Season…
I especially like the Starfish…the background is sand and the photo doesn’t do it justice because it actually sparkles. Too bad I only had 3 balls left. Perhaps I should recycle some light bulbs…
I also made a few compact mirrors and business card holders…
And I might as well show you some of the Owl pins I’m working on. I’m using various techniques on these and will make a range of colors. I still need to inlay sparkly stones into their chests. Perhaps you have noticed…Owls are so popular this season.
Nov 26, 2012
Jewelry Display idea…
One of the galleries returned some to me when they closed shop, so I tried cleaning them for use elsewhere, but this made the white vinyl thin out and enhanced the damaged areas even more. I stopped short of tossing them to ponder what to do with them. I’m not a hoarder, but I require quite a few of these busts and since they are a small investment repair is the conservative way to go. Today while antiquing some Polymer clay Pins and Ornaments (I’ll show you tomorrow), I had an AHA! moment.
Gilders Paste!! I used Iris Blue for the busts. A couple of layers gives them a sort of jean blue effect. I think the leatherette of the small and larger bust must be a different type of vinyl…not sure, but the resulting color is just a little different. I now like these! Besides, I am bored with all the black and white which may look fine with gold or silver jewelry! About metallics, I might try a few in silver, gold or copper…they might make colourful polymer clay POP!
Oct 29, 2012
How to make buttons and shanks
While I’m not new at creating tutorials, creating video tutorials is something new for me. I just published 2 videos on how to create buttons or cabochons. The button tutorial is in 2 parts. Part 1 shows you how to use the flex mold, how to imbed a shank with a seamless back, color and finish your button. Part 2 continues by showing you how I create and imbed a wire shank. I posted the videos below.
If you are interested in some molds, I’ve begun to list a bunch on both my Etsy and ArtFire.
Here are the Video Tutorials. Hope they work well for you…if they do, like or comment on YouTube…
and here is Part 2
Now I need to list more molds among other things, as well as finish some bigger tutorials. They’ll be pdf file format, but in future I have some interesting things in mind…how about live shows?