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)

Ancient World meets Future - Myriad Polymer Clay Pendants

While working on these polymer clay somethings, including some spirals (not shown), the first thought that came to mind was Archimedes. I was looking for a name for these pendants to be and had to ponder why that word would jump out like that.

Archimedes was a Greek astronomer, inventor, engineer, physicist, and mathematician.

The watch gears hint of steampunk, and yet the pendants don't look anywhere near Victorian which is a major criteria for something to fit into the Steampunk genre. I know that a lot of people stick some gears and bolts in some clay and call it Steampunk, however, true Steampunk does not contain an iota of plastics, only metal, glass, leather or the kinds of things that were around in the Victorian Era. And frankly, polymer clay or PVC was not invented until 1933 in Germany by Semon B.F. Goodrich. Check out this interesting time-line of polymers.

So what do I call my pieces that are more inspired by 'Ancient World meets Future' along with gears, nuts and bolts, resin, inks of the now...I was trying to guess how many pendants I have created since I started claying, beading etc and a wild guess would be in the thousands. 10,000 is a Myriad in Greek...A Myriad of Polymer Clay Pendants, or just a few.
Stay tuned...I'll be blogging about a wonderful new component resin.

Tofino Beach Drift - Polymer Clay Pebbles and Rocks

Been hiding in my studio to work on some new polymer clay jewelry, namely my beach pebbles. Filled with new inspiration I'm giving my 2010 line a lift, by including some driftwood pieces. The recycled glass looks like beach glass which of course goes well with stones and driftwood.

Among the beach pebble jewelry are a few Inuksuits (plural of Inukshuk) which were re-requested by a local gallery. The Inukshuk also forms the basis of the logo of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. You may want to google some interesting facts about this symbol. I'm having another idea on how to incorporate this into some work.

These pieces will be among others that I'll be taking to an upcoming Wholesale Show near Victoria. Stay tuned for more Tofino Beach Drift...

 

Polymer Clay Tutorial - Celtic Gold Cookie Cutter Box

A new year, a fresh start. I've been working non stop since the 1st of the month on this Polymer Clay Tutorial. This polymer clay box has been on my mind for some time. I've been itching to do a lesson on vessels and boxes. Here it is!

In this detailed and multi technique lesson you will learn to make a box by using a cookie cutter that will act as a mold or form. The finished box resembles old leather with metal appliqué. The turquoise crackle lid and stamped embellishments add to the overall aesthetics and richness of the vessel. Don't like to sand? No problem, as this project is not recommended for the sanding enthusiast! I'll show you tricks to avoid this chore and how to accomplish invisible seams.

Don't let the look of the box intimidate you, it can be altered to a simpler version by leaving out some of the steps. If you don't have Celtic knot-work stamps, use Asian, Floral or other stamps, however, I've include an On-line Supplier list of both Canadian and US Retailers/wholesalers that ship worldwide, including where to purchase Celtic rubber stamps, Cookie cutters, Paint, Texture plates etc.

Also included with the tutorial is a printable cutting guide.

This detailed 78 step lesson has 80 clear photographs and 29 pages to guide you through 7 parts:

Crackle Technique
Cookie Cutter box form
Bottom
Stamping, Texturing and Embellishment
Molded Lid and Handle
Box Feet
Finishing

With the crackle technique alone you'll be inspired to make beads and pendants :) if not more boxes!
(Box sold separately, please inquire)
The Tutorial is available on my ArtFire.