Adventures in Polymer

I have been testing out some beginner polymer clay techniques. First I used plain color clay. I added some pink glitter powder to this just to get more of a fell for how the polymer cures and what it looks like when complete. My resulting pieces were not that wonderful, but I guess this is part of the learning curve, and I was just wanting to test the clay out.

This morning, I tried out some basic caning techniques. I really love the caning techniques and some of the color, pattern, and designs that can be achieved with caning.  You can see the bead where the caning is strong versus the one that took on more of a marbleized effect after I mixed the clay more. Still not a wonderful crafting job, but getting a tiny bit better.

I also tested a rubber stamp just to see the results with clay, and added some green glitter. My epoxy clay is on its way from Wisconsin to me now. I purchased a small amount to test out. 

My Crazy Week

After going to Wisconsin for our annual Fourth of July family reunion, my remaining week has been a blur of student projects and discussion board posts to grade. On top of that, I had some major tech problems right in time for my lecture on Wednesday.

During my trip, though, I got some great jewelry reading done. One book I brought with me was Inspired Remnants, Curious Dreams. This book focuses on using epoxy clay for mixed media projects. Most of the projects featured are jewelry items using epoxy clay. I found this book to be fascinating. Since I have been increasingly interested in trying out polymer clay, which you can bake in your oven at home I was curious to see what epoxy clay was and learn more about it.

Epoxy clay is self-hardening, so it requires no heat/firing and also is extremely hard when dry. It does have two parts that need to be mixed. Inspired Remnants provides lots of excellent directions for using epoxy clay as well as various tips and techniques. Kerin Gale’s book is the first one about crafting with epoxy clay and I found it very inspiring. I am now itching to try it.  

I would like to try both polymer and Epoxy to see the differences and if I have a preference for one over the other. Can you tell I will be ordering some epoxy clay?

Independence Day

I tried out a bead store I have never been to called The Bead Shoppe. They are located in Avondale Estates, very close to me. I am not sure why I haven’t stopped by before, other than trying to spare my wallet. The store makes the most of its boutique sized square footage, and there is a nice mix of bead types. I liked that they also have a nice selection of vintage beads and findings.

I fell in love with some vintage Czech glass beads, some vintage African glass beads, and some other random beads and vintage resin findings. These items demanded a trip home with me.

I will be out of town and not posting until later next week. We are going to an annual family reunion. Although I am still debating which jewelry items to bring to wear, I already have my reading for the trip planned:

Happy Independence Day!

Pearls Before Swine

I made a new necklace using silk ribbon and pearls, which I hinted at earlier. I made this necklace for my mother. I modified the design from a project in Stringing Magazine (Summer 2011). 

I used vintage chain from the 1960s, a repurposed strand of pearls, and recycled silk sari ribbon. I created a pendant from a vintage earring by removing the clip on back and wire wrapping it.

I wire wrapped the silk ribbon to keep the pendants in place and also as a way to attach jump rings to the ends.

I am not certain if I like the way it looks on though. It may need some more work? Thoughts?

Even though I am WAY over budget this month today I am checking out a bead store I’ve never been to, even though it is very close to me.

Design Day Wednesday Woes

I have had the most frustrating design day today. Perhaps it is because my son is home (between camps) this week and I have hauled a bunch of my jewelry making items downstairs and am playing rounds of action figures and heroup.com with him while also designing. Or, maybe it is just one of those things that will, hopefully, pass very soon.

I have been struggling and struggling with an earring design most of the week. I am hoping to eventually sell these once my Etsy store is up and running. (Maybe this is adding to my stress level?). The base of the earrings are vintage clip-on earrings from Germany. I had to do some modifications to the back, wire wrapping and gluing the clip on part closed. However, I originally was going to add French hooks, but they won’t work because of the weight/size of the overall design. So now I am not sure what type of finding to use- maybe kidney wires?

Any and all advice is welcome!

Well, at least there is strong coffee and cream to sooth my frustrated soul.

Antiquated Tastes

We spent Father’s Day in the Georgia Mountains, where I made a stop at Nacoochee Antiques before we enjoyed dinner at the Nacoochee Grill (one of my husband’s favorite restaurants).

The more I get into jewelry design, the more I am stunned by how my own tastes change. I used to love very dainty style jewelry. I always loved vintage and estate jewelry, but my tastes leaned more toward highly romantic, small, intricate designs. However, now I love chunky pieces, and the slight outrageous quality of some of the items I am drawn to.

I picked up a few vintage items yesterday. When I looked through my Pictorial Guide to Costume Jewelry, I discovered one of the Monet brooches I purchased listed. I also discovered something very similar to another brooch I fell in love with – I like the angels and could picture them as part of a Marian or saint piece of some sort.

Silk and Pearls

I cannot say too much about the piece I am currently working on because I am trying to keep it under wraps. The most I can say is, it involves silk and pearls.

I am also reading Enchanted Adornments, which has got me thinking about the stories behind my jewelry designs. This concept of stories got me thinking about the St. Francis statue I blogged about before. Thanks to my kind and helpful followers, I was able to confirm the medal I was wondering about is St. Francis after all. Now, on my mind’s back burner I have a St. Francis piece simmering.

As though I need more ideas! I do already have a shelf full of ideas marked in books and magazines.