Learning New Things

I feel badly for not writing anything before now. Hmmm, I probably say that a lot. Anyway, I've been busy learning how to work with polymer clay (like Sculpey). Since I've been intensely involved with that, I haven't had time for making much jewelry or at least taking pictures of anything. I can't remember what it was that gave me the "bug" for working with polymer clay, but I have it now. Hopefully, it's something my daughter and I can play with together this summer. I've learned how to mix colors and how to get this fantastic thing called a "Skinner blend." I played with molds and adding crystals; I've made some basic canes and a complicated kaleidoscope cane. I've sanded and polished and stamped and baked (and burned) a small collection of beginner beads. I really need to practice. It's a little more difficult than it looks in the books--for me, at least. It's time consuming too. But, it's a lot of fun!


The first clay technique I tried didn't turn out the way it was supposed to, but a lovely, swirly blend of glittery red and gold resulted. From that came a pendant of my own creation (plus the help of a mold) used for a necklace I call "Sunset."


Then, I was really eager to try some of the faux techniques. I don't have many colors in my collection yet, so I was a little limited on what kind of fakes I could make. I chose jade. I love jade. I don't know if it's the color of it or some romantic notion I have in my head about jade, but I do love it. A lot of mixing is involved and I don't have all the right tools yet, but I don't think it turned out too bad for a first shot. For the necklace I call "Garden Maiden", I used a rubber stamp for the image of the lovely lady and then etched it deeper into the raw clay to make sure it looked a little more carved than stamped. I cut out the pendant shape and roughed up the edges. I polished it with a rotary tool and now it has a fantastic glossy shine! The earrings underwent the same procedure.



I burned all the kaleidoscope beads I made. I haven't been that frustrated in a while. It took me forever to make the kaleidoscope cane! ARGH! My daughters loved the burned beads though. They didn't care if they were over-toasted. The older one made her own necklace this afternoon with the bead she picked out and I made a little key chain type of thing with my other daughter's bead of choice. They were happy, so I guess it worked out.

Looking through one of my new books of all things clay, I found a necklace that someone made with clay rings. It gave me the inspiration I needed for some shell disks I had in my stash. I used one of the disks previously in "All Things Bright and Beautiful" but I wanted to use a lot of them together. All my earlier designs seemed a poor fit. I think this works nicely. It's another necklace that needs a name. Any suggestions??

School's Out--Almost

Only three days left of school for my 2nd grader. Only three days left of reasonable sanity for me. I need to get busy and figure out ways to keep her occupied and still let her have a mostly enjoyable summer. Our Brownie troop already wrapped up the year with a party last Saturday. I hope the girls had a good time this year and are looking forward to another one next year.

There's been so much going on lately, that I just haven't had time or the space to work on much jewelry. I was able to put together a bracelet/anklet this morning, though. It's all glass with pewter charms. I call it "Current Events."

A Gift

Today was my turn to teach Sunday School. Even though it would have been nice to sleep in on Mother's Day, I was really excited to teach the Preschoolers about Pentecost. We made all kinds of crafts using the symbols of the Holy Spirit and then we had cherry chip cupcakes in honor of the Church's birthday. To His disciples, Jesus referred to the coming of the Holy Spirit as "a gift" from God. A Comforter to stay with them for always. In a way, it's kind of neat that Mother's Day and Pentecost Sunday coincided. I know we aren't God bestowing one of the greatest things ever for all of mankind, but still...a special gift for special people. It makes the gift that I gave my mom mean more to me. Does that sound silly? I mean, it was something created especially for her and I want her to feel comforted when she uses it. I also want to be remembered.


Below is the necklace I made for Mom for Mother's Day. It's called "All Things Bright and Beautiful."

Happy Mother's Day

To all the moms out there: "Yay for you!" I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day. I haven't been a mom all that long, but I've already experienced some fantastic Days of the Momma and some really pathetic, icky ones. This year will be another fantastic one and if it isn't, I'll just have to twist someone's arm a little harder! :)


Now, I just need to figure out a great "thank you" gift for my mom. Of COURSE it has to be some of my jewelry. Not the macaroni-on-yarn necklace--I think I already gave her one of those when I was five. I like making stuff for my Mommy.


I want to share a few necklaces that I made so far this month. I bought a basket-full of mixed-stone beads and put them together in an asymmetrical, long necklace. The picture was taken in a hurry and I didn't align the necklace right--it looks like the green donut beads hang evenly on each side, but they don't. The one with the feather charms dangling from it is positioned quite a bit higher than the other donut. There's also a collar that can be wrapped and worn as a bracelet. The earrings are matched, but not identical to each other. When I showed this set to Mom when she returned recently from a short trip to Arizona, she said that it reminded her of Tucson. So, that's what I'll call it, "Tucson":






I think I have fallen for large pendants. I'm finding more and more of them in my bead stash. This one is made of wood and I love the contrast of the gold foliage outlines on black. Coming up with an assortment of colors that worked was tricky. I didn't want to keep it strictly black and gold. I really like how the teal and purple perk things up without taking over. The whole thing reminds me of a field that's been control-burned to prepare it for new growth. I'm having a hard time naming this piece. I don't know how to convey this image I have into a title that doesn't freak anyone out. "Scorched Earth" is just wrong on so many levels. "Controlled Burn" sounds so blah. Maybe something like "Before the Planting."



I saw these silver stars and gasped. Well, you know Independence Day is only two months away. Yeah, I'm ready for the 4th of July, but not Mother's Day. Hmmm...



Finally, I made this set today. It's a really wild, organic pendant (again, on the large side) with little spacers of flowers and leaves. I chose mostly milky-colored glass beads for this one. I've never done that before. I usually either go for completely transparent or completely opaque glass. The earrings use glass beads that are very similar in color, but one is fairly square and the other is pretty cylindrical. It's hard to tell in a photo. This one is also hard to pin down a name for. Something jungly would fit the metal pieces, but the beads just don't agree. They're too soft and gentle. Not exactly what comes to mind when I think of a jungle. I'll get it worked out. At this hour, my brain is too tired to be creative. It'll be a miracle if any of this post sounds sane at all!