Shark Shores Necklace

Today I wanted to share a necklace that celebrates my love of jewelry making and my daughter's love of sharks and marine life.

I used a shark tooth to make a mold so I can make many, many sharks' teeth.

I love to use natural elements in my designs, but if possible,I like to preserve the actual element.

Making a mold from it is a great way to do just that.

The tooth pendant is complemented by polymer beads in beachy blues.

The silk strip allows the necklace to be adjusted from short to long.

Waxed linen cord is so much fun for knotting with my chunky beads.

Even though it has been a cold 2015, this puts me in the mood for warm weather and sandy beaches.

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Sweet Button Snowman Ornament

Time for a quick ornament.

You need 

some white buttons

 glue

 heavy yarn

scissors

 and a Christmas hook.

Glue your buttons together.

Tie a piece of yarn on for the scarf.

Slip a hook in one of the button holes.

Done!

Does it get any easier than that?

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Felt Snowman Ornaments

Remember I wanted to share a couple ornaments with you each month?

These little hand-stitched felt snowmen are the perfect little project when it is cold outside.

Just think, an evening of stitching while watching your favorite movie will leave you with several cute snowmen for Christmas 2015.

You will need:

felt (I used white, orange and a pale blue)

buttons

scissors

a circle to trace in the size you want (a glass, small plate, bowl)

thread (I love using cotton crochet thread)

a needle

marker

stuffing

Trace and cut out two circles.

Cut a carrot nose shape from the orange felt.

Stich the eyes and nose to one of the circles.

Blanket stitch the circle.

Before closing, stuff with a little bit of poly-fill stuffing.

Finish stitching closed.

Add a loop of thread for your hanger.

The next little guy is similar.

Use two pieces of the light blue felt for your circles.

Trace a white circle and trim away some of it so the blue felt shows along the one edge.

Stitch and stuff as described before.

I ususally do things in steps.

I trace all my pieces.

Cut out all my pieces.

Lay the pieces for each ornament together .

Then I sit down to start stittching.

I love hand sewing.

 I find it very relaxing...

It is perfect for this time of year when it is so cold outside.

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Primitive Blush

Since it is still February, I am going to share another piece with reds and pinks.

This necklace incorporates beads with different colors and finishes than I usually use.

I like to experiment with pieces that feel a little outside my comfort zone.

The pale pastels in this necklace are not my traditional palette.

Now, the waxed linen cord knotting is totally me. 

I find knotting the cord very meditative.  

It is one of my favorite things to do while watching tv.

I will say, this piece has some of my favorite beads styles.

I am crazy for those flattened disks in any size, shape, color and texture.

I also love the heart on the left side.

The back of the necklace has lots of variety.

Lots of pinks, yet the deeper colors keep it from being too sweet.

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Be Enchanting

More polymer today...

This necklace does not have the crackled primitive look that many of my pieces have. 

 These have a touch of shimmer.

These beads and focals already have wire connectors.

I connected them with heavy steel wire links.

Be enchanting...

If only more of us tried to do this....

My Nest necklace seems like a fairy forest piece.

I picture a lovely woodland pixie wearing this...

That tiny blue fairy hut makes me smile...

Silk strips weave in and out of the beads.

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A Bit of Bling Polymer Bracelet

Just look at what is new at the studio...

How fun is this?

I like the glittery sparkle and the ocean blues...

I am also drawn to creating pieces that are filled with opposites.

This bracelet has a rustic, substantial clasp and hook paired with girly, blingy beads and rhinestones.

I am not really a glittery girl, but I would wear this piece because of the clasp.

It is fun to share some of my favorite pieces with you here.

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Workbench Wednesday...It Has Been A Long Time...

It has been a very long time since I have done a Workbench Wednesday...

Not because I have not been creating.

I have.

I just have quite a mess going on in my studio this time of year.

Today I wanted to share some of the process of bead making.

First I hand-form my beads and components from Sculpey polymer clay.

Then I cook them in my toaster oven.

Next is the adding color process. 

Sometimes I use dyes.

Sometimes I use paints.

These were dyed.

I did not have any photos of the finishing processes.

There is a lot of steps and layers to the final steps.

Once the beads are done, I keep them in various containers.

First they go in a can or plastic container.

Next I sort them into my printer's trays and shadow boxes.

I started putting them there in the spring last year.

They sit on my dining room table most of the time.

I find just looking at them makes me so happy.

I am known to be a bead hoarder.

I love pretty ones but if I allow myself to actually buy them, I am afraid to use them.

Now that I am making my own beads, I am much better about this.

I know if I use them up, I can just make more.

I am a texture girl.

How about you?  

Do you love color or texture?

I also love beads that are special in some way.

I like to incorporate cool embedded items, new bales, shimmery colors.

I find that when I look at other people's work, I am fascinated by how they made it.

I want to try to get the same look.

I also like to play around while I am working to see what happens.

I am 1 part scientist and the rest artist...

Maybe all artists are more scientific than they think.

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Primitive Polymer Love Necklace

I wanted to share another of my favorite clay pieces today.

I know Valentine's Day has passed but I always think of February as the month of hearts.

This polymer clay piece is fun pinks and reds.

It is not too sweet though.

I love making my own steel clasps.

I love forming them and pounding them to work harden them.

  They suit my primitive pieces so well.

And they work really well.

I love texture and great finishes.  

The crackled finish makes these pieces look like ceramics or stone.

I love that.

Sculpey clay is my very favorite to work with.  

I prefer clay that condiditons easily.

Sculpey clays are perfect for that.

I am so happy when there is clay in my hands and a tray full of pieces ready to be cooked.

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Redware Polymer Clay Jewelry

Sculpey has a terra cotta clay that they sell in bigger boxes.

I actually buy the large 8 pound box to work with.

It has a different look than traditional polymer clay.

You can change it even more depending on how you finish it.

I want to share a few of them here.

This necklace actually incorporates beads with a variety of finishes and looks.

These heart links are so easy  to make and I love the look.

The spiral focal has an unusual look.

It was accidental.

There were salt crystals still on the piece after dying and it reacted with the crackle step.

I probably would not intentionally replicate it but I know how to if I want to.

If you have been following my blog for a while, you know I have used beads to make this style bracelet a few times before.

To me, they are simplicity balanced perfectly with style.

Each bead is even more beautiful close up.

Some pieces do not string as easily.

This necklace uses wire links to join the components.  

It is rustic and artistic.

The sharks tooth is an homage to my daughter.

The shark tooth pieces were made from molding a real shark tooth.

The terra cotta clay takes word stamping so beautifully.

The Time to Love piece had mixed finishes as well.

Do you have a favorite?

Mine changes from time to time.

It depends on my mood.

I generally love the dark, almost black, pieces.

I tend to hoard my scavenged time pieces.

When I make my own, I can use them as often as I like.

The last bracelet I am going to show you has components that were just sealed and not antiqued or aged.

One box of clay with numerous looks.

Does it make you want to go get some?

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