Workbench Wednesday: Tie Dye Beads

It is Wednesday again.

That means I am going to give you a glimpse of what I am working on.

How about these tie-dye beads...?

I spritzed some of my homemade alcohol inks on these white beads.

The effect is a funky tie dye look.

I like it.

They still have to be rinsed.

So they will lose some of the vibrancy and be more muted when I am done.

These are even more fun to make than they are to look at...

A squirt, squirt here and a squirt, squirt there....

I hope your workbench is filled with vibrant color too....

Thanks for stopping by...

Jewelry Affaire magazine...

The Spring 2015 issue of Jewelry Affaire is now on  newsstands.

I am delighted to have a feature in this issue.

This polymer clay necklace is made with Sculpey clay and some great homemade dyes made with RIT Dye.

There are dozens of gorgeous pieces in this issue from artists such as Lynne Simon Suprock and Melinda Barnett and Peggy Sowers Heckman.

If you have never purchased Jewelry Affaire, but you love to make or wear jewelry, this is right up your alley.

I actually credit this magazine, along with Belle Armoire Jewelry as the two titles that triggered a turning point in my journey as an artist.

I bought an issue of each from Barnes and Noble in the summer of 2011.

I pored over those issues for weeks....

And then I started creating.

And creating.

And creating....

Wow!  

So many talented artists and amazing pieces.

So I am honored to appear on their pages.

Run right out and grab a copy...

In my area, I can find them at Barnes and Noble or most major craft stores.

You can also order them directly from the Stampington here.

Thanks for stopping by.....

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.

Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these blogs.

Fun Studio Organization from Artistic Endeavors 101

January always makes me want to clean up and organize.

I am fortunate enough to have several creative spaces, but organization always seems to be a challenge.

Here are a couple of my favorite ways to organize.

I make my own polymer clay beads.

I love to organize them so I can clearly see what I have.

These are organized in a house shaped shadow box.

The little compartments are perfect for sorting what I have made.

I use this tie/belt rack that I got at the thrift store to hold chains and necklaces.

I used to use these printer's trays in my booth to hold necklaces, but people tangled things in them.

I decided to use them myself in the studio to organize my favorite bits and baubles.

I love that I can see what I have and easily choose components.

This fun industrial drawer unit came from Lucketts last spring.

It was my big splurge of the day.

I adore it.

Last summer I made this spinning studio organization.

All my favorite materials are readily available.

Tin cans got a new look with a coat of spray paint and some burlap.

Sugar shakers hold spools of baker's twine.

They do not get tangled and are easy to use.

All my favorite markers and pencils are finally all in one place.

This year I want to start an art journal.

This will keep all those materials at my fingertips.

The colors inspire me and make me smile.

I bought this little shelf from a closed store in town.

It only takes up a few inches of table space, yet it organizes many of my most used supplies.

My big paper punches rest on a tension rod I added.

My RIT dyes are close to the sink here and ready as soon as inspiration strikes.

Another tension rod holds spools of ribbon.

I love ribbon.

You can see how much I love ribbon.

This was my husbands brilliant idea.

We used long clear rods to hold 5 rows of ribbon.

My husband added wood strips to this storage shelf and screwed in cup hooks to hold the rods.

I also keep twine and cotton string and lace here.

This galvanized tiered rack was on clearance from Sam's last year.

I imagine it will end up holding many things, many places in my studio and home.

I try to use what I have.

What is your favorite studio storage piece?

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these blogs.

Dyed Pine Cone Mini Trees

I recently showed you how I dyed pine cones with RIT dye.

You can see how here.

I used some of these pinecones to make some cute little mini trees for Christmas.

These would look great in a vignette....

As a package topper....

Or nestled in the branches of your tree.

They are supper fast and easy.

I added a wooden block to each as a base.

I got a whole bag of these at the flea market this summer.

I think someone's puppy may have played with them before I bought them.

I don't mind...

Adds a little charm...

Just use a hot glue gun to add one little pom pom to each petal of the pine cone.

Add a star to the top.

Mine is a little distressed white tin star.

One of the pinecones was sort of wonky.

He sits a little askew.

The white one could be out all winter...

If you used tacky glue instead of hot glue, this would be kid-friendly.

What a fun little craft.

Thanks for stopping by.....

Linking up with these great blogs....

Dyeing Pine Cones with RIT Dye

Last year, after Christmas, I bought some cinnamon pinecones at the craft store.

My daughter and husband do not enjoy the super strong cinnamon smell so I stored them in the shed.

I wanted to do some crafts with them.

Recently, I wondered how they would take dye.

I assembled them, some RIT dye (Scarlet) and an ice cream bucket.

I was trying to enjoy the last of the fall weather before the flakes start to fly.

.

I also bought a whole basket of pine cones at the thrift store recently.

Some of them have been sprayed lightly with white paint.

I wanted to try Dark Green Dye as well.

I followed the directions on the dye bottle for mixing.

In to the dye bath they go.

The burlap is another post.

You can read about it here if you missed it...

I left them in the dye for about 30-50 minutes.

At this point, I cannot really see much of a difference.

I added some more to the dye.

I removed them and let them drain in the grass.

Then I put them on a box lid and took them into the house.

I put them next to the wood stove to reopen fully.

It took about a day to fully dry next to the wood stove.

  I have also read that you can bake them at low temperatures in the oven. 

 Or you can wait.

A long time.

I am impatient but cautious so the wood stove seemed the least dangerous and quickest method for me.

Once they opened they have a faint tint. 

Here are the green ones.

 I like it. 

 It is subtle.

I only soaked mine for about 30-50 minutes. 

 For deeper color, I am thinking overnight would work great.

  I am going to have to try it out.

Also keep in mind, someone lightly painted these with white paint before I picked them up at the thrift store.

Here are the red ones.

I think the red ones are my favorites....

I already have an idea of what to do with these....

Soon all of those cinnamon pine cones will be on clearance...

Pick up a bag and have some fun...

Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these great blogs....