Blue Boho Polymer Star Earrings

It feels like it has been a while since I shared some rustic polymer clay pieces.

So here are these sweet little boho star earrings.

They combine three of my favorite elements: silk, rustic polymer, and steel wire.

The silk softens the whole piece.

I would wear these...

Would you?

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Blue and Pink Wrap Bracelet

I wanted to share an easy peasy polymer bead wrap bracelet today.  

Pinks and blues and waxed linen and steel findings.

Simple as that.

It's a wrap bracelet.

My favorite.

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Faux Bone Necklace for Sculpey

I am so very proud to have one of my necklaces featured on the Sculpey website.

You can see the full tutorial here.

I took a ton of photos before I sent the necklace.

It is one of my favorite pieces.

I took photos with different tops.

To me, it has a primitive, bohemian quality.

I worked on coming up with a fox bead I liked.

This one was one of my favorites towards the end of the development phase.

I think the necklace takes on an entirely different tone with this coral top.

I personally would wear it with denim.

The faux bone technique is easy and addictive to make.

I also started playing with a white background for photos.

I used to have a light box in the house my husband made me that had tissue paper sides for diffused light.

It always had a yellow cast to the photos that I did not like.

I like these much better.

My very favorite were the photos I did in natural settings.

I feel they really suit the piece.

This one on the stone by my pond is the one Sculpey chose.

I am glad I did not have to choose because I liked so many of the natural settings like this one.

And this one.

Lucky for me, it was overcast for about 30 minutes when I did most of these photos.

I cannot wait to play some more with this technique.

What are your thoughts?

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Steampunk Polymer Beads

One of my great loves this past year has been playing with Sculpey polymer clay.

I love rolling it in my hands, pressing things in to texture it and then coloring and creating finishes that give it a new look.

I have always loved beautiful beads but when I actually get some, I save them.

I am not sure what I am saving them for...

So in April, when I started ,making my own beads, it opened a whole new world to me.

It was a world where I could create anything I could imagine.

This has led to many fun experiments.

Today I am sharing my steampunk beads.

I used these to make some fun stretchy bracelets.

They are easy to get on and off.

You can see I did a variety of finishes as well.

I love these.

I hope they appeal to you perhaps, too.

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I've Got the Blues...

My dad was an engineer by trade.

And an artist in the evenings and weekend.

He worked with redware clay and made folk art figurines.

I am guessing that is where some of my love for clay comes from.

I am finding more and more that having it in my hands brings such peace and relaxation.

He worked in redware clay.

I work with polymer.

My favorite is Sculpey.

After I make the beads, there is also the mad scientist part of playing with finishes.

This piece was a play with beachy blues.

These beads do not have the crackled rustic look that I started with.

These look like they rolled in the ocean waves for a while and were worn.

I love that.

The texture really pops with this finish...

I think the clasp should be as pretty as the beads.

These handmade clasps make me smile.

I love forming them and then hammering them.  

The dogs always try to come and help since I am sitting on the floor for the hammering.

Everytime I make a clay piece, I feel like there is a piece of me in it.  

I know every handmade piece has a part of the maker in it....

But the polymer is different for me.

Maybe because I rolled it in my hands to warm it and bring it to life first.

Maybe because I feel a connection to my dad while doing it.

Maybe because the dogs infuse some of their love too while I am making clasps.

Whatever the reason, my clay pieces always make me smile.

Hope they do for you too.

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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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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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