Anchors Away Multi-strand bracelet

I make a lot of jewelry.

Many of the pieces get submitted to magazines.

Some get sold.  

Some I give away.

Occasionally I make a piece for me.

To wear.

This bracelet I made specifically for me.

It is multi-strand which I love...

It gives me the look of piling on a armful with just one piece.

I wear this one all the time.

I love the beads that dangle on the ends too.

How can you go wrong with silk, clay, pearls and waxed linen cord?

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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.

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs.

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.

Thanks for stopping by...

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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.

Thanks for stopping by....

                                             Linking up with these blogs.

Embedded Polymer Beads

One of the things that brings joy to my heart throughout the entire creative process is making polymer clay jewelry.

And yet, for  some reason, I seldom share the process or the pieces here.  

I decided to change that.

Here is a bracelet made with some of my embedded beads.

For the most part, the additives are rolled right into the beads.

You can see the one with the red microbeads also had them added to the surface as well.

I love stringing these on elastic cord.

The bracelet is so easy to get on and off.

The rhinestone rondelles add the unexpected touch of bling to the primitive piece.

This piece is very eclectic.

It has a mix of colors and additives.

I hope it catches your eye.

For me, it makes my heart sing.

Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these blogs.