Jewelry Affaire Magazine Summer 2015 and a Giveaway

Have you seen the Summer 2015 issue of Jewelry Affaire?

Like always, it is fabulous....

I want to take you on a quick walk down memory lane.

Summer 2011.

I was at Barnes and Noble looking at magazines.

I found 2 titles I could not put down: Jewelry Affaire and Belle Armoire Jewelry.

I had never seen anything like them.

But $14.99 a piece....

I kept looking through them.

So many beautiful pieces.

And I realized....what a great value they were.

The quality of the paper and the photography was like nothing I'd ever seen before.

There were SO MANY pieces in each magazine....over 50 or 60 at least.

I would pay $20-25 for a book that was only 20-30 pieces.

Once I looked at it like that, it was a no-brainer.

Those first issues came home with me and I have not looked back since.

The current issue is the same.

120+ Pieces to inspire...

Jewelry Affaire has lots of inspiration pieces...

This typewriter key necklace set from Melinda Barnett is different than many out there...

Here is another piece by her in this issue.

This time with a full set of directions on how to make this elegant bracelet.

I love her style.

There is another sweet necklace tutorial by Melinda Barnett in the Artistic Affaire section.

These wire rings are on my to do list.

They are made by Donna Miyasako-Blanco.

Who would guess some wire and a few beads could become something so lovely?

Hey, this set looks familiar...

I made it!

Seriously...

page 49.

There is also a technique article in the Natural Revelry section I did.

This series incorporates natural elements like moss and twigs and tree bark for whimsical pieces that make me think of fairies and fanciful forest creatures.

When I was making them, my husband said it looked like I was wrapping a mouse with a Lasso of Truth to a piece of bark from where he was sitting.

I am no Wonder Woman so this made me chuckle.

I love this series so I am so honored that Stampington chose to publish it.

I love that there is a mix of techniques and styles in each issue.

For a starting jewelry maker, each issue will make your head swim...in a good way.

Amanda Lee Slaughter shows you a twist on spoon jewelry...

Cindy Wimmer's necklace is outstanding as all of her designs are...

 I saw these birdhouse necklaces on the preview for the issue at Stampington.

Shelleen Weeks has an amazing mind...

Learning how to make these sweet necklaces out of silverware handles was reason enough for me to buy the issue.

Aren't they amazing?

One of my favorite materials to work with is leather.

The Summer 2015 issue has 2 articles that feature unique leather pieces that I love.

Colleen Jensen made these amazing leather cuffs.

I definitely want to try something like this...

And Lisa Hancock created these necklaces from bits of an old leather jacket.

Love them!

This issue is packed with over 120 ideas and inspiration pieces.

You should be able to find it at your favorite book store or craft store.

You can also order a copy directly from Stampington here....

Or you can leave a comment for a chance for your own free issue from Stampington...sent right to you.

Leave a comment below with a piece that left you breathless from this post and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of this issue.

I will choose a winner from the comments with an impartial number generator next Thursday and announce the winner Friday.

Good Luck!

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs.

Reinstating Workbench Wednesday...What is new this week....Silicone Molds... A Tutorial too...

For me, it is officially summer now.  

That means more time to create.

YAY!

I decided to reinstate Workbench Wednesday.

This week on the workbench... Silicone molds.

I have long been amazed with Rebekah Payne's beautiful flower beads.

You can see some of them as well as her other amazing designs here.

 I have been dying to try to make my own silicone molds.

So I did some R & D by reading her blog post several times.

 

And then I got started.

I gathered 2 acrylic blocks, the silicone, a couple pens and some flowers and weeds from the yard.

Rebekah recommended pressing the flowers gently between the blocks so you can see how it will look.

I used the pens to press the leaves and stems into the silicone.

I love that weeds work so well for this, because, well, I have a lot of weeds....

This mystery plant fills half my front flower bed.  

Its leaves have beautiful texture.

I mixed enough silicone to do about 3 molds at a time.

The hard part is waiting the 20 minutes for the molds to cure.

Once they have cured, I gently removed the leaves and flowers.

They LOOK good.

I hope they work well too...

Wow!

I am in love.

I am always amazed at the detail the silicone captures.

I love this one...

Yup, check out the detail from those mystery plant leaves...

So, that first batch worked.

It was the test run.

Back out to the yard for some more plants and flowers.

They are all pressed in...

Waiting....

Waiting....

The pen helps to push the very thin leaves into the silicone.

 Let's try a grape leaf and tendril...

The one below was a lesson learned. 

 I was mixing enough silicone to do about 3 molds at a time. 

 Then I decided to mix a little more.

The fourth mold started to cure before I could press the plants in fully.

I think it will still work, but there is not the same level of definition.

I love lavender!

Some leaves and a bonus dog hair....

Sorry about that.

Time to remove the plants.

Yay!

I cannot wait to try these out with clay...

Who knew weeds could be so sweet?

I hope this lavender one works.

I love this one.

The tendril is quite pronounced on the grape leaf.

I am definitely in love with this process.

Out to the yard again.

I will say, I prefer going out and only picking a few at a time. 

 The flowers and leaves begin to wilt quickly so I would rather work with them while they are fresh.

More weeds and flowers.

I am going to try to do this process several times this summer to harvest various flowers as they bloom.

I am trying all sorts of flowers to see which kinds work best.

I pressed some blades of grass in too.

I love the texture.

I hope these turn out.

Grass and weeds are beautiful too.

Waiting is done...

Here is the last batch finished...

 A pretty collection.

The more complex blossoms need to be picked out of the silicone.

Leaves...

And a dog hair.

The flowers with thinner petals did not leave as much of an impression even though I pressed them a little with the pens.

I am so excited to try the clay in these.

So much detail and texture in there.

I wish I had pressed these in a little more.

Love the grass texture.

Not a bad haul on the workbench for a couple hours work.

I am in love with this process...

Like I said, I will be bringing in flowers and goodies several times this summer to expand the collection.

What is on your workbench this week?  

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs.