New Beads on the Work Bench this Wednesday...

I have spent a great deal of this spring creating my own polymer clay beads.

After purchasing Statci Louise Smith's Tutorial, I was bead obsessed.

My beads were everything I always hoped to create....

They are textured and glossy and just the way I wanted them.

Some had a wonderful, primitive, organic look.

But then my friend came for a workshop and brought some of her beads.

They were so different than mine.

  And so very lovely.

So I started playing with different finishing techniques. 

I used one she did but mine did not turn out like hers.

So I tried a few other things.  

I got some neat new looks.

I liked them in the pan.

They sat there for days.

I loved the blingy shine.

Which was so different than my other beads.

I was not sure what they would be.

One afternoon,I sat down and began knotting.

I am a huge fan of waxed linen cord for knotting.

And before I knew it, this sweet beachy wrap bracelet came to be.

Like I said, it is a change from my other beads.

And I am loving it.

I am also loving my hand forged clasps.

I love how substantial they are.

This bracelet is a double wrap.

I have a couple single wrap bracelets that I wear all the time.  

They are actually very comfortable.

What do you make?

Thanks for stopping by....

Silk, leather and clay

I was playing with new ways to use polymer clay beads.

Of course, no design is complete without silk strips...

This one has a little leather cord as well.

Hope you are having a great Tuesday!

Thanks for stopping by....

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?

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs.

Beachy Blues Wrap Bracelet

Hello!

I think you can tell I have been using a lot of waxed linen cord lately.

Today I am sharing another versatile blue polymer piece.

It can be a necklace or a wrap bracelet.

I love these beads I did with the shimmery beachy blues.

This piece has a few heart beads thrown in as well.

The whole "key to my heart" theme...

right down to the steel heart links.

Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these great blogs.

Add A Little Silk...

If you have been visiting my blog consistently, you may have noticed that I am a fan of primitive finish polymer clay beads.

You may also have noticed that I love recycled silk strips.

Sometimes once I string a bracelet of polymer beads, it needs a little something else.

That was the case for this little beauty.

So I wove a piece of recycled silk around the beads as well.

It gives the piece a very bohemian look.

Which I love.

The older I get, the funkier I like my jewelry.

That is a good thing.

What is your favorite kind of jewelry to wear?

Thanks for stopping by....

Workbench Wednesday

I have not done a workbench Wednesday for a while.

This is not an official peek at the workbench...

It is too messy right now.

So I will just show you some of the things I have been working on.

I love the little BoHo owls...

Some are pendants and some are beads.

I have been working on some fun new bone look focals.

These are actually old but heading to the shop.

The terra cotta clay has a whole different look.

These pretty washed looking beads make me think of the beach.

A sweet little whimsical collection:owl, ladybug and flowers.

White-washed blush set.

Blue hope set of connectors and a pendant.

White-washed pastels.

Fun angels and frozen Charlottes.

Faux bone disk set.

 And some large round beads that make me think of gumballs.

Which are your favorites?

Thanks for stopping by....

Etsy Markdowns...

I have been making polymer clay beads like crazy for about a month now... 

 I am having a blast and trying out new finishes and styles.

My little bins in my bead boxes are overflowing so I am marking down the polymer beads in my Etsy shop and getting ready to add a bunch more listings soon.

Please stop over to see what is there.

Here is a preview....

There are lots of pendants and focals.

As well as some beads sets.

Click here to stop over to take a look.

Thanks for stopping by...

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.

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these blogs.

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.