A challenge for myself!

This week, I discovered Auntie's Beads! They don't have the LARGEST selection of beads and supplies, but they do offer this really cool Bead Grab Bag. The one I ordered had a PINK theme!

The two long strands of rounds look like either glass or acrylic - dark pink and clear. There is a strand of faceted rondelles in VERY light pink - I'm not sure if they are Chinese crystal or just glass, but very pretty nonetheless. The pink rose is listed as having been made of a composite material, but it looks a little like polymer clay. The two frames have a paisley pattern in them, and the silver roses appear to be silver plated acrylic. The stone focal is Pink Variscite (which you may already recognize from another listing in my shop - what a coincidence, huh?), and there is a large crystal heart, and a ceramic bead.

The grab bag also came with a bag of glass bicones, and flat-back rhinestones. I think the rhinestones will be really neat in my current polymer clay project!!

So, for the challenge: I am going to make jewelry using ALL of these components, and I will show you all what I made by next Friday. Well... I'll use SOME of the crystals, and SOME of the rhinestones - I can't incorporate ALL of those into the designs I have in mind. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the large stone, so that one might be longer than a week, but I DO have something in mind - don't worry! One of my designs that I have in mind is going to be for a giveaway for my SECOND ETSY-VERSARY, which is coming up in a little over a week!!

So, stay tuned to see what I come up with!

What I've been working on...

About a month ago, I was browsing through polymer clay items on Etsy, and saw a few pieces done in a Faux Batik fabric style. One of them was actually a Tutorial, but I'm not really one to PURCHASE a tutorial. After looking at the different pieces done in this technique, I tried to figure it out on my own. These two pieces are what I came up with so far. MY Faux Batik is not the same as the stuff I saw, but I really like it! AND, in the interest of sharing, I'll tell you what I did below (but I don't have any pictures of my process - sorry!).

Here's what I used:

White clay (I used a mix of Premo and Fimo, because that's what I had)
Mylar Foil (NOT metal leafing) - I used the Lisa Pavelka foils, which can be found at most craft stores.
Texture Sheet
Acrylic Roller
Liquid Clay (I used Liquid Kato)
Alcohol Inks (I used the Adirondack brand)
Magic Glos or another Resin


After conditioning my white clay, I rolled it through my pasta machine on the largest setting, and then folded that in half.
I then applied the silver foil, but placing it on the clay, and then using the texture sheet on TOP of that to make an impression. *note: for some other beads I made, that didn't work as well, so I used my acrylic roller and applied the foil first, and THEN made the textured impression*
I cut out my shapes, and made holes, and baked.

WHILE BAKING, pour some liquid clay into a plastic cup (preferably one you can throw away, or will never ever drink from again, LOL!), and drop some alcohol inks in. While baking, the alcohol will evaporate, and then you can mix your color. The amount of ink you use is really up to you - it's kind of a trial and error thing.

Once your pieces are baked and cooled, you can apply your colored liquid clay. I used multiple colors, and I really like the way everything mixed together. Make sure that you apply thin layers! The color will settle in to the crevices, but you don't want TOO much, otherwise you won't see the shimmer of the foil.
Then you need to bake this again.

Now, you CAN stop after this step, and have a lovely piece that you can use for jewelry or whatever you want! However, if you feel so inclined, you can apply some resin, and you will give your piece some amazing depth and shine. I used Magic Glos UV resin, and I also used a UV light. Here in Oklahoma, it is so windy that too much junk would get into the resin before it cured fully.

So, there you go. Have fun!

A sneak peek...

I thought I'd give a sneak peek at the components for my "Inspiration" necklace. I'm working out final details of the design in my head still, so it may be a few weeks before I get to work on it, but I thought you would all like to see what I had in mind!

Stay tuned...

I have a LOT of new ideas for the spring floating around in my head, including my INSPIRATION necklace! I know I've already put some new stuff on Etsy, but I'm really excited by MORE new ideas!

I found this wonderful new supply website that sells free trade beads, which I think is pretty cool. I ordered some crocheted beads that were handcrafted by a small community of families living outside Java, Indonesia, so my purchase will actually BENEFIT those families! I also ordered some African Trade beads, which were beads used as currency in the mid-20th century in various African nations. I also ordered 4 strands of gemstone beads (citrine, peridot, and amethyst chips, and Moukaite). I like that the owners of this particular shop actually travel to a lot of the places where they buy these beads instead of purchasing through a wholesaler.

I'll post some pictures of my supplies when I get the rest of them...

Inspiration winner

Using the random integer generator from random.org, the winner was number 1 - Steph! Congratulations, and enjoy shopping!

Inspiration

One of my favorite online bead suppliers recently ran a contest where they asked the entrants to submit a photo of their inspiration, and then a photo of what piece of jewelry they created based on that. I didn't enter because it occurred to me that I'm not inspired like that. I'm inspired by more abstract things, or by materials themselves. I find inspiration in clothing, and in trying to think of a piece of jewelry that will look nice with a certain type of outfit. Or I often see a piece of jewelry in a store or ON someone, and try to think of how I could put my own spin on it.

Take, for example, this necklace:

I saw those long, painted wood beads, and thought they seemed African, or tribal. Then I had to think of what I had that would go with them, after I decided what I wanted the piece of jewelry to be.

This next necklace was inspired by the materials as well. I REALLY wanted to make something with those Kumbara Jasper nuggets, and they looked really nice with the Garnet. Nothing too exciting about my creative process with that one, I guess!


I'd really been wanting to make a set of stackable bracelets, and these materials just sort of fell into my lap! I picked up the red and green squares at my local bead shop, with no real purpose in mind for them - I just thought they were pretty! The larger glass pearls were leftover from another project, and I just happened to see them next to each other, and decided that it was the perfect combination for a set of 3!


This necklace was actually inspired by a clay technique. It was my first attempt at it, and as I was working, I thought that it would look really nice with navy blue, as a pendant!

Ok, so this bracelet wasn't completely inspired by the materials, but by a sweater. I was itching to make... SOMETHING, and as I was pawing through my beads, my mixed strand of agate looked just lovely against my gray sweater. I thought a "sweater" bracelet shouldn't be something TOO intricate, so this is what I came up with!


So, here's my problem:
Ok, it's not a problem, exactly. It is a gorgeous, HUGE, sterling silver toggle clasp. It is obviously too large to be for a bracelet, so it will be for a necklace. I really want to use it, but, my inspiration is COMPLETELY lacking. I just have NO idea what to do! I could really use your help with this one!

SO, here's where the contest comes in! I need help. Leave me a comment telling me how you think I should use this clasp. If you have more than one idea, leave more than one comment! I may or may not use an idea I see here, or one may inspire me towards my finished product. I will choose the winning comment via random.org on Sunday night (11/12), and the winner will get a $7 credit in my shop, good on anything $10 or more!

Black Friday Sale!!

My Biggest Sale EVER!!!! The more you buy, the more you will save, and the sale continues through Monday, November 29th!

If you buy one item, you'll receive 10% off your purchase. If you buy 2 items, you'll get 15% off. If you buy 3 items, you get 20% off. For 4 or more items, you'll get 25% off your ENTIRE purchase! What a deal! So stop by now, and shop from the comfort of your own home, without the crowds and the rush!