Crowns

I’d rather wear one on my head than on my tooth, but that’s what’s happening tomorrow, a date with the dentist.

So the last day or two I’ve been playing with neon clay and made some necklaces, I’ve also got some beads in the oven in readiness for a bracelet.

I’ve listed these in my madeit store.

So after all these really bright colours I made something a bit more subdued.

A mid grey pendant, textured and highlighted with pan pastels using Paynes Grey colour. It’s one of my favourite colours, sort of a mix of dark blue, with smoky dark purple undertones. The beads are howlite and I finished it off with some decorative chain.

This one is listed in my store too.

Technorati Tags: polymer clay,polymer clay pendants,neon polymer clay,howlite

Macramé Bracelet

Remember these?

  

Over the weekend I experimented, with kitchen string, got quite muddled and kept forgetting which side to start from until I eventually worked it out.

I’m glad I started with string because there was a lot of unpicking and cuss words spoken. So once I worked out the pattern correctly I used some black waxed linen thread and a brass disc that I had in my stash of stuff.

Not that happy with it although my square knots look pretty good. The beads I used were the only ones I had that have a big enough hole to thread the two middle anchor threads through and they are not really to my liking. Small beads with big holes work best. But I have lots of ideas for this particular style of bracelet and hopefully in the coming days I’ll have some exciting news to reveal and this type of bracelet will figure large in it. I’m also going to experiment with a slightly thicker cord to see how that effects the over all look.

Stay tuned!

Technorati Tags: macrame,waxed linen thread

Neon

On Wednesday 30th May I will have been blogging for 4 years. Can’t quite believe it’s been that long, in some ways it’s flown by and in others it’s been a long 4 years. In terms of my creative journey it’s been quite a ride, with many changes of direction until I arrived at what I feel is my “thing”. Polymer clay. I’m still a beginner with heaps to learn, although I don’t think you can learn everything about polymer clay, it’s such a chameleon medium and even experienced clayers are still finding amazing ways to use the stuff.

One thing I do know is my photography is getting worse instead of better. I bought one of these but I’m not having much luck with it. But I’ll battle on and see if I can get some better photos using it. The idea is great, it’s just getting the right light source, a well lit window is ideal but then I have to move furniture etc. to set it up. I tried lights either side and even though they are daylight bulbs it still gave a blue cast to everything.

Modahaus light system

So according to “my up with the latest fashions daughter” neon is big. It’s big in the northern hemisphere for spring/ summer and as we are just going into autumn/winter I guess we will be seeing it at the end of the year.

I bought some neon clay.

And had a play.

Now to figure out what to do with them.

Technorati Tags: polymer clay,neon polymer clay,beads,pendants,modahaus

What I Made Today

I was productive today, well somewhat. These pieces are from yesterdays baking. After a bit of sanding and refining here they are. This one with a little bit of Snapseed grungy framing.

A close-up of the texture. I used premo transparent clay with some alcohol ink added.

Some gunmetal grey connectors with matt black jump rings.

Earrings with some dangly bits. Sold

 

Tiger stripes.

 

Technorati Tags: polymer clay,polymer clay necklace,polymer clay earrings,premo,translucent clay

A Special Day

Happy Mothers day, to all the mums, grandmas, nannas, nonnas, Grammies, grandmas, bubbas, Oma's and deedees (that's what I'll be when my children have children......a deedee).

 

 

Have a wonderful day and I forbid you to cook, clean, wash or iron.

Tiny Piece of Clay

I wanted to make a necklace using one of the crystal owl pendants I brought back from Bali. Fossicked through my bead stash  and found some small jade beads (at least I think that's what they are). The tag came off the string and I can’t quite remember what they are, you think you’ll always remember, but if you’re like me you wont, and some white beads, who knows what they are.

Anyway this is what I came up with.

A tiny green clay disc and a wee little brass charm with a dragon fly.

I also used one of the brass toggle and clasps i bought over there.

A close up of the owl.

And this just came out of the oven along with a few other pieces that need sanding and refining.

It will be a brooch because it’s quite large and quite bold and I like it. Scrap clay smooshed together and then stamped. Smooshing clay is a favourite past time of mine.

I played around with the above photo on my ipad using an app called Snapseed. It’s the best photo editing app ever, so easy to use and the results are great. I was lucky enough to grab it when it was free. But having played around with it a little I think it’s worth  whatever the price is at the moment, something like $4.50 I think……..I could be wrong so don’t quote me.

Technorati Tags: polymer clay,polymer clay brooches,beaded necklace,snapseed,photo editing,scrap clay

I’m Just an Old Hippy at Heart

Remember back in the day when we were hippies and macramé was all the go. I made my fair share of macramé wall hangings and hanging holders for garden pots. I even had a very large wall hanging I made featured in an exhibition once…..ah, memories!

Anyway it’s making a come back and in jewellery no less. I think these are lovely and lend themselves to a myriad  of designs, of course polymer clay comes to mind.

You can find very detailed instructions here.

 

And these are really sweet. The top two bracelets are from the American store Anthropologie and the bottom photo is from a blog called Crochet Cloud and the instructions are here. Huge price difference isn’t there.

Saving the best till last. If you make your own earring wires and struggle to get them even then you don't want to miss this tip. Instructions and photos here.

Think I might go and tie-dye something now.

Technorati Tags: macrame,knitted jewellery,ear wires