Polymer Covered Clamps

I've started a black and white edging on the sides of the bracelet, but I'm not that happy with this piece. I was experimenting with the clamps and polymer clay. This size clamp is meant for delicas, not these larger beads. But, it's been fun, as always.

New Book, New Stitch

I've never done Flat Herringbone (Ndebele) stitch.

So when I received my "get well" present to me (the below book), I gave it a try.

I highly recommend this book. I've been beading for many years and I love this book. Easy to follow, great instructions, clear photography; it's great.

It covers everything a beader needs to know and more. I'm going back to my studio to work on the closure. I'm so excited about this book.

Paintings

The above painting was a heavily, and I mean heavily textured 16 x 20 painting. It had lots of gold leaf in the under-painting and many glazes. The person who bought it noticed the the textures because the painting was sitting on the floor of the store I was selling at. It wasn't the usual serene landscape painting the store usually displays on its walls, so it was kind of set behind some things on the floor. Really worked out well.

The above painting didn't sell after three tries so it has been re-worked; nothing final yet.

Above is "Scar". Lots of handmade papers and modeling pastes were used in this painting. A couple in Scottsdale have it hanging in their entryway.

Can't imagine why this one didn't sell. Yeah, right. The "spatters" of red weren't a big hit. It was also re-worked. But what I really did like about this canvas was the under-painting; it had a "crosswork" of veining. I had developed a "rolling" technique with some of the liquids I was using and was able to control it enough to make a raised grid. It was really cool.

Textured Painting

Textured the canvas with Golden Gel Mediums and while wet, pulled a wide-toothed comb through the gel.

Used the flat part of an old spatula to "push down, pick up" the gel.

After the gel is completely dried, apply your acrylic paint and glazes.

A heavily textured painting such as this isn't for everyone. But what I truly love about this type of painting is how the textures create shadows when the light hits it at different times of the day.

Or, depending on its size, displaying it on a table easel under a lamp; they just glow. I have never had a person look at one of these and not touch it. I like when they say, "How did you get these lines in the paint?" When I say I ran a comb through it, they just look at me. It's funny.

Fire Dancer Painting

Below photo shows the beginning. A lot of acrylic paint applied with a palette knife, scraping, scratching and layering (texture).

Adding rapid sketching and brushstrokes; establishing definition with values.

Finished!

Carrots and Eggs

An eggs-traordinarily festive necklace (sorry). If I see one more jump ring, I'm going to scream. And then I had to play around with making some little carrots. Enough. I'm ready to move on to another project.

Happy Egg Day

Happy Egg Day!

The only things "Easter" I could dig up in my files was the Easter bonnets and purses and an Easter necklace I sculpted several years ago; and with that I wish you a Happy Egg Day.

And as long as I was digging up old polymer pieces, I made these two ties after purchasing Leslie Dierks' book in 1994, "Creative Clay Jewelry" and have referred to it for years because it has over 25 contributing artists. I believe it is still available through Amazon.

Happy Easter!

A Wheelbarrow Full

I found a polymer piece I sculpted back in the early 70's. Yeah, I'm still playing with the eggs.

But look at this old sweetie. The wheel spins and everything! I remember I made this to hold a bunch of little polymer pumpkins I made during Halloween when my children were little.

Later, I started collecting the Italian made Fontanini Nativity figures and accessories and this wheelbarrow fit in perfectly with my 5" figures.

But the eggs are a nice change. Now I need to sculpt a bunny to go with it.

Egg-stra Special Weekend

Polymer egg charms. Some of my leftover canes applied to the little eggs.

I will lay in bed this weekend with my trusty tray and tools and hopefully function enough to finish with the head pins and put some jump rings on these.

I would like to wear them on a little charm bracelet. Although the more I look at these pictures, I'm realizing I could make several bracelets.

But we'll see how far I get.

Foot surgery is scheduled for this afternoon, nothing serious, just enough to annoy my schedule. I've ordered two books from Amazon (get well to me present) and I've put together a small work tray with the jump rings and tools to finish the eggs. So creative recuperation is planned. Hope your weekend is fun and filled with chocolate eggs and bunnies and fun.

I'm Going To Europe To Teach!

I'm going to Europe to teach in June! And I have a multi media book coming out in 2012! I've also been asked to be on Martha Stewart's show! Too good to be true? Yeah, April Fools.

Back to reality. February 15th, I purchased Christi Uliczny's tutorial on alcohol inks, gold leaf and powders from her Etsy site "River Valley Design" and boy, do these ever shimmer and shine! Her work and tutorial was featured on Cynthia Tinapple's Polymer Clay Daily.

I mean they shimmer like glass! No need to seal them with a resin gloss or spray. I did sand and buff because that is part of the amazing technique she has beautifully detailed in a four page tutorial. I can see that I need to purchase more ink colors since I only have four and only a couple of Pearl Ex powders.

April Fools or not, I would love to go to Europe to teach and I would love to publish a book. Somehow, I don't think Martha would be interested in me, but I'd take that call.