Wearing Bead Crochet Ropes

Bead Crochet patterns of Leopard and Mud Cloth together worn in several drape variations.

Mud Cloth in Bead Crochet

I decided to tear out the other two Mud Cloth necklaces I started (click HERE) and do one in black and white.  I love black and white.  It was my first instinct.  I love how it turned out.  "Mud Cloth" is part 1 of Judith Bertoglio-Giffin's African Stripes pattern.  Love Letters is part 2 which I am just starting.

Polymer Wood Nymph Ring

A wood nymph I sculpted in polymer clay.  I'm in a "Fall is just around the corner" mood.

Polymer Mushroom Ring

Ever since I sculpted a branch bezel for one of Heather Powers' Humblebeads (click HERE), I've been wanting to create more nature inspired pieces in polymer clay.  So, today and tomorrow are a couple of rings I sculpted.

Polymer Cuff

If I do say so myself, I love how this cuff turned out.  

It's flexible and very comfortable and I love the cracked texture.

Free Polymer Tutorial

This free polymer clay tutorial by Michelle Ross is brought to you by HGTV (Click HERE).    Michelle demonstrates the technique of mokume gane' and how to form the beads using an aluminum paint tray.

Straw Please

Cut a small piece of a drinking straw, slip it on a pin back, close and lock.  You can then slip a cable, ribbon, neck wire or chain through the straw and wear your brooch as a pendant.

Le Bouton Jewelry

Le Bouton Jewelry is unique, whimsical and inspirational.  When I lived in Chicago, Illinois, I never missed one of their shows.  I received 4 of their brooches (which can also be worn as pendants) as payment for a sculpture repair I did.  I thought I would share these four pieces with you as they are so interesting.  Le Bouton creates one of a kind jewelry using antique buttons, buckles, gaming pieces, cufflinks, coins and watch parts.  The materials in Beverly Eisenstein and Sonni Helmer's creations date back as far as the 1700's and as modern as laser-cut Swarovski crystals.  Le Bouton creates all forms of jewelry including earrings (pierced, clip-on, hanging and post) brooches/pins, necklaces, bracelets, stick-pins, cufflinks and unisex tacks.  You can visit their website (click HERE) to see some of their one of a kind jewelry.

Rock On!

Polymer clay river rocks make a stunning collar/necklace to a strapless top. 

Now That's A Rock!

No beach glass or pebbles for me!  Polymer clay rocks secured to metal adjustable rings.

Knuckle rings are in and the bigger they are, the better.  Rock on!

I am the Magnet Queen!

It's a ring...............

It's a bracelet................

It's a necklace..................

It's a brooch.................

It's a super strong magnet I implanted in the back of my beadwork.  It can then be worn on any metal.  To be worn as a brooch or on a ribbon necklace, I just need another magnet behind the fabric to keep it in place.  I feel like the Queen of Magnets.  Magnets in my paintings, polymer and beadwork......yes, and on my refrigerator.

Spiked

Felted spikes I create and display.

Contemporary Felted Necklace

Making Fabric Jewelry by Marthe LeVan

I entered Dot Lewallen's giveaway and was fortunate enough to win Marthe LeVan's new book, "making fabric jewelry"!  It is available through Amazon (click HERE) and at local hobby stores.  The first project I want to try is the Chrysalis (second photo).

Marthe's new book has 23 projects by top jewelry designers.  It has great photos with easy to follow instructions.  According to Dot's blog "Speedie Beadie" (click HERE), you will want to dig into those scrap bags of fabric you knew would come in handy someday, or crawl around on the floor picking up those loose pieces of thread, cut up a pair of old jeans you've had since the disco era, and start hitting the clothes section at the flea market looking for unique fabrics.  I will let you know when I receive it and begin a new adventure.  Thank you Dot!

Polymer Heishi & Felt Focal

Kind of modern tribal.

Oversized Polymer Heishi

It's funny how a word's definition can be so different from its interpretation.  I thought Heishi was the way beads were sliced.  A reader emailed to tell me that Heishi meant "shell" and my polymer did not look like shell.  Oops.  I guess my necklace should be called "Oversized Polymer Disks".

Polymer, Bead Crochet and What?

This is what I was inspired to create after seeing felted dreadlocks.  White polymer clay disks fit snugly on the dreadlocks.  The top photo has lots of disks, while the below photo has less.

More is more and less is a bore.  I love the heavily embellished necklace in the top photo.  My bead crochet rope is lightweight and, of course the felted dreads are soft and light as air.  For me, it's a show stopper!

Because I Felt Like It

Wet Felting.  Didn't know a thing about it, but when I saw some YouTube videos (just Google "Felted Dreadlocks) showing how to make Felted Dreadlocks, I had to look into it.  I made several dreads and still have tons of wool leftover.  It takes a little bit of work to get them to harden.  I worked up a sweat!

Like I need another medium to throw into the mix.  But, the dreadlocks fascinate me.  People still wear them.  They can be purchased in bulk on Etsy.  You can leave them in when showering and change them out to a different color when you feel like it.  My hair is way to short, but I might be tempted if I had longer hair (just kidding hubby-maybe).

To give you an idea of what a full head would look like, the above felted dreadlocks are from Ariana Bauer of Studio Desiree (click HERE).  Well, I know this is a bit of an odd posting, but I am inspired by these.  More tomorrow.

Sculptural Beadwork on Sculpture

This is one of two sculptures that seems to be ongoing.  And the strange part is, I like it that way.

It is a non-drying oil based sculpting clay.  She's meant to be bronzed......eventually....when I win the lottery.  So in the meantime, I add a little here, smooth a little there.

A ribbon necklace woven through a free form peyote piece graces her neck.

Donna Kato Earrings

I purchased these earrings in 2001 from Donna Kato.  She, along with many other famous polymer clay artists were teaching at Polymer Clay Haven just outside of Chicago, Illinois.  I am still taking Donna's classes through Craft Edu (click HERE).  The classes are thorough, entertaining, informative, detailed, .......have I said excellent?

Jerome, Arizona

Jerome, Arizona is an old copper mining town with 80 miles of underground tunnels.  It is filled with ghost stories, antiques, art galleries and unusual sights.

I forgot my good camera, so we had to make do.  Unfortunately a lot of the great shots didn't turn out.  

But, you get the idea that the little mining town is filled with character and charm.  In the photo above (click to enlarge), the yard on the left is filled with everything from bathtubs to street lights while the yard on the right is simple and elegant.

And, of course, what would a town with that much character be without an old VW van covered in bumper stickers!

Bird of Cactus

A close-up of the end of a cactus skeleton.  Looks like a bird's head to me.  I'm "heading" out to Jerome, Arizona today to antique and hit the art galleries, so I leave you with a wish for a great weekend.  Head out somewhere and enjoy!

Double Trouble Bead Crochet

I didn't double check my stringing on either bead crochet rope.  Not on either rope.  I was on a roll and almost done with Sections 1,2,3 and 4 and was just about to start Section 5 when I noticed the ropes were not matching up.  Ugh.  So now, I have to go back, pull out, cut, re-string, tie on new thread and continue.  Did I mention....on both ropes?  This time, I'm working on one rope, finishing one rope and then working on the other.  Although, the more I think about it, the blue one may end up a 30" rope.