Versatile Textile Polymer Disks

Textile polymer clay disks can be interchanged on stackable jewelry like the bracelet in the below photo.  Stack one or two, or make a statement.

Textile Beads

I sandwiched cotton fibers in half the raw polymer clay disks and cotton string in the other half, pressed them together and then baked.   When cooled, I strung them on a cable necklace.  When experimenting with combining anything with polymer clay-whether it is liquid, solid or material, I bake at a lower temperature and stand there to watch it.  Safety first. 

Embellished Polymer Clay Driftwood

I was inspired by Alisa Burke's "Altered Driftwood" shown below (click HERE for her blog).  Alisa collects all shapes and sizes and embellishes them by wrapping with fabric and embroidery thread, etc.  She paints them, hangs them, and displays them in jars.  I wanted to wear mine.  Instead of using fabric, I used polymer clay canes.  I sculpted the driftwood from Sculpey Ultra Light polymer clay and gave a light brushing of acrylic paint.

Faux Beaded Beads

Textured polymer clay beads in hand blended grays strung on a simple leather cord; faux beaded beads.

Do You Know What This Is?

 Anyone know what this is?  Maybe a candle snuffer? Some kind of mold maker?  It's scissor-like and all brass and yes, I purchased the darn thing without a clue what it is.

I went treasure hunting at an "event" and came home with "stuff".  More stuff.  But, I do know what I am going to do with all of it........except the scissor-like thing that I don't know what it is.  The apothecary bottle and letter tiles are for Halloween, the building blocks for display, the pipe, hand and brass skillets are for jewelry and the small horse shoe is for my studio.

Gourd Sculpture Display

The head and arms are Apoxie Sculpt, gourd body is painted with acrylics, hair is string, basket is from Goodwill with the outside covered with air dry polymer clay.  I wove the fringe around the basket and painted the inside with acrylic paint.  She displays my bead crochet bracelets and necklaces.  

My inspiration was one of Retlaw Snellac's photos of a Turkana woman.  Turkana is the second largest pastoral community in Kenya.  I loved how her beadwork looked on her elongated neck.

Sea World

It was a great vacation filled with swimming, sunning and stuffing ourselves.

San Diego Shoreline

We took a cruise around the shoreline, had lunch oceanside, did some shopping and then headed over to the Museum.

 My husband toured some ships, the submarine and the Maritime Museum and took some great photos.

This was a small, antique oil painting in one of the galleys.  Unfortunately, the frame blocked the signature.   We had a couple of over-cast days, but all in all it was beautiful.

San Diego

Isn't this fern breathtaking?

 My husband photographed some beautiful sights while we were in San Diego, California.

There was so much beauty in the shapes, colors and textures.

Rose Bowl Flea Market

We got to the flea market early...while some vendors were setting up.  How about her hair?

Rug vendors grabbing some shade while texting.

Our annual trip to the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, California was, in a word, "HOT".  Even though it was hot and sticky, it was worth the trip just to see the sights.  I had planned on buying from my three favorite vendors, but they are no longer there.  The flea market has been expanded a great deal and vendor prices have gone up.  What happens when vendor prices go up?  It gets passed onto the customer.   It had changed tremendously from last summer, but it was still fun.

In Remembrance

Africa in Bead Crochet

I finished Judith Bertoglio-Giffin's online bead crochet workshop "African Stripes".  The black and white rope is called "Mud Cloth" and the brightly colored rope is called "Love Letters".  It was so much fun learning from everyone else in the workshop, getting tips and tricks from Judith-I hated to see it end.  I'm working on the gourd sculpture that will display "African Stripes".  It's slow-going because I ran out of Apoxie Sculpt and have to wait for delivery.  But I think I can find a project or two to work on around here somewhere.

Gourd in Progress

I'm starting a new gourd sculpture.  I looked at this gourd and saw a figure of a woman holding a basket or blanket full of colorful pieces.  Since I wanted a display for some of my bead crochet, I think this might be it.

Polymer Graffiti Ring

Polymer clay ring "Graffiti".  I tried to sculpt tiny bricks and laid each one on the "wall".  Nothing really turned out the way I wanted, except the concept.  I'll give another go another time (the writing is on the wall).

7 Wheels Bead Crochet Style 9

 The slider holds the two loops of the bow perfectly.  The six wheels are worn on the back.

That's it for 7 Wheels--for now anyway.  I am thinking I am going to have to make it an even number.

7 Wheels Bead Crochet Style 8

The slider is worn on the back of the neck with the six wheels center stage between the peyote fringe.

7 Wheels Bead Crochet, Styles 6 & 7

The slider disappears into the knot when worn in a lariat.

The slider balances the six wheels perched above it.

7 Wheels Bead Crochet, Styles 3, 4 & 5

The wheels include one slider and six wheels.  The six wheels can be worn in front at the bottom of the necklace, or in front at the top of the necklace or in the back of the necklace.  

7 Wheels Bead Crochet, Styles 1 & 2

I designed a bead crochet rope with seven bead crocheted wheels.  The wheels/rings serve as a design component as well as a counter-balance as show above and below.

 I've worn this necklace aptly named "7 Wheels" in so many different combinations, I decided to feature them this week.  I'm counting these as Style 1 and 2 because it could be looped one more time around the neck, bringing it up both in the back and front.  I went with these two photos because I loved the drama of the back piece being so long.