Sculptural Peyote Necklaces

I had so much fun making the above "Outer Fringe" necklace. The fringe base is peyote and then I chose a thick braid for the neck design. I used lots of gemstones and vintage beads.

Jade and copper with a bone button closure. I wanted the green of the beads to match the green of the jade perfectly, but what we want and what we get are two different things.

Sculptural Peyote was the first stitch I learned many years ago and fell in love with it. Since day one I have used doubled Silimide beading thread for all of my woven beadwork. I took some master classes in beadwork and jewelry construction and design and these teachers swore by it and that was good enough for me. Although, I will use Fireline if I want a tubular form to hold its shape.

I have collected beads, plus odds and ends for years. I love old broken jewelry that I can take apart and incorporate into a beading design. And I like using old buttons with metal shanks for closures like in the one above.

Bad photo, I know, but the best I could do at the time. The focal bead was a Laura Liska (famous for her polymer clay Bargello beads and now for her color collections); great size, great colors. I did a free form design with "holes" that I filled with gemstones, pearls or crystals that picked up the bead colors. Two simple knots added the final detail to the neck area.

The final four are all about spring. Sometimes I use lampworked beads (artist made, not machine) as focal points in my beadwork and sometimes I use form or....

fringe with vintage beads and gemstones. The peyote closure is out of the picture below, but I did a small bit at the closure for the button and loop and then strung and wove the strands of glass beads and gemstones.

Today I'm working on finishing my polymer clay river rocks that were inspired by my trip to California.

Polymer Clay Pitcher & Beaded Floor Vase

I wanted to see if I could successfully cover an unusually shaped pitcher made from a composite resin with my polymer clay canes. I wondered if they would bubble or crack or wear over time.

And, no, they haven't. It's a nice bright spot of color and inspiration in my studio.

I bought this wicker floor vase at JoAnn's Fabrics because I wanted something tall in my entryway. Could I leave it alone? No. I strung every last one of those beads by hand. Used up a lot of orphan beads, but also invested in real turquoise and coral chunks to give it that southwestern punch.

It also made a cool noise when moved; like rain when it hits the ground hard.

I decided to sell it at our local art and craft fair and had $145 on it. People kept asking if they were eyeglass holders. I mean everyone, all day thought the strands of beads were eyeglass holders. Finally, after 8 hours of this, I removed it from my table, removed the pricetag and set it on the floor behind me. I had about 6 people looking over what was left on my table and a lady walked up, asked how much for the beaded thing behind me. I was so tired, I said $45 and she shouted "sold" so loud everyone laughed. It was a huge bargain at $145, but ridiculous at $45. Another hard lesson learned. Had I displayed it on the floor where it belonged and clearly marked it "Beaded Floor Vase, $145" and indicated the materials used, I think it would have sold. Also, I should have left the pricetag on because I could have said I made a mistake; that it was priced, $145, not $45. Hindsight is 20/20, but I also have to say I have never seen anyone so thrilled in my life and that eased the pain somewhat.

Polymer Pins

This pin is called, "Good Morning World!" She's up bright and early, showers, makes her bed and throws open the curtains, welcoming another day.

Its so early, its still dark outside, but with dots and slivers of light starting to show in the sky. I'm sitting here getting the biggest kick out of myself. I am truly in my own little world.

Above is my Halloween bat wing pin. There's a green Swarovski crystal set in the center just because there has to be some kind of sparkle and the rest of the patterns are from polymer clay canes I made.

Same with the one above. A big center crystal set in the center of a cross design. The rest of the pin is composed of my polymer clay canes.

I really liked this one. A local artist (in her 50's) bought it at our Sun City West art and craft fair. Her husband wrinkled his nose and shook his head "no" when she showed it to him. She looked at him and said, "I'm getting it because I absolutely love it." He wasn't happy, but I was.

Below is "I'm Just Sad". I sculpted the face from PaperClay and the rest is textured and torn polymer clay.

The below started out to be a face for one of my vase sculptures, but ended up too big for the vase, but just right for a pin. Unlike the local artist, a woman in her late seventies bought it to wear on a cruise. She said she had been looking for just the right pin for a neck scarf and this was it. I just never would have put the two of them together. Just so interesting.

This was an attempt at a faux cement planter full of foliage and flowers. The cement planter actually ended up being too heavy and the tiny flowers made from polymer clay transparent canes were too tiny. Also, I didn't know when to quit with the foliage and textures.

The pin below was stamped and color added with colored pencils. I layered the two slices of cane and the bamboo in the corner just because I had to put my "stamp" on it. It was sealed with a light coat of matte sealant.

Writing this blog has made me think about why I jump from crocheting tiny, cute doll clothes to sculpting bizarre masks and sculptures to painting peaceful, serene landscapes and then to sculpting beads into jewelry. But it gave me a headache and I went back to creating.

Polymer Beads With My Bead Crochet

My very first bead crocheted rope, mistakes and all. It's about 10 years old, but I still remember how tickled I was with completing the rope and attaching the polymer clay beads I had made.

Truth be told, it took me 3 different classes (each one costing $), 3 different teachers over a period of 3 years to really "get it". That's embarrassing to admit, but the truth. I have crocheted forever and thought, "What's the big deal; I already know how to crochet!" But those first 3 or 4 rows were a killer. And if you don't get those first 4 rows right, I don't care what you say, it ruins the whole piece. So, if you are purchasing a bead crocheted rope from an artist, always check the ends. They should perfectly spiral into the rest of the rope and the tension should be even.

I use slices of my polymer clay canes to cover scrap clay to make the beads (or sometimes Mokume' Gane' to cover them). Speaking of polymer clay canes, I found a wonderful site called http://www.craftstew.com/ by Annette Berlin. In it she has a hyperlink for cane tutorials http://craftstew.com/polymer-clay/polymer-clay-cane-tutorials. Since I collect cane patterns, I was in heaven. I digress.

I apologize for the quality of these four photos. They are photos of photos. My previous computer crashed and I lost my entire album. I was lazy and had not backed up my work. A hard lesson learned. Still digressing.

Now back to bead crochet. I wanted to say if you are just learning bead crochet, stick with it. It will all of a sudden just click and you will be wondering why you didn't get it sooner.

Polymer Beads

Bandana Beads are so much fun to make and look great with everything.

I had some leftover transparent leaf canes I used up too.

The Studio Clay colors are so pretty.

Below are extruded cane disk beads. I mixed pearl in every color I used.

I like it, but I made the disks too large to be worn all together. So I will either use it in a display or split it up into several necklaces.

The below blue ones turned out nice. I'm thinking I want to try a transparent snowflake cane against the blue Studio Clay for the holidays.

And in closing........

simple black and white Bandana bead bracelet (notice the smaller disks....much better). So, get busy, go play.

Polymer Clay Covered Tools

Business card case as a tool? Yeah, ok, it's a stretch, but carrying and using your business cards is a tool of your trade. Networking is fun and it's a small world after all.

I bought the case at Goodwill. The cover was badly scratched (perfect for polymer clay) so it was ridiculously cheap, fifty cents, I think.

"It's All About Creating" is not a "business" business, but my life philosophy. However, because I have this blog and my portfolio on Flickr, I felt business cards were a fun way to spread the word. If it's not all about creating, then it's all about marketing. (Look who's talking....still have not posted on my Etsy site.....ouch).

Makin's Clay company manufactures many products, one of which is their texture tools. The texture tips screw into the pencil-like green holders marked "Makin's Clay" (above photo). It's a handy idea, I just got tired of constantly switching so I made little handles and covered them with my canes.

Thicker handles are easier on my hands and fingers.

This acrylic roller is old, but I love it. I form fitted the handle to fit my hand and fingers.

If you find your metal handle uncomfortable, put some of your scrap clay around it. I baked at 250 for about 45 minutes. I kept checking it because I did not want the acrylic to crack or melt.

Ventilation is important when curing polymer clay so, open a door or window or use a fan. My oven is in our garage and I always keep the overhead door open when I am curing.

I used my scrap clay, formed it to my hand, covered it with the cane, formed it again to my hand and then baked it.

Your tools will be easily recognizable when taking a class or workshop; they won't get lost on a table full of tools. Best of all, covering your tools with polymer clay is an expression of your art so go for it.

More Stick Figures

"Pulling My Hair Out"

Polymer clay over a wire armature with polymer clay canes defining the features.

"My Head Hurts" is the same structure except no canes. I used a complimentary color to define the features.