Jewelry sale

It's been a long time since my last blog; I've been busy with choir practices at school and singing with the choirs at church and senior's residences and of course my piano students.  I've also been getting ready with my jewelry for a party at my home on Friday, the 10th and a display at the school Friday morning.
I had really good sales and I'm pleased.  People thought I had a wide variety and something for everyone. I sold beaded jewelry and polymer clay jewelry. They also thought my jewelry tags were very professional. Now I can relax a day or two and get the cookies baking with my children.  I'm accompanying the school choir again for a mass follwed by a little concert and carolling in the parish hall on Tuesday and the school/parents carol sing-a-long on Friday 17th , the last day of school.

Natasha bead

This is a 'Natasha bead' invented by Natasha.  The great thing about it is that it turns out different every time - a one of a kind original bead.  It's kind of magical.  The patterns that emerge look quite intricate but it is actually just scraps of  left over polymer clay lumped together.  You can't really plan a design , just maybe move the clay bits around when you smoosh them together. It ends up having a mirror image on each surface of the bead.  It's like an abstract  painting, the colors flowing and blending and falling into their own pattern. I still have to sand and buff this bead.

 

Brilliant fall colors

 I love the colors on this pendant and earring set and have decided to keep this for myself. It's the alcohol ink, crackled effect. My son loved it and said it looked like the colors of fall.


alcohol effects on crackled gold leaf

Faux Agate

Agate is a hard stone,within the range of 7-9 on the Mohs scale. Agates are found in all colors of the
rainbow.  Agate is a type of chalcedony.  It's formed from layers of quartz. That is how it has varicolored bands.  It occurs usually as veins or nodules. There are a variety of unusual banded and scenic markings.
Tiny quartz crystals from within the stone thus adding to the beauty of the stone. These crystals are called drusy.  Thes drusys are often cut from the agate as used as cabochons or a stone itself.
There are a variety of agates; moss agate, plume agate, eye agate, lacy agate, banded agate, brecciated agate, botswana agate, fire agate, crazy lace agate, moss agate, rainbow aggate, picture agate,tree agate and many more. Agate is found all over the world; Asia, Africa, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Nepal, Mexico and USA.

Polymer clay is so versatile and has the ability to be made to look like real stones too.  These are faux agates made from polymer clay faux agate beads I have yet to use them in a design.  I think i will be using some copper findings; it will highlight the stone.

To read more about agates http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agate

Some beautiful pictures of agates http://www.agatenodule.com/index.htm

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• How to identify agate (fitfiend.com)

Faux Dichroic

I made this pendant with the faux dichroic glass technique.  It was so much fun.  I have done actual fused dichroic glass and it's beautiful but with this I could eliminate cutting glass, grinding it and using the hot kiln! Polymer clay is so amazing!!! I used a stamp for the design and Judikins fluxe enameling resin. I think I would have got a more domed effect using Ultra dome. I used a cord and made it an adjustable necklace. If you'd like to learn about this technique check it out here faux dichroic glass

 

flower petal inclusion earrings

I made these earrings for my daughter to match the pendant. I used copper findings and a burgundy colored pearl to set off the colors in the beads. The beads are hand rolled as I wanted it to have a really natural look.

Flower Petal Inclusion Pendant

This pendant was made with polymer clay and dried rose petals from the bouquet of yellow/orange roses my daughter Stephanie received from her teacher. The copper swirl and coil add a flowing line to the pendant and sets of the colors.
To see this technique taught by Cindy Lietz, polymer clay artist and tutor go to http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/flower-petal-bead-keepsake-jewelry/81/