Creative Crystals
I often get into these creative modes where I get focus on a specific medium or supply. My recent craze is using crystals, be it vintage, natural, glass, anything with a sparkle to it. I am testing my boundaries with this because I generally do not use crystals in my work, I always get so worried I will break the delicate pieces or chip them. But a few months back at the Winter CHA I came across the Connie Crystal booth. The booth had this gorgeous dress made from paper and crystals, it was such an eye catcher I had to walk in and look at the crystals.
Connie herself was teaching make-and-takes and invited me to try making one of her projects. I was pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the crystal beads and focal pieces she had in a stunning array of colors. The crystals did not chip while working with jewelry tools and they had amazing clarity. Iย bought some of the floor samples and carefully packed them away. I would take them out now and then just to look at the beautiful beads but still not sure what type of jewelry I would like to make of them. After seeing some some other artists work in crystal I got inspired. I researched some ancient jewelry patterns and I came up with these necklaces and earring sets:
Sterling silver chain, size: 12mm and 10mm Connie Crystal beads. A simple design but I was going for a fantasy piece that brought to mind a female warrior’s adornment.
Gold plate vintage chain with 10mmย Connie Crystal beads. With this piece I went with the theme of the the Leo horoscope sign and the colors often attributed to the sign.
Silver plate chain and findings, vintage green crystals, lampwork glass beads and 14mm circle Connie Crystal beads. I love to put animal themes in my artwork whenever I can and with this one I used a lovely snake toggle as one of the many focals on this asymmetrical piece.ย It hints back to ancient myths and legends so I named the set “Snakes of the Crystal”.
After making all of these pieces and using Connie Crystal beads I can honestly say they work very well, have amazing color and can handle being moved around a lot. I tend to adjust my jewelry pieces, connecting and moving about elements until I am happy with the design, and these beads came through it looking beautiful. If you do bead work or mixed media and want something different to add to a piece, go to their website. ๐
Until next time, Safe Travels!
Summer Jewelry fun…
It is a very warm and dry summer here in sunny California, which means I am trying to spend as much time indoors trying to stay cool with the critters. I have been cleaning house, donating a lot to local thrift stores and our local senior center. Now that I am making more room I am finding art supplies I had forgotten about. What I did not give away I am now making some great new summer jewelry pieces.
First on my list is my recent obsession with fruit polymer clay canes. I found several blocks of lovely orange polymer clay, I just had to make some orange slice pendants and beads! At first I wasn’t sure what beads to place with them, but after sorting through a “Boss Bag” from Fire Mountain Gems, I found the perfect findings. After some rummaging through my stash of beads I was able to make up some really cute and summer time necklaces.
Handmade polymer clay orange slice beads, glass beads,ย gold toned findings and bead caps.
Handmade polymer clay orange slice beads, glass beads and gold toned findings.
Handmade polymer clay orange slice beads, glass beads,ย gold toned findings and bead caps.ย I used beads caps to simulate orange blossoms. ๐
Next in my series of summer jewelry is my “Ice Cubes” set. I live off of ice water in the summer so anything that makes me think of cool water and relaxing makes me a happy camper. I found these lovely irregular lamp worked beads, no two were alike but they all had a silver foil on the inside that reminded me of ice. Add some silver chain, more findings from a “Boss Bag” from Fire Mountain Gems and voilร !
“Ice cubes”, silver chain, findings and lamp worded glass beads.
Next clear glass beads and findings (againย “Boss Bag” from Fire Mountain Gems) make a piece that I call “Blue water, golden sun”.ย I wanted to make a piece that would be reminiscent of the beach of clear blue waters with a gold sun in the sky.
“Blue water, golden sun” pressed blue glass, gold beads and gold findings.
Last but not least, “Cobra tears”. I always keep an eye out for hand crafted artwork and love to support artisans in their craft. The lovely hand carved coconut focal piece is made by artisans in Sri Lanaka. The carving is of Mucalinda, a snake-like being in the form of a cobra, who protected Buddha from the elements after his enlightenment. I buy these lovely hand carved pendants from my friend Kim McWhorter who makes sure the artisans get 100% of all money from the sale of the lovely creations. Kim is the the Associate Executive Director of Animal Venom Research International an organization that’s goal is to alleviate world-wide suffering caused by animal envenomation by bringing the technology of antivenom development to countries in need.
Crystals, carved coconut cobra, silver chain and findings.
Stay cool in the heat and keep crafting!
Until next time safe travels!
Globecraft Memories New Piccolo Charm line!
I have been working on so many art projects that I am lucky I had the time to take photos of them before they were sent off! I once again had the wonderful opportunity to work with Globecraft Memories as a designer/product design and development on of their new line of Piccolo charms. By now you know about the Piccolo Card Toppers and the Piccolo embellishments. They have added a new Piccolo Charm line! Steampunk gears, hearts, kitties, sea life, angels, butterflies, horses, keys and silhouettes are just a few of the new kit themes in the charm line. With each kit you can make anything from a necklaces, earrings, lapel pins, wineglass charms, curtain tiebacks, rear view mirror dangles and much more!
Like all of the Piccolo Card Toppers and the Piccolo embellishments, the Piccolo Charm line is made from a high quality chipboard. To make the charms more durable and able to handle daily wear and tear I use Glastique Flexible Finishing Glaze (Gloss) on all of the pieces to give it flexibility, strength and a enamel-like finish. The Piccolo Charm sets will be available soon atย Globecraft Memories, so watch their website for product updates. I have been merrily making up product samples of this new line to be displayed at upcoming shows for Globecraft Memories, and here is a few:
This set I turned into Butterfly shoulder duster earrings. Sticker gems, stamp-pad ink and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.
This lovely Heart lock and key set I felt would be perfect for a faux vintage necklace. Sticker gems and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.
I love Steampunk gears and I wanted to something different with a Emerald City themed necklace and earring set. Sticker gems and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.
The Sea-life set is perfect for Summer and I put a textured heavy coat of Glastique on this piece to mimic the look of water. Acrylic paint and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.
Another lovely Steampunk gears kit that I turned into a lapel pin. Acrylic paint, sticker gems, stamp-pad ink and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.
The Silhouette set I made into a hostess gift set, with a wine bottle tag, matching hostess necklace and wine glass charms. Barbie meets Girls Night! Sticker gems and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.
One of the many lovely Flourish sets, I wanted to try a faux vintage look with copper highlighting the amazing detail in the flourishes. Acrylic paint and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.
They have so many butterfly sets, though this set is one of my favorites since it lends so well to faux enamel. Sticker gems and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.
Untill next time, Safe Travels!
Decor Christi Craft Fair
This past Saturday I had the pleasure of being a vendor at the Mt. Carmel in the Desert Decor Christi Craft Fair. This is the first year for this event, and the Sisters at Mt. Carmel hope to have more events like this that encourage the arts in the Antelope Valley while assisting in raising funds for Mount Carmelโs Child Care Center and Retreat Center. They are also raising money for an additional Daycare program for underprivileged families who cannot pay for daycare.
The event featured painting, sculpture, jewelry, stained glass, needlework, woodworking,ย greeting cards, sewing, quilting, crochet and knitting. A requirement for this show was all work displayed and for sale shall be handmade. It was a wonderful event with some great networking opportunities and the crowd was friendly. Several of my very talented friends and fellow artists were also vending at the show: Paula De Grace, Jamie Bostjancic, Debra Wilson (of Kittyloaf Designs) and Dee Hodge. The Sisters were are gracious as ever, had some rather tasty lunches for sale and even had a booth with jewelry. The Sisters hope the show will get bigger each year and will get more of the community involved. They are some of the sweetest and kindest women I have ever met and I try to help them as much as I can.
Setting up my booth before the craft fair opened.
Some of my jewelry display.
Paula De Grace and Jamie Bostjancic at their jewelry booth with all of their lovely work.
Debra and her awesome mother at the Kittyloaf booth. I think you can see on the far right the bracelet I just had to get.
Sister Benedicta trying the choose beads for a new rosary; she is a very talented jewelry maker. Her specialties are wire wrapped bracelets & rosaries.
The Sisters talking to a volunteer offering to help, as the weather outside was making a turn for the worse.
Sister Benedicta showing off her “Cheshire” smile. She is such a great lady, hard working, always laughing and making the best of any situation.
Jami visiting Brian (Dee’s talented son, who is a musician, substitute teacher and puppeteer) at Dee Hodge’s lovely booth. Jami was asking about commissioning some work.
The weather made a turn for the worst at the Retreat around 2pm. Heavy rain turned into hail and we got flash flooding.
More rain…
Thanks the heavens it was an indoor event. The weather was crazy, with flash flooding, hail the size of quarters, high winds, lighting, thunder and rain. The ever gracious Sisters of Mt. Carmel made sure we made it home when the roads flooded out.
Trees and the garden got shredded by the hail, the front yard looks like it was put through a wood chipper and the back is a lake. Jami says the wood pile submerged by water makes it look like we have beavers nesting. ๐
The up side is the parched desert got some much needed water and the night sky always looks so clear after a heavy rain. After the weather calmed down the wildlife was out and about searching the moist ground for food left by the storm.
Until next time Safe Travels!
Work, wildlife and polymer clay!
Lately, my art workload has been insane, along with our weather. The week of the 4th of July we had flash flooding, which dramatically changed the placement of dirt on our property but made a lot of the local flora and fauna very happy. I got to stay inside, relax and watch the rain while trying out some new projects (nothing like the sound of rain to sooth the soul!). For the 4th I tried making a flag cane.
It turned out to be more fun than I expected. The only issue I find is some slight distortion with the stars when you start to reduce the cane. The next time I will chill the cane to prevent that.
Taking time to let the clay rest, as well as having a very clean and sharp blade, prevents any smearing. The slices can be easily made into lapel pins.
After the rains we had an invasion of dragonflies in our house and I had to keep shepherding them outside.
Bit of a blurry photo but they move like mad. ๐
Then in the process of cleaning the yard we found a rather dazed Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus uniformis) attached to the side of my truck tires. We gave it some water and tried to let it go but it seemed to want to stay.
I tried to nudge it off and it just hugged me tighter.
Carefully I peeled her off and she just sat there staring at us. You can tell it is female because it had no blue underbelly marking and the head was a faint orange.
Finally she slowly walked off and went right under the parked truck. She stayed there most of the day eating ants. ๐
After seeing and getting a chance to work with all of these and many more creatures I felt inspired to try some new textures and themes. I always say nature and its wonders are the best of inspiration.
Here is some of my gold/green polymer clay mixes with reptile, fossils and texture themes with their final gloss coat.
Here are some of my cane slices and jewelry pieces after their final gloss coat. The flag slices will have clay flowers and ribbons added to them. Stringing and designing the layout for the other beads and pendents will be the fun part.What wonderful interactions with nature might you have that can inspire you? ๐
Until next time safe travels!
Ancient and Contemporary Inspired Artistry