Mostly Wire Jewelry with a Little Polymer Clay

Sorry to report the little bunny is no more. Early yesterday morning, coffee cup in hand, I headed out the door on my way to the gazebo and there blocking my way was the mangled remains of bunny. Ick, Ick, Ick..... Poor bunny, I had stopped worrying, I thought him big enough and smart enough to elude the evil killer cat.... alas, not so.

I slammed the door and waited for hubby to get home. He disposed of the body for me. I can clean up bird remains and an occasional mouse body but not bunny. Corny is a small cat and looks so innocent but she an accomplished hunter. I wish she didn't feel the need to share her kills with me. She has a young squirrel in her sights now. He seems to think he can outsmart her but I'm not so sure.

My arm is still sore, it hurts to crank the pasta machine. The YaYa's chipped in to buy me a motor. I ordered it from Mona along with a Monafied pasta machine and am now waiting for it to arrive. In the mean time I've been playing with wire.

I love this necklace, I love the colors and the design is just what I wanted. I hope you like it too.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

I like to design asymmetrical jewelry. And by now you all know I love dyed freshwater pearls.
I used one of my polymer clay tiles as the center piece in this wire pendant.
I found a marvelous tutorial by Karla Kam on how to make a crocheted wire and bead necklace. This one is fall colors and was a perfect match for my wired maple leaf pendant.
I used red, white and black beads on red wire for this necklace and then added a polymer clay pendant wrapped in red wire.
And last but not least is a green crocheted wire necklace to which I added a green leaf pendant. I'll be making more of these. The necklace is easy peasy to make, doesn't take long at all.

Polymer Clay Colorful Mica Shift

Today I had a good time playing with texture stamps and mica shift. I have lots and lots of rubber stamps and texture sheets so decided I'd better use them more.

For the first one I tinted Kato Pearl with Fimo Classic Bordeau Red. I ran it though the pasta machine to the thinnest setting. I then went through my tub of mixed colors and found a small amount of lime green that I decided to use for the bottom sheet.... which I rolled out #1 on the PM.

I made the lime green by mixing Kato yellow with a small amount of black and then added white. I know I should write down proportions but I never do. I kinda mix colors like I cook, a pinch of this and a pinch of that until I get the color I want.

I put the thin sheet of pink over the green and ran it through the PM on the #1 setting. I then pressed the texture sheet into the clay. I always let my clay rest for at least an hour before I start shaving off the top. I know other can get a clean cut without waiting but I can't, it always mushes when I shave too soon.

I made the tube bead with the left over clay and added eyelets on each end. The hole is large enough for satin or waxed cord. I plan to attach the pendant to the tube with wire.

I know the colors are a little strange but I like em, hope you do to.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

For the last two I used the same sheet of stripes that I used to make one of the earlier pictured ink pens. I tinted Kato gold with a little bordeau red for the top sheet, gives it more of a bronze look. After I shaved off the tops I cut out the shapes with an exacto knife and set them aside to prepare the background sheets for each one.

The one on the left has a textured background, I laid the mica shift design on top and cut out a shape I liked and it was ready for the oven.

For the one on the right I made a striped background. I then positioned the two paisley pieces where I wanted them and cut out the shape. The all gold one is the piece I sliced off the top, I usually don't get that clean a cut but I've been trying every since I saw it done by friend Kathi of Dragonsglass.com . I then removed the two pieces and cured the background piece so I could sand and buff, much easier than trying to sand around the two top pieces. Once that was done I placed the two pieces back in place, baked, dropped them into a ice bath, waited 20 mintues and then sanded. There is glitter that doesn't show up well it the photo... you can see it better if you click on the photo for a closer look.