HAPPY HALLOWEEN

I had these for awhile, a couple pumpkin pins and a pendant in Halloween colors with a cupid charm.... I know what your thinking.... "cupid?" looks can be deceiving ... it's really a witch, a shape changer witch.... an evil cupid.... you do not want to be shot with his arrow... strange things will happen. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Click on the photo for a closer look.

Something Different Mixed Media

It is cold and rainy again... my "rain, rain go away" chant isn't working. The dark dreary days are not making my muse happy. I need to get started on my Christmas projects but nothing is coming to mind plus I am waiting for my order from Boston Clay Works.

In the mean time I made this mixed media brooch. I used yellow Kato and bordeaux red Fimo Classic. I was mixing the two together to make a pretty carmel color... and ended up making this, go figure. I added glitter in the cut outs and then after curing and sanding I embellished with cultured freshwater potato pearls, glass seed beads and copper wire.

Mica Shift Beaded Pendant

I finished another beaded cabochon pendant. Looks kinda like a tadpole with that single "tail" hanging down. I'm making a beaded rope to hang it on.... that will take awhile, I'm not a very fast beader and I have clay things I want to work on.

Better Photo

Heather stopped by and took a better picture.

Click on the photo for a closer look.

Beaded Cabochons

I finished a couple of the beaded cabochons I've been working on. I'm still pretty slow, it took a couple evenings to bead the pretty lady cab. I'm please with the way she turned out, I like the fringe loops with Swarovski crystal beads.

After seeing the photo I think the oval one needs a more finished look so I will add a pointed edge. They both need beaded bails but I had to stop and give my eyes a rest.

Click on the photo for a closer look.

Yet another Beaded Band Pendant

The" twig" one is finished, all I have to do is add the cord, maybe satin cord or a knotted waxed cord, haven't decided yet.

My muse has big plans for the other one, if it turns out I'll show it to you... if not it will go in the ever growing reject pile. We were honored today to be featured on Polymer Clay Chameleon . Regina is a talented polymer clay artist and has a wonderful blog, I look forward to reading it everyday.

More Mixed Media Necklaces

I used another of my canes to make the beads... and made the holes with my pinwheel skewer (still tickled I found them). The pendant is a combination of polymer clay, peyote beaded band, colored wire and Swarovski crystals in variegated colors.

The polymer clay beads and two sizes of stardust beads are stung on green waxed cotton cord. I haven't put a clasp on yet, I'm trying to decide if I should take it apart and make two necklaces, one with the beads and a second with just the pendant. Then they could be worn separately or together. What do you think?

Click on the photos for a closer look.
I finished the blue cane necklace. I strung it on waxed cotton cord tied in Chinese button knots.

Blue Cane Beads & Pinwheels

Mystery solved!! One of them at least. I am happy to report I found my pinwheels. "Where might they have been?" you ask. Well, I was looking for a particular polymer clay book which in turn led to rearranging my jewelry & PC books and among the stack I found a couple crochet books. Since I was in a "put things in their proper place mood" I proceeded to put the crochet books in the cabinet with the rest of my needle work books and lo and behold there sat my pinwheels, right there in plain sight, right there on top of the books. I haven't the faintest idea how they got there but I'm pleased as punch that I found them. Maybe there is still hope for my missing knitting needles... ya think?

After doing a happy dance of sorts,( my dancing days are pretty much over, more like a happy shuffle these days), I happily used one of the pinwheel skewers to pierced the beads in the photo. See what a nice clean hole the skewer makes. Now you can understand why I really wanted to find those pinwheels. I'll post more photos when I make the beads into a necklace.

Purple... and a Beaded Band Brooch

Well I made another piece with a beaded band.... not overly pleased with this one, it's a little sloppy. I almost didn't show it but then I thought maybe someone would have a suggestion on how to improve it..... I haven't sanded it yet, maybe that will help...or maybe I should toss it in the reject box.I then made these layered pieces that I do like. Purple is such a neat color.

Yellow Ducky

Today I'm working on more of the beaded band pieces, it's going a little slow, two of the pieces I didn't like so I took them apart. Just so you'll know it's a real hassle to get clay out of the bands... I was tempted to toss them but I'd invested to much time in the beading to do that... so I muttered a few choice words and kept digging. I was getting frustrated so I sat everything aside and took a break.

While waiting for my muse to sort out what to do with the beaded bands I finished the backing for my wire duck. Turned out pretty good, I like him. Now I can go get some quiche... that always makes me happy.

Polymer Clay Mixed Media Necklace

This necklace has all of my favorite mediums. I made a striped snake in green and yellow polymer clay, slipped on a band of beads in complimentary colors, added tendrils of wire for a little pizzaz and finished it with satin cord adorned with coils of wire. I'm still experimenting with beading and polymer clay... I'm pleased with the way this one turned out. For a closer look click on the photo.

Polymer Clay & Beaded Bands

I know.... weird. You should know by now I like weird. It has a bit of a snake charmer look don't ya think?

I have a phobia when it comes to snakes so my son thinks it's weird that I occasionally make jewelry featuring snakes. They do creep me out a bit but my muse likes them. Click on the photos for a closer look.
More beaded bands.... I'm improving a bit but they still take forever. I'm trying to work up the courage to try something more complicated.

Col's Creations Craft Corner

I woke up early this morning, 4:30 to be exact, and while I was waiting for my joints to limber up and my head to clear I grabbed a cup of coffee, Southern Pecan, ( I love flavored coffee) and a couple Pepperidge Farm Verona Mango Peach cookies (I made my bi-weekly trip to the store yesterday and treated myself to goodies) and settled down to surfing Flickr and my favorite blogs. Take a look at what I found in Col's Creations Craft Corner Isn't that a wonderful work space? I love everything about it, just looking at it makes me happy. I love the colors, I love the layout, I love how well organized it is. Of course I would have to put little notes on all the drawers and doors but I would love to have a work space like that, wouldn't you? I'm still looking for my knitting needles and pinwheels, if I had an organized space like that I could merely open a drawer and there they would be... maybe.

Beaded Bands

I have a half formed idea for a couple pins that I would like to make that include beaded bands and ruffled clay... so I had to bead some bands.

These are small ring size bands, took me forever to bead them. I greatly admire expert beaders they all must have the patience of Job. I'm hoping with practice it will get easier and less time consuming but I have a feeling there is no quick way to drag several feet of thread through all those itty bitty beads one at a time. I'm not kidding it took me hours to make each one of these.

I made this Celestial Pin while I was beading. I had to take breaks to uncross my eyes.

I had some left over cane pieces that I stuck together and made this cane. I like it... just not sure what to do with it.

Pastel Necklace + another Cane Necklace

I have been so frustrated the last few days. I keep misplacing my tools... or the ghost in our attics has been sneaking down in the middle of the night to hide things from me. She does play tricks on me from time to time. I still haven't found my pinwheels and now I'm missing three sets of knitting needles. I have a small chest of drawers next to the recliner in the living room where I store my crochet and knitting supplies and my needles are ALWAYS there... now they are not. Besides knitting with them I also use them to make wire bails and O rings in different sizes. I've been digging through drawers and cabinets, no luck finding the needles but I have run across a few things I forgot I had. I found these pale yellow beads that go well with the poly clay beads I made so I assembled this Aztec design necklace.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

And I found a whole set of of Ranger Acrylic paints that I forgot I had. I used them on Kato pearl clay to make a pastel skinner blend. The texture design is from a vintage plastic doily. I highlighted the low areas in the design with gold PearlEx powder and sealed it with Kato sauce. I strung the pendant on variegated pastel satin cord. I had to use a pen to make the coils for the bail... because I cannot find those darn knitting needles!!

Cane & Mirror Image Necklaces

Our weather has turned a bit nippy. It has been raining which makes my joints ache so I haven't been able to do much. I did complete two necklaces from my stash and have more in the works.

The first is an Elvis necklace made with beads from pink and grey canes. Anything pink and grey reminds me of Elvis, hence the name. I used pink "Malaysia Jade" beads and grey seed beads to complete the necklace.

Malaysia Jade is actually translucent quartz that has been highly polished and permanently dyed.

For a closer look click on the photos.

The second is a Mirror Image pendant in autumn colors. I used matching polymer clay beads, glass pearl beads and peach color wire to make the links. Lobster claw clasp.

Polymer Clay Odds and Ends + A Couple Necklaces

Sunday is my night to watch tv starting with 60 Minutes followed by Amazing Race, Dexter and Mad Men. I settle down with a snack, a drink and my sanding supplies and I sand to my hearts content. I can't watch television without keeping my hands busy. I use to crochet or knit now I sand or assemble jewelry. Here's part of the batch I sanded last night. Click on the photos for a closer look.

And the second batch, mostly mirror images with a couple others.And I finished a couple necklaces. This one is strung on waxed cord tied with Chinese button knots.

And this one is a wrap around pendant complimented with colorful dyed cultured pearls strung on beading wire.

Misc Beads + Green Fish Pin & Deco Pin

I made some odds and ends beads mostly from scraps... they haven't been sanded yet... I dislike sanding beads, don't mind sanding larger things, but beads are a pain. I have a tumbler but I need to either cut up some sandpaper or get some river rocks and lord knows when I'll get around to doing either. Click on the photos for a closer look.
The fish is from the green scrap sheet. I used foil and PearlEx powder to add some sparkle. Sealed with Kato sauce. Made from the left over pieces from the fish... kinda has an Art Deco look don't ya think?

Second Chance Jewelry

Some time ago Heather and I made several "Second Chance" jewelry necklaces to sell in our Etsy shop. The necklaces are made from vintage jewelry that was damaged or missing pieces, like single earrings. I set these aside because I wasn't happy with the backs. The pieces are wired to frames and even though we carefully tucked in the wire ends I was concerned the wire might work loose and snag. I bought some leather scraps to back them but couldn't decided how to attach it. Once again polymer clay to the rescue when it occurred to me to use it to seal the backs. Works great, no more danger of snags.

The components in this necklace are an antique dress clip, a butterfly pin, a flower pin and a single clip earring wired to a vintage belt buckle. I added dangles of faceted blue crystals and a glass pearl teardrop. The back is covered in polymer clay. It hangs on a goldtone vintage chain. For a closer look click on the photos.
This second pendant is constructed from an enamel pin with palm trees and a sail boat, purple lilac flowers from a vintage earring and a green parrot pin that was missing it's pin back. They are all attached to a vintage shoe buckle. I used one of the polymer clay scraps sheets to make the backing. The chain is links of purple and green crystal bicone beads and I used green crystal beads and a faceted purple heart for the drop.

The third pendant is a combination of 6 blue rhinestone and faux pearl pin parts including a fun little bug pin. They are wired to a vintage shoe buckle. The drop is from a single earring. The pendant is backed with blue striped polymer clay and hangs on a vintage silver tone chain.
This is a fun pendant featuring a colorful rooster pin that lost his pin back and accented with a multicolor rhinestone pin, a gathered enamel pin in the center and a sparkling drop of tangerine crystal beads. The rooster is wearing a red seed bead necklace and there are little dangles of Swarovski crystal beads below the rooster. They are attached to a antique buckle. The back is sealed with gold polymer clay and I used PearlEx on the areas that show through the spaces in the buckle. It hangs on a vintage gold tone chain.