New Coiled Wire Bail for Polymer Clay Tiles

First I am happy to report the little bird was safely rescued. Heather helped me open the BIG window and with very little fanfare we were able to shoo the little guy on his way.  Amazing how much easier it was without the cats in hot pursuit.

Here is a photo of the the birdie perched atop a framed fashion print. (My clay room use to be my sewing room.)

Then he flew over to a basket sitting on top of a cabinet in the corner.  He stayed up there until we got the window open then, with a little coaxing from Heather standing on a chair, he flew down to the open window and made his way to freedom.

Okay here is my New Coiled Wire Bail.  I was thinking about ways I could attach polymer clay tiles to the ball chain when it occurred to me

 Click on the photos for a closer look.

First I tried it with 3 polymer clay tiles.

That went well so I tried it with 5 tiles.  This is how it looks before I added the chain.

Now with the chain.

This is the back side... so it will work for reversible tiles too.

I  made these tiles years ago. I always meant to use them on a bracelet but I like the way they look as a necklace.

I made these tiles years ago too.... for a pendant and earrings.... I added a couple tube beads and made a necklace instead.

I wanted to see how the coiled bail would work on oval beads. I got a little carried away with this one.... kept adding beads and doodads.... I'm not crazy about the black beads in the center....  may have to take it apart and start over.  Here it is before the chain.  The color is off, I always have trouble with purple...they look blue, they are not blue, trust me they are purple.

Here is with the chain.

I hope to make a bracelet by using the coiled bails on both sides of the tiles.... I'll let you know how it turns out.

Thanks for stopping by.

Pendants... lots of Pendants

I have several boxes filled with pendants that I want to list in our Etsy shop. I was going to list them without chains but I found a shop on Etsy that sells inexpensive chains, chokers and organza ribbons that go well with the pendants.  The new owners can use them as is or discard the cords and add their own chains.

I spend Sunday evening putting the pendants on the chains and cords.

I ended up with a box full..... over 50 necklaces so far...

Click on the photos for a closer look.

Here are the ones on the Organza cords. They have cheapy looking lobster claw clasps and extender chains but the cords look nice.  I considered changing the clasps but then thought better of it... the new owners can change them if they want.

These are strung on colorful memory wire chokers with screw type closures. I wish the closures were more attractive but they seem to function okay and the price was right.

.............and the remaining pendants are strung on colored ball chains.

I still have more to go....

but first I have to get another bird out of the house..... right now it is isolated in my clay room.  I am waiting for Heather to come help open the window.... it's a BIG window and I can't open it by myself.  Fortunately I discovered the bird before the cats this time and was able to exile the blood thirsty felines to the upper regions of the house. Needless to say they are not happy!!  I cannot for the life of me figure out how the sneaky little birds keep getting in... tis a mystery!!

Wish me luck.

Thanks for stopping by.

Mixed Media Red & Aqua Necklace and Pendant

One of the Julie P. pendants I made is the focal on this mixed media necklace.  I used red howlite beads, aqua blue magnesite beads, copper and amber wire to complete the necklace. The pendant has circles in the design so I continued the circles on the wire links.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

Close up of the woven wire leaves.

I used rows of red mirco glass balls to out line recessed areas on the pendant. 

A different view of the necklace.  It has a bit of a southwestern look, reminds me of a chard of pottery.

I also made a woven wire pendant with a polymer clay drop in the same colors. 

I have three boxes of unfinished pendants. My goal is to string them ... at least some of them,  before I start a new project.  I found a shop on Etsy that sells inexpensive cords and chains that is suitable for many of them. I hope to get them in our Etsy shop in time for the holiday shopping.

I will take photos tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by.

Circles Pin/Pendant

Circles seem to be a favorite design lately so I have been working with circles. The only thing I finished so far is this pin. I used one of the pinbacks with a bail so it can also be worn as a pendant.

I used Pardo Art Clay translucent over Premo.  I used silver leaf on the back side of the translucent and stamped the top with black ink. I then repeated the circles with woven wire and black jade beads.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

Here is how it looked before curing

and here is the finished piece.

different angles

It was hard to get a good photo of the silver leaf effect, the last one shows it best. 

Short and sweet, that is all for today... this is my tv night and I have to gather the pieces I want to sand and "wire up" while I watch my shows.

Thanks for stopping by.

A bit of Dichroic Glass in Polymer Clay

I paid good money for fancy cat beds and my goofy cats much prefer a ratty old box.  I unpacked my order from Fire Mountain Gems, set the box on the floor and Fritz hopped in.

He looks scared cause he sees Corny headed his way. Sure enough she kicks him out, curls up and falls asleep.

Corny is a little things but soooo bossy.  I'm always amazed how she gets away with pushing him around, he's a lot bigger but he backs down every time.

Heather gave me several small dichroic glass cabs, I used one in this necklace.  It matched this pendant perfectly. I used matching beads and colored wire for the chain.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

A different view.

A close up of the pendant.

I also made more Julie Picarello beads, not sure how I will use them but I like the color combo.

Time for a nap..... thanks for stopping by.

Murphy's Law Necklace

This is my "Murphy's Law" Necklace, everything that could go wrong did go wrong... first I popped the back off one of the side tiles when I ran the wire through so I had to glue it back together, then I got glue on the tile so I had to take necklace apart in order to resand and buff the tile, then the hole in the black oval beads was to small for the wire and I couldn't find my bead reamer... I reorganized my studio  last month so things would be easier to find... yeah, right!  took half an hour but I finally found it in my new carousel organizer...  sitting there in plain sight!  The final straw was when I glued my index finger and thumb together with Zap-a-Gap glue... not just one hand but both hands!!  

How, you ask, did I do such a goofy thing?  One hand, sure, we have all done that... but both hands? Okay, see the black wire links with the pink and green beads?  I was concerned the wire wouldn't stay together on the large O rings so I put a tiny drop of glue where the wire ends meet. slid a bead over the glue and held for a few seconds until the glue set up. This went really well until I got to the very last link.  For some reason the glue didn't set so I moved the bead over added a little more glue slid the bead back waited 10 seconds or so, tried the bead and it still moved  so once again I moved the bead over added a tad more glue put the bead back and decided to hold it until the bead stayed in place.... I was watching one of my new favorite shows "Person of Interest"  so I settled back in my chair and held the wire in place until the next commercial. Several minutes later the commercial came on, I tested the bead with my middle finger and it was secure. I put the necklace down.... uh oh.. it was then I  realized my fingers were also secure...very secure!   Yip, the glue had run down the wire seeped between my fingers and thumbs and there I sat  with my hands looking like kissing rabbit shadow puppets.  

Now, I am here by myself so I try to come up with something that will unstick me.  I'm thinking finger nail polish remover... I don't polish my nails anymore but I'm fairly sure I have an old bottle somewhere, if I can just remember where I put it.  Okay I want you to hold your index fingers and thumbs together and go rustle through your cabinets and drawers.... see, not so easy! 

  Couldn't find the polish remover so I tried Dawn soap... works for almost everything, right?... does not work for Zap a Gap,  tried alcohol, didn't work either... I keep trying to pull my fingers apart and finally the right hand gives way... free at last... but the left hand in another story,  lots more glue and it is starting to hurt from so much pulling and tugging, I didn't know skin could stretch that far.

  I try all my cleaning supplies, Windex, Mr Clean, Kaboom.... anything I can find.... For a second or two I consider trying to cut it apart with a tissue blade but I'm left handed and not to steady with my right hand. I picture my trying to explain to the ER tech why I sliced off my finger tip.... and his/her head shaking and the "poor old thing" look in his/her eyes.  So I scrapped that plan.

 I could have called Heather but it was almost 10 o'clock...she is probably in her pj's. So as a least ditch effort I hold my hand under running hot water, hot as I can stand,  and continue to tug and pull and wiggle and tug some more... at last, the finger and thumb  pop apart.  What a relief!! My thumb is okay but my finger is sore, feels kinda bruised.  

Next day I did a little research.  Seems there is a "debonder" for super glues, found at most craft stores or finger nail polish with acetone works.... or the hot water method I stumbled on works fairly well.  Needless to say I made a trip to the store for nail polish remover, less painful than the water treatment.  I will  get the debond stuff next time I go to Michaels.  I am now prepared if the mishap should occur again... just in case I forget... I  put the nail polish remover on the back shelf in the clay room. 

Here is the necklace.... not sure it is worth the trouble.

Click on the photos for a closer look. 

from another angle.

I also made a Mixed Media bracelet with yellow and black tiles.  I don't make many bracelet, I rarely wear them, but daughter Patty does.  I used 18 gauge wire for the frame, 28 gauge wire with seed beads for the weaving.  

The wire can be adjusted to fit any size wrist and is sturdy enough to hold it's shape, I would like to add  a closure of some type just haven't come up with one as yet... any suggestions?

That's it for today, I'm on to my next adventure.  

Thanks for stopping by. 

Mixed Media Pumpkins

I love autumn.  The colors are stunning, the leaves are falling, the air is crisp, the birds and squirrels are fun to watch...... and the sound of the high school band takes me back to the carefree days of my youth.

Inspired by the autumn colors here is my Pumpkin Jewelry made with polymer clay and colored wire.

Pumpkin Necklace and Pins.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

A closer look at the Necklace

and a closer look at the pins. I haven't sanded them yet.

And I made a set of Mirror Image Beads

I hope you are enjoying the sights and sounds and smells of autumn as much as I am.

Thanks for stopping by.