I found this beauty on flickr yesterday.
I love her write up and inspiration for creating it, what a gorgeous piece.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Sea Urchin inspired
I found this beauty on flickr yesterday.
I love her write up and inspiration for creating it, what a gorgeous piece.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Handmade pricing
http://whatthecraft.com/overpriced-cant-afford-handmade-pricing/
This post does a great job breaking down costs, I think its important for all hand made items, jewelry or clothing or furniture....
This post does a great job breaking down costs, I think its important for all hand made items, jewelry or clothing or furniture....
Lovely art work
I know tattoos aren't for everyone, but I think this is really pretty, found it on a google search, sorry no website address
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Building blog traffic tips
What Chef Gordon Ramsay Can Teach You About Building a Highly-Trafficked Blog
by ANA HOFFMAN
http://diythemes.com/thesis/gordon-ramsay-traffic-building
worth the read, of course how do I implement?
by ANA HOFFMAN
http://diythemes.com/thesis/gordon-ramsay-traffic-building
worth the read, of course how do I implement?
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Ammonite earrings from Lotus Arts
Dig on these groovy ammonite earrings
The are from Lotus Art de Vivre jewelry and I found them from this blog:
http://eclecticjewelryandfashion.blogspot.com/search/label/Lotus%20Arts%20de%20Vivre%20Jewelry
Monday, August 15, 2011
Polymer Clay "Master's" Project List
I present my PC Mastery List
disclaimer:
I've been thinking ever since I posted this idea just exactly HOW would this work. Ok first of all I am not suggesting that I take over the world of polymer clay and decide what qualifies for a master level polyclay artist. And Im not suggesting that I am going to run a "certification" registry where I judge the quality of another person's work. Heck I'm not even an active guild member for any polymer clay at the moment, so this is just an idea.
An idea of what would make for a well rounded skill set for a polyclay artist. We all have our niches, some of us rock the cane world while others avoid canes like the plague. Some of us are queens of image transfer while others have never managed to get it to work.
But if someone suggests this to one of the guilds I want my name mentioned--I want my "skinner blend" moment --well don't we all?
end disclaimer
What would this consist of? Using the Metal Clay Master's Registry as my model I suggest there be several main categories, and several specific projects. Unlike the Metal Clay Registry I think there are no levels, just do all of the projects on the list. Right now I have 5 to 6 projects per category , 5 categories, and one capstone (show off) project. I've integrated specific projects into the different categories.
I want to make sure I include the following objects:
egg/ornament
tin
pen
light bulb
bead set
inro or box of just clay
These I think are important objects to work on in the development of a polyclay artist's skills.
MY category suggestions are:
color
canes
structure
media
effects
Color, this would look at how to alter color in polymer clay:
1. creating sampler with repeatable color recipes-6 minimum
2. surface patina using alcohol inks or acrylic paints
3. integrating alcohol inks into the clay
4. use of mica pigments in the decorative covering of a lightbulb
5. metal leafing
6. skinner blend
Canes, canes are such an integral part of the polymer clay world I think it is important to be able to demonstrate caning skills, even if they "aren't your thing":
1. create simple geometric cane
2. create complex cane of choice
3. cover a smooth ornament or egg with seamless cane tiles
4. dimensional use of cane slices
5. integration of a ghost cane technique
Structure, this is a great medium for building forms, but its important to be able to control them:
1. free form sculptural jewelry
2. sculpture with armature
3. matching shape and size bead set
4. Inro box pendant
5. high gloss finish from polishing only (no coating)
Media, polymer clay mixes with other media very well
1. integrate materials (semi precious stones, pearls, fibers, glass, crystal)
2. integrate metal
3. integrate findings to add beads to after firing
4. resin to create a high polish
5. usable handle, or cover a pen
Effects, so much can be done
1. Image transfers
2. tear away technique
3. faux materials sampler- 6 minimum
4. mokume gane incorporated into a covered tin design
5. mica shift
Capstone project
This is a super show off your skills project, this would be your "Im going to win the competition" piece, the culmination of your skills. This is the piece if you could only show one thing that demonstrates your mastery of polymer clay. It should integrate multiple techniques.
I have tried to make this comprehensive, I have not only included items I am familiar with or have "mastered." There are definitely projects on this list that will require work.
disclaimer:
I've been thinking ever since I posted this idea just exactly HOW would this work. Ok first of all I am not suggesting that I take over the world of polymer clay and decide what qualifies for a master level polyclay artist. And Im not suggesting that I am going to run a "certification" registry where I judge the quality of another person's work. Heck I'm not even an active guild member for any polymer clay at the moment, so this is just an idea.
An idea of what would make for a well rounded skill set for a polyclay artist. We all have our niches, some of us rock the cane world while others avoid canes like the plague. Some of us are queens of image transfer while others have never managed to get it to work.
But if someone suggests this to one of the guilds I want my name mentioned--I want my "skinner blend" moment --well don't we all?
end disclaimer
What would this consist of? Using the Metal Clay Master's Registry as my model I suggest there be several main categories, and several specific projects. Unlike the Metal Clay Registry I think there are no levels, just do all of the projects on the list. Right now I have 5 to 6 projects per category , 5 categories, and one capstone (show off) project. I've integrated specific projects into the different categories.
I want to make sure I include the following objects:
egg/ornament
tin
pen
light bulb
bead set
inro or box of just clay
These I think are important objects to work on in the development of a polyclay artist's skills.
MY category suggestions are:
color
canes
structure
media
effects
Color, this would look at how to alter color in polymer clay:
1. creating sampler with repeatable color recipes-6 minimum
2. surface patina using alcohol inks or acrylic paints
3. integrating alcohol inks into the clay
4. use of mica pigments in the decorative covering of a lightbulb
5. metal leafing
6. skinner blend
Canes, canes are such an integral part of the polymer clay world I think it is important to be able to demonstrate caning skills, even if they "aren't your thing":
1. create simple geometric cane
2. create complex cane of choice
3. cover a smooth ornament or egg with seamless cane tiles
4. dimensional use of cane slices
5. integration of a ghost cane technique
Structure, this is a great medium for building forms, but its important to be able to control them:
1. free form sculptural jewelry
2. sculpture with armature
3. matching shape and size bead set
4. Inro box pendant
5. high gloss finish from polishing only (no coating)
Media, polymer clay mixes with other media very well
1. integrate materials (semi precious stones, pearls, fibers, glass, crystal)
2. integrate metal
3. integrate findings to add beads to after firing
4. resin to create a high polish
5. usable handle, or cover a pen
Effects, so much can be done
1. Image transfers
2. tear away technique
3. faux materials sampler- 6 minimum
4. mokume gane incorporated into a covered tin design
5. mica shift
Capstone project
This is a super show off your skills project, this would be your "Im going to win the competition" piece, the culmination of your skills. This is the piece if you could only show one thing that demonstrates your mastery of polymer clay. It should integrate multiple techniques.
I have tried to make this comprehensive, I have not only included items I am familiar with or have "mastered." There are definitely projects on this list that will require work.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Chithuly
And here is the finished bracelet!
Chithuly= I thought it looked like a Chihuly chandelier, my husband thought it was overly Chuthulu.....
This is a completely over populated bracelet with a center piece jeweled octopus made from polymer clay.
Im very proud of myself because I figured out how to solder all the links together.
one center piece octopus,
10 gradation silver to pearl tentacles
4 spirals
4 pearl trumpets
6 stick pearls
4 glass beads with spirals
8 bicone crystals
6 large firepolished glass beads
2 polymer beads
6 pearls with polymer bead caps
10 bead caps
20 shell disks
Im not counting how many jump rings or how many seed beads
Chithuly= I thought it looked like a Chihuly chandelier, my husband thought it was overly Chuthulu.....
This is a completely over populated bracelet with a center piece jeweled octopus made from polymer clay.
Im very proud of myself because I figured out how to solder all the links together.
one center piece octopus,
10 gradation silver to pearl tentacles
4 spirals
4 pearl trumpets
6 stick pearls
4 glass beads with spirals
8 bicone crystals
6 large firepolished glass beads
2 polymer beads
6 pearls with polymer bead caps
10 bead caps
20 shell disks
Im not counting how many jump rings or how many seed beads
My first soldered jump ring
I felt the need to learn to solder today, right this minute.
Actually its a need thats been growing, after all Ive owned the equipment for a while. I just never really had the need. Until the bracelet I wanted to wear started to fall part under its own weight. The links just pulled away from each other at their closing points.
Well I did not want to have all the work on the piece be for naught, so I decided I would solder all those pesky links together. And I did!
It wasn't nearly as hard as I had anticipated. of course developing skill and getting nice clean joins will take practice. But I can totally see how this soldering thing can be so addictive. The way the metal flows, its really nifty.
I was good I did purchase an iron stand for today, and I did wear my googles.
Actually its a need thats been growing, after all Ive owned the equipment for a while. I just never really had the need. Until the bracelet I wanted to wear started to fall part under its own weight. The links just pulled away from each other at their closing points.
Well I did not want to have all the work on the piece be for naught, so I decided I would solder all those pesky links together. And I did!
It wasn't nearly as hard as I had anticipated. of course developing skill and getting nice clean joins will take practice. But I can totally see how this soldering thing can be so addictive. The way the metal flows, its really nifty.
I was good I did purchase an iron stand for today, and I did wear my googles.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Quilled Paper Version of Van Gogh’s Starry Night Painting
Check this out, its' awesome!
http://laughingsquid.com/quilled-paper-version-of-van-goghs-starry-night-painting/
and here she shows us the process
http://www.suzyssitcom.com/2011/07/feature-friday-quilled-starry-night.html
How about some pricing help...
Lauren Venell has written a fabulous article on how to price your work.
You can read the full text here
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2011/08/how-to_price_your_handcrafted.html
You can read the full text here
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2011/08/how-to_price_your_handcrafted.html
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
My work space
I have a very interesting work space.
I can only do so much in it. I share a room with my mother. She paints. she has half the room and I have the other half. And since it used to be the formal dining room Im not exactly allowed to put up shelving or anything.
I realize I am lucky to have a dedicated space. Since before my space was the living room table, and that stopped when I had kids.
The current space is a room right off the entry and hall, and on the way to the garage. So it has become a weigh station of things coming in and going out, and unfortunately becomes a dumping ground for stuff other than art (like my book bags, things that need to transition down to the garage, stuff like that).
Im working on maintaining it clean, but that require hours a month. It tends to look more like a disaster area than it does a tidy work space.
I can only do so much in it. I share a room with my mother. She paints. she has half the room and I have the other half. And since it used to be the formal dining room Im not exactly allowed to put up shelving or anything.
I realize I am lucky to have a dedicated space. Since before my space was the living room table, and that stopped when I had kids.
The current space is a room right off the entry and hall, and on the way to the garage. So it has become a weigh station of things coming in and going out, and unfortunately becomes a dumping ground for stuff other than art (like my book bags, things that need to transition down to the garage, stuff like that).
Im working on maintaining it clean, but that require hours a month. It tends to look more like a disaster area than it does a tidy work space.