Hey Santa, Check These Out!

You know, Christmas is starting to get kind of close.  Here are three items in Jewelry By Andrea's Studio at ArtFire that I wouldn't mind finding under my Christmas tree!!!

The colors in this Spiritual Red Coral, Conch shell and Brass Bracelet  are so rich!

Intense blue!! This handmade necklace features a Thai pendant with lapis lazuli. I love lapis, it's such an intesnse blue. And an accent of turquoise (love it to!) Did I mention that lapis lazuli is an incredible intense blue?!?

I love the organic look of this necklace - Abstract Nepalese Turquoise and Red Coral pendant with African beads!

Tax Preparation Class - What Was I Thinking?

Worked on all day on take home midterm.  Am zombie now. 

Happy Halloween!

   Curated By: DesertWindDes...

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Happy Halloween!

Is it Real or is it Memorex?

I must really be showing my age by referencing the old audio tape commercial - the one where the tape recording of the opera singer breaks the crystal glass.  Now, if you have to ask what an audio tape is, well never mind.

Perhaps I should have just said is it real or is it polymer clay? Polymer clay is a great medium for faux effects.

The "bone" sun pendant in this necklace was created by moi from polymer clay. 

Polymer can emulate very well a variety of items such as leather, metal, , coral, jade, wood, river stone and the list goes on!

 In this pendant Desert Rubble has combined real metal gears with polymer clay. What a fun combo!

These polymer clay river stones have wonderful layers of subtle color.  This necklace by Fantasy Clay, has the distinct advantage over the real thing of being much lighter.


If you are interested in trying some faux techniques with polymer clay, there are some basic free tutorials at Polymer Clay Central.  There are polymer clay tutorials on several other topics as well.

Some books if you are interested: Faux Surfaces in Polymer Clay by Irene Semanchuk Dean; Making Polymer Clay Beads by Carol Blackburn; Steampunkery by Christi Friesen.

This is just a tiny bit of info on polymer clay and faux effects!  It is one of the many fun and wonderful things about polymer clay.

Water and Reminiscing

When I tell people I live in Washington state, inevitably I get asked about the rain.  But in our area, east of the Cascades, we don't get all that much rain. This is desert! The average rainfall is about 8"  where the average for Los Angeles  is nearly 15".  But, irrigation water makes this area rich in agriculture. (And wineries!)

Water, necessary for life too little is a bad thing, as is too much.  And a great source of fun and recreation as well!   Growing up in Southern California, especially in my teen years, I spent a lot of summer time at the beach.


Waves and Pearl pin  by Sassy Clay Creations takes me back to those days of playing and swimming in the ocean.  Hot summer days and the cool pacific ocean.  The roar of the ocean and taste of salt water.

I never found starfish or much in the way of shells on the beach, but Tina Holden's Blue Crackle Pendant starfish bead is reminiscent of the tide pools in Corona Del Mar.


Dolphins!  My daughter loved dolphins when she was growing up!  Each year we had to go to Sea World In San Diego! This
Dolphin sculpture by Tamed takes me back to those times.

Hopefully someday I'll take a trip to Southern California and play on the beach again.

My Muse is a Pain in the Neck

My muse is telling me I need to get out to the studio in the garage and do some work.  Abuse some metal, and maybe do some painting. 

Now, why does my muse wait until it's COLD and want to go out to the garage studio and work? But my muse is telling me I need to make earrings similar to these. 

Not only that, but silver is $23.85 an ounce!  I made these in a jewelry class I was taking a few years back.  Then silver was only $7.00 or so an ounce!

Maybe next week, I'll have hubby fire up the kerosene heater and I can get out there and saw and hammer and rivet some metal! 

What my Muse Has Been Doing

I've let the muse loose a bit the last few days.  One of my favorite type of projects is free form peyote stitch, but it is very time consuming.   I've been working on this bracelet for about 3-4 days now.  Using my new favorite color combination - purple and copper!

I have no idea what it will look like until it's done! It's so much fun to see them progress.

The other thing I've been working on is dragons.  This little gal is based on the tutorial in the Christi Friesen book "Dragons".  Her work is so charming!  And I generally don't do "cute" to terribly well.  Usually when I try it has some weirdness to it.  Sort of zombie cute.

Anyway, this dragon appears to have some cuteness about her, although the combo of the feathers and tail texture looks a little weird.  Part bird, part sea dragon.

I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this, but it's fun!  I'm also gradually working up to doing more sculptural items.  So we will see what the muse does!

Hugs!

Everyone needs a hug! (With all the internet issues I've had, I know I could sure use one!) These cards from Art by Sun Fire are so sweet!  She has more cards and lots of other wonderful items in her ArtFire Studio. 

I hate to be the one to break the news, but the Holidays are coming! If you have your shopping done, I don't want to hear about it!   (Boy, I'm needing that hug more and more.)

This recipe card box would be so nice to store all those special holiday treat recipes!


I would love to find this jewelry box under my Christmas tree! (Honey, are you reading this?)

Click on the link to visit  Art by Sun Fire's  ArtFire Studio to see the rest of her charming items!