Freeform Peyote Beadweaving

I keep debating whether to add this necklace to my ArtFire Studio or not. It was really, really time consuming to make. It would be the most expensive item in my studio.

And I'm a little blah about it.  It's not horrible (I think), but not the best either.  I don't know, maybe I'm my own worst critic! 

I have to think on it some more.



This purple and gold bracelet feels like I've been working it on forever.  I hadn't done free-form bead peyote for a couple of months and I had forgotten how time consuming it is!

It's nearly done, and I'm pleased with how it's turning out.  I need to finish it and move on! I'm not getting much else done.  This is what happens when I give the muse free reign!

These are really fun to do.  Some turn out better than others.  But, boy they take me forever!

Necklaces to Fix

I did these three necklaces sometime back.  I should be pleased with them, but there is something wrong with each one of them. Now, it's nothing that can't be fixed, I just have to restring them.

I like how they look (for the most part) and you can't see the problems from the picture. Maybe no one else but me would notice, but it bugs me.

Starting with left and center necklaces - I stained the beads with pthalo blue acrylic paint to highlight the textures.  But, I failed to let the beads dry long enough after staining.  Now the cord has a faint blue stain.

The necklace on the right is strung on waxed linen cord.  As a matter of fact, it's more wax then linen. It feels nasty!  What was I thinking?  Bought the waxed linen at coughcoughWalmartcough.

So today's lessons are:

1. Wait for the paint to dry and give the beads ten minute in the oven. 
2.  Only buy bananas and T-shirts at Walmart, and never ever buy beading supplies.

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!