Another bracelet

Sometimes things way longer than they should.  I must have taken this bracelet apart a billion times yesterday.  After most of the day I finally produced a bracelet I like.


There are just days like that.

Oh and I meant to mention yesterday, about a tutorial at Ponsawan's tutorial blog. This tutorial is what inspired me to construct necklaces, bracelets, etc. with cotton, linen or hemp by knotting:  Ponsawan's tutorials  It's the third tutorial down.

And speaking of Ponsawan, she is having an Auction for Ada.  More info on her main blog Silastones blog. And here is her blog dedicated to Ada, her daughter Ada (warning: you will need a big box of kleenex).

There are some beautiful pieces being auction!  Be sure to go and take a look!

Texture

These started out to be bookmarks, but they are to thick to function well as bookmarks.  So now they are pendants.

I'm not sure about all of them, some of them I like more than others.  But, I love playing with texture!   No molds here!  I have a few basic tools, and some home made texture sheets. 

There are also random household items such as crumpled foil, sandpaper, paper towels, screws and whatever else I can find.

Just building the texture with polymer clay isn't enough.  It needs something to highlight the texture and make it stand out.

Sometimes  I add "Perfect Pearls" before curing.  It is a mica pigment powder that adds a metallic shine.  Also this particular brand "contains a binder that permanently adheres to polymer clay" so it is permanent (unless you put way too much on - Ask me how I know).

But, I'm finding that doesn't always bring out the texture like I would like.  Also, the pendant on the right, it's to much all over shiny silver.  Kind of boring.


The other thing I do is add a glaze or two of acrylic paint, usually burnt umber.  I also use the metallic colored paints to highlight and give a metallic look.


I applied acrylic paint to the silver pendant so that it now looks like old bronze.  I like it much better now!

New jewelry

I was at jury duty for less than an hour.  The defendant pleaded guilty and the judge dismissed us. Did some grocery shopping on the way home.  Had the rest of the day to make jewelry! YAY!

I am please with how this bracelet turned out.  It fits my 5 3/4" wrist perfectly!  Because it's so small, it might end up being a keeper!

Measured flat it is 7 1/4". It fits me perfect and is a little tight on my daughter who has a 6 1/2" wrist.  I need a way to figure sizes for bracelets. Measuring it flat isn't working.

I made a necklace in the same style as well.  Both are strung with waxed cotton cord.  I really enjoy making these!


Well, I'm off to do a little gardening and then make more jewelry.

Seven done, ninety-three to go.

Slow going

I'm officially open for business!  I have one necklace listed in my ArtFire shop!  lol

I had hoped to actually get a few more things listed in my ArtFire shop, but it just didn't happen.

Well, I didn't get done anything close to what I had planned.  I finished three necklaces. Only 97 more items to go!

It's just going to take longer than I anticipated.  But, I'm going to keep plugging away at it!

Well, I'm off to jury duty.

Serendipty

Spiced-Cider
Originally uploaded by julie_picarello

I was hoping to make every Saturday “Inspiration Saturday”, but it’s not happening like that yet. I have some ideas for it, but I need to do some research. I don’t have time at the moment. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I’ll get that rolling.

I had a nice serendipitous moment in my home studio this past week. I was attempting a polymer clay version of "mokume gane" It is a Japanese metal working technique that gives metal a wood grained look. More about the technique at: Wikipedia.org, Mokume gane.

Judie Picarello is polymer clay artist that has adopted this technique with awesome results. Here is a picture of some her work. The patterning, is beautiful. Her technique is flawless. I love the copper tube accent!

Take a look at her flicker photostream for more of her wonderful work: Julie Picarello

I of course attempt this technique from time to time. And my results are usually less that stunning. The best description would be dreadful. This weeks attempt was typical. I rolled the mess into a ball, attacked it with a tissue blade. 

Pardon the crummy picture, but for some reason these beads do not want to be photographed!  I'm really pleased with the patterning on cylinder shaped bead that is in the center top of the picture.

I got called up for jury service on Monday.   Not particularly looking forward to it.  I know, civic duty and all.  But this is my fifth or sixth time. And I have beads to make, dang it.

Guess I better quit complaining and get at it.

Freeform Friday

I’ve changed my mind about the picture for my store banner.  Remember the picture from a few days ago?  The beads in it were very beach looking. 

With a name like “Desert Wind Creations”, it should feel more like, well desert.  So this is what my banner for Etsy and ArtFire look like at the moment.  But, I'm still not entirely certain about it.

I live in the desert area of Washington (not all WA gets a lot of rain), east of the Cascades.  We have hot-hot-hot dry summers.  And biting cold winters with a little snow.  There is little rain, but we have some pretty big wind storms.  Desert. Hmmm. Wind. Hmmm.  Sounds like a good name for a winery?!?! Desert Wind Winery 

There are a lot of wineries in this area, and a lot of agriculture as well.  I can't get over how wonderful the local produce is.  I canned a little of it this past summer. 

I've also ventured into doing to a bit of wine making.   Dang, I keep getting sidetracked – To  many things to try!

I'm going to focus on making beads tonight and tomorrow.  Then Sunday, it's marathon jewelry making!

Off I go to squish clay around!

Goals and Challenges

I need inventory, and I need it bad!  I’ve been reading a lot of business information on the Etsy and ArtFire sites.  One tidbit of information I read o stated that you should have at least 100 pieces of inventory ready to sell!

I just about fell out of my chair when I read that! Holy Guacamole Batman!

Relax, breath deep and think.   

How am I going to do this?  I have some inventory already, but I’m going to pretend I don’t.  So how am I going to create 100 jewelry pieces?

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.  So, what I need to do is make this into small manageable “bites”.

The big question in my mind is: If I apply myself, I mean REALLY APPLY MYSELF, how many jewelry pieces and I make in day? A week? A month?

Lets say I give myself 4 weeks.  That works out to 25 pieces a week, or 3 - 4 a day.  That sounds doable! much less overwhelming than 100! 

So in 4 weeks I'm going to make 100 pieces of jewelry!

Currently, I'm waiting on an order from Fire Mountain, and I hope to get that in the next day or two.  In the meantime, I'm in polymer clay overdrive mode!  Cranking out some mean beads! 

By Saturday or Sunday, I should be ready to put some things together!  I'm actually going to shoot for 20 pieces over the weekend.  Lock myself in my little room and not come out until Monday.