Inventory Addition: 1.5mm Rattail Necklaces

I'm still updating my inventory with new and different crafts. This week, I'm working on using Rattail cord and macrame to produce some simple but elegant necklaces.

Here are two I made last night. Each necklace takes about an hour to construct. Pretty, aren't they?

The necklaces were made using 1.5mm Rattail cord in navy blue and burnt orange.

These two necklaces are other examples of the DIY kits I'll make for purchase over the next couple months. 

The kits will include all necessary material needed to construct a DIY necklace similar to what's shown in the image.

Here is a larger image showing the macrame in more detail.

Inventory Addition: Antique Bracelets

While getting ready for the next crafting event, I've decided to add some antique bracelets to my inventory.  

Here's a sample of one I made this morning. Pretty, isn't it?

The bracelet measures a total of 8.5 inches. The stringing material is 49 strand Beadalon. The colors of the charms and findings are antique bronze and antique silver.  

I'm still deciding if this piece will end up in my Etsy shop or on my vendor table at the Rose Bowl. Decisions, decisions?

Since I'm planning on constructing a DIY kit for this bracelet, a tutorial will not be providing in this post. Later, I will create a instructional video and upload it on YouTube. More info to come...   

Custom Domain Name Deletes Comments

In this post, I just wanted to give a special Thanks to my friends and subscribers who were concerned about the disappearance of all my comments, recommends, and links to other posts.

This permanent condition is a direct result of my wanting to use a custom domain name for my blog instead of the default, name.blogspot.com, provided by Blogger when you first sign up. 

Submit Your Post

Would you like to submit a guest post to this blog, Teach Me Clay?

If so, I have just a few guideline's I'd like you to adhere to. There aren't many rules to follow but in following them, your chances of being featured as a publisher on this blog will be much higher.

Okay, let's get started...

Submit a Guest Post on this Blog

1. Take some time and read through a few posts on this site. It will give you a  nice feel of the content I'm searching after.

Website Traffic? Whose Linking You?

Ever wonder how some blogs seem to have consistent traffic day end and day out? 

How does the smaller blogger accomplish this task? 

I found one way is by submitting your originals to crafting sites that accept submissions on their blog and/or website. 

After reading all the positive comments from submitting projects, I've decided to give it a try. My plan, over the next few months? To submit my how-to's and tutorials all over the place. Getting featured is basically creating great products portrayed with sharp, clear precise photos featuring the process.

Need A Gift Box? Make One

Ever find yourself in need of a gift box for a present or to organize some jewelry pieces? Why not make one yourself. 

It's actually easier that you may think. This tutorial will walk you through making a simple box. Instructions for the top and bottom are identical.

No more hunting around for the right size box or the perfect coordinating colors. The choices are endless. For my bottoms, I use colored, textured cardstock. For the tops, I've used magazine pages, scrapbooking paper and gift wrap.

Rose Bowl May 2015

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful mother's.

Today was another vendoring day at the Rose Bowl. It was a nice sunny, breezy day. In short, the weather was beautiful.

Again, I had my 10 x 10 vendor booth stocked with my handcrafted goodies and crafting supplies.

Since it's Mother's Day today, there were a lot of mother and daughter pairs strolling around. There were also a lot more families together.

I also noticed today people weren't buying as they did in previous months. I talked with other vendor's. They expressed the same observations. 

Twisting The Night Away

I found that I love making twisted wire jewelry. It's easy to do and the outcome always ends up fabulous and interesting. This post is going to be more of a. "look what I made," instead of a tutorial. Hope you enjoy.

By using just a few beads and wire, you can make a gorgeous pair of earrings.

Materials Used 
6 brown beads
18 gauge copper wire
To complete earrings
2 jump rings
2 ear wires

Easy Peasy! Any hole drilled beads will do. Wire? I use anywhere from 18 - 24 gauge. Anything larger is to hard to twist. Anything smaller and the shape won't lay right. 

Right Angle Weave Fun

In this post, I will give very, very simple instructions on how to create a right angle weave. Once you learn the basics, you can add as many rows as you like. 

I plan on using this technique to create some keychains. When my keychains are finished, I will post them at a later time. 

Two projects I designed. Both contain one right angle row.

All righty then, let get onto making a Right Angle Weave Unit.

Creating Row One
Begin by stringing four beads onto your thread.

Love My Bead Board

If you love beading, you really should think about investing in a bead board. I have found this tool a real jewelry making necessity. 

How I begin a new project with beads

My board makes it easy to create stunning jewelry pieces. I can easily lay out a multi strand necklace and bracelet design with ease. 

I just create and set out my pattern in the grooves of the board before I even think about stringing the beads together. 

I have found placing many different types of beads on the board allows me to observe new, exciting combinations of color mixes and shapes. I do this mixing of beads before I even begin thinking about my design.

Rose Bowl April 2015

This Sunday was Rose Bowl April. That's why my blog is going out later than usual. I had to get up at 4:00 am in order to pack up and get ready for the event. The rules are you must be inside the Rose Bowl as a vendor before 6:30 am or you lose your spot. 

Even though the flea market doesn't officially open until 9:00 am, there are vendors and store owners who are cruising around between 6:30 - 9:00 am buying the best merchandise early.

All in all, I had a lot of fun. Not only did I sell my handcrafted jewelry, I also setup a wall of supplies. The supply wall sold well. Mostly chains and charms. 

Happy Easter (no post)

God, watch over my family and friends. Keep them safe and healthy. Amen.

Now a quote,  
“Earth’s saddest day and gladdest day were just three days apart!”. -- Susan Coolidge

Okay peeps, Coffee break over. Got a dinner to finish.  Dee

Save Money on Tools Using Everyday Objects

When I first began making jewelry, I ran out and purchased every available tool I could afford. On some of the more overpriced tools, I'd hold out until the tool either went on sale or I could get a hold of a store coupon.

As I became more comfortable with my jewelry making techniques, I found myself wanting to save my tool money for the purchase of jewelry making supplies like polymer clay, wire and findings. This led me to began looking around my home for suitable tool substitutions. 

Bold Beads using 6 colors

When I was going through my inventory of clay looking for which colors were low and needed reordered, I put aside all the packs already opened from previous projects. There were about 15 opened packs.

Instead of opening up any new clay, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to use those clay packs. 

I have two upcoming craft fairs and will be teaching classes again in the month of April. Since I need beads and pendants to sell during these events, I decided it was time I get started.
 
This post will show you what I've been doing this morning.

Don't Throw Away That Old Clay

Don't throw away those old packs of polymer clay. With a little work your clay can be brought back to life. By using a few drops of mineral oil or trying out some of the other tips listed on this post, you can make your clay once again usable.

Sometimes when I'm looking for a specific color of clay I find that the clay is a few years old. In order to use this old clay, I must bring the clay back to a soft, flexible state. To do so, I chop the clay into small pieces, add a few drops of baby oil (mineral oil) to the chopped up pieces and then squish them back together. Next, just roll the clay out, squish, roll out again, repeat until the clay is conditioned.

Another way to condition clay is to warm it up. Take hot water in a pan and set aside. Place your packages of clay into a ziploc bag and place the ziplocked bag into the hot water. 

Pinterest - Grow a Web Presence

Attracting visitors to your website without using ads, affiliates or paying for search engine services like Google can be tough. That's why I've turned to Social Media.

Although I am using several Social Media services like Google+, Facebook and Twitter, I have found that Pinterest connects me with a lot more visitors.

I'm still under the belief that the Internet should remain free and no one should have to pay for a higher ranking on a search engine. Just my two cents worth.

Mokume Gane Technique

Mokume Gane is a nice technique to use for showing off bold colors. Below are some of the basics I used to create this heart pendant,

1. Layer 4 contrasting colors of clay. I used 0.5 oz of Premo in the following colors: 18K Gold, Orange, Navy Blue and Spanish Olive. All layers were rolled using the #1 setting on my pasta machine. 

2. Cut clay in half and place one half on top of the other. Roll through pasta machine again. Repeat cutting and rolling one more time. You should now have a total of 4 halves placed one on top of the other. 

Rose Bowl Vendor - Pasadena California 91103

Forgot to mention last month, I have finally started selling at the biggest flea market in California, the Rose Bowl. It's so nice that the event is only a couple blocks from my home. Come look me up. I'm a permanent vendor located in a 10x10' spot in the middle of the crafting section just left of the Exit Gate B, booth 865. 

I'm selling my handcrafted jewelry, some dream catchers I made and all the crafting supplies and jewelry kits I have on hand. Good thing I have a truck. I'm just so glad I decided to start selling here when I did. While purchasing my permanent spot, I was told there were only a few spots left. Whew! Almost missed out again. I'm now paid thru June. I know it's early but already I can't wait for the holidays. So, look for Teach Me Clay the 2nd Sunday every month at the Rose Bowl!

Inspiration - Puddingstone Lake Visit

Late today on getting out my blog.

This day was quite pleasant. I spent the day at Pudingstone Lake with good friends, good music and great fun.

While walking around the lake, I did find some nice bamboo, sea shells and rocks. 

Need Beads? Then Make Some

I was in the need for some colorful beads. There is a craft fair coming up soon and I want to apply for a space as a vendor. 

One of the requirements is a photo of your booth. Since the holidays, my finished pieces have dwindled (yeah, good sales this last season). 

Anyway, I need more bracelets and necklaces to fill out my display. My bead stash is low so it's time to make some additional beads. Time to replenish my stash. 

Polymer & Metal Clay - The Early Years

Do you remember your first time working with polymer or metal clay's? I didn't. Then, a few days ago I began cleaning out some old boxes in my garage. 

I wanted to set aside old clothing/small appliances/knickknacks/etc., for a donation to my local thrift shop. Well, low and behold what did I find? A small box full of some of my first polymer and metal clay creations.

Too funny! Just look at the polymer clay, dull colors, burnt clay, bubbles leaching through the surface, no color distinction, very little imagination and uneven pieces. I'm still wondering why I keep those eggs (seen below)? I know I'm a hoarder at times, BUT really?

Pendants & Earrings with Premo Accents

I wrote a very similar post on Dec. 28, 2014. It can be found here. It provides more photos and details for this technique.
_____________ 

Yesterday, I crafted some pendants that will be displayed during a trunk show hosted at a friend's home next month. If you have been reading my blog, you will notice my brand is creating asymmetric jewelry using warm tones.  

Now, on to the pendants. The polymer clay colors chosen were all Premo Accent colors of 1oz size bars. The colors used are Red Glitter, Bronze, 18-karat Gold, Copper and Translucent.

All bars were chopped into little pieces and conditioned. I find chopping them up first allows the conditioning process to go a little faster. Some people use a food processor for this step. I just use a sharp blade.

Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show

This year, I am committed to participating in as many Crafting Fairs, Bead Shows, Flea Markets and Swap Meets that I can. I am enjoying the contacts I'm meeting from my jewelry business and website so much that I feel it's time to spread my wings to the max.

When I expressed my plans to a friend, he told me about the Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show. So, we made plans and attended today. My friend is very familiar with the event since he use to bring cars and parts in as a vendor for many years.

Findings Before Baking & Mokume Gane

This photo is an example of inserting my handmade findings into my polymer clay pieces before baking them. My usual method was to make a hole for the finding and then bake or make no hole in my pieces and wire wrap after baking.

This simple set was completed in less than 2 hours. No need to wire wrap the pendants or the earrings.

Since I have begun using suede lace in place of chains or nylon string on some of my pieces, this technique is turning out to be quite useful and a great little time saver.

Fun with Dream Catcher's

Making a dream catcher has been very relaxing. The technique is quite easy once you get the hang of it.

To date, I have made 5 and given 4 away. Now that I've decided to add dream catcher's to my inventory, I wish I had taken photos or created a tutorial before giving them away. Oh well.