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