Polymer Clay Lentil Beads

Fantastic Filigree beads

Just want to show a set of lentil beads made in my Fantastic Filigree technique.  These beads are hollow, framed with antique brass round links, about 1.5" in diameter.

Making convex framed necklace parts is described in my tutorial  Faux Metal Necklace.  Creation of a pattern similar to the one on these beads is covered in my Fantastic Filigree tutorial.

Fantastic Filigree beads

Fantastic Filigree beads, fragment

First Place in Bead Dreams Polymer Clay Category

My Openwork Necklace took the first place in Bead Dreams 2015, Polymer Clay Category!

Here is the link to the results page:
Bead Dreams 2015 Ribbon Winners.

I cannot wait to see the pictures of other winning pieces.  I bet they are going to be breath-taking!

Edited to add: Link to a few variations of the Openwork Pendants technique:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/eugenascreations/

Polymer Clay Tutorial Hollow Crescent Beads

These beads should probably be called "lost and found'. 

A while ago I was playing with different textures and inadvertently made a crescent bead.  I thought: "Oh, cool bead!  I shall figure out what do with it and then write a tutorial."  Then I completely forgot about it, and only recently came across it in my studio.  This time suddenly everything clicked in place and I immediately envisioned a project with this type of beads and metal filigree. 

So, here is my new tutorial, and it is available in my etsy shop.

Let me know what you think!

Textures, Textures, and More Textures

I am working on a new tutorial for a polymer clay necklace with lots of different textures and imitation of metal surfaces.

Can you guess how each of these textures was obtained?

If not, then this tutorial is for you.

In this tutorial, I describe more then 40 various textures, all made by hand, with some simple tools, or using everyday objects.  No manufactured stamps or texture plates are involved!

I also give a few recipes for creating metal surfaces imitating silver and bronze, explain how to make convex framed necklace parts and how to put them together, and reveal numerous tips and tricks that will be extremely helpful not only with this particular design, but with many others.

Also, did you know that even a soft kitchen sponge can be used to obtain deep sharp texture?  In this tutorial, I will show you how to do it!

Mixed Media Beads, Finished Necklace

I am having so much fun with my new mixed media beads!

Here is a finished necklace that will be described in my next tutorial.  The tutorial is almost finished, too!

I am including three different types of mixed media beads in this tutorial:  the first one is when polymer clay clay plays only a structural role and cannot be seen in the finished bead, the second one is when polymer clay is used in design as well, and it is textured, and the third one is when polymer clay canes are used in the design. 

The bead with the canes is used in this necklace.  In the tutorial, I will explain how to make the cane, how to construct the bead, and how to put it all together into a necklace.

As always, I am trying to describe a technique, a general approach rather than a particular project.  The projects in my tutorials (including this new one) are just examples of what can be done with the approach I am explaining. 

In case of the mixed media beads, the number of designs and variations that can be made is simply endless.

I hope to finish the tutorial before weekend, but I cannot promise.  Too much is going on in my life that distracts me from polymer clay...

Mixed Media Beads, Revisited

Polymer clay, glass, and antiqued brass - I love this combination. 

This is my new take on the technique originally described in my tutorial for Pandora Beads.  I made so many modifications to this project that I want to capture them in a new tutorial. 

Stay tuned!  It's coming this month, I promise.

Oh, and this bead is currently in my shop on Etsy, by the way.