WIP Openwork Pendants

For the last few weeks I've been obsessed with an idea of creating a strong and rigid, yet airy structure out of polymer clay.

To some degree, I was able to realize this idea in my Openwork Bracelets, but it was not quite what I am aiming for this time.

After hours of experimenting and piles of wasted clay, I am finally satisfied with my results.

Here are a few first pictures, and more are coming soon.

Alien Attack!

Picture from http://www.arkinspace.com

I've been attacked by these vicious-looking creatures!

OK, so may be they are not aliens, but just fellow Earth inhabitants. Apparently, they are called Saddleback Moth Caterpillars.

And may be they were just peacefully munching on the leaves of my lilies, minding their own business. However, after our brief encounter I felt sharp burning pain in my shoulder, which did not go away for hours, despite all my efforts. A full week later I still have itching red marks on my shoulder...

Picture from http://bugguide.net

I had only two of these guys on my plants. They are pretty small – just about half an inch long, but the damage they can cause is astonishing. As I've learned after a quick Internet search, some people experienced nausea after touching these caterpillars, and some even ended up in a hospital. So I guess, I can consider myself lucky – it could have been worse...

Even through the burning pain, I was fascinated by these things. They are frieky, but amazing at the same time, don't you think?

Being an artist, I perhaps should get inspired by this episode and make a new line of inspirational jewelry with an encouragement slogan. “Stand for Yourself!”, for example (and these creatures can definitely stand for themselves, I am telling you)...

Nah, I guess I would stay focused on the projects I am working on right now. They are too exciting to put aside!

Anybody wants this idea? Feel free to use it. Unfortunately, I cannot arrange the whole authentic experience for you, since my husband promptly destroyed my aliens in a swift retaliation attack. You would have to get your own somewhere in the South (apparently, they are more common there)...

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!

Cabin Fever 2015

CABIN FEVER CREATIVE ARTS FEST 

When: February 12 – 18, 2015.

Where: at the Holiday Inn West, Laurel, Maryland.

Instructors: Maureen Carlson, Jana Roberts Benzon, Robert Dancik, Dayle Doroshow, Christi Friesen, Lindly Haunani, Anke Humpert, Doreen Kassel, Randee Ketzel, Melanie Muir, Kathryn Jo Ottman, Nan Roche, Sarah Shriver, Marie Segal, Eugena Topina, and Teri Walters.

There will be full-day pre-conference workshops and 4-hour conference workshops. 

For more information, please check  Creative Art's Fest Blog.

New Tutorial Faux Cloisonne: Color

I am very excited about this new tutorial and happy to introduce it. 

With this tutorial, I invite you to return to my signature Faux Cloisonne technique and explore various possibilities for creating beautiful reach colors. 

This tutorial explains in a great detail how to add a metal leaf insert to your faux cloisonne project, how to color it with alcohol inks in a number of different ways, and how to expand your mica powders palette.  You will find in this tutorial numerous tips which will save you a lot of time and money not only with this particular technique, but with your polymer clay work in general.


To demonstrate this technique, I chose a project shown above - a colorful brooch in an interesting shape.  In this tutorial you will find step-by-step instructions for making this particular brooch (including a detailed demonstration of finishing its back and suggestions for choosing an optimal closure for your polymer clay brooches). 

In addition to that,  I included a page with a few other brooch designs, ready to be used in your projects.

This new Faux Cloisonne in Polymer Clay tutorial is available in my etsy shop.

Bursting with Color

If you asked me any time up until recently what was my favorite color, I would say black.  I liked it in my clothes and I used it a lot in my polymer clay art.  Actually, most of my designs were about the line, and color was something secondary, and often an afterthought.

Now, I do not know what happened, but suddenly not only do I embrace color, but I am literally craving color - both in my art and in my wardrobe...

Here are a few examples of my latest creations (and yes - a tutorial is following soon).  These all brooches, and they all are done in my signature Faux Cloisonne technique.

Orlando Clay Fandango 2015

There are only 19 class slots left for the 2015 Orlando Clay Fandango.

If you want to participate in this event -  do not procrastinate.

You need to get your  $25 in to secure a spot before it is too late.