Odds & Ends....

Today's post doesn't have a set theme.  It's just a collection of some things I've done recently that don't really belong to any particular category.  So - here goes!

 This bright and perky set was made from a scrambled cane. The individual pieces are folded in the middle over the buna cord and the whole pendant moves as one piece.

   

 I made these leaves from a series of what I call "wedge" canes.  I love the way these canes meld colors while keeping them separate enough to create a wispy striped look.

 Here is a first-time experiment.  I found the white finished metal filigree bracelet cuff, and decided to try decorating with polymer.  The cane is a compound petal cane, and each petal was placed individually as it was secured to the adjoining petal.  On the inside, there is a strip of teal polymer that is pushed up against the filigree and meets the polymer petals from the top.

This last pendant is convex, with just enough bend to allow the bead strand cluster to swing freely in front. This creates a simple, yet nice bit of motion.

Still Playing with Circles

There is something very nice about circles.  They are so - well, so round....It's a strong yet smooth shape, natural and simple.  I've been doing more pieces, experimenting a bit, and wanted to show you where I've been going.
The first pieces built on the earrings I made a short while ago.  Rather than making them "see-through" I added backings out of Skinner blends. I like the way the blend shows through at each stage of color change.

These colored earring pairs have Skinner blend circles, with the same blend in reverse for the backing.  The backing is also textured, and the design shows through for added interest. These are a bit smaller than the ones I made earlier.  I may try going smaller still. We'll see.

The red-to-yellow pieces are made of circles connected with ruffles. The pendant piece is a bit smaller than the pin.  For some reason, the pendant seemed best with the larger section on the bottom, while I liked the pin best with the opposite orientation.




The yellow-to-blue necklace is simple and fun. More circles with ruffles.  I think it's perfect for spring into summer.

This last piece is my favorite in this "circle" set.  It took quite a while to make.  This was one of those ideas I get in the middle of the night, so when I got up in the morning and looked at my scribbles on my nightstand notepad, I had to figure out just what I was thinking.  Designing and planning was fun.  The execution was harder.   I had to plan construction of the various pieces, bakings and assembly, and when (and how) to add the pearls - and the thread for the pearl strands.  That was interesting.  In the past, I've taken all the various threads I use and baked them in the oven at 325 for 40 minutes.  Those that survived and could be pulled and twisted and still be strong are the only ones I use with polymer.  Although I try to plan things out so thread does not need to be baked, sometimes the design requires that, and I want to be sure everything is durable.  So, here is my "Black Circles with Pearls"

Pins of All Kinds & Variety

Pins and brooches can be the perfect outfit accessory. The fact that they come in all sorts of sizes, shapes, and fastenings, makes them even more fun to develop and wear.  Here are photos of some of my latest pieces.  First, I have to share my first scatter pins.  Scatter pins were originally developed in the late 1950s, and were often worn in pairs or groups of similar shapes.  This small mannequin and sash display shows a variety of scatter pins in different sizes and shapes.

I'm particularly fond of the butterfly flower.  So here are a few different shots of that pin.

Next, here are a couple of stick pins in fun spring colors.








And finally, a few oriental fan pendant/pins I made. The finding on the back of these pieces allows them to be used as pins or to be strung with a chain and worn as a necklace. Two pieces of jewelry in one! The backgrounds on these pins show examples of what I think of as a "fabric" approach to polymer veneers which makes a repetitive yet pleasing design.