Fall - Flowing & Floating

I've been having so much fun! This all started out as a fall flower cane - at least that's what I had intended...I loved the colors I was mixing, and began playing around with them. This "flowing" background developed as a result. The background seemed to be begging for little floating flowers, so I had to oblige. The round and oval pieces are pendants.

I plan to turn some of the rectangles into pins, or pin/pendant combinations. Not completely decided on that one. What do you think?

Fall Leaves...

I love leaves. I love their shapes, their textures, and their colors - especially the colors they wear in fall. Recently, I ran across some leaf pins made several years ago by Mike Buesseler, and decided to create my own version.

These pieces are such fun to make! I used Skinner blends to form the base. Real leaves were impressed into the background using a roller. I used various types of texture devices to secure the edges of the leaf. The texture was also used to add interest to the rest of the background. I used Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments to add color and shine to the background. The leaf was then removed, and the resulting tile was placed on a complimentary background. The photo shows some pendants I've made with matching bails.

I also made some changeable pin/pendants. The finding on the back has both a bail for a chain and a pin backing so the wearer can decide which style works best. Don't you just love versatility?!

Oooo - That Liquid Polymer!

You may have figured out by now that I like to experiment. I've really been enjoying the liquid polymer and then had a thought - what would happen if I mixed in some powders? How would it change the look? Sooo...I mixed in some glittery embossing powders from Judikins and I love the results! Here are examples of my first efforts.

Oh - you'll also notice I had to try gold, too, so got my hands on some gold-filled bezel wire for the edgings. The gold is quite elegant. Here's a close-up. Hope you can see the glitz and some of the depth these pieces have.

Of course, since I like to experiment, and I love the mica shift technique, I decided to combine the two. Here's my first piece.
Since the liquid polymer piece is different on both sides, I had to make the main piece reversible, too. What do you think?

Torn Paper Watercolor Technique

Here is a great technique - easy to do, and so variable! I love making the sheets, tearing them up, and combining the pieces to create color-collages. When the torn sections are rolled smooth, the look is really wonderful. You can use the sheets and torn bits to decorate almost anything - jewelry, as I have here - or objects such as boxes, or bowls, or tool handles, or whatever you wish. Here are some of my latest pieces. The pink pendant below is reversible to a blue torn paper collage on the other side.
These earrings show two different color
paths for fall foliage collages.
This pendant has larger pieces of the sheets on one side, torn bits on the other. Not only is the whole piece reversible, but each section can be rotated separately so that colors from both sides show.

Exploring Liquid Polymer

This is such fun! I like trying new processes, and I've just started exploring liquid polymer. I decided to try an idea that comes from Bettina Welker of Germany. I wanted different colors, so experimented with mixing my own colors using alcohol inks - also a first time venture for me. I think the colors came out beautifully.

These pendants are incredibly light weight - you don't even know they're around your neck. I love the way the translucent base makes the colors almost glow. Here's a close up - hope you can see what I mean. I textured the fine silver edging strips for contrast. The strips add some structure and support to the liquid polymer, as well as some interest.

Another feature is the process makes each strip 2-sided so you have the option of using a more detailed, matte side or a more blended and shinier side. On top of that, even the finished pendants have 2 sides, making them reversible!

Here are two photos of the same pendants - side A and side B.

More Mica Shift: A Peek Inside

As you may have guessed, I really love the effects one can achieve with the mica technique. I decided to try something with a little more contrast and a different focus. It's a bit like taking a "peek inside".

In some cases, the "found" object led the way to custom color and design. In other cases, the clay determined the piece inside. Here are a few more:

What a Difference Materials Make!

My husband and I are just back from a 12 day trip to Michigan. We spent a week of that time bicycling 45 - 65 miles per day along the east side of Lake Michigan from Montague all the way to Mackinaw City. Lovely country, some beautiful views, and hills!! .... all of which my legs are still feeling...

However, cycling wasn't the hardest part. The most difficult was being away from our three Aussies, "the girls." They are a huge part of our lives, and we miss them when we travel. The other piece that was hard for me was being away from my clays and beads. I had lots of ideas which I sketched at evening time, but I really missed the actual hands-on "doing."

So, when we got home, I finished up a sample bracelet for one of the beadweaving workshops I'm doing. I wanted folks to see how very different the same piece looks made out of different materials. These examples, I think, show it quite clearly. This particular stitch looks very elegant and classy when made up in Swarovski crystals. On the other hand, it has a more subtle effect when made out of natural stones. Here are side-by-side photos - what do you think?

Two New Events for Fall!!

Hi!
Just wanted to let you all know that I've added 2 new events to the fall calendar. One is a "sort-of" class - but something several folks have been requesting. The other is definitely an event - and one I hope many of you will decide to attend. Both take place at Meiklem Kilnworks on the Franklin/Bozrah line.

The special event will be in held on September 17th from 6:00 - 9:00 (or any portion thereof). This session is free of charge, and is designed to give people an opportunity to make Bottles of Hope. Come cover tiny bottles with polymer clay, decorate them any way you want, and donate them to the Bottle of Hope program. Bottles of Hope are small glass bottles covered with polymer clay and given to cancer patients. They symbolize a wish and a hope for health This project was started in 1999 by a Rhode Island cancer survivor and has spread internationally. For more information about Bottles of Hope, visit http://www.scpcg.org/bottlesofhopepage.htm. Visit www.meiklemkilnworks.com for info about the evening.

The other session is something several of you have requested - a time to finish the uncompleted projects, start a second project based on one done in class, or fix a problem that has you stuck - and unable to continue with your piece. Cost is only $10 for the evening which will be eld on Wednesday, October 20 from 6 to 9. Creative endeavors, good company, and the opportunity to finish a project - YES!

Playing with Mica Shift

Mica Shift - what an incredible technique! I started playing with it one day, and just can't seem to stop. I especially like the way Skinner blends look with the mica sift technique applied. Of course, once you have these lovely sheets, you need to do something with them...Then I found some little curved spacers at Beaded Impressions, and decided to see how they'd look as embellishments. Here's a couple of pendant/earring sets ~ I especially like the fact that the little discs move and twirl.

Just so you can see the discs and the mica pattern, here's a close up:

I also had to incorporate PMC in a piece with a little movement. I really like the ability to have the texture that is imbedded in the PMC echoed in the smooth mica shift of the polymer. What a great combination of media!

If you're not familiar with the mica shift technique, there is a great tutorial on Polymer Clay Central. The tutorial is done by Kellie Robinson, and is very clear with excellent photos. Here's the URL:
http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/ms_texture.html

Give it a try! Bet you can't do just one!

Photos and cabinets and clay folk - Oh, my!

Hello! Just some "bits" I wanted to share:

First, the clay folk ~ On Saturday, I attended the monthly meeting of the Southern Connecticut Polymer Clay Guild. They're a great group - fun, creative, interested in each other, and interesting in and of themselves. They are planning a special polymer clay conference called the Clay Connection in early August. If you're at all interested in Polymer Clay, be sure to check out the Conference information at: http://www.scpcg.org/clayconnection.htm. It promises to be a great event - and it's being held at Conn College, so it's really close for those of us in Eastern CT.

Second, cabinets ~ You know you're in trouble when assembling a storage unit makes you excited. Undoubtedly like many of you, the dining room table has been serving as my "workspace." (You can substitute another room in the house, but you know what I mean.) As he walked by the other day, my husband asked if I could recall what the table was made of - wood, perhaps, or glass?.... Well, soon I'll be shifting location and the dining room will be for people and eating once again.

The move is possible because I finally decided to purchase a mini stackable unit from BEST Craft Organizer. Don't let the "mini" fool you. This unit is 39" x 41" and has twelve 3.5"drawers, twenty-one 2" drawers, and twelve 1" drawers. I can't wait to start shifting all my supplies, projects, and materials into the unit. Organization heaven. Why did I wait this long??

Finally, photos ~ I have a little unit for photo taking, but haven't really set it up. Today, in the flurry of excitement about everything else, I decided to give it a try. My favorite shot is of the bracelet attendees will be making at the first beadweavingworkshop at Nature's Art, September 11th. Here's a sneak peek:

Take care, all

~Kristie

Dragonflies

One of the things I love about summer is the dragonflies. They come in such a myriad of colors and sizes, and flit from place to place with those wonderful iridescent wings. When they first appeared around here in June, I was watching one as it settled on a rock. And it hit me - I had to try making a dragonfly on a rock! So off I went to figure out how to make all the components - including a rock. Hadn't done that one before.....

Now, several pebbles and wing canes later, I've made a little dragonfly "collection." So far, most are with polymer, but I do have one with a PMC dragonfly, so I'll have to share that too. If anyone has other interpretations of dragonflies, especially resting on pebbles, I'd love to see them!

ACGOW ~ Artist's Cooperative Guild of Westerly

I've just come from the Artists' Cooperative in Westerly, Rhode Island. I was juried into membership in February, and have been enjoying learning about and experiencing a true cooperative. The members are such a varied and eclectic group - and all really committed to their art and making the cooperative work and grow. The members do everything - and I mean everything! We maintain and manage the gallery, run the business and social end of things, and work together to further awareness of and appreciation for the arts. We just had our largest annual fund raiser - a silent auction. It was my first experience with one, and I was pleased that 2 of my pieces were sold. They both represent new approaches for me. Thought you might like to see photos.