by Barbara | Dec 29, 2015 | An Aside, At the Bench
It has finally arrived. Beautiful and pristine, it is coating the birdhouse and the branches and stems of what’s left of our prairie. The snow-covered pastureland across the river in Iowa is black and white resembling an Ansel Adams photograph. It would be a...
by Barbara | Dec 27, 2015 | An Aside, Materials and Supplies, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tools, Tutorials
Santa was certainly good to me this year! Besides several sweaters, a lush scarf, books and CDs, he brought me the items shown in the above photo. A wonderful new Fretz – Todd Reed Goldsmithing Hammer…it’s incredibly beautiful! The weight is...
by Barbara | Dec 23, 2015 | Uncategorized
The Holiday Season tends to take up an enormous amount of time. Even though we aren’t entertaining this year, just getting the tree up, shopping for and wrapping presents, standing in line at the post office, and dealing with the Holiday shopping crowd takes...
by Barbara | Dec 20, 2015 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Embellishments, Fine Silver, Handmade, Inspiration, Metal Clay, Patina, Polymer Clay, Techniques, Tools, Uncategorized
FYI usually means “for your information”, but in this instance it is the brand name of “For Your Inspiration” Silver Metal Fine Clay. Because I’ve made a new batch of silicone molds using pods and other objects provided by Mother Nature for my polymer clay work, I...
by Barbara | Dec 17, 2015 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Components, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Patina, Polymer Clay
My “Tropical Pods” necklace is finished and honestly, if this doesn’t chase away the winter blues, nothing will…well, except a tropical vacation perhaps? Since that’s not on my agenda, I’ll settle for the necklace! Visually, it...
by Barbara | Dec 14, 2015 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, At the Bench, Beads and Materials, Components, Handmade, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Techniques, Tools
You can probably tell from my messy work table that I’ve been busy creating beads and sculptural components for necklaces and bracelets. With all these distractingly colorful elements, it’s becoming difficult to locate anything I’m looking for amidst...
by Barbara | Dec 11, 2015 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Components, Handmade, Inspiration, Metal Clay, Polymer Clay
I’ve been working with polymer clay lately and a variety of pods have been my inspiration. Polymer clay lends itself so well to organic shapes, don’t you think! I’ve taken artistic license to improve upon the earth tones of natural pods. Instead I have added a...
by Barbara | Dec 8, 2015 | An Aside, Materials and Supplies, Polymer Clay
Really…can one have too many art supplies? In my case the answer is an emphatic No! Especially when they have a long shelf life! I was going to put these items on my Xmas list, but I just couldn’t wait! I went ahead and ordered two soft pastels palette...
by Barbara | Dec 7, 2015 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques, Tutorials
Have you ever wanted to make wire jewelry using a Jig? Well, here’s your chance! I have assembled a great little wire-working kit and only one is available. It contains everything you need to get started…a new Wigjig plexiglass wire-working jig, deluxe peg...
by Barbara | Dec 5, 2015 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Techniques
It happens every year at this time. It is my modus operandi. As soon as our Midwest winter arrives and I am surrounded by bleak landscapes, bare trees, gloomy weather, and grey clouds…magic happens. All of a sudden my work becomes colorful! Tropical shades take over...