I've just finished my first firing with BronzClay, the new metal clay made from bronze. The photo shows a simple band ring, a lentil bead pendant, and a Chain Maille bracelet of bronze clay and fine silver metal clay links. I love the deep, rich color of the bronze, the contrast with the coolness of the silver. It takes texture and impressions so beautifully! Now I'm making componnents to add to polymer bangles and bezels to fill with resin, and more pendants. I'm thrilled to have this new material to work with! Stay tuned...more to come!

The PMC Guild's publication, Annual #2, is now available. It is sold through the PMC Guild, online book vendors, and other companies who sell to the metal clay community. I am delighted to be one of the fifty-eight artitists whose work was chosen for inclusion in Annual #2!

More polymer clay madness! Wonderful little creatures perch atop these faux marble polymer bangles. The bangle in the forefront sports a frog, vines, and dangles of fine silver metal clay, sterling silver, bronze, brass, a pearl, and a polymer bullet shaped drop. A bangle similar to this may be ordered for $425. A cute lizard crasps the other bangle which has a pearl dangling from a sterling silver wire hoop. A bangle similar to this may be ordered for $265.

This is a swing-hinge flower pendant which I've made of fine silver metal clay accented with 24k gold metal clay. The petal top swings wide to expose a locket filled with lace textured polymer clay upon which a partial love poem has been embedded. Whether suspended from a long chain or dangling on a neckring, it is one of those pieces that just seems to go with everything...a nice weighty piece that has received many compliments!

As always, I'm making lots of new pieces for Brio Art Gallery which is keeping me very busy replenishing their display cases. Brio Gallery in Galena, Illinois now features my jewelry on a regular basis. Visit www.briogalena.com to view their website. Their address is 116 South Main and they are open from 10 to 5 seven days a week. They have an assortment of pieces that are not featured on my website and I'm constantly adding new pieces to the large inventory they carry so stop in and see what's new when you're in the area!

After spending several weeks in Europe during August, I'm thrilled to be back in my studio. I have so many ideas and never enough time! A shipment of bronze clay was awaiting me, but I have a lot of other tasks to finish before I can start to experiement with that new material. I'm working with resin and inclusions at the moment. This photo shows resin filled earrings, a pendant and clasp. The heart drops and pendant are made of metal clay and the clasp and chain are oxidized sterling silver.

While in California last June, I happened upon a pair of burnt orange eyeglass frames. Upon returning to my studio, I was inspired to dig into my stash of beads and pearls and stitch up a bracelet to complement the vibrant color of my new frames. This bracelet has a fine silver metal clay button closure, cylinder bead, and teeny cupped silver beads accenting the many Swarovski and Czech crystals, seed beads, fresh water pearls, carved orange jade, lampworked and dichoric beads, amethyst, carnelian, and quartz faceted briolites, and vintage German pressed glass. You may order a bracelet similar in style in your choice of colors for $525. Bracelets with fewer beads and smaller in scale start at $295.

With the onset of warmer weather, wearing sandals, and lighter weight clothing, I feel a need for color and motion in my jewelry. I've just finished this neckpiece which I've titled "Gyspy". It truly makes a statement! Everything is kinectic about it. The pendant swivels, the box enclosed alabaster disk spins, and the colorful dangles sway with every motion. This pendant is comprised of sterling silver, bronze, copper, brass, fresh water pearls, Swarovski and Czech fire polished crystals, coral, alabaster, and two tiny dice. It measures 4" in length and is suspended from a hammer textured sterling silver neckring adorned with two faux ivory serpents. I love it! I am taking orders for neckpieces similar to the one pictured. Because the beads used in this piece are from my private collection and subject to availability, no two neckpieces will be exactly alike. Prices start at $345 for a neckpiece similar to the one pictured.

I love the delicate and airy look of this Blossom necklace. It is created entirely with PMC and fused fine silver wire. The brushed silver blossoms and links are accented with 24k gold foil fused to the silver using keum boo technique. This necklace measures 16" in length and lies gracefully at the base of the neck. Necklaces similar to this one are available by special order starting at $695 and may be ordered in longer versions.

I am making stands for displaying your favorite pair(s) of earrings. They are made of steel and polymer clay and are $24 each. They may be ordered in your choice of colors. The base measures about 2" wide and they are 4" to 5" in height.

These bangles are made of sterling silver. The beads are made of fine silver metal clay and lampwork glass beads. They are made to order in your choice of color families (i.e. brights, earthy, etc.,) and are priced at $495 each. Please specify wrist size when ordering. Lampworked beads are from my personal collection and colors and sizes are subject to availability.

I remember a time in the late 1950's when my father, who was an extremely artistic man, went on a bit of a tangent with Contact paper. He covered table tops, counter tops, he even covered a refrigerator in wood grain Contact paper! I'm reminded of this because I seem to have gone on a tangent myself, but I'm using polymer clay as my vehicle! My studio tools were all rather mundane so I decided to turn them into useful works of art. They are certainly much more fun to use now! Here is a selection of tools I've covered in polymer clay. All are textured and some are accented with beads, pearls, script, and exotic creatures.

This is an assortment of Charm Bangles and Clasps made of polymer clay and fine silver metal clay. The faux cinnabar polymer bangle at the bottom left is hand carved. The faux ivory bangles have embedded designs and the bronze toned bangle at the top right was created in Mokume gane technique. Three of the bangles feature charms which I have made of fine silver metal clay, sterling silver, bronze, and polymer clay. The two clasp components at the lower right are made of sterling silver and feature a faux ivory polymer clay inlay with embedded designs. Bangles and clasps may be ordered in your choice of colors. Prices for charm bangles range in price from $250 to $495 depending on the amount of silver used and intricacies of design. Plain bangles start at $110. Clasps with hooks are priced at $45 for a 1/2" size, $55 for a 3/4" size, and $65 for a 1" size. Please visit my Bracelets and Components pages for information regarding ordering.

Visit the Artful Accessories page which features my knitwoven scarf collection and other non-jewelry items. Here are some fun polymer clay artist's stencil brushes. They range in length from 6 to 7 1/2 inches. $88 for a set of four or they may be purchased separately: 6" - $15, 6 1/2" - $20, 7" - $25, and 7 1/2" - $30. The photo below shows a knitwoven triangular scarf featuring a multitude of ribbon, eyelash, and other delicious nolvety yarns. Scarves are made to order in your choice of color families.

The Premier edition of "PMC Guild Annual"features stunning works executed in PMC. Over 1000 entries were submitted and of those 57 artists were selected. The publication is available through the PMC Guild and bookstores. An exhibition titled "57/1: Artists from the Premier Edition of the PMC Guild Annual" was held at the Stewart Center Gallery on the Campus of Purdue University in Lafayette, IN in conjunction with the 2008 PMC conference.

The December 2007 issue of Bead & Button magazine featured an article on creating Metal Clay Focal Beads that I wrote. Look for it if you're a silver metal clay enthusiast. This photo shows several oblong metal clay focal beads and a beaded "Sea Flower" bracelet featuring a round metal clay focal bead. The clasp and toggle are also made of metal clay. See my article on Metal Clay Toggle Clasps in the April 2007 issue of Bead & Button magazine if you'd like to learn to make those as well!

The Galena Gazette, published an article titled "Letting Creativity Reign" which may be of interest to you.

The following link is for anyone who enjoys music. BLUE NIGHT RECORDS has some very nice CDs featuring acoustic guitar and jazz mandolin. Check it out!

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