by Barbara | Jul 29, 2017 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Cabochons and Gemstones, Classes, Components, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Fine Silver, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Patina, Resin, Rings, Sterling Silver, Techniques, Tools
I took a class taught by Richard Salley (great teacher BTW!!!) and learned to make the “Ketoh Bracelet”…typically a wrist guard worn by Navajo Indian archers to protect their forearms from the snap of their bowstrings when shooting arrows. It was a...
by Barbara | Sep 12, 2016 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bead Embroidery, Beads and Materials, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Designer Patterns, Fine Silver, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Resin, Techniques
The photo says it all…I’m creating more resin cabochons. Some are sea-themed and embedded with tiny seashells for my “Marine Life” and “Marine Life Anemone” beading kits, but I’ve also created some that are just filled with a...
by Barbara | Apr 6, 2016 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Cabochons and Gemstones, Fine Silver, Gemstones, Handmade, Metal Clay, Uncategorized
I made these rings in a class taught by Katie Baum at the Bead and Button show several years ago. Both rings have textured high-shine surfaces. I sold the “Trefoil” ring (shown at left), but decided to keep the other. I fell in love with the dichroic...
by Barbara | Jan 17, 2016 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beads and Materials, Bracelets, Embellishments, Fine Silver, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Sterling Silver, Uncategorized
In the midst of our frigid Midwest winter the idea of warmth, sun, sand, and sea is very appealing. With no chance of a tropical vacation in store right now, I’ve brought a tiny bit of that atmosphere to fruition with this mixed-media bracelet. The pieces of coral...
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 | Sep 25, 2015 | Art to Wear, Bead Embroidery, Beads and Materials, Components, Embellishments, Fine Silver, Handmade, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, One-of-a-Kind, Patina
It seems that I had just completed a large selection of fine silver metal clay Flower Disks and Faux Ammonites, but I have run out of them again! They are very popular components because they embellish and accent so many different art and craft projects from bead...
by Barbara | Sep 7, 2015 | Art Jewelry, Fine Silver, Handmade, One-of-a-Kind, Patina, Sterling Silver
There’s no getting around it. Unless treated with a protective coating, silver has an inherent tendency to oxidize and discolor. It doesn’t discolor quite as rapidly if stored in plastic bags with anti-tarnish paper, but when stored on a display in open...