by Barbara | Jul 30, 2015 | Art to Wear, Earrings, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind
I’m creating quite a collection! It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like making earrings, but dusting off my hydraulic press and having new pancake dies has given me a tremendous amount of motivation! I also hadn’t set stones in quite a while, but I’m...
by Barbara | Jul 27, 2015 | An Aside, At the Bench, Beads and Materials, Components, Embellishments, Equipment, Found Objects, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques, Tools
If you’ve been following my blog, you probably know that I never throw anything away that can be reused or repurposed. Here are four ideas that may be helpful to you… For optimum performance, it’s important to keep tools sharp and if you create jewelry and use...
by Barbara | Jul 24, 2015 | Beads and Materials, Components, Metal Clay, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques
There is no doubt about it…silver metal clay is expensive. When the silver market escalated several years ago, the price of metal clay skyrocketed. In the past few months, the silver market has dropped in price, but the price of silver metal clay has barely declined....
by Barbara | Jul 22, 2015 | An Aside, At the Bench, Faux Bone™, Handmade, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques, Tools
Well, that depends. The answer is actually one…unless you are a tool junkie like me! The classic jeweler’s saw at the far left in the photo above has been with me since I first started making jewelry over twenty-five years ago. It has served me well and will continue...
by Barbara | Jul 19, 2015 | Art to Wear, Components, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques, Tools
It’s a song I first heard on the album “She Cried” by Jay and the Americans in 1962. I was in 8th grade then and I played that record so much that the lyrics are permanently etched in my brain. The song played again and again in my head and I hummed the tune...
by Barbara | Jul 16, 2015 | Art to Wear, At the Bench, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques, Tools
When it comes to heart-themed jewelry, there are those who simply can’t abide it and those who love it…I fall into the latter category! Heartfelt, heartbreak, big-hearted, sweetheart, change of heart, by heart, take heart, have a heart are words and...
by Barbara | Jul 14, 2015 | An Aside, Components, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Resin
Although it’s a wonderful material for making beads and jewelry components, epoxy resin clay does so much more! I’ve used it for mending chipped and cracked pottery, as a permanent base for dried flower arrangements, and much more. Unlike polymer clay,...
by Barbara | Jul 11, 2015 | An Aside, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques
You know it isn’t easy to get professional results by just snapping the shutter button! Back in the 1980’s, I was dependent on professional photographers as I was doing juried shows and good slides were imperative if one wanted to be accepted into a show. I no longer...
by Barbara | Jul 8, 2015 | Art to Wear, Components, Embellishments, Enameled Work, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, One-of-a-Kind, Resin, Techniques
It’s lovely to finally have a few free days to do whatever I please! I spent several days last week making metal clay embellishments and now that I’ve restocked those components in my Etsy shop, I have time to create with my newly acquired Potter USA pancake dies!...
by Barbara | Jul 5, 2015 | An Aside, One-of-a-Kind, Tools
Truly, I should have, but a drill press always seemed like an expensive luxury…one I could do without. However, I do a serious amount of riveting and drilling through thick material and when holding a flexshaft tool, it can be a challenge to drill accurately....
