- Jun 2, 2014
- 1 min
In light of the fact that…
I’m taking a metals class from Jeff Fulkerson at Bead&Button, I’m packing my travel case with the required hammers (ball peen, chasing,...
- Mar 13, 2014
- 2 min
Do you make or buy ear wires?
I personally don’t care for the majority of commercially mass-produced ear wires. Many look flimsy and/or the finish is too bright for my...
- Jun 9, 2013
- 1 min
Goodbye Milwaukee. Goodbye Bead and Button!
The last five days I’ve spent at the Bead and Button Show have been fun-filled, exhilarating, exhausting, and awakening. I’ve met with...
- Jun 6, 2013
- 1 min
I’m so tired!
Being at Bead and Button can be exhausting! I had a class last night and one today and this afternoon the floor show opened. As much as I...
- Apr 15, 2013
- 1 min
Like Dim Sum?
I just couldn’t resist these! Do you know what they are? They are sold as novelty erasers, but if you are a beader, they serve as a...
- Aug 8, 2012
- 1 min
a new jewelry-making tool!
This tool will come in very handy when I need to put a curve in metal. I found this reasonably priced forming block at the Euro Tool...
- Aug 3, 2012
- 2 min
I’m a huge fan of anything that saves time!
I’ve been making jewelry a long time. Having learned with basic hand tools, I was happy enough to use them until I started doing shows...
- Jul 27, 2012
- 1 min
You know…
Those bronze metal clay stars that I’ve been making are coming in handy already. I had made this bracelet a while ago, but I always felt...
- Jun 29, 2012
- 1 min
Experiments with Polymer Clay…
Color and design can be carefully planned, but I tend to love playing with Polymer Clay in a purely serendipitous fashion. In the past,...
- Jun 25, 2012
- 1 min
Step two in the pebble bead saga…
Now that my polymer clay pebble beads are finished, I’m working on a collection of bronze metal clay beads to match. I’m just giving...
- Jun 9, 2012
- 1 min
Farewell Milwaukee…adieu Bead & Button Show!
After a pleasant and thankfully uneventful drive home, I’m back in my studio and ready to get to work! You can bet I’ll be putting the...
- Jun 7, 2012
- 1 min
More fun at Bead and Button!
Robert Dancik’s class today was a blast. I’d post a photo of the piece I made, but although my iPad takes marvelous photos, it won’t let...
- Jun 6, 2012
- 1 min
Toolmaking 101
Richard Salley’s class was great. I made eight tools and I’ll post photos of them when I return home. I’m looking forward to Robert...
- May 26, 2012
- 1 min
My bags are packed, I’m ready to go…
It’s still a week away, but never one to procrastinate, I’ve already packed all the tools, materials, and various doo-dads that I’ll need...
- May 18, 2012
- 1 min
Like putting the cart before the horse…
Perhaps because I’m so eager for the end results, I often tend to do things backwards! I’m lucky to have an innate feel for color, so...
- May 16, 2012
- 1 min
Like practicing yoga and listening to soothing music…
For me, carving polymer clay is so relaxing and such a meditative process. With my work situated at the proper height on the carving...
- May 11, 2012
- 1 min
More fun clay covered tools…
One just can’t have too many jewelry making tools! These polymer clay-covered tools are some of my favorites. A little green lizard...
- May 9, 2012
- 1 min
One of my favorite mediums is…
Polymer clay – I’ve been working with it for the past few days. I admit that I’d like to spend more time playing with this very...
- May 7, 2012
- 1 min
Another epoxy resin clay piece…
I’ve titled this mixed media brooch “Faux Fossil”. I’ve sawed a cutout on the backside of the brooch to expose a peek at the texture and...
- May 4, 2012
- 1 min
More epoxy resin clay pieces to use in jewelry!
I’ve used my entire tube of epoxy resin clay (note to self: must get more!) and I love the “cement” look and color it imparts. I’ll use...