by Barbara | Aug 9, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art Supplies, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Bronze, Components, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, One-of-a-Kind
This is the table on which I work with metal clay, polymer clay, and resin and for months it has been covered with all manner of paraphernalia that goes into the making of art. There was hardly an inch of free space and no work could be accomplished on this table...
by Barbara | Jul 19, 2017 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Components, Embellishments, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Resin, Rings
I’ve finished another! This third in a series of resin faux crystal rings is titled “Faux Beryl Crystals Ring”. Measuring 25mm in height from the base and 30mm in width, the oblong ring sits at a 45 degree angle. Hammer-textured and...
by Barbara | Jul 15, 2017 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Embellishments, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Resin, Sterling Silver, Techniques
This ring started with just three pieces of silver…a bezel, backing, and ring shank. Having hammer-textured the silver, the bezel join was soldered and then all three pieces were soldered together in one step. This is the ring fresh out the pickling solution....
by Barbara | Jul 12, 2017 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Beads and Materials, Bracelets, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Resin, Rings, Sterling Silver, Techniques
Can you tell that I’m having fun? All beading and polymer clay projects have taken a backseat to resin for the moment. I’m still exploring faux crystals made of resin and have just finished making a simple emerald-green resin faux crystal bracelet charm....
by Barbara | Feb 3, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Beaded Beads, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver, Techniques, Tools, Tutorials
I’m running low so it’s time to make more components for the “Tibetan Inspired Beaded Rope Necklace” Kit. This entails creating more polymer faux amber, coral, and turquoise beads and sterling silver heart charms. The photos show the final...
by Barbara | Dec 26, 2016 | An Aside, At the Bench, Materials and Supplies, Techniques, Tools
Lucky me! Among other desirable goodies, Santa gave me two hammers and a really nice steel block set inside a non-slip, noise reducing rubber holder! These are Fretz #10 and #11 raising hammers…perfect for use when a smaller striking head is desired with a...
by Barbara | Sep 23, 2016 | An Aside, At the Bench, Equipment, Handmade, Polymer Clay
It was on my birthday list and my wonderful husband gifted me with this nifty piece of equipment! This manually operated machine is called the “NEVERknead™” and it is extremely efficient! Anyone who has ever worked with polymer clay knows how important it...
by Barbara | Jul 12, 2016 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, At the Bench
Jackson sitting at my workbench has nothing to do with this post so I’ll get right to the heart of the matter…if you have begun receiving duplicate blog posts, there is a reason for this. Having moved my blog to my website several months ago, I...
by Barbara | Mar 24, 2016 | An Aside, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Beads and Materials, Handmade, Polymer Clay, Techniques, Tools
The JoolTool has arrived and I LOVE IT! It grinds, cuts, sharpens, sands, files, finishes, etc., and is perfect for polishing my metal and polymer clay work. And it’s rather quiet as machines go. I’m thrilled! In the lower photo I’m polishing one of my handmade...
by Barbara | Jan 24, 2016 | An Aside, At the Bench, Earrings, Gemstones, Handmade, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Resin, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver, Techniques, Tools
I’ll admit that I’m a packrat! Over the many years that I’ve made jewelry, I’ve collected a lot of scrap metal and doo-dads. Things that didn’t work out or were leftover from finished projects just get thrown into containers. Many of the pieces are still useable so...
