Jewelry Making Outside The Box: Easy Peasy Projects

April 30, 2013

Book Review: Making Metal Jewelry by Jen Cushman

When it comes to jewelry making, everyone has to start someplace. Whether you want to do resin, mixed media, metal, wire, polymer clay....there is a perfect book for you as a beginner. As a beginner, you DO need books!

If you want to work with metal, and you haven't done it yet..... or maybe, you have! but aren't good with it.....or are still unsure of yourself, afraid of metal working tools, et al....THIS is the book you buy.

I was checking some of the reviews on this book this morning. I noted that one reader said she'd only dabbled, and truly had no clue WHAT to do.....and that *this* book was an answer to a jewelry-maker's prayer.

Another said they had taken some major classes from professionals yet had not been encouraged by the classes. They had found no joy in them and felt defeated. This book opened a new door for them and helped them find that joy.

Personally, I need EASY in a book like this. I need photos of stuff I might actually, remotely be tempted as someone with rudimentary skills, to make. Jen combines her knowledge of mixed media and resin work (she is also author of EXPLORE, CREATE, RESINATE---the Resin Bible) with many years around the bench and puts it all together in an enticing, tasty mix. After reading the intro and browsing a few projects, you just want to get up, go to your workbench, take the few tools you have and GO FOR IT.

Your project may, in the long run, not come out ANYTHING like what is in the book. NO WORRIES! It is not about making precise wraps, cuts, doing the work in a straight line. Do you think the very first jewelry makers made museum quality work?

Oh HA.

And neither will you.

The *point* is to get some good advice on some good tools (that's in there), how to use them safely (that's in there) and some easy ideas on how whip out a project the first day so that you can get a sense of gratification (in there, too.)

The book IS available at discount at Amazon, but let me just throw *this* out there to ya:

You can get one direct from its author, SIGNED, at this link:

http://jencushman.com/

Any time you can get a hand-signed copy of a book, I'd like to encourage you to go that route. It's just good for your creative heart. For me, it's like getting just a tiny bit of the author/teacher's DNA along with the book.

You can also check the website above for Jen's teaching schedule.

Jen Cushman is also the Director of Education and Marketing for Susan Lenart Kazmer, ICE Resin.

Posted at 12:05 PM in Books in My Library, Easy Peasy Projects, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 09, 2013

Mitzi Came To Visit.....Her Impressions of Her Class At B'sue Boutiques

Mitzi Curi of Mitzi's Collectables came down from Lansing, Michigan last week to spend two days of instruction in the shop with me.

Mitzi is easy-going, low-key and interested in everything. We had a very fun and productive time together last week and she went home with her head swimming full of new ideas.

You might like to take a moment to read her blog, see her photos, and read her observations about the trip she made to B'sue Boutiques shop here in East Palestine, Ohio:

Mitzi's Blog Observations

Mitzi is a full-time antiques dealer and finds lots of amazing little deals and doo-dads. Be sure to check out her Vintage Vocabulary Series as it is FULL of great information. You will find more about Mitzi in the right-hand nav bar of her blog. She loves to blog so subscribing to her writings would be a very good idea for you.

Normally I teach 2-3 hour techniques classes here at the shop with 1-3 persons. I am able to book a class like Mitzi took only a few times a year, but am happy to do it if you are a dedicated artisan who wants to learn more about current mixed media techniques. My rates are reasonable; your biggest cost might be getting here and your hotel fee! I recommend the Dutch Haus Inn In Columbiana, Ohio They have beautiful, comfortable rooms and feed you amazing Amish pastries for breakfast.

More information on visiting us at B'sue Boutiques here:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/visiting_bsue_boutiques.shtml

Drop in company is always welcome; if you are traveling, it's a good idea to call first so that you can be sure I am not out on an appointment for some reason. I'd hate to miss you! We have a lot of our stampings inventory out front in the shop now and I am adding more every day.

Posted at 12:28 PM in Easy Peasy Projects, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Jewelry Making, Selling Your Work, Things I've Learned From Others' Blogs, Vintage Findings and Antique Jewelry | Permalink | Comments (4)

March 18, 2013

What's a Lariat Necklace?

Amazing fold or loop over style, valuable, collectable vintage Miriam Haskell in the old seed beads and vintage Russian Goldplated chain and findings.

Pictures speak a thousand words....so instead of saying too much, I'm gonna show you some photos:

Vintage goldtone lariat with hand-tied knot in the center.

I made this lariat back in the late 90s' ......of several lengths of chain in sections, interspersed with beaded sections and finials....It was made like a long, long, beaded/connected belt that you loop over, like a scarf, as high or as long as you want.

This lariat was found at the overstock.com website:

I thought it showed an interesting way of wearing the long beaded length of the necklace. Very attractive!

Here is a simple one with a toggle that I put together this afternoon as an example:

It's just a washer with patina.

Tip: you can patina the zinc washers at the hardware store, too, just use a Swellegant metal coating over them, then apply Tiffany Green patina.

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/mmp_swellegant_products.shtml

Many lariat necklaces are made with a specific tying, or looping method, in mind. They may have a unique focal or toggle through which you might want to pull the chain. Or, they could have a sliding clasp. Since they are in many cases, just a long length of beaded 'chain' or a combination of beaded and chain links (with no clasp), you really can tie or loop them however you like.

A simple knot in the front is a great way to go. Put the length around your neck and drape the ends across your chest. Then put both strands in one hand, making a loop with them. Now, pull the ends of necklace through this loop to knot in front.

The loop style is the way to go with extra long lariats. You can try it with jeans and leather or even a cocktail dress. Fold it in half, then wrap the folded necklace around your neck, pull the ends through---as high up or as low down as you think looks good for your outfit.

I did a little search on Etsy to see if other artists were using the lariat style, and many are!

http://www.etsy.com/browse/jewelry/necklaces/lariat

Maybe this page will provide you with even more inspiration from your fellow artists. Of course, my purpose in sharing this page is to get those ideas moving along, never to copy another artist's work.

It's so much more fun to come up with your own, anyway!

Our next challenge at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Facebook will be to make lariat necklaces. That's what we will focus on in April. I can't wait to see all the new ideas! Why don't you come and join us? It's a fabulous group, great people, lots of networking and sharing. We have 935 amazing members so far, but what would make it better is if YOU would join us, too!

Consider this a personal invitation to come and be a part of the fun!

Posted at 05:52 PM in Easy Peasy Projects, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Jewelry Making, Style and Color, Things I've Learned From Others' Blogs | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 04, 2013

Changing Up That Chocolate Ox!

Who doesn't like chocolate?

One of the fave stampings at B'sue Boutiques is the chocolate ox, or brown brass Arts and Crafts period style piece which we affectionately call.....MOTHRA:

As you can see, the chocolate ox finish is the color of milk chocolate....YUMMY! But it is rather matte, no highs and lows. What to do?

Well, being honest, some LIKE it left this way, and they enrich the chocolate color with Renaissance Wax and seal it (this is a tumbled/painted finish so while you do NOT have to seal it, sealing it doesn't hurt, either!)

But you could....

....get a piece of steel wool and buff the piece out well, removing some of the finish on the high parts of the piece. What a difference!

You can also darken it further by first, scrubbing it back with the steel wool, a greenie pad, or a nail reliefing block. You will then heat the piece thoroughly with a heat gun. I like this one:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Embossing-Heat-Gun-4331

This gun gets really hot, which is what you need, yet there is no flame to deal with, which could affect your base finish. The Ranger Heat it Tool is good for some applications, I have one, myself. But I always use the one from the link to heat metal. It gets VERY HOT. Don't touch it with your fingers.

As soon as you remove the heat, you will want to begin dabbing over the piece with SWELLEGANT DARKENING PATINA on a sponge:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Swellegant-Dark-Patina-Medium-9410

Sponging is the best way to get the media evenly on the piece.

Cover with the patina solution, then heat again. Repeat this until you like the basic amount of darkening you have created. At this point, pick the piece up with a tongs and dip it in clear water. This not only cools it down, but it stops the action of the patina solution.

Dry the piece and see if you have what you want. If not, you can continue the process til you do.

After you are satisfied, you can distress the piece again, to create more highs and lows.

Here's what I've done with this piece, just today:

On the right is the original piece, untouched. On the left is the one I "Swelleganted" and heated. The Swellegant darkening solution takes really quickly with heat, but you MUST distress chocolate ox brass for it to 'take' as it has to be able to get to the brass underneath the piece.

I sealed the piece I worked on with Renwax.

Here is a close up of the finished patina'd piece!

You can find Renaissance Wax here at B'sue Boutiques:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Renaissance-Wax-Polish-5027

I hope you will try some chocolate brass soon and see how versatile it is! It also looks really nice with the Weathered Copper tones set of Vintaj/Ranger Designer inks:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Vintaj-Patinas-Weathered-Copper-9609

Or with Patina color Gilder's Paste:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Patina-Gilder39s-Paste-6412

Find Chocolate Brass at B'sue Boutiques here:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/chocolate_ox_patina.shtml

Posted at 05:57 PM in American Made Brass, Designer Finishes, Easy Peasy Projects, Jewelry Making, Mixed Media Technique, Style and Color | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 16, 2012

The Buzz for Sunday December 16....Check Out My New Pins

A bit of a throw back to my early to mid 90's line....but I wanted to do a video today to step out the use of the simple Dremel engraver to sign your work:

A closeup of what my signature looks like on my work.

But as you can see, I used to engrave on the FRONTS of jewelry, too, to personalize them.

I began a whole series of them this afternoon, for the shop. Got a few done! Perfect for shows and a little shop like mine.

Anyway....here's the newsletter for this week. If you aren't subscribed yet, you can just click! and have a look at it RIGHT HERE:

The B'sue Buzz for December 16, 2013 Lots of great pix of work from a few members of the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Facebook AND

Use code SHIPFREE on any order over 35.00 and GET FREE SHIPPING on your order at B'sue Boutiques

Ask for Old Rose Ox charms and you shall receive IF!! you put your request in writing in the CUSTOMER COMMENTS BOX of your order placed at B'sue Boutiques this week. It must appear there so that the shippers see it....not in an email or on your PayPal, they will not see it there. They are watching! SO:

Say: SEND ME ROSE OX CHARMS and they will.

We're also sending random gift certificates this week. You have no requirements. I have a few left, so they are going out randomly, every so many orders....SURPRISE!! You have a shot this week if you make an order. ;-)

Have a great week and come and join us at the Creative Group!

Posted at 09:23 PM in Coupons and Contests, Easy Peasy Projects, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Jewelry Making, Mixed Media Technique, Style and Color | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 31, 2012

Mayhem Monday.....On WEDNESDAY! Plus Winner for October

That big old storm put us all a little behind, I think....so I'm a day late!

Here in Ohio, it wasn't so bad....just windy and miserable. Cold, cold rain, it's still raining. A little less than it was....but still raining. And of course, I went and caught myself a cold, ugh.

That having been said, the fact that we had a storm, did not flag the momentum at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Flickr, for Mayhem Monday. We had a lot of great posts: in particular, I believe I'm going to use Terry Matusyk's (Pink Chapeau at Etsy) photos for another post altogether. I'll give you a little tease, though:

This is a collection of jewelry made by designer Harry Iskin, who manufactured sterling/vermeil pieces in the US from approx 1930 to the early 50's. These pieces have a strong mid to late forties feeling. Perhaps you have some that you have inherited from a relative or found at a flea market.

These pieces are highly collected and so, they are not repurposing fodder. ;-) More on that in my next blog post, which will be dedicated to telling you more about this jewelry, along with the use of Terry's photos and a link to Dotty Stringfield's http://www.illusionjewels.com

Terry also shared this very collectable brooch made by the Napier company:

Anything that has a designer name on it and is Disney-related usually has a pretty decent value!

Maggie Akerson shared a nice grouping of earrings.....I chose just a few photos, and you can go back and have a look at the rest at the FLICKR group:

She makes the lovely polymer clay roses by hand! I smiled when I saw these Spanish Rose earrings:

I recently made a couple of pair of them very similar, only using the rusty black mount. We carry the cameos and the mounts at B'sue Boutiques

Maggie fell in love with Mona Lisa, too:

These are the 18mm Mona's from B'sue's.

I liked these pretty eardrops, too....again made by Maggie:

Just a little somethin-somethin....and so wearable!

Laurel Steven is a fabulous polymer clay artist:

Awesome, what she did with the clay and the vintage molds she's made. Find her shop at Etsy.

She also did a little repurposing:

This reminds me SO MUCH of German Deco jewelry, even the old Fahrner styles....chrome with bakelite! Laurel took some bits and some buttons and came up with this showy piece. Well done!

Grace Acosta of Rivkasmom.com showed us some funky steampunk:

Beautiful stuff, with those rivoli stones! And then there was this pendant:

I LOVE the upside down clock.

This photo sent by Grace gave me a chuckle.....edible steampunk!

You know what....don't laugh. I would totally spray these with gold spray paint and lacquer to seal. I might use them on a picture frame.

Last week at TJ Maxx HomeGoods I found some really cool pasta in the gourmet section, it just had such a look about it. I didn't think food....I thought components! And YES I DID spray paint them. In fact, I have big plans for them and even sent a few out in the MUSE BOXES I had available this week----so if you got one, don't laugh! Muse Boxes are about putting on thinking caps! Outside the BOX! (the pasta box!!)

These Easy Peasy Earrings are from MockiDesign at Etsy (Monica Rangne):

Mocki lives in the Lower East Side of NYC, and the last we heard from her was on Monday afternoon. We know that part of the city was hard-hit, so we hope she is safe and dry and that we will hear from her very soon, she is a precious part of the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group

Pretty much everyone else has checked in, so we will be so glad to hear from Mocki when she gets back to a computer.

One of the sweetest photos this week was from Bonnie Merck:

This is her darling little Westie, Gracie. I love these dogs; I always said, if I had a little dog it would be a Westie. But I can hardly manage these rotten cats!

Here Meep shows you all his splendor. He is a big fat Maine Coon cat.

Evie just likes to sleep. All day!

BEFORE I FORGET: The winner of the 25.00 gift certificate drawing to B'sue Boutiques is PAM ROBERTS of A GYPSY AT HEART.

Pam contributed some great pieces to our Mayhem Mondays during October. Thanks, Pam!

We'll have another drawing next month!

Posted at 02:25 PM in Coupons and Contests, Easy Peasy Projects, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Jewelry Making, Meep the Cat, Mixed Media Technique, Polymer Clay, Things I've Learned From Others' Blogs | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 09, 2012

Let's Recap the Fun from Mayhem Monday....Tuesday, October 9

This was one of the best things that happened on Mayhem Monday....our pal, Kate Mulligan, was able to come back on Facebook!

If you haven't yet, send her a friend request! Kate has the sweetest little set-up....she and her husband, Mike, go every Saturday morning to the River City Farmer's Market in Marietta, Ohio (one of my favorite places).

Find it here: River City Farmer's Market

She's got a cute little spot where she sells her handmade jewelry. She's only there about four hours, then the event is over. But she has made so many friends and customers that come back, over and over again. She can hardly keep her booth stocked!

Mayhem Monday at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group is always a great time to show off your latest, as well as things from your collections, favorite places, etc. On Mondays only, it's permissable to upload photos of things *not* made with our goods from B'sue Boutiques I have to tell you, though, it always makes me smile to see how many people have so many pretty things from our website, that EVEN ON MAYHEM MONDAY....we still see lots of things made with B'sue products!

Harry Wood of Oscar Crow at Etsy sent along these little silver iris earrings:

They are simple, pretty and fun....and you know what? This is the sort of thing you would sell a lot of at a show, festival or in a shop. I will have many such earrings in mine!

Coral Stig, who lives in Hong Kong, sent this darling brooch:

I really like that design. I think it would get a lot of attention at a show and you would not bring it home with you.

Bonnie Merck shared her workshop mess with us:

I love her sunny window! I have one now, too:

After many years of working in a basement, it's a relief to get upstairs in the light. Today I had such a productive day and was able to see all my turns and joins so nicely because of the abundance of light.

But....as you can see, I've got the place trashed. I told myself, I'm allowed to have this much mess this week only. Next week it has to be sorted and I have to begin on floral arrangments, etc, for the shop---to dress it up.

Speaking of shops and displays, Joan Williams of Lil Ruby at Etsy shared these from her latest show:

Very simple and very effective. I find it interesting, also, to note what Joan took with her to sell. These are things sure to be crowd pleasers.

When you do shows, sometimes the temptation is to go over the top with huge work and window-dressing. While it's important to have SOME of those pieces as they draw the eye----you only sell them here and there. Some folks are new to artisan made jewelry and you need to break them in slowly. The things Joan shows in this photo are interesting, textural and would not break the bank. They are very wear-able and very gift-able.

I also like this display photo that Joan sent:

This is really fun, and very accessible, which is important.

I've put up corkboards in my shop:

For now I've got things very randomly pinned to them but I imagine they never will be all lined up and perfect. I think I'm going for a scrapbook/scrapboard look! LOL This has a mix of stuff I made and some vintage things I had. Nothing is expensive.

Donna Irvine sent this photo of a wrapped key pendant:

It looks as though she's used an antique key....very cool. I still have some Tim Holtz keys left from our old stock and had thought I might do something like this, too. Come over to the Creative Group and see the other wrapped keys she made. Very well done!

Robin Delargy of LooLoo's Box sent another spider:

Love the mixed metals.....and the resin is amazing.

Check out this darling necklace from TaVaBee:

Here's another pretty color combination in a very wearable style. Come over to the group and see more from her design collection!

Janine Fowler of LillyAngelJewellery at Etsy sent these pretty necklaces:

I LOVE pink! Here is another:

I love that background....I wonder, is is metal or grungeboard?

I've been busy, too:

I've been making a lot of purse pulls, rings, and key chains....oh! and earrings, too!

There's that little moon man again!

And with that, I'd better be off as I'd like to get a bit more jewelry made before I need to leave the shop tonight. I hope you enjoyed the recap! Do you know we have 349 members now? Who will be 350?

Come visit us one day soon at B'sue Boutiques! We just restocked SWELLEGANT today (yet again!) and many of the ring shanks and standard findings that you love! Enter code FIVEBUCKS and get 5.00 off any order of 50.00 or more; this week only, if your order is over 75.00 we will ALSO give you a FREE 10.00 gift certificate to use on **any size** future order!

Have fun! And show us what you've made from things from B'sue Boutiques at the Creative Group this week. I try to pin as many as I can so be sure that photo-sharing is enabled on your Flickr account!

Posted at 07:15 PM in Easy Peasy Projects, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Jewelry Making, Mixed Media Technique, Style and Color | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 19, 2012

Writing a Tutorial....and An Opportunity

If you have a jewelry crafts/making website or a blog, it's great to run some tutorials (or 'tuts' for short) from time to time.

I love to write tuts, but as you know, there's a lot to running a complex website, opening our new shop, and preparing our video tutorials. In the race for time, I decided long ago to open this opportunity to other writers and artists. Some who have helped have had more expertise than I do, in certain areas. Their assistance has been appreciated by many who enjoy the tutorials and have learned from them.

Writing tutorials is a great excersize. It helps you to clarify thoughts on your creative process. Sometimes, it can help you to be motivated to do a little organizing of your workspace. ;-)

The way we do tutorials at B'sue Boutiques can also help you to prepare material for magazine submission as well as writing for your blog, or even one day, for a book! Required is a tools list, a materials list, and a few photos (called 'step-outs') that show the project in progress. Then you write about the 'steps' and how you carried out the work. At the end of the tutorial you will write a small bio about your work.

Perhaps you have never done it before! Please consider writing for us. If you love jewelry and love to write, this won't be hard. It doesn't even matter if you are new to jewelry making. Some find they have great gifts early on. Why not share them?

We have some really excellent examples of tutorial writing among those who have prepared material for permanent archive at B'sue's. Michelle Mach, of Beads and Books, has had her articles and projects nationally published over 100 times.

Harry Wood of Oscar Crow has a fabulous blog of his own, as well as has 'lent' us some of his blog posts which are many times, great tutorials with fine step-out photos. He has also done some tutorials just for us on metalworking.

These are just a couple of the great writers whose tutorials are permanently archived at our website. Why not come and have a look?

Tutorials at B'sue Boutiques

I am looking for basic metalworking tutorials, beginning beading tutorials, easy wire wraps, and most of all, tuts that would incorporate things we sell at B'sue Boutiques

And you don't have to make it hard. An easy project is sometimes the very best thing!

It's a paying gig; you can get 50.00 in cash or 50.00 in site credit; also for qualifying tuts I will be happy to comp you up to 20.00 in materials to complete your project.

The best part, however, is that the tuts are permanently archived on a well-traveled website. We are more than pleased to add YOUR LINKS----to your shop, your Etsy, a shout out for your book if you've written one---anything you'd like to be clickable. This will increase traffic to your place, and get your name 'out there' more.

If you have a topic you'd like to publish this way, an idea for our website to present as a tut, something you'd like to share, feel free to contact me at bsue1441@aol.com to talk about it. I do get a good many inquiries, but the tutorial has to go with our line and our design aesthetic, so it would be a good idea to look over what we do at the website, first, then contact me with a definite idea of what you would like to do.

We'll brainstorm it....and maybe you can be the next tut writer to show up at B'sue Boutiques

Posted at 05:58 PM in Easy Peasy Projects, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 09, 2012

Don't Make It Hard!

Lately I've been following alot of threads about creative block, as well as whether or not your should submit your ideas or finished products to a magazine, to be considered.

Many feel their work has to feature some extraordinary technique to be of any merit. Others have begun to feel lost in the overwhelming flow of media, there is so much to see, so much to do, so MANY new ideas, that they feel they can't make anything...or don't even know where to start. Some even start convincing themselves that they've lost their spark and can't do it anymore.

Sigh.

My friend, Michelle Mach of Michelle Mach at Etsy and the popular blog, Beads and Books sent me a photo of a pair of earrings that she submitted to STRINGING magazine, because they contain components that we sell at B'sue Boutiques

As you can see (and Michelle is good with my saying this, she even suggested it) there is nothing over the top or difficult about this pair of earrings. They are pretty, they would go with someone's outfit, and will probably sell quickly.

Easy-Peasy, as many would say.

Did you know that STRINGING looks for Easy-Peasy style necklace, earring and bracelet designs? They don't even WANT over the top or difficult projects.

A suggestion: If you feel a little stumped, creatively, grab a pile of stuff---how much you wanna bet I know you have a pile of stuff laying around on your work table, already?---and challenge yourself to see how many EASY pair of earrings you can make.

I'll also bet you'll make many, have a good time, and come up with some fun new ideas!

And maybe....you'll decide to submit some of those designs to a magazine, too! Michelle has had over 100 projects accepted over the years, and many of them were beginner-style, fun, quick, and eye-appealing.

Let's say it again, together: DON'T MAKE IT HARD!

Posted at 05:43 PM in American Made Brass, Designer Finishes, Easy Peasy Projects, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Selling Your Work | Permalink | Comments (5)

August 01, 2012

The JOY of Polymer Clay

Have you played with clay today?

I wish that I could say, yes!

If I DID have time to play with clay today, I would be, lemme tell ya. Polymer clay is inexpensive, forgiving, and versatile.

I ALWAYS want to play with clay.

My fave thing of late is to work with white clay and whatever I can find for a pushmold, or texture.

Recently, I made this necklace:

The heart centerpiece is clay. I used a vintage cooky cutter for the heart, and white clay for the background. I like white, because it lends itself to being colored many ways. I like to use Swellegant metal coatings, acrylic paints and the Vintaj/Ranger ink patinas on clay, most of all.

It's fun to experiment with whatever inexpensive acrylics you may have on hand and they layer well with the inks and metal coatings. I cut out my shape and make my holes first, then I start layering texture with rubber stamps in my collection, as well as brass stampings. SO many things can be used for texture on clay.

The fun is in the experimentation!

I like Swellegant metal coatings over clay far better than Gilder's Paste, although it also works fine. The Swellegant line was developed by Christi Friesen for use over clay, although I personally sell it more for the metal stampings crowd, as it is an amazing patina product.

You'll find it at B'sue Boutiques right here:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/mmp_swellegant_products.shtml

and some tutorials from artist, Linzi Alford, here:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/project_ideas.shtml

I'm not the best polymer clay artist, many of my projects start one way and end another.....happy accidents!

But clay is high on my list of choice media. We carry a bit at B'sue Boutiques

Find it here:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/mmp_polymer_clay.shtml

When I start having classes here, you betcha, we'll be making clay beads. I love wonky, organic look beads, I love trying new textures.

If you haven't tried clay yet, you are way overdue to start!

If you love clay, you should join Jeannie Dukic's group at Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/361965820521794/

Posted at 07:01 PM in Easy Peasy Projects, Jewelry Making, Mixed Media Technique, Polymer Clay, Style and Color | Permalink | Comments (1)

Jewelry Making Outside The Box