Linda's Magic Workshop - Linda Britt Design

I'm doing the Happy Dance!  It's what happens when a completed project looks like the picture in my head!   As a designer (interior designer or jewelry designer) I generally have a picture in my head that needs to be translated to paper.  It could take the form of a floor plan, a sketch, a collage of ideas.  Once it gets onto paper then the 'how to make it happen' stage takes over and eventually the pieces come together.  Once the project is complete there is  that moment of fear and of anticipation,  The question, "Did I get it right?  Does it work?"That question is always right there no matter how much research, knowledge and talent has gone into the project.  Almost always the completed outcome is within the realm of acceptability. Sometimes I get to do the Happy Dance because it is so close to that picture in my head. Today's post is about sharing the process and the joy in the finished piece with you. My dad was a lapidarist by hobby

  My ‘Silver Bug’ Collection is finished!  It contains 11 silver bug jewelry pieces made with silver metal clay (Art Clay, FYI silver clay and one piece Hadar’s Steel Clay) and it has taken close to a year to complete.  I do admit I worked on it sporadically!  Throughout the process of creating this collection, I took photos and wrote a post about part of it.  http://www.lindabrittdesign.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-making-of-silver-bug.html   Today’s post is an overview.  Yes, the shape and colors of bugs interest me –mainly dead ones. (Not live ones so much - unless we are talking butterflies)  My bug project started as soon as I found some stylized bug stamps at The Art Glitter Co. in Cottonwood AZ.  www.art glitter .com/  I ordered some Art Clay silver metal clay and some FYI silver metal clay and started thinking and sketching.  I wanted dimension and some sparkle in each of the pendants.  For the dimension I cut, dried, carved and layered each bug. Form

What could be better that silver bug pendants for my spring collection?  Turns out at the rate I'm going it may be my  summer collection!  Nevertheless bugs it is!  This is the second silver bug and the third is done except for finishing.   I have several bug stamps that I am using for the basic bug and then I add dimension and faceted CZ gem stones.  I thought you might enjoy seeing the process.  This is the stamp! This is the silver clay that in stamped and drying on a curved surface These are the dimensional pieces drying After I made the curved front and back, I placed ball supports  that will help keep the curved shapes.  This is a hollow piece.  The front and back are connected and all the dimensional pieces applied.  You can see what a difference the stone makes! I fired the piece in my kiln, sanded, polished and patina'd it.  How do you like it?  Please leave a comment!