Posts

Easter Rabbit with Attitude

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Once in a while, we get to create something that really makes us smile.  I wanted to make something for a very good friend while she was in surgery.  It kept me busy and I sent her all kinds of healing energy.  I love the attitude that this Easter Rabbit displays.  A little wild eyed with great staying power! He was so cute that I just had to find a container for his home.  Obviously my Emu eggshell was the answer. I got my polymer canes out, found several coordinating colors and patterns. Then I sliced the eggshell in half with my flexshaft.  Next came the hinge application.  I glued it on the two shell halves and started planning the design.  After the canes were smooth, I cured it carefully laying one half on baking powder for support.  When I picked it up, I forgot the glue would be soft and yes! one half dropped on the concrete floor.  Only the inside shell broke - not the polymer.  I bet I never forget that again! I repaired the hinge and glued fabric on the inside of th

Sea Stars

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Sea Stars!  I think I like the romance of 'sea stars' rather than calling these fascinating creatures 'Starfish'.  They are not fish.  They do not have gills, scales or fins. They have tube feet to help them move.  They can have more than 5 arms and can regenrate arms.  They resemble the shape of a star and may appear smooth or with spines on their top side and are soft on the bottom.  I've been looking through some of my photos and found several of starfish.  I'm once again surprised and inspired by the diversity in nature.  The range of size, shape, color and texture intrique me and give me food for thought to use in my jewelry creations.  I thought you might enjoy seeing the variety also. Find out more at this site: http://marinelife.about.com/od/invertebrates/tp/seastarfacts.htm  

The Value of Tutorials

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One of the best things about Facebook is being in a special interest group.   I belong to a polymer clay group and a metal clay group.   The polymer clay tutorials are listed and I always look.   So when Emma Ralph’s (EJR Beads) tutorial was recommended, I looked at it on her etsy site.   http://www.etsy.com/listing/113890791/polymer-clay-tutorial-by-emma-ralph I thought it was expensive and so I looked several times before I decided to buy it.   Wow! Was it worth the money.   It was well written and documented with many interesting pictures, techniques and tips!   In this blog, I want to show you some of what I learned and the ‘Illuminare’ beads I made. I followed her directions and took a couple of side trips!   The Thistle Medallion was one of the side trips. http://www.lindabrittdesign.blogspot.com/2013/02/thistle-medallion.html     This bracelet was another.   http://www.etsy.com/listing/124530104/dragonfly-bracelet I made the flat clay sheets and embellished