Ocean Waves, Volcanic Eruptions - Explorations in Poly clay Organic

I get stimulated looking at other artist's work.  This includes artists in my own medium as well as artists in other fields.  I am not interested in copying their work.  Rather I am interested in learning and then interpreting what I take in by culling my own design sense.   That is how these necklaces emerged... after hours-- no I lie, it was days--of looking at you tube videos and designs online.

Podify Your poly clay!

Painted pods and pickled peppers.  They have nothing in common but it's fun to say.  I decided to fringe my pods after working on another piece in which I used fiber fringe.   For that piece I had created a pod clasp.  Then I got to thinking that the clasp might make a nice necklace itself.  Since my pods have lots of holes, I decided to add some funky fringe.  I wasn't sure if I liked them with all the fringe or not so these might be remade but here they are for now.  The last picture shows a black pod necklace with no fringe.

Scrap Clay Takes on a New Life

I feel like I fall down a rabbit hole every time I start a big project because I end up with a lot of scrap clay.  And I can't just put it in a ball and toss it in a container.  I am so curious as to what's inside and how I can manipulate it to create a pattern.  Using the stroppel technique sometimes and sometimes using other techniques.  The cool thing is I don't know what it will look like until I cut it.  I take a small end off and look at it.  The I cut it length wise to see what else comes up.  Then I decide which way I am cutting and stacking and finally I make the beads.  But then, there is new leftover clay.   Like I said...a rabbit hole.  Here's some things I created lately from my leftover scrap clay.

This flower was inspired by a class with Dayle Doroshow.
This flower is a big improvement from the one I made in class.

A nice pattern from my leftover clay and I added a three legged octupus.
  I suppose I could have added more legs but he's an alien mutant octupus.

Faux pottery.  I used a different cane making techique for this one. 
 This was basically putting scrap cane in the order I wanted it on a sheet of black clay and then cutting the shape.  
I wanted to imitate pottery dishes that come out of a kiln so I put a curve in it.   

Faux pottery 2.

I don't have all the beads in this picture but I am finally through all the promising scrap clay.
  Time to start another project!

Funky Pendants - Get Down!

I love going to classes not only because I learn from the teacher but because I learn from the students too.  A few months ago, I attended a class and one of my bead friends showed me something she learned in another class.  Essentially it is another use for scrap clay.  You take your ball of scrap clay and roll it into a teardrop shape but rolling in only one direction. Then cut it down the middle so you have matching sides and a heart (ish) kind of shape.  It was one of those techniques I couldn't stop doing.  Here is the result.

Rattled!

A few months ago, I went to a class called Petals and Rattles taught by Dayle Doroshow. The class jump started me back into polymer clay and well, that's what I have been doing 100 percent.  I have a bead embroidery class in August and my guess is that will jump start me back into that.  Or maybe, just maybe I will integrate the two.  Anyway, I thought I would share a picture from the class and some of the petals/leaves  and rattles I made since the class.

From the Class

Rattle mania takes hold

One for my guy.  This was actually made in class

I just couldn't leaf things alone.

Funky pendants.
 A fellow classmate showed me a cool technique she learned from another teacher.

Mother of all leaves.

A flower I recently made

My latest rattle.  

Making mandalas

If you looked through my jewelry collection, one thing you would quickly notice is that I am not big on making earrings.  I am usually drawn to make bigger pieces like bib style necklaces or cuffs even.

Lately however, I am in love with all the variations that can be had in designing earrings.  I love weaving different patterns and beads and figuring what I like best.  It's not for the impatient beader as I can't tell you how many times I rework an earring after putting on a row and not liking it.

One thing I discovered, however, was to trust my instincts.  As I am adding rows, sometimes I want to stop after a couple.  Sometimes it's because I love how the earring looks already.  Sometimes, it's because I hate how the earring looks.  But, I have learned to force myself to go on and make a game of it.  Can I add something that will make me love an earring I hate or can I make a pretty earring even prettier?

I am often quite pleased with the results.  Here's a sample.  To see which of these are for sale, Please visit my etsy shop at:  Shanty Chic Beads

When you really dislike a piece --- Fix it!!!

I wish I could show you the original piece but Irma took out my computer.  I think the hard drive is still good so maybe some day I will be able to transfer pictures and show you how this all began.  Unfortunately, I did not think to take a new picture before I began the makeover.  For now, all I have is the final result.  This started as a simple centerpiece with only two color, all light shades.  It was boring as hell.

I recently took a private lesson on color with a local artist who paints landscapes.  I knew about the color wheel but really did not understand how to apply it.  I was afraid of using too many colors and didn't understand how to add interest with color and with shades of color.  In just one lesson, I feel as though I learned a lot.  I wish there were more classes on this directly related to bead artists.  I have books but I am the type of person whose fingers have to learn how to do something before my brain  fully understands the book knowledge.

I consider myself still in the infant stage of this but my  teacher has really pushed me into thinking about dusting off the cobwebs on my wings, spreading them wide and flying into the unknown.  Hence the butterflies in this piece.  A transformation is beginning.