Evolution and a WILD WILD GIVEAWAY

by Staci Louise Smith

I have been playing with wire again in the studio.  I started making these fun wire chokers last year, but had to take a break because of some shoulder problems.  However, I had lots of great art beads crying to be the focus of a simple necklace again, so I am at it once again.  These looks so amazing on!

They of course started much more simple last year (pictured above- the wire work was not as "much")......

but this year the wire part got to be a bit "more" each time I made them.

Now I am making some metal cages, and wire wrapping around them to create a wire focal of its own, with a pendant being secondary.

I love when my ideas grow and evolve.  I have so much fun taking one of my idea and just letting it grow.  Here are some of my original ones from last year, they started out as going through a donut focal, (which was an evolution from my vertical pendants that go through donuts like this)

and then the wire part grew into being their own focal, no donut involved.

So this is what I have been working on for my next show.  

Since I haven't done a giveaway in FOREVER, I thought it was time.  You can win this necklace below by leaving a comment on this post.  Winner will be picked at random next Thursday.

This is 14g, 16g and 18g copper wire, and a gorgeous pyrite nugget, that the pictures don't do justice to.  it sort of shimmers in the light.  It is adjustable from 15-20"

Value $75

Open to US residents only. 

UPDATE:  International entries welcome, however, you must be willing to pay shipping that is above $3  Please state in your comment you are willing if you are international- thanks!

 Winner will be announced on the blog next Thursday so please check back then. 

Polymer clay: Endless Possibilites

by Staci Louise Smith

I never intended to become a polymer clay artist.  I made jewelry.  I made jewelry with PMC, sea glass, gemstones and wire.  When I started to make beads, it was for fun, to allow myself some play.  PMC got really expensive and the polymer allowed me to scuplt without breaking the bank.

I never knew I'd fall so in love with it.  I myself, was a bit of a bead snob, and never bought polymer beads to use in my "fancy" designs.  Most of what I knew was caning, and that was far to bright for my work (gorgeous, but bright)....and......the snob in me saw it as plastic.

Then I got paired with Lynda Mosely of Diva Designs for The Bead Soup Blog party.  She sent me some of her faux turquoise beads, a fabulous transfer and lots of other beads to play with.  I was in awe that it was polymer.  It was such an eye opening moment for me.  You could make polymer look like things, well, other then polymer!  

I mean, look at her work

You can find her on facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/Diva-Designs-Inc-440052939372905/timeline/

and on etsy here (where she sells tutorials as well!!!)

https://www.etsy.com/shop/divadesignsinc

That is all I needed, and I was off and running.  I chose to paint on polymer, because I grew up in a home with a mom who painted.  I learned faux finishes and how to use painting mediums on just about anything.

At first I just loved being able to get out my paints again and play.

Here are some of my earlier beads, just loving being able to play with color and paint.

Over time though, I began to love the sculpting of the clay too.  These are my new favorites to make because I really get to play with form.

And as time goes on, I fall more and more in love with this medium.  There is always something new to learn.

I mean always.

You can find new techniques daily, or, at least, new ways to use old techniques.  

I love blogs like Polymer Clay Daily, which features inspiration and new artists each day!  

Or the Polymer Arts Blog, which focus's more on a technique or design element and showcases it for a month or so through the works of different artists.

And then there is my favorite place to go for WOW moments and information, and that is Ginger Allman of the Blue Bottle Tree's facebook page.  Her blog is packed with information for beginners and experts alike, as she investigates tools, dispels myths, and continually gives the polymer community a plethora of useful information.  

On facebook, she likes to showcase artists as well as post things to inspire us to go further.

This is the post that inspired MY post today.  I mean, just when you though you have seen it all.  She showcased this pendant and asked us to try to figure out how it was made.

artist: Ayyrin

http://polymerclayfimo.livejournal.com/5210791.html

Ginger hinted that it involved pastels and stretching of the clay.  

We were all stumped.  

Well, here is the tutorial.

Its not in English, but you can follow the pictures.  

Watch and be amazed.

http://ayyrin.livejournal.com/8166.html

It really had me shaking my head, but in a good way.  There is so much you can do with this medium.  So many finishes, so many ways to manipulate it......the possibilities are endless.

If you are looking to try out polymer clay, I encourage you to really investigate The Blue Bottle Tree's blog and do research.  There is a lot to learn.  But once you have conditioning and curing down (and trust me, these can take time to get right for a strong solid piece) then you are ready to have fun.

Ginger also has lots of tutorials you can purchase on her website.

I have a tutorial on my painting technique that involves the crackle finish available on my website (just the painting technique, no polymer forming in it)

http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/product/painting-polymer-crackle-technique-tutorial

I also have an online class you can take through Craftcast to learn to make these from start to finish: forming, curing, painting, and making the necklace as well.  

You can find that here

https://www.craftcast.com/recordings/painted-polymer-fossil-talisman-staci-l-smith

So how about you?  What have you seen that has blown your mind?  or opened a new door in your medium?  Have you had those moments that have changed your entire artistic course?

Iced Enamels with Polymer

by Staci Louise Smith

Karen McGovern did a post on playing with the new Iced Enamels by Susan Lenhart Kazmer.  They are a cold "enamel" system, using some sort of embossing powders with resin to seal them.

Of course, I thought right away, how can I use them on polymer?

Though I really did plan to use them on metal as well.  

I could not wait for them to arrive.  Of course I tried them on polymer clay before metal, of COURSE I did.  Though I did metal as a quick second.

First I followed the instructions, Susan has a nice little video here, but I didn't like the look of the globbed on "enamel".  I wanted a crusty look, both on my metal and polymer.  Something more gritty.

Here is the "globbing" or applying a thick full layer of power on polymer (on the area's I wanted anyhow)

Here is what my first tries on metal looked, like

I mean, I don't NOT like it, but I was not thrilled

So, I kept playing......

For this black polymer donut, I used the German silver and I really bubbled nicely, and gave me a sort of raku'ish look I liked.  However, it just wiped off the polymer, so I used resin to seal it on.  I only put the resin over the "enamel" and a tiny bit over the edges, because I wanted the matte look of my black to remain.  I like it a lot, and now it doesn't come off.

So then I tried to over my already based coat painted polymer, and then put my crackle layer over top. (the donut has stripey circles painted on in the faux 'namel and the pink bead has one stripe at the top)

LOVE these.  Love them so much.  It is exactly what I was going for.  

The crackle layer was enough to seal it on (plus of course the actual sealer I use on top of that).  I didn't need to use any resin on these at all and they are soooo cool.  I love the texture it adds to the pieces.

My painting and crackle tutorial is available here for purchase.  Though it does not include how to use the iced enamels, it does tell you how to layer paints, alcohol inks and use a great crackle that works wonderful with polymer and doesn't take forever to achieve a great aged look.

Another polymer artist, Tammy at Paisley Lizard,  was playing with them as well.  Here is a link to her post. 

http://www.paisleylizard.com/2015/06/using-iced-enamels-with-polymer-clay/
 I loved that she mixed the powder in with the translucent.  Though it may not have given her the look she was going for, it sure did make some pretty beads.  Since I just bought a bunch of translucent to play with, this is on my list to try.  I have mixed other things into translucent and loved how it looked, but the iced enamels were pretty awesome too!  Instead of having to add color and something with particles, like chalks and mica, it is all in one for you!!!

I ended up making some metal pieces I liked as well with the Iced Enamels.  I liked them very much, but they needed the resin to really seal them well.  However, it was soooooo shiny, it not only didn't look like enamel, it was just distracting.

So I sprayed them with some matte sealer....and that made them funky, and matte, and turned the clear resin milky looking in spots.

So I think next time I will use a satin finish over the resin, so its not so shiny.  Anyhow, I don't hate them, and I am having a blast!

I can definitely see me using these........which is nice, because I can sometimes jump into things and then not end up finding a use for them in my work!

Anyone else use these?  What are your thoughts?  Your results?  Feel free to share your pictures of what you did with Iced Enamels on our Facebook feed in the comments.

What kind of Metal can I texture?

by Staci Smith

This was the first question I asked when buying my metal supplies.  I remember how shocking it was that you could use 24 gauge metal and it wasn't paper thin.  I was thinking in wire terms, and thought it would be frail and thin.  Now, the number gauges run in the same way wire does, smaller number, thicker gauge, but they certainly feel very different.

 

So I thought I'd give you a little information on metal sheet.

 

The most popular metals are sterling silver, copper and brass.  I highly recommend starting with copper.

 

Copper is softer then brass, and cheaper then sterling silver.  So it works easy, and if you make a mistake, it's not a devastating financial loss like it would be with sterling silver.

http://www.thunderbirdsupply.com/proddetail.aspx?StockNum=170104

 

 

When you go to buy sheet metal, some places sell set cuts- like 3x6" or 6x12".  Others (like www.thunderbirdsupply.com) let you choose your own cut size.  This is handy to know depending on what you plan to do.

 

For example, at Thunderbird, you can order 10 pieces cut at 2x7.5" if you are planning to make cuffs (not sure what cuff standards is, I just picked that measurement at random)- they are pre-cut to the size you want.  They also have the option of set sizes.

 

Another thing to consider when ordering or buying sheet, is how you plan to cut it, and what you want to use it for.  26 gauge is very thin, very lightweight and easy to manipulate.  This is great for fold forming items that may be used in earrings.  I also use 24 gauge often for earring designs so they aren't too heavy. 

 

If you need something to be sturdy and unbendable under stress, you want to use a thicker gauge, 22-18 gauge.  Keep in mind how you plan to cut these sheets.  You can only use metal shears up to 22 gauge (usually).  So if you need thicker metal sheet, you will need to saw it.

 

I have ordered the standard large sheets of metal 6x12" and I found them too bulky to work with.  I don't have a quick way to cut them down, so it's been awkward to work with them, which I why I like to customize my sheet size.

 

I hope that helps with some questions you may have on buying sheet metal.  For a beginner, especially for our Metal texture Boot Camp, I highly recommend copper.  It cuts and stamps like butter!

 

We can't wait to see what you guys are working on.  Remember- the blog hop is April 8th.  On that day, you will be able to link up to our site.  Happy hammering.