Happy New Year!

2010

As we approach this new decade I am focusing on what I can do to make this a better world.  I have been thinking about helping a charity with some of the profits of my sales, and have decided that I will work with my daughter-in-law, Maria, who is on staff at "City Lights" in Boise, Idaho, to be able to donate to this worthy cause.  "City Lights", affiliated with the Boise Rescue Mission Ministries, provides food and shelter for woman and children in need, and also has a 12 or 18 month addiction recovery program.   If you would like to help with a donation  you can find them online at   http://www.boiserm.org/facilities-citylight.asp.

I will be posting more on this as I establish what I can do for them.

Convection Oven for Polymer Clay Baking

My Santa was very good to me this Christmas.  One of the things I asked for on my Christmas list was a new Convection Oven so that I could bake larger batches of my Polymer Clay beads.  Thanks to my daughter, Melissa, I received that wish.  Here is a picture of the oven, and I will add pictures later when it is in use! 

Red & Black Knitted Shag Purse

Taking a break from my Polymer Clay duties, I am knitting my shag purses.  This one is made from Batik Cotton, and is knitted together with strips cut on the bias.  When I have completed the basic purse then I tie on strips of the material to make a shaggy look to the purse.  The lining is a black and white zebra print.  Very stunning.  Watch for my purses on http://www.lorettasboutique.etsy.com/

Here is a closeup of the material

This is the lining

Polymer Clay Zebra Necklace

I have been busy putting together Necklaces for my Holiday Craft Shows.  This is a favorite, and oh so easy to make.  I had a black and white striped cane that I was using for another project, so I decided to use the "leftovers" to make this fun necklace.

  I made Zebra stripes by squishing it (technical term) and shaping into my take on Zebra stripes.  Then I layered it over a round bead and then flattened the round bead.  I made sure the holes I made in the center were big enough for a leather cord to fit through.  Here is my necklace and I even had enough to make a matching pair of Zebra earrings.  I really seem to be into making animals canes lately.  I'll post more later.

Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Instead of baking my polymer clay goodies, this Christmas I will be baking my friend, Vicki Bensinger's, "Pumpkin Whoopie Pies".  Here is the recipe posted on her blog at
 http://in-homeculinaryclasses.blogspot.com/.  Vicki is a very talented Chef and has fun teaching gourmet cooking at in-home parties.  If you live in the St. Louis, MO area please contact her for some fun parties.
Enjoy!

Christmas Claytime

One of my favorite times of the year is the Christmas season.  I am attending the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the city of La Quinta this evening, and have been invited to participate in the Arts & Crafts Bazaar.  Here are a couple of my polymer clay creations that I will be showing.

The Santa was a free tutorial on Poly Clay Play website at http://www.polyclayplay.com/ .  Very easy to make and you can add your own touch to make each Santa different.

The Lollipops are from "The Clay So Cute" book shown below.

 

In the News: Mammogram Guidelines

I'm sure you all are aware of the controversy going on about how often and when a women should schedule a mammogram.  Here is some information from the Breast Cancer site to help you make this important decision.

In The News: Mammogram Guidelines

Like many of us, you may be wondering about the recent statement regarding breast cancer screenings released by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, a government-appointed, independent panel of medical professionals whose recommendations inform decisions by health care providers and insurers. Because so many questions have been raised, we have set up a resource page with more information: Click here  to find  The Breast Cancer Site Mammogram guidelines page

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2&ThirdPartyClicks=BCS_FACEBOOK_PR-APP-EMAIL_ADGROUP_112409_BCS_m 



One thing that remains clear: Mammograms continue to be an important tool in early diagnosis and treatment. The most recent and comprehensive research on breast cancer detection clearly indicates that regular mammogram screening saves lives, reducing the rate of death from breast cancer by an average of 15 percent. As always, all women are encouraged to discuss the risks and benefits of getting a mammogram with their doctors.



At The Breast Cancer Site, we think the need has never been greater to continue the fight against breast cancer and provide support for all. And, given that this is the "Season of Giving," we're here to give thanks for early detection and your support. Please continue to click and shop to help women get the mammogram they need.



We hope you have a wonderful and meaningful Thanksgiving!

Loretta's Etsy Store

I hope you have all noticed my new "banner".  I originally planned to open my online "Etsy" store and call it "Designs by Loretta", the same as my blog.  When I went over to build my Etsy store I found out that someone else already had that name.

 Not to be deterred, I decided I would call it "Loretta's Boutique", and have recently set it up, and will be posting some new pieces.  I will feature handmade jewelry, specializing in Polymer Clay pieces.  I will also show a few of my hand knitted purses.  You can see samples of these here on my blog.  I will have the store stocked right after Thanksgiving, so hope you will take a peek and see if there is something that will work for your Christmas List.  You can find me at http://lorettasboutique.etsy.com/.

Clay So Cute by Sherri Haab

I recently purchased a really fun book for making jewelry for Teens and Tweens out of Polymer Clay.  It is called  "Clay So Cute!" by Sherri Haab.  I have tried a few things from the book and they are easy and really cute.  If you have Tweens or Teens in your family, encourage them to join you in making their jewelry.

  I highly recommend that you check out this book.  Sherri's website is http://sherrihaab.com/

Hand Knitted Purse

I decided to take a break from my Polymer Clay work and knit a new purse.  The purse is knitted from strips of cotton Batik fabric cut on the bias.  After making the basic purse, I take 4" strips of the fabric and tie them all over the purse.  You can also add buttons, beads, charms, yarns, ribbon, whatever strikes your fancy.  Then a lining is added.  Best if it is in a lighter fabric so that you can see things inside your purse.

Here is my finished project.

Donnie"s Purse

Louise Fischer Cozzi

I recently purchased a DVD tutorial from Louise Fischer Cozzi's Etsy store.  She has created a beautiful necklace she calls "Sophie" for a friend of hers.  Visit her website to view some of her beautiful pieces at http://louisefischercozzi.com/ , or purchase her DVD at http://louisefischercozzi.etsy.com/.

Here is a sample of her "Sophie" necklace.

Some of my favorite Blogs

I haven't added to my blog in awhile as I have been busy trying to set up my Etsy site to start selling my handmade jewelry and knitted purses.  I will post more as I get closer to opening the store.

Instead I would like to feature some of my favorite blogs.  These are friends that have added to my life both personally and in business.  Always there to lend a helping hand and friendly advise.

The first blog I am featuring is of the creative and talented, Vicki Bensinger.  Vicki teaches in-home culinary classes, and generously features yummy recipes on her blog.  Just think how fun it would be to get family and firends together in your home and learn to cook some really gourmet recipes.  If you are in the St. Louis, MO. area, or will be visiting there anytime soon, please contact Vicki for more information on her classes.  You can visit her site at http://in-homeculinaryclasses.com/, and while you are there please click on the link to vote for Vicki in the dessert contest she entered with her delicious  Chocolate Avalanche Cake.

Second up is Maria of Maria Paray Designs.  Not only is Maria a talented Jewelry Designer, using semi-precious stones, and making many pieces of  Silver Clay, but she takes time to raise and train Guide Dogs for Vets.  Combining both of these tasks, Maria decided to further give back to the community by designing and casting a "Perky's Paw" charm that will benefit Guide Dogs for Vets.  The charm is a cast of her guide dog, Perky's, paw.  Thus the name.  You can see "Perky's Paw" at http://www.mariaparay.com/page/2/.


Next up is Davina James who is very busy multi-tasking.  Besides her job in the law field, she is a Chocolatier with Dove Chocolate Discoveries (yum), and a Stylist with Stella & Dot.  Visit Davina at http://chocolateandjewels.blogspot.com/ to see what she is offering today.

Robin Raible has had a busy year, which included a fire that destroyed her home.  Thankfully that has been rebuilt, and she is  busy working at a Wine Company, and is a consultant for Pampered Chef.  You can visit Robin's PC site at http://www.pamperedchef.biz/rraible.

Karen, I didn't add a blogsite for you, but always appreciate your support and addition to our group!

The glue that binds this group is Dee Gordon.  Ever multi-tasking, first as a single Mom, raising her son, Eric.  Then keeping busy in her Human Resources job, and finally as a creative and talented jewelry designer and master blogger. 

Dee has a jewelry website at http://runakojewelry.com/ and also sells on etsy at http://runakodesigns.etsy.com/.   The group "Kiva" benefits from her profits.  This group makes loans to people in other countries that are trying to start their own business.  Sometimes they only need small amounts, and she has proudly helped many of them.

Dee keeps up in the industry by blogging at http://runakodesigns.blogspot.com/, and keeps us entertained on her blog "Girl's Night Out".

I would be interested in hearing from you on what you think of these sites, and if you have any sites I might like to visit please post them.

Thanks for stopping by.

Beaders

I recently joined the Beaders Showcase group for jewelry designers, and I displayed a few pictures of my new polymer clay pieces.  I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email today telling me that they had selected one of my pieces to showcase on the website.

  They selected a favorite of mine, the faux Lapis Lazuli necklace of polymer clay that I gave my cousin for her birthday.   Here is the link for you to take a peek.  http://www.beadersshowcase.com/photo/polymer-clay-lapiz-lazuli?context=user

Pear Earrings of Polymer Clay

Our family as an annual Octoberfest and we have a theme so that we can prepare something that has to do with that theme.  It can be a recipe for food or drink, or a painting or a game or centerpiece for the table.  Whatever we decide.  Past themes have been something made with Pumpkin, apples, German Potato Salad.  This year we were asked to include pears in our project.  After thinking hard on this I decided that it would be fun to make pear shaped earrings for all the ladies in attendance.  Cindy Lietz, the Polymer Clay tutor had a video class on how to make Anjou Pears out of Polymer Clay, so I pulled that up and here is my take on the Pear Earrings.

 One photo is of the unbaked and raw pears. The second is of the finished earrings.

Palm Springs Museum

I spent an interesting afternoon at our local Palm Springs Art Museum.  Due to a generous donation from the Berger Foundation, the museum is offering Free admission to the museum on the second Sunday of each month for 3 years.  They are offering interesting art demonstrations, music, dance and a short film on a featured exhibition and the artist.

As a Polymer Clay Artist I am  always interested in color and  patterns in everything I see.  I watched the dance artistry yesterday and admired the  two colors of a costume that I thought would make a beautiful Skinner Blend.  What really caught my eye though was the beautiful blown glass exhibits by the artist, Lino Tagliapietra.  Many interesting millefiore designs in glass, and textures that would be absolutely gorgeous in Polymer Clay.

Here is a link that will take you to some beautiful glasswork by Lino Tagliapietra, and a little history on the artist.  http://www.psmuseum.org/exhibitions/current_exhibition.php?id=26.  I'm sure you will enjoy this.

Stella & Dot Think Pink Boutique

Besides having my own jewelry design business where I make some pretty Polymer Clay Beads to use in my jewelry designs, I am a Stylist for Stella & Dot, a direct sales jewelry company.  This month is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Stella & Dot is featuring a "Think Pink" Boutique.  20% of sales from this boutique will go to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer.

Take a look at this "Think Pink" boutique at www.stelladot.com/loretta and then click on trends.  You can't go wrong with any of these beautiful pieces, and it's for such a worthy cause.

A couple of my favorite pieces in this collection is first the Perfect Faceted earrings in Rose Quartz, and second the Rose Quartz Cross Necklace.  You can also pick up a cute Awareness Charm to add to your bracelet or necklace.
                                                            

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is a special month for me.  It is my birthday month, and a month that I celebrate  9 years of being free of  Breast Cancer.  Awareness is very important in treating this dreaded cancer, because with early detection you have a much better rate of survival.   It is also important that the person diagnosing and reading your mammograms are board certified in that field.

I have always been vigilant about getting my mammograms, and feeling confident after having them that I was cancer free.  Little did I know that many Imaging Centers are not trained to catch the very small pre-cancer calcifications that happen and can eventually turn into full blown cancer.  I was at 3 different imaging centers in an 8 year period, and two of them missed the spot.  Fortunately it was slow growing insitu-ductal, and I had a very well trained, Board Certified in Mammography, Radiologist the third time that caught it.   After a Lumpectomy, removal of a few lymphnodes and radiation, I am cancer free.

I encourage you all to visit this website for up-to-date information on the treatment of Breast Cancer.  http://nbcam.org/index.cfm

My Soda Can Polymer Clay Necklace & Earrings

Here is the finished product of the pendant and cane slice I showed earlier.

This is my motto

REMEMBER . . . .

My Polymer Clay Soda Can Pendant

I've been busy today.  I decided I wanted to make a Soda Can bead like the beautiful necklace I posted below. This tutorial is featured in the latest Belle Amoire Magazine written by Laurie Prophater.

Instead of the full necklace I decided that I would make a millefiore pendant using this technique.  As mentioned in the tutorial, you cut out shapes from an Aluminum soda can (be careful....using heavy gloves and tin snips are advised).  I then created a millefiore cane that I thought was pretty, using some leftover Premo Clay that I had.  (the cane is on the right side of the picture).  I added the cane to the aluminum piece using some liquid clay to help adhere the bottom piece.

This pendant has not been baked, sanded and sealed yet.  I plan to add a silver bail and SS chain.  Will post finished pictures later.

Flowers are so popular in jewelry now

I have been talking a lot lately about my Polymer Clay flowers I am working on.  It seems that everyone has some sort of flowers in their jewelry collection.

I am a Stylist for Stella & Dot, a direct sales jewelry company, and Stella & Dot has a beautiful collection of flower necklaces, bracelets and  beautiful flower rings

This little yellow flower ring is a favorite of mine.  Check out www.stelladot.com/loretta to see the rest of the flower collection.

Hamster

Belle Armoire Design Two

The second necklace from Belle Armoire that I covet is on page 46,  the Laurie Prophater necklace made from Polymer Clay and recycled Soda Cans.  She also used rubber cord and telephone wire recycled.  Very "green". Thanks for sharing your talents, Laurie.  I will post my creation when I am through making it.  Here is the necklace, and above I posted a link to Laurie's website.

Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine

I recently purchased the Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine and fell in love with two necklaces.  Polymer clay is the medium I enjoy working with right now, and when I saw the necklace shown by Jessica Moreau-Berry on page 27 of the magazine I fell in love.  The colors are so vivid and bright.  Just a happy necklace.  She calls it "Flowers Fit for a Fairy.  Thanks Jessica for sharing your secrets on how to produce this beautiful necklace.

Polymer Clay Aqua Adventure

Another practice necklace for color and shape. Wanted an Aqua color so mixed Premo Polymer Clay of turquoise, green, pearl and white. Wanted more swirl to it, but must have mixed too long. Will try again and maybe add a tiny bit of black.

Polymer Clay Yahoo Group

I just joined an interesting Yahoo group that is focused on making Polymer Clay items. My specialty is jewelry, but you will find all kinds of interesting items made of this versital product.

If you are interested in joining this group submit your application to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/clay-polymer. There are interesting discussions of product, color, design, techniques, and lots of pictures of the finished products.

Many Artists on this site have their own blog, website or Etsy store. Great place to shop for that special gift. Check them out

Clay-polymer Yahoo Group site picture

Cindy Lietz - Polymer Clay Tutor

If any of you are wanting to learn the craft of making Polymer Clay beads then be sure to visit the blog of Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor. She has weekly online video classes on making beautiful clay beads. You will find this information and how to sign up for the classes at www.beadsandbeading.com/blog. Here is a picture of just one of the classes that she will be offering in the coming weeks. I love this butterfly pendant and really look forward to learning the technique. How about you?

Stella & Dot Designs

I love my handmade items, but once in awhile I need to show you the beautiful Fall accessories available from Stella & Dot. This Flower Bloom Necklace in Red is one of my favorites.

I am a Stylist for Stella & Dot, and You can find this and other beautiful pieces on my website at www.stelladot.com/loretta.

Working Polymer Clay in Hot Weather

I was so excited when I got another new Polymer Clay Book yesterday. "The Art of Polymer Clay Millefiori Techniques" by Donna Kato. I'm all ready to learn to make some of these fun canes to use in my beads, so I start to condition the clay and then carefully form the inner part of the cane, nice round dots. I add the outer layer of clay and start rolling to shrink it down. My clay is getting softer and softer. Needless to say my round dots are now squashed ovals. At some point it dawned on me that maybe I need to put the first rounds in the refrigerator to set up a little before I add the outside sheet. Oh, did I tell you, we are having a heatwave here in my Desert City of California. Friday was 118, Saturday 114 and today 115. Do you think that might be why I have soft clay? :)

My good & creative friend, Dee, of Runako Designs, has a blog at www.rdgirlsnightout.blogspot.com, and entertains us with her Friday "Girls Night Out" sessions. She generously features other crafters' blogs and websites, and has contests for you to win gift certificates or pieces of jewelry (I won a GC from her and purchased her beautiful "Scarlet with Attitude" necklace). Visit her Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6980585

This weekend, in order to encourage us to visit other blogs, and have others visit ours, she has us posting to our sites what we would take with us if we were on a Desert Isle, and then listing that on her GNO site. You are then requested to visit all the other sites that have posted. Check out www.rdgirlsnightout.blogspot.com for details.

Packing for my Desert Isle Visit

1. I would definitely take my husband, Randy. He is so adventureous and would make it fun. I would hear, "Don't worry, I can start this fire with these sticks". The original Mountain Man.

2. My toothbrush for those romantic moments.

3. I think my own personal Genie would be nice. And more than 3 wishes please.

4. Do you think they might have a "Curves" gym location there? Maybe that's just wishful thinking. I would bring my workout clothes if they did. :) I know, I know, I'm crazy to think about working out that way on a beautiful desert isle. Gotta keep in shape though.

5. I would need my cellphone and computer. How can I add to my blog without them? Hope they have wifi & Skype .

6. I wouldn't have to worry about food because my husband is a good Fisherman and would supply me with buckets of delicious fish. I'm sure the fruits and vegies are abundant. Sooo....I guess I would just have to bring my China and Sterling to eat off of, and my pots and pans to cook with. Or..... maybe we could just order out.

7. I would also want my 60' yacht so that I could get away for a day or two if I felt like it. Or would that be too ostentatious?

8. I'm starting to really miss my family, maybe they could come along too.

9. My bed, oh am I missing my bed. Maybe we can squeeze that in too.

10. Now, I really need a way to earn some money to get off this island, so I'll bring my jewelry tools so I can use the resources there to make beautiful jewelry to sell to the natives so I can buy a ticket home.

Thanks for the fun, Dee!

Crazy Caterpillar Bracelet of Polymer Clay

This is my "Crazy Caterpillar" bracelet. I love the purple, red and lime green together and can envision my own Crazy caterpillar in these colors. I have accented it with sterling silver spacers and flower clasp.

Rotary Tumbler for Sanding Clay Beads

Once you have your clay colors mixed and your beads made and baked, you need to sand, sand, sand your beads to make them smooth with a natural shine. This can be a problem for some of us as we get a little older :), so I have taken to "cheating" by using a rotary tumbler. This machine is normally used to tumble natural stones to smooth and shape them. The clay works beautifully in here when I use small river rocks and water to jostle and sand them for me. All they need then is a quick buff and whatever sealer I want to use on them.

Hmm...what am I going to do when all these beads get sanded? Need to put my design thinking cap on.

Michaela Space Blog

I've added a new link to a blog that I think you will find interesting. www.michaelaspace.com/blog. Micheala is a member of a WAHM shopping group that I am on, and is a very talented lady. With her designs, natural soap making skills and notecard business I think you will enjoying spending some time on her site.

Vicki Bensinger Blog

If you like to cook I suggest you check out my friend, Vicki Bensinger's, blog at

http://in-homeculinaryclasses.blogspot.com/. You probably won't be able to take advantage of her in-home culinary classes as she lives in St. Louis, but she is always posting delicious recipes.

Right now she is running a contest to win a fabulous and funky Apron just for visiting her blog and commenting on the aprons. Let her know which is your favorite.

Leave a comment and tell Vicki that Loretta suggested you visit her site.

Another view of Shaggy Black Purse

Knitting With Fabric

I have so much fun wearing my blue "Shaggy" knitted purse. I can't tell you how many times people stop me asking where I purchased it, and if I make them for sale. Very rewarding comments for an Artist :)

In fact, it's so much fun that I decided to make one in Black. The fabric and pattern were purchased at Monica's Quilt and Bead store in Palm Desert, CA. The fabric is batik cotton which is printed on both sides. Good for the shaggy pieces that you add. The colors are black with green, rose and beige dot pattern. The lining is green and has pockets for cellphone, pen and other girlie items. The button is square, made of resin.

The process is cutting strips of fabric on the bias and then knitting that fabric together on #13 needles. You can decorate the purse as you like with fabric strips tied in a knotted bow, or you can add beads or buttons or ribbon. Whatever pleases your fancy.

Here are a couple of pictures of my creation.

Garden Party Necklace from Stella & Dot

This is our new "Garden Party" necklace from Stella & Dot. Visit my website at www.stelladot.com/loretta to take a peek at the rest of our "Statement Necklaces"

LORETTA CARSTENSEN - Stella & Dot Senior Consultant

LORETTA CARSTENSEN - Stella & Dot Senior Consultant

Shared via AddThis

LORETTA CARSTENSEN - Stella & Dot Senior Consultant

LORETTA CARSTENSEN - Stella & Dot Senior Consultant

Shared via AddThis

How about a little Swirl in your Polymer Clay beads

This was a fun project. I made canes of black, white, gold, copper and silver. I twisted those together, cut it in half and twisted them together again a few more times. I then rolled it out in the Pasta machine after lining it with some flat scrap clay. Then I combed the clay with a toothpick making swirls both ways. I then rolled it in the pasta machine making it ready to cover scrap clay beads.

The necklace is about 24" long and I accented it with torn pieces of black clay made to look like coco chips.

The method for this necklace is in the book "Making Polymer Clay Beads by Carol Blackburn. Page 24 & 25.

Using up Scraps of Clay

Today was using up scraps of clay day. I made lapis lazuli earrings to go with the necklace I made last week.

Next was some leftover black and white clay mix that I used in my Blushing Zebra Necklace. I made a pendant, added a charm and strung it on Two strands of Greek Leather. Had enough to make matching earrings.

My final lesson today was learning to make rings. Perfect project for leftover small pieces of clay. I formed the ring tops of clay and baked them on a lightbulb in the oven. This gives it a nice dome shape. The ring on the left has a silver shank and the one on the right I made a clay shank. That one is not done yet because I have to let the liquid clay set for 24 hours before baking. More on that tomorrow.

Here's the Necklace

This didn't get attached to my last post. Here is the finished "Lapis Lazuli" necklace.

Anyone for Faux Lapis Lazuli

My clay projects continue, and this time I learned to make "Faux Lapis Lazuli. A fun project to work on because you get to chop up pieces of clay in varying colors of blue, mixed in with a little translucent. Then you clump it altogether in a block, carefully pressing out all the air bubbles, but leaving a bit of a craggy look. No need to run this through your Pasta machine, just slice off a piece and cover your base bead.

Here is my finished project and a picture of the beads after baking. My necklace is about 24" in length and I added gold spacers and findings to complete it. Looks almost real.

Using Studio Sculpey Polymer Clay

For those of you who are into making polymer clay beads, you all know that there are different clays that give different effects to your artistic creation. The red beads in my "Blushing Zebra" necklace are made with Studio Sculpey. It's a very soft clay and easy to condition. It is best for beads that you want a matte or natural finish.

The "Zebra" beads were made with Premo Sculpey, and are made by stacking layers of black and white clay, cutting the stack in half and layering again. Then you squish the clay to get various wavy effects such as in a Zebra coat. Thin slices are cut off of the stack and then wrapped around a base clay bead.

Another view of my Millefiore Polymer Clay Beads

Millefiore Polymer Clay Beads

For those of you out there that are working with polymer clay beads I encourage you to try making the Millefiore beads. You can design beautiful beads with a series of clay canes made with two or more colors rolled into a log and then sliced thinly and placed on a base clay bead. This is my first attempt at Millefiore and I'm really pleased with the outcome.

Runako Designs Girls Night Out: Slumber Party in Paris - Girls Night Out

Runako Designs Girls Night Out: Slumber Party in Paris - Girls Night Out

Runako Designs Slumber Party in Paris

Click or copy and paste this link http://rdgirlsnightout.blogspot.com/2009/07/slumber-party-in-paris-girls-night-out.html and join Runako Designs at a Slumber Party in Paris. Ooo La La..... Bring your Imagination for fun and a chance to win some beautiful earrings.

While you are there click on the link to visit Runako Designs website to view the beautiful jewelry that is available for purchase.

Enjoy your trip!

Learning to Make Polymer Clay Beads

I feel like I did as a child when I had my little baking oven and made mud cookies. Polymer Clay really gets under your skin. (not to speak of the fingernails). I am really enjoying the creative freedom of working with this product. I am learning step by step, mistakes and all, how to mold and use clay to make my beads.

I am enjoying the teaching of Cindy Lietz online, and have the Ronna Sarvas Weltman Clay book.

Here are some pictures of the "Nightfall in Mozambique" necklace that I copied from the directions in Ronna's book.

I also felt validated as a Jewelry Artist today when I went into a Large Women's Chain Dress shop today and was asked by a Lady if I had purchased my necklace in that store. When I told her that I made the necklace she dragged me over to her friend to show her. They were really blown away when I told them that I had actually made the clay beads myself. Nice validaton for an artist.

Here is my try at Ronna's "Nightfall in Mozambique" necklace.

Cherry Tomato Necklace

This cute little polymer clay necklace reminds me of Cherry Tomatoes, hence the name. I mixed a little orange clay into my red pearl clay and came out with a nice creamy tomato red. I accented it with gold beads and amethyst chips.

Polymer Clay is very light weight and perfect to wear with your new Summer outfit.