BRONZE PMC - OUR FIRST PROJECT

This week Jeanne & I worked with bronze precious metal clay. While it was easy to work with and form in the molds, firing offered some challenges. Some of the pieces actually disintegrated and disappeared - never to be found, some were soft in the middle, and others came out fine. We used the instructions on the pac...kage for the 1st firing. After the problems, Jeanne did some more research and made changes to the firing schedule, but there were still issues in the final results. These are some of the pieces I did that turned out well.  One of the pieces I did was a free form attempt at flowers, hearts, and Love in pendant form.  I am generally not artistic this way, but the end result isn't bad for a first attempt.  The other two pieces were done using molds we had created from buttons.  I really like them a lot, and would like to learn more about cleaning, polishing, and refining the pieces.  They were patinated in liver of sulfer.  If you have any advise, I'm open!  Please comment!  I'd love to hear from you. 

April's Creations

I did some pieces using shell disc beads in a lovely sand color.  I was hoping to get back to beaded pieces, rather than wire wapped, and ended up with some of both.  I made the wire focal piece when I was at  my daughters enjoying our new granddaughter, Abbey, but wasn't sure what I was going to do with it.  This was the end result.  I completed it with matching earrings and a bracelet.  I used the remaining beads to make a beaded necklace, in combination with some small beads with light and dark beige hues.  I thought they  complimented the discs.  Thanks for looking.

Your  comments are always welcome, whether positive or negative.  That's how guage what people like!  So please, don't be shy!  I'd love to hear from you. 

NEW CREATIONS IN COPPER/TRAVELING WITH WIRE

I finished these copper pieces this week.  All of the wire work is completely handmade, and the beautiful lampwork bead swirled with colors is by my friend, Jeanne. 

I did some of the wirework while I was at my daughte's home following the birth of  her baby, Summer Abigail.  One thing about wire is that it is very transportable and easy to work on without taking up a lot of space, especially in someone else's home!  I tried some new things with the wire and it gave me a stash to create with when I returned home.  I took 16, 18, 20 and 24 g. wire, tools for cutting and wrapping and mandrels to make jumprings.  It all fit in a small 8x11x2"  box. 

I hope to get these new pieces posted on Artfire this week!  Thanks for looking.  Blessings,  Anita

BEADED CABOCHON COMPLETE!

It's been a couple of weeks since my seed bead lesson in California with Arline from Beads Etc., and I will admit my memory did not serve me well, but with Arline's help via email and some additional help from my friend, Jeanne, I did complete the project.  My initial plan was to make it the focal in one of my
Egyptian coil bracelets and I still like the idea, but wonder if I should do another one and improve my technique first.....I'm  not sure I got the edge row right.  It's been a wonderful learning experience and I am not so intimidated by working with seed beads in this form as I was before...so, if you're thinking about learning to do this, find yourself a teacher and GO FOR IT!!! 

COMPLETED PIECES IN COPPER & ANOTHER SPECIAL ORDER

A while back I posted pics of some wire wrapped pieces I did while enjoying my new granddaughter.  Well, they are now completed.  I added a patina to them and tumbled them for hardness and sheen.  

I also had a special order for a black onyx necklace with elongated onyx beads.  I recently found these black onyx beads in a matte finish, which I thought was a nce change from the more typical highly polished onyx I am used to seeing.  I finished the piece off with small polished onyx beads and sterling Bali-style beads.  The hook and jumprings are wire wrapped in sterling. 

SPECIAL ORDER!

Today I worked on a special order from my childhood friend, Patti, who I recently visited in Long Beach.  While there, we visited a great bead shop called "Pudgy Beads" and Pat picked out some beads for me to create with!  Those beads include the ones in the kitty necklace and bracelet.  The metal and glass beads were ones I had here at home.  Pat loves her kitty cats (all three inside and more outside)!  She left the creative part to me, so I hope she is happy with the end results.  She also had me make a child's set in pink and I used Czech glass and crystal with extra links added to the pieces for size accommodation.  Long Beach was wonderful and my visit with Pat most memorable.  Most of my visit however, was with  my newest granddaughter, Summer Abigail - it was a glorious two weeks!

p.s. the Kitty Bracelet focal bead is reversible - really cool with the flower design on the other side!