A New Adventure in Jewellery Making

I have often looked enviously at the wonderful pieces produced by polymer clay artists. I am not very good at making things with my bare hands - putting or pouring into a mould works well for me but shaping even a basic bead which ought to be simple just doesn't happen for me.
However a few months ago I saw Debbie Bulford demonstrate mixing jewel enamel powder into translucent polymer clay on Jewellery Maker TV and so loved the results that I bought some clay and had a go.

I have documented my efforts on this blog....they were relatively successful but not awesome, indeed I still haven't made up any actual jewellery with the resulting donuts.
I had bought a few basic polymer clay tools and then got the opportunity to acquire some more as part of a box of supplies for mixed media work.
So today I have made my first foray into the world that is polymer clay.

I used some deep blue and white and conditioned it well. This was easier than last time and I quickly had workable clay.
I wanted to try a simple cane to make some beads with a Delph blue pottery look. I made a sausage of white and covered it with the blue and then made a sort of geometric attempt rather than just circles. I covered some leftover bits to make beads. They came out a bit bigger than I expected so I only made three. I used the rest to make a sort of marble effect and finally used the very last bits all mixed together which created a pale blue.

I have a special polymer clay bead baking tray so I pushed pins through the beads and baked them.
I had no real idea what to expect when I opened the oven...they didn't look any different! But once cool it was obvious that they were quite hard.
Although they looked fine in a matte finish I decided to glaze them which actually brought put a nice quality in the pale blue beads.

I have simply strung them onto beading thread to see what they might look like at the neckline.

Now I have to see if they will make something!!

Using Mica Powders with Jewel Enamel

In the Jewel Enamel Gems facebook group we are often asked whether you can use mica powder with jewel enamel UTEE and the answer is a resounding YES!

There are lots of ways to use these shimmery powders so I thought I would give a few examples and ideas here.

First and most obviously is to highlight any texture that you have poured. You can use wax gleams but sometimes you want a more subtle result so mica powders are perfect. You can always add a glaze over the top to keep the colour. I use Scupley glaze in either a satin or gloss finish.

this heart comes to life when you gently rub mica powder over the texture

I added gold and turquoise mica to this leaf shape which had been poured into a cutter laid on a texture mat

Another way is to brush mica powder into a mould before pouring. I use an old make up brush for this making sure I get into all the nooks and crannies in the mould. This technique is great if you are using a colour that is a bit dull because it gives a shimmer to your piece. With this strawberry pendant I wanted to add a subtle gold sheen so brushed into the mold and then when the piece was cold I gently polished it

                          

I really like to add mica powder to the actual mix as I am melting. You need to add gradually and mix well but be aware that too much can really change the consistency and you often get bubbles. I mix well and then use a heat gun directly onto the melt pot to get rid of as many bubbles as possible.
You get an opaque frosty result which works equally well in clear or a colour

This bracelet was made using a deep teal blue with clear and I slowly added silver mica and poured then a bit more and another pour and so in until I got an almost totally silver.
The heart mould is the small Karantha plain heart. I only have one mould so you can see this took time to create. In order for the mix not to go amber tinged I turned the melt pot right down between each pour.

A couple of hearts in I poured a pendant to complement the bracelet

you can really see the effect of the mica powder in this

these stars were made starting with turquoise and clear and a small amount of silver mica then adding a little more mica each time and then beginning to add a tiny bit of white

so why not give mica powders a try

Christmas Goodies

One of my Facebook groups loves doing gift exchanges and of course we couldn't ignore Christmas.
This time I was to make for  Bev who made me that stunning seed bead trinket box and earrings that I shared with you a few months ago.
I was really pleased to get her because I would be able to say a real thank you through my gift BUT Bev is a stunningly talented lady and does so many crafts that at first I was a bit stumped what to create.
The group is basically a jewellery making one but lots of us do other crafts and so the gift exchange has grown from being just jewellery to all hand made goodies which is brilliant because you often get something in a craft or medium you have not tried at all.

I decided to knit something for Bev and originally was going to make her a pair of my snuggle socks but on a trip to the NEC to the Hobbycrafts show in November I came across some stunning yarn and knew that I wanted to make her an infinity scarf.
The jewel like colours in the yarn glow and the piece grows quickly as it is made on HUGE needles ( size 10mm).  Once finished the two ends are sewn together with a mobius twist ( hence  infinity ) so you can wear it like a piece of jewellery or as a scarf. It is incredibly lightweight and yet warm. I had enough yarn to make one for myself - bonus!

I have just acquired some seasonal moulds for soap so using bright jewel colours I have poured a whole set of snowflake and bauble soaps - some of which went to Bev.

I also wanted to make Bev something in jewel enamel because she doesn't use this medium. However I thought with it being Christmas I would make her some stars and baubles as Christmas decorations. I had made some for family last year and they were so well received that I thought it would be something a little different.

I decided to use traditional seasonal colours - green, gold, red and deep blue in transparent finishing with embedded glitter. Once cold I used a solderng iron to melt a good sized hole and threaded with gold satin cord

I added a hand  made card as a final touch

Bev took this picture of her pressies

I hope she enjoys her presents from me.

Exploring Resin

I recently went on a workshop day to learn about using resin in jewellery making.
The lovely designer Fiona Potter led the session, giving us an introduction to the possibilities by sharing some of her wonderful makes.
You can find her work here:

https://www.facebook.com/Fionapotterguestdesigner

We started by weighing and mixing clear resin and hardener to pour into a mould and throughout the day we added layers to this basic mould starting with inclusions - I used some jump rings.
This would not be ready until the next day so when I finally turned it out it was a surprise to see what I had created. The bottom most layer ( which becomes the top layer when turned out ) was clear. Then another clear layer with jump rings. The third layer has multi coloured glitter, the fourth is very dark blue.

my finished piece

We used a bezel with a simple wire worked shape to create compartments then coloured clear resin with a variety of things. I chose to use a deep blue glitter for one section, alcohol ink for a second and some crushed chrome diopside (gem art ) for the third.
We created the wire shape and gently hammered it to give a flat base which would act as a seal. The wire had to fit very tightly otherwise the resin would bleed between sections.  We weighed out resin and hardener, mixed it for 2 minutes and let it stand to settle out the bubbles.
We then put a small amount into the bezel where the wire would sit to "glue" it in place
 I carefully sprinkled the diopsode into a section and then  I used a cocktail stick to carefully add very small amounts of resin to my bezel. Finally I mixed in some glitter into the resin I had left and added it to the bezel.

I am very pleased with this piece

We also used wire to create free form shapes which we gently hammered to give a flat back. Then we firmly stuck this shape onto sticky backed plastic to prevent seepage and added the resin. I chose to use an orange mica powder added to one and blue glitter to the other. I got better at manipulating the wire with the second one!

work in progress - still stuck onto the plastic

work in progress - still stuck onto the plastic

All our pieces were just about touch set before we left so we were able to take everything home. The next day I added a final doming layer to finish of my pieces.

after a final layer of doming resin

the finished piece

Definately Different Donuts!

A while ago I watched Debbie Bulford, guest designer for Jewellery Maker TV, use jewel enamel to add subtle colour to polymer clay.
I am not a user of polymer clay but I thought the technique definitely deserved trying out so I bought some translucent clay to have a go.

The clay has to be conditioned which means working it until it become really pliable and smooth. This took quite a bit longer than I was expecting but after a  little bit of work I had a thin smooth piece.
Then I sprinkled some jewel enamel onto the surface and worked it in adding extra in small amounts until I had a pale even colour. It was a bit like trying to work sugar into dense pastry, bits kept falling out but I presevered and eventually had an even coloured piece.
I started with a turquoise mix using aquamarine and apatite jewel enamel

once the jewel enamel granules were worked right through the polymer clay I divided it up and made small balls which I flattened and then using a straw cut a hole in the middle to create a donut

I then made some deep blue using Lapis Blue jewel enamel

and finally I made a subtle green using Apatite

I put all the donuts on a piece of baking paper and popped them into the oven at 120C for 15 minutes

At the end of this time I saw that the jewel enamel had not actually melted so I turned the oven up to 140C and returned the clay for another 5 minutes but watched carefully - I didn't want to burn the clay.

This time the jewel enamel had melted and the colour of the clay had darkened considerably.

The clay had a matte finish and looked a little like sea glass. However I decided to let it cool and apply a glaze which really brought out the colours

I have some suede cord and silver tribal spacer beads so I think I will make a necklace. Watch this space for the finished piece!!

A little Surprise

Some of you may remember that one of the Facebook groups I am in does a gift exchange occasionally.
The Autumn exchange was set over the summer and I was very lucky to be drawn to get a gift from the supremely talented Bev who does a wide range of jewellery skills but is stunning at beading. How she uses such tiny beads is beyond me.
One morning the postman brought a small box.......soooooooo exciting
And this is what was inside

this stunning small box all made from tiny seed beads with a little lid that I gently opened to find a pair of the most incredible earrings

The detail is stunning, the workmanship quite amazing - even these photos also taken by Bev are superb

I have made for the lovely Stacey who told me she wasn't into hearts and flowers and fussy; she loved lots of colours but blues, teal and turquoises were her favourites.

So I decided to go right back to my jewel enamel roots and create a colour gradation from light turquoise through to deep teal. 

yes you can see some hearts....after reading her message again I made a few more roundels and have kept the hearts for another project

I used these tiny roundels for charms which I added to a chain along with a quirky selection of metal charms.

a close up of the charms

I also poured some large hemispheres to make a pendant for a necklace

I poured  two sets so that I had a choice and then decided I quite liked a mixture

All the gifts are being photographed and uploaded to our group website mid September

This is such a lovely thing to do because we all have different talents and use such a variety of media

I expect we will do it again for Christmas

My Favourite Things

hand made beads

A few weeks ago Jewellery Maker TV asked me to write a blog post about some of my favourite things in jewellery making so here goes!

I LOVE making charm bracelets!

There is just something about wearing a bracelet that jingles and moves on your wrist with a satisfying weight. I have been making jewellery for over three years now and I think I have made more charm bracelets than anything else.

amethyst drops

I really enjoy choosing the gems, the colours and sizes that will go together and I usually try to find a range of different metal charms to add or even make my own with either jewel enamel or polymer clay.

Choosing the right chain is important  because you need a good sized link to enable you to put add the charms and to help you space them out to give a balanced look.

faceted shell pearls, shell discs and hand made jewel enamel beads

I have tried a variety of techniques but I think the one I use most often is to use a head pin and then roll it down  and either attach it straight onto the chain or use a jump ring to give a little extra movement. You do need quite a few headpins and I think these with the heart end from Jewellery Maker TV would really add that special touch

http://www.jewellerymaker.com/en-gb/product.aspx?c=mraz92&d=rose-gold-flash-copper-findings-kit-approx-100-pcs.

I love this little kit which gives you all you need to get going with a chain, S clasp and some little charms and if you add a few of your favourite gems you'll have a great result.

http://www.jewellerymaker.com/en-gb/product.aspx?c=updl98&d=rose-gold-plated-copper-finding-pack-inc-charms-approx-35pcs.

For those who like to embellish their charms I like these silver flash brushed flat charms because you can leave some as they are, stamp some and add detail embossing powder or use alcohol inks in a random pattern to add a bit of colour. That way you would get a range of colour and texture but using all the same charms

http://www.jewellerymaker.com/en-gb/product.aspx?c=aaaz52&d=silver-flash-copper-brushed-fancy-charms,-pack-of-(25-pcs)

There is a bit of a craze for having charms that the wearer can re-arrange themselves. I have a pretty summertime one with enamelled beach themed charms and they are all on little lobster clasps. You could easily do this yourself or if you prefer you can add real gemstone ready made charms like this faceted amethyst 

http://www.jewellerymaker.com/en-gb/product.aspx?c=nrjd69&d=925-sterling-silver-3.5ct-amethyst-faceted-drop-approx-11x5mm-charm.

This is a stunning moveable sterling silver charm with topaz for a very special bracelet

http://www.jewellerymaker.com/en-gb/product.aspx?c=xmkt39&d=925-sterling-silver-star-charm-approx-18mm-inc.-0.50cts-white-topaz.

Here is one of my favourite charm bracelets made using some beautiful peridot rounds with little freshwater pearls. This little beauty went to a good home for someone with an August birthday!

I like to add one finishing touch by popping a "made with love"  or "handmade for you" charm usually on the extender chain or near the clasp

   http://www.jewellerymaker.com/en-gb/product.aspx?c=rqtc71&d=antique-gold-pewter--made-with-love--charm-approx-12.5x10mm

Every charm bracelet is different - they can be very personal like this cherry lips made for someone who loves "vamping it up"

                                          OR  a bit of fun like this bumble bee bracelet

OR to match an outfit like this shell pearl coffee and cream

BUT the wholepoint of a charm bracelet is that they feel great to wear!