I LOVE YOU AARON RODGERS, SEE YOU SOON.

The Green Bay Packers have been my favorite football team as long as I can remember.  I live in Arizona but my heart is in Wisconsin.  My brother lives in Florida but he's a Packer fan too and so his daughter and her boys.  She got an official Green Bay Packer shirt for Christmas and she asked me to make her some jewelry to go with it.

I made her these to go with her shirt.

And, I sent her the two sets on the left to go with her shirt.  The ones on the right I made for my friend who is an Arizona Cardinals fan.  Those didn't bring them much luck either.

I just finished this bracelet for her and will send it soon.

I made a discovery, at least for me.  I was looking for something on Amazon and found this stuff called Judi-Kins Fluxe.  It said it was a powder resin and you could bake it at 250 degrees.

This is what the bottle looks like.

Last week at clay guild my friend  Lupe Meter did a great demo using stencils, Pan Pastels, chalks, mica powders, etc.  I wanted to try what she was doing on black clay even though all I had was a little metal stencil.  I learned fast that you have to very careful after you use the Pan Pastels not to touch them.  They smear very easily.  Anyway, I made these earrings and baked them.  I found the bottle of Fluxe in the cabinet and thought I would try it.  I don't know if you can tell there is a resin like finish on these but I sure like it.  I dumped a bunch on each earring (it self levels), put them back in the oven at 250 and 10 minutes later I had a piece of polymer clay with a great looking gloss on the top.  I'm experimenting with more things right now to see how it works.  I did a couple metal bezels with glitter in them.  I just put another coat on and put them back in the oven.  Will update more later.

Gotta go get my boobs squished.  Yearly mammogram.  Hope they warmed the plate this time.

MEMORY BEADS (CONTINUED)

 These are made with white and pearl clay and green alcohol ink.  They also have the crushed rose petals in them.

These are made with pearl clay, the crushed roses and cranberry alcohol ink.

I used some of the pink beads to make a Shambala bracelet.  I promised I would make at least 20 items with the rose petals and I'm trying to make different pieces so each one in the family can take their choice of what they would like.  This has been a challenge.

This is a key chain/purse bling and I used one of the pink rose petal beads with some great white caps but I can't remember where I got them.  I think Michael's but not sure.

This is a polymer clay cross that I had made and it has glitter and resin on it.  Can be a purse bling, key chain or wall hanging.

This silver bezel has white clay with the rose petals in it and resin on the top.  The white cord is made using Kumihimo.  

It's pouring here in Arizona so taking pictures is difficult today.  I usually use natural sun light.  I bought one of those picture taking set ups but the little lights that go on the side are so hot I'm afraid they will cause a fire.

I had to put a picture of Buster on here.  He loves this afghan and on this day he took a four hour nap with his foot sticking out.  He cracks me up.

More to come when the sun comes out.

WHAT A NICE SURPRISE

I got a little box in the mail a couple days ago and when I opened it I was really surprised.  I got the most beautiful pendant in the mail from Lynda Moseley.  And, it came in an adorable little pouch.

She inspires me so much.  Some of the best pieces I've made came from the tutorials I bought from Lynda.  It's amazing how much she shares.  Here's her Etsy website https://www.etsy.com/shop/DivaDesignsInc?ref=l2-shopheader-name if you are a polymer clay person you will love her Flawless Mica Shift tutorial. https://www.etsy.com/listing/51151212/polymer-clay-tutorial-digital-pdf?ref=shop_home_active_3. 
Thanks Lynda, I plan to put something very special in that little package.



DREAMS IN BLACK AND WHITE

I just finished this necklace that I call "Dreams in Black and White".  The pendant was done in black and white Mokume Gane using one of Penni Jo Couches Best Flexible Molds.  On the back, I used Magic Glos and a rub on that says DREAMS.  I'm going to be sending this one to Oklahoma for their clay retreat.

I have one more piece to do and then they will be going in the mail.

INTERNATIONAL POLYMER CLAY SWAPS

I belong to a facebook group called International Polymer Clay Swaps.  Every time we do a swap the administrator gives you the title of what the swap is and we also do a twinchie (same as an inchie only twice as big).  This time it was Valentines Day and it could be what ever you wanted.  I had already started doing a couple pieces so I'm lucky I got done and got them sent by the time the date came that we had to send them out.  My swap partner was Laurel Steven who lives in California, the last two swap partners live in Canada and it seemed like it took 3 weeks for the packages to get there.  Laurel took a great picture of what I sent her and put it on facebook and told me I could use the picture for my blog.  As you know I put my light box away when we had the flood and after cleaning the dining room I didn't feel like messing it up again so my pictures aren't as nice as this one.  She uses photo shop and I'm too cheap to buy that so I use Picasa.

The top left is my twinchie that I made from a lightning cane that I had.  The middle one is a heart with resin and rub on letters and more resin (Lupe Meter inspired that one).  I put it on a Kumihimo chain and made a keychain/purse bling out of it.  The one on the right is a pendant I made with the same cane (sanded and buffed) and put on a silver neck chain.

These are my pictures.  I'll post Laurel's items as soon as I get them.  Now I have to get working on the things I'm going to send to the Oklahoma Clay Guild for their retreat.  Soon as I get rid of this migraine.  Been two days.  Anyone else out there get them?  What do you do for them?

POLYMER CLAY PENDANTS

Not enough hours in the day especially when you have to take a nap.  AND, I do.  I get up every day at 5 and go take my friend's 3 dogs for a walk and then I get in her pool to cool off.  It's so hot here in Arizona right now the dragon flies are diving bombing the pool.  Anyway, I have been really busy making pendants.

These are all made with polymer clay in bezels and then covered in resin.

I really like the white ones.  These are also polymer covered with resin.  The two on the right are from a cane I made a couple of weeks ago.

The second heart is a Natasha cane made from the left over Mokune Gane I did for the shower pens.  I like the third one in the brass bezels with the blue Swarovski crystals.

The cross in the middle is not polymer.  I poured alcohol ink in the cross to see what would happen and when it dried it was beautiful.  I laid the jump rings and the crystals in and put the resin in.  Most of these have 2 or 3 coats of resin.  The one on the right was sanded and buffed, no resin.

These two have both been sanded and buffed.  I love doing Natasha pieces with left over clay.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST

BUSTER

One minute he's the sweet Buster.

The next minute he's the "ALIEN IN THE BRAINS BUSTER".

Going to the show where it's cool and I can have popcorn for lunch.  LOL

100 AND STUPID

I love Arizona in the winter but I'm already tired of the heat.  It's been 100 AND STUPID here for over a week.  Friday it was 112, today it's going to be 103 but that's only from noon until 7 o'clock.  The rest of the time it's about 85.  No humidity but the sun is very hot.  It's too early to have this kind of weather.  I'm cranky already.

Anyway, having to stay inside, I get more stuff done.

This is a Sutton Slice pendant I did with a piece of a cane and black clay.  The black part on the top was textured with a doily.  The rim was done with a piece of lace and Pearlex powder.  Then sanded and buffed.  I'm making a black herringbone necklace for it.

Another clay back ground with watch parts and resin.

A piece of eye cane from the Barbara Maguire class I took last November.  It's getting hard, I need to use it.

I used fancy crimp covers on her.  I didn't use magic glos on this one.  I used another uv resin and had some bubble problems even though I let it sit before I put it in the light.  I dug out the one bunch of little bubbles and put another coat of resin on it and put the crimp cover in the opening where the bubbles were.  Normally I take the clay out of the bezzle and glue it back in but I couldn't get her out of the bezzle.  That's what caused the late bubbles.  The heat from the UV light caused the air to come up from under the baked clay piece.  I was in a hurry when I took the pictures and didn't wipe the dust off of them first.  That's all the little white stuff you see.

Rose's Bracelet

My friend Rose came over yesterday and she had this bracelet she made.  It was her first of this kind.  She does a ton and I mean a ton of Kumihimo.  This is a Kumihimo braid made into a bracelet.  It fit me perfect and matched what I was wearing.  She made me give it back to her.  I guess I'll have to make one for myself. LOL  The balls sit up when you put the bracelet on.  It's really cute.

I was going to put up a picture of Buster but I thought you girls would like this better.  You can sit and stare and day dream.  For those of you who don't recognize him, it's Jim Caviezel from the show "Person of Interest".  Thursday night was a big night for me.  First Jim and then The Mentalist.  I don't answer the phone from 8 to 10.  Now I'm watching reruns of both shows on Thursday night.  He whispers.  I told my husband I wish my number would come up so he would follow me around for a while.  I got that "who are you kidding you old bag" look.  And then he said, why do you need him when you have Buster following you around all the time?  They don't get it.

He is cute though.

DICHROIC, NEED A PHOTOGRAPHER AND GUESS WHO

These are filled with black clay on the bottom.  The next layer is resin with some funny little stiff stuff and then more resin.  Someday I'll figure out how to take pictures of resin filled things like Carmi does.  Her pictures are awesome.  I use Picasa to do my pictures instead of Photoshop, I don't have time to go to school to learn another computer photo thingee.  At my age, I want life to be easier.

  OK, these are the first two.  Give me some time to practice.  They really are pretty but kind of boring.

Doesn't Buster look like he's saying "Get that camera out of my face"?  He got a new carpeted cat tower and he's loving it.  It had a pillow in the top compartment and he pushed it out twice, I finally got the message.  It's strange that my camera likes him and takes such pictures but it doesn't seem to like my clay and jewelry stuff?

Thursday is going to be a fun day for me.   I'm going for a massage and then my BFF's are coming over for a clay day.  It's been a long time.

STEAMPUNK PENDANTS AND A CURIOUS CAT

I found a couple wonderful places on Etsy to buy bezels and watch parts.  It's really hard to photograph resin because it back flashes because of the shine. 

I went back to Picasa to edit my pictures.  Now I just have to find a place to take better pictures.

THE CURIOUS CAT

Buster now weighs 3.2 pounds.  He loves to eat.  Good thing he came to right house because we love to eat too :0).

Having a kitten is really interesting.  I forgot how much trouble they can get into and how lovable they can be.  First thing in the morning I check all the blogs that I follow.  He gets on my desk and watches all the pages change and loves to follow the mouse arrow.

I wonder if he can read?  He sleeps right next to my pillow at night.  He has since the first night I got him.  I'll be in trouble if he ever gets to be a big cat.

CANE SWAP

Our guild is having a cane swap in February so I need to get to work and make some canes.  I like making flower canes but I would like to do some Kaleidoscope canes.  If you know a good one, send it to me.

  It's hard to type when a little cat keeps stepping on the key board.

WATER FOR THE STEAMPUNK ELEPHANTS

Last February I took 4 classes from Christi Friesen at the Tucson Bead Show.  When we came home I made myself a steampunk elephant necklace and I get more compliments on that than on anything else I wear.  Well, my elephant is worn out and missing some pieces, I don't think water would do him any good.  I did listen to that book "Water For The Elephants" and then it came out as a movie.  To me, it was a very sad and depressing book so I never went to see the movie.  The other day I decided to wear my elephant for one last time.  A lady came through our beading club and asked if I would make one for her daughter.  I finished it today.

He's all silver and black with Groucho Marx eye brows, a monocle and lots of steampunk parts.  Hope she likes him.

WOODEN NEEDLE CASE

A couple months ago I bought some wooden needle cases.  I thought they would be great to carry my beading needles in and to store them.  I forgot I had them.  I made another Stroppel cane and decided it would look great on one of these cases.

I guess I could have beaded around it but this is more fun and less time.

This is a resin-steampunk piece I did with a Kumihimo rope necklace.  It has clay in the bottom and two layers of resin on top.  Someday I'll take my time and get rid of the shadows in my pictures.  I set up my picture box but the lights still aren't right.  This was taken outside.  I need to do more resin.  This was UV resin.  I'm going to try the two part resin some day along with a bunch of other things.  LOL  No more room for stuff.



CELEBRATING 200 AND OH MY IT'S RESIN

Never thought I would see the day that I could say "Hey, this is my 200th blog".  Three years ago I had no idea what a blog was and here I am.  YIPPEE

A BON-RO NECKLACE

As you know I love making crosses with Mokume Gane polymer clay.  I've sold quite a few of them and given many away.  The last two crosses that I made I used the new Premo 18kt gold and it really gave them pizazz.  Rose asked me for one of the crosses and matching earrings and because I gave them to her, she made a Kumihimo necklace for the one I kept.  It's going to be displayed in the library here the month of August.

Rose does Kumihimo so fast she amazes me.

RESIN, THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE OH #$%@^^!#@!

I have been experimenting with resin.  I've always used Magic Glos on some of my polymer clay.  About a year ago I ordered some UV resin  from epoxyjewelry.com.  It's a one part resin that cures in the sun.  I've been following a resin blog and love the work that she does so I decided to try some.

This is the Good.

This is a bangle done in a mold (too small for my hand).  It has coral and mixed chips and no hole beads.  It also has a few bubbles.  I had to sand the sides and re-resin the top and bottom.  Not bad for the first time. 

This is the Bad.

I thought I would try the resin in molds.  I made the mistake of mixing Pearlex powders in the resin first.  Because of the powders, the resin didn't cure.  I should have done it in layers.  I was able to get the uncured resin out of the molds with rubbing alcohol.

This is The $@#^%^#&(#%$

Just couldn't give up.  Decided to try the Magic Glos in the mold.  There was a bubble so I picked up a piece of wire to pop it, the resin got a black line through it and the wire turned nasty.  Normally when I do Magic Glos, I run a BBQ lighter over it to get the bubbles out.  The bear is cute but he needs more sun.

STAY TUNED - NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT 

Carmi, I have some ET Lite that I will try as soon as I can find a place to put things to dry.

A VERY LUCKY WEEK

This has been a very, very lucky week for me.  Last week I got an email from Beaducation saying I won a $100 gift certificate on their blog giveaway.  I didn't waste any time.  I ordered new tools.  I got a German, short, round nose pliers with ergonomic handles, a German chain nose pliers with ergonomic handles, a coiling pliers and a large wrap and tap pliers.  They are all so comfortable to hold and handle.  I've been making earrings by the bunch for my 96 year old friend in Wisconsin and I've been making my own ear pin wires and jump rings and these pliers have helped tremendously.  I love Lisa Nivens Kelly and all the free tutorials that she does on Beaducation http://www.beaducation.com/.   Thanks again Lisa.

These are a two part earring set.  The short end is attached to the post and the long one is attached the earring back.  Those new tools sure are nice when doing so many loops.

My friend Jane has ordered 60 pair of earrings so far.  She is having a great time being a 96 year old sales lady but I've been so busy making earrings, my polymer clay is being ignored.  That's not a nice thing.

RESIN CRAFTS BLOG GIVEAWAY

Another one of my favorite blogs is Resin Crafts by Carmi Cimicata http://resincrafts.blogspot.com/.  She teaches and shares a ton of information about using resin.  She shows the good and bad and tells you how to fix the bad.  They had a blog contest and I won a resin tray.  Now I have to bite the bullet and do something besides coating polymer clay.  Her latest blog shows some beautiful things that she put into resin in the resin trays.  Check it out.

WHAT A NICE SURPRISE

The mail just came and there was a really nice surprise in it.  Linda Kropp from Linda's Artbarn

http://www.lindasartbarn.com/ sent me this beautiful eyelglass case that she hand painted.

Linda is a tole artist, a One Stroke Paint teacher and a jewelry designer.  I have 11 pair of glasses and I can't tell you how much I love this case.  11 PAIR OF GLASSES???????   Yes, I have bifocals for watching TV and crocheting, bifocals for regular wear, computer glasses, beading glasses, bifocal sun glasses, bifocal sun glasses for reading, distance glasses for bowling, distance sun glasses for golf, etc.  My husband always jokes about how many pairs of glasses I have.  Sometimes he asks if I'm wearing my vacuuming glasses or my doing the dishes glasses or my walking to the mailbox glasses.  HMMMMMMMMM

Thank you Linda, this will be put to great use.