The Making of my Bead Soup for Marianne

Here is a picture I found somewhere online, probably FaceBook, that I thought was so gorgeous, I had to try to make it in clay.

First I downloaded and made a copy of the picture in the right size for a pendant. 

I cut it out and laid it down on a conditioned and ready piece of clay.  I used a stylus and got an impression of the flower into the clay.  Cut it out and added some detail.

After letting it dry for a couple of days between a couple of ceiling tiles, I used a sponge to wet sand the edges and smooth out what crinkles I could.  

Then the piece was bisque fired, cooled, glazed and fired to cone six which goes to over 2200 degrees.

There it is mixed in with beads that I got for the Soup and the special clasp that was handmade just for me by Jean Wells.

I hope Marianne likes it.  I was happy with the way it turned out and thrilled to be part of this Bead Soup again.  This really gives me a chance to grow in my less than fabulous jewelry skills.  I hope Marianne is happy with what I did with hers.

Got 'Em!

Just received my Bead Soup Blog Hop beads from Marianne Baxter today.  They are perfectly beautiful and in my favorite colors!  Check them out!

There are two little fish that I must do something special with.  I am not really into the Zodiac and horoscopes and all that, but my sign is Pisces and I've a feeling these are going to be a great dangle.  Off to do some chores, then back to think and plot what to do with such loveliness…  

Thank you Marianne!

My Bead Soup Blog Hop Partner is…

Marianne Baxter at:

 http://simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-color-orange.html

Marianne works in glass and metal clay and her work is lovely. I am excited to be her partner!  I have to fire her focal, I just finished glazing it and I just pray it goes as well as I hope it will!

The focal is fired and I will bag this stuff up and on the way before Friday!  It was such a nice bead shopping day for Marianne, I hope she likes it!

thanks for stopping by, take care

New Bones

Suzanne Berk is an animal rescuer.  I love her for what she does and I so appreciate her asking me to make some bones for her to use on her Rescue Bracelets at iRescue.  Here is a link:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/176941833/be-the-change-i-rescue-paw-prints-and?utm_source=etsythemeshop&utm_medium=api&utm_campaign=api

She has used some of my components before and I am thrilled to have some of my pieces in her work!

Here are a couple she sold last year…

Here are the steps to making the bones I did for her:

Step one is conditioning the clay and cutting out same size pieces…

Then make the cuts to shape the bones:

Then, I finalize the shape using my fingers.

Add high fire wire to use as a connector.

Let them all dry for a couple of days after wet sanding them to take down sharp edges and just make them look better.

The results of the fire:

Suzanne, I am honored to do these for you, I pray you will be blessed by using them and those they go to as well.  Thank you for what you do!  

I hope you've enjoyed seeing how these are made as much as I did doing them.

as always, thanks for stopping by and take care

In the Clay

The last few days I've made some new things, but the weather is so bad, with worse weather coming, that I cannot fire the kiln.  Maybe, hopefully, by the middle of next week I can fire.  I have a waiting order and I hate not to be able to get it finished and sent!

Today is the second day I haven't had sugar.  This is a new thing for me and I'm going slow to get myself under better control.  I have always been spoiled rotten and very self indulgent, but I am giving it a go, to try to make myself more healthy, I hope it's not too little too late.

In a little more than a month I'm going to be 58 years old!  Who would have guessed?  Not me, for sure!  You know the old line, if I thought I would have lived this long, I would have taken better care of myself…yeah, that's me!

I'm glad I have this blog where I can write and on occasion get a reply.  I usually have something to show, but today I'm just rambling.

thanks for stopping by and take care!

I'm Baaaccckkk!

I'm back in the clay…it's been months.  Tomorrow I am starting a new thing and I am wondering about how it will go.

I have missed you.  Sorry for not keeping up for so long.  Please hang in there with me and come back to see what's going on.

Take care and thanks for stopping by…be blessed!

HAPPY NEW YEAR--2014

Welcome 2014!  I pray each of you health, happiness, and love!  I'll be back!

take care and thanks for stopping by