Long Time no Beads

by Staci Louise Smith

I know this blog has been vacant for sometime now.  Life gets in the way like that at times.  However, it has been calling me back. I miss blogging about my creative life.  I miss that interaction with everyone, because you know what?  We inspire each other!  

I am prepping for Bead Fest Philly again, and have been hitting the polymer clay after a bit of a hiatus.  I am both intimidated and excited.  This year I have some new work that mixes polymer clay with two part epoxy resin and crystals- I must say, I am loving these so much!  

Dragon Eye bead / polymer clay, epoxy resin, crystals, paint, other mixed media stuff

Due to life's complexities, I know I am not going to have the amount of beads I like to at Bead Fest this year.  I do know I will have enough.  I used to freak out and work 16 hours days prepping for this show making everything I know how to.  This year, I am focusing on making what my heart is telling me to, rather than what I think others would want to buy.  I am listening to my intuition.  I will have a table full of unique items for sale in addition to my beads, like I have in the past.  I will have my jewelry, ceramic offering bowls and other things.   

You can find all that event info here on my Facebook page.  Please follow it if you have not in the past.  It is the best place to keep up with where I will be and what is going on in my creative world.

I also recently finished converting y Gold Rush class I did for Craft Art EDU into a PDF file you can purchase in my shop.  I was so very sad to see Craft Art EDU disband, but I am thankful they gave us our classes.  The tutorial is an entire class in one!  You learn to form the polymer clay beads, do the faux gold, cure and paint them with a crackle to make them look like stone, and then it even gives complete instructions to make two different necklaces.  You can purchase that here if you are interested in learning some techniques.  The best part is that this class is so full of different techniques and tips, you can use them many different ways.  I really believe this class can take you on a creative journey to new places! 

Well guys, it feels good to be back!  I am hoping to also do some posts to highlight some of the wonderful tutorials we have on this blog.  Click the tutorial link above to see a list of all the wonderful tips and designs posted by various artists over the years.  

Offering Vessels, Alter Bowls........something a little different

by Staci Louise Smith

It has been a long time since any of us have blogged on here.  This year has been taxing for many of us, and life is just busier with more important things at the moment (family always comes first!!!).  

I have taken some time this year to play and lightend up my schedule.  I am not doing spring and summer shows, so that I have time to work on other things and spend more time with the family. 

I took some time on our beautiful spring day yesterday to get out my ceramic clay.  

I have been wanting to make something bigger than beads with my  clay, so I thought I would make offering bowls.  I don't do anything formal as far as alters or offerings, but I do have little "alters" to nature of sorts all over my house.  I love little dishes full of natures treasures in all parts of my home.

This one is a polymer clay dish I made, on top of a huge slab of petrified wood.  In it are bones and skulls that my youngest son has collected on our travels.

This bowl is a piece of natural driftwood, to which I added an awesome stone that is very round, and a piece of arragonite.

This cool bowl is actually a rock I found in upstate PA.  It has a natural concave shape, as if it were part of a large hollow form.  Inside is little sea treasures we have found in NJ, including the horse tooth.

I made this large ceramic bowl with Kristie the owner of Artisan Clay.  (so many years ago.......)  It has since been filled with my favorite beach treasures.  (are you beginning to see why I need more bowls?)

I have also been collecting some really cool crystals, and would like a place to show them off.  

This specimen is tourmalated quartz (aka rutilated quartz).  It is one of my favorite stones to use in jewlery.  So it was REALLY cool to see this- which is tourmaline, in the middle of being encrusted into the quartz.  I am so fascinated by stones.

This little guy is a most heavenly blue- and its called celestitie.

And how could I resist this labradorite?

(I have a rock shop near me, its not good folks.......lol)

Anyhow, I had so much fun making bowls yesterday, I plan to do another batch today.  I cannot wait until these are dry and can be fired.  I plan to try some different things on the surface too, since I haven't gotten into glazing my pottery (yet)

I put little legs on some of the bowls, because I really like how it looks.  It lifts up whatever you want to display on it.

I made a couple of larger pieces, like this one.  I didn't add any feet to them, and I think I love the feel of them the best.  They turned out very organic.

I did some stamping on some as well, and then went in with hand embellishing them further.

 You can see how they are raised up just a bit.  I really hope it all fires well.  Been a long time since I did ceramics.  I think it's like riding a bike though.................

Of course, this is my favorite.  I plan to keep it, but I will make more similar bowls today.  I love the organic feel of it.  I used a cool shell and fossil to make the imprints, and then added my own touch with the spiral center and designs around the edges.  

I simply cannot resist things that look as if they were dug up from the earth.  There is something about a piece with history that gets me every time.

I cannot express how fun it is to dabble in a new medium now and again.  My daughter joined me and she made some bowls too.  It has been equally wonderful to be able to spend so much more time with the kids.  I really missed that and didn't realized how much I worked until I didn't.  I still need to keep $$ coming in though, so, I am still producing, and some of these will be for sale as well.  So stay tuned.  You can follow my facebook page for updates to see when they are available.

Do you have "collections" of items around your home?  Do you arrange your art and findings into little alters in your home?  Share your hoards of collections with us on the Love My Art Jewelry Facebook!!! page!

Ornaments and a Product Review

by Staci Louise Smith

Every year I make ornaments from polymer clay.  This year I was sorely behind.  I just couldn't figure out what I wanted to do.  Last year I made my usual styles into ornaments, and did a run of Blue Moons to commemorate the blue moon that occurred in December.

This year, nothing was coming to me.  I thought, how can I commemorate this year?  Its been quite a year, with the election and all the great singer songwriter poets we have lost.

And then it hit me.

I wanted to make some ornaments to embrace peace, love, and acceptance.  

First I decided to honor Leonard Cohen, and make something inspired by his song Anthem.  I love the line, "there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in".  The other part of that inspiration was Karen's post that included a picture of this sculpture by Paige Bradley, which I LOVE.

So I decided to make a heart, with gold shimmer in the cracks, and wire wings.

I added the lyrics and dated them as well

Then I made some star ornaments, to honor David Bowie, aka Ziggy Stardust, aka Starman

On the back I wrote "turn and face the strange" because I think it really fits for every single day of our lives. They are also dated.

 I also wanted to make something to do with Peace.  This election has caused so much chaos.  So I made a new design, a peace sign, with wooden textured parts.  It was really fun to make.  On the back, trying to stick with lyrics, I wrote, "Imagine all the people living life in peace".

So, my ornaments are finally done and listed in my destash group. (How my destash group workds: just click that link, ask to join if you are not a member, and then claim items in comments.  I invoice you for them and ship)  

Better late then never, right?  (on top of the normal holiday rush and business, I have had sick kids.  I am so behind).

Anyhow...................since I made a new ornament, I had to make a mold for it!  Thus, the review portion of this blog....

I have been wanting to try that molding plastic, the one that you put in warm water and mold it.  I thought it may capture detail better, or yet, last longer then my typical two part silicone molds.

I purchased this brand, InstaMorph, from Amazon.

I followed the instructions carefully. 

I used water that was 150 degrees as directed and poured in some of the little white plastic balls.  They are supposed to congeal into one piece.

But they never lost their ball shape textures.  So I started again, because the cool thing is, you can re use this product over and over again

 I heated the water again, this time making it between 160-170 degrees

These looked a bit more transparent this time and congealed.

 So I smooshed them together and tried to make it as smooth as possible, but it was hard to get the ball texture out of them

I went ahead and covered my peace sign anyway, hoping that it would smooth out by applying pressure

 While that was setting, I tried again and went a tad hotter.  It did get much more moldable- however, the work time is quick, by the time it cools enough to handle it, and you begin to work it smooth, it begins to harden.

When the plastic was cool, I tried to remove my mold.  it stuck to the polymer a bit, and it did NOT make a smooth mold at all.  As you can see- it never lost that ball like texture- and the sample I did in polymer on the lower right side is terrible

 So, even though I think this is a cool product, and it is amazingly strong, not a fan of it for molds.  I will find a use for it, but it was way more trouble then it was worth.  I ended using my good old trust two part silicone molds.

I actually have an article in the current issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry on making molds with two part silicone.  

(I am also honored to be the Designer Collection in the current issue).  So grab it if you want to have a copy of my mold article- or take a peek at the issue because I was so happy with the pieces they picked to be showcased in the
Designer Collection (12 pages of my jewelry!  squeeee!).

You can pick up the current issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry here, or at some local art and craft stores as well as Barnes and Noble.

I know I haven't been blogging much lately, so I hope you don't mind that I crammed like 3 blogs into one!!!!

Christmas is in 3 days, and I know everyone is just mad busy!  I truly hope you enjoy your holiday, no matter what you celebrate, may it be filled with love, and family and friends, peace and wellness.  

Philly Contemporary Craft Show Part 2: Jewelry

by Staci Louise Smith

So, I can confess that I agonized over what jewelry to wear to this event.  I mean, when you know the jewelry there is going to be out of this world fabulous, you just have to look like you belong.....ha!

Anyhow, I ended up just wearing one of my favorites that looked good with my outfit.  

I went to the show for two reasons, one, to enjoy the art, and two, to scope it out, in case I get the courage to apply myself one of these days.  I also wanted to see what the displays and booths looked like compared to other shows.

During my visit, as I took in these jewelry artists in all their varied glory, I went through all the phases of self doubt that we artists can go through.

1st phase- "what was I thinking?"

2nd phase- "seriously, what was I thinking?  These people are masters"

3rd- "1mm diamonds set in gold......two hundred of them, and I wire together beads"

You get the picture.

But I did also go through some internal pep talk, and decided, that I am not any of those artists.  And just because my work is different and made different, doesn't make it less worthy.  Besides, they will just say no if I am not ready to be there.

So, I knew that Ford Forlano Jewelry would be there and it would be my first opportunity to take in their work in person.  I have long admired their modern polymer clay and silver jewelry.  They are masters of colors and textures that delight the senses.

I got to meet David Forlano and he was very nice- he encouraged me to touch the jewelry, and you know I did!  It is so bold in person.  Yet despite their size, the pieces seemed very wearable and comfortable.  An immense amount of thought and planning goes into the construction of their pieces- and it shows.

I also could not wait to meet Kathleen Dustin.  Her work graces the cover of Polymer Journeys (quick plug, if you like polymer or just awesome jewelry, you should grab a copy of this book) and I was thrilled that her piece was actually there to see in person.

This is the piece on the cover of the book.  Her sense of design and play is obvious.  She uses a plethora of techniques.  Each piece is like a small sculpture, a piece of modern art.  It was so great to see her work in person, and we chatted techniques and clay.  She was really cool to spend a little time with.

So, I knew those guys were going to be there, and I was already a fan of their work.  The rest of these people, blew me away.  I had no time to prepare myself for their awesomeness.

Right off the back, I saw Aleksandra Vali's work in the program and knew I had to make my way to her booth.

this is a brooch that I loved

This was probably my favorite, it was a brooch, that rests on a sculpture when not being worn, and can be a necklace as well.  

Not only is the idea fantastic, but the organic sculptural quality of the piece is wonderful

Ok- now take a breather, I know you need one after that.

Now meet Tara Locklear Jewelry.  I will be honest, I almost didn't go into her booth, but on second glance, I knew I loved her composition and had to take a closer look.  I knew it was wood, but after talking with her, I found out it was recycled skateboards!  the paint is original, and so they are often double sided and reversible too.

These are the shots I grabbed at the show, but here are some from her website.  I was totally intrigued and loved looking at all the painted surfaces and fun shapes.  I think she captures the life these skateboards once lived, as well as giving them a new life as modern jewelry.

We got to see Carolyn Morris Bach's work in person.  I know mom and I have pinned her work on Pinterest before.  Again, it was so exciting to get to see her work in person.  Each of her pieces is like a little fairy tale, with a modern art spin.  Folk and modern together.  

Sorry- I used the pictures from her site, and they saved tiny.  But you can go to her site and see her work for yourself.  It's amazing.

There was also the work of Reiko Ishiyama.  Anything that requires a great amount of structural planning has my love anyday.  And these pieces were no exception.  Very geometric, and 3-dimensional, they screamed modern art through and through.  

(pictures from their website)

One of the last booths I saw, and maybe my favorite of all (you will see why in just a minute)

was Alex Lozier.

Her work combines all the things I love about nature.  The gemstones she uses, I collections of my own at home.  So her work really resonated with me on a deep level.  

Her sense of composition is dead on, and her combination of materials is surprising yet perfect.  Yep, I am a fan for life now.

Cara Romano had some great pieces as well.  She combines modern shapes and metal with soft felt.  I think I was most taken with her pieces that are felted, but looked like concrete or stone like this one below.

I also really liked her metal forms on their own, like these earrings

I met Brienne Rosner there and her work sucked me right in.  She is a mixed media artist, and I could not place right away was her pieces were made from, so this always intrigues me.

(her link goes to her instagram while she works on her site- you can check out her Facebook page here)

From chatting with her, her pieces I believe are wood and paint, and she stitches beads onto them .......and here is the coolest part.  She makes jewelry, but she also makes wall art, where the jewelry piece is a part of it, and is removable and wearable.

I have always wanted to make 3-d art that my jewelry is a part of when not in use.  So it was really awesome to see other artist who have put that into fruition and their different takes on it.

Last, but not least, was Biba Schutz.  I wish I had taken photos of her booth.  Everything in it made me want to look closer and drool a bit.  So I had to take to the interwebs to grab some pictures.  This picture of her booth is close to how it was at the show.  I call this the wall that was dripping wire- and I had to go in for a closer look. How could you not?

She also had wire sculptures, used mica and bone and other odd things set in heavily oxidized silver...........it was all right up my alley.

And I leave you here.  Probably unable to mutter anything after all that gorgeousness.  I do hope you will go to the sites and visit these artists, take in their statements about their work, and enjoy.  I know I did.