Countdown to Bead Fest!

Today is Monday the 17th. I depart for Bead Fest in 3 days, and a few miscellaneous hours. Set up on Thursday - with a stint as airport shuttle. Then Friday we can let the wild rumpus start!  (Thank you Mr. Sendak for that one.) 

My glaze fort. Please note coffee aka elixir of life; and Netflix on iPad. Currently binge watching West Wing. 

In the last few weeks I have been spending most time in the Glaze cave aka basement studio, where I barricade myself in with jars of glaze and underglaze. And I paint, and I paint. My pieces are so detailed, and involve multiple layers of glaze. Base coat, shadows, highlights... as if I was painting in watercolors. Then a coat of clear glaze over the underglaze colors. I love that each piece is individual and unique...

I have new designs this year that I have added to my Mythic Nature line of ceramic pendants. All the favorites will be in attendance at Bead Fest, and there are new orcas - thanks to Lindsay, barn owls, sleeping foxes, and the Mermaid of Zennor. A Cornish folktale, her inspiration is carved in wood on a church pew. (St. Senara's Church in Zennor UK)

 I currently have a small kiln at home, and larger kilns to use at the studio where I teach. All my pendants are fired at home in my workhorse! (Olympic doll kiln). Its not large, but I love that I can fire it fast and frequently!

Approximately 50 pendants in a load, each suspended on a hook, from a bar of the bead tree... 

 Then there is the polymer. And the resin. Oh my! 

All the polymer is still in progress. Theres a lot to do in three days... 

So as of this writing - its pricing and sorting time!

Mythic Nature pendants fresh from my little kiln.

Look what has arrived! I will have a selection of treasures from Lesley Watt with me (and her) at Bead Fest!

Lesley's loot teaser pix! 

If you are in need - here is a discounted admission coupon! Stop by Artisan's Alley and say Hello! 

Hey, pssst Fill in my name as the "Referring vendor" ok? Thanks. 

Simple Summer Pendants

Now that summer is finally here (thank goodness), I don't really want to spend my time locked inside the office making intricate jewelry while the weather is gorgeous. Instead, I'll make a bunch of simple art bead pendants that are perfect to slip on a ball chain necklace and wear with my tank tops.

By the Sea pendant

Just stack a few coordinating beads together, hang them from a ball chain and you are ready to go!

By the Sea: 

Porcelain anchor bead: Suburban Girl Studio LLC

Polymer seashell pendant: Second Surf

Flower Power pendant

What I love about this is I can whip something up in 15 minutes.  So if I buy a new top and have nothing to go with it, 15 minutes later I've got a cute handmade pendant.

Flower Power: 

Stoneware pendant & beads: Suburban Girl Studio LLC

Assorted Ball Chain

And ball chain is inexpensive and comes in a wide variety of sizes and colors.  You can have a whole assortment on hand to mix and match with your new pendants!

Floral Fire pendant

If you do craft shows, this is also a great way to add a lower price-point (but quality) item to your booth.

Floral Fire:

Lampwork beads: SueBeads

Tropical Punch pendant

Tropical Punch:

Hand-painted acrylic bead: MyElements

Ceramic charm: White Clover Kiln

Catch of the Day pendant

In addition to stacking pendants, you can also whip up a few charms and then just slide the charms on to the ball chain.  I made this set for the bead cruise and I'll be wearing it again on my Bermuda cruise in a couple of weeks!

Catch of the Day:

Metal clay fish: Staci Louise Originals

Lilac Loop pendant

Lilac Loop:

Porcelain loop: Suburban Girl Studio LLC

Hand-painted acrylic bead: MyElements

There are so many fun options with this style.  If you are stressed making something more intricate, take a break, grab just a few beads and make yourself a simple pendant!

Happy Beading!

Day of the Dead Sugar skull tutorial

The air has a crisp scent, pumpkins are popping up, leaves are falling down. Its that time of year - time for the Day of the Dead! 

We have discussed the Dia de los Muertos both recently and in the past here on the AJE blog. It is a celebration that inspires me greatly - with its rituals and colors, its heritage and history. ( I have discussed that  here. ) The holiday acknowledges death as a part of life, and remembers & honors the departed. ( Linda goes into depth on her post from last month if you missed it.)

This is the second year I have made polymer "sugar skulls" - my take on the popular decoration for Day of the Dead. This time I was savvy enough to take pictures of the process. I hope you enjoy - and feel free to ask me questions!

Roll a ball of polymer. I use ivory.
( 2 pts white, 1 part translucent, 1 pt ecru)

Pinch and turn bottom half - aiming for a light bulb shape. 

Gently flatten until desired shape is achieved. Square off chin if you want...  

Optional: cheekbones.
Roll a wedge shaped tool in from edge toward center of head.
 Soften hard edges with your finger. 

  

Variations on cheekbones and chins. 

I use wax modeling tools from my casting classes in college.
This has a spear tip, bent like a spoon and makes great nostrils! 

Repeat on other side for that skull nose shape. 

Roll a tool across the jaw to mark out mouth and teeth. 

Press teeth in above and below line with "bent spear" tool. 

Teeth on left are simple lines pressed in, pressing above and below  mouth line at the same time.  Eyes have a little interest added with a star shaped screwdriver bit from the hardware store. 

Friesen florals

( At this point I managed to forget to take any more pictures. I am so sorry! I use flower  and leaf molds from Christi Friesen. Press clay in, flex mold to remove flower, affix on forehead with a dab of liquid sculpey. Some designs I simply added balls of clay, and impressed them with rubber stamps. I also pressed some stamp designs into the skulls themselves. Cure in polymer oven to manufacture recommendations. For me it was Sculpey PREMO - 30 min at 275 degrees. )

First layer of color! Burnt umber to antique the clay. I use Genesis heat set oils. Here you see it applied, and then wiped back with a tissue.  

After heat setting the oils for 10 minutes at 275 degrees - the "as is" on the left and then after a brief bit of wet sanding. Sanding wet is necessary to protect ones lungs! But sanding removes excess burnt umber and returns the ivory color I want on the surface.

Antiqued and sanded. Ready for color - in the form of acrylics. 

I use acrylics for the color portion of the process. I want a liquid that will go into the designs, I want to be able to mix colors...  First I add color to any impressed areas and sand as needed:

1. red applied to dot design. 2. red wiped off with finger. 3. red sanded back /ivory on face. 4. Others with impressed designs colored, wiped, sanded. 

Then I just break out small brushes, put on music, and paint! This two part process really clicked with me. Like a wash, or an underpainting when painting on canvas, the burnt umber adds great depth to the colors with out being too heavy of opaque.  I do heat set my acrylic layer - although every one seems to have differing opinions about that. And this batch was given a light coat of Swellegant sealer. Its very important to me to be sure the colors are secure and long lasting with normal wear.

Ready for a Day of the Dead celebration near you!

Feliz Dia de los Muertos! 
Stay tuned for the next two Fridays! I have some slightly spooky, slightly morbid topics bubbling away on the cauldron... 

Jenny

www.jdaviesreazor

Addendum:

• The skulls have wrapped loops - a barbell is you will - in the back. It is held in place with a textured bit of clay, integrating yet hiding the hanging mechanism. 
• Clearly I am new to tutorials as I forgot pix of a whole stage in the process. Sorry!
• I do not receive any $$ from Christi Friesen for promoting her products: flower molds and Swellegant.