Creative Diversification aka Variations on a theme...

The prototype: copper, enamel paint, and faux bone. Version 3.0: copper, enameled copper, and polymer. 

The lunar hare - a theme that has inspired me and continues to inspire me! (I know we just did hares in March... ) The lunar hare is an archetype that appears across the world in diverse cultures, regardless of time or language. Often associated with a lunar goddess, the hare represents fertility and creativity.

Version 2.0 sold at Sweet Melissa's Dream. 

The pieces above are my interpretations on a theme. The first piece was truly a prototype; the enamel paint easily scratches off the copper background. The first "real" version I made sold at a friends boutique - and another friend owns it! I decided that this motif was one I would revisit... even though I usually do one of a kind work. The composition of the piece echoes my ceramic tile and pendant. And it seemed cohesive in my body of work...

My lunar hare tile and pendant designs. 

But it was a few hours spent reading and drinking coffee in the airport that really blew this idea wide open. I was reading "Maker Magic" by Connie Fox. (see Francesca's review of the same.) I knew I was what Fox calls an "intellectual designer" as I am driven to have content/meaning/intention/narrative in my work. One tool she recommended was the "SCAMPER" technique. (Teachers world over may recognize this mnemonic... It rang bells with me.)

SCAMPER is a mnemonic that stands for: 

• Substitute.
• Combine.
• Adapt.
• Modify.
• Put to another use.
• Eliminate.
• Reverse.

You use the tool by asking questions about existing products, using each of the seven prompts above. These questions help you come up with creative ideas for developing new products, and for improving current ones. (Mindtools.com)

Initial sketches to SUBSTITUTE in my lunar hare design

Heavens! Animal silhouettes! Enameled backgrounds, polymer backgrounds! So many possibilities and I had gone exactly 1 letter into the "SCAMPER" tool! And there were definitely influences from my fellow team mates: Caroline's blog on silk screening features these animal silhouettes. And Karen's leaf and branch would pair so well with the fox - its referenced in my sketch!

Influences and inspiration: Karen and Caroline

Today I FINALLY got to sit down to think on this again:

Reference photos researched online. Sketches drawn by hand, to scale; only the greyhound is a smidgen over 2". Transferred to copper - let the wild sawing frenzy begin!

The original and the reference photos. 

Sketched out to scale. 

Transfered to copper! 

I am not sure how these will all be integrated into work. Some will follow the original plan for sure. But I had a flash vision in my head of a small hare on an enameled full moon... and I so want to run with that idea as well.

I am constantly grateful for this team's camaraderie and inspiration - Look for more along those lines in the near future. For now - I have brewed afternoon coffee. I am going to saw!
Later!

Jenny

Thematic Design

I've always envied designers who have a clear coherent style or design ethos. My head is always so full of half formed ideas that I lurch from one thing to another with no clear path or direction. In some ways I love that because I get bored quite  easily and it's that plethora of ideas that keep me inspired. Just recently however I have found I'm using a recurring design element and have created a range of components that do have a clear style

When we did the Spring hare challenge back in March I wanted to include spiral symbolism in my designs somewhere to represent the rebirth and growth of the season. I'm still working with that design and have been developing new versions for the summer...

The spiral patterns in these designs are hand carved and I find this process very calming which is quite interesting when you see this definition of the symbolism of the spiral: 

Spiritually the spiral symbol can represent the path leading from outer consciousness (materialism, external awareness, ego, outward perception) to the inner soul (enlightenment, unseen essence, nirvana, cosmic awareness)". http://www.whats-your-sign.com/spiral-meaning.html

Shortly after making the hares I was thinking about a new design for an owl component - always popular but mine have been around for a while now. I wanted to try and keep it quite simple and stylised and if possible incorporate the spiral again and this is what I came  up with...

The spirals are not quite as full but the idea is still there.

At this point I wasn't planning to start an ark full of spiral decorated animals but my team mate Caroline suggested I should do a fox and course once she'd sown the seed there was no going back until these little fellows appeared...

Hot on the heels of the foxes came butterflies...

Followed in quick succession by turtles...

At that point a kiln failure brought everything to a halt which might be a good thing as it stops me getting carried away with the idea and doing it to death. That said I am pleased with the way this theme has developed and I do have plans for a couple more pieces but I might keep those for the future as you can have to much of a good thing!

Hopefully the kiln will be repaired shortly so that I can finish these little critters and get them into my shop so they can go out into the world and spread a little more enlightenment.

Making Simple Polymer Clay Silhouette Stamps

I'm sure you all know about Jenny's Themed Challenge for March: the Hare. Of course I signed up right away with a mind full of new hare bead ideas… and then I ran out of time and for the reveal only had a work-in-progress to share… but now I'm finally making new beads! Thank you Jenny for a challenge that pushed me to create something new!

These first beads are one of a kind focals made with my brand new hare stamps that I made specially for the challenge. For today's post, I thought you'd enjoy a little peek into my stamp making process. And maybe you'll be inspired to make some for yourself with your own designs!

Every one of my stamp designs starts out as a simple drawing in pencil. Pencil transfers beautifully to polymer! For these little hares, I did a google search for a bit of help on hare poses (I can sculpt stylized animal shapes, but drawing isn't really my thing!) and then drew my own shapes freehand.

And here's how I turned them into stamps…

1. After drawing my designs, I shaped the stamp bases in polymer, making sure they would fit my hare designs and then I popped them into the oven to cure for 15 minutes.

2. Next I rolled a thin sheet of polymer (#4 setting on my Atlas pasta machine) and transfered my design by burnishing the back of the paper over the polymer sheet.

3. The transfered design!

4. Then I cut the design to fit my stamp base.

5. I used a small amount of liquid polymer clay to stick the design to the stamp base. Not too much or it slips around when trimming!

6. Using an X-acto knife I trimmed away the bulk of the polymer. And then with a needle, I carefully traced around the design for a closer trim.

7. Next I applied liquid polymer to edges of the design—this helps hold the design in place and softens it just enough to let me smooth the edges.

8. All smoothed and ready for baking!

With these stamps you don't need any release agent—just dip in water and stamp away! You may find that after a lot of use they start to stick to polymer—this is because raw polymer will soften baked polymer over time. I just pop the stamps in the oven with a new batch of beads every so often and they're good to go again and again.

The thing I love most about making silhouette stamps is that a simple design like this can be used to make so many different style beads and pendants! 

I don't know why really, but I just adore jackalopes! These are still raw—once baked, I'll add some washes to give them a more rustic feel.

And of course, I had to make lunar hares! I used another stamp for the moon motif and a wild grass impression. These too will get some paint washes.

Lots of painting will be happening this weekend and hopefully the new focals will hop into my shop later next week! :-)

Wishing you all a very creative weekend!

Rebekah Payne

Tree Wings Studio

Blog: treewingsstudio.com

Shop: treewingsstudio.etsy.com

A Page From My Book...

I have Lesley to thank, really...

It started with a discussion of William Morris, the Arts and Crafts Movement designer from the UK. He has always been one of my art/design heroes. His creative genius spanned art, illustration, textiles, furniture design, graphics design... A contemporary and friend of the Pre-Raphaelites, he is famous for his philosophy on art, and the place of it in everyday life. He respected the maker, the craftsperson, and sought to recognize them in the increasingly Industrial Age...

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." William Morris

Lesley was etching, and using some copyright free Morris images. I thought they were very exciting!  She had a vision and imagined them as book covers. Did I want to collaborate? Uh... is the sky blue?!?!!? She sent me a batch, some Morris designs, some others.

Raw images, etched on copper - William Morris images

I started with this small Day of the Dead skull image, saving the Morris images for now. As the image is close to the edges - I wanted to engineer a closure for the book that wouldn't encroach on the image. In this case its three coiled wires, inserted through the covers, and folded as staples to stay secure. ( Shows clearly on back of book, with text) The book, measuring 1.25" x 1.5" is bound with a Coptic stitch binding. It had been years since I tackled that stitch, but it comes back rather quickly with needle in hand.

Muertos book: "Love is stronger than death"

For the etched hare (well, it is a Hare themed month!) I sawed and riveted an additional piece of copper to the cover. This will form the closure. If these small books are going to be worn... I wanted them to close securely.

Here is the hare book assembled! It has leather "endpapers" that also fold around the text block to create a leather hasp for the closure. There is a toothpick in place now - I plan to fabricate a decorative pin - copper? polymer? and attach it via a small chain. I have left the tails of the waxed linen here, perhaps for an embellishment.

I think my first foray into miniature book binding was a success. I can see myself wearing one of these; would you? I look forward to more mixed media books, and would love to create one with images and text inside... Think that will fill the sketchbook the next few days...

I would love to hear your thoughts on these new test pieces!

And less you forget: the theme this month is hares. I am glazing these as we speak, and will post them next week!  Have a great week, until next time... 

Rabbits And Bunnies And Hares - Oh My!

Last week, Jenny introduced our Component of the Month for March.  We're changing things up a bit this year by offering 4 themed challenges, among our other monthly challenges. The theme this month is March Hares, (rabbits or bunnies too).

Snow Bunny by Summer Wind Art

The challenge is to make something that the theme of hares or rabbits.. This can be an art bead, a component, or a finished piece of jewelry.  The reveal date will be March 31st.  If you would like to be included in the blog reveal at the end of the month, please email Jenny at jen.davies.reazor (at) gmail.com. Emails need to be received by March 29th  to be included.

White Rabbit by Joan Miller

Last week, Jenny shared rabbit and hare components that were designed by AJE team members. Today I'm going to help get your creative juices flowing by sharing some hare and rabbit themed art beads that are available from non-AJE members.  I'm  just going to let the pictures do the talking.  Links to the art beads are provided above each picture.

Rabbit Run Sterling Charm by Hint

Black and Silver Polymer Bunny by PennysLane

Porcelain Rabbit Pendant by PoodlesBreath

Sterling Silver Bunny Bead by Cathy Daily

Moon Bunny Pendant by Green Girl Studio

Between rabbit and hare items that Jenny shared and the ones that I've shared here, you should have a large selection to inspire your designs.  So get hopping!  I can hardly wait to see the reveal!

Linda 

Linda Landig Jewelry