Headpin Challenge Reveal

Headpins by Jen Cameron

Today is the big reveal! Each person who accepted this challenge was to make headpins and/or design something using headpins. This was a popular challenge as we had lots of people sign up. The names below are clickable links, so please click them, see what each person created, and don't forget to leave a comment!

Guests:

Alison Herrington
Renetha Stanziano
Karin Grosset Grange
Gloria Allen
Deb Fortin
Cate van Alphen
Mona Arnott
Shai Williams
Sarajo Wentling
Kathy Lindemer
Solange Collin
Brooke Bock
Melissa Meman
Patricia Handschuh
Tammy Adams
Melissa Trudinger

AJE Team Members:

Caroline Dewison
Lesley Watt
Cathy Mendola
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Susan Kennedy
Laney Mead
Diana Ptaszynski
Lindsay Starr
Niky Sayers

Giveaway Time! GIVEAWAY CLOSED THANK YOU

We're celebrating here at AJE and once again it's all down to you - our wonderful readers!

Earlier this week we passed the 2000 followers milestone on our Facebook page and we think that deserves a little something special so we're have a mega giveaway. One lucky winner is in line to win this bumper collection of beautiful art beads made by members of the AJE team...

There are pieces by Jenny Davies-Reazor, Caroline Dewison, Jennifer Cameron, Susan Kennedy, Kristen Stevens, Karen Totten, Rebekah Payne and me and yes...all these goodies will go to one person.

To take part in the giveaway all you have to do is leave ONE comment on this post and we will then pick a winner using Random.Org. You have until 12 midnight EDT on Monday 5th October to leave your comment and we will announce the winner on the blog on Tuesday 6th October. Please feel free to share the love on your social media sites.

Once again thank you to all our loyal supporters and good luck!

The AJE team

Saturday Share - Polymer Clay Headpins

Recently, I was presented with the challenge of coming up with a headpin component that could be used as a functional embellishment to another flat component.  With our fearless leader, Jennifer Cameron's gorgeous glass headpins as inspiration, I decided to try my hand at polymer clay ones.

My finished pin bouquet!

I started by making balled headpins of 18g copper.  Then I formed small round balls of clay. Initially, I wanted to keep them round and embed the copper pin within the ball, but they kept getting way distorted and plus, I wanted to texturize the clay.  I opted to flatten the balls by pressing them into my rubber stamp, then pushing the headpin through the middle.

Raw clay with headpins, and little balls waiting to be smushed.

I questioned whether just baking them as is would be strong enough for functional use, so I added liquid clay between the pin and clay.

Translucent liquid clay around the base of the headpin.

I pushed the clay base up to the pin, then cleaned off the excess liquid clay.

I also added it to the back of the piece, trying to work it down in the crevice!

I let them dry overnight and then debated how I was going to color them.  I decided I wanted them to have an "old world" feel to them and the texture plate I had used reminded me of a damask-type pattern, so I opted to use Pearl-Ex powder before baking, which left them with an irridescent glow.

After baking, I sealed them with Varathane in a matte finish.  Success!

In a light bulb moment, I thought this design would be cool with translucent clay, and had recently acquired a few packages of  Pardo Translucent clay.  After I first started playing with polymer clay, I purchased a great tutorial by Ginger Davis Allman, of The Blue Bottle Tree, featuring faux glass effects and wanted to give it a try.

After tinting the base clay with various alchohol inks, I made my bases as before.

After adding liquid polymer and  Pearl-Ex, plus some additional texture.

These turned out just ok...not very translucent though.

These, however, turned to molten blobs!

Well, as you can see, I need to go back and figure out my baking time/temperature for these!  My hubby really liked these burned ones, though!  I definitely will be adding some of the original ones to my shop and will be playing with the translucent ones some more...stay tuned!

Thanks for stopping by!

Simple Headpin on Headpin Earrings

It's no secret that I love headpins, they are just so versatile and come in so many diffrent shapes and sizes. This is one of my go to desgins for a simple but beautiful pair of earrings using two pairs of headpins.

Pair of Headpins

Here I used a pair of lampwork headpins (from Creeky Beads on Etsy) and a pair of sterling silver 'fancy' headpins that I made, Click here for a tutorial on how to make these.

Bent into Earwires

First bend the fancy headpins on something round to form earwires, I use the handle of a small paintbrush but a sharpie pen or wooden spoon work just as well.

Forming earwires

Then using flat nose pliers slightly bend the end of the wires outwards, this adds a nice little detail and makes it easier to put them in your ears.

Hammer

Next useing a hammer and anvil, lightly tap the wires at the top of bend you just formed and at the bends at the end of the wire. You want to work harden the metal so it keeps it shape and makes it stronger, you could use a tumbler to do this if you have one. Then file the ends so that they are nice and rounded, this can be done with either a file or a cup burr.

Add Lampwork Pins

Using round nose pliers make a small hoop at the top of the lampwork headpins and then thread them onto your earwires, continue to wrap the wires around the lampwork headpins and tuck the ends in neatly using a pair of pliers.

Almost completed

When this is done I give them a quick dip in a LOS solution to darken the metal and then I give them a really good buff with some polishing papers.

Finished Earrings

And there you have it simple but beautiful earrings from two pairs of headpins.

SilverNikNats

Things to do with headpins - 2 for 1 Tutorial

You may of heard on the blog… Beadfest happened recently! My friend, and AJE team member Lesley, kindly offered to take some of my beads across for swaps so I could share in the beady goodness! I got some amazing swaps back, some of which were headpins. 

I’ve been curious about glass headpins ever since I saw them while scrolling through Facebook, so I was thrilled to get some beautiful millefiori pins from Jen, and pretty green drop pins from Sue (which make me think of little jester’s hats!)

As with a lot of things I covet, once I got my hands on them, I had no clue what to do with them. I just wanted some as they were pretty. So they sat in my box of special things while I pondered. I’ve come up with a couple of ideas which I am going to share today. The demo’s are using Jen’s headpins as I think their shape works really well for these ideas.

The domed clear glass on Jen’s headpins give them such a wonderful depth that I thought they would make a pretty ring. 

Start by taking a headpin and holding it a couple of mm from the glass, bend the glass up so it sits at 90 degrees to the wire.

I used one of my existing rings to get the size. Put it on to your ring mandrel and mark with a felt tip where you need to wrap.

Hold the headpin on the mark with your thumb and wrap the wire around the mandrel, and loop it around the glass.

Keep looping until all the wire is around the head, tuck in the end of the wire and straighten the shank.

Put it on... cute!

Afterwards, I did think about adding seed beads around the shank and was going to make a second, but I couldn’t find anything that I liked that had a large enough hole… time for more bead shopping! If you do want to use beads, you would need put them on to the wire before sizing your ring on the mandrel.

Secondly, I decided to make a clasp. For such tiny heads, they make great focals, so my next design features the pin right in the middle. 

As with the ring design, hold the pin and bend the head to 90 degrees.

With bail making pliers wrap a wide loop on one side of the head.

Fold it round the top of the pin to hold it securely.

Do the same on the opposite side.

Wrap the remaining wire around either side of the head, tucking the end in neatly so it doesn’t catch.

Left as it is, it would make a great connector

Or you could do as I did and make a hook to turn the piece into a clasp.

With both designs, due to the heat needed to make the pins, the wire is quite soft, so it's nice and easy to use. But you may find that you need to harden your work when it's complete!

I hope I've inspired you to get wrapping with those headpins! To get some for yourself, visit Jen or Sue!

Thanks for reading!

Caroline

http://www.blueberribeads.co.uk

Bead Fest Prep - My Newest Obsession

I'm vending at Bead Fest in August, as you know, and I need to be in full Bead Fest prep mode.  However, between my other job, my house, my kids and all the day-to-day things that need to be done, it's hard to get time.  Maybe that's why I'm so obsessed with headpins!

 At the end of a beading session, I take my short rods, my leftover stringers, and use my color imagination and make headpins on 20 gauge copper wire!  It's really a lot of fun.  In fact, it's so much fun to me that I may have many many more headpins for Bead Fest than I'll ever need! 

 I'll be using these cute little cups to display them in.  You know those cute little orchids in Home Depot, the ones that are mini orchids?  Well, they don't last, and you are left with these little ceramic containers.  I plan on getting some floral foam, you know, that green stuff, and stick the headpins in so they are nice and visible.  At least, that's my plan at the moment.  I am really challenged when it comes to making a good table display.  I think it's my biggest challenge!

Here's an example of some of the headpins you'll be able to find at the market at Bead Fest in Philadelphia August 22-24!  Please join me and fellow AJE team members Diana Ptaszynski, Jen Cameron, Jen Davies-Reazor and Karen Totten for shopping.  Linda Landig and Lesley Watt may have a few things available for your shopping pleasure as well!

A Peek Inside Berks Bead Bazaar

Last weekend I had the pleasure of vending at Berks Bead Bazaar in Reading, PA.  This is a smaller show with a focus on art beads and high quality components and gemstones.

Here's my table (with Colin holding down the fort).  I debuted lots of new designs at the show.

I was thrilled that I was in between Staci Smith and Jenny Davies-Reazor's tables.  We're all friends so it made the weekend that much more fun!  Shout-out to Staci's daughter, Julia.  She had a little table to sell her beads at and we had lots of laughs together.

And here is some eye candy from the show...

Enameled beads by Gardanne Glass Lampwork and gorgeous bead weaving by Sleepless Beader/Leslie Rogalski.

Stunning ceramic beads by Tracey Donoughe.

Fun charms from MyElements and delightful lampwork headpins by Laura Drosner Schreiber.

Yummy lampwork hollows from Louise Mehaffey.

Cabochons as far as the eye can see by Greg Graupp.

Silks and lampwork focals by McGinithen GlassWorks.

And this wasn't even everything!  I was having so much fun I didn't take nearly as many photos as I should have.  I highly recommend that if you are in the area next year, you come out and shop Berks! You'll have no problem finding special pieces to use in your jewelry!

Thanks to Joan and Louise for hosting this wonderful show!

Happy Beading!

Diana P.
Suburban Girl Studio LLC

Experimentation - Warm Pickle and LOS

I'm sure you all do it, experiment and things either come out good or bad, right? Here's what I did with warm pickle and LOS!  I had these balled copper headpins I made a while ago and just dug out when cleaning out something or other (a quote from my friend Jill - "there's beads all over the place in your house....").  I liked the color I got when I quenched them in water after balling them up in the torch - you get that pretty rose color, and sometimes blue.  But they had firescale, so I thought, I know, use a warm pickle!

I used the recipe of 1 tablespoon salt to 1 cup vinegar - heat in the microwave - and dump  your stuff in!  Use a glass container, and if you use one that has a lid, you can use this over and over.

Not only did the pickle take off the firescale, it took off the pretty rose color AND made these things super super shiny.  Like shinier than any copper I have ever seen!  Not what I wanted - insert sad face.

BUT, I thought, I can use liver of sulpher (LOS) to darken them a bit.  So I mixed up a little bit of LOS gel I received as a prize from ArtBLISS and Jeanette Blix.  I like the gel, it's very easy to use.  Just mix a little bit in some warm water, again in a glass container, and if you have a lid, you can store it for several uses.  Just make sure that before you dispose of it (down the toilet is a great place) that you neutralize it with baking soda first, since LOS is an acid and may hurt your pipes (although I have read that if you run water for a minute or so, it will be fine).

ACK.  I only put them in for 2 seconds, max, and they turned out SOOOOOO dark!  Too much LOS, I am guessing, although I think the super shininess also may have made the copper a little porous.  In any event, guess where they went next?

Into the tumbler.  You can get a reasonably priced tumbler at Harbor Freight and they usually have 20% off coupons, as well, in the Sunday newspaper or you can sign up for coupons on-line.  Use stainless steel shot as the tumbling agent.  Put your items you want to tumble polish into the container, then add a drop of Dawn dishwashing liquid and enough water to cover all items in the tumbler.  Make sure there's enough room, though, for everything to tumble - don't fill it too full!  Also, make sure you have the lid on correctly, so it doesn't leak (personal experience)! 

And here's what I got after a few hours of tumbling. 

They are now all work hardened and some of the patina has worn off.  They actually look almost bronze or brass in color, I think I like them!   It's kind of an amazing difference to me, though, from how they started out!