Spring Serenade (Turquoise & Yellow Floral Cameo Charm Necklace))

This one sure reminds me of a spring day. This one's already been sold but, I thought I'd just share...

That's all for now...have a great day!

A Memory of Spring (Mauve Floral Cameo Charm Necklace)

See more photos in my ETSY shop - click here

This necklace features a beautiful handmade floral cameo that I sculpted out of polymer clay and is set in an antique toned bezel setting to give it a vintage look. It hangs on a plated brass chain (22 inches long).

My Bead Soup Partner Got the Package Reveal

I was so happy to get a message from my bead partner Noemi that she got the bead soup I sent her. I can finally post what I sent here on my website. I sent out the beads on August 18th and it finally arrived in Spain September 5th. The Bead Soup Party is on September 17th, so I hope that gives Noemi enough time to create.

Here are the ingredients for the bead soup that I sent...

I noticed that my partner uses a lot of silver in her jewelry..so I decided to give something a little different. I decided on a "Vintage Garden Theme" with a mixture of gold, purples, mauves and greens.

We had to send 1- a Focal .... I created this pendant with heart filigree and I sculpted little polymer clay flowers...

We also had to send a special clasp. So I made a one of a kind toggle clasp using polymer clay too!

This is how you close the clasp.

I really liked how they turned out..and was dreading parting with them. But, I knew they were going to a wonderful Jewelry Designer in Spain.. so off in the mail they went.

I also sent a few coordinating beads..some mother of pearls, crystals and butterfly charms.

I'm so excited to see Noemi's finished piece. It's quite exciting to know that the art beads I created will be used by another jewelry designer.  And I really really enjoyed coming up with the bead soup. I'm thinking of making more soup ingredients and offering it for sale in my Etsy Bead Shop. It would be awesome to see what wonderful creations people come up with from a ready made kit of beads.

Thanks Lori...I'm already having so much fun. And I know any day now, my partner's soup will arrive...and it will be time for me to create too! Make sure to stop by here on September 17th for the Bead Soup Party!

That's all for now! Have a great day!

Pearl of the Orient, My Challenge Entry

THE CHALLENGE

The Philippine Polymer Clay Guild just completed another challenge for the month of August...The Pinoy Challenge. We were suppose to choose materials that is indigenous to the Philippines and incorporate it into polymer clay. I wasn't planning to join the challenge this month. However, when everyone began to post their projects, a little rumbling inside me started. It swirled around in my head until one morning it turned into a thought...an inspiration. That very same day, I took out my pen and paper and started on a design.

INSPIRATION

So, what is my inspiration for this piece? The Ocean...in particular, the bottom of the Philppine seas. I was reminiscing  about memories from a past summer when we went to Bohol. We went snorkeling there. The beautiful sandy floor and its rich flora of corals along with the myriads of marine life swirled around the bubbles of the ocean as we were pushed and pulled by the swaying of the waves. It was full of life and beauty..and that is a part of the Philippines that we can all be proud of.

MATERIALS

It took a few days to get my materials together. I wanted to used something beautiful and colorful. So, I decided to use Pearls and shells. The iridescence of the materials alone would be sure enough to make the project awesome! And to give it an extra kick, I decided on a "Jewel Tones" palette. I wanted the shells and pearls to be the main source of color of the piece. As for the clay, I selected the turquoise, blues and a touch of green...just as you would see in the ocean.

And for the canvas...i decided on a wooden picture frame. I wanted this piece to be something impressive, just as the ocean is. So, although I know it would take a lot more time and patience, I selected one of the larger sized frames that I thought would fit in my small sized oven.

So, I got to work and started on my project....

I was working on our dining room table and you can see a lot of coffee was being consumed..as well as "Chinese take out" (Chow King) since I had no time to make meals...haha... what a mess. My hubby and I were having a movie marathon so, I was watching while working...

PITFALLS

I was hoping my picture frame would fit nicely in the oven so that I could create my embellishments right on top of it. Unfortunately when I got home, I found that the frame was way too large. So, I had to figure out a way to work in pieces. I had to make four separate pieces baked separately, then assembled it together by using glue and finally gluing that on to the frame itself...

This is how to join looks for the separate pieces. They interlock and will be glued together once finished.

I also had to worry about securing all the beads that I had incorporated into the clay. There were so many that I really did not want to use glue on each and everyone. So I tried to somehow secure the pieces by making sure to put a piece of swirl on top of the bead and also by using liquid clay (as suggested by a fellow clay artist..Thanks Ghie!)

In the end, I went back over the beads and for those that weren't secure, I still had to go back and use E600 glue...just to be sure...

THE PROCESS

It took about 6 movies to finish the 4 pieces... that's about 12 hours. That doesn't include the baking time, of course. Then a bit more time to assemble the pieces. Here's the progression of the work...

And finally when I completed the last piece..I was jumping for joy! This was the biggest piece I ever attempted..and, happy to say, tackled!

DETAILS

I do plan to add a few more things to the finished piece... a few more oysters and more marine life. So far I added a few as you can see in the detail pictures...

Oyster detail

White fish detail

Orange fish detail

Hello little fishy...

Detail of the swirls

THE FINISHED ENTRY -
PHILIPPINES: THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT

For Size Reference...my puppy Charley wanted to be in the pictures too so here he is...

Thanks P3 (Philippine Polymer Clay Guild) for being a source of inspiration and pushing us to excel! I can't wait for the next challenge!

Lockets and Settings

I've posted a few new things in my supplies shop...they're sure to get creative juices flowing...

A few lockets...

And some Settings...

I'm definitely keeping a few of these to make into my own jewelry pieces. I'd love to use the settings for some floral cameos that I'm making from polymer clay. 

Check out these and more jewelry making supplies at my sites...

http://earthlyjewelsbeads.multiply.com/

or Like my FB Page...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/EARTHLY-JEWELS-BEADS/182460925155814

That's all for now...Have a great day!

Heart Necklaces

I've been thinking of taking new product shots of my Charm Necklaces. Perhaps I can have a photo shoot with a model. I've seen many photos that have a vintage romantic feel to it and that's what I want! I can start off with the heart necklaces that I have available...definitely vintage and romantic...maybe in the next few weeks...that is, if I can find a willing model.

For now, I leave you with the heart necklaces from my Etsy shop - Earthlyjewels...

 My Intricate Heart (Antique finish, brass lacy filigree heart charm necklace)

The Walk to Netherfields (Antique finish, brass lacy filigree heart charm necklace with crystal)

Love Birds (Brass Vintage Love Birds Charm Necklace)

Pure At Heart (White Heart with Butterfly Cloisonne Charm Necklace)

Heart Full of Love (Intricate Vintage Heart Filigree with Crystal and Pearl Accents)

Salomes Locket (Vintage Heart Filigree Locket)

Secretly In Love (Antique Gold Finish Black Heart Charm Necklace)

Young At Heart (Vintage Heart Filigree Charm Necklace)

My Fancy Heart (Antique finish, brass lacy filigree heart charm necklace)

They're all actually on sale at my etsy shop...check them out here - Go to Earthly Jewels Etsy Shop