I spent the weekend cleaning out my inspiration box of magazine clippings and texture samples and bad sketches I've made trying to come up with some interesting new topics for tutorials. I've been experimenting all weekend, too. Lots of happy accidents to report, and a few which went straight to the bottom of an empty new Butt Uglies jar.
Several months ago, I won a copy of Heather Powers' new book, Jewelry Designs From Nature, and I was looking through it again today and noticed a sticky note I had placed on page 82.
Page 82 shows a Sea Urchin Necklace Heather created with Sea Urchin Spines and one of her own 30mm sea urchin polymer beads. The note said "find some of these" and pointed to the beautiful olive green spines. I had never seen the spines in olive, and Heather's are also a lot bigger than the ones I have. Mine are sort of mauve-ishy-caramel, and really small. I tried to find some of the olive color, but couldn't, so today, I decided to try and make my own from polymer.
Page 82 shows a Sea Urchin Necklace Heather created with Sea Urchin Spines and one of her own 30mm sea urchin polymer beads. The note said "find some of these" and pointed to the beautiful olive green spines. I had never seen the spines in olive, and Heather's are also a lot bigger than the ones I have. Mine are sort of mauve-ishy-caramel, and really small. I tried to find some of the olive color, but couldn't, so today, I decided to try and make my own from polymer.
Ta da! I think they turned out pretty darn good. I would show you a photo of Heather's necklace, but that would probably violate copyright laws, so I better not. If any of you have her new book, though, check out the real thing on page 82 and let me know how you think mine compare.
I also experimented with some of my "controlled marbling" technique to see what else I could write a tutorial on other than a ho-hum pair of earrings, so I added a herringbone or chevron texture sheet and went to town. I like these, too. There are so many colors that come through with marbled pieces. I am always amazed to see what emerges after sanding and buffing.
I am still going through the inspiration box, so more new stuff to come.
And John, I haven't forgotten about your faux amber, either. I'm just trying to come up with a recipe that looks like the real thing but isn't the same old thing everyone else has already done.
8 comments:
Lynda, they are more than darn good...excellent!! I have seen some of Heather's designs and love the look of those. Love you other designs as well!! You go girl!
I thought they were real, so they are really really really good! I love the earring pairs too!
Lynda,those earrings are magnificent.
Can you put some of your muse in an envelope and send it to me? LOL
Thank you, Lupe and Sue! I really appreciate your comments. These are prototypes, and I'm already thinking of ways to make them more realistic. Stay tuned! :)
Bonnie, how about I put myself in an envelope and mail it to you? LOL I am VERY tempted.
You are my polymer clay Goddess and I'll pay the postage if you would do that.
Congratulations on your Polymer Clay Daily recognition today. It's about time. Really like those Sea Urchin Spines. Are they hollow? I am also lokking forward to hearing more on the controlled marble technique. Hope there are some tuts there.
John(SC)
OMG, Bonnie. You don't know how much I weigh! My dear, it would bankrupt you. LOL
Thank you, John. Cynthia has been good to me several times now at PCD. :)
The spines are not hollow, but I am working on some more and I'll experiment with hollow beads. They actually have a nice heft to them, but not too weighty. I think they need to be a tad thinner, too.
I will plan to do a tutorial on them, too. I've been looking at other shells that I think would make good lesson subjects, too.
Great ppost
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