Lifeus Interruptus

I intended to get in the studio and stay there all weekend, but several things happened to prevent me from being able to do as I planned. I did make a few new vintage look floral pendants and brooches, and I finished a custom order for a client. Since the styles and techniques are so far apart, it was a little jarring to go from one to the other, and it took me a few minutes to wrap my mind around what to do for the client.

Several months ago, when I first started experimenting with using embossing powders for texture, I made a series of beads I called "Gunpowder and Gold". They were made from Black and Gold clay, and I rolled some Gold snakes in black embossing powder to make this little pendant, which measures about 1 1/2" by 1". I made myself a necklace from it, and my friend Catherine saw it, she asked me to make a necklace for her with a bigger, more squared pendant in the same pattern.

This is what I came up with, after my mind shifted gears from image transfers. I hope she likes it.

These are the image transfers I cured Saturday, and sanded and buffed yesterday. I think I am going to have to take a course on flower names, though. Does anyone know if the purple blooming flower is really a delphinium? That is what I have been calling it.



Tangerine Lily Pendant











Burgundy Carnation Pendant











Watercolor Butterflies Series - Red Gold and Blue Black

Think Green Today

Happy Earth Day, everyone! I have to admit, I have not been the world's best recycler in the past, but I am trying to do better. I watched Al Gore's documentary recently and it gave me the heebeejeebees. Now I'm using non-aerosol hairspray, I sort my trash into Paper, Plastic and Glass, I buy bio-degradable cat litter, and I take cloth totes to the grocery store. I also try to buy recycled paper products whenever I can.

As a life-long crafter, I've used found objects practically my whole life, so I do contribute to sustainable art, although I'd like to do more. I recently "repurposed" some frosted glass, empty room freshener plug-in bottles and a couple of mini bottles (I didn't drink them, Ma, they were given to me) by covering them with polymer clay.

These aren't new works, but since today is Earth Day, I thought I would show off my "sustainable art". I just finished off a bottle of my favorite perfume, Ralph Lauren Blue, and I am really excited the possibilities of what I can do with it. It has a very intriguing square shape. I'll post photos when I finish it. All those corners would be a real test of the ol' image transfer technique, though.

Be good to your Earth. It's the only one you've got!