Polymer Clay Jewelry making - never failure, only adventure!

Dear Readers,

I've been playing (claying as some very popular advocates of this art form call it) for many hours during the past week. If you haven't started working with this medium, here are some tips:

1. Know that in order to "really" do artwork with this medium, you will be spending roughly $100 - $200 to get started, even though the clay is not expensive. The main polymer clays, and there are many brands, each with their own properties, range from around $1.25 on sale to about $3.00 for a 2 oz. brick. This is about enough to do one project or a couple of experiments. You will likely want several colors. I've not yet tried much blending of hues, tones and colors -- I did soften a blue using white clay -- but supposedly if you start with the metallics and black, white, red, yellow and blue, it makes sense that you can create about any color on the color wheel.

You MUST have a pasta roller machine, or the art clay version. If you can get one whose handle doesn't keep coming out, more the better. I have one with the removable handle. I read in a blog that you can put magnets on the each side of the handle and it will stay in. Haven't tried this yet.

Now, I must say that I am truly enjoying this craft, and I am starting to make items that I would actually show to someone outside of my family who see all my experiments and are used to it. As you see in the title, pretty much any book you pick up about Polyclay work has the phrase "there are no mistakes in polyclay work, only adventures! Enjoy" And, I would say that I have spent more time laughing out loud as I try different glazes, alcohol pens, metallic powders, power tools, and cutting razors, and all sorts of other new materials (new to me, anyway) that this is great therapy if nothing else.

Another necessary item is a small food processor, nothing fancy, just high, low and off, small bowl and one cutting blade will do the trick. You have to dedicate the tools to clay, because, while the clays are supposed to be non-toxic, every book says not to trust your food and family to that claim. Every single source says this.

So, off to eBay to look for a used toaster oven. I found one for $25 including shipping. It is basic, and I understand that convection ovens that are larger are the true artists' choice for this medium, for people who create small statues, vases and so forth, but for me, I'm in this for the jewelry, and also to learn what I can before I purchase a Metal Clay Kiln and work with the metal clays that cost about $20/2 oz. I'm already learning much. Every hour I spend is productive.

You will want to collect or purchase some small metal boxes, like those strong mints, and perhaps some jewelry pieces, like empty bevel pendants, findings, etc. But I am finding that my jewelry metals, plus the jewels so far are doing fine with the 275 heat of the toaster oven... so, if you are a jeweler, then you are fine there for most things.

You will need long blades that are sold where you purchase the clay to cut it. These are musts. Most of the books I have read recommend both straight (which are your main stay) and wavy, which I used the other day for a border and it was really cool.

And, very important, you need a book with step by step directions for a multitude of polymer clay techniques, especially for jewelry. I am using The Encyclopedia of Polymer Clay Techniques: A Comprehensive Directory of Polymer Clay Techniques Covering a Panoramic Range of Exciting Applications, which I find invaluable but not actually complete. It reminds one of the techniques more than teaches... and I have fallen in love with Grant Diffendaffer's book Polymer Clay Beads: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration which is more limited in terms of the number of techniques explained, but they are explained VERY well. There are numerous other books, and there are a whole bushel of DVDs for every level, and the sites that primarily cater to "clayers" often have free (and some low cost)video tutorials on specific skills from beginning to advanced. When I feel a bit more sure of myself, as there are so many sites, I will publish a list of the sites I like the best to look for clay and tools. Before then, Michael's and Joann's have reasonable beginner online supplies. But there are more and better sites I think. I was in Michaels the other day and found that it was cool to see some of the tools in person that either are on their way to me, or that I am waiting to buy once I get the hang of the first wave of polytoys... but the online stores were much less expensive and much better stocked.

If you are a scrapbook person, you know who you are!, you will have many of the fiskars interesting blade scissors, punches, and rubber stamps, plus perhaps some transfers, and other interesting things to play with while working with this medium. There are LOTS of overlaps with other crafts in the Poly Clay World, as it is a multifaceted world, even multi-dimensional, which is part of why I am having so much fun.

You will want some fun stuff like metallic powders, picture transfer sets, paints that you mix with either gum arabic or a liquid polyclay depending on what effect you are looking for... and some "cookie cutter" type equipment, plus what you can make on your own from either a trip to the hardware store, a shopping excursion in your own kitchen, a raid of your tool chest, or all of the above. Sponges, toothpicks, chopsticks, really anything with texture or shape that you can spare will come in handy.

You use the pasta roller and the mini food processor to "condition" the clay which is pretty hard when you get it, and it must be pliable to use it. Different clays need different kinds of conditioning. There is one brand, regular Sculpey, that just crumbles for me. There is some kind of plasticizer you can purchase to reclaim the clay, but so far, I've just avoided using any more of this. The nicer clays are FIMO, FIMO soft and FIMO effects, Premo!Sculpey, Studio Sculpey in my experience. I just ordered a higher grade clay from DickBlick.com, and I'll let you know about it.

I spend the first hour or so that I am working with the clay deciding what to do, setting up, and conditioning the clay with the various methods. The various projects take from minutes to days, then the baking is basically 30 minutes, usually at 275 F degrees, but check the clay to see what the manufacturer recommends. I've been making completely tacky boxes, as samplers... to try as many varied textures and effects as I can in one sitting. I've also used professional bead rollers, which I highly recommend, and made a couple sets of very basic beads.

In store for the weekend perhaps: I am taking down the powertools! I am going to usI know this sounds perhaps a bit well, provocative, but it is all in good fun. The clay likes the domination and to become what I want it to become, but don't worry, it has a mind of its own, too.

So, that is the situation to date. learning so much. very grateful to have been lead to working with Poly Clay and friends, and looking forward to more.

Stay tuned. I am about to start making a set of several wishing beads (still the working title, otherwise known as prayer beads, malas, rosaries...) and I will report on this as well. I made a really nice aventurine centered necklace that was just what I needed, and I am stuck on garnets and garnets with amethyst and silver. I have made yet another really nice necklace which I am wearing as I write.

I wish for you the time to play, to laugh and to have a chance to take yourself lightly ... it is an honor and a privilege to be an artist of any kind, I think, and it is, in my opinion, a big part of the reason we like being on this planet that circles around a mid-sized star.

Blessed be, with respect and love,

Laurie

Dr. Laurie Sherman
Satya Rising Studios
Vienna, VA 22180
Opus Arts, Inc.

Healing Necklace Slide Show

Hello Dear Readers,

We are happy to say that you will find a slide show of about 20 examples of Satya Rising energy balancing supportive neckpieces by The Artful Healer.  We have put these on the blog both to inspire you and also to encourage you to start imagining the reasons that you find within to work on ordering a  custom piece (necklaces, prayer beads, wish beads, bracelet, anklets and more).

Some clients find that they are very content with one or two pieces that work for them for a long time.  Others have a number of pieces or pieces with interchangeable pendants which they can change with their moods, needs or even outfits.  There is no "right" way.  We have a wonderful client who owns at least 40 pieces and wears one or more daily.  She gives pieces to others as gifts, as do many of our clients, and the process for creating these pieces is pretty much the same as creating a piece for you. 

All of The Artful Healer necklaces in the slide show are custom designed by Dr. Laurie. A few of her advanced students are also excellent designers and craftspeople; we will always note or inform you if the necklaces/prayer beads/bracelets are designed and/or created by someone other than Dr. L. Both Lisa and Josh have designed and created some spectacular bracelets.  Dr. John does wonderful work with prayer beads and wire wrap if that is the best energetic combination for you.  We can provide you with a kit as complete as you need, up to and including links for where to purchase tools.  This is a great way to deepen the personal connection with your special piece.  We also can create the end product necklace or other piece for you.  Each way has pretty obvious advantages.  When you receive a complete kit with everything you need from gemstones, metal beads, clasp, beading wire, fittings, etc. or as much of this as you need, plus instructions, diagram showing optimal order of beads, etc.  then you participate in the creation of a special energetic piece that targets either general or specific aims through its vibrations.  If you have never done jewelry work, you receive a designer piece that has been professionally created in the Satya Rising Sanctuary by The Artful Healer (Laurie).  Either way, we like to have at least one email discussion about both how you might want the piece to look and feel and issue/vibration/Chakra-auric energetic questions designed to help us create a piece of designer custom healing jewelry for you that is what you want and need at this time.  It is a process that works.  So take a look at the slide show and let the pieces sing to you.  See what happens.  We love feedback as we create this blog site, so please join (easy and free) and comment or email us and we will do our best to get back to you ASAP with answers that are helpful and informative.
Dr. Laurie is working on a Chakra-based set of adaptable necklaces which can still be customized, and which address the most pressing problems that seem to arise all the time. 

We hope that this gives you some 'food for thought', perhaps even 'inspiration for action'.  Email us and we will be happy to guide you through this fairly short and completely painless process.

More on how we become inspired to create your special piece in a blog entry soon!

Blessings to you,

Dr. Laurie and Dr. John
 Satya Rising Sanctuary
 Vienna, VA

A Day Full of Playful Clay!

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Dear Readers,

As I mentioned in past blogs, I've reorganized my studio so that I have room to create healing jewelry and also to do other arts and crafts at a different space.

Today was the first day that I really got to use the room the way it was meant to be used. After quite a lovely bath, I proceeded to the part of our basement suite that is my studio. John and I are the only basement residents in our family, except of course Joey, our cat, who favors the basement when kids aren't home. So we see lots of Joeyo in the basement!

I think that I have done a good job of organizing my various art materials for painting, drawing and such, for decoupaging and collage making/scrapbooking now, and for using polymer clay. I've set myself up well for the clay. I think it is both an artform for me to learn of itself, and also sort of a cheaper dry run for having an in-studio kiln for working with silver, copper and gold clay. (This is clay that when you bake it, in a kiln, unlike the polymer clay that is baked in a dedicated toaster oven (eBay:$18 - free shipping), becomes pure silver or the other metals. It makes for elegant jewelry.) But so does polymer clay when you know how to use it. Which I am only just learning. I've done due diligence. Read good books, my favorite is the one above for beginners like me, but there are hundreds to choose from at Amazon.com. Be sure you get one book or info on line about conditioning the clay. I found myself laughing truly heartily at my attempts with a pasta machine rolling clay through it and sometimes getting just the texture I wanted, sometimes little scrabbles of clay! It worked out fine in the end, and was worth it for the fun I had. It was playing for me. I am learning the ropes, so to speak, so that I can make quite sophisticated jewelry, but for now, I'm doing projects with different skills required to learn how to really create wildly in this modality. Today, along with learning to condition three blocks of clay (Kato, and there are other kinds, most run about $1.30+/- a bit. So, I made a small box. I used red and black clay to make quite a cute side cover for the box. You keep making the clay thinner using the pasta machine, then cut it into strips carefully. Then you pile one strip of in this case black upon red, then black, then red. These are literally razor thin strips of clay, then once you even up the sides, you carve them very thin, place them so the lines are vertical, side by side on another strip, an additional long strip of red clay, then you run the whole strip through the pasta roller at a thin setting (5th from the largest), and voila, I had this very amazing black and red striped border for my box.

While the strip baked in my amazing toaster oven which soon will have a name I am sure, with my trusty internal oven thermometer helping me regulate the not so specific toaster oven, I prepared the sheet of Pearl color Kato clay for the top and the various things I would incorporate into this piece. I was going to try a couple of small transfers, a metal earring without its back prong (there is a special de-pronger tool!), a small piece of turquoise, rhodocroside, and several metal pieces to see how they fared in the oven (all went perfectly). I made black borders, very small, which proved more tricky than I thought, as I was laughing pretty hard tears were coming down! I even rolled some of the clay into pretty black and red striped or wavy beads to see how they turned out. (Good again.) So, during the 10 minute first baking, and the 20 minute cooling down, I cleaned up a bit and got all my decorations ready. So it was fun. The final baking took 30 minutes at 275degreesF. During that time I cleaned up and then got off of my aching feet!

It came out well. For a beginner anyway. I have some more things to do like polishing it and perhaps some other things, I have to read about the possibilities. But it was great to get to know about 8 new tools, and a medium that I had never used previously.

I feel really happy. I hope your day was wonderful too.

My agenda for tomorrow is to take my daughter Sarah, at her request to purchase a dress for her homecoming dance, then I hope to start the Wii Fit that we moved from the Living Room where it wasn't being used to our room where we will use it... And I'll probably do some beading and work with my little piece...and do more work on our website which will really be an asset for people with interest in healing, making healing jewelry, healing gemstones, and much more. Can't wait until it is ready! Quite an ambitious day planned for me, since most days I have to stay in bed pretty much all the time these days. I hope I end up being able to do some or even all of this, but if I need to take it easy, as Scarlett once said, "Tomorrow is another day." I'm hoping the day after is another day too.

Blessings and Joy to you Each and All,

Laurie
drlauriesherman@opus-arts.com
Vienna, VA

Radio Hormesis Therapy

Dear Reader,

We came across Jay Nighthawk, a Native American healer in the Southwest, when we were researching the Eliat stone for a customer and students who wanted to know more about this ancient healing stone that was found only in the King Solomon mine, now closed. I have a few pieces of Eliat stone now that I use in healing, and I feel it is a great Heart Healer, plus works with several of the subtle Chakras, mostly Chakra 10.
We found Jay in our search, and he was enthusiastic and willing to work together with us. A few of his clients have visited us for a week or two from various places across the nation. We were interested in trying his well researched healing methods, and we did. It was very helpful to John. For me, it was more subtle.
Jay was especially interested in John's detailed logging of his experience with the healing materials due to his long documented MS, and John's medical training afforded him the skills to fully detail his experiences.
Jay is, among other things, a Healer in his community. His generous work uses Radio Hormesis primarily.
To find out more, google it or go to Jay's site: www.nighthawkminerals.com/home.htm.
The practice is simple and not expensive, and since it was working so well with John and was having good effects with me, we shared Jay's methods with several of our clients. It involves a constant, very low dose of radiation, 1000s of times lower rads than you would find in even one X-ray. It takes the form of a special, sealed mud pack, a stone, and a stone to put in water. There is also a stone to wear that is optional.
John has been following the regimen for a couple of years. For a long time it was working very well for him, never to that extent for me, but it was definitely positive. We only offered Radio Hormesis to clients we felt it would help, obviously. (If you are interested, please contact us at drlauriesherman@opus-arts.com)
Yesterday, John emailed Jay to let him know that his own progress has slowed down significantly, so stay tuned for Jay's response.

Jay Nighthawk mines the various stones and special mud himself. The amount and sizes of various elements change based on the questions he asks you. His work has significantly helped some of our clients, especially when combined with our Satya Rising Crystal healing work. We will ask Jay to write something for this blog as his words are powerful and healing in and of themselves.

Blessings and Love, in gratitude,
Laurie

New Medium, Polymer Clay

Dear Readers,

I am excited to "announce" that I've finally gotten a station set up for crafts in my studio area that I've used almost exclusively for jewelry making with gemstones and making prayer beads.

I have a new 7 foot desk and some shelves and I am set to start making Polymer Clay beads and other jewelry. I have been collecting the equipment for awhile, and have wanted to do this work for some time, but between budget and health, it just never came together until now. So I've read a few books, have my eBay dedicated toaster oven for curing the pieces, foils, texture boards, stippling and needle tools and lots of clay, glues, etc. It wasn't until yesterday that I had it pulled together. It has been so long coming that I have a bit of trepidation -- I don't know where to start, but I do have a project in mind, something simple. I'll post something if it turns out well.

I've thrilled my teenage girls by coming up with the most basic way to string a pendant with only a couple of beads on beading wire. I've made them each a few pieces and they are wearing them all the time.

I also made a couple larger pieces, two types. One is a couple of necklaces that I saw in the Chico's catalog... with high prices on them, so I improved on them and made them for almost nothing, at least compared to their prices. and mine were real sterling silver, high quality gemstone beads, etc. I love doing that.

The other things I've been working on are projects that stretch my skills and even add on to them. I've made several of those. They aren't my style, and I follow instructions the way I follow cooking instructions and the way I vote, too, "liberally" but I've learned about a dozen advanced skills, the pieces came out nicely, and when our website is "up" we will be able to offer this kind of piece as well. I'm still enjoying finding these instructions on line. Most of the bead sites have them, but I think that some of the best are at www.firemountaingems.com. They have projects with full instructions and lists of materials needed, How To basics (often with free videos to show how to do the skill), and designs with material lists. But there are lots of places with this kind of set up. I'll list some as I come across good ones. There are great books with this sort of thing, too. See at the bottom of this blog for some of my favorites. You can link to them by clicking them and it will take you to a more full description on the Amazon site.

So, I'll let you know how my first solo with polymer clay bead making goes... step by step perhaps.

Also watch for an announcement that our website and store are open!

Cheers, with Light,

Laurie
Dr. Laurie Sherman
The Artful Healer
Satya Rising Source
Opus Arts, Inc.
Vienna, VA 22180

Check out Dr. Evans' new Blogs ... "The Family Nurse" & "New Age Nurse"

Dear Readers and Readers-to-Be,

I want to introduce you to some good, honest common sense from a family practice nurse who I think you will enjoy. Dr. J. Mark Evans,' new blogs are titled "The Family Nurse" and "New Age Nurse." In The Family Nurse he is writing about many common things that could happen to you or someone you know and/or love and how to be a good caretaker for your family. He describes the truth about OTC's, over the counter drugs, dangers and ways to take medication without putting your family in danger. Many of us don't know much other than "broad strokes about the interaction problems due to OTC (0ver the Counter) drugs and what they really are, what they really do, when to take them and when not to take them. He writes about things like chronic disease and caring for elderly relatives. He writes about newborn through college "kid care" and I may do some guest writing on that topic myself. In his other blog, "New Age Nurse", Dr. J. Mark Evans discusses how the Western medical model of care integrates with movement and with metaphysical/Eastern healing.

If you are interested, his addresses for these blogs are: Thefamilynurse.blogspot.com.
and NewAgeNurse.blogspot.com.

Here's hoping that you enjoy these blogs. They are just getting started so you can watch their "birth" and how they grow and develop. Thanks for reading!

With Respect and Love,

Dr. Laurie Sherman

Metaverse of Topics, Dropship Metaphysical Products, finding the ID of this Blog...

Dear Reader,

Dropship Afternoon

This afternoon, well into the evening, I went through the products that are offered by a Metaphysical Product-focused company. There were 100's of items, some quite off the mark for us, and some that perhaps I wouldn't purchase but know people who would love them, some too expensive for what they are, and some that I either already have and use or would love to have and use. It was sort of like shopping, without having to spend money.

There were perhaps 30 categories, and most of the products were relevant and useful to our readership and client base. However, some of the product titles were "uninspiring" and some of the product info was written incredibly badly.

I picked out the items, at least from this primary source, and I rewrote many of the information "blurbs" giving them a bit of connection to Spirit and less hyperbole. My background in retail helps. But I find something deeper than ever going on.

We now have agreements with about a dozen source companies for items we want to offer to you. It will take us a while to get the literally thousands of items from their catalog to ours to you!

So, pretty soon we will have a wonderful store/source up for you that is in several parts. In re-reading this statement, this sounds like simply a money making scheme. But that is not how I am thinking about it. I find that I like to know right away where to access something that is talked about. Perhaps I put too many links in my blog yesterday; I was learning how to put links in, so I went overboard I guess. I find it helpful and I hope you do as well, to have access to products that I'm talking about as well as an honest assessment of the "good, bad and ugly" aspects of various products. For us to relay what we have found out through trial and error. We are open to your comments and hope that we can dialog about all of this.

How and About What we Wish to Communicate with You

We hope to offer information, products and services to you in three ways. We are open to suggestions of other ways, too.

1. We would like you to be able to source materials, tools and information that from our experience provide the best and least expensive, perhaps the lowest shipping costs, and so forth, as well as books of all kinds related to the many topics that this blog will cover over time, with annotations so that you are getting our opinions "for what they are worth" on various books that may or may not help you as you are on your own path. Plus we can discuss these books, products or whatever else comes up. Much of this can be done with the help of the Amazon.com set of services.

2. We are about to have a store with products from other people. It is just about ready to rock and roll. You will certainly be the first to know about its existence and whereabouts.

3. We want to offer you ideas, experiences and products that we have developed or channeled. These may integrate into a category or two in the above store, or they may have their own store. We don't know yet (and are willing to take any help you can offer!) Again, you will be the first to know about this.

I guess there is another way, so amend my list to FOUR ways to provide useful information and that is through linking to other blogs and websites that you might find useful and interesting. The "if you like this, then you may well like X, Y and Z" principle. If you are interested in "cross-linking" just email me or leave a comment to that effect and we will figure out how to do this in the best way. We would also like to guest contribute and for others to do the same as time goes by. So anyway, the point of all this is that we want to serve your "quest" and give you the benefit of whatever we have picked up along the way, plus learn from you as well in a number of ways.

This Blog

I'm thinking lots about what I want to write to you every day. I am open to opinions and ideas and things you would like to hear about. I think that my next blog will be on a book that I just finished and on another that I have read recently. They are both on various levels of meaning and facts about different gemstones that can be used for healing. John and I will add our experiences with the various gemstones we discuss and I'll try to source some photos for you as well. So that is one direction that we are planning to go.

But the overview of this blog seems to be sharing about the things that catapult into my experience around healing, gemstones, jewelry making, other arts and crafts, spirituality, Metaphysics and the Metaverse, Yogas, (this is beginning to sound like my undergrad class list!) and even perhaps some thoughts about my own healing, chronic illnesses, and how that affects decisions and life choices. and other things. I would rather share spontaneously with you than have a rigid plan and focus that doesn't allow for tangents. But that is the way I am.

So, my dear Readers, who don't know that you are readers yet, as we haven't made this blog public, I will leave you now, even though I have a couple of other ideas of things I want to write to you about. Perhaps if I am still awake in a bit I'll write again.

Blessed be,
In Love,

Laurie
drlauriesherman@opus-arts.com
Vienna, VA