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