What I'm wearing today

Blast from the Past

Here is a necklace I'm wearing today with an outfit of black and white. These fun beads were made a couple of years ago at clay camp. It could of been last year, but I'm thinking it was the year before. Anyways, they are super simple and I'm almost embarrassed at how easy they were to make. Just take an oval unbaked clay bead that has been sitting for some time, push colored eyelets into the bead in a random order. Pierce and bake. See! Super simple! Some other thoughts on how to change them are to add a different color of clay to the center of the eyelets. Wouldn't that be fun for summer? Mix and match eyelets and clay. The combinations are endless and could match any outfit. Isn't this a great beginner project?

Blue Green Etched Necklace

After the first stringing of these beads it was apparent, considering the work involved in making these beads, they deserved a much nicer chain. Below is the necklace reworked, adding a small faceted bead on both sides of the handmade etched beads.

Etched Translucent Necklace

It is a good feeling to complete another project. This etching technique was first taught to me by Linda Goff at Ravensdale 2000. Gwen Gibson had Linda come into our inro class for a quick demo on etching or the rip-away technique. Recently the technique has been revisited by Louise Fischer Cozzi and is the inspiration for this piece.

Small Round Clocks

Clocks featuring a variety of techniques.

New and Old

It has been an effort to clean up. During the ordeal I've come across several projects that were started or beads that were made trying a new technique. My friends tell me that I never put together jewelry with the clay beads I make, so it my goal to work on all of the half finished projects and actually make jewelry with them.

Bead Expo in Portland

Sarah Shriver Pendant

Early Friday morning Rita and I headed south to Portland for a fine silver fusing class that began at 9am. This required us rise at 3:30am. The Bead Expo in Portland, Oregon ended up being a great learning experience. We both took Low Tech Metalsmithing from Anne Mitchell . Anne taught us to fuse fine silver. I learned quite a bit from her that morning including that the two torches I own are not ones she recommends. After the tool and safety talk, we made ear wires, "S" and "J" hooks, toggles, bales and textured fine silver. Fusing silver is much easier than soldering. But even after taking this class my fear of working with torches is still there. Julia Sober says she'll work with me at clay camp in May to resolve these issues. If you have a chance, go visit Julia Sober's website, she makes some innovative polymer clay and silver creations.

Friday evening Jayne Hoffman took us to a very trendy place in Portland for dinner and then for dessert. Pix Patisserie has unusual desserts that are definitely not diet material, but were so yummy. I indulged in the Shazam! It is a rich and creamy caramel mousse, with salted almonds, dense chocolate almond cake, and more caramel…Shazam!

Saturday morning we had time to browse the bead show before heading home. This allowed me the opportunity to purchase another pendant from Sarah Shriver who was exhibiting at the bead show. I enjoy Sarah Shriver's work.

Karen Kozak Pendant