Rounding the Corner

When you make beads and components, no matter what medium they are, there is a lot of steps from start to finish.

I have been making beads for weeks, but have none ready to sell at my upcoming show.

As for my polymer, first I make, mold, shape, finish edges, and add dots and divets to all my pieces one by one, and then they get cured in the toaster oven.  But they are naked- and unpainted.

These all need to get painted yet.

I feel like a rounded a corner though, because the last of the polymer and metal clay have been made, and now I can start finishing things.

Yesterday I made the last two loads of metal clay and fired them, and then I got to start on the base of my doodle and scrimshaw beads.

Each of my polymer beads get at least 3 layers of paints, plus 2-4 coats of sealer.  that's a lot of drying time in between!!!!  so it feels good to know I may start on painting today with only 2 weeks to showtime.

I am also almost done carving my black beads, and I never get tired of this look.  they are some of my favorites

Then I have all this metal.  These need a copper backing cut out and textured and then get riveted to it.

All the metal is fired, tumbled and then I still need to antique it, and hand polish each piece, and then seal them with 1-2 coats of sealer.

This is the huge pile of bronze earrings I have to do

Another pile of bronze

Bronze waiting to be cleaned and tumbled

copper clay that is done (I still have a batch tumbling now too)

So today I may begin painting, which will ease some anxieties.  

 So I feel I have rounded that corner, and am on the road to completed beads.  

Now lets all pray for NO SNOW the weekend of the Berks Bead Bazaar March 1st & 2nd!