Sugar Skulls for Bead Fest

I told people at Berks Bead Bazaar that I would have more of my bronze Sugar Skulls for Beadfest in August- and it looks like I will! 

my first sugar skull piece!

I think I am only going to get about a dozen made, and there may be some loss in the batches, as they are prone to crack.  I can work with most of the cracks along the edge, but sometimes they crack on the face and its just too hard to repair.  If all goes well, I should have 10-12 skulls for sale. 

Here is the first batch right out of the kiln, with a brief cleaning.  They still need a tumble, antique bath, then they need to get riveted to a copper backing. 

 sugar skulls out of the kiln this morning

Making them is a multi stage process, at first I have to work quickly, to get all the designs in while its a certain "mid-dry" and then they need to dry for days as I add slip to the backside to help prevent cracking.  I am so thrilled with the results though!  Its worth the wait!

Please stop by booth #371 if you are coming to BeadFest- I promise to have all kinds of new goodies for you to fondle !!!!

And remember to print and use this coupon to save $10 at the door!!!!

Just click and save this picture and print it out on your computer- print a few for your friends too!

I also got to do a trial run of my Painted Polymer Fossil Talisman class yesterday. 

These are samples of what I am teaching- making these polymer focals and beads, painting them to look old and organic, and then making them into this necklace

It was amazing.  I will be blogging about that next week on LMAJ- but for now, I want to show off what the ladies made....................

Here are some of the extra beads they got to make, since we had all day and it was only the 4 of us

And here are the finished pieces they made.  It was amazing to see them come full circle at the end of the day. 

I think I am really going to love teaching. I have taught small groups before, and did a ton of training at my old job....and I always loved the interaction I got to have with people.  So I am really looking forward to teaching at BeadFest!

You can sign up for my class here if you are interested

https://www.etouches.com/ehome/79000/StaciSmith

I promise we will have a great time!!



Halloween / Day of the Dead Blog Hop

If you follow me, you may know that I do not do holiday or seasonal jewelry, at least not on purpose.  I do however, love sugar skulls.  I have been making them as components for some time now. 

 

So I couldn't wait to participate in Diana's blog hop.

First I made this necklace using one of my current style sugar skulls in bronze.

It features beads from Lisa Peters Art, Starry Road Studio and bronze links from me with gemstones.  I thought Lisa's rose heart was perfect with the skull and added in some yellows to give it life and color.

 

However, I didn't want to use one of my regular old sugar skulls for the hop.  I wanted to make something REALLY cool.  I had been wanting to try to make a 3-d one in bronze for some time now.  This was the perfect opportunity to try it out. 

 

Well, it was pretty successful.  After the first turned out ok, I right away made another.........

 

This is the more detailed and much larger second one all cleaned up from the kiln

 

 

 

Then came the fun part- making them into jewelry.  I had to fill them with something and give them some sort of eyes.  I used polymer and gemstones and baked them.  Then I attached them to a copper back with rivets. 

 

 

Finally, I got to make them into finished pieces of jewelry.  They are big, chunky and weird, and I adore how they turned out. 

This is the finished piece I made with the sugar skull above. 

 

 It has lava stone behind its eyes, a couple of large criffle beads from Numinosity, a rustic donut from Marsha Neal Studio, some pearls, some gemstones, and lots of little bronze pieces of my own. 

 

This one, is all mine. 

 

 

I also made this one below.  It creeps me out a little more then I thought it would...but I love the colors.  Not so sure of the zombie like eyeball, kinda kills the beauty of the sugar skull, but I am happy with the piece none the less.

 

 

 This one also has a Marsha Neal Studio donut, some Starry Road Studio beads, and some of my bronze, along with gemstones and pearls.

 

I was really happy to try out this 3-d bronze a little further (I had done it before in hearts).  I think I want to add more pretty detail, and perhaps even give the skulls some color in the future.  I am definitely going to take it further.

 

Thanks for the challenge Diana!  I love to find reasons to try new things.

 

To see what everyone else made, hop over to Diana's blog for the link list.

Diana Ptaszynski  http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com

Staci Smith  http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/ - You are here

Kathleen Breeding  http://99bobotw.blogspot.com

Sue Kennedy  http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Dianne Miller  http://www.artbydianne.blogspot.com

Lisa Liddy  http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com

Toltec Jewels  http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Linda Landig  http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com

Laura Medeiros  http://Www.zoeowyn.blogspot.com

Veralynne Malone  http://www.veradesigns.blogspot.com

Lynn Jobber  http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk

Michelle McCarthy  http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Karen Totten  http://www.starryroadstudio.blogspot.com

Jayne Capps  https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com

Jenny Davies-Reazor  http://jdaviesreazor.com/blog

Joan Miller  http://metalmudandsand.blogspot.com/

Melissa Meman  http://melissameman.blogspot.com

Melissa Trudinger  http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Kari Asbury  http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Inge von Roos  http://www.ingetraud.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick  http://zenithjade.blogspot.com 

Stephanie LaRosa  http://Www.stringaholic.blogspot.com

Lola Surwillo  http://www.beadlolabead.com

Jennifer Cameron  http://glassaddictions.com/blog

Diane Hawkey  http://dianehawkey.blogspot.com

Kristi Harrison  http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com

Nicole Valentine Rimmer  http://www.nvalentine.blogspot.com

Tanya Goodwin  http://www.Pixiloo.blogspot.com

Shai Williams  http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Sandra McGriff  http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com

Sarajo Wentling  http://www.sjdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Marie Covert  http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com

Lisa Stukel  http://www.carefreejewelrybylisa.blogspot.com

Laurie Vyselaar  http://www.Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com

Sherri Stokey  http://www.knotjustmacrame.com

Pam Traub  http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com

Lori Dorrington  http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com

Kristen Stevens  http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Eleanor Burian-Mohr  http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com

Sally Russick  http://thestudiosublime.com

Dawn M. Gallop  http://www.flipflopsandpoptarts.com

 

Crafts in the Meadow- Tyler State Park Pa

This weekend you will find me at Crafts in the Meadow- Tyler State Park Pa.

 

I am booth #79- so please, if you are in the area, stop by and see me.  This is a pretty amazing show, with lots of wonderful artists.

 

Here is a map of the meadow if you want to plan out your trip.

 

I hope I see you there- the weather looks delightful for a show.  Fall is my favorite season and I am excited to be outside all weekend socializing with other art lovers.

 

 



September Jewelry

I spent September recovering from Bead Fest, and prepping for a couple shows, one of which is a sea glass festival on LBI (where I was last weekend).

I am finally getting around to posting some pics of my new work.  I have another show next weekend, but hopefully will be able to list some after that.  I am so bad and taking and editing pics.....not my favorite thing to do, and like this, it is often really behind schedule.

 

Many of these are sold already, that is how behind I am.  anyhow, enjoy!  I really had fun making this round of jewelry.  I got the chance to use a lot of beads that didn't sell at beadfest.  Man, was it fun to have so many beads to choose from!  I usually don't have much inventory through the year. 

 

  

I will be making some more in the next couple weeks as well.  I am really low on earrings and bracelets.  First, I need to make more metal clay components for them!!!

Bead Fest Dreams

I have officially begun dreaming about beads, and Bead Fest.  I have had the dreams that I showed up and forgot my beads, or that no one bought them.  Then I awake to the panic of unfinished beads everywhere!  LOL.  This is my life right now.

 

Eat, take care of kids, make beads, sleep (a little), repeat.

 

But I can't wait.  And I am quite happy with what I am making. 

 

Finally done painting and sealing all the polymer beads.

 

 

So that feels like progress!  I also started putting these loose beads

 

 

Into sets

 

 

I stayed up late polishing all my bronze, so that I could seal it this morning.  Before polishing......

 

 

After polishing

 

 

First hiccup this morning- the bronze oxidized more over night, and I need to re-buff them again before sealing.  *sigh*

 

Second hiccup was when I opened the kiln- which should have been my last kiln load- and found all my copper poppies broken.  I guess I will try to squeeze in one more load, because I really wanted to have these for Bead Fest.

 

 

I am not the only one who has suffered the loss of broken beads in this madness that is Bead Fest prep.  It's part of the game.  So I will drink my coffee, and enjoy this fall like weather we are having here in Pa.  I will string my sets, and make more copper poppies, and finish the metal work that is needed for my crazy urchin beads. (below)

 

Then I will make a sample for the kits Genea and I have been working on and write the instructions.

 

 

 





 

 



 

After those things are done, its just little stuff like pricing each bead, and packing stuff for the show.

 

Two full studio days would be good, but with summer coming to a close for the kids, there is much to get done around here. 

 

School starting is always bittersweet for me.  I love the quiet time when they go back, but I do miss them.  I worry for them.  We have some big changes this year, Aiden goes to the middle school and Collin starts full day- first grade.  Julia goes into third, which is a pretty challenging year from what I remember with Aiden.  I hope they adjust quickly and make friends and love their teachers.  That's all I want for them.  To enjoy school, so learning comes easily.

 

So that is my ramble- it's what's going on around here.  Can't wait to see my friends, and sell my wares, and see all my friends art in person in one week. 

 

If you are coming to Bead Fest- make sure to ask about the gathering Saturday night, with food, wine and giveways- hosted by Melinda Orr of Artisan Whimsy and Creative Bead Chat.  It's a great time!