2016 Ornaments and a Product Review

Every year I make ornaments from polymer clay.  This year I was sorely behind.  I just couldn't figure out what I wanted to do.  Last year I made my usual styles into ornaments, and did a run of Blue Moons to commemorate the blue moon that occurred in December.

This year, nothing was coming to me.  I thought, how can I commemorate this year?  Its been quite a year, with the election and all the great singer songwriter poets we have lost.

And then it hit me.

I wanted to make some ornaments to embrace peace, love, and acceptance.  

First I decided to honor Leonard Cohen, and make something inspired by his song Anthem.  I love the line, "there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in".  The other part of that inspiration was Karen's post that included a picture of this sculpture by Paige Bradley, which I LOVE.

So I decided to make a heart, with gold shimmer in the cracks, and wire wings.

I added the lyrics and dated them as well

Then I made some star ornaments, to honor David Bowie, aka Ziggy Stardust, aka Starman

On the back I wrote "turn and face the strange" because I think it really fits for every single day of our lives. They are also dated.

 I also wanted to make something to do with Peace.  This election has caused so much chaos.  So I made a new design, a peace sign, with wooden textured parts.  It was really fun to make.  On the back, trying to stick with lyrics, I wrote, "Imagine all the people living life in peace".

So, my ornaments are finally done and listed in my destash group. (How my destash group workds: just click that link, ask to join if you are not a member, and then claim items in comments.  I invoice you for them and ship)  

Better late then never, right?  (on top of the normal holiday rush and business, I have had sick kids.  I am so behind).

Anyhow...................since I made a new ornament, I had to make a mold for it!  Thus, the review portion of this blog....

I have been wanting to try that molding plastic, the one that you put in warm water and mold it.  I thought it may capture detail better, or yet, last longer then my typical two part silicone molds.

I purchased this brand, InstaMorph, from Amazon.

I followed the instructions carefully. 

I used water that was 150 degrees as directed and poured in some of the little white plastic balls.  They are supposed to congeal into one piece.

But they never lost their ball shape textures.  So I started again, because the cool thing is, you can re use this product over and over again

 I heated the water again, this time making it between 160-170 degrees

These looked a bit more transparent this time and congealed.

 So I smooshed them together and tried to make it as smooth as possible, but it was hard to get the ball texture out of them

I went ahead and covered my peace sign anyway, hoping that it would smooth out by applying pressure

 While that was setting, I tried again and went a tad hotter.  It did get much more moldable- however, the work time is quick, by the time it cools enough to handle it, and you begin to work it smooth, it begins to harden.

When the plastic was cool, I tried to remove my mold.  it stuck to the polymer a bit, and it did NOT make a smooth mold at all.  As you can see- it never lost that ball like texture- and the sample I did in polymer on the lower right side is terrible

 So, even though I think this is a cool product, and it is amazingly strong, not a fan of it for molds.  I will find a use for it, but it was way more trouble then it was worth.  I ended using my good old trust two part silicone molds.

I actually have an article in the current issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry on making molds with two part silicone.  

(I am also honored to be the Designer Collection in the current issue).  So grab it if you want to have a copy of my mold article- or take a peek at the issue because I was so happy with the pieces they picked to be showcased in the
Designer Collection (12 pages of my jewelry!  squeeee!).

You can pick up the current issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry here, or at some local art and craft stores as well as Barnes and Noble.

I know I haven't been blogging much lately, so I hope you don't mind that I crammed like 3 blogs into one!!!!

Christmas is in 3 days, and I know everyone is just mad busy!  I truly hope you enjoy your holiday, no matter what you celebrate, may it be filled with love, and family and friends, peace and wellness.  

David Bowie Blog Hop

It was such a sad day the day we lost Bowie.  He touched so many with his art, his music, his fashion.  

I really found it hard to pick one song, or one thing, or one picture that inspired me to create a piece of jewelry to honor him.  

However, there is a theme that I kept going back to, and that was the stars.

maybe it's because the first Bowie song I loved was Space Oddity.  Maybe its the amazing Sun, or heavenly object he would sometimes adorn himself with.

To me, he was always other worldly.  Whether he was Ziggy, or the Goblin King, or just a man who could wear anything and stand out completely.  He never blended.  He was unique through and through.

My first memory of him was riding in the car with my mom.  My mom was awesome, and she introduced me to all the GREATS of classic rock.  We were always listening to good music.  I remember when Space Oddity came on.  And as I listened, I remember being so very sad at the story.  I asked her if they guy died in space, and she said yes.  I was in love.  It moved me, as music should.  Being an avid reader, with a love of personal stories, that song hit me hard and touched me deeply.  Suddenly, there was a connection.  Any man who could write such a sad and haunting story, in a fashion that makes you love it and want to sing along, is a genius.

So, his celestial quality, and the reemergence of it as a theme in his work inspired my piece.

or 

Maybe its just this...........which sums up Bowie himself perfectly.  He did blow our minds....over and over again.

So I chose this star bead I made out of polymer clay.  I thought the way the gold crackle came across it reminded me of the way he would paint a lightning bolt on his face.

I figured, any piece I made to honor him, would have to be bold!  

I originally wanted to do something really outside of my comfort zone.  However, I felt it was better to make a piece, that was my style, but in honor of him.  It would make a small connection between him and I, and so, here it is!

It is called "Stardust" of course!

I am cleaning today, but I am wearing my fabulous piece and listening Bowie.  

If you want to hop along and see what everyone else has done, check out the links at the bottom of the Love my Art Jewelry blog

http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2016/04/david-bowie-blog-hop_14.html