One of a Kind Jewelry for One of a Kind You: sugar skull

Showing posts with label sugar skull. Show all posts

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Sometimes I need a push..............

When Jen Cameron of Art Elements posted this months Bead of the Month, and it was one of her glass sugar skulls, you know I commented on that blog in hopes to win one.

I mean, looks at how fun these are!

Each month, one of their artists make a bead, and each member, plus a couple lucky readers, get one of the beads, and then they create something with them.

I haven't really had a chance to do that in awhile (to create with something that I did not purchase), and you know what, once in awhile I need that push.

Now, I buy and use a lot of different components. But when I am making and / or hand picking my components, they are all very much my style, and something I can see right away in my jewelry. Once in awhile, I like to have something given to me, something that challenges me to think a little more about the design.

It's no secret I love sugar skulls- and Jen sent me a delightful one. It is however, bright. Like sugar skulls usually are. And I didn't really want a bright finished piece. So it took me some time to figure out how to maintain the color pops, but tone it down, so it still looks like something I'd make- old and a bit gritty.

I love a good challenge and push now and again.

I began to pick beads that matched the colors in the skull, but were earthy. At first the layout had some polymer beads in it, but it quickly changed to all / mostly gemstones.

I decided to wrap the skull in wire. Putting antiqued copper wire around something bright immediately tones down the brightness. So I started there.

Since the hole is vertical, I could not do one of my chunky classic chokers. So, it needed to be the dangle, or part of a dangle. I kinda saw that would have to be the layout from the start.

Well, after much fiddling and doing and un-doing, I am so freakin happy with how it turned out. I honestly didn't think I'd love it. As I added elements, I wasn't sure they would work (like those seed beads).........but they did. It all came together quite nicely. It is heavy with all those large gemstones and heavy wire (16-18g) and the extra chain, but it lays perfect and is oh so comfy to wear.

I think I need to make some more like this, one one art bead shown off among many large gemstones.

I am so thankful I got to be a part of this challenge. I needed that little push. Something a little different and fun came out of it- and that is what it is all about.

Now hop over to these other blogs and see what everyone else made with their pieces!

Guest Designers

Staci Louise Smith Karin Grosset Grange Solange Collin

Art Elements Team

Caroline Dewison Susan Kennedy Laney Mead Claire Fabian Diana Ptaszynski Jenny Davies-Reazor Cathy Spivey Mendola Lindsay Starr Niky Sayers Lesley Watt Cooky Schock Jen Cameron

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Sugar Skull Charm Necklace

I have been wanting to do some posts like this for awhile, but like always, busy busy busy!

I have a bunch of Sugar Skull focals in the shop, as well as some other focals similar to the sugar skulls, and I wanted to give you guys some idea of what you can do with them.

http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/store

I had a few laid out on my desk, as I am prepping for a show this weekend, not sure what to do with them.

At first I wanted to just add chain and a dangle and keep them super simple. But it was too simple.............so I planned to add charms to the chain. I wasn't sure how much to do charm wise, and was sort of thinking they needed chunky charms.

I hadn't finished figuring out that part, when Linda Landig posted a necklace she had made with one of my old bronze skulls,

(you can purchase Linda's necklace here

http://lindalandig.indiemade.com/product/sugar-skull-necklace-brass-day-dead-pendant-orange-black-purple-sari-silk-0 )

and seeing her little dangles sealed the deal for me. That is what my plain old necklace needed. Just some simple dangles. It really captures the Dia de los Muertos feel I think.

So I added my double dangly charms (flower beads by Lisa Peters Art- they were the perfect match!!!)

And I added my chain, and picked out charms to accent the colors in my skull, and voila! I love the results!

(ceramic stars by Starry Road Studio)

So here are my tips when doing a charm style necklace- not quite a tutorial, but this should help if you tend to struggle with them.

1. pick out way more stones and beads in a variety of sizes then you will use

2. lay them out, spacing out larger beads, and filling in the spaces between them with smaller beads

3. when you use a cable chain, like this one, only hang charms on EVERY OTHER LINK so they lay properly. the links alternate directions and your charms won't hang right otherwise. Also, be sure to keep the chain from turning. I pick it up and make sure the chain is laying correctly so the charms are always added to the bottom of the link

4. skip a few "hangable" links for each big piece. I like to hold the piece up to my neck and look at it each time I add a bead to make sure they hang right

5. Fill the links you skipped with tiny beads to create movement and fill the space without them bumping into the other beads causing them to lay inccorectly.

6. Try to use beads of a consistent thickness. if you use beads that are tooooo round they will stick out when you wear it and roll around.

And there you have it. A simple necklace that is not too plain, not too much! I haven't taken this one off yet and I cannot wait to design the others on my table.

Remember, you too can make some "charming" necklaces using the components in my shop. Lots of sugar skulls left. I love taking the form of a skull and making it pretty. So fun!

http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/store

Monday, March 16, 2015

Classes and Why I Teach

I have had some changes to my Spring Teaching Schedule for Bead Fest. The full day ring class has been dropped. However, my Sunday class, Painted Polymer Fossil Talisman is still on and has some spaces still available.

This is a wonderful class that I had a blast teaching last August. It is packed with techniques, both polymer and jewelry assembly.

What I love about teaching is that I get to share what I have learned with you, and I hope that you will take that, and use it to further your art. I not only teach techniques, but also share tips for making quality pieces and making things easier along the way. I hope that my class will encourage you to play and grow as an artist, and most of all, find your voice as an aritst.

My students rocked this class last time, here is a sample of their work. I was so happy to see they nailed the project, while each having their own personal spin on their beads. Most of them were beginners in at least one aspect, either polymer or wire work or both. They did wonderful!

Since my Saturday class was canceled, I will demo'ing for Para Wire a couple times on Saturday. When I know the times I will let you know. Please stop by for some free wire demo's.

You can find more info on my class and sign up here

https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/105619/stacismith

At August Bead Fest I am teaching a couple classes. Both of them I am really excited about. The first is a full day class, but I know it will go fast. We will be learning to form a polymer sugar skull, paint it with my techniques, and then to cut and texture a copper backing from sheet metal, and rivet them together. We will practice riveting first, which is a technique that you will be able to use a million different ways. And to make it more fun, we will be using ball head rivets on the final project to make things looks nice.

At the end of the day, you will go home with your own Sugar Skull necklace and a lot of new techniques.

Then on Sunday at the August Bead Fest I will be teaching a short 2 hours class with some fun and loose heavy gauge wire work. This is another one of those classes where I think you can take this project and then find a million new ways to use it. I totally love this one and I think you will too.

For more info on my classes in August or to sign up you can follow this link

https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/106987/StaciSmith

I hope you can make it out for one of them- it would be great to meet more of you in person!

Friday, July 25, 2014

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!!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Jewelry is Listed

I finally listed some jewelry in my shop! LONG overdue. I have a plan to list a couple things each week, since I am now done shows for the year. I will let you guys know each time I list. Everything is one of a kind, and though I may be able to make something similar, no two items will ever be a like. Due to the nature of the materials I use, I may not even be able to replicate items.

Here are some of my new listings....................