You Can’t Pinch Me!!

 

Do you remember being in school on St. Patrick's Day and it being mandatory that you wear some type of green so that your classmates or colleagues wouldn't pinch you? I do! So, I'm helping out this year with a packed treasury of beautiful green jewelry  for every personality. 

Oh my goodness. This ring is so cute. It makes me think of carrying a little bit of the forest around with you wherever you go. 

The enamel work on these earrings is stunning, and completely unique. 

May the Triforce be with you.

This ear cuff is terrific. I love ear cuffs in general, but this one you could carry a baby dragon around with you everywhere!

A stunning statement necklace, with lovely glass beads. I had to double check the listing on this one thinking they were jade! 

The little bird on this charm is so cute and the shamrock is so vibrant, it's a great combination. 

Verdigrised and looking like something taken from a shipwreck, this octopus is right up my alley. 

The layering and movement in these earrings makes them super fun. 

A different take on owl jewelry.

Another jingly and moving piece, this time, a necklace. :D  

Very simple and subdued, I love the look of this necklace. 

This bracelet would look great with a tight shirt, a pair of dark jeans and some kick butt boots. 

Another jingly piece of jewelry, a chain maile bracelet. Since it's aluminum, it'll be nice and light as well. 

Cute and chic, great for a little bit of glitz at the office or a night out. 

And we head to the other end of the spectrum with this piece, something stunning for a special evening. 

Green and earthy, leather and Serpentine make a great combination in my book.
And that's that folks! I hope you enjoyed browsing this lovely treasury with me, and we'll check out another one, later this month! :D 
Did you love a particular piece? Feel free to comment below, or click the pictures and head on over to the shops.  

Chronicles of Elantra

All over the internet, people are constantly looking for inspiration, and where to get new ideas. This includes yours truly. There are some days when   I can't step away from my notebook, for all the designs that are coming to me. And then there are other days when, I can't think of a blessed thing. So when those days happen, I go back to one of my old standbys. Reading, playing a game or watching some tv. Why? Because I get ideas from watching the characters. What personifies them? What would look good with this outfit they're wearing? i ask these things and the ideas start to come, even if they are still slow as molasses. It doesn't matter if I can make the pieces with the supplies I have on hand or not, what matters is that I'm coming up with designs.
Since that's the case, and I'm all for talking about geeky things, I figured I'd do a post every week with whatever I'm reading/playing/watching and the designs that came out of it. Why? Because it's good practice for me, and it could be fun to discuss it with others :D
I wanted to use  one of my favorite book series, the Chronicles of Elantra.
The first book is called Cast in Shadow, and it's a fast paced, head twisting novel that never ceases to amaze me.
(Go ahead and click the picture, you’ll get a great description of the book )
This series is so..complex and layered that I end up finding something new every time I read it again. It's also been so well liked by friends that I've given away the first book three different times. T.T I still need to pick up a new one....
The good news about the series being so complex, is that every time I read it, I can spend some time figuring out new jewelry for the different characters in any given situation. So that'll be the post for next week, this week is just a sort of 'heads up' for something new coming ;). I'll be putting these up once a week, probably on Fridays and see how things go.
What do ya'll think? Sound interesting? Boring? Have some ideas for things I could design for? Comment below!

Kumihimo and Wire

Next month's book review is going to be "Kumhimo with Wire" (I know, I know, I can't believe I'm telling ya'll early! ;) but this post doesn't really work without ya'll knowing.)  So as I was reading the book, I really, really wanted to try out some of the experiments in the book. This is the troubles and tribulations I faced while doing it. And boy are they a doozy!
My first thought was to try and use painter's tape and the copper pipes I have to wrap the wire around and keep them out of my way while I'm working. Yeah. That failed. The pipes were to heavy in comparison to the wire, and so the wire just sproinged off and made these beautiful slinkies that would've gotten tangled quicker than I could say 'Rapunzel'. 
So the next idea was to again use the painter's tape and adhere the wire to empty medicine bottles I use for bead storage... that looked like it was going to work. Until I put the board on my knees and again Sprrooing!  =sighs= 
Round three, Mia vs the wire. This time, I'm going to anneal the wire (as much as possible considering I've got the ends of the 8 pieces twisted together). Then wrap it around bobbins. Hopefully this will work. 
 So far so good, I've got the wire semi-annealed and wrapped around the bobbins, and I'm already making notes on how to better go about this next time. Unfortunately this takes so much fuel!
Once again I've hit a wall.
Unlike with thread, the wire doesn't want to stay next to each other, it doesn't want to be close to it's buddies and actually look like a cord. So I need to figure out someway to fix this. For now, I'm cutting the wires free, scrapping the ends, and winding the wires tight on the bobbins. I'll use some thread to make cords for now. 
New rule. If I'm working on a necklace, there's going to be bobbins involved. No exceptions. This means I need more bobbins :/
Today's experiments have left me daydreaming about Ez Bobbins and VictorianGypsygirl's BEAUTIFUL sari ribbons. I would love to play with those and make things.. -sighs- Ahh, gotta love working on a tight budget!
 
If ya’ll have any thoughts or experiences working wire with Kumihimo, please let me know.

Book Review: The WireWorker’s Companion

Title: The WireWorker's Companion

Author:  Denise  Peck & Jane Dickerson

Pictures: 10/10
Clarity of Instruction: 10/10

Complexity: 2/10

Overall Score: 9/10 

 

The WireWorker's Companion..... was a lot smaller than I thought it'd be. When I first ordered it online, I figured it'd be roughly 9x12 the way most of the craft books are. Instead it's more like.. 8x5? It's not a bad thing at all, I just found it hilarious when I first got it.  It's a spiralbound book, and flips open sort of like a sketchpad, rather than a notebook would. I like that about it. I think it keeps it open better on my bench when I'm working. 

This is a really basic book, but everything it does cover, is done very well. It's basic wire work techniques. Things that are covered in the back of most of the step by step wire magazines. However. The photos are much better, and you can see everything that's done very clearly. It covers tools, types of wires, different things you can do with wire, and which wires work best for different applications. There's even a (SUPER) short section on fusing silver using a micro torch. :D 

My favorite things out of the entire book were actually the tools, charts and the reference section in the back. Since I'm self taught I learn about tools primarily from the books and articles I read. My newest one that I've learned about? A set of hole punching pliers. I admit, I'm astounded. I'm also miffed that my local craft store doesn't carry them. :( These specifically stuck in my head because of a project I"m working on, and I keep thinking how much easier the job would be if I had these, which is true. I just have to keep working as I have been though. :) The charts cover things like wire gauge, and different diameters that should be kept in mind when working with chainmail. The reference section is something I'm just starting to see in the Interweave books, and frankly I love it. They have 'further reading' as well as a list of places for where to get the supplies used in the book and the tools. Again, being self-taught, this makes my life so much easier (although I admit price hunting is still a pain!) 

I also really loved the tips. There's pretty much a tip for everything in the book. Just something small that makes whatever you're doing so much easier. My favorite one was one about tumble polishing. Apparently if you don't remove some of the oxidization from your jewelry before tumbling, it will be polished to a gunmetal appearance. I don't know about anyone else, but I think that's pretty useful! 

I think my two favorite things I learned from this book were the ideas of stamping my clasps, and how to do a proper wire loop. I know, I know, you're staring at my in disbelief right? I've known /how/ to do a wire loop and even a wrapped loop for ages. Something about the way it was presented in this book though, it made it so much easier to get them all the same I suppose? I must say, from what I've seen, my stuff looks much better now and I am very pleased by that. 

All in all, I definitely recommend this book, even if you're a master at wirework, I think it might be useful. 

Do you have any thoughts on this book? Feel free to comment below. :)

11 Easy Steps for Conditioning Clay

 

Hey look! It's a new experiment!
Since Glass Eternal is as much about cataloging my mistakes and learning from them as it is writing about inspiration and geeky things, I'm putting up what I learned this week about conditioning clay. I've even got pictures!
Things you'll need.

• Polymer clay that's all crumbly 
• Some type of cutting tool (I'm using one of my old X-acto blades) 
• freezer paper
• baby/mineral oil 
• tape 
• patience

I'm warning you now, it's MESSY. I suggest taking off all jewelry on your hands and wrists prior to working with the clay. Also, just to clear it up, I was using two packages of white clay. That's why the mountain is so huge.
1. Alrighty. First up, prep your work station by taping down a piece of freezer paper, slick side up.
         
2. Next, take your clay and chop it up. Chop Chop Chop!
         
Ohh, doesn't it look lovely? Not.               
3. Now, add a FEW drops all over. Seriously, I'm talking ten drops. Max.
         
4. Take a little bit and start squishing it together. Fair warning. IT"S MESSY!
Really, really, really messy ladies and gents.
         
5. If your clay is not sticking together add one drop at a time to it, until it does.
it;s going to be all bumpy and ugly at this point. It's ok.
Now, roll it together between your hands. Round and round and round.
         
Does it look all smooth and pretty? Yes? Don't be fooled.
6. Smoosh it between your hands, or your fingers, or roll one fist against your palm. Whatever it takes to make it flat, I just don't suggest a pasta machine or a rolling pin at this point.
         
7. Fold it in half,
         
8. and in half again.
         
9. Roll it up into a ball till the outside and smooth again.
10. Now after doing this once or twice, your ball should start to feel VERY sticky. It's alright. Don't freak, (I did at first XD) it's the plasticizer in the clay activating.
         
11. You'll keep squishing and rolling the clay until it looks like this
    
At this point you should be able to easily pull, twist and roll out the clay. If so, you're done!
    
Congrats! If not, keep folding and rolling a little bit longer.
Go back to step 4 and repeat for the rest of the clay.
It takes about a half hour to an hour, depending on how much clay you're working with, but it's messy and fun.

Count it All to Joy

At my church, there's a saying that we use a lot. "Count it all to joy."


This past week I bought three packages of polymer clay.  They were dry and crumbly, falling to bits in my hands after opening the packages. I wanted to get angry. I really, really wanted to.* When I was staring at my first ever batch of polymer, and seeing how dried out and crumbly it was, that phrase popped into my head.


I think this phrase could apply in daily life, regardless of personal philosoph. The good things and the bad things, if you try and find a way to look at them for their positive aspects.  So after stepping away from the desk and doing a bit of research on how to fix the problem (which I'll cover in our next post) I looked for the good things about it.


Sure, I couldn't immediately start making my pendants....But, I did get to get messy and really give my hands a work out. I got to learn something now, rather than down the road when I'm working on a deadline. I found that I kinda like reconditioning clay, and I might even like doing it with all of the clay I buy.


I couldn't have done that though if I hadn't chosen to look at it that way. I would've been angry and upset and grrrroar and I wouldn't have been laughing like a kid making a mess. So..I guess that's another step in learning and being a better crafter?

* (I won't say what brand, 'cause I don't really think it was the brand's fault.)

What about you? What could you to 'count to joy' and change your perspective?

Perils of Polymer Clay! =dramatic music=

At the  beginning of the month I came up with a really cool idea for a series of pendants that I'd like to do. The problem was, I couldn't make them in paper or wire. Oh no! What's a girl to do? I went hunting all over the net and found something new. Something that would give me the look I wanted, and (BONUS!) could let me use the alcohol inks I'd made up. What is it you ask? Ok, you're probably not asking if you read the title to the post. It's polymer clay! :D

But as I lay in my bed last week, doing research (pretty much the only thing I could do) I found all sorts of scary things. Crumbly clay. Conditioning. Half cured clay. Accidentally over-softening clay. Canes! Trouble with baking. The list goes on and on! Was I even going to be able to use this lovely medium, or would it scare me off before I could?

But then I bought some...and while I did have to recondition the clay..guys I think I'm in love. I'll talk more about it over the next week. ;) Feel free to share some of your horror stories in the comments below.

Confessions: Take Two!

Continuing on from the post on Wednesday, I'm bringing you geeky confessions from yours truly. Only this time, they're actually 'silly'. 

• When I get a new book, I love the way they smell. >< 
• I have a set of names I use for pretty much every video game character that I get the option to name. (Pokemon not included.) 
• I will ask for people's firstborn children if they want to borrow my favorite book. Nevermind that I don't know what I'd do with them! ;) 
• It doesn't matter if I have a stack of ten books at home to read, if you offer to buy me a book, I'll say 'Yes Please.' there might even be hearts in my eyes. 
• The same cannot be said for my video games. I am ridiculously picky about video games, but I love the ones I have. 
• There is no such thing as going to the library to get "Just One Book." It does not process in my head.

And there you go some geeky confessions about me. What about you? What's something geeky that you do? Feel free to post in the comments below.

Confessions

Today I want to talk about silly things. More accurately silly things I do  when I'm making jewelry.
It occurred to me (over this past week of being sick, my apologies on being away) that I do a lot of silly things when I'm at the bench. And they were so silly, I figured I'd share, because hopefully, I'm not the only one. ;)

• I never seem to get even count Peyote stitch right. For reasons unknown I'll make five rows and then I just miss something. Somehow, I'll end up with a bead missing at the end and the whole piece gets chucked across the room. 
• Ok, I don't really chuck unfinished pieces across the room. I just throw them down on the bench and stalk off like an angry cat. 
• I always dive in at the deep end. When I'm learning a new skill, I don't start at the 'easy projects'. I go headfirst into this Super Amazing, Blow Your Socks Off Idea that I had at 2 am, without practicing the skill first. 
• I then fail at said project, get really upset with myself and proceed to sulk....not that I tell anyone. I just sit and glare at my bench until I work up the nerve to try again.

See what I mean about silly things? These are things I'm working to change, and I figure the first step is admitting them and realizing that I do them, right?

What about you? What are some silly things you do?

Spring Hasn’t Sprung Just Yet

 

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, winter has been crazy this year, and it isn’t done with us yet. Since that’s the case, I put together a list of all sorts of plant themed things for around the home or office, to try and brighten things up a little.  They don’t need water or soil and bonus they look pretty! Some of it’s jewelry, some of it isn’t but for what isn’t, just consider it inspiration for things that could be.  

 

First up, the picture that inspired this whole idea by AlwaysAprilAlayne.
I love how thick his beard looks, and the delicate shading she used.

If hirsute men and flowers are not your thing, try this:  A reprint of a botanical sketch by Herman Kohler. FleurDeNature has several others in her shop other than this lovely poppy. (I picked the poppy because it’s just so vibrant.)

 

 

I’m always moving or fiddling with things so this ring really appeals to me. On top of that, it’s beautifully  textured and oxidized. While artisanlook does have many other stunning rings (many of them just as mobile) this one is my favorite. ^^

This organic plate set from JustMare would more than likely end up in my studio rather than my kitchen were I to order it. I love looking at botanical sketches, there’s so much you can come up with from them. I also really like the speckled texture.

 

Some people, like my sister B, get very grumpy and despondent during the winter. Looking at this, I think would be a great way to carry spring around everywhere, all year long, right? From StudioBotanica

 

If you’d rather decorate with something a little more textured, try this out. From sometimesiswirl.

 

 

I don’t know about anyone else, but I love to nap. However, I don’t get to nap much because it’s always too bright in my bedroom during the day. (Thank you south facing windows..) I think this eyemask from SwoonCashmere with it’s pretty flowers and silk band would help. What do ya’ll think?

When looking up botanical things for the home, I found these. And I died laughing. I love the juxtaposition of the fancy dress (circa what 1890’s give or take?)  mixed with the vibrant veggie heads. From PrintLand

 

Getting married this spring? encrestudio

 

This super realistic iris painting from marieburke1 blew my mind when I first saw it. I thought it was an upclose picture at first. Nope, it’s a skillfully done watercolor. Can you believe it?

 

Something to make your office pop this year, a bright and vibrant calendar from MyPaperKittens! (And really? That name is too cute.)

I’ve got family all over the country, and this seems like a great things to send out in the mail to cheer people up. From MemoriesPictures

If you like the botanical prints, but don’t want flowers, this might be more up your alley. Exotic fungi and how they grow. Taken from a book published in Belgium in the 1800’s by AntiqueWallArt.

 

While normally I'm not one for images on my cupcakes, this would change my mind. So simple and already made. By QueenofTartsWafers

By LittleHousePillowCo

 

Made from real dandelions set in resin, this necklace by Safayet, just brings one thing to mind “make a wish!”

 

Like any of the pieces above? Feel free to comment below :D