Craftside

Look, Learn & Create Video with Scatha G. Allison author of Jean Therapy

Check out this week's episode of Look, Learn & Create shot at The Swap-O-Rama-Rama at Maker Faire 2009. It features Scatha G. Allison showing us some of the spectacular pieces form the book including the featured skirt on the cover.

DOMESTIC ARTS FOR CRAFTY GIRLS SERIES:

Jean Therapy
Denim Deconstruction for the Conscientious Crafter
By
Scatha G. Allison with Marla Stefanelli
(Foreword by Wendy Tremayne, creator of Swap-O-Rama-Rama)

More than 20 projects and an array of gallery creations are imaginative and practical fashions--hardworking denim at play.

Pair cast-off denim with a crafter's unyielding creativity and you have a craft with limitless possibility. Denim is the perfect fabric for many arts and craft methods: it is durable, washable, and dyeable; it can be cut, sliced, shredded, poked, prodded, and cinched. Jean Therapy teaches basic techniques -- building anything from skirts, bags, vests, and accessories -- and illuminates these basic techniques with dozens of clever, funky, and stylish variations.

Jean Therapy includes straightforward, illustrated instructions for more than 20 projects, running the gamut from simple accessories to reconstructed pants, skirts, and halter tops, each featuring design and personalization tips and techniques. Each project has a main beauty shot, detail shots, and a number of technical step illustrations that show creation and assembly details.

It also includes a detailed chapter on customizing and tailoring clothing for a perfect fit -- a key ingredient when working with repurposed clothing.

Scatha G. Allison (San Francisco, CA) is an artist and designer with a background in painting, installation, and mixed-media work, and is known in the San Francisco design community for her distinct cutting, draping, and patterning skills, specializing in couture techniques and reconstruction. Her clothing line, Miss Velvet Cream, is currently available in San Francisco boutiques Venus Superstar and Queen of the Meadow, Show Pony in LA, and La Rouge in Portland.

She is just such a talented and inspiring chick! 

Well, I love cuffs and I was sorting through my denim stash and I ran across this Ralph Lauren tag with a flag on it and it just jumped right out and said, "make me into a cuff!"

So I said, "OK"

Here is how I did it:

I cut the waistband off the jeans with enough to fold under.

I went to the leather scrap bin and found a strip of gold lame that I thought would make a fun strap.

I also went to the junk jewelry stash and pulled out a watch band that I could harvest a buckle from.

I glued the cut edge under.

To make the strap I simply poked the harvested buckle through the strip of lame and glued it in place to secure.

Then I simply ran the gold strap under the flag patch and the belt loops and buckled it.

I should also tell you I added a snap on the under side of the lower corner. Because the patch was off center the strap wanted to be off center. This caused the cuff to want to open out a bit at the opposite side (under the tiny flag tag, so I just stitched a little snap on.

 

If you like this flag cuff and want to see how I made one from recycled book covers pop on over to this post.

Today's question:

What is the most interesting or unique way you have seen the flag motif used?

As a thanks for answering you will be entered to win a free book!

One month until Project Runway starts and Crafty Blogger links

I got this press release and I was thrilled with the news that Project Runway was starting August 20th!

 

Click on the images and read about all the sewing and fashion books!

It made me want to get sewing!

I just got my copy of the new book
Making Trousers for Men and Women: A Multimedia Sewing Workshop
By David Coffin

Comfortable, flattering pants can be challenging to make—but they’re wonderful to wear. In this book, David Coffin provides his inventive, sure-fire methods for getting it right.

With his characteristic precision and straight talk—and with the help of photographs, drawings, and a series of video sequences on the accompanying CD-ROM—Coffin teaches the reader how to get great results—whether making a showcase garment or just whipping out an everyday pair.

For more information and book-related extras, visit David Coffin's blog makingtrouserswithdpc.blogspot.com, all about making trousers and specifically designed for the readers of this book.

A former editor of Threads magazine, David Coffin (Brookings, OR) is the author of Shirtmaking: Developing Skills for Fine Sewing. He has appeared on several online sewing forums, hosted live chats, and appeared on Sandra Betzin’s HGTV sewing program. He has conducted sewing workshops throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, at guild meetings of the American Sewing Guild and the Professional Association of Custom Clothiers, tradeshows, fabric stores, and conferences.

And I can't wait to read it and watch the included video!

Sew much to read and watch!
But now on to Crafty Blogger Links to share with you:

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love
Vickie's 10 Craft Tips for Busy Parents! 

The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares the 411 on how she made a gorgeous crystal, rubber and exposed wire collar inspired by African jewelry. 

The Crochet Dude
See a sneak peek video of Drew's new pattern line that launches August 1st! 

The Artful Crafter
If you’re a polymer clay beginner or just want a quick professional looking project, use molds!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Dada Mosaic, or is it surreal? You be the judge. 

Mixed Media Artist
Do not fear...making altered books will not cause lightning to strike you!

Cross Stitch at About.com
What do you do with odds and ends of embroidery floss? Read these ideas and share your own.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Have you thought of starting your own craft weblog? Here is why crafting rocks when it comes to niche blogging.

Cathie Filian
When you need a crafty break - whip up this quick and easy snack of homemade hummus and baked bagel chips.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen gives you a sneek peek at some felt banners she's making for a swap, and tells you how to make easy rolled felt flowers to use as embellishments.

About Family Crafts
As a parent, one of the biggest crafting dilemmas you may face is what to do with all the wonderful masterpieces your child creates. How do you display each piece so it gets the attention it deserves?

JUXTAPOSING IMAGES FROM THE BOOK GREEN GUIDE FOR ARTISTS

Green Guide for Artists
Nontoxic Recipes, Green Art Ideas, and Resources for the Eco-Conscious Artist
By
Karen Michel

inspires artists to make better
eco-conscious choices within their work and their studios
and shows them how.

The book has four sections:

The first offers safe and green practices for the workspace.

The second contains recipes for DIY art supplies such as ones
for mixing your own nontoxic paints and adhesive.

The next two sections share a fresh look at using recycled materials
through creative step-by-step projects and a gallery.

The book also contains a resource guide for ecofriendly materials
and supplies, including websites and forum links.

Karen Michel (Island Park, NY) is a mixed-media
artist. She runs a 10-year old nonprofit art center for
kids, the Creative Art Space for Kids Foundation, with
her artist husband Carlo Thertus. Along with sharing
her love for the arts with children, she also teaches
adult workshops to beginners and established
artists alike. Her books, paintings, and collages
have been exhibited internationally and have been
published in various books and magazines, including
her own book The Complete Guide to Altered Imagery.

Today I thought I'd share this page with you all. Click on the image to enlarge and read about how to juxtapose images

I love the technique of juxtaposing images and use it on just about every page in my altered book/journal. Here is one example:

The roosters have really nothing to do with the napkin holder but I felt visually they went together.

To see a bit of art from one of the contributors to Green Guide for Artists pop on over here, I simply love the name of the post that contains this image, it is called "more art less garbage"

Today's question:

What are you going to do a bit more green this weekend?

Because you know the grass is always greener on the weekend!

I have just joined my local Freecycle groups and I am working on finding things I need there and giving away my extra stuff when I see a call for it.

Peachy-green!

Typography Essentials 100 Design Principles for Working with Type Ina Saltz

This book is packed with great concepts and designs perfect for designers and artists of all "types".

Typography Essentials
100 Design Principles for Working with Type
By
Ina Saltz

Typography Essentials is an effort to distill, organize, and compartmentalize but not to oversimplify the many complex issues surrounding the successful and effective use of typography. It is for designers of every medium in which type plays a major or minor role.

A deep understanding of letterforms and knowledge of the effective use of letterforms can only be obtained with constant observation and experimentation; it evolves over a
lifetime of design practice and study. Typography Essentials is intended to advance the progress of designers seeking to deepen their typographic expertise. It is organized and designed to make the process enjoyable and entertaining, as well as instructional.

Ina Saltz (New York) is an art director, designer, writer, photographer, and professor of electronic design and multimedia at The City College of New York whose areas of expertise are typography and magazine design. For over 22 years, Ina was an editorial design director at Time magazine (international editions), Worth magazine, and other magazines including Golf magazine, Golf for Women Magazine,
and Worldbusiness.

 

I love this design technique. Hiding a message within another word or set of words.

My favorite is this one: "Believe" with the l, i, and e in a different color. I decided I wanted to make an ATC of this so I went to the disk of free fonts that comes with Indie Fonts 3
A Compendium of Digital Type from Independent Foundries

by

P22

The must-have resource for finding the highest quality fonts available today

If you're searching for a font that goes beyond ho-hum, this book is for you. Today's computers provide a selection of fonts that serve reasonably well for workaday letters and publications, but have become utterly boring from overuse. To attract a reader's attention, you need an original font.

This third volume of Indie Fonts provides a showcase collection of 1,600 new fonts from today's hottest digital type foundries, and features the best work of these designers. As with the first two volumes, Indie Fonts 3 will help readers find some of the highest quality fonts available today.

Type styles range from the best of Matthew Carter's classic designs to the latest irreverence of ingoFonts. Designers searching for unique typefaces will find what they are looking for, whether historical revivals or futuristic techno faces.

On the included CD, you'll also get a collection of 53 bonus fonts.

P22 type foundry creates computer typefaces inspired by art, history, and science. P22 is renowned for its work with museums and foundations to ensure the development of accurate historical typefaces that are fully relevant for today's computer user. In addition to its in-house font design, P22 now licenses several new type designs from around the world. And, of course, no type foundry is complete without its own record label.

This is how I made my Believe ATC:

I installed two of the free fonts that come in Indie Fonts 3, Grit Typesorts and Caxton Script.

I opened up a new document in Illustrator.

Then I selected show grid and show ruler.

I made a 2.5 by 3.5 blue guide box for the size of the ATC by click and holding on the side and top rulers and dragging.

Then I typed in the word and scaled it in the guide box.

I then selected just the "lie" and changed the color to green.

I then added the decorative elements using Grit Typesorts and scaled them.

I printed it out on photo paper and cut it out using my taped off grid ruler.

 

So my question for you is this:

Do you know of a word or phrase that contains another word or phrase with in it?

Leave your answer in the comments section and as a thanks for sharing you will be entered to win a free book!

How to Craft a Tennis ball training tool from 101 Dog Tricks

Is this the cutest face or what?

101 Dog Tricks
Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog

By

Kyra Sundance and Chalcy
Featuring step-by-step photos of every trick in the book

101 Dog Tricks is the largest trick book on the market and the only one presenting full-color photos of each trick and its training steps. The step-by-step approach, difficulty rating, and prerequisites, allow readers to start training immediately. Tips, and trouble-shooting boxes cover common problems, while "build-on" ideas suggest more complicated tricks which build on each new skill. No special tools (such as clickers) or knowledge of specific training methods are required.

Trick training is a great way to bond with your dog and help him integrate into your family. It keeps him mentally and physically challenged and helps to establish paths of communication between you. Many tricks build skills needed for common dog sports, dog dancing, and dog therapy work.

It's every dog lover's privilege that Kyra and Chalcy took time from their performing schedule to share their secrets in 101 Dog Tricks.

Click here to see Kyra discuss fetching on a Yahoo.com segment.

Kyra Sundance and her Weimaraner, Chalcy, are world-class Trick Dog Show performers and trainers, and are regulars at sporting events, fairs, and circuses. They've performed on dozens of TV shows around the world including The Tonight Show, Ellen, Entertainment Tonight, and Showdog Moms & Dads and have trained on movie sets. The pair are nationally ranked in competitive dog sports. Kyra and Chalcy reside in Los Angeles, CA.

 

Click on the images to enlarge and read how to craft a tennis ball training tool and how to train your dog with it.

Today's question:

What is your pet's favorite trick? And how did they learn it?

I used to have a house rabbit and she figured out all on her own that the sound of the refrigerator door meant fresh greens. I would come back to her area with them and she would be running in circles all excited and up on her hind legs begging. Sometimes if she was out and about and heard the refrigerator door she would come hopping in to the kitchen. I was a total softy so I would always indulge her if just a bit.

As a thanks for sharing you will be entered to win a free book.

This Week's Look, Learn & Create Video featuring Patti Medaris Culea

Check out our latest Look, Learn & Create Video featuring
Patti Medaris Culea author of Creative Cloth Explorations
Adventures with Fairy-Inspired Fiber Art

This book is the fifth installment on making creative cloth fiber arts from popular art doll designer, fiber artist, and workshop instructor Patti Culea, following Creative Cloth Doll Making, Creative Cloth Doll Faces, Creative Cloth Doll Couture, and Creative Cloth Doll Beading. Readers will learn to make flat figures, fabric books, and a fairy-style fan.

This book builds on the previous four by delving into how to make fun and elaborate-looking projects using similar materials for unique projects and book structures. Culea covers the basics and provides new techniques–such as using Shiva paint sticks and stencils, working with silk rods and waste, and using lace and trims–while teaching you to how create a flat-figure doll, a memory journal with embellished cloth pages, and a beautiful fan. Professional tips, ideas for embellishments, cutting-edge techniques, and complete patterns for all the projects are included.

Patti Medaris Culea studied art in Los Angeles and Japan and began as a painter and portrait artist. She has a full-line of cloth doll patterns and her work has appeared in books, magazines, and galleries. She is the author of Creative Cloth Doll Making, Creative Cloth Doll Faces, Creative Cloth Doll Couture , and Creative Cloth Doll Beading.

In addition to having the opportunity to make the video with Patti I also did a little interview with her. Read on:

1. What does your workspace/ design space look like?
It’s a bedroom that is 11x10 in size.  Full of stuff!

 

 

2. do you save your mistakes/ or designs you don't love right away -or ditch them?
I save them.  Some are used in another project.  For instance, I recently made two terrific legs, but they were too short for the doll.  They go in a drawer and will be used on a smaller doll.  Hopefully.  Same with other “body” parts.  And, quilt blocks, fabric journal pages.  Nothing is thrown out unless it is so awful, or I’ve burned it too much.  Then it is tossed.

3. What's on your "next to try" list?
Soldering and lampwork beads.  Both can be used in my dolls and fiber journals, quilts.

5. Do you ever work with recycled materials?
Yes!  I love going to thrift stores, hardware stores, junkyards and finding cool stuff to incorporate in my work.

6. What music do you listen to when designing?
Mostly classical – Beethoven, Wagner, Mozart, Hayden, Handel.  When I’m designing I prefer instrumental.  When I’m cleaning up the studio I’ll listen to country and classic rock ‘n roll.  Favorites are Alan Jackson, Toby Keith,  Credence Clearwater, Sting.  Although he’s not really rock ‘n roll.  More like Jazz, which I also love.

7. How long does a design take you to create?
Days, sometimes a full week.  For a doll body I first sculpt in clay, create the pattern pieces from that.  But, there are generally 3 to 4 bodies made from muslin before I’m satisfied with the finished product.  Then I make the doll from good fabric.

8. How do you organize your supplies? (photo?)
Color.  Fabric in one area by color;  yarns in another area by color;  beads in drawers by color, etc.

9. What books/magazines do you read?
I recently finished the “Twilight” series by Stephenie Meyer.  Loved them and my new doll, Mikaela, was born from that series. Tolkein is my all time favorite.  I generally read Lord of the Rings once a year.  Lisa See is another favorite author.  Her “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” inspired one of the projects in my new book “Creative Cloth Explorations”.   I love biographies and am reading a recent one by Alan Jackson’s wife, Denise.  About their marriage.  And, I love books by other creative people on projects like knitting, altering clothing, journaling, etc.  Magazines I love are Haute Doll, Quilting Arts, anything by Stampington, Soft Dolls & Animals, Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion

10. How would you describe your personal style?
Bright and cheerful.  I want people to smile when they see my dolls and journals.  Also, the new quilt I’m working on.

11. How do you determine what a design is going to be made with?
That’s a hard one.  But, I love cotton batik’s so a piece of fabric might inspire me.  Recently I purchased the coolest pair of striped yellow tights.  That will be a new doll.

12. Do you have a collection of anything?
Yes.  Salt & Pepper shakers, cloth dolls (I love Raggedy Ann and Andy’s), antique salts (the little bowls with tiny spoons for sprinkling salt)

13. And the all important question (from Ravelry) what is your favorite swear word?
“Rats!”  Yes.  I was raised in a home where swearing and/or cussing was simply not done.  I was quite sheltered as a child as I grew up on a farm.  But, I do remember my Grandmother LeFever saying the “s” word in the kitchen.  She hated cooking.

Today's question for you our devoted readers:

What was your favorite thing you learned from today's video and post?

As a thanks for answering you are entered to win a free book!

The Dog Days of July Crafty Blogger Links

 

Isn't this dog just the cutest? It really handled the flags well. We humans love to share our silliness with our pets.

About Family Crafts
If you are looking for a creative way to celebrate every day during the month of July, check out this special events calendar!

Aileen's Musings
Ever wonder how to get that cute copyright symbol or better yet, how to put one on your artwork or photographs? Aileen offers a easy tutorial using PSP.

Cathie Filian
It is summer and that means beach & pool time! Visit Cathie Filian's blog to learn how to stitch up a terry beach throw.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy shows off her cool new sewing cabinet that was surprisingly inexpensive.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Why no knots in Counted Cross Stitch? Find out why and how to secure your floss in alternate ways.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi reports on her experiences with using the new CopprClay. This stuff rocks!

Naughty Secretary Club
Thinking about starting up your own craft business? Jen has a few suggestions of things you might consider first. Plus learn how you can take a Crafty Business Seminar with Jen from anywhere in the world!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Old plastic bead necklaces go under the knife (and in the toaster oven) to make Melted Plastic bead Star Earrings perfect for the patriotic holidays

The Artful Crafter
Eileen suggests you go shopping for craft supplies in your jewelry box and closet. Make an old accessory into something new and fresh.

The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares the clip from her recent appearance on Lifetime TV's The Balancing Act for Beadalon.

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love
Learn how to finger knit with Vickie's step-by-step how-to, featured on the CRAFT website!

Frushi (Fruit Sushi) Recipe From the Book The Vegan Table by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

The Vegan Table
200 Unforgettable Recipes for Entertaining Every Guest at Every Occasion
By

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

"The Vegan Table leaves nothing to be desired—Colleen Patrick-Goudreau is the Martha Stewart of the movement!"
—Rory Freedman, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Skinny Bitch

"The doyenne of compassionate living has done it again, delivering a beautiful, thoughtful, intelligent book brimming with delectable, cruelty-free recipes and clever entertaining ideas. Colleen Patrick-Goudreau truly is a star in the vegetarian universe." —VegNews Magazine

"Colleen Patrick-Goudreau has done a great service to the vegan community with her books The Joy of Vegan Baking and now The Vegan Table. The decadent recipes and colorful photographs in her books show the world how sublime veganism can be!"
—Jennifer McCann, author of Vegan Lunch Box and Vegan Lunch Box Around the World

"It's delightful, it's delicious, it's a de-lovely book!"
—Sarah Kramer, author of How It All Vegan (GoVegan.net)

"Within minutes of reading The Vegan Table, I was in my kitchen making one of Colleen's favorite recipes. My wife was amazed. This is a wonderful book that you will want to give to all your vegan and non-vegans friends!"—Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, bestselling author of
When Elephants Weep and The Face on Your Plate: The Truth About Food

Entertain in Style—Vegan Style

The Vegan Table is your one-stop source for creating the perfect meal for your friends and family. Whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering of friends or a large party with an open guest list, author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, crowned the "Vegan Martha Stewart" by VegNews magazine, will answer your every entertaining need. 

Inside you'll be treated to practically limitless recipe and menu ideas, making it easy to satisfy any and all palates and preferences. From romantic meals for two to formal dinners, casual gatherings, children's parties, and holiday feasts, you can keep the party going through every occasion and season.

Recipes include:

Pumpkin Curry
Roasted Red Pepper, Artichoke, and Pesto Sandwiches
Creamy Macaroni and Cashew Cheese
Elegantly Simple Stuffed Bell Peppers
Pasta Primavera with Fresh Veggies and Herbs
Tempeh and Eggplant Pot Pies
African Sweet Potato and Peanut Stew
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Onions
Spring Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce
South of the Border Pizza
Tofu Spinach Lasagna
Blackberry Pecan Crisp
Flourless Chocolate Tart
Red Velvet Cake with Buttercream Frosting

Celebrate the joy of plant-based cuisine with The Vegan Table, your ultimate at-home dining and entertaining guide.

Visit Colleen’s website compassionatecooks.com for classes, events, recipes, writings, podcasts and more. Visit the author's booksite for The Vegan Table.

"The Vegan Table is a lifesaver for those like me who are challenged in the kitchen! The gorgeous, easy menu ideas make entertaining on any scale a breeze. Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's recipes are delicious and healthy; but most of all, they are designed with kindness and peace in mind—the very best kind of food for body and soul!" –Kathy Freston, author of The Quantum Wellness Cleanse: The 21 Day Essential Guide to Healing Your Body, Mind, and Spirit

Colleen was interviewed on February 19, 2009 at vegan-nutritionista.com.

The Joy of Vegan Baking author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau (Oakland, CA) is the founder of Compassionate Cooks (www.compassionatecooks.com), an organization whose mission is to empower people to make informed food choices and to debunk myths about veganism. A recognized expert on healthful plant-based cuisine, Colleen has appeared on the Food Network and is a columnist for VegNews magazine.

This is such a cute idea! And since it is red, white and blue it would be perfect for the 4th of July!

 I had never heard of Frushi or Fruit Sushi before but this recipe for Frushi sounds great!

 

Today's question:

Do you make a conventional dish out of an unusual or unexpected ingredient?

As a thanks for sharing you will be entered to win a free book!

ANOTHER FUN PEEK INTO THE CRAFTER'S DEVOTIONAL BY BARBARA CALL

The Crafter's Devotional
365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Unlocking Your Creative Spirit
By
Barbara Call

There is something elemental shared among artists and crafters, regardless of chosen medium: creative energy. Crafters dabble, collaborate, muse, and make, all in their own way and on their own timeline. For all crafts, there are established techniques to follow but wild, innumerable ways to experiment, using the basics to launch crafters to new heights. The Crafter's Devotional can aid that launch.

Each week day is allocated its own entry, on which the reader will find a daily dose of craft content that inspires, instructs, and illuminates. Weekend entries explore topics and techniques in greater depth--perfect for enjoying on a more leisurely pace.

Barbara (Bourassa) Call (North Andover, MA) is a professional writer and editor specializing in crafts, food, and health & wellness. She is the author of five books, including Beyond Scrapbooks: Using Your Scrapbook Supplies to Make Beautiful Cards, Gifts, Books, Journals, Home Decorations and More and a 4-book children's book series called Get Active!

and the next page:

Click on the images to enlarge and read all about how to make a leather journal cover and crafting from trash.

So I not only took my inspiration from one page of The Crafter's Devotional I combined two facing pages, they just kind of blended in my imagination like when you squint.

 

I call them: Our first and last flag Book Cover Cuffs.

I found these books in the trash and they were filled with good pictures for using in assemblage art and ATC's. But as my brain was on crafting for the 4th of July the covers called to me. I happen to have a cover that had out first flag with 13 stars and stripes and our latest flag with 50.

 

Here is how to make book cover cuffs.

Cut off the thick cover by cutting only through the top thick layer and peel it off from the cardboard padding.

Then cut a strip that will give you enough on each side of your image to fold under.

Fold under the outside edges with one end slightly wider than the other. This will allow the thin end to slip inside the wider end. Glue only the thin end's folds together. If you glue the wide end's folds you won't be able to slide in the thin end!

Slide the thin end in the thick end and punch holes big enough to fit cuff link posts through. Yes I am using cuff links as my cuff closure! Fun hu?

As a variation you could make these big enough to be a bangle and just slide over your hand.

If you are looking for a fun pair of star earrings for your holiday outfit pop on over here to see how to melt plastic beads into star shapes.

Are you making any special patriotic crafts? If so, what?

As a thanks for sharing you will be entered to win a free book.

Happy 4th of July!

Jewelry Arts Workshop: Pure Silver Metal Clay Beads by Linda Kaye-Moses

Jewelry Arts Workshop: Pure Silver Metal Clay Beads
Linda Kaye-Moses

Metal clay is an innovative material that combines the workability of clay with the beautiful finish and durability of precious metals. The material is easy to manipulate and shape by hand to make beads for bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry.

Jewelry Arts Workshop: Pure Silver Metal Clay Beads contains 15 projects for creating fine silver beads and a design gallery of 25 additional jewelry pieces. Intro chapters include information about tools and techniques. Projects are organized workshop-style, to build skills cumulatively.

Linda Kaye-Moses’s (Dalton, MA) work and articles have appeared in Lapidary Journal, Step-by-Step Jewelry, The Crafts Report, Metalsmith, Ornament, Art Jewelry, American Craft, American Style, the New York Times, and Craft Art International, among others. Her work has received several awards. She has also participated in numerous juried and invitational shows and is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Craft Council and the Society of North American Goldsmiths.

 

So the fabulously talented Cathi Milligan of Beadbrains Glass beads allowed me to crash her studio and play with some silver clay and try out some of the techniques featured in Jewelry Arts Workshop: Pure Silver Metal Clay Beads.

 

I cut a heart out of the PMC using a cookie cutter and then stamped the words "actual size" using a vintage Michael Strong rubber stamp.

 

The pieces were dried and then popped in the kiln for firing. Here they are on fire (the bonding agent is burning out)

 

And here it is all fired and polished up. I drilled a hole in the silver heart and linked it to ball chain with a jump ring. It just makes me giggle. If you are wondering why, I'll tell you. I joke that I am the Grinch and my heart is two sizes two small, so now I have an "actual size heart".

I made a bunch of other pieces and will share them with you as soon as they are incorporated into jewelry.

If you need to see more crafty goodness brought to you by Cathi, pop on over here to see a piece I designed using her book as inspiration or over to her website- Beadbrains for some cute and cool glass beads.

Today's question:

Are you snarky in your crafting? If so how?

Leave your answer and you'll be entered to win a free book!

And speaking of winners, congrats to our latest 4:

Eileen

Ellen, aka Singtatter

Janice

Cindy L.