Friday, 8 April 2011

Wonderful Handmade Soaps

   I was looking around on artfire.com the other day just browsing. I came across these wonderful soaps!
They just looked so yummy I had to buy some. Such yummy, pleasing and inviting fragrances.
http://www.artfire.com/users/DeShawnMarie
   I can't wait to get my Grapefruit Orange and Lemon Slice Bars of Soaps.  Woot! I'm so goofy :)
Well anyway I just wanted to give her a shout out on my blog.
Pictured below  "Lemon Slice"




  Ok so I wanted to go ahead and tell you about the project I am working on. I just finished a wonderful long Jade necklace with a HASMA symbol as the focal piece.I added black crystals, small heart piece and small key charm. I found that charm on ebay. If you are a jeweler please consider shopping on Ebay because I have found some great deals.     http://www.ebay.com


I am also working on a necklace design. They are made out of chain. The design is a lot like this picture below but I will add some extra bling to it.

My friend Luann has a necklace like this but  rhinestone heart is nested in the middle. Her necklace is also much shorter.  She suggested that I should make a few similar to hers and people would love them and buy them up! Well let's hope so. I have a show coming up in May   :)


Here is the link to the picture below necklace. I thought I would be nice to include this link since I am using the picture for an example. http://luxevie.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=171

Ok so that is all I have for now. I still need to take more pictures of my clay creations. I am sure I will get to it soon lol ...Check back soon :) Hugs and Peace to all

             

Saturday, 26 March 2011

Fun with Clay

Hello everyone! So I hope all is well with my readers. I am so happy that spring is coming.Spring is my favorite time of year. I have been having fun with clay lately making roses and such.

I want to take some pictures of my new pendants made from clay but they are still curing.I wanted to talk about working with clay.

There is a lot to learn with this medium.The possibilities are endless!!! You can make anything and cover anything in clay. Well just about anything lol. I need a lot of practice to become really good at sculpting.

I am sure I need to get back to my wire work (for practice) but it is easy for me to get side tracked on a new kind of medium to make jewelry. Clay is so fun and interesting to play with. I picked up a polymer clay magazine that has several projects in the magazine. I have made 2 of the projects so far. Above is the first project I made which is still not baked. I need to make the top part for hanging and then I am done. I also added earrings to match the necklace. I have some pictures of the second project but they are from my phone and the picture is not so great.
I will have to take some and post soon.



Oh, first here is a pendant I made. The picture is horrible but I will post some better ones when I have time LOL. The colors are black and pearl red. I used the printer and printed out the tower and the word Paris.








I wanted to list a few supplies I use, just in case my readers might want to start creating with clay. I found it helpful to google clay techniques and tutorials on the web. I found many articles and videos using polymer clay for jewelry and embellishments.

Have Fun!
list of supplies. There are many more things to use while creating with clay but I thought I would list what you might need in the beginning.

Cutting Tools
Exacto Knife ( I bought the heavier style for heavy and light duty)
Plastic carving knife or anything you can use to cut the clay.
Cookie cutters ( i use square, hearts, circles, I want to buy more)
Mod Podge for various reasons
Mod Podge Demensional Magic Gloss (You can find this at Joann's Fabric Craft store)
Regular gloss- Floor Wax - Clear Acrylic floor shine (local store)
Liquid Skulpey ( I suggest Fimo brand for glossy finish, Skulpey brand for matte)
Pearl EX is another product that is wonderful for giving that metallic or pearl effect.
Foam Brush
Acrylic paints for aging ( i use black and brown at the moment) You just add water to dilute.
Acrylic Roller
Other carving tools that includes and sharp needle end for poking holes and such
Wax Paper of tiles for working and baking surfaces

You may also want to buy t-shirt transfer paper. I have had fun making pendants with images. Please make sure your are not using copy-written images Using an ink-jet printer, print out images on the transfer paper. Cut out your image and place it on a piece of conditioned clay. Make sure you have set your clay out on your baking sheet or piece of wax paper. You don't want to move it after you have pressed the image down on the clay. Preferably use white Clay. Why clay usually makes a very nice background. Burnish or press your image so it sticks to the clay, making sure to get around the edges. Bake for 5 mins, and then peel transfer backing off. After you have secured the printed image bake per instructions for clay. (about 20 or more mins) After baking embellish, decorate and gloss. I make several pieces and then bake them at the same time.
I am very new at this so I just wanted to share what I have learned with clay and image transfer.
:)

Well this is all I have for now. Till next time, Have fun creating.

Peace and Love, Shannon
www.shannonschow.artfire.com
www.shannonproductions.blogspot.com

Jewelry Making Classes Online at Beaducation: The Blog: National Craft Month Contest Week 4

Jewelry Making Classes Online at Beaducation: The Blog: National Craft Month Contest Week 4: "Our shipping department got their heads together and chose the giveaway for this week. When Danelle came into my office and presented me wit..."

Friday, 25 February 2011

Some New Stuff :)







Hello everyone! I just wanted to post some new pieces. I finally have had some time to sit down and make some fun jewelry. I have been busy on ebay looking for some new beads too! Woot.
I found some really nice Tibetan beads that are fun. I will post a new blog with jewelry made from the beads. They are "Day of the Dead" beads. So cute lol

Bead market is coming up soon and I love to stock up on my wire. I really suggest to all my fellow jewelers to take advantage of the bead markets. You can really find some good buys.
If you don't have bead markets in your town the internet is the way to save money buying supplies. : )

OH and if anyone is reading my blog :) I would like to see if I can get everyone to describe my jewelry in a few words. You can put these in the comment box. Thank you :)))

P.S. if anyone would like to be featured on my blog site ( any handmade craft) send me a message and let me know. You will be featured for 2 months on my blog.

Friday, 14 January 2011

How to Clean Copper and Brass




Hello everyone. I have been looking online about cleaning certain metals. I wanted to post what I found so that everyone can see what I found.
I love the internet just for this reason. The internet has so much information for you.

Anyway click on the links below to read more... enjoy


http://www.ehow.com/how_4473390_clean-copper-jewelry.html

Things You'll Need:

  • Water
  • Lemon or lime juice
  • Salt
  • Ketchup
  • Soft bristled toothbrush
  • Jewelry polishing cloth
    Make a solution out of warm water, a few drops of lemon or lime juice, and a teaspoon of salt. Mix it thoroughly

How To Make Natural, Home-made Copper and Brass Cleaners from your Pantry.


http://www.everbritecoatings.com/copper_cleaner.htm?gclid=CInYysu2u6YCFSVa7AodCyatGw



Cleaning a copper bracelet requires the use of Tarn-X and Connoisseurs Jewelry Wipes. Find out how to properly clean a copper bracelet with the advice of a professional bench jeweler and gemologist in this free video on cleaning jewelry.


Read more: How to Clean a Copper Bracelet: Cleaning Jewelry | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/video_5539319_clean-copper-bracelet.html#ixzz1B4rvleaU



http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Brass



http://tipnut.com/brass-cleaners/

Sunday, 28 November 2010

Artfire Curated Collection



WOOT WOOT!! I was featured on Artifre Curated Collections!!!
Ancient Inspirations curated by warrioressrisingarts for Christmas on ArtFire.com
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=collections&op=details&cid=8686
I love Artfire web site. It is a wonderful site to sell your handmade items.
check them out http://www.artfire.com (tip: they don't charge fees when you sell items)

I haven't posted a blog lately since I have been so busy making jewelry and editing photos and such, plus the holidays are usually Nov and Dec are filled with family and friends getting together for holiday parties and such.

Thank you everyone for following my blog and have a wonderful holiday.
Hope to post a new blog soon with some new items I have made.

Friday, 22 October 2010

Inspiration Avenue Weekly Challenge
























Hello all fellow bloggers and readers.
This post is for the weekly challenge for Inspiration Avenue Weekly Challenge
http://inspiration-avenue-team.blogspot.com/2010/10/bringing-in-sheaves-sowing-in-morning.html


When I hear the word "Harvest" I think of the wonderful colors of the fall leaves and My harvest of wonderful beads that represents those colors. The fall weather and colors seem to sooth me. Here is a set of jewelry I made that represents fall and harvest.
I used Jasper round beads, square crystal accents and ceramic bead for the end of the focal point of the necklace. I made all the links and clasps with non tarnish artistic wire (copper core).
This wire is very delicate and should be treated with care.

The bracelet I made with random agate pieces an base metal accent focal point. All links handmade by me with non tarnish artistic wire (copper core).



www.shannonschow.artfire.com
www.shannonprodutions.blogspot.com
Come join me on Twitter > Dymnddesigns
Jewelry Classes online available.
Custom Handmade Jewelry