The MUUUUUUSE!

Woo Hoo! My muse came out of hiding for awhile, today, and my 109 lb "fur-baby" let me do some work. I played with Relique Ice Resins today. I made some sample tabs to see what they would do & look like, then I made a pair of earrings. (squeeeeee! I made some jewelry!!)
Anyway, here's some pics. Enjoy!

Top left; Chartreuse, German Silver, Turquoise. Top right; Raspberry, Ivory, Gold. Bottom; Amethyst, Pewter, Ruby.

Used Chartreuse as companion in all but one mix set. Top; C & Raspberry, C. & Turquoise, C. & Amethyst. Right; C. & Pewter, C. & German Silver. Bottom; clockwise from top of pic, Carnelian, C. & Carnelian, C. & Ruby, Carnelian-Turquoise-Ruby.

Earrings; Turquoise, Carnelian, Ruby (hard to see the difference in the red & orange in this pic). Set my colors & ran a toothpick thru them while still in a melted state. I call them "Molten" because I feel compelled to name my stuff. What can I say, I'm weird. :)

Thinking....

I did manage to get into my craft studio on Tuesday evening, but I didn't actually get anything done. Oh, I played. I learned that embossing powder won't "melt" onto metal (no matter how close you hold the heat gun) but the powder *will* go everywhere. My own, personal "Color Run" without the run! (hee) I looked at my jewelry clay from Envirotex Lite and pulled out some bezels and pictures to make jewelry... then chickened out... for now! I'll get back to it, I swear! Maybe I'll be braver tonight? If nothing else, I should pull out some of my copper wires and make headpins. I need more and I certainly enjoy the melting and making of them (it's the Pyro in me). So, no pics today, but maybe later? When I screw my courage back up to just jump in and DO IT instead of thinking too much.

Why Creative People Are A Puzzle To Others

I have, in my youth, been accused of being a "schizophrenic thinker" and I have to agree. If you have a conversation with me, we're going to chase conversational rabbits. We may start out talking about Mary Shelly's Frankenstein Monster and end up twenty minutes later discussing why Curly Joe was the best Globetrotter player over Meadowlark Lemon.  0_o*  HOW did we get from monsters to basketball? Because something was said that lead down one rabbet trail to another to another until we reached Curly Joe (which would, eventually, lead to Curly as the best of the 3 Stooges, ever! Just ignore Shemp and Joe - although I'll take Shemp over Joe any day... SEE?!?)

I'm very much the same in my creative efforts. I play the piano (not as well as I should, but I do), I write, I create with beads, metal, and (someday) poly clay and have my eye on metal clay, I draw & paint (again, not as well as I should/could, but I do), I play with a camera & photography.... Again, with the schizophrenic thinking, eh?  Show of hands, how many of you are just as schizophrenic in your creativity?  Well, guess what?  This is normal for us!

Not that being like this ever bothered me. No one ever made fun of me for it so I never thought about it. Apparently my friends are either as crazy as me or just enjoy the ride.  That being said, let me share a link to an article I saw on my FB news feed the other day. It was written by Matthew Schuler and he found a book written by Mihaly Csikszentmihaly called  Creativity: The Work and Lives of 91 Eminent People.  Matthew gives us a few of the highlights from Mihaly's work including this line;  “I have devoted 30 years of research to how creative people live and work, to make more understandable the mysterious process by which they come up with new ideas and new things. If I had to express in one word what makes their personalities different from others, it’s complexity. They show tendencies of thought and action that in most people are segregated. They contain contradictory extremes; instead of being an individual, each of them is a multitude.”

As I read through the 9 contradictory traits described by Mihaly, my first reaction to each was "No, that's not me." But, as I read the full discription (not just the start) I realized that, a) yes, it did too fit me and, b) I really am a "multitude". Well, a multitude of ideas and thoughts and need to do's. Go read Matthew's article here and find out just how much of yourself is a mulititude. Learn why we're such a puzzle to the (supposedly) "Normal People."

Creative people really do live in our own little world, but it's okay. They know us here.

To Etch or Not To Etch.... To Etch, Of Course!

MG Chemicals 415 Ferric Chloride Liquid, 1 Liter Bottle, Dark Brown from Amazon.com

This is my latest acquisition. Yes, I'm going to take the next step in my metal work and attempt etching. We'll see how it goes.  I have all sorts of plans but you know what they say about "the best laid plans of mice and men..."  I know, not a mouse or a man but, still....

We'll see.... And so will you, I promise.

As for the magazines that were offered in the prior post... only three peeps made a comment, so The Magic Frog made a unilateral decision and decided all three will win.  Will Debb of Forget me Knot Nonsense, Saraccino, and Zan Caperton please email me at thecrazycreativecorner@gmail.com with your snail mail addys?  I'll get each of you a package of 'zines in the mail ASAP once I know where to send them.

Keep watching, folks. I'm not kidding when I say I'm planning a 'zine destash give-away. You never know WHAT that crazy Magic Frog will pull out of his hat!

BWAAAHAHAHAAAA!

YES!  I got my saw and saw blades in the mail! The metal in my Craft Room/Studio all tremble in fear!

As advised by the already experienced metal workers in the Bead Soup Cafe on FaceBook I bought an inexpensive jewelers saw (from Amazon, if you're curious... they can find anything!) along with some extra blades since I was promised that, in the learning process (and even after ~snerk~), I would break the blades. With that in mind, I wanted to be prepared (plus, I didn't know if the saw would actually come with blades.... it does!)



First Saw... I'm so proud (sniff)



Extra blades
even have sizes/grades!

Part of me can't wait to get started. Part of me is scared to death!  I love to play and I learn best from hands-on, but I also want it to be right the first time (when is it ever right the 1st time we do something!?) and not waste metal learning. Some of y'all make it seem so easy that I should be able to do it correctly the first time. Right? Right?

Anyway, I also bought some earplugs for when I'm hammering the b'jabbers out of my metals and my ear canals start twitching (which is a really weird feeling!).



Radians 25 pair of disposable
ear plugs

Click on the link, if you'd like some as well.  Anyway, I'm planning to play around (timidly or boldly, I haven't decided, yet) this weekend.  I'll let you know next week what I managed to accomplish.

Besides breaking saw blades.

After Being Gibbs-Slapped By My Alter Ego....

In my previous post (here) I showed pictures of several pairs of earrings and asked what you thought about which should be worn by my Alter Ego, Zarqa Habiba, to the So-Cal Renaissance Faire.  This is the necklace that she was going to be wearing:

Full view: ended up wearing it without the carnelian
pendent there. It was too long for my neckline and
I'm of a fairly modest persuasion. Still, love the look.
Yellow rondelles are rough, yellow fire agates. Awesome!

 

A detail look.
Beads from ZnetShows.com, dangles and coins from
my stash. Bells were reused from a pair of Middle
Eastern chiming anklets.

 

Another detail shot.


 I was still contemplating which set of aforementioned earrings would work with this necklace when Zarqa gave me a disgusted look and Gibbs-slapped me!  Of COURSE!  Earrings should always match the necklace. DUH! (sigh)  So, I made these (and Zarqa was pleased):

They, and the necklace, chimed sweetly at the Faire and many people liked them.  And, since I was in an earring making mood, I threw in one more pair Because I Could!


Not sure what type, but the stone is agate (I think)
The metal was bought from Michael's pre-stamped
and I just cut out the shape. Bronze 1/2 circles and
copper wire. Warm, dangling goodness.

There will be another post later this week for ZnetShows and the beady goodness they've been letting me play with.  Check back, I'll have pics and links for you to check out. They've got AWEsome stuff!

Done!

Okay, so I finished the necklace last night and I learned a few things:
1) Just because someone says "use fixative spray to set" does NOT mean it works for everything (or else I just have a very heavy hand and don't know it)
2) I will, from now on, let "permanent" marker ink cure/set for 24 hours, then rub it with Renaissance Wax to "fix" it in place.

Honestly, I followed directions on the can for the fixative. I even let it dry for 20 minutes instead of the 15 required. Then, I do what I always do to be sure, I rubbed my thumb (rather hard) over the surface and the "permanent" marker that had just been "fixed" by the spray came off on my thumb.

~DRAMATIC SIGH~

Out comes the Renaissance Wax and to (careful) work I go. In a short time, not only is the whole thing coated, but none of the marker ink came off during the process or after a few hard rubs of the thumb. Since it has in the past, I attribute this to letting the ink set overnight (NOT the "fixative").  As a test, I inked up four more hammered washers and left them overnight.  I plan to test them by waxing one (carefully) and seeing if the ink stays put. If so, yay. If not, then it's a combo of the "fixative" and the wax. Fun.

Anyway, here's the finished necklace:

Full view - haven't decided on a title, yet.
Free form carnelian pendent & heat treated red aventurine
squares are from ZNetshows.com.  Marble composite circles
are from Michael's, donut focal is a (former) washer from Lowe's
and the clasp is from the button aisle at Joanne's Craft Store.

 

Closer look at the beads

 

Closer look at the focal....

 

...and at the clasp.

I had no real design in mind when I started this. I just hammered away at the washer to start with. When it was done, and I recalled I need to finish some designs for ZNet Shows, I just felt drawn to the ruddy red-ish, orange-ish color in the carnelian and aventurine. It didn't seem like enough, though, so I dug through my stash until I found the marble composite beads. They're a pink-ish white/cream color with the ruddy red-ish, orange-ish color of the ZNet beads.  It was perfect, and their shape echoed the chain and washer.  I'll be sending a photo of the design to Bill Zhang shortly.  I have more designs to work on, but I don't want him to think I'm not working with the gorgeous beads he's sent me.


Now, moving on slightly, I also tried my hand at turning my Fishes & Loaves earring series into a bracelet. It worked, and it didn't. Here's the (mostly) finished product:

I got the five beads on for the loaves, four wired to the bracelet and one as a dangle by the fish's tail but I was only able to get one fish (the clasp).  I need to find a way to add the second fish or it won't be right.  I'm also a little worried that there are "snag" trap areas so I think it requires a bit more tweaking. I plan to wear it a few times with various outfits to see if it does snag.  Any suggestion will be gratefully received and, likely, tested out.  All in all, not completely disappointed in this for a first attempt. Will be checking the tutes I've pinned and bookmarked for bracelet making to see what I can tweak.

And now, off to email Bill.

Happy Closet Pyro

Happiness Factor 1)  Butane torch = playing with fire

Found at Lowe's

Happiness Factor 2) = solder, to be used playing with fire

lead free solder... again, at Lowe's

Happiness Factor 3) Kobalt Flat Angle Hammer for pounding things!


have you guessed I love Lowe's?















Result = Major Happiness (and stress relief)

Hand stamped copper head pins.  Still in the practice stage

Okay, my first attempt at flattening out the copper headpins and stamping them.  Not sure if I like that I hammered a little way up the pin or not. Still need some practice on this.

pre-1980 pennies (copper) and two foreign coins
Hammered to a fare-thee-well and ready for stamping

Hammered the be-jabbers out of several old pennies. Pre-1980 pennies have the most copper in them (some early 1980's do, too, but why fuss with trying to find out which, eh?)  And two other coins that were foreign... sorry, don't remember from where. The larger one was of an Asian design, so either Japanese or Chinese.  I have plans to create a design and hammer/stamp them onto the coins and create a tribal-style necklace for my Ren-Faire character.  Keep watching to see how this goes.

Ahh... playing with fire and solder and a rubber stamp....
Hmmmm....

Now, THIS!  I found a tutorial by Gail of Can't Stop Making Things. Now, in her tutorial, she mentions two things: 1) you don't need to use flux for this solder project and 2) no, the rubber stamp won't melt. Well...
No, she's right about the stamp not melting. How-some-ever, if you get the solder TOO hot, it smells like it's melting (PHEW!). Make sure you open a door or window while doing this. Also, a fan going might help. (or, even, working outside!)  Part of my problem was, in all likelyhood, that I didn't  know exactly how hot to get the copper or how melted to get the solder. Or, even, how much solder to use (kind of a messy looking thing, isn't it?) so I'm still working on that learning curve. As for the flux, well, I had to use it but I'm wondering if it was because this copper round had already been beaten and textured. Again, learning curve.  I also tried a bit of scrap metal I believed was copper but, either it wasn't, I got the metal too hot or (again) it was textured and wouldn't hold. Ah, well, play and learn. Amiright?

Keep checking back and see how things (hopefully) continue to progress.

Art For Nature... Etsy Treasury

Well, I just had to add one more post today (to make up for nothing at all last week!).  This time, I made up a treasury over on Etsy that has more to do with gardening than jewelry but, as I say in my list, even Nature loves art!





       

Glass insulator Tea Light
with Wire Garden Holder

    

Mini Patio Mix Kit For Miniature Gardens,
Fairy or Gnome Gardens, Create Paths
or Patios That Won't Wash Away

Cute, huh?  Go here to see the whole treasury! :)

WHAT SANTA BROUGHT

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEAL!

Santa brought me not only a brand new Canon Rebel T2i EOS 550D (digital) camera, he brought me an RPS Studio Pro Style Desktop Studio ("take pictures like a Pro!")  Now, nothing against my iPhone3GS, it's taken some pretty darn good pics for me to post, but I am so STOKED about getting to use my new camera and new Studio set up for my photos I can hardly stand it! (~does the Happy Hamster Giggle-Shimmy~)

Speaking of pics, and iPhones and such, I have a new necklace that will be going into my Etsy store as soon as I can set this studio up and get off some shots (hopefully, tomorrow night... depending...)  Anyway, the necklace is made from two clasps I bought from Melinda Orr over at Melinda Orr Designs with the copper one being the closing clasp and the metal & stone one becoming the focal piece.  I paired them with some GORgeous handmade beads I bought from Pam at Ferrariorginalbeads on Etsy.  Here's the iPhone version and I should have it posted on Etsy by (as I said/hoped) Thursday night.

Hope everyone else had a great Christmas and plan on having a Happy New Year.

....MORE TO COME

Even tho' the Virtual Craft Show is over, I continue to play with my beads.  After all, if I'm going to sell, I have to have plenty of product, and it can't all be winter or Christmas themed, now can it?  So I diddled around a little bit last night and restrung an old necklace I wasn't happy with (picture to follow), made two sets of earrings and put several sets of small beads on head pins for a snowflake & frosted cranberries necklace I'm making.  I made one for an upcoming challenge (no, you can't see it, yet!) and I loved it so much I decided to keep it!  BUT!  I loved it so much I wanted to make more for someone elses enjoyment so I bought two more of the pendents to make more necklaces.  Hence, the red beads and clear crystals (plus I'm thinking about throwing in some teeny tiny frosted white and baby blue beads. SO cute!)  Here's a preview of what's going on at my table and what's been done (like I said, the necklace pics will come later).




beads waiting to be used



snowflake pendent & "cranberries"

& ice being wired

cranberries waiting to be made

still contemplating....

what to do... what to do?
(I love red, reminds me of
my Mimi)

Fraternal twins :)

Yummy Chocolate Dangles
Can you see the hammer work?

red & green... haven't decided
on a name/title, yet. Suggestions?