Ice Resin Blog Hop-Wednesday!

We've reached mid-week on this hop! I hope you've been enjoying this and all the other innovative and interesting blogs so far!

All the shinies I have to show you today use the Ice Resin as both glue and as a cabachon agent. I played with textures and just wanted to see what the Ice Resin would bring to the mix. So here we go!

This is an old button that had deep recesses in the pattern. I wanted to see if the resin would produce a cabochon effect and I wanted to give it a little more life, so I liberally sprinkled green glitter into the dark hollows and then poured in the resin. I'm not certain if the photo shows it, but the resin beautifully filled in those voids.



This next pendant is made from fishing lures!! I had a few laying around from a manufacturing plant here in town that makes these and ships them all over the world! I know most of the folks that created these, so that is a special goodness to me!
Ok, so I layered the two different size and tones of fishing lures on top of each other and then carefully placed the old watch parts into the hammered divets in the metal. Some of the old watch parts are still magnetized, so this was especially tricky at times!! As a last bit of fun, there was a synthetic garnet watch jewel that I found solo, so I placed that at the bottom of the decorations. It was a bit of a trick placing the resin so it would not disturb the watch bits, but I succeeded!! You can see that the resin flowed around the back and ended up completely encasing the entire pendant, adding another visual layer. I might try to keep this effect, if I can!



And the final shiny I have to show you today is a simple and utterly charms me! I think a bit of the romance from Valentine's Day is still with me!!! I thought of this idea in connection with a bigger creation I'm hoping to create and show you late this week. I used the resin again to both secure the two fish beads on a glass pendant and as a cabbing agent over the entire creation. I hope you love them just as much as I do!
So, here they are....... The Kissy Fish!!



Now, go visit everyone else and see what they've been inventing!

Molly Alexander http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com/

Ro Bhrun http://robruhn.blogspot.com/

Karen Burns http://web.me.com/vintagefindings/Vintage_Findings/Blog/Blog.html

Keecia Frazee Deveney http://www.lemoncholys.blogspot.com/

Mary Jane Dodd http://mairedodd.blogspot.com/

Melanie Earthenwood http://earthenwood-beads.blogspot.com

Shea Fragoso http://www.whathappensnext.typepad.com/

Kerin Gale http://remnantsofolde.com/posts/

Vickie Hallmark http://fiberartglass.blogspot.com/

Jess Italia Lincoln http://www.vintaj.com/wpblog/

Jill Liles http://livngoodjewelry.blogspot.com/

Heather Powers http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com/" and http://www.artbeadscene.blogspot.com/"

Jenny Barnett Rohrs http://www.crafttestdummies.com/

Stephanie Rubiano http://www.soigathered.typepad.com/

Lisa Sommerville http://www.lisasomerville.com/2010/02/kitchen-sink-stamps-altered-jewelry.html

Kim Taylor http://sassycrafter.blogspot.com/

And the fine folks at Objects and Elements (Design Team) and Ice Resin's creator: Susan Lenart Kazmer!

Jen Cshman http://www.objectsandelements.typepad.com/jencushman/

Deryn Mentock http://somethingsublime.typepad.com/

Kristen Robinson http://kristenrobinson.typepad.com/

Barbe Saint John http://barbesaintjohn.blogspot.com/

Susan Lenart Kazmer http://susan-lenart-kazmer.blogspot.com/

Ice Resin Blog Hop-Tuesday!

Hello Again! Thanks for stopping by!
Today I have a few more Popcap Pendants to show you as well as a few Ice Resin cabachons I cast from molds.

These two Popcap Pendants are a perfect contrast of simple and dramatic versus lush and complex.
I used star-shaped sequins on the bare metal inside of the popcap. I like the simple and spare look of the clear resin, and grey background. It pops the shiny red and gold colors of the stars that much more.


I created this second one with the picture of an ocean shoreline in mind. I scattered the sand-colored seed beads along the bottom, with the blue glitter for the ocean at the top, and nestled a chip of mother-of-pearl and a Czech glass shell on either side of a flip-flop sandal.


The two cabachons were made by pouring the clear resin into the molds, inserting and arranging the old watch parts as needed. I wanted to create focals or centerpieces that mimic the shape of jewels used in Victorian or traditional jewelry. I cast these with an eye towards using them in Steampunk creations and I love the unexpected details that the resin gave to the pieces! In particular, I'm drawn to the bubbles and how and where they formed. There is a half-moon bubble that formed along the spring-coil of the old watch gear in the left-hand cabachon as well as a few small bubbles here and there that have become part of the design.



And now I'm off to pour more Ice Resin creations! Stop back by tomorrow to see what grew to life!
Don't forget to keep hopping and click to see what these other fabulous artists are up to!!


Molly Alexander http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com/

Ro Bhrun http://robruhn.blogspot.com/

Karen Burns http://web.me.com/vintagefindings/Vintage_Findings/Blog/Blog.html

Keecia Frazee Deveney http://www.lemoncholys.blogspot.com/

Mary Jane Dodd http://mairedodd.blogspot.com/

Melanie Earthenwood http://earthenwood-beads.blogspot.com

Shea Fragoso http://www.whathappensnext.typepad.com/

Kerin Gale http://remnantsofolde.com/posts/

Vickie Hallmark http://fiberartglass.blogspot.com/

Jess Italia Lincoln http://www.vintaj.com/wpblog/

Jill Liles http://livngoodjewelry.blogspot.com/

Heather Powers http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com/" and http://www.artbeadscene.blogspot.com/"

Jenny Barnett Rohrs http://www.crafttestdummies.com/

Stephanie Rubiano http://www.soigathered.typepad.com/

Lisa Sommerville http://www.lisasomerville.com/2010/02/kitchen-sink-stamps-altered-jewelry.html

Kim Taylor http://sassycrafter.blogspot.com/

And the fine folks at Objects and Elements (Design Team) and Ice Resin's creator: Susan Lenart Kazmer!

Jen Cshman http://www.objectsandelements.typepad.com/jencushman/

Deryn Mentock http://somethingsublime.typepad.com/

Kristen Robinson http://kristenrobinson.typepad.com/

Barbe Saint John http://barbesaintjohn.blogspot.com/

Susan Lenart Kazmer http://susan-lenart-kazmer.blogspot.com/

Ice Resin Blog Hop-Meet the Sprite!

Hello! I'm glad you're here! I wanted to take a moment on this first day of the Ice Resin Blog Hop to introduce myself and my creations to you-all. I've been beading for over 20 years. It started with disassembling and reassembling store-bought jewelry to suit my wardrobe and taste and grew from there! I learn mostly by doing as I create most often from an idea and bringing into the material world. The materials bring their own influences into play as the creation grows.
I love working all manner of materials and particularly those that can be recycled, repurposed or are beyond the realm of what most would expect to find in jewelry or art.

Here is the first photo of what I wanted to share with you today:


I was already intrigued with Ice Resin when I picked these Doorways up at a bead show last year. The doorways sparked my imagination, reminding me of entrances in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Ring series. Doorways that materialize under full moon-light, doorways into places of mystery and adventure!
Though the materials I used are simple,(Ice Resin and glitter)I wanted the effect to be as three-dimensional as possible. I mixed and poured two separate batches of resin as well as applying two layers of glitter.

The second photo is a prototype of of a Steampunk bangle bracelet.

This is my first attempt with this type of mold and I learned a lot about both the resin and the mold.
Those are old watch parts scattered throughout the mold. I think this will be fun to play with in the future with other effects such as pigments. perhaps sanding the resin to create contrasting matte and clear surfaces and so forth.

And the last few photos I wanted to share are part of my Popcap Pendant series.
This is an ongoing series that merges my interest in recycling, upcycling and using unusual materials with whimsical and quality jewelry art. The popcaps come from beverages that myself and my friends drink, so this is another peek into my studio life!


I cleaned the popcap, filled it with green glitter and two tiny pinecones that I brought home from my journey this summer in Montana and Ice Resin. I was amazed by the tiny details of these diminutive pinecones! They reminded me that there is great beauty in even the smallest parts of nature.


The second Popcap Pendant is filled with gold glitter surrounding a hand-carved bone Moon face. This face has been with me for quite some time, waiting for the perfect setting and I'm pleased with how this turned out! You may notice the piece of glitter in the center of the forehead. This was a happy accident when the resin was first poured, and reminded me of some of the Bali masks and costumes I'd seen pictures of. However, the glitter moved away as the resin followed the curve of the face! So, I hovered over this as the resin settled and periodically moved a piece of glitter back to that spot as well as arranging the glitter surrounding the face. I also applied a second coat of resin after the first had settled to make certain that the face was entirely encased.

All of the Popcap Pendants were then drilled by my hand after the resin cured and the jumprings added.
Both of these Popcap Pendants will be in my Artfire studio shortly.

I hope this was a intriguing and interesting visit and I hope to see you again tomorrow!
Don't forget to keep check out the other fabulous artists on the Hop!!
Their links are below for easy clicking!

Molly Alexander http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com/

Ro Bhrun http://robruhn.blogspot.com/

Karen Burns http://web.me.com/vintagefindings/Vintage_Findings/Blog/Blog.html


Keecia Frazee Deveney http://www.lemoncholys.blogspot.com/

Mary Jane Dodd http://mairedodd.blogspot.com/

Melanie Earthenwood http://earthenwood-beads.blogspot.com

Shea Fragoso http://www.whathappensnext.typepad.com/

Kerin Gale http://remnantsofolde.com/posts/

Vickie Hallmark http://fiberartglass.blogspot.com/

Jess Italia Lincoln http://www.vintaj.com/wpblog/

Jill Liles http://livngoodjewelry.blogspot.com/

Heather Powers http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com/" and http://www.artbeadscene.blogspot.com/"

Jenny Barnett Rohrs http://www.crafttestdummies.com/

Stephanie Rubiano http://www.soigathered.typepad.com/

Lisa Sommerville http://www.lisasomerville.com/2010/02/kitchen-sink-stamps-altered-jewelry.html

Kim Taylor http://sassycrafter.blogspot.com/


And the fine folks at Objects and Elements (Design Team) and Ice Resin's creator: Susan Lenart Kazmer!

Jen Cshman http://www.objectsandelements.typepad.com/jencushman/

Deryn Mentock http://somethingsublime.typepad.com/

Kristen Robinson http://kristenrobinson.typepad.com/

Barbe Saint John http://barbesaintjohn.blogspot.com/

Susan Lenart Kazmer http://susan-lenart-kazmer.blogspot.com/

Happy Valentines Day! And an update about next week...

I met a lot of new folks at the Ladies Winter Getaway in Minneapolis and have come home with a commission! Thanks to all who stopped by!
There is so much to update you-all with before the start of the new week!that this post is a bit photo-heavy!

On the Road: Supercon:
I attended Supercon (a relaxacon in Hastings, MN) with my beloved last weekend. As is my tradition, I entered jewelry in the charitable Art Auction. The only requirement is that the art be made at the Con. This year, however, I used beads that were gifted with the stipulation that they go to a good home for the Auction. It seems proper to donate gifted materials to charity.. keep the giving going, as it were!
So, here are some of the goodies that I came home with from Supercon:

Earrings: 5 Pairs in all. Titles from top left to bottom right:
Wishes and Bottles, Pink and Fierce, Galactic Seashells, Mining Planets and Infinite Spirals (MANY THANKS to for the title help on Wishes and Bottles and Mining Planets!)

A Pendant of Moonstone and Tiger Eye Wolf or Coyote. Title is: Singing the Moon


The Clasps: Have arrived!!! Here is some of the Shiny Goodness I get to play with!

Next Week:
I'm excited to say that I'm to be part of the Ice Resin Blog Hop (courtesy of Objects and Ornaments.com) starting Monday and continuing through to Friday! I'll be posting photos and tidbits about the new creations I'm using Ice Resin with, as well as links to the other lovely artists who are playing with this medium as well! Stop on by and see what we're up to!

And with that, I'll leave with wishes for a Valentines Day filled with Love and Beauty!

Valentines Kit Beads and a Show Reminder...

I'll be at the Curves at 53rd and Chicago Avenue tomorrow from 5pm to 8pm. I'll be offering mini-classes on making simple earrings. I'll also have kits available to purchase with sweet little (or big) hearts of all sorts of lovey colors... accented with Swarovski crystals!
I've snapped a photo of the beads that you'll be able to choose from for your kits!


Stop by to say HI!, take a look at what I'm up to and maybe take home a present for yourself, a friend or loved one!

Did I mention that there will be free prizes and munchies at this event? Yup! There will!
Hope to see you there!

Upcoming Show!

Thursday, February 11th from 5pm to 8pm only
Curves for Women in South Minneapolis

Ladies Winter Getaway!
Featuring Belling Dancing Demos, massage, aromatherapy and much more.
I will also be offering free mini-class on how to create simple earrings.
I will have build-your-own-Valentine kits available! Take home all the materials you need to create a pair of love-ly pair of earrings for yourself, fabulous friend or loved one!

Details are on the flyer below!

This is really just a place-holder for this photo...

It is from the BBC. Don't know what, if anything, it will have to do with my art just yet... but I'm very drawn to it... It is a street vendor display with stuffed tigers celebrating the Chinese New Year. I love the happy, mischievous expression on the tiger's faces and the colors.

Tigers!