Image Transfer Polymer Clay Earrings

Have been researching and working like crazy for the past month to find the best image transfer technique to create new earrings.  Very difficult to find a really good transfer technique that works well, gives very good results and gives bright, bold colors.  

I finally settled for the technique I used 20 years ago that I learned from Dottie McMillan and I can use my own ink jet printer for the images.  

Many of the images were purchased from Etsy shops with their permission to use them to create jewelry items for sale.

 

 Here are the first few "fun" earrings.  They are now listed on my Etsy Polymer Panache shop.  Click here.

 

 

I've been busy with Cuff Bracelets

A few more cuff bracelets hot out of the oven.

The more I make of these the more I want to make.

Hope you enjoy them.  They can be found

at my Etsy Shop - Polymer Panache

Click here. 

Autumn Leaves Bracelet

Here's another new cuff bracelet 1 1/2" made of autumn leaves in oranges, yellows and greens, then antiqued and varnished.  Some matching earrings complete the set.  Earwires are 14kt gold filled.

Available at Polymer Panache:Click here.

 

My New Obsession - Cuff Bracelets

For the past month or so I've become obsessed with polymer clay cuff bracelets.  Once you start making them, there is no end to the ideas that pop into your head for making more.  So far I've made 8 but I'm just now getting the chance to photograph the first few.

The bracelet has a magnetic clasp for ease of wear.

 

Maple Leaf with Lady Bug Pendant

Just finished this pretty maple leaf pendant with a tiny lady bug on it. 

 

Available at my Etsy Shop - Polymer Panache  Click here.

 

Autumn Leaves Necklace

Lots of colorful autumn leaves fill this three dimensional necklace.  Leaves are handmade of variegated clay in greens, oranges,

 reds and browns.  Antiqued with brown acrylic paint to 

bring out the veins of the leaves and a satin glaze added 

to protect the paint.  

They are attached to a copper chain and it closes with 

a copper toggle clasp.

Available at Polymer Panache. Click here. 

Polymer Clay and Leaf Necklace

Copper Polymer Clay and Copper Leaf handcrafted beads made into this attractive necklace.  Beads are protected with a satin glaze which prevents the leaf from oxidizing.  Would be great for the holiday season.    

Available at my Etsy Shop: Click here.

 

New Swirl Beads Necklaces

Have been practicing making swirl beads and made these two necklaces for sale at my Etsy Shop.  Click here.

 

More New Bracelets & Matching Necklaces

Some new dangle bracelets and a few matching necklaces I recently made.

 

Murano Beaded Bracelet at my Polymer Panache shop: Click here:

What is the difference between Venetian Beads and Murano Beads?
There is no difference. The glass used to make the beads originates in Murano. However, Venetian Glass has been used to describe the glass coming from Murano for centuries and since Venice is much more widely known than the island of Murano, people continue to refer to it as Venetian Glass, Venetian Jewelry. So beads and jewelry made from beads produced in Murano are sold in the stores in San Marco (the famous square in Venice) as Venetian Glass. It's a matter of marketing terms and that Venice is much wider known than Murano. When the glass furnaces were moved from Venice to Murano, the Doge specifically gave the residents of Venice the right to make small pieces (lampwork) which included beads, small animals, the kind of art made by the canes (which of course are produced in Murano). Historically some of the best known bead houses have been in Venice, namely in Cannaregio. 

 Blue Green Glass Bead Bracelet and Matching Necklace.

Pink Cat's Eye and Aqua Crystals Bracelet and Necklace.

All these handcrafted bracelets and matching necklaces can be seen at my Etsy Shop

 

 

New Salsa Bracelet

Using up my Lucite Flower Beads.  This colorful bracelet definitely says "Dance with me"

  In addition to the flower beads I've also added crystals, pearls and some silver accent beads.

New Bracelets

Started making some dangling bracelets with some of the many beads I have in my stash.  

The technology for glass beadmaking is among the oldest human arts, dating back 3,000 years^. Glass beads have been dated back to at least Roman times. Perhaps the earliest glass-like beads were Egyptian faience beads, a form of clay bead with a self-forming vitreous coating. Glass beads are significant in archaeology because the presence of glass beads often indicate that there was trade and that the beadmaking technology was being spread. In addition, the composition of the glass beads could be analyzed and help archaeologists understand the sources of the beads.

This blue bracelet is made with Furnace Glass Beads.

 Furnace glass

Italian glass blowing techniques such as latticinio and zanfirico are adapted here to make beads. Furnace glass uses large decorated canes built up out of smaller canes, encased in clear glass and then extruded to form the beads with linear and twisting stripe patterns. No air is blown into the glass. These beads require a large scale glass furnace and annealing kiln for manufacture.

 These handcrafted bracelets can be found in my Etsy Shop Polymer Panache

 

Bright and Bold Necklaces

Earlier this month I played around with the idea of making necklaces with large bold beads in bright colors combining polymer clay, wood beads, crystals and other assorted beads to see how they would work out.  Here are four that I liked the best.

Purple and Magenta

 

 Blue and Pink

 

Champagne and Gold

 

Orange and Yellow 

 

All four are available at my Etsy shop, Polymer Panache.

 

 

 

"Torn Watercolor Paper" Necklace

Here are two new necklaces made of polymer clay using the Torn Watercolor Paper technique which I recently learned.  The first one I tried is in a light blue clay and is 20 inches long.  I then thought I'd like to use this technique using several pastel colors which would look more like a watercolor painting torn into little bits.  I think I like this one the best.  The pastel necklace is 19 inches long and both are available at my Etsy shop, here. 

 

Hope you like them.