Week 39- Vintage Inspired

Back in the early  90s, I found Polymer Clay. I loved making little bits and bobs... beads, brooches, and cute little models.
This is my inspired creation for this week's project.
A brooch in Polymer clay with glass beads, a little humming bird on a flower...

I forgot how much I liked wearing fun little brooches like this. My favorite was a caricature of a crow wearing a straw hat and a gingham dress... His beak is now broken off after years of wear... I think I'm going to get him out and do a nose job on him...

While I was working with polymer, I also made these two brooches, I love hummingbirds!
These were made using a mold from Penni Jo Couch, who is an artist extraordinaire... You can visit her Etsy store here

Week 38 (Sept 19) - Dangles

This week, dangles!
Made from Lapis Lazuli 6mm round beads, glass 8/0 seeds and silver bead caps

Week 37 - Leaves

Fall is in the air!
 This makes me want to jump in a pile of leaves and have pumpkin pie! Of all the seasons, I love Autumn the best. It is still warm enough to swim, yet in the morning, you feel like there is change in the air, that winter will be here again soon and you need to make the most of every day!
This chain is a cellini spiral made from6/0, 8/0, 10/0, 11/0, and 15/0 seeds, the leaves are brass, formed and fire patina the acorn is polymer clay.

Week 36 - Birthstone of the Month: Sapphire

Cut sapphires from my collection of stones

When we think about Sapphires, we think of the deep blue, brilliantly cut gems that are so beautiful and sought after. Something like the engagement ring worn by Diana, Princess of Wales.  Actually, the stone

tiny cut sapphires, all 2mm or smaller

s come in a multitude of colors... I didn't know this until I started working with stones some years ago. I started looking at stones to buy and found such a varied and beautiful assortment. The stones are in the same family as the Ruby, which is from the mineral called Corundum. Ruby denotes the red color stones... Sapphire is the name given to all other colors... ranging from colorless to pink, yellow, grey, orange, black to the deep blue we all think about... 
I actually own some sapphires. The stones at the top are a variety of cut sapphires that range in size. the next picture is a sampling of tiny stones, all about 2mm and smaller.

 My aunt gave me a pair of beautiful sapphire and opal earrings when I was 14... way too early for that kind of gift, but that was Aunt Margaret. She was a generous and sweet woman, who loved all things beautiful.
I treasure the earrings, and when I started learning to set stones, I ordered sapphires thinking I would make a ring to match my beautiful earrings.
I have used them for other projects, but not a ring for myself... yet...
That might come soon...  

So, I haven't had time the past week to do any stone setting, I've been working on a couple of necklaces that have been really on my mind, but I did make these earrings... I think they  will do as Sapphire color... not actual sapphires