A Polymer Penchant: November 2012

Friday, 30 November 2012

Challenge of Colour reveal

Welcome! I’m a little late to the party today. I’m actually waiting for the sun to come up enough for me to take some pictures to share what I created for the challenge. This is the third challenge I’ve joined Erin for, and it’s very exciting that she had Brandi join in as a hostess this round. What a team! I knew I was going to love working from this challenge starting point, satellite photos from the United States Geological Service that Brandi palettified. I can’t wait to hop around and see each of the palettes. Here is my starting point

Normally I would do a little research about lake Amadeus, but I can tell you I didn’t know off the top of my head where it was and I decided to keep it that way. With this challenge all about the colour I opted to look no further than the image in front of me.

I work with polymer, so the starting point for me with something like this is to mix up a bunch of colours and see what comes of it. The only real plan I had was to experiment with some techniques and create a sheet of polymer similar to the picture. In progress the acid green was a lot brighter, but as I worked that intensity got a bit turned down as the stretching of the process thins the polymer and the darker shades beneath change the colour.

I love exploring polymer like draping fabric. I take a thin sheet in my hands and fold and ruffle until I’m happy. I think I made a mermaid to swim in this lake!

When I was done with this long look on leather, all the parts knotted together I thought it might be fun for it to do double duty and be worn short too.

Now she looks a little bit more like she is swimming. Of course if I had this plan all along I would have a neater connection for that little swirl of wire acting as a hook clasp. I think I will go back with more polymer and beef it up a bit.

I’ll update with some more details later, just posting on my lunch break now.
I can’t wait to see what everyone else has come up with!

Erin Prais-Hintz
Brandi Hussey
Rebecca Anderson
Kris Auderer Chrizette Bayman Lori Bowring Michaud Courtney Breul Lynsey Brooks
Stephanie Buss Iveth Caruso
Shannon Chomanczuk
Lisa Cone
Cece Cormier Lori Dorrington
Dawn Doucette
Jeannie Dukic
Kim Dworak
Beth Emery
Janice Everett
Pam Farren
Donetta Farrington
Gloria Ferrer Cherrie Fick
Therese Frank
Patty Gasparino
Tanya Goodwin
Ambra Gostoli
Jess Green
Denielle Hagerman
Mary Harding
Karla Hartzog
Kim Hora
Emanda Johnson
Jennifer Justman
Sue Kennedy Ema Kilroy
Lee Koopman
Linda Landig
Kirsi Luostarinen
Cynthia Machata
Alicia Marinache
Beth McCord
Mary K McGraw
Karen Mitchell
Cheri Mitchell-Reed
Aimee Moisa
Karla Morgan
Penny Neville
Becky Pancake
Kashmira Patel
Alice Peterson
Kayla Potega
Debbie Price
Bobbie Rafferty
Caron Reid
Nicole Rennell
Cynthia Riggs
Andrea Ross
Sally Russick
Annie Scherz
Pam Sears
Renetha Stanziano
Sandra Stein
Kristen Stevens
Tracy Stillman
Sherri Stokey
Lola Survillo
Kay Thomerson
Jo Tinley
Emma Todd
Cory Tompkins
Pam Traub
Melissa Trudinger
Michelle Tucker
Shelley Graham Turner
Monique Urquhart
Rachel Van-Walsh
Patti Vanderbloemen
Lesley Watt
Lynn White
Joan Williams

Thursday, 29 November 2012

Artisan Whimsy berries and leaves challenge

There is so much going on on the Artisan Whimsy site that I almost missed this challenge entirely. There is a piece on my worktable that is not all the way there so I was going to give it a miss (just like I gave the last owl challenge a miss). Then I though, hey, I’ve got a bunch of perfect entries in the leaf brooches I created. The berry here looks a little wizened, but in a delicate kind of way.

available here

Lots of great inspiration to be found in the many entries for this challenge, click the banner to check ‘em out

Wednesday, 28 November 2012

And the sale goes on!

Last night I figured I’d attempt to make a treasury. I remember, back in the day, you had to wait for a spot to open up before you could create one. At that time I had no inclination to sit there refreshing a screen and waiting for the magical number to appear for the privilege. Such a cynic, I know. Somewhere along the way etsy made it so you just create Treasuries at will. Treasury made I thought I should probably wait less than five years before figuring out how to share it here. Again, surprisingly painless (unless of course this all goes to pot once I hit publish**it did, hopefully fixed now**).

With Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, uh, Sunday and Cyber Monday done now may be the time for a more leisurely stroll through some of the shops with sales going all the way to Friday.
So I present my first treasury for you continued shopping joy

'Cyber week rolls on with handmade components' by APolymerPenchant

Do you love handmade components? How about jewelry designers who work with handmade components - all ready for gift giving? These gorgeous shops, all with sales continuing until Friday! $1300 worth of giveaways from the Artisan Whimsy Market

From Day to Night uniqu... EmaKDesigns $35.00	Etched Copper Bails, .8... MetalMeThis $40.00	Handmade Bird Bead, Bla... somethingtodob... $3.50	SALE Handmade Ceramic S... MarshaNealStud... $30.00
Lampwork Glass Bead Set... StoneDesignsby... $50.00	forest finery 22 - simp... TesoriTrovati $18.00	Lampwork Boro Glass Spi... LAJewelryDesig... $26.00	10 x Handmade Ceramic B... Grubbi $12.00
Lampwork Beads - SueBea... suebeads $30.00	Tree Pendant 1X2 Custom... Moreskyejewels $8.00	Copper Ulu Original Tex... KristiBowmanDe... $20.00	FIVE Handmade Bicone Be... MartiC51 $7.95
Flourish Petal (Enamele... OregonMadeJewe... $23.32	SHOP SALE Boho Bangle B... jeanawells $69.50	Braided Leather and Cer... LindysDesigns $35.00	Rudraksha Beads and Pol... Sadafulee $30.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

I’m going to keep trying to fill up my shop this week while the 20% off is still in effect, by using coupon code AWHOLIDAY at checkout. My biggest hurdle is the fact that I don’t have pictures of everything and the sun is not cooperating. To that end, I bought myself a light box on Monday (… unknowingly messing up my sweet husband’s plans for a Christmas gift). I know there is much out there you can DIY and various solutions, but I opted for something a bit more robust, hopefully worth the investment. I’m a little peeved that it claimed it was shipping out of Canada, but I was instantly suspicious when the bill didn’t have any tax. Later I click the tracking link and it pulls up USPS even though the confirmation says it is coming via Canada post. All that to say if it shows up at my door with brokerage fees to be paid I will be LIVID.

ps If you haven't entered the giveaway still some time - ends Friday

Sunday, 25 November 2012

7000 bracelets for hope reveal

When Sue Kennedy of Sue beads reached out a little while ago about a blog hop for 7000 bracelets I was happy for the reminder. Earlier this year, I created a bracelet for the cause and committed to make seven before the end of the year. At this point, I still just had the one made. I thought this would be a perfect push for me to finish up. Then as I started I thought well this would be number eight, a bit different from the others (not yet made :)).

I showed you the lovely buttons I found the other day and starting with that flower I decided to keep it simple. Some of my polymer beads, some Joan Miller porcelain and a little glass beads in mixed blues on grey waxed linen.

I like the porcelain disks, they look almost black but really are blue with a little gasoline-rainbow look on the surface. One is two sided – blue/cream – and I love how that goes with the button.

I have the focals, more porcelain and more buttons to create more bracelets… just waiting on a wee bit of time to get them done and shipped off. Today I’m at a show and it will be my last of the season so there’s hope for me yet!

I’m very happy to be creating for this cause, please be sure to check our some of the other great bracelets being made by following the links from Sue’s blog

PS. Coupon code AWHOLIDAY for 20% off is active in my shop until Friday. The jewelry will be with me today but look for new listings starting Monday. Don't forget to enter the giveaway here

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

Artisan Whimsy Market cyber week sale and giveaway

If you caught my last post you will know I’m rushing to get this all set but here it is!

Fabulous Handmade Jewelry Pieces.

The largest Artisan shopping event
for Cyber Week...Ever!!
It starts this Friday, Nov. 23rd thru Friday Nov 30th.

All participating jewelry and component designers will be offering a discount on their stores &

will be promoting a giveaway.
Winners will be chosen individually by the blog owners.

For event wide discount code use: AWHOLIDAY

I will be offering 20% off with the AWHOLIDAY coupon code in my Etsy shop

You will find my handmade polymer components and jewelry.

The jewelry will be coming with me to a show on the 25th

and starting on the 26th there will be new jewelry filling up the shelves!

Now for my Giveaway

A $25 gift certificate to my etsy shop

You will have three ways to enter and the winner will be announced here December 1st.

1. Leave a comment on this post.

2. Become a follower and tell me in a separate comment, or if you already are, just shout out in a separate comment.

3. Help me spread the word! Whatever your preference, favourite my shop, pin an item, share the giveaway on facebook, send your hubby a link (that’s how my wish list comes together). You get the idea, come back and tell me for a third entry.

and there is more!
Three Exciting Giveaways
will be hidden throughout our participants blogs.
When you find them, follow the directions to be entered!

AND! Bookmark ArtisanWhimsy.com for Future Artisan Jewelry Shopping Opportunities!

Updating to share the 45 participants offering an amazing $1300 in giveaways

Shows, treasures, buttons, and maybe a sale

See that’s just way too much to talk about. Hang on tight – here we go!

This weekend I was back at the Navan Arts and Crafts show for the first time since 2009. I love this show. It’s smaller, full of wonderful vendors and is partnered with a bake sale each day. I wasn’t sure if I was going to do any shows this year but when the organizer contacted me in the summer to say she had one spot left, well, how could I refuse? There is a little “but” with being the newbie – you get the post.

This post ---- right here----------------------------

Totally bossy and about 16 inches in from one side and oh 3 feet each way. In a 7x10 foot booth space this eats a lot of real estate. But this same kind friend came to my rescue with a spare 4 foot table (post panicky “just how big is this post? email). I was happy with this. This picture is from the Sunday morning as shoppers were just about to come in so I hadn’t yet fixed up those necklaces looking a little jumbled on the cream.

A closer view of the side and back tables. The black background belongs to my neighbor, she was kind to offer that I could use this side to hang anything if I wanted. I found the back table didn’t get too much attention from customers but the crowds were good and for a first show back, I was happy enough.

Onto the treasures

This sock monkey was originally holding a cookie, and part of the Girl Guides bake sale. I let Averleigh pick the one she wanted when she came to visit at the end of the sale. He is sitting next to a ceramic mushroom I did a little trade for with artist Liz Fournier. The gift cards on the right are hand stamped and have little sparkly bits I didn’t capture. I’d tell you who made them, but there was no card, too bad.

Then I found Laura Sheppard’s booth and it looked familiar. I had seen her products listed on the website for the Savoir Faire that, as it turns out, we are both doing next Sunday. Sunday is the 25th and as soon as that dawned on me I thought of the 7000 bracelets project and the bracelet I’m supposed to be showing off on that day. So I dived into the beautiful bowls of buttons, digging for blue beauties. Looky!

As I chatted with Laura and let her know about the cause she made me a nice price and offered I take another in support. Looking forward to creating with these.

Ok so that’s the shows, the treasures and the bracelet.

Maybe a sale. I’ve yet to run a sale or giveaway since I don’t think of my shop as ready yet. ‘Tis the season though isn’t it? The Artisan Whimsy team is gathering up participants for what is stacking up to be quite the event. If I can figure out all the details before 10 tonight I’ll jump in.

Sunday, 18 November 2012

Are you bidding?

It’s getting close to fair warning time. Get on over to the charm swap auctions. The overall bidding is approaching $500!! I would love to see that number surpassed, how wonderful for Beads of Courage that would be.

Monique Urquhart created some beautiful collages, by media, of all the charms for your shopping delight. Our charms are hanging out here with the other polymer and ceramic ones. Check out the other collages on her blog

I’m a little fried tonight after my first craft show in three years. The crowds were great. I had great help from my family in the hauling department and such. I had several long conversations with charming young kids (10ish, I can never guess) and brought home a few wee treasures. I’ll share more after some later this week.

Monday, 12 November 2012

Art charm swap in aid of BOC

I had so much fun creating charms to swap and share with other artists all the while making a contribution to the Beads of Courage program. This little swap was the brainchild of Jennifer Cameron who took on the monster task of receiving and swapping all the handmade charms, mailing each set back out to the participants. She has also photographed them all and will be running auctions here so you can join in on the fun and bid for your very own charm.

The proceeds from the auctions are going to Beads of Courage, a very worthy cause. From their website:
Our Mission: We are growing every day, providing innovative, arts-in-medicine supportive care programs for children coping with serious illness, their families and the health care providers who care for them. Beads of Courage, Inc. is an approved public charity under I.R.S. Code Section 501(c)(3), based in Tucson, Arizona.

Considering the cause and the theme of laughter I drew from my own experience with little kids and hospitals. Bubbles. Bubbles are the perfect distraction for small children and I saw at least three different bubble contraptions at our children’s hospital. Competing for muse time was the thing that made my girl laugh the absolute hardest, in can’t-catch-your-breath giggles – our cats playing with shoelaces.

So here you have a bubble created from polymer, iridescent powder and resin with a shoelace trapped inside. One frustration was that I selected a violet iridescent powder for that rainbow effect bubbles have and the downside is that that shade when not iridising reads as yellow. I thought my resin may have been off but no it’s crystal clear, the yellow cast comes from the powder. I think the glow and shimmer they have makes up for it in person, but doesn’t come through that clearly in my photo.

The back got the texture of a plain old bubble wand.

Saturday, 10 November 2012

Mother Earth Challenge reveal

Good Morning! A bright and sunny morning on my little corner of earth. It’s that deceptive winter sun though. I stepped outside barefoot to take pictures and I think that may be the last time this year for my concrete patio.

Enough about the weather though, it’s time to see what I made with this lovely lady who arrived oh so quickly from Sweden. Sent so generously by another lovely lady, Birgitta Lejonklou.

Here she is now all dressed for the blog party

Like many ladies she tried on several outfits before this look came together. She wanted to be a sea goddess of sorts so I made her a ruffled polymer blue/sand ombré dress and some coordinating little wave beads. A few seed beeds, some commercial ceramic and two stacked polymer buttons bring it all together.

Many thanks Birgitta, it was definitely a challenge for me to find the right balance, since I do struggle with bracelet design, but in the end I’m very happy!

So there are many over lovely creations to see with all sorts of Mother Earth interpretations. Don’t you love how the internet brings the world to your door? My first time getting a package from Sweden, but I don’t think it will be the last.

Travel the earth – this way!
The List of BLOGS :
Emma Todd apolymerpenchant.blogspot.se <-you are here, thanks for coming!
Inge Traud http://www.ingetraud.wordpress.com
Sandra Wollberg city-of-brass-stories.blogspot.se
Cece Courmier thebeadingyogini.com
Margareta Saari magsinhelmet.blogspot.se
Toltec Jewels www.JewelSchoolFriends.com
Susan http://libellulajewelry.com
Leena vikkityyli.blogspot.se Birgitta Lejonklou lejonklou.blogspot.se our Hostess

Friday, 9 November 2012

Running behind

Oh November! It’s the month of feeling like I’m always behind at least a quarter step. I’ve had lovely things to share and the time evaporated, so a bit of catch up today.

Pretend for a moment it’s Tuesday. Hey look an interview with little ol’ me over on Artisan Whimsy. I had such a great time answering Shelley Graham Turner and Michelle Buettner’s questions. Another wonderful surprise that accompanied this feature is my very own Pinterest board to pin to for the month.

While we are on the topic of Artisan Whimsy, today was my turn blogging there for the first time, I did my best to be brief!

Right now I had planned to be writing a post for the Mother Earth Challenge, revealing tomorrow. Instead I’m looking at a disassembled bracelet that I ripped apart today instead of photographing since I decided I didn’t like it at all. So it’s back to the drawing board tonight and I’ll be posting a bit later in the day tomorrow.

Monday, right here, I will be showing off the charms I created for the Art Charm swap hosted by Jennifer Cameron. In swapping we all created an extra charm to be auctioned off in support of Beads of Courage. I received my charms yesterday and they are just awesome! I can’t wait to hear all the details behind their creation and I know I will find more I want to bid on myself once the auctions are underway (10 is not enough, more, more more!)

I tell ya I have so many trays of beads and whatnot in partial stages of development all over the house I don’t have any pictures to show you! Ok, here is one most of the way done. That focal toggle is in the works in that the bar has no connection point yet. I think I will centre drill it… But first I have to design a necklace and then I’ll make a decision.

Friday, 2 November 2012

Michaels Toast of the Town Necklace hop

And a Finally Friday necklace, make that two - or really four since they’re both reversible. Since the Toast of the Town necklace can also be worn a bazillion ways I’ve totally lost count. Lets go straight to the pictures.

Now I did my level best to follow the directions so thoughtfully written by Erin Prais-Hintz, but I did adapt on the fly a bit. I talked about my shopping trip and how my palette changed, but I ultimately steered back to more blues. I started with the pale green shell beads and the few oval pyrite. Then I grabbed the teal ring and the Crystazzi glass pearls I had already (both also from Michaels). Next up I made two styles of polymer beads and the toggle bar (the bar is actually a bead gallery pendant hanger I transformed). Once I had all that I was still needing something in the 4mm range to spread all over. I was craving a little more texture, so in went the blue apatite chip beads and I love them here, I should have used more.

I can’t wait to see all the variety born of this design, this is a blog hop after all. Please be sure to visit Erin’s blog to check out her next incarnation of this design and link on to all the other participants. Many thanks to Erin for the design, and inspirational push to try it out myself.

…But before you run off, I did promise you two other necklaces. The focal pendants for these I created a few years ago and once I saw the Design Seeds palette I thought of them right away.

The beads featured along with the pendants are all created from the same polymer canes, I think this particular cane design I learnt from a Donna Kato book. These longer squiggle beads and large hole beads are both available in my etsy shop.

Here is the second design. I’m pretty sure that the clasp below is a Vintaj one I think I will need more of, since I really like how this design came together – if I do say so myself!

Many thanks to Shannon also. Her regular choosing of palettes helps me not get lost in the sea of gorgeousness that is Design Seeds.