Thrift store blog hop reveal!

Reveal day is here and I have one finished bracelet to show you.  I have plans for more but nothing else materialized in time.  Let’s go back to the top on this, Sarah Goode of Pookledo challenged us to make a piece of jewelry from a thrift store find for less than £1.  I told you about my find at $1.40 that just squeaked in, as a reminder here is what I started with



Since I work with polymer, my radar is always tuned to finding anything that will produce a texture so that was what initially drew me to this little link bracelet.  My first step was to use it whole to impress a stack of polymer (like a rubber stamp) to create a mokume gane effect.  I will have to share that with you another day as the resulting veneers of polymer haven’t been made into any finished form yet, just patiently waiting sheets of polymer. 

Let’s just skip to what I do have to share!



Pardon the lighting differences, I missed the best times of day for a great shot.  I created those diamond shaped blue beads by impressing the polymer with one single link and then squishing from all sides to concentrate the texture.  I then used tinted liquid polymer to create a glaze on the top surface.  The bracelet came together with some other polymer beads I had made a few years ago that just happened to have the right shade of blue.  Throw in a few Swarovski pearls, seed beads and some memory wire and voila!  In the end I didn’t use any of my starting piece in the bracelet, oops.  Here’s what I’m left with



If you are a real detective you would have seen the original is made of ten links and there are only nine above.  One is tied up on my worktable in a stage of being partial covered in polymer, but I haven’t decided yet if it is done.  That link alone above will stay on my worktable for future patterns and textures.  That leaves me the two with the clasp and the remaining string which I may or may not break up for some earrings, still pondering that.  One plan I had was to tint the metal itself with alcohol ink but it was a complete fail so I have to embrace this metal tone, a stretch for me.
Thanks for coming by for a visit, I hope you hop on to see what everyone came up with from their thrift store finds

Sarah - www.pookledo.blogspot.co.uk
Deb - http://greenshoot.blogspot.co.uk/
Kimberley - http://goddessesandbeads.blogspot.co.uk/
Skye - http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.co.uk/
Ambra - http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/
Beti - http://stringingfool.blogspot.com/
Emma - www.apolymerpenchant.com <--- you are here, thank you!
Shelley - www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Tammie - http://ttedesigns.blogspot.co.uk/
Leah - http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk/
Denielle - www.somebeadsandotherthings.com
Keri Lee - http://www.pinklemonade.typepad.com
Rochelle - acreativechelle.blogspot.com
Pam - http://pamelas-studio.blogspot.com/
Ingetraud - http://ingetraud.wordpress.com/
Audrey - http://esperianterra.blogspot.com/
Julie Anne - www.thepeacefulbead.com
Sharyl - http://www.sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com
Micheladas - http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Lo - http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/
Kala - http://maybejustperhaps.blogspot.co.uk
Jo - http://jobunkum.blogspot.co.uk/
edit to add Dyanne - http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.ca/
Oh I almost forgot, there was one other thing I brought home with me from the thrift store that day for a whole $2.80


It’s not great quality, and it’s in rough shape but I really like how the top lifts and the two side pieces flip open  - like so



I’m thinking that with a little TLC it could become a great display piece for my next show.  Any and all ideas welcome since it’s been a month and I haven’t touched it yet.

Ok now get hopping!

The sweetest friday

Wow! Where did the week go? It was a busy one, but it ends today and brings on three weeks of vacation form my day job – hells ya!  We won’t be doing any globetrotting unfortunately, but it will be nice to have a break and soak up more of this great summer we are having.

I’m happy that I ended up with the second reveal for the upcoming Bead Soup Blog Hop, this means I have lots of time to play before showing off next Saturday.  On Monday I took hubby and Averleigh bead shopping with me to pick up a few beads in person.  Lois sent wonderful options but I just couldn’t help wanting to go look for what more I could bring to the table.  She does such beautiful work (check out her latest – gorgeous!) with the itty bittys I just couldn’t get it out of my head, I’ll have to figure out a way to bring them in to the mix.



I missed Finally Friday over at Shannon’s blog – again. But just look more gorgeous blues for next week, courtesy of Design Seeds



Come on back tomorrow for reveal day for the Thrift Store Blog Hop!

The everything but the laundry list

The last week was a blur.  Hectic at the day job, lots of time outside and a day at the zoo meant not much time at the work table creating.  I had mentioned a new feature I had planned to share – I’m going to put that on hold for a bit since there is lots coming up! I will now organize my thoughts via blog post, m’ok?

My bead soup came for starters (oh man, and the puns never end- really wasn’t even intended).  It’s so very awesome with just the right touch of challenge.  I can’t wait to see all the amazing creations with this weekend reveal but I’m really happy right now our reveal is August 11th (…I should really swap out that button on the side bar).  I’ve done a lot of contemplating, but no real start yet.  Although I think a promising idea is taking root, I’m just a little unsure of the mechanics.

Totally stealing more from Lois’ blog (again) – she did such a nice job telling the story of the soup she sent, it sure is well travelled!



Look how perfectly those colours match the focal , and the clasp pattern speaks so nicely to the focal too.

Before I can really tuck into that lot, I have to wrap up my ideas for the ABS July challenge and 7000 bracelets tie in.  I started one way and decided to put it aside and start fresh. That led me to finally cracking open the resin I bought years ago that was waiting quietly, like so many good supplies. 



Here is some of the experiment.  Only two bubbles in the whole lot, I can live with that. I’m saving the ones I have planned for making into bracelets for the project for another day.  It won’t be long as that deadline is approaching.  I know I can get one bracelet made in time, but I did make seven focals in hopes of getting seven bracelets made.  I think I may plan on having seven done before the end of the year and then send them off.  Does that sound like cheating? I struggle with bracelets so I want to leave myself lots of design time.

Two more challenges coming up too! First will be the Thrift Store Blog Hop (darn gotta get that button up too) I showed you my starting spot already, and not much has changed - yet.  It’s just moved around the work table mostly. That reveal is coming up on August 4th.  Then there is the Blogging Link Challenge – I got my package today, right on time, and I’m fighting the urge to play with them as that reveal is not until August 17th. 

So lots of exciting creating on the go, sounds like a great reason to skip out on the laundry… again.
(ps I'm not normally a parentheses junkie (this is extreme), I'm just mumbling bits to myself today)

Yet another challenge

It would seem that my blog is quickly becoming filled with talk of challenges and challenges only.  I’m not saying that’s a bad thing.  It’s almost like warm up exercises for a new blogger. I like how blogging about them makes me accountable for getting them thought through and done.  I’ve always been a creative, but mostly in my head.  Blogging requires that I actually put the studio time in and get the idea out of my head into some tangible form to share. This, this is a good thing.

On that note, I won’t be able to join in for Finally Friday tomorrow. Ha! The worst part is I had the greatest idea but it went poof! Ah well, next week.

I do have news on another challenge.  I didn’t think I would be joining in, but when a perfect starting point practically jumped into my cart I couldn’t say no.  It’s the brainchild of Sarah Goode of Pookledo, the Thrift Store Blog Hop. In essence you get £1 (today that’s a buck sixty) to spend at the Thrift store, the make something, sharing the starting point, in progress and finally the result for a blog hop on August 4th.  The list is growing so please visit Sarah’s site for the full list of participants.

Here’s my start



I thought, heck I’ll use half and I’ll be at a dollar, but then I found I had a 30% card to use so score $1.40 I’m under budget on the whole deal!



Not too shabby eh? I have ideas of what I'd like to do, there's lots of flexibility here.  I can't wait to see wht everyone else finds!