Polymer Clay, yet again

The lure of messing about with polymer clay is still strong, and I've been spending a little more time making some beads.

Mixtures

A little glitter

Button-style!

As you may notice, swirls are pretty high on my list of 'likes' in clay. These beads are all made from Fimo Soft and Fimo Effect. Whilst I liked the Sculpey III, and have a fair amount left to use, the Fimo is far easier to soften by hand and so is that bit more enjoyable to work with, especially when you're sticking with simple tools.

Earrings . . . for a friend

It's always nice to have a special occasion to make someone special something special for. A dear friend I hadn't seen in a while treated me to lunch last month and, as a little thank you, I made her a pair of earrings.

These are they, and another pair I've made in the same design:

Silver Findings

Ready made sterling silver findings are available in many online shops but I've always enjoyed the challenge, and satisfaction, of making my own. I've created many in the past, most of them long-attached to necklaces, bracelets and earrings and either sold or given away as gifts.

Here are some photos of a selection I've made this summer:

Earwires -





Catches, hooks and eyes - ideal for necklaces





Toggle clasps - ideal for bracelets



Little pieces of silver turned into pleasing shapes and designs and all with a strong purpose and goal in mind that informs the design - to hold things firm.

And, on a different note, I played around with the idea of making a silver key. It's only tiny, and quite simple, but I like it.

Green leaves . . .

I love fluorite gemstones (both green and purple) and these chips are some of many I've enjoyed using with silver.





Incorportaing these into this bracelet with the little silver leaves just seemed a perfect way to use the beads and I'm really pleased with the outcome (hence the devotion of an entire blog post to the bracelet).

Forays into clay, part two

A few more polymer beads I've created.







I'm going to buy more clay soon, experimenting with different colours and brands. I'm also hoping to get some liquid clay, at some point. But am trying to stay with the basics for now.