Play Date Clay and Beads

Another play date with my gal pals to work on our beaded clay projects.  i brought this porcelain doll head with no specific plan - and it morphed into a dress form style shape. I used tin foil as a base and covered it with paper clay. I added some jewelry bits to create a tiara.  then added cheap post earrings around her bodice. 

 I filled in with strings of pearls.  Around her waist is a ribbon with beaded fringe and more jewelry findings and strung beads along the "hem".  I have her sitting in a sunny window to dry before i complete the beading.

Our hostess D worked on her bird with doll head, using some paper mache clay she mixed herself.  

it was pretty sticky - but she was able to smooth it out.  ultimately it will be covered with beads and other objects, in a steam punk style.

Z worked on a cute wooden fish she picked up on vacation in Mexico.  

She added glass bead gel as a base to inbed rows of rhinestones in clear and aqua blue.

S worked on her turtle.  First performing a turtle-head-ectomy and replacing it with a doll head.  then she started gluing on the beautiful gems and beads.  

She even creating a fringe effect with chain around the rim of her shell.

Awesome Beaded Things

 So our friend D hosted another play date in SF this weekend.  We decided that our project should be based on K's fish - shown here.  K was inspired by the art of Betsy Youngquist.  Which is to say, a pretty ambitious project for a 4 hour play date!

 I started earlier in the week with a porcelain doll head, from my jar of doll parts.  Doesn't everyone have one?  anyway - it had to much of a torso attached, so I had to borrow Z's Dremel tool to remove it.  Not before a trip to Home Depot to purchase a diamond bit for $18.  ouch. But it was worth every cent!...it cut the porcelain like buttah!

 

Once the head was free of the excess, I stuffed the neck with tin foil and just sort of roughly built up a bird shape.  Then I covered it all with paper play.  SO easy to work with.

 Took three days to dry enough to take it to the next step.  The clay didn't have to be perfect as it would all be covered over with beads.

Oh look - a wee flock of birds!  Mine, K's future project, and D's red bird - still at this stage without its doll head. (sorry didn't get a pic of it later in the process)

 So here we are, surrounded by all manner of beads, and gemstones, and glitter and sequin, and random cast off jewelry.. ready to start.

 So I just dove right in!  I started with the silver findings around the neck and then  just kept adding rows and rows of bling. I used some extra tacky glue and applied it with a brush.

 Here is K working on her fish.  Very serious business with a lighted magnifying glass and stick pins to align bugle beads!

 here is Z working on her inlay heart pendant. 

 (she finds the doll heads a little creepy - they certainly can be!)

 Here's my bird starting to fill in.  I found the piece of woven and tasseled bead work in the bottom of a bag of stuff - and hey!  why not use it!

 I added some shell buttons to the tail to create a "feather" effect.

 A large gemstone on the back of the head created a focal point to work around.

 Here is Z's finished pendant.  She used black glitter polymer clay as a base - and inset the beads - beautiful!!

 Here is K's fish with its perfect rows of beads.

 K cut her doll's face in half to elongate it.  She is not quite finished.

 Here's me working on the bottom of my bird back home,

I used rows of thread-strung beads.  but it isn't easy.  I have a few bald spots still to fill in.

 Here is a side view.  I need to get more of the darker beads at Michaels this week to continue the field between the other elements.

 Here's a top view..

And voila!  my little flyer got some shades!!  She is just about ready to take flight!

Thanks K for the inspiration.  Thanks D for hosting. Thanks D and Z for the goodies.

Sorry S couldn't make it - we missed you!

And especially thanks again to Betsey Youngquist, without whose artwork inspiration none of this fun would have happened...thanks....!

Bling Revisited

I once again had the pleasure of working in S's Bling Book.  Her directions were to create black and white spreads with a touch of metallic and a lot of sparkle.  See the last time I worked in the book HERE.

 

For my first spread I chose to do a constellation.  It is undoubtedly not astronomically accurate to have the moon right next to Aquarius, but here they are!  I started by painting the background a dark iron grey.  normally I wouldn't paint in someone's book, you cannot be sure how the paper will  react to  the moisture.  but this little binder journal has thick pages.  I cut out black and white images and glued them to the page with a glue stick.  then added stick on gems for every star.  I added the words to The Age of Aquarius, as it was so fitting.  Then I added some additional twinkle with some metallic color mists from Outside the Margins.  they added the perfect touch!

 

For my second spread I started with pages that had text running across the page.  I was playing around with some models wearing black and white outfits.  and I got the idea to remove their white blouse, and white skirt, and to let the page "be" their clothes. I added a bling-y watch image split in two, and added stick-on gemstones to EACH of the diamonds on the watch.  that's a lot of darn diamonds, Mr. Lauren!  I guess I was also thinking about the movie Big Eyes, since I added some to both of my gals.

Paper House Luminaries Workshop

I had the pleasure of taking another workshop with the imitable Cathe Holden at her Inspired Barn in Petaluma, CA.  We each made three adorable paper houses, with a flickering tea light inside they do this:

We did pretty christmas theme - but you can imagine how cool they could be for halloween!

 Cathe always makes us feel special, and this class was no exception.  We were given all the supplies and tools necessary to create the house - including a full printed guide.

Luminarie Mobile by Cathe Holden

 Here is Cathe's sample - 6 little houses used to create a delightful mobile. when attached to a golden crown.

 From her instruction guide - here are some ideas for where to place the bling.

 Here are all the components all laid out - including glitter and mica flakes to create a snowy effect.

 Did i mention bling?  Cathe arranged for each of us to get a sampling of gorgeous rhinestone and sparkly goodies from the Blumenthal Lansing Button company.  they were all so pretty - it was hard to choose which ones to use!

 Cathe printed the layout for the house on the back of these card stock images of text and vintage printing from the back's of cabinet cards.

 So we simply had to cut and fold!  her patented technique (i have no idea if it patented - it should be!) made it super easy to assemble and glue these houses together.

 Once we had cut out the little windows it was time to add the adorments.  i brought a few things from home.  a couple of birds (of course) some aqua blue trims (of course) and even a little bunny charm which i coated with glitter.

 The rooflines were run through Cathe's vintage pinking machine - to create that lovely scalloped edge.

 The final touch was to add some ribbons and lace to the curtain hooks to allow for hanging.  I even applied glitter and snow to the hooks!

 With the flicker battery operated candles inside they really do come to life.

 Here are the houses my friend A made - so sweet.

House Assemblage by Cathe Holden

Cathe had many ideas for the little houses, including this lovely country scene using a book cover.  Please check out Cathe's website and blog.  She is super generous with her time and talents and has many freebies and ideas to share at just something i made.

Thanks Cathe!

Bling - Altered Book

 This month I had my friend S's book to work in - BLING!  She created a black and white and sparkly book from a binder style bound book with assorted printed pages.  Love the lavish use of stones and metallic.

 We were asked to create spreads using black and white (or cream) and to add some bling - hence the name.  Here are the little sign in cards - we were to decorate and sign a blank card.  I clipped a bunch of black and white graphics from decorating catalogs.

 For my first spread I was drawn to this gentleman with a striped suit.  I thought he should look over his shoulder at some femme fatale. I placed this lady in white beneath a striped tent and glass star lantern.  I stenciled the background with gold ink pad and a stiff brush.  the ruffled ribbon was the perfect striped final touch to add texture! 

For my second spread I found these two ladies in black gowns in a magazine.  I thought they'd look great with a zebra to ride!  I collaged the background with some dictionary text and copper snail tape.  then added some words clipped from a Ralph Lauren ad - a  bit of creative poetry.  I added some black tulle netting to the gowns to add some volume.  and some swirly copper adornments to create bigger headwear.  then some jet black stones to create a yoke and reins for the zebra.

To see the other color themed altered books  from our 2014 round robion swap, click here:
 PINK, GREEN, PURPLE.
Next up - Red and Teal!