Labyrinths revealed, AJE December Component of the Month

This month's Component of the Month is an awesom Labyrinth piece from Jenny Davies Reazor.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to finish mine, I love the look but it's not mechanically sound yet. I woke up at 3am this morning with an idea of how to do just that so if you have a chance to stop by later today or tomorrow I hope to have a much improved piece.

 

 

I'm going to make more wire tubes to connect the focal to the wire and make it more mechanically sound, I'll improve on the connection of the smaller wire spiral to the larger one as well and add another set to finish the bracelet.

 

I decided to post the unfinished bracelet because I know we all go through this process, sometimes very frustrating when it doesn't work quite the way we want but we persevere!!!

Here is my first re-vamped connection,
I love the look but let me tell you it's not going together easily!!
Definitely a journey in to the Labyrinth lol!

 

 

Check out the other creations using this wonderful Labyrinth Focal

This months guests of honor:

Emma Todd

Lee Koopman

Jess Green

And participating AJE team members:

Jen Cameron 

Kristi Bowman

Diana Ptaszynski

Kristen Stevens

Lesley Watt

Francesca Watson

Melissa Meman

Jo Tinley

Linda Landig

Sue Kennedy

Jenny Davies-Reazor 

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy

52 Earrings

All this year I've been participating in a Flickr group challenging artists to create 52 earrings during the year, technically 1 per week but I certainly didn't post mine weekly. I just posted pair number 52, I wanted to finish a little early because there's so much going on the last few weeks of the year.

Over at the Art Jewelry Elements Blog

 we're working on creating a similar challenge

 where you can link your creations to a special pinterest group and to our blog bi-weekly.

Watch for details coming up in the new year.

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy

Lotus Earrings

My new obsession is Lotus, Lotus Flower, Lotus Root!! I recently made some new pieces inspired by these and shared them last week in this Blog Post. I should have made more because I immediately wanted to save the 1 pair I made of each of these to create jewelry,
 but I'm working on more and the components are available for Pre-Order in my Etsy Shop.

Here are the earrings I created using these new components.

Lotus Flower



Lotus Flower



Using gorgeous Headpins by GeneaBeads that looks like water or dew drops and I think are a perfect combination to these Copper Lotus Flowers.

Here are the Lotus Root Pinwheel earrings.



Lotus Root Pinwheels



Both pair are available in my Etsy Shop.

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy

Goldie Bronze

A long long time ago I won some Goldie Bronze from Val Lewis
I'm just now giving it a try.
So many wonderful things to try, so little time!

I didn't make anything brand new,
 I used some of my favorite scratch foam textures that I've created to test it out.

Below is a Lotus Root in Goldie Bronze on the Left and Copper on the Right.

Right away the most obvious difference is the size. I used the same mold I created for both.

Shrinkage for Goldie Bronze is about 5% and for CopprClay about 20%.

I'll definitely have to keep that in mind in the future because many of my pieces I create for earrings pairs will be too big using Goldie Bronze. I'll have to do some downsizing.

Although the larger size is good for pendants.

Below is one of my Elephants, Goldie Bronze above and CopprClay below.

My little tiny elephant is not so tiny any more.

Bronzie Gold Elephant is about 1.75" from nose to tail

Copper Elephant is 1.25" nose to tail.

I did get some nice color on the bronze, especially on the Lotus Root above.

There are some other more subtle differences between the 2, it's a powder you have to mix which isn't bad at all. The texture is different, when in clay form it's a bit grittier I guess and when it's dry it's much more rigid and actually files away easier.

I was also hoping for some cool color straight from the kiln, I've seen some other people get some wonderful greens and really wonderful rustic finishes but I did not. I had to tumble them for at least an hour and then I torched them to get a little warmth and color.

 

Thank you Lesley Watt for remind me about the firing schedule. It's a 2 step firing but both are very quick. One drawback is the first step you can only do a single layer, you can stack layers during the second stage so I think I'd do a few batches of the first firing and combine them all during the second phase.

Bottom line I like it, everything sintered and I got no blistering which is a problem I've been having with BronzClay so I quit using it quite some time ago.

If anybody out there has used Goldie Bronze I'd love to see it,

please leave a link in your comments so we can all go take a look!

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy

New Obsession

Somehow I got myself on a Lotus kick, Lotus Flower, Lotus Root and along with that I've had a Hamsa design in the back of my mind for awhile so I did that too. Found the shapes I liked and drew them freehand on to the scratch foam, ya that scratch foam again!! Love that stuff!

 It's opened up a whole new world for me and there's so much more I can do with it,

 just have to find the time!

Here's the Lotus Flower,

simple and beautiful.

I didn't even put holes in them because I couldn't figure out where I wanted them, I'll add them now.

And here's the Lotus, such an interesting shape.

I can see these used as a disc or strung through one of the outer holes.

Here's my Hamsa!

I didn't want to put a bail or use hump rings so I made it so I can wrap wire around and attach earwire across. Only made one pair (for me!!) until I saw how they came out. I'll make more and hopefully somebody besides me will want to work with them.

They are 1.75" long and 1.25 across at the widest point.

In all my searching for Hamsa I never saw it done in this way so I think this is something new and fresh.

I hope you like them.

One last thing to share, not so new but...

Elephants are now in pairs and ready to ship!

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy

Cuteness

It's rare I consider my work cute but I crossed over to the cute side for a couple of the pieces I fired last night.

Cute...

Elephant!



https://www.etsy.com/listing/117015451/pre-order-handmade-copper-elephant



I only made one of these cuties, wanted to see how it turned out before I made more. I think this little one was a success. I made him on scratch foam need to make his mirror image so I can provide pairs as well as singles.

Cute...

Mittens!

Oh I love these chubby little mittens!!

I also made these new shapes/textures!

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy

It's the weekend...

So that means I'm creating more new shapes and textures!
 I did alot today, spent a ton of time scratching on that scratch foam. So I thought I'd share some of them.
I was hoping to fire tonight but ran out of steam. These all still need cleaned up....tomorrow!

Sort of a flower of snowflake texture in the center.

Shield shapes, the one in the center I'll call Tuxedo.

Hhhmmmm...

More sort of Ulu shapes, I really like this general shape but these are different than the others I've made.

I was just playing with putting together different shapes and when I put these together I thought they looked like Owl Eyes. So when I textured them that's what I was going for. Not too sure about them yet, I'll hold out judgment until they are fired. Sometimes that can make a huge difference.

I'll definitely get these and more fired tomorrow night so look for some of the finished pieces on Monday.

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy

12 days of Christmas Gift Exchange

A few weeks ago I joined a Beads and Components portion of the

12 Days of Christmas Gift Exchange

hosted by Lorelei Eurto, I have 12 components all boxed and ready to mail.

 My gifts will be opened on the 6th day of Christmas.

  I wrapped them all up before I put them in boxes so I have no idea who will receive which Component!

I was going to make up some cute handmade boxes or wrap them but I found the cutest little gift boxes so I decided to use them instead.

Day number 2 and day number 4 have already arrived at my house, I'm sure in the next week all the other days will come. It's going to be so much fun opening a new gift each day.

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy

November AJE Component of the Month - Design Reveal

Welcome to the Art Jewelry Elements Component of the Month Reveal!

This beautiful Bronze Snowflake is by the talented Lesley Watt of The Gossiping Goddess.

I tried to give it a soft icy feeling by dangling 3 glass drops from the focal itself.

I also used a fun little Wingding from GeneaBeads in the same colors,

added a some stronger color with Czech Glass beads in matte teal and soft yellows with glass beads from CanyonEchoes and a tiny little snippet of pale yellow Sari Silk.

Check out what the others have made with this gorgeous Snowflake!
See the links below!

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy

Jennifer Cameron

Kristi Bowman-Gruel

Diana Ptaszynski

Kristen Stevens

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Lesley Watt

Francesca Watson

Melissa Meman

Joanne TInley

Linda landig

Sue Kennedy

Jean Wells

Marie- Noel Voyer-Cramp

Therese Frank

Ammonite Focal Winner!

The winner of this Ammonite Focal I gave away over the weekend is...

Lisa Lodge of PineRidge Treasures!!

Congratulations Lisa and thanks to all who entered!

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy

Cyber Monday

Tomorrow is Cyber Monday!!
 What's that?? You haven't heard about it?? Well we have been keeping it a secret!

Now that I've shared the secret I can also tell you that the

Love My Art Jewelry Blog is hosting a Cyber Monday Sale!!

All things handmade, including Art Jewelry Components and Finished Art Jewelry.
You can use Coupon Code ARTBEADS15 at checkout in my Etsy Shop
http://KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy.com

Here's a taste of what you'll find available on sale tomorrow.

'Love My Art Jewelry Cyber Monday Sale!' by Clayworksnh

Handcrafted Festive Holiday Beads, Jewelry and Supplies from a few of the participants in the Love My Art Jewelry Cyber Monday Sale Event! Be sure to check out their shops for specials through Monday! Find out more on the Love My Art Jewelry Blog.

Handmade Ceramic Toggle Clas... maryhardingjew... $10.00	Black Friday SALE Art Bead J... enlalumiere $58.00	Blue Pinwheel Ceramic Dangle... JeraLunaDesign... $25.00	Lampwork Beads - SueBeads - ... suebeads $40.00
One Two Cha Cha Cha - Pearls... jeanawells $34.50	Hexagon Snowflake Pendant an... MartiC51 $14.95	Gear Earrings Dark Brick Red... LindaLandigJew... $32.00	Night Skies - Lampwork and S... PattiVanderblo... $22.00
Remember When... handmade ce... artisanbeadspl... $30.00	Tin Can Earrings remaker $14.95	Snowflake disc beads - AJE C... THEAtoo $10.00	SALE Ceramic Jewelry Compone... MarshaNealStud... $8.00
Ceramic Bead De-stash marlasmud $20.00	Handmade Red Lampwork Leaves... KristiBowmanDe... $49.00	Dangle Earrings, Drop Earrin... LjBjewelry $38.00	Cobalt Blue Porcelain Snowfl... Clayworksnh $9.95

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

There's also still time to enter my giveaway!

Comment HERE

I will draw the winner at the end of the day on Monday the 26th

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy