Talking About Custom Jewelry

What are the appropriate questions and information needed for creating a pleasing custom piece of jewelry for someone?   Recently, I was asked by a friend of my daughter's to create a metal clay pendant for a ten year anniversary for the founder of a club.  Since I did not know or had not seen the founder,  I asked the event coordinator of the club several questions about the founder, such as, what type of jewelry she wears.  What type of personality does she have.  Does she dress conservative, classic, hip, or more flamboyant.  This information helps me fit the jewelry piece to the person because I want her to be pleased and accepting of the pendant. It evens helps me decide what type of chain to use with it.  I found that she was very classic and conservative, so I created a mold from an antique button and then created the pendant, using Precious Metal Clay III and adding a "10" in the center of it. The chain I used was an 18 inch sterling silver snake chain.  I inserted some images of the pendant below.  By the way, the founder was very pleased with her jewelry!

Working on Jewelry Photos for Shop

Since my husband is feeling so much bettter, I have been photographing my jewelry and editing the images for my shop and Etsy store as well as my website.  I will be adding a lot more jewelry to my website available for sale. 

I hope to be posting more tips and techniques making jewelry from Precious metal clay and polymer clay here on my blog.  I want to share and give back from what I have learned and experienced from my sixteen years in polymer clay and six years in Precious metal clay.  Maybe I can help a struggling artist in polymer clay or metal clay who is creating handmade jewelry.

Creating What You Like

Sometimes I just want to design and create a piece  of jewelry I like.  I did design and create this necklace for a specific purpose--Progress and Possibilities for International Polymer Clay Association Entry.  Although I didn't win or place,  I enjoyed the process and my necklace was in some very talented company.  This necklace is a new technique I'm working on and I think the technique has possibilities.  The flower and leaf toggle clasp is made with Precious metal clay.  The base and bezel are also PMC.  I first created  the cane of flowers and leaves and the rose bud beads.  I love the blue-green amazonite beads.  They are my favorite color.

It is called Faux Needlepoint. Here is a photo of the necklace:

Choosing gifts

What do I choose for Bill or Susie this year to show my love and affection for them? I try to choose a gift that is personal for them. If it's a piece of jewelry I'm creating for someone, I try to always choose a piece designed for that person. It may not be personalized or monogramed, although this is a great idea, the gift will be just for them. I think you can tell if the gift is not created or selected just for that family member or friend. handmade or hand created gifts are always treasured and held in high esteem by the recily and thoughtfully our gifts this Christmas season.

Handmade Gifts

As the holiday gift season approaches, most of us begin  thinking about gift giving.  One of the most meaningful gifts is a handmade gift.  A handmade gift has a part of the artist's heart in it.  It is a planned and thought-out idea created from the artist's mind into an original creation. Handmade gifts are kept by the receiver and valued as treasures from the giver, whether the gift is jewelry or other original handmade wares.  This season, pause and slow down long enough to choose a handcrafted gift to fit the receiver instead of just mindlessly picking up SOMETHING to give as a gift!

Looking For My Style

For some time I have been trying to find my style.  A custom style associated with my business, Bits of Clay.  I have not found or settled on a style that fits just yet.  I still want to do every new and different technique I see, therefore, i have a varied line of jewelry.  I am leaning toward metallic creations in polymer clay and I usually design and create leaves, and nature related jewelry in Precious metal clay.  But I'll keep working on a line and style that I'm happy with for me and my jewelry business.
The first leaf necklace is Precious Metal Clay and the second photo, although not metallic, is a polymer clay leaf bracelet.








http://www.bitsofclay.com

When you design Fall jewelry, What do you Think of?

When I start thinking of Fall jewelry, I always think leaves. How many other designers in polymer clay or metal clay think the same way.  I know polymer clay designers and creators will think pumpkins, but what others subjects and colors do you think of?  Of course, your Fall line does not have to include leaves aor pumpkins!  These are the easiest in polymer clay.  I have decided to think out of the box and maybe just design a pleasing shape in metal clay; maybe add colorful czs in the design.  Then in polymer clay, maybe incorporate what I think of as Fall colors and not necessarily a Fall theme.  Of course, I will design a leaf cane in many Fall colors, too!

New Pieces

I have been working very hard in Precious metal clay and polymer clay to create new pieces. I have a few photos to share. I have more ideas and sketches than I can ever produce. But it's OK to dream and hope and plan.