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.

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!

Working Away on New Jewelry

I'm working away on new polymer jewelry for galleries and for teaching new polymer classes. I will be teaching a Make and Take bracelet class at White Fox Beads in June in Maryville, Tennessee and at the Appalachian Arts Craft Center in Norris, Tennessee in August. The gathering of materials
and tools, plus preparing the samples and step by step process takes time and planning. Once a well known teacher advised me to work backwards in planning the class. This is good advice for me. I first make a list of materials for the project then make a tools list. I also write a class description. I think the hardest part of the planning is the handout of instructions and drawings for the technique. After these steps are finished, I think of the class from end to beginning. I feel this is necessary though for a successful class.

Great Class

I have just returned from a great polymer clay class, Building Better Beads, with Dan Cormier/TracyHolmes in Asheville, NC। I try to take classes, not just to learn from great teachers but also to recharge my creativity. I always come away with many new ideas. I think taking a class or going to a conference will always provide stimulation in many positive ways for you, even if it's not in your medium, per se.

Working Away

I am working on a PMC piece to get ready to photograph. I am also working on bracelets in polymer clay. I have beads made in the weave cane which I call ribbon beads. I will post a photo when I get the bracelets finished. I am working on building spring inventory for the two shops my jewelry is in. I feel the economy will call for lower priced pieces this spring and summer. I think people will visit our area--Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Dollywood.

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.

Just some updates

I have not been posting regularly. I've had to work on blog. Trying to transfer old blog to new blog. I was able to transfer script but not photos. I will add photos of recent work and caning in polymer clay. As you may know I love to cane in polymer clay!By the way, weave cane is from Lisa Clarke in Polymer Cafe.