Studio Saturday at Artbeadscene

This week we visit the studio of Tari Sasser at Creative Impressions In Clay.

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
This weeks winner is Sharon Driscoll of Right Turn ArtWerks. Congratulations! 

You have won one of Jangles Heart Pendants from the studio of Jennifer Heynen. 

Send Jennifer an e-mail with your address and she will get it right out to you.

I can't believe it's almost the end of January! There are so many things I have wanted to do to start the beginning of the year. Mainly get organized and clean my studio. Instead I have been stuck working other things like taxes. Such an arduous task and one I dislike tremendously but the government wants their cut.
My goal since last year has been to start painting again. I miss taking the time and doing something I don't have to do, but want to do. Somehow doing the dishes, picking up the house, cleaning my studio and in general taking care of a family, doesn't quite fill that void. We artists are funny that way. I need to stretch myself creatively. 
One of the good things about being a part of Art Bead Scene and Studio Saturday's is that I make myself do things I generally don't make time for in my schedule. I have had blank bags in my studio for quite a while. It was time to paint. Last night I painted this little bag. OK, scheduling is not my forte. Showing something new was important to me so I stayed up to work on the bag. I found myself remembering painting class in school. The technique I wanted to achieve was always something loose. Of course painting loose eluded me. Leslie, my prof, told me "it's harder to paint loose than tight." For me that was correct. My training was graphic arts the first time around art school.  Painting realism was what was asked of us. 
The bag is my beginning of the new year. I'm not quite happy with the results so far but it's a start.

I am going to paint this year. It could me furniture, bags maybe even a canvas but I'm going to paint.

I found myself last night as I was drifting off to sleep seeing paint strokes...nice.


My question this week is:

Where do you get your ideas or like to create/design?

I see ideas in my head as I am trying to sleep or sometimes in my dreams.

Life is short Create!

Leave me a comment at Art Bead Scene Blog and you could win a set of Bead Buttons shown above.
Winner will be chosen randomly.

Studio Saturday @ Artbeadscene-Button Earrings, 5 in under 5

Peace

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
This weeks winner is Heather Cote of Azure Island Beads. Congratulations! 
You have won one of Jangles Holiday Beads from the studio of Jennifer Heynen. 
Send Jennifer an e-mail with your address and she will get it right out to you.

This week we visit the studio of Tari Sasser at Creative Impressions In Clay.

As we are doing the sprint into Christmas, I wanted to give you ideas for quick earrings. Since I mostly make buttons, I wanted to show 5 Button earrings you can make in under 5 minutes. It is possible. I am into simple.

Locate your supplies, you need: buttons, jump rings, charms and earwires.

Pair number One is made using beading hoops and layering the Lady Bug buttons over the Leaf Buttons.

Pair number Two. These are charms I use for stitch markers. I attached the enamel charm  and ceramic charm to the earwires. I like that they aren't exact matches.

Pair number Three. My favorite and my daughter's favorite. She asked to wear them before I had photographed them. Use a jump ring that is large enough to through the first button hole and close. I put the jumpring through the charm and the Tie Dye Button hole, attach to the earwires.

Pair number Four. I used two jumprings per anodized aluminum washers, attached one jumpring to the earwire and the other to the Layered Bead Button. Very swanky!

Pair number Five. Twisted jumprings are used in each of the two button holes. One attaches to the earwires and the other to charms that hang off the bottom of the Dot Buttons.

Very quick and easy. Great for when you need a gift fast. I have had a guest show up and I did the "uh-oh" I don't have a gift. I am out in my studio frantically making earrings or ornaments while my husband entertains.
Just keep smiling!

My question this week is:

What last minute gift have you had to create?

Leave a comment on Artbeadscene and...

You can win your own set of Lady Bug Buttons, so you can create your own earrings.

Happy Holidays! 

I have a very hard time dealing with the holidays. I'll be standing over here with the fake grin pretending "It's the most Wonderful Time of the Year."
I wish you warmth, happiness and your best coping mechanism...pajamas and a glass of wine.
I got a new camera...I'm trying hard to improve my photography!

Simple Silver Earrings

Very simple earrings that uses finding most of us have lying around in our studios.

Supplies:

3 sizes of Sterling Silver Jump Rings (total of 6 Jump Rings)

6 small Jump Rings (I used twisted jump rings)

Ear Wires

Bench Block

Hammer

Chain Nose or Flat Nose Pliers

These are great for when you need a gift fast. Plus they look fantastic.
You can use as many Jump Rings as you would like. Graduate the sizes either up or down. Beads can be added but aren't necessary. Especially if you are in a time crunch.

Hammer the 3 different sizes on your bench block. Try not to distort roundness much if possible. The rings will open up. I held the rings with my pliers and tapped them closed. I also tapped them back in round.

Use the 6 small jump rings (twisted jump rings in the photo) to connect the 2 sets of 3. I needed to tap my small jump rings on the bench block to make them oval shaped. I didn't have the next size up.

Attach to earwires.

You're done! I'm a lazy beader, so this works well for me. No muss, no fuss.

How to Make Decorative Ornament Hooks

I posted this last year. It seems fitting to post again this time of year.

As we get closer to the holidays it's time to start thinking about gifts. I always make ornaments every year. I can't seem to get out of it and everyone expects one every year. Here is a Decorative Ornament Hook that can be used to hang many things. Using copper looks great and it's inexpensive.

Start with 4" piece of 18 gauge copper wire. I picked a spool up at Ace Hardware. Don't try to straighten the wire too you will put kinks in the wire that you can't get out.

With the curve of the wire facing away from you, use your round nose pliers to make a small loop at the end of the wire. Always roll your wire away from your body.

Using the handle of a large paintbrush, about 1/2" up the loop end of the wire bend the wire over handle. Do this by smoothing the wire as you bend it. Bring the wire slightly under the handle and begin curving the other end to form an "S".

Begin making the coil on the end by using the large end of your round nose pliers to create an open loop.

Complete the coil by rolling it upwards towards the top of the hook with your fingers.

I like my hooks hammered. Use a hammer and a striking plate to hammer the small loop and coil.

Completed Hook.

Combining your hook and ornament.
Cut 10" of sheer ribbon. I get mine at Michaels. To give the ornament and ribbon a nice finished look and to keep the ribbon from doing the annoying split, I slide a 10mm glass donut over the ribbon. Fire Mountain Gems has a great selection. The clear glass donuts go best with all ornaments.

Don't forget to add your artist tag so everyone knows they have a hand crafted item by you. This one is 1" x 1"

Tie the ribbon onto the bottom of the hook using an overhand knot. This keeps your ornament and hook together and secure.

You have a beautiful finished product hanging from a handmade copper hook. Colored wire works wonderful also. Just don't hammer it.
18 gauge wire will hold most ornaments. The heftier the ornament the thicker your wire needs to be.

Claybuttons Etsy Shop

It's been a very long time since I have had any items in my Etsy shop.

Now there are 20! Woo Hoo!

Pictured above is a Needle/Pin Minder. It's 2 parts, one goes on top of your canvas, quilt, etc., one goes on the bottom. Either side may but up depending on your mood. Both sides have Earth Magnets in them. They attract/mind your needles and pins. This way they don't end up in the floor, chair or you. They can also sit next to you on the table while you are working and keep your pins and needles.

http://www.claybuttons.etsy.com

I'm having a clearance on Tie Dye Pendants.

They are now $25.00! Great deal for everyone on your Xmas list.

 

Groovy Tie Dye!

Happy Holidays!

Cyber Monday Sale

Cyber Monday 20% off  use code "Cyber20"

See sale page

$25 Tie Dye Pendants when you use 20% off code

Sale extends to in stock items also. Email Tari for availability tari@claybuttons.com.  

Plus free shipping for orders of $50 or more.

Handmade Buttons and Gifts

Black Friday thru Cyber Monday Sale 12am November 27 through 12 PM November 30 All items shown here are 10% off. Items are in stock and ready to ship. Site Wide Sale of IN STOCK items. Please email inquiries of other items that are in stock. They will be included in the 10% off sale. Orders $50 or more will receive Free Shipping! Receive an Extra 10% Put "Xtra10" in the Voucher box of the shopping cart.

"From Our House to Yours" These adorable House Ornaments make wonderful Hostess gifts for all your upcoming Holiday Parties. Available in 4 Colors Neon Red :: Neon Green :: Neon Blue :: Neon Purple Ornaments come ready for gift giving with a handmade Copper Hook and strung on a ribbon. Packaged in an Organza gift bag. House Size 1 3/8" x 1 1/2" With Ribbon and Hook approx. 7.5"-8" long

"From Our House to Yours"  Ornament $11.50 :: 10% off $10.00