ABS Editors Take the November Challenge!

Cattleya Orchid and Three Hummingbirds by Martin Johnson Heade

This month's inspiration piece for the November Challenge at Art Bead Scene isn't my cup of tea. With Heather's push I decided at the last minute to participate. 

This is the Lotus Button from my Henna Collection. Normally these are glazed with a single color.
I wanted to give a customer another option for the color she had chosen. 

This the red happens to be in the tail of the bird on the right.
I was able to participate in  the November challenge! Cool!!
I ran out of time to glaze another version which was going to be in gradated color of pink to white.

I can't wait to see what everyone else creates for this months challenge!

Please hop over to see what my fellow Editors created for the challenge.

Art Bead Scene

Rebecca Anderson – Songbeads (posting tomorrow!)

Mary Harding – Mary Harding Jewelry

Heather Powers – Humblebeads Blog

Claire Lockwood-Something to Do with Your Hands

Remember any button can be a pendant or jewelry component.

ABS Editors Take the October Monthly Challenge

5 Art Bead Scene editors took the Monthly Challenge. 

We hope you will also take the challenge with us this month!

This is my necklace using Milton Avery's painting, Autumn, as inspiration.

I used my Branch Buttons to represent the tree/branches in the painting.

The Circle Buttons & Beads along with the tiny clay beads bring color. I liked the contrast of putting two very different ceramic components in the same piece. The branches are realistic and the circles/beads are more of a modern style.

Three strands of different elements were used for interest, texture and depth. 

Autumn by Milton Avery

The color I cannot replicate in a glaze is the fuchsia. I have had so many customers request a bright pink but its just not possible. That is the one color missing in my necklace.

I wrapped the ceramic rings with brass wire and created wrapped loops. On the opposing side I wrapped the ring, strung ceramic beads onto the wire then wrapped the other side. Ceramic components were put together with jump rings. 

As you can see with the Branches any of my buttons can become jewelry components.

The tiny clay beads were strung together with memory wire. Chain is Vintaj brass.

I used another ceramic ring for the clasp. The hook for the clasp is made from twisted brass wire. The ring is attached with deer suede. I like the juxtaposition of suede with the chain/bead elements.

Please visit all the Art Bead Scene editors pages for our Challenge Blog Hop

Art Bead Scene

Humblebeads :: Heather Powers

Mary Harding Jewelry :: Mary Harding

Tesori Trovati :: Erin Prais-Hintz

Something to Do with Your Hands :: Claire Lockwood

Inside the Studio :: Creative Impressions In Clay

Welcome to Inside the Studio!

Each week one of our contributors at Art Bead Scene 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.

Congratulations Ali/Rouladen! You have won a Starfish Pendant from Humblebeads. 

Please send Heather an e-mail with your information.

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Lotus Buttons

Happy Friday! I thought I would share my process for making buttons. 

I would show my studio but the ceiling is being repaired from a leak and its a disaster.

First I make a prototype which involves carving the design out of clay that is in the leather hard stage. I use many different tools and brushes to get the design ready to mold, making sure there are no undercuts. The clay would not release from the mold if there are undercuts. 

A plaster mold is made of the prototype. In this example I used a paper bowl to pour the mold. Tacky glue is used to glue the prototype to the bottom of the bowl to prevent it from floating. This one is off center and looks like it may have floated a little. Patience...let the glue dry :)

Customers order their button style(s) and hole or loop configuration. I can put as many hole or loops as you would like. Have it your way!

They are left to dry.

When the buttons dry it is referred as bone dry stage or Greenware. At this stage I sand the backs, clean and smooth all edges and holes. You don't want anything sharp that may scratch/cut anyone or pull your clothing. 

Some underglazes are applied to the greenware.

 Bisque fired buttons. Nice and smooth. You can rub them on your clothing without snagging, the same can't be said for my hands. 

I sign all my buttons and add my website. It gets a little tricky on the tiny buttons.

All buttons can become a pendant or jewelry component. 

Assortment of buttons with loops and holes. The dragonfly button in the picture is slightly curved for a bracelet component.

It's up to how you will be using your buttons: No Holes, Shank, 2 Holes, 4 Holes, 1 Hole-Top, 2 Holes-Top&Bottom, 1 Loop-Top, 2 Loops-Top&Bottom, 2 Loops-Left&Right, 1 Loop Top/3Bottom, etc.

Same goes for beads, holes or loops!

Special orders don't upset us!

My Question is: 

What do you do when your bead/button table isn't calling your name?
Mine is buried at the moment.

Leave your answer to the question in the comments at Art Bead Scene

and you could win a $10 Gift Certificate.

Have a great day!!

Feeling Sassy as usual!

Tari Sasser

Creative Impressions In Clay

Inside the Studio :: Creative Impressions In Clay

Welcome to Inside the Studio!

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.

Congratulations Deb Fortin! You have won a a pair of hand formed ceramic birds from Mary Harding. Please send Mary an e-mail with your information.

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Update 5/11/14

Totem is finished!

 I have an obsession.

It started about a year ago. I can't remember exactly how it started but it did and I love it! I have Pinterest Board filled with examples I have studied, admired and built my own in my head.

What is this obsession you ask? Totems!! They are wonderful!!

They can be as perfect or imperfect, tall or short, random or tell a story. They mean freedom to me. No rules, just make different elements and stack them. No right or wrong, unstack and re-stack till it looks as you feel it should.

It has taken me till this week to actually make one. I don't have a finished product picture but I can show you my elements (bisque fired) and how I think I'm going to stack them.

I'm not sure everything that has been going on in my head that it has taken me so long to do this...studio was such a mess I couldn't get to the table...my main excuse. I was feeling down at the beginning of the week missing my daughter and grandchildren who are in Norway plus too many job rejections. I forced myself to start on a totem. screaming at myself in my head, "do something, you always feel better when you create." The studio clean up started a couple weeks ago.

A bag of clay and Pharrell Williams "Happy" playing loudly, I began.

It was wonderful and freeing! I can't believe I waited this long. I was actually excited about something again.

This one is for my mom for Mothers Day. She collects chickens. Funny thing about moms we accept most things our kids make.

She gets to be the recipient of my first totem.

Clean up in Aisle 9! The first chicken had an explosive personality and couldn't take the heat in the kiln.

 The quickly made replacement chicken. Still needs to be bisque fired.

All of my elements.

My first stacking. After seeing the photo I wanted to change it. 

Ignore the wooden piece. I don't have my center rod yet, so I used a child's stacking toy as the base :)

Second stack. Besides being to be glazed and desperately needing color, I feel like it needs more spacers. I may have to throw in recycled materials.

Update...

Here are some of the elements I underglazed today to give you an idea of the totem with colors.

Update...5/10/14 :: 5pm

All the pieces with underglazes. Now to dip them all in clear glaze and fire them!
Fun, fun, fun!!!

My Question is: 

Is there something you are obsessed with?