Beautiful Creativity with Polymer Clay

I currently have a beautiful assortment of handcrafted polymer clay pendant-necklaces available in my store! And, I thought I should give a little info on the labor behind these pendants! (This info is very simplified for brevity.)

Here's a little known fact, I love working with Polymer Clay -- it is my favorite! First of all, the clay has to be conditioned, kneaded and/or processed through a pasta maker! Then the clay is rolled out to the desired thickness. From this point on, the sky's the limit!

Sometimes I add powdered color pigments to the raw clay. Sometimes I wait until the piece is baked, then paint it. Working with the powder color pigments, I can combine colors to make new colors! I can also mix the powder with liquid glaze to use as paint. With the color pigments, I can make the clay look like antiqued brass, copper, gold, silver and/or all the colors of the rainbow, and add an amazing variety of color detail!

There is a new pendant design I make in which I insert a large bezel into clay that I have already cut into shape. After I bake this piece, I glue one of my tiny original art collages and/or charms into the bezel, cover with a layer of resin and then let it cure. Later I can add color pigments, polish and buff the clay, finish it out. It is then ready for me to make into a necklace!


I have also used my handmade polymer clay beads on this necklace:



For another new style, recently I decided to set gemstone cabochons into clay pieces for beautiful, unique pendants that are much less expensive than the Precious Metal Clay pendants I make. I enjoy making these as a vintage style!





Being that I am a garden-and-nature-woman, many of my pendants feature birds, dragonflies and flowers. Again, making these with Polymer Clay instead of the Precious Metal Clay helps me to have lower price for my customers!






The process for each pendant, from start to finish, takes several hours over a day or two or more, depending on the complexity of the piece. Making the pendant into a pendant-necklace takes additional hours; again this varies due to the intricacy of the design. These hours are a 'labor of love' for me. As I mentioned earlier, I love working with Polymer Clay, it is my favorite!

~Please visit my new location at www.GilannieJewelry.com~

Peace&Love
~Gilannie~

Now a Pendant Necklace

The next step for my just-finished Polymer Clay Pendants ~ make into Necklaces!

Here are the first four completed:

This is the Mountain Bluebird ~ a more-pastel blue than the Eastern Bluebird ~ on silver chain with hammered swirls like tiny branches ~ wire-wrapped freshwater pearls dangle like little blossoms!


The Bluebird of Happiness ~ Eastern Bluebird ~ on copper wire chain, hammered spirals & swirls like graceful branches ~ with lovely turquoise stone beads!


The Abundance Tree ~ I love trees! ~ Pendant is adorned with large oval Turquoise stone (wire-wrapped) ~ on brass chain with smaller oval turquoise & fire polished crystal dangles!


Good Fortune Owl Pendant Necklace ~ In some cultures the Owl represents Good Fortune, in others, Wisdom ~ This cute owl will at least put a smile on your face!


More new necklaces, bracelets to come!
I think Spring is nearly here!! Live-Laugh-Love!

Polymer Clay Pieces in Progress

It's so much fun to blend color pigment powders to create just the right color.
I then apply (paint) the color onto the polymer clay pieces, one layer at a time.
Then I blend the next color, or shade and apply that layer. I like that the
end result has an enameled look.

Here are photos of current pieces in progress:


It is a slow process but I love to make each piece a unique work of art to wear!
Off to paint ~ 'till next time, Live~Laugh~Love!






**UPDATE** FRIDAY EVENING ~ PIECES NEAR COMPLETION ~

Welcome to March

March is full of exciting days: 14th we change to Daylight Savings Time ~ 17th is St.Patrick's Day ~ 20th is the Vernal Equinox ~ 25th is Palm Sunday ~ March 30th is Passover.

Aquamarine is the March Birthstone ~ Jonquil is the March Flower ~

Today I worked on Polymer Clay Pendants and Charms ~ imprint, style, stamp, shape, cut, etc. The weather was so nice I set up my craft oven outside to bake the clay pieces. What a lovely change of pace, and weather, to sit outside while working!

They don't look like much yet, however, tomorrow I'll mix up pigment colors and start to paint each one.

After painting and sealing each I'll add adornments and make into necklaces.




Spring is on the way ~ smile!!