bluemorningexpressions' Blog
Blue Morning Expressions Artfire Blog
BluPrint November 2011 Polymer Clay Canes, Beads and Jewelry
Published: 11-12-2011 04:43pm
Posted In: BluPrint Newsletter
Posted In: BluPrint Newsletter
Monday, October 31, 2011
BluPrint November 2011 Polymer Clay Canes, Beads and Jewelry
7:10 PM | Posted by
Julie L. Cleveland |
Volume 8 Issue 11, November 2011 What's New in November? Banana
Bread! - Ok, this is a bit different than my usual post, but I have to
share this wonderfully easy and moist bread/cake recipe. All you really
need is a couple overripe bananas. • 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed • 1/3 cup melted butter • 1 cup sugar • 1 egg, beaten • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 1 teaspoon baking soda • pinch of salt • 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour This
recipe is really easy—sma... » Read More
Handmade Christmas Gifts for 2011
Published: 11-12-2011 04:42pm
Posted In: Let Me Share this with You
Posted In: Let Me Share this with You
Handmade Christmas Gifts for 2011
10:18 AM | Posted by
Julie L. Cleveland |
Shopping has begun for the 2011 season, many folks began to
shop last Christmas, but some of us are just beginning our Christmas
shopping and are opting to shop handmade for all of our gifts. When
you shop handmade for Christmas, you help to support local artists and
their families. They may not be local to you, but many of the artists
are from small towns and rural areas and by supporting them, you help
their smaller communities thrive. Small artists are a vital part
of their community; they attend local arts and cra... » Read More
Hurray for the Red, White and Blu!
Published: 11-12-2011 04:38pm
Posted In: Made in Micco
Posted In: Made in Micco
Since moving to Montana, I have lost track of the time of the year. There is a good chance that in the next day or so, we will have high elevation snowfalls again and the daily temperature is in the 50s- 60s. I do enjoy the weather, since I know back in Florida it is in the triple digits and my coastal community is looking at 90 plus, plus.
So, I forgot that the 4th of July was coming up, until I had a customer buy my Stars and Stripes Necklace and one of my 4th of July bracelets.
Both of those pieces featured the beautiful lampwork beads of Jacquie Maruri and were created with Swarovski, glass pearls, seed beads and my polymer clay star be... » Read More
Essential tools needed for making beaded jewelry
Published: 11-12-2011 04:38pm
Posted In: Let Me Share this with You
Posted In: Let Me Share this with You
Essential tools needed for making beaded jewelry
Julie L. Cleveland
The first time you admire someone’s necklace, bracelet, or set of
earrings, your mind begins the “I can do that” thought process. It is a
safe bet to say that if you would like to learn how to bead a fantastic
new pair of earrings, bracelet or necklace, you will learn how to do it.
There
are many, many articles, magazines, books and websites dedicated to
teaching you how to create anything from wild tribal necklaces to dainty
flower earrings.
To begin your adventure into jewelry making .... Read More
Share
|
... » Read More
A beginner's guide to bead stringing materials
Published: 11-12-2011 04:38pm
Posted In: Let Me Share this with You
Posted In: Let Me Share this with You
A beginner's guide to bead stringing materials
Julie L. Cleveland
With over thousands and thousands of different beads, websites and
craft stores, it is easy for the beginning beader and jewelry maker to
get overwhelmed before they even get started.
When you create your first piece of jewelry, you will realize what a rewarding craft this is and you will begin to string beads for yourself and your friends.
To begin your adventure into jewelry making with beads, ... Read More
Share
|
... » Read More
Jewelry Basics Word Search Puzzle
Published: 11-12-2011 04:37pm
Posted In: Fun and Games
Posted In: Fun and Games
For fun, I created a word search puzzle - print this out and enjoy!
Jewelry Basics Word Search
U U W P L P E G I R W K S U V
J E W E L R Y N K S E R E S H
Z G X S C X S I S G A Z B F W
W N P J W H O G V N V V R L U
N I K P C W V N O I I S A C B
A D R L W E I I R D N S C R L
S A O J P V R R A N G E E Y S
G E W Y J I J T W I O C L S N
N B M T Q T F S S F N A E T O
I H O W G A Q N I Y C L T A H
R A O D C E E X T X M K S L C
R P L T S R A C D Z M C T S O
A P Q I Z C A K Y B I E N X B
E Y E Y R E Q P D U C N V X A
K Y S E E D B E A D S D A J C... » Read More
The Travelin' Show
Published: 11-12-2011 04:37pm
Posted In: Blu Musings
Posted In: Blu Musings
Friday, May 20, 2011
The Travelin’ Show
Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies and everyone go…..
Traveling
with Blu was like having a toddler in the car. “Give me a drink”, “Wipe
my face”, “I’m hungry”, “I have to go to the bathroom”, “Oops, I just
threw up”.
We traded in the view of the space shuttle from the
kitchen table, for the majestic mountains of the Rockies; specifically,
the Gallatin Range. I live near places like Roaring Hell Creek now. I am
fairly positive that it has that name for a reason.
Shuttle launch – July 4th
We
spent four day... » Read More
Backgroundless Canes Continued
Published: 11-12-2011 04:37pm
Posted In: Polymer Clay Canes
Posted In: Polymer Clay Canes
As I previously posted about the backgroundless canes, I told you I would post some photos of them as I finished them.
I
was surprised at the size of the purple flowers when I finished them.
They were smaller than I had anticipated, although ALMOST the size I
needed for the project. The thing that keeps throwing me, and I mean
throwing me, is the bulk of the play-doh in addition to the outer wrap
of scrap clay.
When I cane now, I use a thinner wrap of
translucent or color that I can not only see, but can visualize as my
project. I know how much clay it takes to get a 20mm face or a 10mm
face. And ... » Read More
Backgroundless Polymer Clay Canes
Published: 11-12-2011 04:37pm
Posted In: Polymer Clay Canes
Posted In: Polymer Clay Canes
I am trying my hand at the backgroundless canes using the playdoh as seen on
Backgroundless Canes by Idit Zoota.
I needed a boatload of little 10mm flowers that I could cut for small beads and this is perfect for that.
I
had to go out and buy playdoh and should have shopped price before I
picked it up at Jo-Anns when I got my micro crimper today. I paid too
much for it and used my 40% off coupon and still paid too much. It's
less than 2 bucks at Walmart and I paid 3 bucks WITH the discount.
But I digress.
The
smell of playdoh will take you back to your childhood, but the real
shock is the difference in consistency whe... » Read More
Walked For 11 Miles!
Published: 11-12-2011 04:36pm
Posted In: Blu Musings
Posted In: Blu Musings
My peeps are generally well adjusted and rational, but this holiday weekend, they took leave of their senses and decided to go for a walk.
Normally, we all go for a walk together - a couple miles - , sometimes they take me to places like "Drinking Horse Mountain", or The "M", which is the Montana State University M on the side of the Mt. Baldy in Bozeman. Or, mom just takes me to the dog park where I can run around 15 acres or so and play.
But "Labor Day", they decided that we were going to go and see the waterfalls in Hylite Canyon. Being a Beardie, I am also game for a good walk, or a climb over some rocks, or even herding pugs in a dog ... » Read More
Polymer Clay Purple Violet Blossom Flower Necklace
Published: 11-12-2011 04:36pm
Posted In: Made in Micco
Posted In: Made in Micco
This necklace is an example of how my lentil beads can be used to create a multi-strand necklace with resin flowers and Czech emerald glass beads.
This was the project that I completed for a Polymer Clay Smoosher's Artfire group project on something spring-like and flowery.
I love purple and the combination of both purple and green reminds me of the fresh violets that bloom every spring "up north".
Check out the other lentil beads that I have for sale and see if there isn't a set that sparks your creativity and just begs for you to create a necklace for yourself.
... » Read More
The History of Christmas in July
Published: 11-12-2011 04:36pm
Posted In: Let Me Share this with You
Posted In: Let Me Share this with You
Ah, July.
July means we are half way through the year, and while in
some places the heat makes it hard to think about Christmas, but many places
bring out their holly and lights and trumpet a “Christmas in July” sale. According to some various sources that
Wikipedia fanatics have amassed, the actual source of the holiday frenzy is
attributed to many different angles. Some say that it comes from an opera where
children rehearse Christmas songs in July which prompts an astute observer to
quip that when you sing Christmas in July, you rush the season.
Others probably closer to the mark, have attributed the ... » Read More
Polymer Clay Pillow Beads with Floral Canes, Butterflies and Transclucent Canes
Published: 11-12-2011 04:36pm
Posted In: Polymer Clay Beads
Posted In: Polymer Clay Beads
Polymer Clay Beads Filled with Flowers and Butterflies!
My all time favourite beads to create are pillow beads. I don't know what it is about them, but I can't resist creating them. I like the way they feel, I love the size of them - most 20mm - although I do have some 15mm sized beads as well.
To me, it is hard to resist what I consider a blank canvas.
I start with a blank sheet of clay; either in a tinted colour - I rarely use a colour out of the package, or a neutral.
If I am using a neutral, I will take one of my kaleidoscope canes and cover the sheet of clay before I cut them to the size of bead that I am creating. The base... » Read More
Beautiful Calla Lilies from Big Sur Counted Cross Stitch Pattern
Published: 11-12-2011 04:35pm
Posted In: Made in Micco
Posted In: Made in Micco
Calla Lily Cross Stitch Pattern
This photo and the other photo with several lilies were taken when on a trip my husband and I took to Big Sur in 2008. I had never been to California and I was captured, enraptured and wowed by all the sights.
These large lillies were growing along the side of a roadside art gallery. I saw a lot of great art and lots of gorgeous flowers. I took so many photos that I was downloading my card on my lap top as we drove along.
I used a lot of the photos that I took during that trip to create counted cross stitch patterns.
This is one of them.
Enjoy my trip
Julie and Blu... » Read More
Orange Green Miami Hurricane Colors Beaded Charm Bracelet
Published: 11-12-2011 04:35pm
Posted In: Made in Micco
Posted In: Made in Micco
Perfect for your University of Miami fan!
This bracelet titled "Peas and Carrots" is lush with my own creations.
This
heavily beaded charm bracelet has been hand created from polymer clay
beads, lentil beads, Swarovski crystals, seed beads, Czech glass beads
and gold plated findings.
The beads have all been created from
artist quality polymer clay and have been hand formed into either 10mm
round beads, 10 mm disk beads, 15mm flower beads, 15mm heart lentil
beads, 10mm round lentil beads, and smaller disks. Each bead has been
accented with gold plated bead caps and spacer beads, as well as delica
seed beads and ebeads.... » Read More
My latest polymer clay rondelle beads as earring sets
Published: 11-12-2011 04:35pm
Posted In: Polymer Clay Beads
Posted In: Polymer Clay Beads
I have been working on new bead styles and I have been a purchaser of many different lampwork earring pairs from some of my favourite lampwork artists. I thought maybe I would add a new style and a new product to the line of beads that I work with.
These beads were so much fun to make that I got the whole family involved!
Blu is usually involved anyway but I got my hubby to break out the dremel and help me drill the centers. He is now in the process of building me a stand for the dremel and we went and bought some fine bits. These earrings are just the start of some great new sets! :)
Enjoy!
Julie and Blu... » Read More
