Response Sunday: Gilder's Paste and Propellers

This week, I had a little time in the beading studio and made a few things with the wonderful metal bits I got from B'Sue Boutiques.  Since they are carrying some of my beads, I wanted to make some samples that incorporated both of our products.  I made three pieces and I wanted to show this one today because it involved using a new material: Guilder's Paste.  I used the Tulip Red paste to color the fox stamping in this necklace.  Guilder's Paste is a really neat product with lots of possibilities.  It comes in a tin and is very similar to shoe polish.  I used a cloth and a cotton swab to apply it to the fox, but in the future I think using a paintbrush with a little bit of paint thinner would work better.  I learned this tip from watching one of B'Sue's many videos!  Check out the B'Sue You Tube channel for lots of informative info.

Another thing that I think was innovative in this design was the use of findings in unusual ways.  First, the V shaped pendant base started out as an album corner (like the kind you would use on a box or photo album).  I just looped the ends around to attach them to the rings.  I also wanted to add the fox stamping, but it had no holes or loops.  I didn't want to just glue it in place, I wanted prongs of some sort.  I discovered that the small brass propellers (so cool!) were very easy to manipulate and once I figured out the placement, they worked perfectly to secure the fox head in place

I decided to call this piece Fox Princess, because she looks like my foxy dog Zoey, and she is clearly a princess.

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Owl Issues

So let me tell you a little about my owl crisis. I have been struggling with this for a couple of months now.  See, my local clay supplier was out of my regular clay in March, and then the company was sold and moved and is slowly setting up to start producing clay again. I am very pleased that I will still be able to get the clay I have been using for about ten years and the new management has been really great in getting back to me and keeping me as informed as they can probably about the changes.  Nevertheless, it has been very frustrating to be without my clay for the last two months.  Not to mention that I am looking toward another month maybe until I can restock.

I was able to find a replacement clay from another company that feels and looks just like my old clay.  It is a very close match in many ways.  Most of my glazes look similar.  But some glazes are way off.  For example, above, you can see a happy owl in my old clay on the left.  On the right is another owl, a little less happy, made the same way, fired to the same temperature with the same glazes.  It's just not right.  The leaf green bellied ones are worse, as both the brown and the green are reacting differently to the new clay. 

Above, yet another test in a clay that is my brother's casting slip made into a solid clay and made into an owl.  The color is much better, but there were running issues.  This is likely because the clay was really hard for me to use and I couldn't get defined impressed lines like I get with my old clay.  The clay felt like it wanted to keep reverting back to a liquid, if you can imagine that feeling.

As a way to try to get a better match for the old owls in my new clay, you can see the picture at the very top.  I made some quick owl wings and applied a different brown to each one.  Clearly, I have a lot of variations of brown!  I take pride in my ability to produce consistent results for my catalog of beads... my business depends on it. It takes a long time and much experimenting for a ceramic artist to get a palette of glazes that are just right.  When one element of the process changes, everything can be thrown for a loop.   I like to show the ups and downs of my process and business, and this is a definite down time.  Hopefully it will be short lived and I will not take my clay suppliers for granted again.  This is also the long answer to the question "do you have any of those cute owls in stock?"  Hopefully, it will be soon!

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Recent Earthenwood Graphic Work

 I have been wearing my "graphic designer" hat for my business lately, which is not my favorite of the hats I wear (not the worst either).  I used to really dread having to do graphics.  I think it was mostly because I felt insecure about my 2D design work.  I think I am feeling better about it, or at least I have let go of some of the insecurity in favor of not overthinking and overworking things.  Above is a banner I designed for my booth at the Bead & Button Show (and probably other bead shows, too)  I can't tell you how long I have wanted a banner for the show, but it always gets pushed to the last minute and then it is too late.  Since I was working on many graphics for things before B&B, I added to the list, and now I am waiting for this to arrive as a 4x2.5' vinyl banner.  So excited!

I also made this postcard for my booth at the Rustbelt Market.  I wanted something really rusted and worn looking, and it needed lots of information.  I am very pleased with this design and the cards look awesome!  They are all glossy and colorful on the front and the back has just a little bit more info and space for mailing labels and other labels that will have specific dates on them.  And I got 500 of them, so expect to see them all over the place (and stuffed into mail orders too!).  Thanks to Vistaprint for making all these marketing materials so easy and affordable

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Rustbelt Display Progress

Yesterday was a rare sunny and non-rainy day, so I took advantage of it for some of the display projects I have been working on for Rustbelt Market.  Last week, I showed some of the progress I made on my rusted wood display, but I wasn't done yet!  Yesterday Alex helped me add some copper tubing to the back of the display so it extended above.  I will use this to hang some long ribbons that I will be offering for sale.  They are ribbons made from recycled saris and are incredibly beautiful, so I wanted a special display space for them.  We just used copper tubing and plumbing parts, which I heated with a propane torch to give it more of an aged look.

In addition to the copper tubing work, I did some spray painting and staining of some old wooden displays.  They were looking a little beat up, which I like, but I wanted them to be a little more consistent and dark in color.  I am not even sure what these will contain, but I will find something to put in them!  I am thinking they will hold some Green Girl beads and other artist beads.

Just to give you an idea of the look that the Rustbelt is looking for and what I am working towards, here is one of the owners, Tiffany Best, with a mock booth display.  I love it so much!  I am eager to get in there next week to scope out my space and solidify my plans a bit.  I am going to be at the Market for opening weekend on May 7-8 and will return mid-June for at least a four weekend run.  So I have some time to tweak my display after opening weekend, after I get a feel for the space and the customers.

I love all the marketing stuff they are doing, too!  Love the gears!  There is a huge handmade gear sign up on the building now, which is really cool to see when I drive by.  Such a great change from the abandoned Old Navy store that has been there since as long as I can remember.

I have a few more pieces of rusty goodness out in the yard, hoping to be used in a display somehow.  There are two big car or motorcycle parts that are begging to be stands of some kind.  Also a great rusty shelf that was buried in my yard for some 15 years.  I might just use that on the table for some height and texture.

Although I am tempted to hang it on the wall... the underneath of the shelf is particularly beautiful to me, with the contrast of pale blue-green enamel and rust.

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Earthenwood Design Team Update!

Look at what the fabulous Lori Anderson made with one of my little crackle egg charms!  I love the way she  "framed" it by putting the turquoise colored pendant behind it, and kept the rest simple and clean with silver.  A perfect little springtime necklace!

Lori also made a very lovely and rich looking necklace using one of the keys from my EarthenOxide line.  Click on over to her blog to take a look at it!

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Studio Tour Sunday: Little Round Links

This week I was able to restock lots of items on my website, which makes me happy.  I have been working on getting everything stocked for many months now, and I am getting to the point where all the hidden items that have been out of stock are now in view and I have inventory.  Now I am even adding new things!  Some of them are simple, like these little round link accents in some of my best selling colors.  I just thought that having another simple accent choice would be good.  I think these would be fun for earrings and bracelets and certainly for necklaces, too.  I am eager to work with them, myself.
That's the news in my studio, check out what some of my fellow blog friends have going on in their studios: A Bead A Day
Do you like glitter AND jewelry making?! You are going to love this project that Lisa found over at FusionBeads.com! 
About.com Jewelry Making
What are your plans for your siver scraps now that silver is crazy expensive?   Art Bead Scene
Here's a fresh idea for spring - a garden gate clasp.   Barbe Saint John
Barbe's giving away the latest Industrial Chic booklet and some charms!   Beading Arts
As part of the Artbead challenge, "What's Old is New Again", Cyndi has constructed a flapper-style necklace from some very cool components!   Carmi's Art/Life World
This weeks blog features the poppies of Paris and the jewelery it inspires.   Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva
Cindy's made some new blush pink drops, come see what she's done with them!   Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
We all scream for Ice Cream! Melanie shows how she designed and made a new line of sweet pendants.   Resin Crafts!
This week Carmi has a short tutorial on using resin as a glaze.   Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Rio Grande is encouraging a wonderful way of helping the people of Japan and it is SO EASY! Read about it on Jean's blog!   Strands of Beads
Melissa is brooding about issues of originality this week.   The Bead Dreamer
A lovely tree branch, soft pink flowers and wisps of silk inspired two necklace designs.   The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew takes a peak at Anne Choi's new BRONZE beads!

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Response Sunday: Vintage Leather

 I am a day late for Response Saturday, but I am just thrilled to have had a bit of time in the studio to play this week!  This project is a pretty simple one, but it's lots of fun.  The idea and parts have been sitting on my desk for months, it seems.  It all started when I picked up some unusual leather postcards from an antique store.

 The postcards appear to have been handmade, the images stamped and stained into thin soft leather.  These postcards are from around the turn of the century... the one below clearly has a 1906 postmark stamping.  I love the patina of the leather and knew when I bought them that I wanted to make jewelry with them somehow.

I used a simple bracelet kit from Tandy Leather and punched holes in strips of the postcard and the bracelet.  I used some pewter colored eyelets to attach them all together.  This postcard in particular had the phrase "up for thirty days" and a picture of a calendar on it. I can see this as a starting point for more elaborate bracelets one day...I think I want to try recycling old leather belts and purses for the bracelet base next time.


Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Renewed Design: Sugar Skull Charms

 I am very pleased to announce that after many requests, I have finally added the Sugar Skull collection back to my Earthenwood website.  I have been meaning to get these restocked for months and months, but I was resisting it and dreading it.  I think it is because they are very time consuming...at least the way I used to do them was time consuming.  I gave them a little redesign which will make them so much easier to make, and now I love them again!

 The redesigns made them slightly less ornate.  For example both Flores and Frida have a few less dots and flowers.  But I think they retain the essence of the design... cute and colorful and a little bit creepy!

 The main change is in the balance of black and white.  The old ones were almost entirely white, but the crevasses were glazed with a deep jet black.  It was always hard for me to get that black into the cracks and then get the entire surface cleaned up and white again.  So I decided to keep them mostly black and just wipe away the top surface.  This also makes it so I don't have to put an additional layer of clear over the whole thing, letting the white clay create the contrast by itself.  Diablo got a bit of a change to make him easier for me to glaze, too. I hope everyone likes these changes, because they make me happy (and willing to keep making these!)

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

New Earthenwood Designs at B'Sue Boutiques!

I am very excited to announce that B'Sue Boutiques is starting to stock artisan made beads and components and  is now carrying a variety of Earthenwood Studio creations, like the ones shown above!  Some of these, like the Newsprint toggles and links, are being shown at B'Sue for the first time and are currently available there exclusively!

I am really excited about this new collaboration and I have obtained a variety of the beautiful goods that B'Sue's Boutiques is known for. I have picked out all of these wonderful things that I can't wait to work into new creations.  Check out the variety of finishes and designs I have waiting for me:

Click on over to B'Sue's Boutiques to see my artist page and keep clicking on all of the amazing things available for your jewelry making and crafting needs!

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Studio Tour Sunday: Moving On and Studio Links

So my show yesterday was less than successful. I guess you have to have one of those every once in a while to be humbled.  I am not really sure what the issue was, but not enough shoppers came, so not much was sold.  Oh well.  I had a good time anyway and it was close to home.  I made some killer trades and got some work done while in the booth.  I had quite a bit of stock already, so I didn't spend long hours preparing for this show, fortunately.  And now I am moving on to focus on the next things.  I have two major things coming up: the Rustbelt Market and the Bead & Button show on the not so distant horizon.

I also have some new press coming out!  I am eagerly awaiting the annual special issue of Beads 2011!  I know I have some pieces in it, but I sent so many things for consideration, I am not sure what will be published.  It's very exciting!  Can't wait to get my copy!

I am trying to get some of these new items made and stocked for spring.  I have started with these Road Trip links with little cars stamped into them and Wheelie links made from old army truck toys.  I glazed them in three colors which I think have a cool retro look to them.  I never thought I would make anything car themed, but I guess I am a Motor City gal at heart after all.

That's what's going on in my studio... check out these other links to some of my fellow bead bloggers' studios:

A Bead A Day

Are you a crafter AND a beader? Do you ever give in to mixing craft supplies into jewelry pieces? Stop by A Bead A Day to see Lisa's latest arts and crafts jewelry.   About.com Jewelry Making
Pets and children are wonderful, but they can make jewelry making very challenging!   Art Bead Scene
The Art Bead Scene shows off this month's challenge. Come take a look!   Beading Arts
The final chapter of Cyndi's e-book is now available! "Fibers, Fabrics, and Beads" challenges you to integrate all the fiber arts that you already love with your bead embroidery!   Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva
Cindy shares one of her free projects.   Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie introduces a new egg themed design and wonders what the Earthenwood Design Team will hatch up in jewelry designs.  Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean is still taking part in the April A to Z blogging challenge: "L" is for "L"isa Niven Kelly, and her "L"ovley book Jean loved and previously reviewed   Strands of Beads
Melissa is back and is wondering if anyone else has trouble using materials that are "too special" in their projects?   The Bead Dreamer
A vintage belt buckle takes center stage in a bold necklace designed by Charlene   The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew debuts his new filigree bezels filled with vintage stamps coated in resin. Check them out!  

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Response Saturday: Faux Rust

Well, I have missed two weeks or Response Saturdays, sadly.  I have a LOT of things going on right now with filling orders, dealing with ceramic technical issues, getting work out to galleries, and preparing for several shows, both small ones and big ones on the horizon.  I did recently work with a new material in anticipation of a new venture I am working on for the summer which will involve setting up a mini-bead store on the weekends.  I'll tell you more about that soon, but for now I want to show you one of the displays I am working on for it.

I have had this old wooden display for a long time.  It is a vintage Johnson and Johnson display (it had the company logo burned into the front, under that dark wooden panel)  I have used it at shows before when my display was mostly dark and light woods. It was starting to look a little beat up, so I decided to paint it so that it looks really old and aged.  This will fit in with the theme of this artist market perfectly, as it is called Rustbelt Market.  In particular, I wanted a randomly rusted looking surface, so I used a two part iron paint and rust activator from Sophisticated Finishes.

After painting a sample test and falling in love with it, I dove in and painted the whole thing with the iron paint.  I did it outside and worked in the yard as it dried.  I tried to use the rust activator outside, too, but I learned that it was too windy and warm, and the activator does better when it dries slowly.  Fortunately, it doesn't smell bad, so I could bring it in and paint.

Here is the end result of the rusty finish!  I love the randomness of it, and it there were splotches that didn't rust as well, I just went in and painted more of the activator and it fixed it.  I think I need to add some random rusty hardware to it and give it some sort of a seal.  I am going to try a paste wax first, but might resort to a matte clear spray if needed.

This display will hold cording and chain, which I will sell by the foot, and little tins filled with metal findings.  I would also like to mount some sort of vertical display above it where I can hang more chain, ribbon, and cords.  The goal is to have a decent range of stringing materials and findings for my customers to make simple necklaces and jewelry with the ceramic pendants I will also have or sale.

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Day of the Ice Cream Cone

One morning last week, I woke up to a vision of ice cream cones dancing in my head!  It ended up consuming most of my day.  I have found that when a mood like this strikes, I should run with it if I can, and so I did.  Here are the steps I used in making these pendants:

I started with my cup of coffee, some sketches, and some tools.  I wanted to make the pendants with a base of a textured slab which I wanted to cut out from the slabs, so I made a cookie cutter.

Here is the sketch and the finished cutter.

I rolled out some slabs with my awesome new slab roller.  Then I textured them with a variety of texturing mats and then used the cutter to cut out the ice cream cones.

I used a bottle of porcelain trailing slip to make squishy blobs that looked like ice cream on top of the cones.  I spread the slip onto the clay with my fingers and it looked and felt like cake icing... it was so hard not to lick my fingers, lol.

After the slip set up a little, I poked the holes with a coffee stirrer. When the cones were dry, I wet sanded the edges so they were soft and rounded.  That day, I made about 70 ice creams!  I was on a roll!  Of course, the entire ceramic process is not as instantly gratifying as that day's claywork was, so it took several days of drying, firing, glazing, and firing to get the finished product done.  I really love them.  And now I want ice cream. :)

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.