wire

I like working with wire. In college, I made pins that bare people name, in cursive, using a toughest wire to bend. The kind that dentist used to make braces for people with crooked teeth in the old day.

I stumbled upon a artist who used steel wire to make her jewelry. I like the way it look, so I gave it a try. These wires are tough but forgiving at the same time. Much easier to work with, but my fingers are stronger from working with clay. Not as soft as Artistic wire and the price is just right. You can get them from ACE Hardware Store. I used it to make my rings and ring blanks too.

So I decided to coil it up, made the links, loops and jump rings. My finger tips hurt for a few days, but I really like the result. I decided to dangle small, little beads on it.

I went back to get more wire and found a smaller gauge. Perfect. One of the ring I made last year, I lace the thinner wire through the bigger wire. I like the look and always want to explore more with this form.

I played with the wire and came up with this idea of making a frame and fill it up with clay. Not a new idea, but it will be different look.

Here's one I fill up with a piece of Mokume gane.

Pretty, I like it.
What else I can do with it? Stay tune.

Ideas

People often asked me where do I get my idea from, especially when they looked through my ring trays, and found out that I had made 365 rings last year, and finished the "Ring a Day" project. The ideas are all around me, some are in my head, some are things I've seen on "Bing". Some ideas came when I look at the magazine, got WOW from other artists' works. My head is full of ideas. I can used one everyday as long as I can think, and if I don't use it, my head will explode.
Last week my son came back from college, so I went to see Harry Potter with him. He didn't let me buy a big bucket of popcorn with extra butter and extra large drink, but that's ok, I still love him. While watching the movie, I had this crazy thought of how each wizard carry their wands. Since the young wizard now wearing tight clothing, not long and oversize robe like the older one. Hum, how can you keep the long, sharp, deadly object in your pocket? Harry even pulled one out while he was sitting on the bed.
Ok, I admit, I am a little bit crazy sometime, but it gave me the idea of how I should make these " Magic Wand" bracelets that wrap around the wrist and ready to be used as needed.

Design is the problem solving, and I think I have solved the problem well this time. Have fun with your crazy idea, don't be shy.

Ponsawan Blend

If your passion is Polymer clay, first thing in the morning, after your first cup of Joe, you turn on your computer and check out Polymerclaydaily. Every time I see my work featured there, I fell like I just won a lottery.
This time Cynthia gave the title "Ponsawan Blend" to me. I can't help but laughing. This blend, I have to say, I dreamt it. No kidding. I was planning a bead making class for members of Indiana Bead Society at their monthly meeting which means we will make some beads, baked and they can take the beads home within 2 hour. A few of them took a workshop with me before, most are clay virgins. I want them to make beads using blend sheet, but learning skinner blend is a class by itself and I only have a few pasta machines. So I went to bed worrying and the clay fairly came and told me to simplify the blend. The idea is to line up the color from light to dark, overlap them a little bit, fold and run the sheet through a pasta machine. With a few run, the sheet will be blend, almost perfectly.
The class went well with the help of Le Ann, Kathy and Ann. I divided them into 3 groups, 3 tables with a few pasta machines and each of us take turn teaching different technique at each table, then we rotate. At the end of the night everyone went home with a handful of beads.
I am using the blend to make these mini roses, you can see the tutorial at http://www.polymerclaybeads.blogspot.com/

Here I used the petals to make a cute flower for clip-on earrings.

Pebble-like beads

Back then when it seemed like everyone was making Pebbles, I was hesitant. You see, when they were so worried about who made it first, who was the originator. After all, we just copy of Mother Nature.

My goal this year, with the TADA365 Group, is to make a Collection of Jewelry and my theme is "Lush garden". I am working on elements and things that we will find around the garden. I wish to have a small garden in the backyard where Ada and I can enjoy it together. This way the jewelry that I sell will be more meaningful to me and my customer.
I gathered few stuffs together to use as inclusion; real sand, embossing powder, diamond flake and salt. I rub the salt into the beads to get extra rough texture and poked a few holes. I really like the result.

Fimo translucent clay gave out flakes or bubbles, so they look different. I like the Pardo translucent the most and I only have 1 box left, help me.

I decided to try Inka Gold paint from Viva Decor. The result is different kind of color, more metallic look, but yet, earthy.
So, here's my take on Pebble -like beads, and more colors to come. They are fun to make :)

RAD - Ring a day project

Ring a day project will be concluded on December 31, 2010 which means that I had successfully made three hundreds and sixty some rings this year. Quite an accomplishment, I might say.
During the December month, all the members of the group have been so very active and we all have emotional roller coaster. It is nice that we don't have to make any more rings, but at the same time, we want to make the best rings we have ever done. We also looking forward to the next year, next project. We want to keep the idea going, stay together and learn from each other. I had already sign up for RAW - Ring a week and TADA365 - Tangible Advancement of Daily Adornment, of which you commit to making progress everyday of your 2011 on your art jewelry creations. Show your daily steps forward with photos. Goal is at the end of the year you will have at least one collection or series that is show ready. Sound good, isn't it? First I told myself that I would never sign up for anything that I have to commit for a whole year, but if I can finish the year long project, then it's worth to challenge myself for another year.


What did I get from the RAD project? Well, let see, I was asked by Lark Book for permission to publish pictures of some of my rings, some will be exhibited along side with other rings made by the members of the group in Seattle, sponsored by SNAG. I never have my works exhibit before. I made a bunch of friends, I woke up everyday for a year to see incredible and crazy ideas of how to make ring. I made a ring for "Ring Swap" and enter the dark side by making this "Humbug - the Blue Monster", inspired by the movie "Nightmare before Christmas". And I received this beautiful ring made by Lorena Angulo. I've been drooling on her works for many months.

My life will never be the same again after RAD. Look what I made from this Purple Potato. Many people join the group not because they were known to make rings, but an opportunity to force oneself to learn.
To view all my rings, go to www.flickr.com/photos/polymerclaybeads/sets
To view more than 16,000 rings, go to www.flickr.com/groups/rad2010

IPCA pre-retreat class - Bevy of Rings

Bevy of Rings

Learn how to construct a variety of rings using Polymer Clay, decorate one with a few slices from your existing canes. We will also learn how to make Watermelon Ring using Mokume Gane and a Faux metal ring with twists and stitches.
You will have a chance to view my entire collection of 365 rings from the Ring a Day project and discover the endless possibilities of Polymer Clay combined other media.
A total of 3 rings will be made and finished
Q&A plus additional demos at the end of the session
Instructor: Ponsawan Silapiruti
Date: Wednesday, July 13
Level: All
Min # of Students: 3
Max # of Students: 10
Price: $95.oo US
Prerequisites: None
Special Tools: Wrench sockets
Other Supplies: Clay and wire for the rings will be provided. Bring your own canes to decorate the rings and share. Small scale sculpting techniques will be taught. Bring small tools, needle nose pilers, small wire cutter, a small table lamp and magnifying glass, etc.
To register and receive a complete supplies list, contact Ponsawan via e-mail silastones@aol.com

Auction for Ada - Round two is over

Thanks everyone for a successful first round of Auction for Ada. More items need to be auction off to the good home. If you would like to bid on any item, just send me a email silastones@aol.com to tell me which item you want to bid on and how much. I will update the highest bid as it come in.

Artist: Ronna Sarvas Weltman

This beautiful "Wednesday Night on Mars" necklace featured in her new book "Ancient Modern - polymer Clay and Wire jewelry"
is about 3 1/2" long. You will bid on the necklace and the signed book by author.

Item No. 1 - Ronna necklace & book.

Artist: Grant Diffendaffer

This recursive molded beads is about 1 1/2" Dia. x 3/4' thick. You will bid on one necklace.

Item No.2 - Grant necklace.

Artist: Judy Dunn

This beautiful Origami Crane is 5" from one wing tip to another. you will bid on one bird.

Item No. 3 - Judy Red Crane.

Artist: Artwork by Juliet

This pretty earrings is2" long. You will bid on a pair of earrings.

Item No.4 - Juliet Red earrings.

Artist: Susan Turney

This gorgeous pendant is 1 1/2" x 3" long.

You will bid on one pendant.

Item No. 5 - Susan pendant.

Artist: Barbara Forbes-Lyons

This pretty bracelet is 8" long made with Glass and silver beads. You will bid on one bracelet.

Item No.6 - Barb bracelet.

Artist: "Mo" Maureen Taylorson

This pretty pendant is 1" x1 1/2" with matching earrings. You will bid for a set of necklace and earring.

Item No.7 - Mo necklace & earrings.

Artist: Elsie Smith

This colorful pendant is 1 1/2" x2 1/4" .

You will bid for one pendant.

Item No. 8 - Elsie pendant.

Artist: Maureen Thomas

This Faux wood bracelet with glass beads, strung with stretch cord, will fit to most waist.

You will bid on one bracelet.

Item No. 9 - Maureen bracelet.

Artist: Kat Gedrich

Big, bold and beautiful beads. This necklace is 22" long.

You will bid for one necklace.

Item No. 10 - Kat necklace.

Artist: Artwork by Juliet

The Polymer clay teapot pendant was made by Diana Kelsey is 1 1/4 x 1 1/2". You will bid for one necklace.

Item No. 11 - Juliet necklace.

Artist: Lynda Struble

These pins are so adorable. You will bid for both pins.

Item No. 12 - Lynda Pins.

Artist : Ellen Rumsey Bellenot

This pretty pendant is2 1/2" x 3", come with a black cord.

You will bid on one pendant.

Item No. 13 - Ellen Pendant. Artist: Judy Dunn

This gorgeous Origami Crane is 5" from one wing tip to another. You will bid on one bird.

Item No. 14 - Judy pink Crane.

Artist: Ponsawan Sila

This pin is one of the series "Woodland Pin". The pin is 1 1/2" x 2 1/2". You will bid for one pin.

Item No. 15 - Ponsawan pin.

You will have 9 days to bid on these items starting on Saturday, October 9th, 2001 at noon, and the auction will end Monday, October 18th, 2001 at noon (Central time).

Happy bidding. :)

Auction for Ada - Round One is now over

Dear Friends
Thanks everyone who participated in the Auction for Ada last year. After, successfully, auction off half of the donated items, I realized that we paid almost 25% to Ebay. Still, I have a few items left and would like to continue the auction through this blog. I will run the auction myself. Here is how you can participate. If you would like to bid on an item, the must have item, or items, you can email me: silastones@aol.com, to tell me which item you want to bid on and how much. I will update the highest bid as it come in and will contact you as well.
There will be a couple rounds of auction and each one will last for 2 weeks. I will contact the person with the highest bid of each item for payment arrangement. A small shipping fee will be added to the final bid.
If you have any question, please do not hesitate to ask.
And, if you can help spread the words through your friends as well, I would greatly appreciate it.

Artist: Wiwat Kamolpornwijit
This gorgeous necklace is 16" long, the pendant is 1"x11/2". You will bid on the necklace and a pair of earrings.
Item No.1 - Wiwat Gold & Silver Necklace.
Artist: Wiwat Kamolpornwijit
This gorgeous necklace is 18" long, the pendant is 1"x31/2".
Item No.2 - Wiwat Black & White Necklace.

Artist: Yonat Dascalu
This gorgeous pendant is 11/2"Dia. with 16" cable.
Item No.3 - Yonat Blue pendant #1 .

Artist: Christine Kelsey
This gorgeous necklace is 18" long, the pendant is 13/4"x21/4".
Item No.4 - Christine Mica Shift necklace.

Artist: Sophia Lenz
This Gorgeous necklace is 16" long, the box pendant is 11/4"x2"x3/4" with a pair of earrings.
Item No.5 - Sopia Box necklace.

Artist: Kim Cavender
This gorgeous face pin is 1 1/2"x 2 3/4".
Item No. 6 - Kim Face Pin.



Artist: Judy Dunn
This gorgeous Origami Crane is 5" long from one wing tip to another.
Item No.7 - Judy Purple Crane.


Artist: Yonat Dascalu
This gorgeous pendant is 1 3/4"x1" with 16" cable.
Item No.8 _ Yonat Pink Pendant.






Artist: Lynne Ann Schwarzenberg
This gorgeous focal bead is 1 1/4" dia. and 1/2" thick, comes with a pair of earrings.
Item No. 9 - Lynne Ann Focal bead.





Artist: Wiwat Kamolpornwijit
These gorgeous earrings are about 1/2" square.
Item No.10 - Wiwat earrings.


Artist: Yonat Dascalu
This gorgeous pendant is 1 1/2" dia. with 16" cable.
Item No.11 - Yonat Blue Pendant #2.

Artist: Judy Dunn
This gorgeous Origami Crane is 5" from one wing tip to another. Made with Polymer Clay.
Item No.12 - Judy Orange Crane.

Artist: Christi Friesen

This Steampunkery Chameleon was made by Christi during class in 2009. It is 2 1/4"x 1 3/4" .

Item No. 13 - CF Chameleon.

Artist: Christi friesen

This cute Dragon was made by Christi during class in 2009. It is 2 14"x1 3/4" .

Item No.14 - CF Green Dragon.

Artist: Christi Friesen

This gorgeous Red Bird was made by Christi during class in 2009. It is 1 3/4"x2 1/4".

Item No.15 - CF Red Bird

Artist: Christi Friesen

This gorgeous garden pendant was made by Christi during class in 2009. It is 1 3/4'x2 1/4".

Item No.16 - CF Garden Pendant.

Artist: Christi friesen

This Lion was made by Christi during class in 2009. It is 1 3/4"x2 1/4".

Item No.17 - CF Lion.

Artist; Christi Friesen

This gorgeous Crystal Bird was made by Christi during class in 2009. It is 1 3/4"x2 1/4".

Item No.18 - CF Crystal Bird.

You have 2 weeks to bid on these item starting Saturday, September 25th,2010 at noon and the auction will end Friday, October 8th, 2010 at noon (Central time).

Again, Please email me : Silastones@aol.com

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