Have you ever wondered what goes on the in mind of a designer when inspiration comes to visit? 
Where does design inspiration come from?  It comes from whatever catches our eye, brings a smile, or makes us think.  Colorful magazine pages perhaps?  The way light plays on a leaf?   
But how does the idea grow and change [...]

Why do we crafty types like making things by hand?  
I suspect, as have others before me, that our culture is steeped in technology and we crave the hands-on nature of crafting. 
Is our modern technology good or bad?  It’s all in how you use it. 
Take BurdaStyle for example.  This company has found a way to use [...]

Yesterday I posted about my first attempt learning to make swirl lentil or swirl bi-cone beads.   Later, I came across Barbara Fajardo’s swirl lentil tutorial at Polymer Clay Central and gave it a try.  You use your scrap clay pieces so there is nothing to lose.
This is important for a recovering perfectionist. Like me.
Barbara’s directions are [...]

Last week a ploymer clay friend introduced me to swirl bi-cone beads.  Also known as “swirl lentils”, these beads are Barbara Fajardo’s  signature shape.

I’ve made bi-cone beads on occasion but never with a swirl—at least not on purpose anyway—in the center. 

 

My first attempt is not nearly as stunning as Barbara’s at Desert Designs, but [...]

Victoria Hughes’ book Polymer: The Chameleon Clay is so inspiring!  Published in 2002 I still read through the pages for ideas and visual stimulation.
 

Today I played around with her imitation jade recipe.  Mixing the clay bodies challeged my thinking since I did not have the exact colors and brands required.  But it was fun [...]

Today I made more bandana beads using Cassy Muronaka’s instructions in the May 2007 issue of “Art Jewelry” magazine.  Apple green is the new color added to the mix. It is such a refreshing color to the eye!

Strung together they look like this:
Since the red beads are a tad larger than the other beads, I [...]

The May 2007 issue of “Art Jewelry” is out.  Cassy Muronaka, the featured polymer clay artist, shows us how to make bandana patterned beads.  These are great fun to make!
I had to play with the size a while, deciding how large or small I wanted the beads to be.  The cane was not difficult to [...]

“Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God. But only he who sees, takes off his shoes; the rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.”  Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Yesterday, I picked up and finished a bead project I started a few years ago.  Finding a “recipe” for faux turquoise I made 12 beads before having the process interrupted.
 

Where I found the “recipe” I can’t remember.  Apparently I didn’t save the recipe either L.

You see here the 12 turquoise beads.  Although they look more [...]

I have lots of “favorite” hobbies.  One of them is polymer clay bead making.  I consider myself a novice bead maker at this point.  For me it’s right-brain relief after over exposure to left-brain occupations.  
One of my dear friends is—like me—a hobby hopper.  Fortunately for me, one of her passions is polymer clay.  I refer [...]