Day 7 Inspired Remnants, Curious Dreams Blog Tour

May 7, 2011 at 9:56 am (Interesting Thingies)
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I have been eagerly waiting for today because today is ICE Resin day on our happy little tour.  As do many artists, I adore this resin.  It is absolutely wonderful to use!  One thing I love most about it is how consistent it turns out.  Have you ever had a resin disaster because it didn’t cure properly?!?!?  Talk about a mess to clean up!

And as far as the clay and resin together as Jen Cushman said so very well, they go together like peanut butter and chocolate!  Before I say any more about today’s host I should let you know that they are having a technical challenge with comments.  But no worries it is being addressed and you will be able to register for all the wonderful prizes on the ICE Resin blog very soon!  In the meantime please leave a comment on their Facebook page to register for their drawing.

I could have easily done many more ICE Resin projects in my book– all of them completely unique using just these two art supplies.  But of course space was very limited as I was trying to show the broadest range possible of what could be done.

I think one of the most widely used ways these will be used together is by making bezels with the clay and then filling it with the resin.  If you missed Lesley Venable’s post the other day she shows some gorgeous examples of this.  I’m sure there are so many things I haven’t thought of yet in Jen’s new book and also Susan’s new paperback edition!  Both of these are available on the ICE Resin site.

Jen Cushman, jewelry, new book, ICE resin

What is really impressive is these are both self-published!  You’d never suspect though.  Aren’t they both just beautiful.  And Jen has even won an award for her book already!  Here is the scoop on that!!

Susan Lenart Kazmer, ICE Resin, new book, jewelry

Jen has done a fantastic job in building the fabulous new ICE Resin web site.  It is just bursting with information and inspiration not the least of which is the necklace she made especially for today’s post.  Yeah so is anybody still here reading this?  I’m sure you’re already over at the ICE Resin site right?  Hello?  Anyone?  hehehe

I’m also doing back flips because not only are they participating in the tour but are sponsoring it with prizes for the individual giveaways as well as the grand prize drawing as well

TODAY’S FEATURE ~ FOUND OBJECT JEWELRY

One of the most helpful things I’ve used the epoxy clay for is connecting all the odd little objects I find together in a secure way.  So here are just some of the many things we’ve made in which epoxy clay made possible

epoxy clay, found object, assemblage, art jewelry, charley slaughter

Charley made this piece and it is featured in the book “500 Pendants and Lockets” along with another fabulous piece he made.  We both submitted 3 pieces and all of mine were rejected so what is up with THAT!!!  : )  At least I get photo credit so I’m in the book anyway!  : )  So the way he made this was he sawed off part of the long screw that was part of the pulley.  Then he filled the shell with the freshly mixed epoxy clay and pressed the screw down into the shell.  Some of the clay came out the top which he cleaned off.  He then set it upside and carefully supported while the clay hardened and Viola!  A fabulous pendant that is very sturdy and cool.

found object, 1,000 steampunk inspirations, steampunk, time travel, clockworks, assemblage, epoxy clay

The Time Travel Instrumentation Device did actually make it into a book (a girl can only handle so much rejection ya know!).  The book “1,000 Steampunk Objects” looks really cool and lots of great artists are in like Erin Keck who I am lucky enough to be friends with!   Erin makes the absolutely most amazing steampunk clocks among other great things.  Love those!!!    In addition there are many more fav artists in there but more on that later!  I must focus!!!

found object, epoxy clay, jewelry, polymer, aged, pitted, optical lens,

StarFishh features a typewriter bale end cap, optical lenses all around the sides and yet another lens in the bottom to let in light from below (kind of works like an uplight when it’s being worn).  Christopher Lowell would approve!

The “shell” was made from epoxy clay and then a faux bone technique with polymer clay was applied over the top.  Once it was baked the outside was further distressed.  You can see more images of it here.

teeth, epoxy clay, found object, assemblage, jewelry, taxidermy

Dentition Relic is yet another example of something I’d be hard pressed to make without the epoxy clay.  You can see more of this and other examples in our etsy shop.  And many more still on this site.  I’d say probably about 80% of everything that is currently listed and has been sold is made with the clay.

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more new stuff

March 30, 2011 at 9:50 am (Interesting Thingies)
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Oh before I forget there is a new group on Facebook for epoxy clay.  There are so many cool things I’m learning!  Fantastic things that I never thought were possible even!  And since I wrote “the book” on epoxy clay I’m pretty sure you’ll learn some things also! Check it here!  We’d love to have you

Recent additions to etsy shop . . .

Mariners Site Instrument neckpiece

Dentition Relic neckpiece

The back features dental definitions from a decaying dictionary dahling!

It takes a few seconds longer to take on and off because the clasp is an old machine screw assembly

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Mourning Dove and book news

March 24, 2011 at 11:02 am (Interesting Thingies)
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A while back I noticed that my book Inspired Remnants, Curious Dreams kept hovering in the top 100 in Jewelry category on amazon.  I wondered why oh WHY wasn’t it showing up in the Mixed Media category.  The answer is that is because it simply wasn’t there.  It was only in the Jewelry category.

Now I *know* this is an assumption on my part that a book that has *some* jewelry pieces only and is subtitled

“Mixed Media Projects in Epoxy Clay”

should have been put in the Mixed Media category perhaps in addition to the jewelry category.  So here is some good news if you are an author.  You can actually speak to someone (yes on the phone!  a real live person!) and they will add or change categories for you.  The man was very sweet and helpful to add both “Mixed Media” and “Pottery and Ceramics” categories.

Well that was a few weeks ago.  So how glad am I today that I was able to add them because now the book is at #24 and #3 respectively on sales for the biggest bookseller in the world.  Yay!

amazon sales ranking, jewelry, mixed media, pottery and ceramics, top 100

The sales of the Kindle books are separate for some reason so it is still up there in the Jewelry category for the Kindle version.  Yay!

amazon sales ranking, jewelry, mixed media, pottery and ceramics, top 100

Oh by the way way I’m offering signed copies in my shop here and a killer deal with the Resin Clay Pendants online workshop AND the book for only $35.  Well at least I think it’s a killer deal anyway! That is available here

After a kazillion stitches it is finally finished

bird, black, etsy, gothic, jewelry, mourning, taxidermy, victorian, white, tattered, steampunk

It has a long tie attached which makes it versatile to wear different ways and in different lengths.

bird, black, etsy, gothic, jewelry, mourning, taxidermy, victorian, white, tattered, steampunk

bird, black, etsy, gothic, jewelry, mourning, taxidermy, victorian, white, tattered, steampunk

bird, black, etsy, gothic, jewelry, mourning, taxidermy, victorian, white, tattered, steampunk

Now available in our etsy shop here

Here is a little ditty that makes me so happy I may not sell ‘er.  It is called Life Of The Party and kind of reminds me of the old story of the drunken office worker who wears the lampshade hat whilst dancing on the table.  : )

Charley carefully drilled all those tiny little holes AFTER I put it together ala a permanent attachment (yes Alicia is was with epoxy clay!).  I knew better and he was so sweet and patient to get them all centered just perfect so the little happy danglies could be attached.  This one is almost finished along with several others so I’ll share those soon.

work in progress, art jewelry, mixed media, assemblage

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The Raven King Automaton now available

July 12, 2010 at 6:32 am (Interesting Thingies)
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I think that I’m emotionally ready to let this very special bird fly away to a new home.

So I actually listed him for sale.   Yikes!

Ravenwing

It’s one of those things where you kind of hope he doesn’t sell.  But I think if he does then he’ll be going to the right home.  Of all the things I make I spend the most time with my automata pieces so I get really attached.

Anyway you can find him in my shop here.  Phew!  Can’t believe I listed him!!!

4 Comments

Green Glass Spirit

June 12, 2010 at 7:42 am (Interesting Thingies)
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Pharmaceutical grade distilled to the essence of green.

One day Charley and I sat in a big old green car.  The outside was green but it was the glorious green interior that we loved.  Every surface was the most amazing of greens like afterglow from the Emerald City.  It wouldn’t matter if the car started or not.  We wanted to have it to sit in a soak up the green glow.

Here for your consideration a unique piece with an equally unique attachment solution that Charley designed to hang this.  Genius I say!

Can be acquired in our shop

3 Comments

Illuminant

April 20, 2010 at 2:23 pm (Interesting Thingies)
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On my way back from Artfest there were several enticing antique~aries so of course I stopped at them all.  This was from a shop along the Hood Canal with walls and floor of heavy old wood and a hot crackling fire in a big wood stove that made you want to stay a good long time.  I came away with a very generous stash for around $10 and this bulb was in it.

Thanks again to the wonderfully nice lady who is finding her way back to her art having not done any since embroidery and macrame and painting in the 70s.  It’s so interesting that I want to help artists and everywhere I go (no exaggeration) that’s who I run into.

I’ve been experiencing serious computer issues this week and am busy offloading large files onto an online backup site to make more room.   But the other evening as I was struggling along with moving files I happened to see that bulb again.  Before I knew it, I’d snatched it and started wrapping it with wire.

I use wire a lot but not in this particular way.  It was almost as if some wire weaver spirit took over.  No not almost– I’d say it was exactly like that.  I didn’t even have to think about what I was doing I just did it.  It may sound a little creepy now but at the time it was very peaceful and satisfying  to be so in the zone.

At first I envisioned the caged bulb in an assemblage but when it was finished it really seemed to want to be wearable.  It is a bit of a larger piece but it’s not too big.  It actually looks really cool and better than if I had used a smaller bulb (oh I beg your pardon, if the wire weaver spirit had used a smaller bulb).

The knotted leather cord has an offset hand made clasp.  Some fishing hardware is attached to the cord and that is about it.  Very simple piece but love the industrial look of it and that the cage protects the bulb.   Thanks Wire Weaver Spirit!  You’ve inspired me to do more pieces like this.

Now appearing in my shop.

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Remnants Goes Steampunk

January 25, 2009 at 3:09 pm (found objects, mixed media art, New Art, steampunk)
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Hoo hoo!  This was so fun to make . . . our first steampunk piece and it’s called ‘ Time Capsule’.   And I’m telling ya it won’t be our last.

time-capsule-front-detail_blog1

Now this just isn’t *any* SP piece– this is a working time travel instrumentation device.  I tried it out myself the other evening when I dragged myself out of the studio at 11:30 at night.  I was so burned out I thought that was a good time to try it.

time-capsule-main-spring-detail_blog

So I ever so timidly moved the clock handle down just ever so slightly, then down a little more, and down even further still.  And WALAH!!!!  It was back in the early evening so I went to watch a movie instead of working in the studio.  AND of course I still had it the Time Capsule with me so I really like this thing!

time-capsule-front-main_blog

Why I’m selling it in our etsy shop is beyond me.  I really should hold onto it as I’m not sure if I can make another one that works this well– or even at all.  Anyway, there’s more details about how it was made on the etsy listing.

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Scrabble Keyboard

January 18, 2009 at 9:44 pm (steampunk)
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How fun is this!   A working keyboard made of scrabble tiles.

scrabble-keyboard

Some of the keys were carved out to allow light from LEDs below to shine through.

scrabble_leds

Datamancer is linked from our page because he does a lot of really cool steampunk creations.   No, not just a bunch of gears stuck on something and called “steampunk”.  I think he really captures the essence–  elegant Victoriana meets hi tech.   The steampunk laptop below is a great example.

I’ve worked in software development for over ten years so I’m definitely a geek.  Or at least I was a geek before I quit it all last year and left for the coast to work on our art full time.

Now we spend a lot of time making found object jewelry and assemblage– and we love to use antiques.  So the merging of the digital with treasures from the 1800s is the perfect marriage of materials.  Especially when it is pulled off so believably as it is by Mr. Richard Nagy.

steampunk-laptop

So if you missed the link perhaps you’ll want to go take a look right here!   He also goes into a lot of detail on how he makes some of his creations.  So if you’re interested in learning how to do this, it’s a great place to visit!

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