Mustard Seed Creations

faux copper with tarnish

2011-09-13T19:05:00.000-04:00

Zentangle caning

2011-09-13T19:03:00.001-04:00

Kumihimo with beads

2011-09-13T19:02:00.000-04:00

Hollow beads - my newest addiction

2011-05-07T18:40:00.000-04:00

Just completed Christine Dumont's on-line workshop: "Hollow Bead". Fun process and now I'm making beads and ignoring my bracelets.

2011-05-07T18:34:00.001-04:00

Using Pardo translucent and getting crazy clear 25 mm hollow beads.

Hollow beads_27 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

2011-05-07T18:21:00.000-04:00

Hollow beads_27 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

New bracelets

2011-03-07T20:15:00.001-05:00

2011-01-01T14:30:00.000-05:00

Welcome to 2011. To help kick-start a new direction in my work I've joined TADA365 (http://tada365.blogspot.com/). It's a blog for a group of artists that have committed to take time everyday for their art. " This blog will commit to be there for all of us who are together on this journey. Every day a post will reveal the progress of the members of TADA as well as trying to help solve some problems, sharing helpful links, giving ideas..... anything necessary to reach the goal."

My goal is to push myself in a new color direction. I want to wrap my polymer jewelry in the everywhere/everyday colors that swirled around me while in India.

2011-01-01T14:25:00.000-05:00

Want to see where this color fusion or yellow, orange, fuchsia and gold takes me.

How to add splashes of turquoise and chartreuse???

Stretch and find new patterns that flow between colors

Gallery

2010-08-16T13:53:00.000-04:00

Craft Hobby Association (CHA)

2010-08-15T19:38:00.000-04:00

Attended the Craft and Hobby Association super show in Chicago. Now I'm playing with Pardo Jewelry Clay from Viva-Decor. I REALLY like that it's made with bee's wax and has an environmentally friendly approach. I'll be posting some pictures.

New glazing technique

2010-08-11T19:48:00.000-04:00

The following pictures have not been 'photoshoped' or edited. I took them today with an overcast sky. The shining reflections you see are real and not added or enhanced.

This is a preview of a new glazing technique that I'll be posting here. I was going to do an article for PolymerCafe, but decided I'd rather just share it. Sooo, now I'm trying to figure out how to set it up so you can download the tutorial. Watch for FULL details.

But, for now I thought you might enjoy wondering what and how......

Close up of pendant

2010-08-11T19:46:00.000-04:00

The pendant bead is scrap clay with applied details. The shimmer and shine that you see is the white background reflecting off the pendant.

Looks like glass and is almost as durable as glass.

Deep deep glaze

2009-07-22T19:42:00.003-04:00

Look closely. Notice that the inside of each fold is evenly glazed. No drips, runs or pooling.

Very cool, eh?

Rich color with high gloss

2009-07-22T19:38:00.003-04:00

Navy blue beads show off the high clarity and brilliance of this glazing technique.

Even with my very amateur picture-taking these beads look great. I took all these pictures in natural daylight with my little pocket sized Nikon Coolpix S600. All of the beads are resting on a piece of soft white construction paper.

2009-07-22T19:35:00.001-04:00

Using a custom color mix of the glaze to produce a VERY realistic glazed tile bead. This will be part of a tiled bracelet.

Benefit for Ada

2009-05-18T19:06:00.003-04:00

The Christi Friesen workshop to benefit Ada was the Indiana Polymer Clay Guild's first ever organized event and was a success. Whoopee! We're still working on the details for the auction. Need to make sure that we address all of the Indiana laws and get the best return for Ada.

Fishing for Compliments

2009-04-18T18:58:00.000-04:00

You can find the directions to make my "Fishing for Compliments" necklace in the April 2009 issue of Polymer Cafe. It's the necklace featured on my blog header and I hope you'll enjoy this quick technique for making focal beads.

Open registration

2009-04-08T13:24:00.003-04:00

The registration for the Ponsawan Benefit workshop will be open until April 16th. Please join us!!

Full workshop details and online registration is available at: http://indianabeadsociety.org/class-friesen.htm

2009-03-14T20:37:00.003-04:00

Christi Friesen Benefit workshop

April 17-19th, 2009 in Indianapolis

Christi Friesen has offered to do a 3 day workshop, April 17,18, & 19th, 2009. That's 3 fun filled days of generously discounted classes. We can't begin to thank Christi for her help in this event!!!

This workshop is a benefit event for polymer clay artist Ponsawan Silapiruti's daughter Ada. Ponsawan is polymer clay jewelry artist living in Indianapolis and her work has been featured several times on Polymer Clay Daily.

You may know the story: On March 2,2008, Ada was a vibrant, caring young woman full of life, excitement, and promise. On March 3rd 2008 she was in a coma with brain damage and broken bones. Hit by a drunk driver that sustained no damage. The world changed for Ponsawan, Ada and their family.

Ada is home now being lovingly cared for by her mother. Ponsawan has found it in her heart to forgive the drunk driver (she is a better person than I am). Ponsawan rejoices in Ada's small accomplishments; a glance here, moving her hand. Progress is slow but the expense of caring for Ada, even at home, isn't slow and continues to mount.

Full workshop details and online or snail mail register form is available at: http://indianabeadsociety.org/class-friesen.htm

I hope you will attend the classes or consider a donation to help Ada (and Ponsawan). http://dearada.blogspot.com/

Co-sponsored by Indiana Polymer Clay guild and Indiana Bead Society

2009-01-29T11:01:00.000-05:00

This polymer clay bracelet was made using Dan Cormier's mokugame technique. I love the exploration of cutting into the clay slab and discovering the variations of each slice. I guess it's the controlled randomness that appeals to me.

I think that the process parallels life (mine at least). You have something that's familiar, clay; then color it; then you alter the colors and combine them. Next you cut into the familiar and recombine it. When you slice into this reconfiguration you find beauty - the familiar mixed with the unexpected. See, you thought it was "just clay", but it's really the same process as living.

2008-12-20T10:27:00.000-05:00

I know it's winter but these colors are so warm that it's like basking in the soft glow of a friendly fireplace. This necklace is on a 16" gold wire and the beads made with polymer clay.

2008-12-19T15:57:00.000-05:00

Beads have silver backs.

2008-07-07T19:49:00.004-04:00

Canes for Ada

Ponsawan Sila is a member of the Indiana Polymer Clay Guild...a friendly, sharing and creative artist who recently experienced a parent's worst nightmare when her daughter Ada was hit head on by another driver. In a comatose condition from severe brain trauma, Ada spent weeks in the hospital before being moved to a room in a nursing home. Filled with flowers, stuffed animals, balloons and pictures, Ponsawan hopes it will also soon be filled with 1000 origami cranes, and that they will help her wish come true - that Ada is able to work her way back to the bright, energetic and joyous young woman she was before the accident. Judy Dunn has released an instructional YouTube video demonstrating her folding technique for the polymer cranes she is known for. You can make a crane for Ada and send it to:

Cranes for Ada, c/o Ponsawan Sila, 5343 W. 38^th St., Indianapolis, IN 46254