Free Tutorial Live on Sunday August 29th - Polymer Bracelet

On Sunday afternoon August 29th, 2010
Show Time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm in Europe, and 8pm in The UK
This is an on-line presentation with live video and audio. High speed computer access is necessary to participate during the show.
Dial up is so slow that the audio and video will not stream well.

...We'll be hosting a tutorial in the broadcast room of The Jewelry Connection!
People have been requesting this tutorial for a while and I've been dodging it until I could get a good archive on it. Now that we are getting great archives at our new home I'm going to break out the toys and host a tutorial on this project! Pictures of similar bracelets are exhibited here!

A list of supplies and tools for this project if you want to follow along:

Tools:
Clay - Sculpey
Pearl-X powders - lots of colors - $26-$50
Pasta roller - $27.00
http://www.cistamps.com/rollagraph_jumbo.htm
Wheel embosser - Rollagraph jumbo $6.00 for handle
Shadow Leaves Rollagraph embosser wheel $7.50
Sculpey blade - $2.00
Clay Roller - acrylic tube- $7.00
Ink - varies
Brass bracelet cuff - 3.50
Amaco Polymer Clay Oven - $60.00
with additional Sculpey oven thermometer $13.00
Work mat
Baby powder
Flitz - metal polish long wearing to reduce tarnish
A rubber glove
Fine grit wet sander or sand paper
Basin of water
Soft polishing cloth
Future Liquid Floor Polish
Fine Sponge - make sponge is good

You're welcome to work along with me as I make the bracelet or you can simply take notes and refer to the archive at a later time as you wish! I'll be offering a lot of special tips on how to handle this design to create a very nice quality piece of work!

Looking forward to sharing this tutorial with you!
Love to All,
Mona Hair
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

Papier (Paper) Mache' in Jewelry

Something interesting and a throw back to the 60's and 70's is the subject of use of paper mache' in wearable art.










What's interesting about paper mache' wearable art?

1. Ingredients are inexpensive and are probably in your home right
now!
2. The process goes way back in the history of wearable art!
3. The possibilities are endless for making jewelry, beads, and
masks of all sorts!
4. It can be molded into forms for solid/dense structures of design
5. It can be used to create a base design the over-layed with ornamented
scale work and other designs to create textural excitement and dimensional effects!

It is recommended in various different sites that adding a touch of salt or a few drops of Clove oil will retard growth of mold in the glue, but consider the other possibilities! Perhaps some chocolate scent in a dark brown flower of paper mache', or a magnolia scent in a gorgeous big brooch of a similar design!

It's a creative outlet that offers almost immediate gratification, allows anyone to indulge in a creative attempt, and can even be a terrific family project ---creating gifts for loved ones. Designs in any style are possible! Try something Pop Art, Romantic, Contemporary, Cubist, Religious, ......RUN WITH IT!
Please let me know what you do with this! I would love to see pictures!

Website resources on Papier (Paper Mache) include the following:
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/05/papier-mache_floral_brooches.html#more

http://www.squidoo.com/paper-mache
Newspaper Pulp Recipe familycrafts.about.com/cs/papermache/a/blpmpulp.htm
Resin Paper Mache Recipe - familycrafts.about.com/cs/papermache/a/blpmpastes.htm
Cooked Recipe for Paper Mache' - familycrafts.about.com/od/papermache/a/cookpmpaste.htm
No Cook Recipe for Paper Mache' - http://familycrafts.about.com/od/papermache/a/nocookpmpaste.htm

Love To All!
Mona

Thoughts on Inspired Design - Mona

Greetings Friends!
It's been a while since I posted anything here of a personal nature! I'm so wrapped up in doing the shows, editing images, creating videos, that I rarely have time to breath! I have the day off from work today and there is something that needs saying!

The idea that inspiration is hardly worth considering at all is exactly the kind of mentality that degrades the value of the inspired work of artisans by society and has people hacking out below par design work because they don't explore from within as they work. If creating was easy everyone would be doing it. If inspired work didn't exist there would be no differentiation in the quality and admirability of works at large.

That thing that happens in our heads that helps us design things with long enduring intellectual properties may be called anything we like, but it can never be called common or unnecessary.

This I can say with some authority as in my own experience I have made things that were uninspired and created designs via inspiration. I've also witnessed this phenomenon in others as well. These two processes are not exclusive of one another, making versus creating. You may begin to make something and then become inspired...that's when what you initially began to make morphs into something else but you like it better! Alternately you may have an inspired design that you tinker and mentally outmaneuver until it becomes less than it began. That's always a let down. If you have been at it long enough, you'll have experienced all of these things!
You may find yourself moved to create by your own dream or another's. You may be moved to create by visions of exciting architectural elements or a visit to a rose garden. Inspiration may come from anywhere at all! Don't live at your work table or in your studio. Get out and experience some life so that you have more to enjoy and more to share!
If you haven't been designing long I hope you find encouragement from my observations to reach within and bring those special visions of yours out and into the world where we may all enjoy the beauty of what and how you think!

With Love,
Mona

Greetings Friends!
It's been a while since I posted anything here of a personal nature! I'm so wrapped up in doing the shows, editing images, creating videos, that I rarely have time to breath! I have the day off from work today and there is something that needs saying!

The idea that inspiration is hardly worth considering at all is exactly the kind of mentality that degrades the value of the inspired work of artisans by society and has people hacking out below par design work because they don't explore from within as they work. If creating was easy everyone would be doing it. If inspired work didn't exist there would be no differentiation in the quality and admirability of works at large.

That thing that happens in our heads that helps us design things with long enduring intellectual properties may be called anything we like, but it can never be called common or unnecessary.


This I can say with some authority as in my own experience I have made things that were uninspired and created designs via inspiration. I've also witnessed this phenomenon in others as well. These two processes are not exclusive of one another, making versus creating. You may begin to make something and then become inspired...that's when what you initially began to make morphs into something else but you like it better! Alternately you may have an inspired design that you tinker and mentally outmaneuver until it becomes less than it began. That's always a let down. If you have been at it long enough, you'll have experienced all of these things!
If you haven't been designing long I hope you find encouragement from my observations to reach within and bring those special visions of yours out and into the world where we may all enjoy the beauty of what and how you think!

With Love,
Mona

Join The Jewels of Fall 2010 Collaboration of Artists!

You're Invited to join a video collaboration. It's that time of Year! Jewels of Fall!
Who's up for another video?? We did a fantastic presentation with last year's video. Once the submissions are all in, I'll create a presentation video for You Tube.
This has served us all very well for soft advertising! On September 26th..., Dr. Gail Devoid and I will host the video with all of it's contributors as our show at The Jewelry Connection!

I'm accepting submissions for Jewels of Fall 2010:
8-15-2010 through 9-19-2010.
What's needed:
!. a picture of your Jewel of Fall design
2. a picture of yourself to lead into your photo
3. a brief bio - name, city, state, country and web address
Please allow me to add the text information to your pictures.
Depending on how I pan and/or scan the shot, it might not be in the right place
if you have put the text there in advance! Also keep your photos as squarish as possible. Long rectangles vertical or horizontal do not work into a video very well.
Photo size requirements no smaller than 600x600 pixels. Anything larger is ok. It gives me more room to create a great video!

Send all submissions to mhair@pdq.net
This invitation if for designers of one of a kind wearable art. Mass Produced items are not represented by this video collaboration.
We had a great world wide representation of artists last year! I'm looking forward to sharing this project with you all!
Mona
Group Moderator
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

Guest Artist Kate McKinnon Live Interview!

The Jewelry Connection is honored with an opportunity to invite you to meet Kate McKinnon! Kate is recognized world wide as a fine designer of wearable art in Metal Clay with publications in book and DVD form! Her edgy, exciting, and innovative design work has long made her a favorite among admirers of wearable art!
This will be an internet- on-line computer event that may be enjoyed from your own home with your computer!

Locati...on: www.jewelryconnection.tv
Date: August 15th, 2010
Show Times are: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm in Europe and 8pm in The UK.

We'll enjoy an interview, exhibition of work, and more!
Please join us for a rare opportunity to explore this incredible artist!

Warmest Regards,
Mona Hair
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection
www.jewelryconnection.tv

PS: if you are operating with dial up the program will be difficult for you to watch. Streaming audio and video operate much better with high speed internet access!