New Endeavors in 2012

 

This year I have been moved to create in a whole new way!!!

Playing with light, color, texture, and dimension has never been more fun for many than now! Playing with different types of yarns, I've found a new avenue for self expression in wearable art! It's allowed me to create all of my Christmas gifts for family and friends this year! It's also helped me to augment my wardrobe with plush delicious designs that flatter my face and mask my chubby and totally kissable little neck! LOL
Hope you enjoy the pictures, Much more to come! I've thus far knitted and/or crocheted fingerless mittens in several styles, plus scarves, hats, infinity scarves, and ear warmers! I'm LOVING IT!







 My First pair of slippers!!!!!!! I'm so proud!!!!

Tips  On Mold Making!

Making My Own Molds Project

Welcome! It's been a while hasn't it! I got food poisoning and have been at home for a couple of days recovering. I finally feel well enough to actually do something in the studio that isn't to rigorous!

I've had on hand for a while now, an awesome product by Sculpey called Mold Maker and Polymer Clay Conditioner! It comes in an 8 oz brick and I've used to to capture
impressions of some of our Waterford Crystal and today I'm using it to capture a Star Fish. That's one project. The second is that I have a fondness for creating miniature foods from way back and have been wanting to create a pastry shell/cupcake mold for use with that hobby as well. So today I knocked out both projects and made the most of my starfish mold by using the extra space on top to create some pastry shell molds on the same piece of clay! This clay doesn't have to be mixed like some of the two part products do. It simply comes in a brick. You pull off what you want. Wrap the rest in saran wrap and put it back in the box. I used this about one year ago and haven't touched it until today. It's still like new. No break down, no changes...nada.
I broke off my piece and rolled it into a ball, pressed it flat on my flexible nylon pad and checked the depth to make sure I could get a good impression with the starfish. It needs to be deep enough to take a good impression without getting to thin on the backside. If it's to thin on the back after the impression is made the piece will come apart when you try to remove it from the flexible work surface. **BTW if you live in a warm place and can't cool your work space, put this in the refrigerator and cool it before you take your impression. It  will release better from your object and take a clean/crisp impression.**
 It cures at 275 degrees Farenheit for 20m minutes per 6mm of depth of your mold!
I used a corrugated teardrop shaped brass bead on a head pin to leave my pastry shell impressions. Just sprinkle a bit of baby powder on a paper napkin, roll the bead in the powder to evenly dust it
then give it a gentle push. Keep the small impressions about 1/8 inch apart so that they don't distort one another!

Can't wait to use  these! Just mist the mold with water, press in your Polymer Clay of Choice, release the impression and cure it in the oven! Simple as that!
Somebody over at Youtube was asking me about how to make a piece of Starfish Jewelry. This was an attempt to help them out!
May the Muse be with You!
Much Love,
Mona

Classes in Jewelry Design with Mona Hair

 I just signed up for something new today! It's a directory for artists of wearable art that would like to teach lessons! I love this idea and while I don't have lots and lots of free time to teach, it would be great to connect with a few students on a regular basis! I have frequently been asked about classes for French Beaded Jewelry of the type that I am well known for! I work in wire wrapping and many other types of jewelry design styles, so feel that I have a lot to offer someone attempting to learn jewelry design! Basic construction of jewelry components and small jewelry pieces all the way up through complex designs! I love teaching! We'll see how it goes!

Bellaire Beading And Jewelry Making Teacher

Meet Guest Artist Vanessa Walilko LIVE!

Vanessa Walilko is an extraordinary designer of wearable art. Vanessa's muse is expressed not only in expected types of wearable art such as jewelry pieces, but also in jewelry for the body as her vision works in more expansive spaces! Major eye candy in beautiful wearable art. An interview and exhibition of work not to be missed! This is an online event. NO TRAVEL REQUIRED. Our show is as accessible as your own PC! There will be an open question and answer session at the end of the exhibition! If you wish to participate in the live text chat area of the program you will need a user ID. It takes about 30 seconds to grab over at www.ustream.com. No user ID is required to watch the show passively!
Date: July 10, 2011
Where: http://www.jewelryconnecti​on.tv/
Time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm Europe, 8pm UK, 4am Japan
Vanessa Walilko
Kali Butterfly
http://www.kalibutterfly.c​om/

Micro Mosaic Jewelry ------Then and Now

Join Mona Hair for a presentation of the history of Micro Mosaic Jewelry and what's happening today in this fine wearable art! How historical jewelry may influence contemporary artists!
Location:
http://www.jewelryconnection.tv/
when: Sunday 5-22-2011
what time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 8pm UK, 9 pm Europe, 4am Japan, 6am Australia

Today 5-15-2011 Mona will be presenting some history on the subject of the Victorian Era of Jewelry with lots of pictures...timelines...and a springboard for an educated attempt at creating Victorian Inspired Jewelry! Join us for a presentation of history through pictures of this expansive history of jewelry design!

Location: www.jewelryconnection.tv

Time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 8pm in UK 9pm in Europe, 4 am in Japan

This is an on-line internet event. No travel is required and it's free! Join us!

Meet Guest Artist Kazuhiko Ichikawa of Japan

Time	Sunday, May 1 · 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Location	http://www.jewelryconnection.tv
Created By	The Jewelry Connection
More Info	Join me in a live interview with Kazuhiko Ichikawa of Japan! We will enjoy a review of his work and a question answer session to follow! You may visit his website here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KAZism Date: 5-1-2011 Time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm in Europe, 8pm in the UK, and 4am in Japan ... Here is a brief introduction for Kazuhiko! "I design & make jewelries. I'm interested in antique jewelries especially in art nouveau & art deco. I graduated Kyoto Institute of Technology in 1979. I majored industrial design. After the graduation, I was working for a stationery company as a product designer and a planner for more than 20 years. Around in 1999, I was fascinated with antique jewelries. In 2002 I quit the company and entered to Tokyo Jewelry Craft School in 2003. In 2004 I graduated there and started my career as a jewelry artist." I'm looking very much forward to sharing this artist with you! Please join us! It's an online internet event and does not require travel. You can enjoy this event from where you are sitting while you read this!  Also you may call into the show via phone at 1-832-397-6317 Please hold calls until the question and answer session near the end of the show! Call and ask the artist questions or simply to let us know what you think of the show!  If you have SKYPE you can call direct with SKYPE to Mona77401