The twisted wire was formed into the basic shape, then the top was wrapped with 21 gauge half round Argentium sterling silver wire to form the bail.  A precast head was soldered into the loop with hard silver solder.  The entire piece was then pickled, hand polished and tumbled to a high gloss polish.  The prongs were notched with a square fine file, and the peridot was set into the silver setting.  We have a finished pendant:

These last to views are from the back and the extreme left side.  Overall, the effect of the twisted wire accents the entire design.

I would like to introduce you to Lynn Frederickson, a very interesting woman and a wonderful artist. Lynn lives in Orillia Ontario and enjoys many forms of arts and crafts from knitting to gourd-carving.

OK, this next part is amazing! So amazing in fact that people don’t get it and don’t believe it but believe me it is true. Lynn can knit whole sweaters; pairs of socks, anything that has two sides all at once off two straight knitting needles…NO SEAMS! Even more amazing was the book she wrote about it called Seams Incredible. The book has long ago been lost among the discount bookshelves but if you can find it, it’s a true gem! This is super easy to learn and Lynn is anxious to answer any questions that anyone has. I’ve encouraged her to join the forum so that you can have easy access to her brain to pick. If you are a knitter I strongly encourage you to. This will save you time and stitching. It gets better…not only can she make anything with two “ply’s” we’ll call them, she can make as many ply’s as she wants/needs… off two straight needles! Think about this. It’s a wonderful thing.

Lynn, as well as being one hell of a piano player, has been creating art her whole life. Painting, macramé, crocheting, playing music (a variety of instruments), and currently she enjoys carving gourds, beading jewelry, and experimenting with any materials she can get her hands on. In fact I remember her making paint from egg yolk because she read about it somewhere and when I was little I remember sitting under her easel. Oh ya, Lynn is my mom:)

What is a polymer cane? I get that question a lot, so I decided to make a short video demonstrating how a polymer cane is made from beginning to end right before your eyes!. I had to speed it up so that it would fit in the allotted time but I think you’ll get the idea.

OK grab your clay and get ready for a bit of inspiration! Please enjoy this free simple turtle cane video which hopefully will give you a better idea of what it is that I do here at Start’s Arts.

After the video I hope that all you cane-curious folks give polymer caning a try! Thanks for watching…

Just click on the link below to watch this tutorial, you might have to click it twice

This is not a turtle tutorial.

Beverley Start
startsarts@gmail.com
Find us:

Starts Arts on the HAFshop

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You can also just search Halloween on the HAFshop and you’ll see a whole bunch of other creations as well.

Maybe some Halloween Earrings will be the touch you need!

Regardless of what your looking for the Handmade Artists’ Shop has what you need! Handmade from the Artist, everyday.

By Beverley Start, Polymer Clay Artist

October 14 2011

Like tubes of cookie dough with pictures in them that you can slice up into a dozen identical treats, polymer canes also have pictures or patterns running through their entire length, only they’re made from clay.

Click here for example one and here for example two.

Detailed images, simple geometric patterns, or anything in between can be designed and created. One of the most magical things to me about polymer cane art is that when the cane begins it is quite large to create the detail but once complete it may be reduced in size. This is quite remarkable because the reduction of the cane reduces the image it holds as well.

Stay tuned for more information on polymer clay and canes.

Finding the ideal kind of project that can be done with children sometimes manages to stump even the most creative of parents. After all, sometimes the typical craft ideas that people are used to seeing detailed in magazines and portrayed in classrooms just aren’t the most compelling picks. And while it might be fun to make something out of paper mache or to get involved in the exciting world of active volcano models, most of the time, people are more interested in whether or not they can find something that will delight youngsters while also not being that difficult to set up. Fortunately, figuring out how to craft these kinds of projects is not as difficult as one might think, and getting things set up for the whole family is definitely a lot less stressful than one might think.

Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

The first step in successfully crafting a project for the whole family to enjoy together is identifying just how difficult one wants things to be, from amount of time things will require to the amount of supplies that need to be invested in. Fortunately, it’s a whole lot easier than people might realize to be able to figure out something that is slightly no mess and no fuss. For younger children who tend to require more supervision, going for something that is less messy is a far better idea, as it will mean that those in charge will not be cleaning things up indefinitely. And remember, just because you love fiddly projects that take hours to complete, it doesn’t mean youngsters will – think instant gratification and not too much precision.

Take Into Account Their Interests

When it comes to actually selecting the kind of projects that will keep children entertained, it also makes sense to be considering one’s own child and his or her particular interests. After all, if a child is more bookish, going for a project that is going to be more oriented towards sports is not going to fly quite as well as finding something that clicks more with one’s interests. So be keeping that in mind when making those kind of decisions, as it’s definitely a better way to handle making the best choice. Your child will be far more enthusiastic about making a train/ballerina/dinosaur themed project, even if it isn’t your cup of tea.

Don’t Be Too Rigid

No matter the age of the children with whom crafting is happening, it’s always good for parents to take a step back and allow the children to shine. Make it clear that there are a set of different rules that are worth following, but that being creative is definitely encouraged, and that following directions and finding a way to put one’s own spin on the process is a great idea. This might mean being very specific about putting a piece together but then decorating whatever is being built in a more freewheeling way. This is also a great way for parents to teach their children about the balance between being creative and following the steps at hand to get a great end result.

So when making plans to entertain the children with a craft project, it makes sense to go ahead and realize that focusing on interests and abilities are the two secret weapons to ensuring that all goes smoothly and that children are happy.

About the Author: Victoria Crowdell writes articles on family, home & garden and crafting – her passion is scented candles.