Macrame iPod Pouch

I haven't posted on my blog lately, this is what happens when I'm in the middle of writing a book. Books take more time to write than you anticipate, and everything else has to wait on the back burner in order to make the deadline. So, now that I'm able to post a quick note, here is a free project I wrote for Craft Magazine. This link gives you complete step by step instructions to follow. Enjoy making an iPod pouch (or make a cell phone pouch instead)Macrame iPod Pouch

Craftcast with Alison

I recently taped a podcast with Allison Lee on Craftcast.com. Alison interviews various artists who work in different mediums, and it was an honor to be included with so many others I admire. In the interview she asked about what inspires me and my approach to writing craft books. Hope you enjoy listening. Check out my new DVDs for metal clay on my website too!

Black Toner Image Transfers

I found some awesome brass findings to apply image transfers to. I will be selling these on my website shortly. They are solid brass and can be sanded to make the perfect surface for transfers. I don't have a color laser printer, but I do have a black toner laser printer which works great for making monogram or silhouette images. I like the simplicity of these graphic designs.

Spring is moving right along and I'm working on another book. I enjoy the process, although there aren't enough hours in the day to do all of the cool creative things I'm dying to finish. I am, however, going to try to make time for my blog and to keep up (if that is ever possible) with all of the incredibly talented bloggers out there who treat us daily with amazing handmade "eye candy".

Spiral Weave Bracelet

This past year I have flown a lot!, both for business and medical reasons. On one of my many trips to Santa Barbara to see doctors post surgery, I had the time and opportunity to try my hand at bead weaving. This was very theraputic in calming my nerves and helped make the travel enjoyable, although a little tricky with beads rolling around my lap on the airplane. I never have time to do projects like this, so it was a fun excuse to create something just for the heck of it. The inspiration for this design comes from Nancy Compston who teaches at the Bead Company near LA. Her work is fabulous! This design is a spiral weave pattern with beads added for texture near the clasp. My contribution to the design is the magnetic clasp which makes the bracelet easy to put on. I glued seed beads around the edge of the clasp to hide the metal of the clasp.

Spring Rabbits

With Spring arriving I thought I would post a picture of a paper mache rabbit I made a few years ago. I love Easter decorations featured this time of year and anything decorated with bunnies and rabbits. This one isn't exactly an Easter themed rabbit, but with some pastel colors and accessories you can imagine how you might use the idea to create a holiday collection. This figure is made with celluclay which is really fun to sculpt with and it dries rock hard (I'm not kidding, you could bounce this off the sidewalk without breaking it). Most of the time I am making smaller pieces like jewelry, but once and awhile get a chance to make a larger piece like this.

Craftrends Award at CHA

We just got back from attending CHA (the craft and hobby association) tradeshow. It was fun to meet friends and see what's new. I'm pleased to announce that The Art of Resin Jewelry won the catagory of "Best General Craft Book 2007" from Craftrends and was given an award at the Award of Excellence at the show. With so much of the show devoted to scrapbooking, it's nice to be recognized in this catagory. It was great to see those of you who stopped by the Watson Guptill booth, socializing with co-crafters is what the show is all about in my book.

CHA Make and Take

I'm on my way to the big craft and hobby show in Aneheim this weekend (CHA). This is a macrame bracelet that I designed for a make and take project at the Watson Guptill booth #3784. This example features a simple button, but I will be bringing awesome buttons for people to choose from -funky colorful flowers to vintage silver designs along with choice of cord colors. The bracelet feels like silk to wear it and only takes about 10-15 minutes to make. I probably should have had this up so much earlier than now, but I'm treading water to keep up with the to-do list this week. For those who can't attend, email me at my website and I will send you the directions for the bracelet. For more projects, check out my new book, Beaded Macrame Jewelry on my site, or from Amazon.com

Charm Exchange

I am excited to show off the collection of charms from our winter charm exchange. Adrienne made the beaded white charms (dove, snowflakes, rhinestone studded balls). Julie made the tiny felted tree and ball embellished with seed beads (meticulously hand sewn). Wendy's charms include the glass box featuring an ice skater with glitter snow, a silver metal clay "deer", and quartz, pearl and lucite bead charms. Mine is the polymer clay charm with the winter scene embedded in resin. I love this bracelet, it's one you can wear all winter long and enjoy the creativity of friends.

Winter Solstice

This is a piece I made for a charm exchange. A few friends-Julie, Wendy, Adrienne and I decided it would be fun to make charms based on a winter theme. This charm was made using polymer clay set in a bezel. An image was applied and then embellished with glitter and beads. Resin adds a protective, glass like surface to the elements on the clay. On the back of the charm, I used Image Transfer Solution to apply the words on the metal. Can't wait to put all of the charms together on a bracelet. I will post the collection of all of our charms soon.

Gingerbread House

This year Dan and the kids decided to make a gingerbread mansion. Every time you walk by you get to smell the spicy scent of ginger and cloves, a happy holiday smell. The project took several days worth of work, lots of candy and 2 bags of powdered sugar worth of icing. The stained glass windows are made from crushed up jolly rancher and butterscotch candies. The inside is wired (of course-Dan's engineering) with light bulbs that shine through the windows. This house got far more attention than our house did this year.