New Online Store

I like making and selling jewelry.  Sometimes I have come along a piece of jewelry that I am willing to share, but I did not make this item.  With my etsy account I can only sell items I have made, so now I have found a place where I can share anything I wish to share.  So here is a link to my Square Market place.
https://squareup.com/market/cassandra-williams

Lentil Bead

Lentil Bead
Originally uploaded by claycass

Silk Screens and Silk Screening

I have created several afro-centric designs, and I think these designs will work nice with polymer clay silk screening.  I envision that these silk screens can be used to create small pieces of art.  In November I created a pretty unique piece using silk screened polymer clay.  I decided that I would like to create some afro-centric silk screens and use them to create wearable art work. 

    

 Adinkra Symbol - Strength

 

This is my first featured design.  It is the African Adinkra symbol of  'strength'.  The silk screen sheets are 4 x 5 inch squares.  Acrylic paints can be used to create the design.  Using typical silk screen process of squeezing the paint through the screen will create the design in paint.  A mixture of different colored clay and paints can yield amazing art. This is just a sample of what I created when playing with clay, paint and silk screens.

 

In the future I am looking for creative ways to use other Adinkra symbols.

 





 



I hope the new year brings prosperity and well wishes to everyone.  mmmm

I have to repair or replace my laptop so that I may really create postings for my blog.

I see myself returning to school to obtain yet another degree in pursuit of the American dream.  With that said blogging  and creating may be come difficult.

My laptop is down and I am going to try and create a post using my Samsung tablet. So this is my test.

Silk Screening

Just finished a class today on silk screening taught by Karen Woods.  She was a wonderful instructor. She gave us some great tips.  I see myself now looking for images that I can turn into silk screens.  Karen created a wonderful sample piece in class.  This was a workshop held by the New York Polymer Clay Guild.

LARGE PINCH FLOWER CANE

I conditioned some clay while watching a video. It was so warm that when I went to stretch out the blue blend it folded back on itself. So it was a mess. So I decided to work with it, this meant that the blue end of the blue/white blend was in the center. I also think in the future the initial petal cane should be rolled and reduce as a round cane. Reducing the cane in the round gets the cane to a desired size with ease. From France I have admired some big flower cane necklaces, so I am working on creating some large flower canes.

Check Out My Big Haul

I went to Michael's today and I got quite a haul. I had a coupon and a gift card, so I only spent $14. I am excited because I found the Sizzix tag die cutter. By its self it was $15. I thought this die cutter had a design on the tag. But the heart, butterfly, and I love you are not part of the die cutter. With this die cutter I am going to make product tags for my jewelry. I had some old texture sheets from Fiskar and the Spellbinder embossing mat should help with the impressions. I was reading the package of the Spellbinders dies and they state that the dies do all 3 things. They cut, emboss, and engrave, but they were all around 25$ and up. Next 50% off coupon will go toward a Spellbinders purchase.

 I also found some great colored cardstock. I bet this color is close the Pantone Color of the year for 2011, tangerine. I love the color so I just had to purchase it. The Color Infusion thread was a new item for me, it made me think of the kumihimo.they are sitting on the 'tangerine' cardstock. I like this braided cord. So I think this Color Infusion thread might lend itself well to the technique. I was originally turned on to kumihimo some years ago from Fiber Goddess. She has nice looms and bobbins. The Color Infusion thread comes on a nice bobbin. The other skein of yarn matches my color palette.

 I love apples - so for 3 bucks I had to have a new timer. I purchased greeting card for my friend, bugs for my clay and erasers for the little girl in me. Nice shopping, aye?

Nice Twist on Staples

Clipper Street Scrapbook Company: C is for Clever...: Recently found this on the Tim Holtz Blog and thought it was brilliant. What another great way to use your alcohol inks...to make your own ...
This is a nice feature to know how to create.  I have staples and alcohol inks.

Great Bails

These bails would work great with polymer clay beads.  I visited the new Joann's in the area and I picked up some new findings, so my creative juices are getting stirred up.

Cabezels!

The Art Of My Clay: Coming soon!
These molds look great.  I love the petals.

I am fascinated with the look of these cabochons. Well it looks like I might have to spend some money this summer.

SUMMER FUN

I am on a working summer vacation, so I am not going to be able to be totally creative. I will look for opportunities to make things. I saw this clasp and I said, "this is something I would like to make." Well so I can find it again I decided to blog about it. This clasp is simple but elegant. So have a look at the instructions if you dare to be creative. HAPPY SUMMER.

Shopping for the Best Buy

I went to Michaels to look for inspiration, while there I spied a deal I need to swing for myself. These two items are produce by two different companies and the prices are different. With a closer look I saw that the items were really the same things. I was waiting on a 50% coupon, so I could make my purchase. I now see that making a wise choice could save me an extra five dollars.

Got it...

What a nice gift for Mother's Day. Now I need to find some time to play. While flipping through the pages I have seen some nice ideas for creating texture tools. Now I am on the prowl for new texture tools.

Awaiting a new book....

Mokume Gani was one of the first techniques that I fell in love with. I felt comfortable and confident using this technique. I have not always made time for scientific experimentation and I think it has stifled my creativity. But Julie Picarello pushed this technique to a new level. I have admired her work since, I discovered her pieces on Flickr. A couple of times I saw classes she was teaching, but I was not able to attend. Julie has now decided to publish a book, AND WHAT A BOOK. I was so excited that I ordered a copy of the book the first time I saw it. Now, I'm like waiting for the blessed event - I sit in waiting for my new copy of the new book. I wish, I had been among the select few who are reading and using the book now, but I am but a common-er and I will have to wait for my copy. So I will have to learn to relax while I wait. Oh what shall I do? LOL!

Garden Gate Clasp

This Garden Gate Clasp is wonderful,and there is a tutorial. I saw it and I just had to share it. I subcribe to the Art Bead Scene, and this simple yet beautiful tutorial was posted by Heather. If you make jewelry and you look for ways to make it a one of a kind piece this tutorial should give you a large amount of pleasure.

Too Stressed, Too Busy, to p.....

I have been too stressed and too busy, to post. I have not set down to my clay in months. With life's stresses it is obvious one can not afford to pay dues to organizations that don't povide a great deal of rewards. My shop is on vacation and my clay is collecting dust. When one doesn't have time to visit the forum either, it doesn't make sense to continue membership. Farewell team P------.

Come Check it Out

I found a need to creat another blog. I have be come so busy on my clay blog, and bloggong quit a bit about other things that I felt I needed another blog. This blog has taken on the name Ardna's Sac which is my name spelt backwards. Ardna is a creative lady who does a little bit of everything. So in my creative bag aka 'sac' you may find a little bit of everything. Do it check it out.

Some up coming topics, my locs, life, and love. Maybe, that love just worked great with all the 'l'. I am looking to move my BESTeam entries to this blog also.

Debbie Jackson coming to New York Polymer Clay Guild

Debbie Jackson the author of Polymer Clay Jewelry is scheduled to teach a workshop for the New York Polymer Clay Guild, October 16 and 17. This is going to be a wonderful workshop. Debbie is an extremely talented polymer artist. Her plans are to teach Broadway Bangles, beatles and beads. The workshops are open to any one interested in attending. So please either email me or contact Valerie Hall throught the New York guild. We would be thrilled to have you join us.

Creative Friday

I have tried to make these hot summer Fridays my creative days at home. I have done some work but I haven't completed many projects. I need to get moving. I have completed some things ie. I am now a member of The NewNew Team, some peace earrings, and I created a new blog - Ardna's Sac.



See I have a couple of things coming down the pike.