Sea My New Pieces!

So, in January I started on my beach collection.  Unfortunately my kiln broke down and took forever to fix, but now I'm up and running.  I didn't get to finish all that I had planned for my collection, so here are some of my new additions.  I hope you like them!  All of these items can be purchased at pajegoarthouse.etsy.com.  I'd love to see pics of what you have been up to.
Happy Creating!
--Kathy

Beachy Theme for January!!

I had one of my customers request "beachy" themed jewelry components, so I've been working diligently on this and I'm having a blast.  I've just finished a line of original connectors that look like tide pools with sea anemones and I'm so excited about them.  I thought I'd share with you here.  I'll be listing these before the end of the month.  Hope you like them.  I'd love your thoughts or ideas...

Happy Creating! 
--Kathy

Fall Is In The Air

Today the weather cooled off and reminded me that autumn is definitely here.  To mark the season change I've come up with a series of new pieces in my etsy shops.  Most have some kind of browns and feature some of my new designs which I'm really excited about.  Here are some pictures:

I'd love to see what autumn has inspired for you...

Happy Creating!
--Kathy

Hand Carved Animal Tiles

Several years ago I carved a series of tiles that featured animals.  I recently found the mold of them, so I decided to make a few to list on etsy.  Here are two examples that I glazed with a really cool matte glaze (when it pools it gets glossy).  Check them out.

I have a friend who loves roosters.  I decided to carve this so I could make a magnet set for her birthday.   Adding the loops to this tile allows it to be a pendant.  It is glazed on all sides. 

I

My daughter loves elephants, so of course I had to do one of these.  I like how these creatures extend slightly into the frames.  I also like how the glaze accentuates the piece without overwhelming it. 

How do you come up with the textures and patterns in your jewelry?

Happy Creating!
--Kathy

Organic Pattern Ceramic Jewelry Connectors

I was doodling one day and really liked one of my designs.  It was simple, organic, and I decided it could make a cool design for a new set of jewelry connectors.  So, I set to work making a stamp which I then pressed into balls of clay.  I wanted the pieces to be really textural but to lay flat, so I made them domed on top and flat on bottom.  I finished them off with wire loops.  Next, it was time to pick the glazes.  I've been really inspired by fall colors, so I decided to come up with a fall-inspired color palette.  I picked five colors (or color combos).  I was amazed at how each glaze, with its own characteristics, completely transformed the same piece into something distinctive.  Here is the whole array...

First I tried out a new color--a slightly matte turquoise color.  I used this specialty glaze on the largest of the connectors.  These look soft and organic. 

Then I used one of my favorite glazes, a dark blue/brown glaze.  The blue doesn't look very blue in these, but they are still dark and pretty.   These look old and worn.

On to a reddish brown glaze.  I was hoping that the design indentations would turn yellow like they did in the polka dot recesses of a previous bead I made, but they ended up being an interesting almost olive color.  Hmmm.  That's the great thing about ceramics is that it is not always predictable.  These look like confections.  Chocolate anyone???

I had recently picked out this salsa red glaze because it matched one of the fall color trend colors reasonably well.  It is a runny glaze, so it really enhanced the pattern.  These look busy so they would be great paired with solids. 

Finally, the smallest of the pieces got a two-tone treatment of some of my favorite glazes.  I used a yellow/brown glaze on one side and a sea blue/brown glaze on the other.  They blended beautifully.  I just put all of these connectors up on etsy and this two-tone variety got the first "favorites" status.   These look like a rainbow gone autumn.  While the design adds to the pieces, the color is the main attraction.  Pretty.

 

Well, I hope you've enjoyed seeing my latest jewels.  You can check out these and my other ceramic jewelry components at www.pajegoarthouse.etsy.com.  I'd love to see what new things you are up to.  Has fall inspired you like it has inspired me?  

Happy Creating!

--Kathy

Unbroken Pattern Birdie Clasps

As many of you know I'm most well known on etsy for making my birdie clasps.  I've historically made most of my clasps with headpins going through the bird to create the loop in back of the bird, but I've found that sometimes this doesn't show off the beautiful patterns best.  So, I've been trying out a new method where I've embedded wire loops into the back of the birds. 

Pros: Secure loops, I can easily glaze all sides of the bird, design is uninterrupted, bird has less wiggle room in the toggle
Cons: I lose the beautiful enhancement of beads/metal

Over all, I really like how the pieces are coming out.  I plan on making them both ways.  I'd love your opinions...

Here are some pictures.

Copyright Free Design Source - Dover Publications

Dover Publications - Get Designs (Some for Free!)

I love using my own art work for my jewelry pieces, but after a while you need supplemental pictures.  The most amazing source I have found is the Dover Publication series of art books.  These books are full of beautiful designs that are all available for crafts people to use without permission (although there are some limitations such as no more than 4 designs in a piece and designs cannot be used in new design source compilations--check the books for specifics).  They have massive libraries of designs and clip art from around the world and through time.  Some are in color and some are black and white and many come with vector design CDs.  These are fantastic for all crafters from scrapbookers to ironworkers to wood carvers to jewelry artists.  These books can be purchased at DoverPublications.com, however they do offer a free perk!  You can sign up for "The Dover Design Sampler" emails that come weekly.  This means every week you have access to a few FREE pictures.  You can save these to your computer too for later use.  I love this and have collected some great designs from this source.  Check it out.
PS. I've also found copies of these books at the library so see if your library has some before buying.  
Happy Creating!
--Kathy