Blast from the past part 2- Cloisonne type beads

Cloisonne type beads

 

These are very easy beads and quite fun to make, this was published in November of 2008 in this blog.
It was published in a magazine before this, I believe 2004.
I love these and they are easy and very fun to make.
Have a great week you all!

 

Blast from the past- 1st installment BPCanes

It is way too hot to take pictures. I was thinking that some of my content in the beginning of my blogging adventure was pretty cool, so sort of like summer re-runs on TV, I am going to re-post some of these babies that I really like.
Silence on a radio, no picture and sound on a TV, and no words on a blog are always a little disconcerting.
May your summer be cool.
May your drinks be cooler,
and may your heart be content.
Blessings all over all ya all!!

Just a note: Bead Space is no longer a viable link, but bead patterns are readily available all over the web!
Click on the title header below to take you to the full blog post!!

Extruder Canes with Bead Patterns as a guide

I put up the color mixing chart yesterday for this project!

Millefiori is the glass technique of bundling or layering colored rods of glass together to form images and then cutting the cross section of the bundled or layered glass to get a little tile of an image. These colored rods of glass are called canes. I have seen this technique duplicated in many mediums, ceramic, candy, food, and polymer clay, and it can sometimes seem almost impossible to achieve, but if you start with basic design, bulls eye canes, open spirals and checkerboards just to name a few, you can combine those to make more intricate pictures or images, called advanced caning. Anytime two or more simple patterns are combined it becomes advanced. I have found a way to make intricate canes that is so easy to do, yet gives the impression of intricacy and complication. Bead patterns and a Makin’s Clay extruder are great for attempting this.

Vox Sacramento and Clayville California Present The Art of Polymer... and the dog days of summer

It is hot and it is humid. Has been for weeks it seems like.
I have a lot going on right now with a three year old grand daughter.
She has neverending energy and I am zapped in this heat and humidity.

The guy at the gym said his electric bill here in San Diego is about 17000$ in August and September, crazy yeah???
I am just too tired to blog at the end of the day.
Well anyway, enough whining.
But I do have something tell you besides "I am hot!!"
I am going to be in a show that Lala Ortiz put together at Vox in Sacramento.
Lala will also be teaching some classes there. She is a wonderful person and make art with the best of them.
https://www.facebook.com/lala.ortiz
http://redwoodcoastcreativearts.typepad.com/redwood_coast_creative_ar/
Stay cool and go see this show and Lala, I bet they have air conditioning!

Vox Sacramento will be hosting a Polymer Art Exhibit

For the month of August, Vox Sacramento will be hosting a Polymer Art Exhibit
Where: Vox Sacramento, 1818 11th Street, Sacramento CA
When: Saturday, August 11th, 4-9 p.m.
 
Leaves with Citrus Necklace by Jacqueline Dodd
Clayville California and other polymer artists will be showcasing the diversity of one of the art world's newest mediums. Featuring sculpture, jewelry, vessels, masks, and functional art objects. Artists include: Adriana Ayala, LaLa Ortiz, Mary Fassler, Jacqueline Dodd, Michael J. Marx, Amy Fort, Marie Segal, Jennifer Young, Mary Lu Ellliott, Rachel Young, Yoli Rodriguez Manzo, Anita Sterling Winthrop
Vox Sacramento is also proud to present a solo photography exhibit "Memories of Betrayal" by local photographer Andy Brooks. All the images in this exhibit were shot in April 2012.
These exhibits will be up from August 11th through September 3rd.

These exhibits will be up from August 11th through September 3rd."

Check it out!!
Congrats Lala, great job!

Dawn Schiller's new book

Dawn Schiller is a very talented sculptor and she has finally written a book. Yay!! Dawn, I am very proud of you!

She has step by step photos and shows you how to make these lovely Fae Creatures from scratch. With detailed instructions and great pieces, this looks to be an asset to the polymer clay books library available for sculptors today!

Dawn is not only one of the most talented sculptors that I know, she is funny, quick-witted, and a dear friend. I am thrilled that she is published and I am thrilled for all of you. No matter where you are in the world you can enjoy Dawn's talent.

Dawn has a wonderful website with her works shown http://www.oddfae.com/
She has an etsy store http://www.oddfae.etsy.com/
Sells on ebay http://myworld.ebay.com/autumnthings/
Has a blog http://www.oddfae.blogspot.com/
She has and ArtFire store http://www.artfire.com/users/oddfae
And also a Cafe Press store http://www.cafepress.com/oddfae
Also has a fan page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/71326176904/
She shows at Comic- Con in San Diego and has been there for the last few years.

That finding is one of my Hoarders Closet findings. Yay Dawn!

Pre-Orders on Amazon are welcome and it won't be long before it is out!
http://www.amazon.com/FaeMaker-Making-Fantasy-Characters-Polymer/dp/1440313660/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339479914&sr=1-1&keywords=faemaker

But if you cannot wait to get the book, Dawn is teaching a class in the San Diego area before her Comic-Con appearance. She is going to show you how to make her assistant Fetch. I believe there are only a couple of spaces left.

Hello to you all

I am fine and I am well. I hope this post finds you all the same.
Life has been full for me
I find that my life is moving so very fast, this year is half over now and it  has seemed to have flown by.
Do you feel the same?
Thank you to the few of you that were concerned and wrote to ask if I was OK.
You made my days. I missed you all. I am OK.
If ever you want to see what is up with me and if I am still alive, you can check my face book pages.
The link is on the right hand side, just scroll down a little or this is it https://www.facebook.com/mariesegal1
I have a ton of pictures over at facebook on my class and the museum show pieces.

When I got back from my parents in Florida, I had things to do to catch up after Cabin Fever (more about that later) and I got ready for a class at the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park, San Diego, California.
It was wonderful. The women that helped me bring this all together took very good care of me.
They mixed all of the clay, they printed all of the handouts,the set up a power point presentation, so I could have a larger over view for the students, they coordinated all of the students and took the registrations,set up all of the tables and seats in a beautiful room at the museum.

I was so grateful for their competent and never-ending work and sweetness. Thank you Johanna and Jackie!
I wondered the whole time how I got so lucky to be able to do this. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

This class was part of a Gallery exhibition on polymer clay at the museum that will be ending on the 17th of this month June 2012, you really should go if you are in the area here. It is Polymer Clay History in the making. It is the brain child and pure love of a woman named Elise Winters. Thank you Elise, it was so wonderful to see your vision come to reality in such a brilliant way!
Elise's web site is the Polymer Clay Archive and you can see it here. http://polymerartarchive.com/
Both the Mingei International Museum in San Diego's Balboa park and the Racine Art Museum in Racine, WI now have permanent collections of polymer clay. That is one big step for polymer clay, yay Elise, ya did good.
I have been keeping up with both of my stores(links on the right, scroll down), writing, playing with the greatest Granddaughter in the world (Madi and I are trying to make a garden too) and living the good life.
I have some traveling scheduled this year too.How did I get so lucky??

I will be playing in here when ever I can again, I miss you all. Thank you for being here and still visiting and reading this humble blog while I took some time.
Tell me what you have been doing, I would love to know!!

May light and love shine in and radiate out from your beautiful hearts.
TTFN

Florida, lovely Florida!

I like it here, the weather is perfect...today!
This is the most amazing sky. The colors are almost unreal.
It seems as if you can reach out and touch these clouds.
So grateful to be here now!
Florida, lovely Florida!!

My classes at Cabin Fever and a update

I am in Florida visiting my parents. Sorry I haven't been around lately. I have been having so much fun and I left almost immediately after Cabin Fever Clay Festival, so it was very hard to get a blog in.
Here is what I started before I left.
I miss you all.
Love and huge hugs,
Marie


I must say that I am thrilled with my classes at Cabin Fever. I am tired, but thrilled.
Judging by what my students did, the classes went very well.
These are creative vibrant women and they learned so fast.

These are from the AM class.
The top row second from left is a heart that is antiqued but not finished with Lumiere.
The two hearts in the bottom row on the right side that are neutral are what the hearts look like not having the antiquing or the Lumiere.
The others have been painted and finished all the way.
They did well didn't they?

 

I was featured in the Etsy Blog by Mary and Kate from Reverie Magazine

I was featured, well my goldfish in the Hoarders Closet were featured, along with other Etsy sellers and their products, in a blog by Mary and Kate from Reverie magazine. 

Thank you, Mary and Kate, so much!!

You can read Reverie Magazine here: http://reveriemag.com/

Every thing for the bride, photographed with style, written with love, and all the latest for your Wedding Reverie.

And here is the blog post, where I and many lucky others, were featured on The Etsy Blog.

Handmade Weddings: Inspired by a City

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/handmade-weddings-inspired-by-a-city/ 

Reverie Magazine is a quarterly online wedding magazine created in London, England. Mary and Kate hope to spread their love of wedding design and ideas to brides on both sides of the pond. The next issue of Reverie Magazine will go live on April 12; you can also find daily wedding inspiration on the Reverie Blog.

I learned about my fish and weddings too, from Kate.

The tables would be decorated with wild flowers in mismatched glass bottles, and each guest’s place setting would have spiky air plants and napkins tied with gold fish charms (said by the ancient Greeks to enhance good luck in marriage and relationships).

Thank you again Mary and Kate! and thank you Etsy for having them blog!!

Getting ready to go to CFCF

Getting ready, so many things to do before 5 am tomorrow.
The question is, am I going to make it?

Another bib necklace!

I am sorry I haven't been around lately. I am getting ready for my classes at the Cabin Fever Clay fest.
It is now open to day visitors, so if you live in the area of Laurel, Maryland or surrounding areas and you want to take a few classes, this would be a good place to do it.
I will try to keep you up on what is going on while I am away.


Here is another way to use the Hoarders Closet bib finding. It is such a fun and versatile finding to play with. The brass ones can even be drilled.
Check it out here:
http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-finally.html


This is yet another way to use the bib finding.
Brass or silver bib finding 
24 gauge brass of non-tarnish silver Artistic wire
Spool of tiny gold chain or silver chain
Assorted beads, chain, and findings
Flush cutters
Chain nose pliers

Thread the 24 gauge wire into the loop on one side of the bib finding.
Bend a small bit over and twist the wire together.

I am going to use a mix of red, black, and white beads, glass, polymer clay, and some chain.

String on a few of your beads. I am using some of the smaller ones on the ends.

Pull the beads back and the wrap the wire around the end of the finding a couple of times.

Like so.

Push a couple of beads down the wire.
How many you use is up to you and how big the beads are.

Wrap the wire around a couple of times again and then push more beads down and wrap again.

I took the wire and wrapped it around the big black bead and the under.

I just keep adding more beads and wrapping.

This is not something that has to be perfect.
Here I am stringing some of the small chain on to the wire.

String on some more beads. Add some more loops of wire. Add some more chain.
You get the idea.

I haven't had time to finish this, but you get the idea


Now go have fun and make something.

Pennant Necklace- diy part 1

I see pennants all over Etsy now days. I thought it would be fun to make jewelry using that theme.

I also used the vintage chain I have been selling in the Hoarders Closet. It is sweet, small, strong, and great to work with.

I documented this one to share with you, because it is so much fun to make and wear.

I made both kids sizes and adult.

You will need:

1 color of Cernit (I used Turquoise and Light Green) You could even make each flag a different color, just have fun ;-D
Clay machine
double ended knitting needle
22 gauge artistic wire in Non-tarnish silver
Triangle cutter in 5/8" size

Round cutter in 5/16" size
Alphabet stamps (I got mine at Michael's)
Flush cutters
Rosary pliers or needle nose pliers
Flat nose pliers
Tiny Chain

1. condition clay and make soft and pliable, roll out in the clay machine on the 2nd thickest setting.

2. I am making the name "Sarah"
Cut out 10 of the triangle shapes.

3. Cut 5, 3 1/2" to 4" pieces of 22 gauge wire with the flush cutters.

4. Place the middle of the wire over one side of the triangle cutter and bend the ends over the edges.

5. Place the bent wire on one of the sides of the triangle. Put the wire down from the top about 1/16".

6. Place one of the triangles over the wire and on top of the triangle on the bottom. Line the two triangles up and press together.

7.  Press the triangles together and focus on the top of the triangles where the wire is.
I like to pick these up and make sure all the edges are pressed together well and the wire is centered and press well at the wire.

8 Do the same thing to the other 4 sets of triangles and wires.

9. Stamp pennants with letters.

10. Press in deeply and firmly for a clear print of the letter.

 11.  Check the edges and make the pennants are flat after stamping.

12. Using the 5/16" round cutter, I cut out 10 circles from the sheet of clay rolled out on the 2nd thickest setting. Roll these into balls.

13. Use the knitting needle to poke the hole in the beads.
Turn the bead over and poke the knitting needle back through the hole you just made to even the holes out on both sides.

14. Poke through.

15. Bake on a piece of corrugated box cardboard in a preheated 275 degree oven for 30 minutes, shut off the oven and let cool in there until you can touch the beads.









Continued in part 2...

I am teaching at Cabin Fever Clay Festival

I am teaching at Cabin Fever Clay Fest in Laurel, Maryland not far from Washington DC. in February.

You can read about my pre-conference and conference classes here

http://polymerclayfests.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/cfcf-2012-spotlight-on-instructor-marie-segal/

You can sign up here on the registration page

http://polymerclayfests.wordpress.com/cfcf-2012-registration-page/

This is the first time I will ever be teaching my unzipped hearts, how to use the zipper mold, how to make the embellishments, stamping both sides of the heart at the same time,  making and incorporating the ring bail at the top and anything else I can give you in the time allotted.

I will not be the only teacher there either, there are many great artists coming to teach at this event and it is the perfect thing to heat up your cold winter. I am so looking forward to this and meeting new friends and playing with old ones...

Here is the line up

Beginning 17 Feb. 2012, we will offer a two-day masterclass with Jeffrey Lloyd Dever and seven full-day workshops with each of the following incredibly talented instructors: Jana Roberts Benzon, Lindly Haunani, Barbara Lewis, Liz Potter Hall, Nan Roche, Marie Segal, and Sarah Shriver.

On Sunday, 19 Feb., the conference begins and will offer twelve unique workshops and nineteen opportunities to get the creative muse working again!  Instructors include: Blair Anderson, Jana Roberts Benzon, Lindly Haunani, Linda Hess, Doreen Kassel, Shannon Nelson, Kathryn Jo Ottman, Lynne Anne Schwarzenberg, Marie Segal, Sarah Shriver, and Laura Tabakman.

I will also be teaching a class on wire called "All wired up"

That is the pre-conference (master classes) all day workshop on Friday the 17th of February.

We start out making a simple flower cane .

I will be exploring all kinds of ear wires and making a simple clasp for necklaces and talking about wire basket weaving and how to incorporate the cane into the wire.

 This is going to be an incredible conference with many wonderful teachers and 20 classes available to you. I am so honored to be amongst this group.

You should come, it is going to be fun and you will have chance to learn something new in the new year.

All of the instructors are incredibly talented artists in polymer clay, metal clay, mixed media, and metalwork.