collinsstudio: I can't believe it h...

collinsstudio:                               I can't believe it h...:                                 I can't believe it has been so long since I posted to my blog - but it has.  So I think I'll just ad...

                              I can't believe it has been so long since I posted to my blog - but it has.  So I think I'll just add a few things now, and then perhaps catch up a bit later.
I've been playing around with some polymer clay again and working on some faux turquoise.  I added a little Inka gold to some and like how the two combine.  So you can see some of my results below.
Or maybe it's above??? Darn computer has readjusted stuff again, so now I have to figure out how to get things where I want them - again.  But you get the idea.
I like the earrings, very light weight and comfortable to wear.  I like the idea of making my own ear wires, but may try a lighter weight of silver wire.  The other bead may become a brooch or?? haven't decided yet.
More later!

Well, I finally finished another piece of my 'Bits and Pieces' jewelry, and will add another one that I haven't shown before.  These are fun to make,  but take time and can be a little tedious, so I just do them when the mood, and time, strikes.

 This is the newest piece. It also has a pouch on the back for your glasses, amulet, whatever. ?????
The 'opal' in the center is polymer clay (also made by me) - much more sparkle in person.  Amazingly looks very much like a true opal.  Wonderful things you can do with polymer clay.

This is the other, older piece I mentioned above.  Perhaps it's my bad photography, but this one looks a Lot better in person than in this photo.  (I just got a new iPhone 6S, so hopefully my photos will improve now)

One more 'Bits' piece completed, and now working on number three.  I'm enjoying the hand stitching and beading on these pieces, then it's off to backing, which I'm doing in microsuede, and making the fasteners for the neck cords - first one in copper, this one in bronze, perhaps silver for the next one?
So, here's number two:

Now to finish number three.

collinsstudio: I just finished one of my 'Bits' pieces. Decided ...

collinsstudio: I just finished one of my 'Bits' pieces.  Decided ...: I just finished one of my 'Bits' pieces.  Decided to make it into jewelry using some of my beads and collectibles.  Thought you migh...

I just finished one of my 'Bits' pieces.  Decided to make it into jewelry using some of my beads and collectibles.  Thought you might like to see what came up.  Don't know for sure if it's finished, but I think so - perhaps a little tweaking, we'll see.

Now for a few close-ups

Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015

I've been stewing all week since getting back from an incredible time in Taos with Diane Ericson and Holly Badgley. As usual, I don't have any large, finished masterpieces from my time there, but my brain has been going round and round, so thought I'd share a few pieces that have been happening.

These two little pieces are what I'll call Bits.  An odd piece of linen, then painted, then I went around and picked up bits and pieces off of the floor.  With twenty women working on fabric stuff, there were a treasure of 'bits' on the floor.  The wrapped piece is a twig from the cottonwood trees around the Mabel Dodge Luhan property where we were staying and working, and the fabric piece an odd piece of linen I had from a vest I had cut out that day.  I felt these bits from all these women of my tribe would form a memory piece from this time and place, and might be incorporated into the vest I was working on.

So, here are two more I have made since coming home.  I'll do more hand stitching on these, and they may also become a pocket, or decoration of some sort on a future garment.

There is some construction work going on at my studio so these are the perfect little things to stitch while chaos is surrounding me for a few days.  It will be great when it's finished though.  New heat/air units - much better than the old, wornout swamp cooler.

These are so much fun to make that I think I will make more.  Just for the fun of it.