fimo and pink metal necklace

This necklace incorporates some of my handmade fimo beads and some pink metal rings. It is a little longer than choker length and can be worn over or under a collar. I love the bright contrasting colours and textures... and the way it adds pizzaz to a simple outfit... Perfect for that little black strapless dress! Happy holidays to all...

clay smoke fired beads

This necklace was made using green wooden beads and clay beads that I made the same way as the previous post's terra sig beads. The only difference is that instead of coating the clay beads with the terra sigillata, I burnished (rubbed with a smooth metal tool) each bead by hand, which gives the same effect without the colour. The colour subtleties are created by the smoke in the firing process. Each bead takes a good 15 minutes to create (if you add up all the working time). The smoke firing must be done out of the city (we did it at a friend's country house) far from any residential areas... because of all the smoke that is created. So it's a long and messy process... but I plan on doing it again in the Spring... I love the results!

flat red terra sig bead necklace

This necklace is made using some of my handmade clay beads and some black glass beads on which I painted a copper spiral. The clay beads are made using a process whereby each bead is formed, left to dry, and then painted with a very fine clay substance called terra sigillata (terra sig for short) that has been dyed a red colour. The terra sig is polished to a high shine and the beads are fired in a smoke pit using sawdust as the combustible. The smoke gives the beads the blackened effect (almost making them look dirty). The process is very time consuming but the effects can be fantastic. Stay tuned for another necklace using almost the same clay technique, with a twist!

fimo transfer pendant necklace

Boy what a mouthful... "fimo transfer pendant necklace"!... but that is exactly what it is. I did a polymer clay (Fimo is a brand name) workshop and we learned how to transfer images onto the clay. I particularly liked this pendant and decided to make a necklace out of it (as opposed to a brooch). It's bright and fun and a real conversation piece!

art show and sale - a real success!

Thanks to all the people who made it out to our show, which was held on November 9th. Ronna and I (Ronna's in blue, I'm in red) had a great time and really enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new ones... We plan to do it again in the Spring... We'll keep you posted as to dates and times! In the meantime visit our blogs and get a glimpse of the good things to come!

fused glass pendant necklace2

Here's another fused glass pendant necklace in cool blues and purples. I've neglected my blog for a while because I've been busy creating stuff for a show that I am having this weekend at my house. I'll be showing and selling my handcrafted beaded jewellery along with my friend Ronna who does painted dishes. It's on Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm... And if you are in the Montreal area and are interested, email me for directions.

turquoise and black necklace

This was an experiment that seemed to work. I used macrame cord and made a double strand necklace with a clasp held in place by macrame knots. The beads are mostly plastic, along with a few small glass beads and a silverplated dangly spiral (hard to see in this photo). I like it because it is light and hangs in just the right spot.

fused glass pendant necklace

Here's one of my latest pieces of jewellery. I made the pendant out of fused glass and strung it on a long chain of matching beads. The necklace is about 2 feet long and can be wrapped twice around the neck or just worn simply as is. I like the variety of beads.... the different colours, shapes, sizes and textures make the piece really stand out.

painted flower vase

I had an old glass vase and decided to paint it using ordinary acrylic paints. (I seem to get that urge with many things!) I bought some really well made fake flowers (no plastic)... and although I prefer real cut flowers... there's something about never having to watch them die that makes them really appealing to me. I love this bunch of fakes, they keep the room vibrant all year round!

painted toybox

I had this old box that I bought for 4$ at an auction, and I decided to paint it and use it as a toybox for my little nephews. In a previous (unpainted) life, it was a prop in a children's TV show. My nephews from an early age learned that it was the goody box... and never failed to run and open it every time they came over, to see what new toy or treat was awaiting them!

fused glass hotplate

This is a trivet, otherwise known as a hotplate... used for preventing your counters or tables from burning due to a hot dish or pot. The funky shape was cut and ground from a large square piece of glass. I then used rectangles of leftover glass to create the pattern. I stuck a few (more than a few) clear rubber nodes on the bottom... and it works quite well. Amazing what a bit of leftover glass and a lot of heat can create!

fused glass platter

This is a platter, done in the same firing as the last 2 posts. The mold for slumping the plate was created out of clay by my friend, and I really love the shape and depth of it. It's very hard to photograph glass, and the white parts you see are actually transparent.

fused glass tiles

These are 4" x 4" fused glass tiles that I made. I did 2 sets... thinking that I might use them as coasters. But now I'm not sure what I will do with them... I just love them and wish I had enough of them to tile my kitchen backsplash! They take quite a long time to make, and you're never quite sure of the outcome. I love when the kiln is first opened and you get a peek at your new creations!

fused glass bowl

While visiting friends last weekend, I got the chance to try some glass fusing. This is my first piece ever, and I think it's okay. (The white background is because I photographed it on white... the glass is actually clear). It's not hard to do but you need a kiln, glass cutting tools and of course the right kind of glass. My friend who has been doing it for a while, gave us a crash course... and I think I'm hooked! Stay tuned for more pieces in the days to come.

multicolour lamp

A friend gave me this old ceramic lamp base. It was originally plain white with a few thin light blue stripes. I took it apart, removed all the wiring, and painted the base with some porcelain paints. I then baked it in the oven to harden the glaze, waited until it cooled down to rewire the whole thing, bought a lampshade, and it now graces my front entrance way!

small red mosaic top table

I found this red table for sale at a liquidation department in a well known chain store. It was cheap and not very attractive... but the top had an inlaid mirror. I knew that if I could crack out the mirror it would make a great base for some mosaic work. When I got it home, I realized that it wasn't glass mirror, but some form of unbreakable plexiglass, and try as hard as I could... it wouldn't crack! So... I just did the mosaic right on top of the plexi... and I think it looks fabulous!

3 blue and white vessels

These were done recently in a pottery class I'm taking. I don't usually go for these colours, but I was experimenting... Separately, they seem a little boring...they are quite small and thick (I still have a lot of practicing to do) but they look quite nice as an ensemble on my bathroom counter!

papier maché pot 6

Found another one... it was hiding at my friend's place!

papier maché pots 4 and 5

Here's a few more...

papier maché pot 3

And here's number 3... a little snooty i think!

papier maché pot 2

As promised... shnozzlewigger number 2... I love it's elongated nose!

papier maché pot

I'm not really sure what these are... right now I use them for decoration. I made these for my wedding reception to be used as centerpieces on the tables. Each "shnozzlewigger" (as we lovingly named them) held a bouquet of lovely gerbera daisies. A plastic container was placed inside to keep the moisture away from the papier maché. I made a total of 21 of them, and gave them away after the reception to good friends and family (I kept 5 for myself... which I will post in the next few days). I don't know what everyone else uses them for... but I just like the way they look empty, in a row on a shelf... they remind me of a great day, a great guy (the one I married) and the bright colours just make me smile!

Fimo and clay choker

Here's another one of my necklaces. A few of the beads are made from Fimo (polymer clay), some come from Peru and are very old painted ceramic, and the rest are just beads from my large collection. I really like the contrast of new and old, bright and dark... for whatever reason, I think it works.

tic-tac-toe

This was a plain unfinished wood board game that I decided to paint... and since I can't do the one colour thing (it just isn't in me)... this is my version of tic-tac-toe. The board hangs on the wall as a piece of art and then comes down when my little nephews come over and want to play.

Tall stained glass lamp

This is an odd sort of lamp. I made a three sided
stained glass tower (about 24 inches high) and then put a small
standing lamp inside. I covered the inside with some semi translucent
rice paper to help diffuse the light... but there is no way of getting
around the bright spot where the bulb is. I'm sure there are many out
there who might have a better suggestion of how to light this thing
up... but still, I love the ambient glow it gives.

my kitchen table

This is a photo of my kitchen table. I designed the original shape, and had a carpenter make the frame of the table leaving the border raised. I then created the interior mosaic using broken tiles and blackened grout. The edges were painted with red latex paint and then given a coat of polyurethane. The legs were painted royal blue. I just love this table for it's colour and functionality... it doubles as a giant hotplate!

French beurrier - butter dish

This is a ceramic butter dish I made. The butter goes in the top portion and water goes in the bottom portion. When the top is placed into the bottom, the water forms a seal around the butter, preventing it from going rancid. You can then leave it out of the refrigerator, and you always have 'spreadable' butter!

burned-wood bead necklace

The main beads on this necklace are twigs from my cedar tree in the backyard. I stripped off the bark, sawed them into manageable sizes, let them dry for 2 months, and then drilled holes for stringing them up. I used a wood burner with different tips to create the patterns on the beads. I think it looks very organic and perhaps even a little tribal... something to wear with your leopard print dress!

3 decorative glass bottles

These are regular wine bottles that I decorated using porcelain paint,fimo (polymer clay), rhinestone studs and glass baubles. The studs and baubles were glued on after firing the bottles in the oven to harden the paint and fimo. They were originally used as oil lamps. I had them filled with lantern oil and had a special wick that rested in the opening. But now they just sit empty on my window sill and I love the way the light shines through them.

painted sofa table

This was an inexpensive sofa table that I now use as a entrance table when you step in from the vestibule. It was "made in China" and looked like every other cheap piece of self assembly furniture. I took some old paint from leftover wall projects (all the colours come from one of the walls in our house!) and painted it very spontaneously. I then applied a crackle medium to get a funky texture, changed the drawer knobs.. and voila... something unique and eyecatching as you walk into the house!

small stained glass lamp

Here's another first... my first stained glass lampshade. I used a styrofoam mold for the shape and I used leftover pieces of glass and some round glass drops. There was no pattern to follow... I just made it up as I went along. I love the uneven bottom. The metal base was store bought (not very attractive) and I'd like to create my own ceramic base one of these days!

set of art trading cards

These are art trading cards (or ATCs as we like to call them). These were done for the purose of trading with other artists. Each one is an original drawing done with colored pencils. We meet once a month and trade our small art masterpieces (each card must be 2.5" x 3.5") with each other. I have been doing this for about 4 years now, and I am always amazed at the new and creative things that come out of the same people month after month. A "little" art goes a long way...

small ceramic "bump" pot

I call this a bump pot... because it is so crude (crafted by hand without using the pottery wheel) and I added the small bumps (dots) on top. It's about 4 inches in diameter and 3 inches deep. I like working with the clay... and moulding by hand. It's really very relaxing and the finshed pieces suit my funky aesthetic taste.

blue green painted floorcloth

This floorcloth was done very spontaneously... unlike my other creations. I wanted to let loose and just let the colour go wild. I love the effect and I really like the way it looks on the floor. Great for the kitchen... all spills are camouflaged!

multi-patterned painted floorcloth

This is another one of my painted floorcloths. It measures about 2.5 feet by 3.5 feet. I love mixing patterns together with bright colours. I loved this combo so much, I made placemats with the same design (using the same technique as the floorcloth)...only smaller. It makes for a pretty funky table setting!

long black necklace

This necklace was made with only black beads. The different materials (glass, polymer clay, wood, and plastic) shapes, and sizes are what give it, it's character. It can be worn long or wound several times around the neck (or wrist for that matter). I love the monochromatic theme and the assymetry of the pattern. Very versatile with any outfit!

large blue mug

This mug was done by rolling out a slab of clay, forming it into a tube then adding a bottom and a handle. Voila! Instant mug... fast, easy and very functional!

blue tone spiral wire necklace

This is another one of my coil wire necklaces. I have done a few in different tones. This one is made with cool blues and each wire spiral has a small silver bead encapsulated in the center. It is choker length and forms a collar of sorts...easily dressing up a plain, round necked shirt!

green fimo earrings

These funky earrings are made of fimo polymer clay with small faux pearl beads. I love the way the little drop dangles and bounces around... they were fun to make and fun to wear!

diamond shaped bead necklace

Though you may not be able to see clearly from this photo, each large bead is diamond shaped. I used a small diamond shaped cookie cutter to create the flat fimo beads and then grouped them by colour, adding a small, contrasting glass bead between each to keep them from touching. I love the result, but the beads can be a little sharp if they twist and turn on your neck... takes a little getting used to!

small light green mug

This was the first mug I ever made on the wheel. I love the shape and the colour. But, due to its thickness and that I didn't realise the clay shrinks in the kiln, It turned out to be a demi-tasse rather than a real coffee mug. I use it now for display purposes only... and I'm getting better on the wheel!

jade earrings

These earring were made with cast-offs from other jewellery pieces. I used old orange bakelite beads, light green jade beads and attached the dark jade ovals with green metallic wire. They are surprisingly light and fun to wear!

multicoloured choker with beaded pendant

This choker is small and meant to be worn tight to the neck. Some of the beads are hand made from Fimo, and the rest are glass and plastic. It looks great with a decolleté dress (or shirt)!

turquoise, gold and red necklace

This piece has an ancient look to it. I created the gold beads using fimo. The turquoise stones are from New Mexico and the red are some sort of distressed glass. The black beads are plastic and the center drop is made of fimo. But all together, it works... and the result is very regal!

blue and orange choker

As you can tell by now... I love to make (and wear) necklaces! This multistrand choker with a dual personality was really fun to create. By splitting the colours from side to side, rather than strand to strand, it gives the necklace a very dramatic look.

yellow hued necklace with wire spirals

This necklace is similar to the green toned necklace with copperwire coils... (I did a series of similar chokers with different colours). The spacer beads are black, and the dangling beads are in tones of yellows and golds that sparkle in contrast...It looks great on a black sweater!

big bulbous bead choker

I made this using recycled amber (plastic!) beads from an old necklace and combined them with some of my handmade fimo beads. The result is a unique combo and a real attention grabber. It's a bit heavy... but worth wearing for the fun comments it provokes!

4 canvas painting

This is an acrylic painting I did for fun... It's 4 separate canvases hung together to form one large square... but can be hung in different configurations for a variety of effects.