Welcome to Inside the Studio!
Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
Congratulations to Deb Fortin!
You have won a Shimmering Garden or Fabulous Facets video.
Please send Erin an e-mail with your information.
________________________________________________________________________________
3D Star ornament
I have been trying to create an ornament for Christmas this year. I’ve been really busy the past few weeks, I haven’t had much time. Above is what I came up with.
Cleaned up and drying
Usually I make a mold for all my designs. I tried something different. I used cookie cutters. Easy enough. But they were plain and boring. So I created the circle design on both sides of the both pieces of the star. It was fun and random. I like no rules!
Bisque fired
After they were cleaned up they were fired. The clay that looks grey above fires to white. A nice blank canvas.
Glaze samples
I make glaze samples using the rejects. I am glad I tried 2 transparent colors. The yellow just didn’t do it for me. It is far yellower in person!
First color
This color is called Rich Rust. Glaze is brushed on. I really thought it had more red in it. As you can see in the first photo it leans more towards brown. I am so not a brown person!
Wiped off
The first color is rinsed off and is left in the recesses of the design. Next the transparent glaze is brushed on over the entire ornament.
I have to make more and tweak the pieces. The bottom piece is too wide when the two pieces are put together. I really can’t live with that space. Unless I can get that problem worked out there won’t be any ornaments to give as gifts this year.
The colors need to be changed also. Being a “Brighter is Better” color person, I’m having issues with this first color palette.
I need to kick it in high gear to get all the problems worked out.
I liked I could make this my own.
Keeping my fingers crossed for the outcome.
*Remember any button can be a pendant or jewelry component.*
My Question is:
What special project or gifts are you making for gifts?
OR
Have you taken something recently and made it your own?
OR
Have you taken something recently and made it your own?
Leave your answer to the question in the comments
and you could win a $15 Gift Certificate.
Have a great day and a wonderful Christmas!!
Feeling Sassy as usual!
Tari Sasser
Colleen
December 19, 2014 at 9:18 pmI've got a few projects in the works for my bff, including a pair of lighthouse earrings using lampwork beads from Nikki Rogalski. I'm hoping to make some sort of spiral stitch bracelets for my nieces this weekend. Something that it isn't the end of the world if they manage to destroy them since they only took time and seed beads. the stitch I was going to use is for large seeds and coming up with 3 colors is an issue. I'll figure it out, though.
The ornaments are adorable and I'm sure they will be FABULOUS once you find the right glaze(s).
Tara Leitermann
December 20, 2014 at 4:40 amI usually like to make quite a few gifts. Jewelry-wise, I'm making earrings for my mom and niece, and necklaces for 2 of my sisters. I love to crochet, too, so I'm giving my husband (who loves to cook) some dishcloths he requested, a scarf to one of my daughters, a doll purse to the other daughter, and mittens for my nephew. As usual, lots of things to be finished last minute 😉
Cindy Martin-Shaw
December 20, 2014 at 6:53 amThese ornaments are so very clever. Lots of trial and error, that's for sure. I loved reading about your process, and I like the brown in the recesses.
I am zentangling my Christmas cards and making jewelry for presents. I am very behind and can't believe how fast the time is going, but I love handmade for the holidays.
Kristen
December 20, 2014 at 11:44 amI made a bunch of fused glass ornaments using different colors and transparencies of green glass with fine silver wire swirls and dichroic frit flakes sandwiched in them. Most of them came out great but I had a few fails. Your ornaments look great and I like the 3D effect. I agree, the more color the better!
Claire Lockwood
December 20, 2014 at 11:51 amThese look so neat, Tari! I think the results are looking pretty fab already!
Melanie McGready
December 20, 2014 at 12:00 pmWhat a wonderful idea for Christmas ornaments, Tari!! I've just bought a kiln so reading your post was particularly fascinating, though way beyond my current ability! I've been making Christmas tree pendants for friends and family out of polymer clay with alcohol inks and crayon inclusions. It's been fun! Wishing you a wonderful Christmas too!!
Kathy Lindemer
December 20, 2014 at 8:58 pmI love to make gifts. I made a necklace, a bracelet, and a pair of earrings for my daughter. She loves nautical themed jewelry and the earrings and bracelet have that in common. She loves pearls so I made her a necklace with some gorgeous pearls. I make cards and this year I made all of my Christmas cards. My daughter is also the recipient of some mono print notecards that I created. For a dear friend of mine I made a polymer clay ornament for her tree. I just love making things!
Becky Pancake
December 21, 2014 at 1:42 amHi Tari, I think your 3D stars are AWESOME. I would be proud to display one of them. I have been creating Christmas ornaments every years since the early 1980's. I have used lots of different stuff in them including eggs from our chickens. Since I started beading beaded ornaments top my list. I created about a dozed beaded ornaments this year for friends and family. They are small and made from super duos, seed beads, and pearls.
Klassy Joolz
December 21, 2014 at 11:27 pmI love to make wreaths and I just made a beautiful Christmas one for next door neighbor and she loved it.
Your stars are so fun. Great idea!
Merry Christmas Tari!
Denise McCabe
December 22, 2014 at 5:12 amI am hopefully finishing a crossstitched stocking for my husband (that I started 10 years ago), two fleece blankets for my kids and jewelry, of course!
Larissa Heskett
December 23, 2014 at 7:06 amWOWOWOWOW!! SO FUN and I LOVE the Design!! =) I have been making Ornaments for my Family, Friends and now my sons Teachers for the past 10 years!! This year I LOVE my Ornaments and I have also made some Rings and a Few Necklaces as Gifts!! THANKS for sharing and have a FABULOUS CHRISTMAS WEEK and a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!! =)
Gaea
December 24, 2014 at 6:27 amGorgeous! Really clever and sweet! Merry Christmas, Tari! 🙂