Button Make & Take Classes

We just finished our Button "Make & Take" class at Lynden Tree Yarns in Grande Forks, BC.  The ladies made some really beautiful buttons for their knitting or quilting projects.  Some even made a pendant or two as well.  It was nice to be able to visit Lynn's lovely store again before the snow flies as the roads through the mountains in the winter time are not the best for travelling on.  We plan to go back again in the spring and will hold another class or two then.

We are holding another Button making class this Saturday, November 14, but this time at A Twist of Yarn in Vernon.  The class is from 10:00 to 1:30 and you can contact them direct if you are interested and to see if there is still a space available.

Christmas Show Now Over

Our Christmas show of the year is now over and is nice to have it finished early.  Dave and I were both physically exhausted after but we were still able to enjoy dinner out later with our new friends from our polymer clay guild who were also there selling there handcrafted jewelry.  It was a nice way to unwind and relax afterwards.

Our interchangeable "Snap" Jewelry was a huge hit at the show.  I managed to take a few pictures this time before the doors opened and the floods of people came in.  We added a new item to our "Snap Decisions" collection which was our chain style belts.  These were not only a popular item they really added that extra touch to our display.  These belts are so gorgeous and of course I had to keep one for myself to wear.  We do have a few left over that are available in our online store.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow . . .

As long as the snow is in polymer clay patterns and we do not have to shovel it, I am okay with that.   We have had a nice fall season so far but we are already preparing for the Craft-a-Fair Christmas show on Sunday November 1st.  We will be in the same space as the past 5 years -- up on the concourse (turn left at the main entrance and we are the third booth on the left hand side before the concession).

We always like to have some type of Christmas themed pieces at our shows and this year we came up with a snowflake design in a "snap".  I love jewelry with snowflakes for the holidays as you can wear them all winter and not just at Christmas time.  These snowflake snaps were created from a mould that we made from a metal finding and have them available in Silver with either a black or metallic blue background.  Swarovski crystals are embedded into each snowflake center to give them some sparkle.  These are now also available in our online store.

The detachable pendant shown here is new and we recently added it to our online store.  We added the clip bail which fits the thinner buna or softglass cords (2.5mm).  These clasp type bails are great as they are not only interchangeable so you can switch out your cord type or color, the pendants stay in place so the cord does not creep it's way to the front.

We have a special promotion coming up with some cool offers and even a free tutorial, so be sure to sign up for our newsletter on our website here so you don't miss out!

More Jewelry Picks Available

We just received another shipment of more "snap" supplies so our online store is stocked up again including jewelry picks.  The picks we received this time have a smaller hole at the top but still work well and easily fit a large 16 gauge jump ring.  

Unfinished "pick"

These picks are quite handy for removing the "snap" art beads from the snap base findings -- especially the ones that don't have much of a frame around them like rings or earrings made from the double or single loop base.  We also discovered how they assist with releasing the clasp on the Pandora bracelets.

In the first part of my tutorial I show how to customize these picks with clay.  You can also add your signature stamp or cane slice for identification.  We like to include a clay covered pick as a bonus gift with a minimum purchase of our snap jewelry pieces. 

We managed to find these at a lower cost so have passed the savings on and therefore offer them in a 5 or 10 pack bulk pricing listed in our online shop.

New Prototype - Combining Styles!

I love engineering and inventing new items when working with polymer clay.  When I get an idea, it is in my head sometimes for months while my brain tries to work it out.  For some things I need to work in stages and create my first prototype which sometimes evolves into other variations or new ideas.  Other ideas just suddenly pop into my head and I am totally surprised why I hadn't thought of it before!  This new style I came up with is a perfect example.  We have been making more of our scarf jewelry components interchangeable simply by adding a special clip type clasp.  We can also add "snap" base pendants to the scarf bails for another variation.  I then realized we could maybe add a snap base to the scarf bail but had to work it out to see if it was possible.  Here is the result!

So to create the scarf bail with the snap base, I combined  methods from two of my tutorials:

Constructing Accent Pieces for Your Scarves, Sweaters & Shawls

and     Snap Decisions - Part 2

Here are the instructions to make a scarf bail with a snap base using the above two tutorials.  I will refer to them as "Scarf"  and "Snap" as the instructions will switch back and forth between the two.

# 1 - Roll out your sheet of clay to add your snap base - See Snap Tutorial - Step 1 (page 5)

# 2 - Cut our the scarf bail base form - See Snap Tutorial - Step 2 (page 5)  AND  Scarf Tutorial - Step 50 (page 18)

# 3 - Crimp your snap base onto the raw clay piece. - See Snap Tutorial - page 27

Add snap to center front of scarf bail before baking

Side view of snap base crimped onto clay

# 4 - Attach the ring and bake your piece. - See Scarf Tutorial - Steps 51-60 - (pages 18-20)

Scarf bail with snap ready to bake.

Side view of scarf bail with snap.

 # 5 - Add the veneer to the scarf bail base.  - See Snap Tutorial - Steps 11-15 - (pages 7-8)

Bake your piece and you are done!

We now have a large selection of snap supplies and tools in our online shop as well as jewelry findings that we use in our tutorials such as the smaller rings for scarf bails.  These rings are a perfect fit for the clip type clasp used to make the scarf jewelry interchangeable.

Rings for scarf bails

Clip Clasp

Interchangeable Scarf Jewelry Pieces

Important Update Info for the 2016 Polymer Clay Adventure!

I recently received more info on how the Polymer Clay Adventure Retreat works and thought I should explain as best I can to help prevent any confusion -- especially for those who would like to receive my complimentary tutorial as a bonus gift.  You can read more about this on my previous blog post here.

Each of the 24 teachers involved (including myself) have the opportunity to promote this great Event to sell tickets.  The Retreat is headed up by llysa & Kira of Polymer Clay TV who do all the organizing and collect the funds, etc.  All we do is provide the means for you to access the retreat and purchase your ticket.  Each of the teachers receive a commission for anyone who signs up through them and the link they have provided.  So, if you have clicked on a link to view the retreat information provided by one of the teachers, then you are under that person.  You do not have to buy your ticket at that time but you have basically connected yourself to be under them.  So if you have already clicked on some other teacher's link and try to click on mine to purchase your ticket, it is too late and you are already under the name who's link you first "clicked" on.

So, if you are interested in signing up through me and receiving my free tutorial gift, but do not want to buy just yet, then all I ask is just click on this button here:

By simply clicking on the button will lock you in under my name so that when you decided you want to buy your ticket later, you will already be linked to me.  Even if you think you might have clicked on someone else's link first, click on this link anyways, just in case you didn't.  I will not know right away who signs up through me until later when they send me the list of names.

I know many of you might be disappointed if you find out that you already "signed up" through someone else and so therefore do not qualify for my free tutorial gift.  If that is so, I will do something special for you later (if you contact me).  Just be sure to follow our blog (sign up on the right hand side for direct e-mails) so you can stay posted for future contests and give-a-ways.

Still Time to Buy Your Ticket for the Polymer Clay Adventure Retreat and Get Your Goody Bag!

When you sign up for the 2016 Polymer Clay Adventure Retreat you have the chance to receive a goody bag.  There is still time to get in on it as it has been extended one more day so you now have until tomorrow (Wednesday) evening.  This is going to be a fun year of exciting new tutorials with tons of inspiration and a cool place to meet and make new friends who all share the same passion!

If you would like to join me and are one of the first 50 who sign up through the link I have provided below, then you will also receive a copy of my new tutorial, "From Scrap Clay to Art Deco" as a bonus gift for free!  To be sure you get in on this offer, then click on the button or picture below.  If you were already a member of last year's (2015) Adventure Retreat, no worries -- you will need to sign in and then purchase your ticket.  As long as you have first clicked on this button then you will be added to my list of the first 50 attendees!  If you still are not sure, feel free to contact me by e-mail or through our facebook page.