Awesome New Resource for Clayers!

I just came across (and joined) a site called ClayLessons.com which is pretty new. It's geared towards clayers using polymer and metal clays. Right now there aren't that many users, but I could see that it is already developing into something wonderful. It's sister site is the more well-known JewelryLessons.com .

Here are some things you can do at ClayLessons.com:

• Buy and sell tutorials (some tutorials are free)
• Write articles and tips about claywork to earn "points" which you can use to buy tutorials
• Show your clay work and see others' work in the Gallery
• Participate in the forums and interact with other like-minded clay artists
• Take part in challenges and other events
• Read interviews with well-known clay artists

Please check this site out and join! It's free and the more users that join, the better it will be.

Montreaux Poppy Inspiration

I adore this necklace. It is inspired by the orange poppies that bloom on Lake Geneva in Montreaux, Switzerland. I've taken some liberties with color - the Montreax poppies don't have any blue in them. I used a technique from Weltman's Ancient Modern book, using an old light bulb to mold the outer petal.

Shabby Chic Inspiration

I wanted these earrings to look like they came out of a jewelry box from 1960 - something one of the women on Mad Men would wear. Another exercise in color restraint, the petals are a combination of bronze (base petal) and silver (top petal) Pardo polymer clay. Both petals have been accented slightly with gold mica powder and are varnished to make them sparkle. A silver-plated beadcap sits in the middle filled with black seed beads. The earrings hang from silver-plated lever-back hooks which allow them to hang straight down for maximum effect.