Archive for the ‘art doll necklace’ Category

Friendly Contradictions by Mylene Hillam

Sunday, July 11th, 2010
Last weekend, I got to spend a whole day at the Bead and Gem Show in Brisbane and I can't tell you how much of a treat it was. I love talking to people who share my passion for beads, findings and stringing materials. It was such a pleasant way to spend my day off.

But of course, I didn't go to the show just to chat to people.... I was on a shopping mission! I found a whole range of great tools for my jewellery studio - tools which I didn't even know that I needed until I saw them! But as they say, you can never have too many tools and I promise that I will play and experiment with them. No doubt they will add another dimension to my work.

Amongst the wonderful array of beads and findings on display, I was hoping to find some glass pearls and crystal dangles to suit one of my marbled Friendly Plastic cutouts but I left it behind in my studio - not very helpful!

It's really hard to "remember" exactly how a colour looks and our minds play funny tricks on us. We remember it as being darker or lighter or sometimes we pick the wrong tone altogether. Colour matching from memory is something I don't recommend - too often I have come home with the wrong colour beads, despite having a good sense of colour. But this time my memory got it right - light olive pearls and dark olive crystals in just the right shade!

I've teamed them with a vintage-inspired brass chain and an unusual cameo, both from Vintage Groove by Making Memories.
Lady Olivine
I love how this piece is so contradictory - it is neither modern nor vintage..... and yet, it is both! The colours are modern and yet they're not; the cameo is vintage and yet it's not. Contradictions!

This is one of the wonderful things about Friendly Plastic; add a bit of sparkle and it will complement the bright metallic foil. Or tone it down with some aged brass and it works equally as well. Or do as I've done with Lady Olivine and use them together to create a modern vintage effect.

Happy creating!


Simple yet Stunning Friendly Plastic Marbled Jewelry by Mylene Hillam

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

 Mylene Hillam of Milllane Studio shares her story of creating this elegant chocker and how she solved a rather common problem when making jewelry.  She writes:

Here's another piece I've made up using the samples from my demos at the Brisbane Paper Crafts Festival. This was a marbled strip in lovely shades of turquoise and purple which I cut with rectangular cookie cutters. I loved the colour combination, especially with the hint of red to spice it up and I knew straight away that it was destined to be made into a piece of jewellery.

But when it came time to assemble into a necklace it proved to be a little bit of a challenge. The striking colour combination was competing with every bead and colour combination I tried, which is a lesson in itself - sometimes, it's better to simplify! So with that in mind, I came up with a simple stringing idea - just a few crystal set dangles in between the rectangles and it's become an elegant choker - simple but effective!


Before I assembled anything, I gave each rectangle a coat of resin - that's five fronts and five backs and left them to cure overnight. Then I took a length of 18 gauge non-tarnish gold wire and bent it into a gentle curve. I laid out all the backings, face side down, on a non stick mat using the curved wire as a guide. I left just enough space between each rectangle for the dangle to be attached later. Then I heated the back of all 5 pieces with the heat gun until they were softened and placed the wire down into the Friendly Plastic. Make sure you have wet fingers when you do this because both the wire and the plastic are hot and of course, the Friendly Plastic will stick to you. One by one, I placed the top pieces in place, pressing them down gently to sandwich the wire securely in between. I let the whole piece cool down on its own rather than plunge the wire into a water bath - no sense in encouraging rust! I turned loops on the ends of the wire and hooked on the chain adding a clasp on the other end to finish it. Finally, I added the crystal set dangles.

And there you have it - Friendly Plastic...... simple and stunning!






Linda Peterson is compensated and endorsed by AMACO. The guests features may or may not have any affiliation with AMACO.

Friendly Plastic at the NEC STITCHES SHOW – by JOZART

Monday, February 22nd, 2010
Stitches is the British version of the CHA Show held each year in Birminham England.  Although it's not the size of CHA, it doesnt lack for talent, demo's or creative inspiration.  Personally, I think this show is much easier to manage and alot more up close and personal.  I thought you might enjoy these show highlights from Jozart - one of the attendee's:

The highlight for me was the superb demonstration by Liz Welch who is so expert at Friendly Plastic techniques and I am thrilled that I will be taking a full workshop with her later in the year. She spent so much time giving us ideas, hints and tips and made Caz and I beautiful pieces to keep.
I also enjoyed Fran Seiford's workshop  Painting with Powder which I know I will try again.




Down to earth now after a really colourful magic day.







Liz Welch, some of her samples made today and the lovely brooch she generously gave to me.














Fran Seiford from USA demming her Painting with Powder Technique
Caz with the shoe cards we made on the Woodware stand. My effort at the front.   Tim Holtz made me a Grunge Paper Rose for my beret
Claudine demonstrated her sticky back canvas techniques
Suze Weinberg's UTEE dem



The bargain hotel, not bad eh? The Chase Coventry, about 15 mins from the NEC

Be sure and visit JOZART's blog for more creative inspiration.  Thanks for sharing!



Linda Peterson is compensated and endorsed by AMACO. The guests features may or may not have any affiliation with AMACO.

Dancing Diva’s in Friendly Plastic by Karine Collignon

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Karine's friendly plastic work is very refreshing and unique.  Her mix of wire, Friendly Plastic and beads lends a feel of 'movement' to her designs. 

I looked at this piece and just couldn't help but put on some of my favorite music and dance.  It reminds me to dance...enjoy  life and be happy. 

(Did you notice the little guitar accent??)  Well...I can only describe Karine's work in a few words - BEAUTIFUL AND BRILLIANT!

Karine's work is for sale and more information is on her blog at :  www.bijouxartcreation.com

For those of you who speak english, her website can be easily translated using google translate.

Linda Peterson is compensated and endorsed by AMACO. The guests features may or may not have any affiliation with AMACO.

First day of Winter and Jumping for JOY!!!

Monday, December 21st, 2009
Today is the first day of winter for the northern hemisphere....that means its the shortest day of the year....but it also means that from now till summer the days will get warmer! Makes me want to jump for joy!



That's what I thought of when I looked at this beautiful piece by Karine Collignon of Bijouxartcreation. Karine says Liz Welch was a big inspiration in helping her create this piece.

So jump for joy....winter is here....but that means we're one day closer to warmer weather....

What will inspire you to create today?







Linda Peterson is compensated and endorsed by AMACO. The guests features may or may not have any affiliation with AMACO.