Oxidized Necklace

I have oxidized the necklace as I said I wanted.  I think it makes the clay pieces and pearls stand out better.  So which version do you like better? 

Finished Necklace for the Cruella DeVille Series

Well, here is one of the finished necklaces. I think I will oxidize this one to take the shine off the copper and tone it down a bit. It will give this necklace an aged look and make the clay and pearls stand out more. I will post a picture of the oxidized necklace when I have finished. Then, you can tell me which version you like more.



For this particular necklace, I have made it to fit like a collar. So I have also made extra chain to be able to provide a perfect custom fit for the person who will be wearing it.

How to Care For and Clean Your Copper Jewelry

While copper jewelry has recently enjoyed a new life in the marketplace, man has been creating copper jewelry for many centuries. Today, the price of gold has skyrocketed so high that many designers are looking for a more affordable material. Copper too, has gone up in price but it still allows artisans to create wonderful unique designs at an affordable price for the buyer. As an artisan and designer, I love to create jewelry with copper. It is a wonderful metal to work with and it has an earthy appearance.


Some people are afraid that copper will cause green marks on the skin. To understand the nature of copper, you must first understand that copper develops its patina from exposure to gases and moisture in the air and from your skin. It is this reaction that could cause a greenish mark. However, if you wash your copper jewelry with mild soap and water, rinse and pat dry, you should not have any problems with it leaving marks on your skin. I have personally worn my copper rings for days without having any problems.

As I said before, without cleaning, copper will develop a nice patina and darken to a warm brown color from general exposure to gases and moisture it reacts with. When you wear my copper jewelry, this patina will wear off exposed surface areas and remain in the nooks and crannies giving the jewelry a special character. If you wear your copper jewelry on a regular basis, you will probably not have to do anything at all to keep it looking beautiful.

Should you decide not to wear your jewelry on a regular basis however, you should place your copper jewelry in a zip lock baggie with a piece of regular chalkboard chalk or silica gel packet. The chalk or silica will absorb any moisture in the bag and, of course, the bag will prevent any further moisture from reaching the copper.

If you love the shiny rose gold color of freshly cleaned copper you should clean it when you notice it is becoming dingy. To clean your copper jewelry, prepare a mixture of lemon juice and a dash of salt. Then, you can either (i) dip a rag or soft cloth in the lemon juice mixture and gently wipe or rub your jewelry clean by hand or (ii) place your jewelry directly in the lemon juice solution and swirl until clean. Since lemon juice has an acid base, you should be careful with soft stones or pearls. When your jewelry is clean, you should then rinse and pat dry with a soft dry towel.

If the artist intentionally oxidized or gave your copper jewelry an aged look, I would suggest that you simply wear your piece regularly or wash it with soap and water.  If you were to use the lemon juice method, it will most probably remove the intended oxidation and completely change the appearance of your art piece.  You can also clean your copper jewelry with a jeweler’s polishing cloth.  

NOTE:  I would not recommend that you clean your copper jewelry with a toothbrush or silver polish because they may scratch and damage your jewelry.  Take care not to damage soft stones and pearls.

I hope this article was helpful to you. Check out my website www.bodyice.net or my available pieces at www.bodyice.net/jewelry. Thanks for stopping by!

Cruella DeVille Series

I was primarily working on the design I showed you before and created a frame for the pendant.  I felt that the frame was going to be too much and broke them down into two individual pieces.  The first one is the  pendant design that I will create a necklace for and the other will be a chained choker.  I am still working on both of them and will post the finished pieces later. 

I usually start off with a design drawing or an idea in my head and then I create as I go.  These jewelry pieces are created with a polymer clay art sheet (Cruella DeVille Series) that is cut into jewelry components and coated with a high gloss resin.  I then incorporate them into jewelry designs.  These pieces are done in solid copper wire with light blue glass pearls. 

Preliminary Necklace Design

Ok, so here is the drawing of the necklace design I came up with.  Now I will work it into a 3D necklace with wire and, I don't know, pearls or stones or something.  We will see..  I generally create as I go.  I will keep you posted as to its progress. 

Another Snow Removal Day!

Well, of course, I did not get out of my driveway for the last snow and ice episode and I had to borrow my son's Subaru.  I'm gonna get me one of those!!  The little beast plowed right through a snow bank from a dead stop at the top of my driveway.  Today, we had to remove another 5 inches to get out for work.  But I eventually made it in.  Ah, well, winter is just one of the enjoyable features of living in New York. 

I think I'm gonna draw out a design plan for one of my Cruella deVille clay pieces and get started on a new necklace for that line.  In case you don't remember what my Cruella deVille clay pieces are, here are the pics again.

I love the colors of these pieces, they are bright and cheery!  Just what I need in the middle of this awful winter.  I will keep you posted on its progress. 

Jewelry Progress and More Snow and Ice for New York

Well, Monday was Martin Luther King Day and I spent it making a copper chain necklace with focal beads that I made with extruded polymer clay.  I make all of my own chain and links.  I have also wire wrapped some small pressed glass leaves and hematite stones.  It still needs some finishing touches but it is almost finished and will be ready for my shop soon. 

 

I have also created a pendant wrapped and coiled with copper and another clay bead creation of mine.  I decided I wanted to make some small matching beads to hang from the two side loops and then make a simple black cord for this piece.   

This is the clay bangle that I last wrote about.  As I said, I think it came out cute.  They can only get better from here.  lol

I find it difficult to stop my creative process to take pictures of my work for you all to see.  It takes time to take a "good" photo, download it into the computer, adjust the size, etc. and then post it.  So, I truly apologize for this shortcoming. 

Yesterday we got more snow and freezing rain and  I had to scrape my driveway before work.   Today, my driveway is a sheet of ice.  We will see if I get out for work.  This is going to be a long winter! 

If you like my jewelry designs, check out www.bodyice.net/jewelry for my available pieces.  Thanks.

Back on Track

I know, I've not been blogging like I should have been.  The holidays demanded all of my time; cleaning, decorating, baking, shopping and entertaining (Oh, also working).  But, now I am back on track and a great big Happy New Year to everyone!  I have just started working with my clay and will be posting some new creations within the next few days.  Promise! 

There are just so many things I want to accomplish and so many ideas in my mind.  Where do I start?  I guess I just have to pick one and go from there. 

I have just completed a polymer clay bangle but I still need to buff it before it gets posted for view.  I always show my newest creations to my jewelry guru friend (she knows who she is) to get her reactions to my pieces.  She wasn't too excited with it so I guess you have to be a country girl to appreciate this one!  You will see soon.  So check back.  I think it came out rather cute and will look great with jeans. 

Lots of thoughts still running through my head.  The possibilities are endless.  Love to create Art to Wear!