Shaterra Clay Studio

Little Bird Dangle Pendant

2012-01-30T04:36:00.000-08:00

Here is another project idea.
Use a 1" textured ceramic leaf bead
as a focal point to wire wrap a
dangling bird pendant.
Connect diverse elements with
wire to make a whole.
Supplies: 22g antique brass Para wire
Small leaf charm & fluted metal bead: Hobby Lobby
Bird charm: Share Living on Etsy
Reversible Ceramic Leaf Bead: Shaterra Clay
Leaf Charm Dangle: Rings N' Things

These ceramic leaf beads are reversible.

Use the Multi leaf side or the single leaf side.

Wire Wrapped Dragonfly Ceramic Donuts

2012-01-29T04:40:00.000-08:00

Ceramic donuts are fun to wire wrap!
I love the glaze combo on this brown, green, gold and
black donut. The brass looks great with it.
It also looks great with wood. I wire
wrapped with 22g square antique brass
Para wire.

On this one I used 2 wires together, one round and
one square. I made the bail first,
then started wrapping. Grab the wire
with needle nose pliers and turn the
pliers to make the notches in the wire
This also tightens and secures the wire.

This donut has a large opening. Just add a hammered wire pin
to make a great shawl pin. Then it can be worn
as either a pin or a pendant, with the bail at the top.
I got the wonderful brass dragonflies on Etsy.

Project Idea - Wire Wrapped Leaf Earrings

2012-01-21T10:57:00.000-08:00

Here is another project idea with free instructions.

You will need
2 ceramic leaf texture beads
2 antique brass leaf charms
22g antique brass wire

4 fluted metal beads (Hobby Lobby)

2 ear wires

2 hammered ant brass loop connectors (Hobby Lobby)

needle nose pliers

wire cutters
plastic jaw pliers

round nose pliers

Cut 2 12" pieces of wire and add a leaf charm, bend wire in half.

Twist the wire to secure the leaf.

Twist one wire around the side of the connector, up through top loop; add ear wire and make a wrapped loop using round nose pliers

Use the extra wire to make a spiral at the top with the plastic jaw pliers.

Thread a metal bead, ceramic bead, and metal bead on the other wire. Wrap it aroung the top of the connector, and then down around the side, ending at the bottom. Make another spiral at the bottom with the extra wire. Repeat for second earring.

Free Tutorial/Change It Up

2012-01-17T03:37:00.000-08:00

Here is the same design, but I have changed the wire to copper, the beads to butterflies, the ceramic beads to textured emerald green, and the leaf dangles to antique copper

Free Project Idea/Tutorial

2012-01-16T09:24:00.000-08:00

Make these!
Here is a free idea/tutorial for these unique wire wrapped dangle earrings featuring 2 of my ceramic textured tube beads and bird beads.

Here is what you will need:
2 ceramic leaf tube beads
2 ant brass bird beads
2 ant brass fluted metal beads
22g square wire
leaf chain
2 ant brass fish hook ear wires
needle nose, plastic jaw and round nose pliers
wire cutters

Start by cutting 9" of wire. Curl the end into a tight spiral using the needle nose and plastic jaw pliers. Thread on 5 loops of the leaf chain.

Using the end of the round nose pliers as a guide, turn the spiral up to make a loop that hold the leaf dangles.

Add the a leaf bead, bird bead and fluted bead to the wire. Keep the wire spiral down below the opening of the ceramic bead. Add an ear hook to the wire. Wrap the wire around one side of the round nose pliers, keeping the ear hook to the top and back. Make a wrapped loop to fasten the ear hook to the earring. Make sure all the slack in the wire is taken up before making the loop.

Smooth the wire into a nice curve (you can use a smooth round object like a pen), then wrap the wire around the bird, twice around the bead, down around the bottom spiral; then back up through the top wrap you just made.

Finish the wrap and the earring by curling the last inch or so of wire into another spiral, and snugging it down against the bead. The finished earring is 3 1/4" long from the top of the wire.

First Friday Art Walk

2012-01-05T04:47:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! And once again it is time for the First Friday Art Walk. I am offering 10% off this Friday thru Sunday with coupon code BOCFFAW.

I am planning some project posts for this month, starting this weekend. Check back starting Monday for some free wire wrapped and ceramic component project ideas, such as the wire wrapped ceramic donut necklace shown here.

December Special, Free Shipping

2011-11-30T17:46:00.000-08:00

To help with holiday expenses, I am offering free shipping in my store for the month of Dec.
enter code SHIPFREE1 at check out.
Also, it is First Friday Art Walk again this Friday! Has a month gone by already?

Discount code BOCFFAW for 10% off

Cyber Monday SALE

2011-11-25T13:14:00.000-08:00

I am giving away these beads, enter a comment at beads-of-clay.blogspot.com to win them plus other wonderful clay pieces from other artists.
Shop my store this weekend and through Tues. morning for 25% off entire store.

Use discount code BOCCYBER

Etsy Team Columbus Giveaway

2011-11-20T05:03:00.000-08:00

Shop at any of the listed stores this coming weekend Black Friday through Cyber Monday and be entered to win!
Details here:

I am giving away these earrings

http://www.etsyteamcolumbus.blogspot.com/

Starry Windy Moon

2011-11-13T08:05:00.000-08:00

Check out my Etsy store for my new man in the moon pendants

http://www.shaterra.etsy.com/

Art Bead Chain Tour

2011-11-06T03:53:00.000-08:00

This chain of handmade beads will be traveling around the country. the idea is to enter by leaving a comment on the blog. If you win, the chain will be shipped to you. Take 30 beads, then add 30 more of your own, and ship the chain to the next winner. Sound like fun? Here is the link to enter:
http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2011/11/art-bead-love-tour.html

Beads of Clay First Friday Art WALK

2011-11-03T17:39:00.000-07:00

Visit my Etsy store starting now, through Saturday morning, and use discount code BOCFFAW to get 10% the entire store.

links to other participating stores at beads-of-clay.blogspot.com

Raku Bird Necklace

2011-10-29T06:03:00.000-07:00

One of my customers, Sharon from Gypsy Jewels, created this wonderful necklace with a bird pendant that I fired in raku

New Raku

2011-10-17T05:29:00.000-07:00

Check out my Etsy store for wonderful new raku pieces

Thanks for Buying Handmade

2011-10-05T03:54:00.001-07:00

Beads of Clay GiveAway

2011-09-23T04:48:00.000-07:00

Visit Beads-of-Clay.blogspot.com to enter this fabulous giveaway!

Etsy First Friday Art Walk

2011-09-02T04:27:00.000-07:00

Use coupon code BOCFFAW to receive 10% off my store on the first Friday of the month.
Visit beads-of-clay.blogspot.com for more links to participating stores.

shaterra.etsy.com

Beads of Clay CYBER sale

2011-08-29T06:07:00.000-07:00

Shop my Etsy store until tomorrow morning

Use coupon code BOCCYBER for 25% off

Visit beads-of-clay.blogspot.com to find additional stores participating in the sale

Another Giveaway

2011-05-17T15:52:00.000-07:00

Another Giveaway!

Vist ART BEAD SCENE BLOG;www.artbeadscene.blogspot.com

There is huge giveaway, including one of my
ceramic tree pendants, that is being
sponsored by contributors to the Beads 2011
magazine published by Interweave.
A real tresure trove of goodies!
http://www.artbeadscene.blogspot.com/

Spring Giveaway

2011-05-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

Spring Giveaway

Ok, it's time to sponsor another giveaway! Here's how to enter:

Visit my Etsy store at http://www.shaterra.etsy.com/. Peruse my listings in the ceramic pendants section. One listing will contain a secret phrase. I will be changing the phrase and the listing place from time to time. Email me the secret phrase. Once a week I will draw a name to win 2 free pendants from my store. You agree to have your name added to my email list for advance notice of sales and specials. I will draw a winner starting 5/22/11 and for the next 4 weeks.Limit 1 entry per person per week. Good Luck!

I have been having fun combining my ceramics, semi-precious stones, and beads with wire to create ready to wear pieces. Here is a picture of a pendant I made with a ceramic base that I made especially for wire wrapping. I put a hole in the center and 2 on the sides. The center flower is an antique brass flower shape with a Czech glass flower bud in the center. I do these designs free form. What fun!

Beads 2011

2011-05-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

I've been told some? one? of my pieces are in the Beads 2011 issue. I haven't received either the magazine or my pieces back in the mail, and I haven't been able to find the magazine, though I've checked Hobby Lobby, JoAnn and Walden Books! It will be a nice when I finally see it...

Lisa Lu Jewels Necklace

2011-04-06T04:48:00.000-07:00

One of my customers, Lisa Lu Jewels, won a design contest on Love My Art Jewelry, featuring one of my Hawaiian Shirt pendants. see the necklace here:
http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2011/04/winner-from-march-ctc.html#comment-form

Congrats Lisa!

She will also have a necklace design featuring one of my pendants published in Bead Trends Sept 2011

Stringing Magazine Fall Issue

2011-04-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

I just received an email from the editor at Stringing magazine. They will be publishing my necklace design, 3 Leaves Lariat, in the fall issue.

Fresh from the Kiln

2011-04-03T07:10:00.000-07:00

I call this series "Hawaiian Shirt Pendants"

Tree design with blue and crystal border

"Purple Bud Pendant": Purple buds on a blue and green background with crystals

Blue Lagoon Dragonfly

Desert Lizard Pendant

Another Hawaiian Shirt in a different colorway

These will be listed in my Etsy store www.shaterra.etsy.com

More Raku - Pendants

2011-03-14T05:18:00.000-07:00

This one sold already

This sold already

I call this Hawaiian Flowers

Raku Buttons

2011-03-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

We finally had a warm day yesterday in central OH. Warm enough to raku! I discovered this winter that cold temps dull the glaze colors, just in the short trip from the raku kiln to the smoking pot.

Here are some beautiful buttons that I glazed and raku fired yesterday afternoon.

2nd Give Away Post

2011-03-06T12:01:00.000-08:00

Tesori Trovati (Erin) has been selected as the winner of my second drawing.
Congrats!

I really got elaborate on this one!
Leave a comment below for the 2nd give away drawing. Win a $25 gift certificate to my Etsy store. Good Luck..don't forget 25% off my store til tomorrow morning, discount code BOCMAR1.

BOC Open Studio Tour

2011-03-06T04:45:00.000-08:00

My first winner is Lorelei Eurto. Lorelei you have a $25 gift certificate in my Etsy store. Choose what you want, don't pay. Congrats!

Hi, welcome! to the Beads of Clay 3rd Annual Open Studio Tour. I will be showing some pics of finished jewelry using my clay beads and pendants. Start leaving comments on my post at 1:00 to be entered in the 1st drawing at 1:45. Drawing at 2:15. The prize is a $25 gift cert to my Etsy store.
Also, use discount code BOCMAR1 in my store until tomorrow morning to receive 25% off your total purchase.

Click on the Open Studio Tour Logo to the right to go back to the main page.

These photos show one of my dragonfly beads, with free form wire wrapping to create a pendant. The instructor turned me on to the wire, it is a square coated wire, non-tarnish and affordable, ($2.75 for 5 feet), dead soft 21 gauge, Para wire. I strung the necklace with tiny metallic Delica seed beads. I tried larger beads and felt that they detracted from the focal; I wanted something complimentary but simple. There are 2 strands of delicas, one shorter than the other.

I've been downstairs working. How versatile is wire? Here I have used it to wire wrap
a donut and turn it into a pendant. I used a small wooden donut
in the center, threaded wire through a bead and dropped it in the center.

I took a wire class last week at at a LBS, Gahanna Bead Studio. I made this wire wrapped black onyx cab. This is a jumping off point to creating lots of wire wrapped focals. The class lasted 2 hours, but I was able to make another one when I got home in about 10 min.

Here's another idea. Use wire to make a fancy bail.
I wrapped
and twisted the wire around a bird charm.

What an inexpensive way to make a pendant. Wrapped
with antique bronze square wire.

NEW GIVE AWAY AND DISCOUNT

2011-03-01T17:04:00.000-08:00

Ok, I wrote everyone's name down on 2 sheets of paper, cut the paper into little squares, and chose a name.

And the lucky winner is....Cerena Leigh!

As a big THANK YOU to everyone who entered...and as my discount offer for the BOC Open Studio Tour: I am offering 25% off my entire Etsy store from now until Monday morning, March 7. Please use coupon code BOCMAR1 at check out to receive the discount. http://www.shaterra.etsy.com/

And please take note.....there is another give away this Sunday, March 6 from 1 to 4! I will be giving away 2 $25 gift certificates to my Etsy store during the Beads of Clay Open Studio Tour. All studios in the tour will be offering discounts and give aways, and there is one big giveaway at the BOC blog, http://www.beads-of-clay.blogspot.com/. Hope to hear from you on Sunday, I will be blogging live.

Win a $50 Gift Certificate to my Etsy Shop

2011-02-09T05:56:00.000-08:00

I've been hard at work in my studio this winter and have many new pendants and beads in my shop, www.shaterra.etsy.com

I would like to increase my blog following and my customer base, and to this aim I am offering a giveaway that is good until Feb. 28. Winner will be drawn randomly on March 1st.

To enter, simply sign on to follow my blog, and leave a comment here with your email address. If you already follow my blog, just leave a comment with your email address.

It's just that simple! Good Luck!

February Special

2011-02-02T05:14:00.000-08:00

To all my customers, thanks for loving my work! To celebrate Valentine's Day and to say "thanks" I am offering 15% off my entire etsy store through Feb 14. Just enter LOVE1 in the coupon box at check out.

http://www.shaterra.etsy.com/

Art Bead Scene Challenge Necklace

2011-01-24T05:30:00.000-08:00

I decided to enter the January Art Bead Scene challenge. A picture is posted and the designer is supposed to create a jewelry item inspired by the picture that includes a hand made bead/s or pendant.

I call this So Sunny Yellow, and it's not colors I would normally use, so it was a good challenge for me. And I really like it!

http://www.artbeadscence.blogspot.com/

It's about 24" long, I used vintage etched glass millefiori beads that I got at a bead show a long time ago. Swarovski, czech glass, and small gold vermeil. I made matching earrrings. I wired 2 of the vintage bulls eye beads into the center of 2 of my CERelements sun shaped pieces.

Pebble River Leaf Pendant

2011-01-22T05:44:00.001-08:00

When I took this out of the kiln, I was amazed by it. I thought "did I create this? It looks like a painting!" Everything came together just right in this hand carved design of a leaf floating on water.

Leaf is glazed with celery green with moss green accents, bordered with golden brown, then dark brown, with more celery and golden brown on the border.

January Special

2011-01-02T05:47:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
January Special in my Etsy store: free shipping to all domestic USA addresses and $5 flat rate international.
Check out all my new pieces: shaterra.etsy.com

Please visit my Sat. Jan 1 post on: beads-of-clay.blogspot.com to get a free tutorial on how to use my curved bracelet focals to make a trendy leather cuff bracelet.

Christmas Weekend Raku

2010-12-28T05:29:00.000-08:00

I spent some time Friday, Christmas day (waiting for my sister and niece to arrive) and Sunday doing some raku firing. It is not fun in the cold...I do it out in my shed. I was even worried about the thermal shock to the pieces, going from the very hot kiln to the cold air. But everything turned out OK. These pieces are slowly going into my Etsy store. I did about 36 pieces total. This weekend the temp is supposed to go up near 50! Maybe I should have waited...well, who can predict the temp in OHIO?

New dragonfly design..carved into lino then pressed into clay

Beautiful cobalt blue and copper

This one is really SHINY and I need to get a better photo

This has a wonderful matte and shiny copper finish on the tree

Snowy Trees

2010-12-15T07:23:00.000-08:00

Sunday, my boss at work had a pizza party for us at a park shelter. It snowed that morning and I wasn't certain if I wanted to drive in it. Well the snow stopped in time and the roads looked clear, so I went. It was the most beautiful drive. The snow was heavy and wet and clung to the trees, to make the most magnificent winter wonderland. 70 people were supposed to be at the party, and 5 people plus 4 children actually attended! My poor supervisor sprang for 25 pizzas, salad and desserts.

Anyway, the snow on the trees inspired these snowy tree pendants. Aren't they lovely? For sale on Etsy.

More Star Ornaments

2010-12-15T07:16:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more of the star ornaments that I made to put on my Christmas cards this year. Many made with red clay instead of white.

Jewelery Accord

2010-12-11T06:08:00.000-08:00

Last week I got an email from Erin Siegel. One of my raku bracelet focals will be featured in a design in the book she and Lorelei Eurto are publishing. The book is about making jewelry with fiber. Wonderful news!

December Sale

2010-12-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

My December special is buy $25 worth of merchandise in my store, and receive a coupon for 15% off your next order.

I have been posting a lot of new beads. I call these Crown Beads. They are glazed to match some of my pendants.

Cyber Monday Sale

2010-11-29T07:21:00.000-08:00

Please visit my Etsy store today until Tues morning and enter coupon code CYMON at check out, for a 25% discount on your entire order. Free shipping on beads, bead sets and bracelet focals only until Nov 30.

New Beauties

2010-11-07T06:45:00.000-08:00

This past week I went back to my kiln and did a regular glaze firing with some of my new carved designs. Here are some of my new beauties!

Winner Drawing #1

2010-10-26T05:12:00.001-07:00

Sharon, you are the winner of drawing #1. Please contact me at sharleen@shaterraclaystudio.com with your address. Surprise pendant, because still can't add photos...thanks everyone for entering!

Drawing #2 Winner

2010-10-26T05:05:00.000-07:00

MacCarroll Beads, you are the winner of Drawing # 2. I still can't leave photos, the icon to add photos is gone and I don't know what to do about it. You will receive a suprise! Please contact me sharleen@shaterraclaysudio.com with your mailing address...thanks!

Sharing a Tradition

2010-10-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

I'm still adding new pieces to my Etsy store. I have some absolutely WONDERFUL things I raku fired this morning. I am so excited about this raku, I just LOVE the effects it adds to my pieces! There is nothing like it in the world. I am not going to pull the drawing winners until later on tonight, so keep leaving comments, it's not too late. Check back tomorrow for winner's names and hopefully pictures of the give aways. Winners will need to leave me their address at sharleen@shaterraclaystudio.com.

I'm so sorry I still can't add pictures today.

At 5:00 we were supposed to share a tradition. My family gobbles up this corn casserole dish every Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it is extra good made in August with fresh corn and tomatoes! My brothers call it "succotash" but I always thought succotash had lima beans in it? Anyway, here it is:

Baked Corn and Tomatoes

2 cups raw corn kernals
2 cups diced, seeded tomatoes
4 or 5 green onions, minced
1/3 cup minced green pepper
1/4 cup butter
salt and pepper
1 TB fresh chives, minced
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
4 or 5 slices of bacon, diced

Layer the corn, tomatoes, green onions and green pepper in a buttered casserole. Dot with the butter and sprinkle with the salt, pepper and chives. Strew the top with the bread crumbs and the diced raw bacon. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Serves 6.

Picture Icon Still Not Working

2010-10-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

I will draw the winner of the pendant from the 14 comments I have had up until 3pm. New drawing starts now. Leave a comment! So sorry no pics. I have 25 new pieces from my raku kiln this morning. I am going to start listing them on Etsy.
And I forgot to add, I am giving 30% off my entire Etsy store all day. Please leave "Boc studio tour" in the comments of your invoice and don't pay the invoice. I will send you a revised bill thru Paypal.
Thanks!

What I Am Working On

2010-10-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

Today for the open studio tour I was going to show some of what I was doing this morning. Except that my blogger isn't working. The icon to add pictures is gone. I hope that this will be fixed before the studio tour is over...or I think I will cry! Well, please leave comments anyway. I have a beautiful ceramic donut to give away at 3:00pm Eastern.

BOC Open Studio Tour Link

2010-10-24T03:52:00.000-07:00

BOC Open Studio Blog Tour

2010-10-17T05:37:00.000-07:00

Please visit my blog next Sunday, Oct 24 from 2 to 5 pm. I will be participating in the BOC online studio tour. Take a peak into the studios of Beads of Clay ceramic artists!
Two drawings for free pendants will be held, at 3 and 4. You will have 15 minutes to leave a comment on the blog to be entered into the drawing.
I will also be offering 30% off all merchandise, excluding close outs, in my Etsy store. Place the order but do not pay. I will send you a revised invoice that includes the discount.
I did this last year and it was a lot of fun. Looking forward to seeing you online next Sunday!

Whoo-Hoo Raku

2010-10-04T07:39:00.000-07:00

FABulous new pieces...for sale on Etsy!

Owl and Otter

2010-09-24T04:44:00.000-07:00

Here are 2 more of my new designs. These pieces were actually inspired by the poems on my other blog, The Owl and The Otter.

Another New Lino Design

2010-09-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

I am carving more lino plates to use with my clay. Here is a lion and I couldn't be more pleased with it.

Hand Carved Blocks

2010-09-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

I have just discovered the joy of carving with linoleum blocks. Well, that's not quite true. Every year I make my own Christmas cards; I've been doing it since I was a teen. Many years back I used lino blocks to make the cards. I wanted to try carving some of my own original designs for pendants and I tried rubber stamp blanks, and found it very hard to carve. So I took myself to Dick Blick's and bought some lino blocks. They are soft and easy to carve and so much fun to play with! Here are some of the results. These are raku fired.

New Blog

2010-08-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

Some of you may know that I post every other Saturday on the Beads-of-Clay blogspot. Twice now I have posted pictures on the blog of things in nature that I find beautiful or inspirational. These posts have been so well received that I decided to start a new blog. Every day for 365 days I will post a picture/s of something that I find beautiful, intriguing, or inspirational. I will also post quotes or poems that define my life and determination to focus on what is wonderful in this world, and to let the rest slip away.
Please visit my blog for a daily dose of wonder!
365thingsthatinspireme.blogspot.com

With love, Sharleen

Raku Pendant

2010-08-24T05:18:00.000-07:00

I had to post a picture of this. My favorite piece to come out of the kiln last Sunday. I almost do not want to sell it. Raku is really hard to duplicate. I used a combo of glazes on the sides that swirled together to make a marble-like surface of rust and dark green.

I'm finding it hard to take pictures of the raku, getting the light just right to show the metallic beauty.

Crab Toggle

2010-08-05T06:07:00.000-07:00

This clever toggle is designed so that the crab's back is a separate piece and serves as the toggle bar. It has a wire loop on the bottom to attach the second side of the necklace to.
I went to Hilton Head this summer and enjoyed the hundreds of crabs at the nature preserve. They are Fiddler Crabs and resemble very large bugs, and have only 1 large claw. When disturbed, they went scurrying for their holes, and jumped in legs first, holding the claw aloft like a flag!
This diamond shaped toggle is 1 1/2" square. The crab is a blue crab, and background is painted with a golden tan glaze that looks like sand. I used a heavy white crackle glaze on the edges to look like foamy waves on the sand.
Check out the Beads-of-Clay.blogspot.com this Sat. Aug 6. I am posting a tutorial on how I made this.

NewRaku

2010-05-31T05:09:00.001-07:00

New raku pieces hot from the kiln

Raku Leaf Ring

2010-05-17T06:52:00.000-07:00

I had to show these beautiful pieces that I raku'd yesterday. The ring has a 3D leaf, and would be a stunning shawl pin. And what a great copper flash on the swirl pendant.

I was foolish and really burned myself on the palm of my left hand. I immediately put ice on it and kept it there until I went to bed. All night I clutched a wet paper towel while I slept. When I got up the burn was nearly healed, just a slight tenderness. Water is the cure for burns.

The high heat exposure, and smoke, scare me, but I LOVE the results!

Close Out Sale

2010-05-15T07:03:00.000-07:00

Check out my Esty store for bargains galore. Close out pendants $5 - $7.50 and FREE shipping on all close-out items until the end of May!

Saturdays With Sharleen - Bead Roller Tutorial

2010-05-08T06:29:00.000-07:00

Check out beads-of-clay.blogspot.com every Saturday for I will be posting blogs there on different subjects related to ceramic beads and bead making. Today I have posted a tutorial on using polymer clay bead rollers with earth clay to make beads.

RAku Tree Donut

2010-05-04T06:24:00.000-07:00

I have donated this raku donut textured with a tree design to the Beads of Clay store on Etsy. The raku pieces are so beautiful. It's REALLY fun!

Swap Necklace

2010-05-03T05:13:00.000-07:00

The BOC group did a swap in March, ceramic pendant/bead designers exchanged pieces and made necklaces out of the components they received. Here is my piece, I made with a pendant from Denise Michaud. I love the symbolism in the pendant and designed the necklace with a southwest feel, adding a pewter snake as a connector, and adding lizard and snake charms.

RAku Donut

2010-04-24T11:44:00.000-07:00

I fired this donut in my microwave...yes, my microwave! I have never been able to do raku in my kiln, because it has exposed elements, and also because it is trunk style and I can't even imagine the blast of heat if I lifted the lid with the temp at 1700. I had heard about microwave kilns for melting glass, but didn't know they would work for ceramic.

How cool is that?

Teal Pinwheel Donut

2010-04-22T05:09:00.001-07:00

My teal pinwheel has been included in a treasury on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/c324b47ba7e1cf4b7de7f400

All turquoise and jade treasury

Daisy Pendant Necklace

2010-04-21T04:54:00.000-07:00

Beads of Clay is currently doing a pendant exchange. Participants' names were put into a hat and 2 names at a time were drawn. The partners exchanged pendants and made a commitment to create something with the pendant.

I have had this pendant with my bead making things for a couple of years. It was sent to me when I made a group necklace with contributions from BOC members. I wasn't able to use it in the group piece. Since this current necklace exhange is going on, I decided to make a necklace from this. I started out with the idea of making it chunky with stick pearls, but it ended up very delicate, with pearls of all different shapes, sizes and colors. It changed a few times before I came up with a balance I liked.

Flame Tulips

2010-04-16T05:25:00.000-07:00

This has nothing to do with clay and beads, although I do get inspiration from nature. The flowers here this spring are so fabulous! The flowering trees are gorgeous, the tulips have never been so full and vibrant with color. Last night my mom, friend and I went to Franklin Park Conservatory where, on Thursdays, they host "Cocktails at the Conservatory". The weather was more like late June, and the tulips lining the path to the conservatory had all their petals open to the sun. The air was redolent with spicy perfume from some kind of flowering bushes. One of the patios has a large display of Chihuly globes with lights inside, and as the sun went down they glowed with color. What a wonderful spring we are having, such a treat after the long, very cold winter with so much snow. I think the flowers liked that period of cold, and have burst into bloom to celebrate spring!

Here is a picture of some flame red tulips that are blooming along my driveway.

Rosewater Donut

2010-04-13T05:21:00.001-07:00

Toolis Jewelry has included my Rosewater Donut in her treasury, "Fresh and Dreamy", on Etsy. Please visit and leave a comment! Commenting pushes the treasury up. Thanks!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=95079

Bathroom Sink Butterfly

2010-03-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

What a morning I've had! When I saw these butterfly charms on Etsy, I knew I had to have them to go with this butterfly pendant. I have the day off, and I finally got the charms in the mail, so I decided to make up the necklace.

The first thing that happened was that I got up to take a break, and stepped on one of my bead boxes. It flipped over, flew open, and thousands of tiny silver beads and crimps went all over the carpet. Of course I had to choose THAT box to step on.

Then I thought I had finished the necklace, but when I put it on and looked in the mirror, I decided it needed changes. Back to the jewelry design center. Back upstairs to the mirror. "Well, that butterfly charm in the front isn't laying right." I laid the necklace down on the bathroom sink, and the pendant pulled it INTO the sink. I had the drain plug out because it won't stay up. Down the drain the necklace goes, stopped only by the pendant. But when I went to pull it out, it was STUCK. A little tugging loosened some of it. More insistant tugging and I could feel something break on the necklace. Down on my knees to the cabinet under the sink. Out come all the bottles (well, at least I got my bathroom cabinet cleaned out of some stuff I didn't even know was there.) The only solution was to unscrew the pipe elbow. I turned one and it turned easily, thank goodness. Took the pipe apart, stood up, took the pendant off the necklace, and pulled the necklace back down thru the drain. Back to the design center to put the necklace back together.

I guess this is why I don't sell jewelry. NO ONE would believe what goes into it. This was about a 6 hour piece! Maybe Mercury is in retrograde????

Challenge Pendants

2010-03-16T06:01:00.001-07:00

There is a challenge going on right now on the Art Bead Scene blog. The challenge is to use some colors in a chip that looks like a paint chip. The colors are turquoise, red violet, gold and yellow. I found it very difficult. I would never choose to put those colors together. I have a large bottle of a red-violet glaze that I have hardly ever used. But that's the beauty of a challenge. Here are two pendants I came up with, and I am surprised that I like them.

Now to make the jewelry.

New Face Designs

2010-03-16T05:54:00.000-07:00

I had a customer on Etsy buy one of my face pendants. She emailed me that she really likes it and asked for more. I had a few in the bisque stage, so I glazed them. I did a couple of donuts in a soft color scheme of mint, pink and brown. I also like the way the victorian/japanese ladies heads turned out.

Paper Clay

2010-03-08T05:22:00.001-08:00

I got my paper clay experiments out of the kiln. Even the firmer clay that I had mixed the pulp into, that kind of had chunks of paper in it, turned out good. It's amazing what a little paper mixed in did to the pieces. They really feel lighter. This is great for earrings, most people don't want heavy earrings. It's worth the little extra effort to mix the paper in. I'll be doing more.

I opened up the Sunday paper yesterday to find an article in the travel section about the Valley of Fire park. What a coincidence, since I had just blogged about it. The Indian drawings are petroglyphs, (not hieroglyphs, those are Egyptian) and were made by the Anasazis around 1150AD! There have been people in the park for around 4,000 years. The park is 42,000 acres and is Nevada's oldest state park. I would recommend the trip out to anyone visiting Vegas. Spring and fall are the best times to go, the winters can be cold and everyone knows about temps in the desert in summer.

AND, my pond has partially thawed, all my fish are doin' good! And the crocuses popped up yesterday, the daffodils have green shoots pushing up! Welcome spring!

Dragonfly Chain Necklace

2010-03-04T07:50:00.000-08:00

Here is a 22" long necklace, with 6" dangle. I split gunmetal chain and added beaded dragonfly charms. The 2" pendant I created with 2 holes, so the chain goes through the 2nd, larger hole in a lariat style. The flower is Hill Tribe silver, the dangles are glass, pewter and silver.

Why Do I Make Art?

2010-02-28T05:28:00.001-08:00

I have been reading almost all of the the PD James novels, and in several of them she mentions time, and how virtually all of our lives are in the past. No sooner do we say the word "second" then the second is gone. I've been pondering this observation and found it disconcerting. I've heard of "living in the now" and "there is nothing but the present moment", but this is a different way of seeing it, like everything is gone before it can even be grasped.
I started thinking about making art and why I like doing it, and how it relates to the temporal nature of things. Making art is a kind of record of living. It's something that I make in the present moment, but it doesn't slip into the past. It carries on into the future, and will probably even live beyond me. Most of our records of ancient civilizations come from pieces of art that they have left behind.
A few summers ago I went to Las Vegas and rather than spend the time in the casinos burning money, I decided to take a trip to see one of the local wonders. This place was called The Valley of Fire and it's a state park. It is a fabulous place in the desert with huge stone formations that look like giant wailing faces, formed by sand, wind and time. When the sun gets down low enough, it sets the stones on fire, glowing red like they have been heated in a kiln. In one place a staircase has been erected to the top of one of the stones, and there are some hieroglyphics there, left by an ancient race. Up on that rock, there is a small piece of art left behind, to show that someone was there, though all other traces are long gone. Much to my dismay some modern "artists" left a few drawings there too. Maybe this was their way of saying "you were here, and I was here too". "How did the Indian artist get to the top of the stone?" we are left to wonder, and ponder, who this person was, and how he lived. What motivated him or her to find a way to the top of the stone, and leave a drawing there?
This is part of the pull of art for human kind. I remember reading somewhere, awhile back, about a quilter from colonial times that said something like "I've always had the name of being a good housekeeper, but when I'm gone, no one will remember the floors I've swept and scrubbed or the tables I've dusted. But this here quilt, this here quilt, will be something to remember me by."

My Kiln is Fixed

2010-02-24T05:46:00.000-08:00

Hooray, my kiln is fixed. The men at Orton are so nice. I highly recommend them to anyone who is thinking about buying a kiln with a controller....get an Orton controller! Their company is right here in Columbus/Westerville. Several people there also bought pendants from me!

Here are a few of my new things I just took out of the kiln yesterday.

I am still waiting for the weather to break out of the clutches of winter. We had 14" of snow here and it has been much colder than normal all winter. My fish are under layers of ice and have been all winter. I hope they are all right.

Working with the bright colors of the glazes helps lift the winter blues.

Paper Clay

2010-02-21T09:36:00.001-08:00

Last night I played with paper clay. What is paper clay, you might ask? Well, it is clay mixed with paper! It is supposed to make a lighter clay that doesn't WARP when it dries. I struggle so with warping, I thought the extra effort to make this clay would be worth it. I tore up newspaper, soaked it, and whirled it in my industrial strength blender to make the pulp.
I mixed the pulp into the clay, it is supposed to be about 10% paper, 90% clay. The paper seemed to form lumps in the clay, but I went ahead and cut out some forms anyway. The fact that it was lumpy didn't seem right to me, because those paper lumps are going to fire out. So I looked on the internet, and I was supposed to get the clay like mud and then stir the paper in.
Then dry the clay on a plaster batt, which I don't have, so I'll have to get one and try again. I'm still going to fire the ones I made though, and see what happens.
I am happy to report that the pendants are almost dry this morning and very FLAT!!

Kiln Blues

2010-02-21T09:29:00.000-08:00

Well my kiln has been on the fritz and I feel like someone has tied my hands. I have orders from Etsy that I haven't been able to fill. My brother and I replaced the elements on Friday morn, but that wasn't the problem. So into the car trunk the kiln goes, and there is a very nice man at Orton that is going to help me tomorrow morning. I also had some greenware fired at Adobi ceramics, where another nice man said he would put my pots of pendants into the kiln at no charge.
I have 4 hollow bead forms in the batch that I plan on using to create a set of seasonal beads for the Bead and Button competition. They are allowing ceramics this year after excluding us last year, so I am going to take advantage of that and enter.

Summer City Scape

2010-02-14T08:03:00.000-08:00

This is an entry for the Feb. Art Bead Scene Challenge, which was to make a necklace inspired by the featured photo.

I loved working with the colors that I never would have chosen without the photo to work from. I thought my sun face pendant was perfectly in theme with the painting which seems so happy and full of summer fun, reminding me of trips to Cedar Point, the New Jersey shore, and salt water taffy. Here is a link to the painting :http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2010/02/february-monthly-challenge.html

I would recommend this a way to stimulate creativity and to get past "design blocks" that we all experience occasionally.

The necklace is 36" long including the dangles, and features chain, glass and semi-precious stones.

Stormy Dragonfly Necklace

2010-02-05T04:40:00.000-08:00

Joan Miller of Joan Miller Porcelain, has featured one of my necklaces in her Treasury on Etsy. Check out the wonderful dragonfly art.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=111189.

Bead Combo

2010-01-24T07:15:00.000-08:00

Visit beads-of-clay.blogspot.com. I am offering this bead combo that features a beautiful ceramic pendant and matching beads as a prize in the analogous color scheme contest. The next contest is for complementary color scheme. I will be offering a prize for that also.

Ceramic with Metal

2009-12-03T05:31:00.000-08:00

I was in my friend's bead store and admired a necklace she had made with a Vintaj brass dragonfly wired to a semi-precious stone for a focal. I was inspired to buy some of these brass elements (mine are not Vintaj) and try combining them with my ceramic.

It makes a beautiful focal and a stunning necklace.

2009-11-20T05:36:00.000-08:00

I am combining brass element with some of my donuts. Here is a sample.

Batik Rose

2009-11-09T16:38:00.001-08:00

New large focal just out of the kiln. 2 1/4" square. Available on Etsy.

www.shaterra.etsy.com

Leaf Necklace

2009-11-03T04:03:00.000-08:00

Here is another necklace design made for my "pendant for tutorial" exchange. Here is a link to the instructions to make the necklace.

http://skyejewels.blogspot.com/2009/11/tutorial-exchange-with-shaterra-clay.html

Lovely design by Marie, who was also featured in the October Bead Trends magazine.

Pendant for Tutorial Exchange

2009-10-28T05:12:00.000-07:00

I just got an email from Lucid Moon Studio, another of my participants in the Totally Tutorials Exchange program. Here is the link to the necklace she made with one of my favorite pendants, the Violet Flower.
http://lucidmoonstudio.blogspot.com/2009/10/another-jewerly-tutorial.html

Have a great day and stop by soon! I've got a great load of greenware I'm getting ready to fire for lots of new pendants and donuts.

Enter to Win 2nd Give Away

2009-10-25T11:21:00.001-07:00

I will be drawing another name at 3:15, the winner will receive this lovely flower pendant.

You still have a chance to win, just leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.
All previous commenters will be entered in the second drawing as well.

Thanks and good luck. Remember to visit http://www.shaterra.esty.com/ to get 20% off anything but close outs until midnight tonight.

Enter to Win

2009-10-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

I will be drawing names at 2:15 to pick the winner of this lovely ceramic piece! Just leave a comment to enter the drawing. Thanks and good luck!

Congratulations to SIGNE, you are the winner of this pendant!

Also visit my Etsy store, http://www.shaterra.etsy.com/ to enjoy 20% off anything in the store, excluding close outs. through midnight tonight.

Visit http://www.beads-of-clay.blogspot.com/ to continue the tour and enter more drawings.

Bead Tree

2009-10-25T07:28:00.001-07:00

Here is a close up of a bead tree. The pendants/beads are threaded onto the rod so that they don't touch. The pendant and bead holes have to be kept clean of glaze. If there is glaze inside the hole, the piece will fuse to the rod. Sometimes I can get them loose if this happens, by carefully twisting them off the rod. But many times they break.

Loading the kiln is rather tedious. It is easy to touch a loaded rod and cause the pieces to move and touch. After loading everything, I do a final check to make sure nothing is touching the bead trees, the kiln or each other.

The final firing is to 1828 and takes about 6 1/2 hours. The pieces must cool down before unloading. That takes another 6 hours or so. Lots of patience is required!

The Kiln

2009-10-25T07:23:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture of the inside of my kiln. You can see the glaze drips in it! I have a couple of glazes that run a lot. Learning the characteristics of the individual glazes takes trial and error. Once I understand what a certain glaze will do, I can use it more creatively. For instance, if I want a lot of blending of the colors, I will use a glaze that drips and moves a lot. If I want sharp detail, I use underglazes, which don't move at all.

Inside the kiln you see my bead trees. Once pieces have been glazed, they have to be kept separated. If they touch during firing, they will fuse together and be ruined.

Bisque Stage

2009-10-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

After drying and cleaning, the pieces are fired to 1920 degrees (cone 04). This takes about 7 hours. When they come out of the kiln, they are hard and white, and ready for glazing. Not so fragile anymore. Greenware doesn't stick to other pieces during firing, so a lot of pieces can be fired at once. I pile them into pots.

This is what they look like after the bisque firing.

Cleaning the Pieces

2009-10-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

After the clay dries into greenware, it must be cleaned, the rough edges smoothed off. Sandpaper works, but it creates alot of clay dust, which is hazardous to the lungs. I use a rag dipped in water for the cleaning. This is also a difficult step, because the clay is so fragile. I usually loose 6 or 7 pieces per batch during this step. The pieces just break so easily.

2009-10-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

Here are two pendants in the making. After rolling the clay and cutting into shapes, I add the stringing holes that are necessary to use the pieces as jewelry. I have a little tool for this purpose.

I do alot of 3D designs, and what you see here are the scoring marks. The pieces being joined must be roughed up, and liquid clay, or slip, applied before joining. This is because clay shrinks when it dries, and the pieces would separate without the roughing and the "glue".

Glazes

2009-10-25T06:37:00.000-07:00

I have a friend that also makes ceramic jewelry pieces. She loves forming the pendants, but doesn't enjoy the glazing. But glazing is my favorite part. I love color, and the fun of layering glazes to see what will happen to them when they combine. There is no way of knowing until the pieces are removed from the kiln after firing, what the result will be. This is what keeps me creating with clay. What if I do this....or this? The possibilities are endless, and it's never boring.
Here is a picture of some of my stash of glazes. I must have some of everything, mustn't I?

Pendants Drying

2009-10-25T06:32:00.001-07:00

The hardest part when making pendants, is to keep the pieces from warping when they dry. I sandwich the pieces between two large pieces of wallboard. Sometimes they still warp. The only cure I have found is to re-wet the pieces and let them soak until they are soft enough to press flat. It's tricky and I lose alot of pieces that have warped.

Here is a picture of pendants in various stages of dryness, and the wallboard. Dried, unfired clay is called greenware, and it is VERY fragile.

Rolling Out Clay

2009-10-25T06:29:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture of how I roll out the clay to start making a pendant. I have two slats that are just the right height that I use as rollers. When I had to find some of these for students, I couldn't find any that were the right height. So I used wooden rulers I got at the dollar store. The clay is rolled out just like pie dough.

Open Studio

2009-10-25T05:58:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm getting ready for the open studio...the drawings will be at 2:15 and 3:00. Enter to win!...just leave a comment.
Check out the other studios at www.beads-of-clay.blogspot.com
Enjoy!

Exchange Program Link

2009-10-24T07:03:00.001-07:00

Here is another link to a necklace design and instructions created for the totally tutuorials exchange program.

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=323443.0

Pendant Tutorial

2009-10-24T06:56:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to wire necklace design created for my free pendant exchange.

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=323443.0

Beads of Clay Open Studio

2009-10-24T06:44:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, I am getting ready to participate in the Beads of Clay studio blog tomorrow, Oct. 25, from 1 to 4. Visit my blog and leave a comment, to be entered into 2 drawings to win a ceramic art bead or pendant of your choice from my Etsy store or web site.

Also enjoy a 20% discount off any item in my Etsy store, excluding close outs, until midnight tomorrow.

Link to the Beads of Clay blog to find other ceramic studios, deals and drawings.

Free Ceramic Pendant Exchange

2009-09-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

This will begin on Monday, Sept 14. I will give away 7 of my original ceramic pendants or focal beads to seven different designers.
Go to http://www.tototallytutorials.blogspot.com/. Sign up to design a piece of jewelry using my ceramic beads and pendants.
You may pick your pendant, or focal bead, free, from my Etsy store or my web site. http://www.shaterraclaystudio.com/ or http://www.shaterra.etsy.com/. Please email me the item number of the pendant, bead or toggle you want to use. sharleengay@yahoo.com, sharleen@shaterraclaystudio.com, or convo me on Etsy. Include your name, address and email so I can send you the pendant.
You have 2 weeks to apply for this exchange (until Sept. 28).
I will add 3 coordinating beads to whatever focal you choose.
This is all free, here at the "catches":
1) You must create a jewelry item using my piece within 2 weeks of receiving free item.
2) You must post a free tutorial, with photos, detailing how to make the piece. You may post on your own blog, on Totally Tutorials, or on Craftster, Instructables or Cutout and Keep. Tutorial must be posted on a non-commercial site, and must be free.
3) After posting, send me an email letting me know the item has been posted, also notify Dotty at Totally Tutorials.
4) Anyone is free to use your tutorial. I can link to it. I will give credit for link and photos.
5) Please only apply if you can commit to making something wonderful with tutorial and photos within 2 weeks.
Thanks and I am looking forward to seeing some fantastic designs!

Free Shaterra Clay Pendants

2009-09-06T04:50:00.000-07:00

I am participating in a program sponsored by Etisan Dotty, called Free Supplies for Tutorials.
If you are a jewelry designer and would like free Shaterra Clay pendants or beads, this is for you.
Starting next week Sept 14, 2009, I will be offering free pendants and/or beads in exchange for your commitment to design a piece using my beads.
You must agree to post a free tutorial detailing how to make the piece, and to grant permission to me to link to your photos or to publish them. Your tutorial should also link to my web site and Etsy store.
I will provide more details shortly. To read more about the program, go to http://www.totallytutorials.blogspot.com/.
Thanks!
Sharleen

Here is a picture of one of my pendants

2007-06-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

This is 2 1/2 inches around, with the stringing hole hidden across the back.