maureenthomasdesigns.com blog

Well, this morning I closed my eyes and picked a drawer. Vintage chain, colored plastic rings from an electric toothbrush, a pretty little silver wire purse/basket, and some miscellaneous doodads.
I’ve been playing with these simple polymer wafer beads for a few weeks. I’d strung and unstrung the beads numerous times and I finally just set them aside, waiting for inspiration. I decided that adding bits of one of the chains might create a more interesting necklace. I wanted to use all of the wafers so I made a long rope that can be wrapped two or three times around the neck. I think the chain makes a definite improvement in the design.
So far, so good!

Maureen

My local polymer clay guild, Clayville California, issued a challenge to create something “stackable” from polymer clay for our May meeting. After several ideas failed to pan out I decided to make some pendants from polymer beads that ended up looking like a cross between stones and sea glass. I love playing with color and this provided the perfect opportunity to mix and match and come up with some unusual combinations. I had so much fun that it resulted in the Stakt Series.

I likely wouldn’t have made these pendants had it not been for the challenge (and the deadline). Lesson learned: if feeling creatively stuck, bored, or stifled try challenging yourself or your guild. The challenge can be very specific or as broad as a shape or color. Hopefully, you’ll strain your brain a bit and explore a technique you’ve been meaning to try or perhaps you’ll come up with something totally new!

Thanks, Clayville!!!

After a discussion with Betsy Baker of Stonehouse Studio last month at Synergy2 I decided to take the plunge and open a storefront at 1000 Markets. Aaargh – I’m doing my best to link my website, Etsy, Facebook, and (now) 1000 Markets accounts together; it is certainly a challenge to keep up with it all! Extra hard when spring weather has the garden going wild and screaming for attention. Such a dilemma….play in the studio or play in the garden…hmmmmmm……

Maureen

I’ll be at the Gourd and Arts Festival in Folsom, CA this Saturday and Sunday (September 26-27). During setup today I saw the most gigantic gourds for sale. If you’ve ever cleaned a gourd to use for an art project you know what a lot of work goes into just the prepwork. There are sure to be some amazing gourd-related pieces and a lot of other artwork as well. I’m in booth 19 so stop by if you decide to check it out.

I’ve also had a few other art show confirmations in the past week or so. Please check out my website’s Events page for more details and links.

Maureen
Maureen Thomas Designs

A while back a generous member of Clayville California (my local guild) opened up her home for a metal play day. Because we have a number of artists who already work with metal we had lots of tools, gadgets, and materials at our disposal. I brough a sheet of copper and was able to texture, torch, use a dapping punch and block, etch in an etching tank, and watch a rolling mill demo! I was intrigued enough to invest in a few basic tools of my own and have finally gotten around to using the beautiful bits of copper that I have in my studio. I love making polymer clay beads and I enjoy mixing other materials with them in my jewelry. Here are some samples of what I’ve been working on. OK, back to work!

Maureen
Maureen Thomas Designs

A few years back I watched a video by Gwen Gibson on making polymer clay bracelets. I was intrigued, but I got sidetracked. I finally got around to making a few of the tools she “invented” to streamline the process a bit and got to work. I am hooked! I am adding my own touches by using lots of texture and adding a vintage button clasp to each bracelet. I have the first set listed on my website and also on Flickr.

I just heard that my just-about-to-graduate nephew, Kyle Zoeller, won $500 and a first-place blue ribbon for a lovely ring that he made in his high school metals class. A local Michigan jeweler offered the prize to the student who designed and constructed the nicest jewelry piece and Kyle was the winner! Woo hoo, awesome, way to go Kyle!!!

I received my copy of “1000 Jewelry Inspirations” by Sandra Salamony today. I couldn’t wait until July for my contributor’s copy so I ordered one from Amazon.com. As the title suggests, the book features page after page of beautiful jewelry by contemporary artists meant to inspire the reader. It is divided into chapters: beads & baubles, paper & mixed media, polymer & metal clay (that’s where my work is featured), vintage & repurposed, fibers & fabric, and wire & metal.

My local polymer clay guild, Clayville California, has so many amazing artist members. Many of them have been featured in books and articles and now I can count myself among the “published artists” too!