Artist Spotlight: Tessa Shadis

A while back I showed off a custom matched set of beaded hoop earrings - they were a trade with my sister Tessa for some of her awesome artwork!  She draws, paints, models clay, and just picked up cake decorating.  My husband had been eying her dragons for some time now, and we struck a deal.  I'd make her some earrings, she'd make my husband some dice dragons!  (Hey wait a minute - what'd I get out of this?!)

They arrived early this week and look fantastic!  My husband was overjoyed with the end result as well and got to show them off last weekend at a game.  Here's a shot with some (a very small portion) of my husband's WH Necron Army - they match so well!

And some single shots of the three dragons - one with a shield, one with a staff, and one with a necron skull!

If you want to see some more of Tessa's artwork, visit her DeviantArt gallery under Raven's Aerie.  She has a couple more dragons and some fairies in clay!

Happy Creating!
PZ

Artist Spotlight - Larissa Shadis of Freedom Art

Today I would like to put a spotlight on Larissa Shadis - the art gene runs deep in this family!  My sister has a wonderful talent at drawing animal caricatures, especially of couples or families.  The photographs of the drawings don't do them justice!

Golden Lion Tamarins - My Family "Portrait"!

Here is my commission, my family of 4 as golden lion tamarins.  I wasn't sure what animal or animals to choose, and Larissa suggested these tamarins.  I thought it was perfect!  I love all the little details she adds - here our name is done up in rainforest animals and the border is fabulous!

Wedding gift for friends.

This one was for some family friends on their wedding day - this couple loves the outdoors and canoeing.  Look at all the details in the border again?!

Caricature of a couple - animals as requests (a tiger and swamp deer).

And here is one of her first, a commission for my brother and his wife.  I love the setting of the drawing, and the little ladybug detail outside the frame....

She has more caricatures on her DeviantArt account, under the name Candid-Creations, and on FB under Freedom Art, as well as some of her other drawings and paintings (which are phenomenal!) 

Aries - the first in the Zodiac Series.

She has also started a Zodiac series that she hopes to turn into a coloring book - I can't wait to see all 12!  Here is Aries!

Happy Creating!
PZ

Rocks, Stones, Natural Found Objects - Awesome Finds for Jewelry Making!

I recently picked up a couple rocks from the local chapter of the Rock and Mineral Club.  They had a wonderful show and I couldn't help but pick out some tumbles native rocks of Idaho for use as pendants and magnets, too!  While I love gemstones and imported, cut stones, sometimes a more down-to-earth statement piece is nice too.

I've created some fun pendants with rocks and stones I've picked up on my travels, but here are my latest creations with Rocks of Idaho, the 1st one features tiger iron and the 2nd one is a simpler blue-black rock.....and then I'll show you some additional pieces by other jewelry artists!

Rocks of Idaho I by PZ Designs

Rocks of Idaho II by PZ Designs

Wonderful and beautiful pieces by others:

The Vineyard Pendant by SojournCuriosities

Shiny Rock Pendant by waishas

Scrounging Mermaid Pendants by Magpie-Poet

Shell Piece by PimentoNumber7

Sunrise by Jayetta

Just think of the beautiful jewelry you can make the next time you pick up a stone, a rock, a shell, or other natural found object!  And if you aren't inclined to wire-wrapping techniques, then check out a local artist or handmade artist on Etsy, Artfire, or other online revenue!  

If you are interested in the featured pieces or other works by these artists, please follow the links in the titles.  I've linked them to DeviantArt accounts, and from there you can view the artist's galleries and contact them!

Happy creating,

PZ

Memory Wire - More Versatile Than You May Think!

I've been absent of late for many reasons, but one reason is that I've recently taken a job at Michael's Craft Store as a Jewelry Instructor!  I have my first class tomorrow, and it's on using memory wire.  I've played around with this medium before, but now I realize that it is useful and fun for so many types of jewelry and decoration projects!

The most basic memory wire project is the bracelet - it often looks like a matched bangle set when worn.  Seed beads, crystals, and pearls are all common beads used in this project.  Here are some less basic memory wire bracelet designs:

 Memory Wire Bracelet by DA Artist reverse-will

Intrecci by DA Artist Franza86

Another basic memory wire project is the necklace - it can be as complex as the bracelet, with several loops, or simplified down to a single loop for a stunning look!  Here are a couple necklaces that I think stand out among the rest:

MN Necklace by DA Artist jadespider

Green Memory Wire Necklace by DA Artist Hablupp

Less often seen, but just as cool, is the memory wire ring!  I've chosen one ring to show you below, but there are as many designs out there as you can imagine:

Topaz Spring Ring by DA Artist MelodiousRoseDualist

Another project that can be accomplished with memory wire in the ring size is wine charms.  The pieces below use actual wine charm wires, but you can see how memory wire would serve the same function:

 Wine Glass Charms by DA Artist Fairy-Cakes

A final project that I'm hoping to make this coming Holiday Season is a memory wire dangle (for lack of a better name).  I plan on using memory wire in the bracelet or necklace size, stringing it in reds, greens, and golds, and embellishing it with small ornaments or Christmas-themed charms.  Then, you hang one end up and let the rest "dangle"!  I think it would be a cute way to hang mistletoe as well.....

I couldn't find an artist's version of the ornament, but here is a simpler commercial version if you can't quite visualize it.....hopefully I'll post my own photos soon!

EDIT:  I haven't made the Christmas Ornament with memory wire yet, but I did make a fun necklace with dangles!  It could easily be made into the ornament I mention above simply by using more loops.....

I'm sure there are other designs out there, so please share!  Happy Creating, PZ

Polymer Clay - A versatile jewelry medium

I can't believe I haven't posted about polymer clay jewelry yet!  I've seen marvelous artworks created in this medium - and I have to admire the detail and work that goes into these pieces.  I've tried working with polymer clay, modeling clay, firing clay - they are all similar and yet so different!  What's common for me, however, is that I can't create marvelous works in these mediums.....not like the following jewelry artists, anyway.  Clay is simply not my medium - I prefer hard materials such as wood and metal, or pencil drawings and beaded jewelry.  I like control, which I simply do not have with clay.

These 6 artists clearly know how to manipulate polymer clay into beautiful and wondrous designs!  Control over this medium isn't a problem, then, but maybe it's still a challenge?!

Without further ado, here's some amazing polymer clay jewelry:

wildhorse63 with Polymer Orchid Pendant

ValsWhimsicalWhimsy with Dragonfly Pendant

carmendee with Red Jellyfish Earrings

MandarinMoon with Eclipse Cabochon

allim-lip with Tea in the Cherry Orchard Bracelet

Artemisartbiju with Sunset Over the Ocean Earrings

This is only a small sampling, both from these artists and in polymer clay jewelry and art.  These pieces were selected from DeviantArt (DA) and you can follow the links above to the artists' pages there.  There are many other artists on DA that work with polymer clay, and many of them also have Etsy or other online shops and websites.  Peruse the art - enjoy the view!

Getting in the Christmas Spirit!

I thought I'd show some sweet crafts done in the Christmas spirit!  Here are 6 DeviantArt artists with the holidays on their minds:

Himmapaan with The Night Before Christmas Pop-up

vesssper with Gingerbread Village

MoonYen with Elf Moon Bun

Saint-Angel with Christmas Holiday Plushies

MandarinMoon with Christmas Ornaments

And for those who like a little darker holidays, we have:

CherriKiss with The Nightmare Before Christmas Ornaments

Please visit these artists' galleries (links above) for more great art and crafts.  Also peruse the DeviantArt website for other amazing artists.  They even have a shop where you can get great gifts with original artwork on them!

My apologies for the delay in showing off the prize for Round Two of my giveaway, but it is coming, along with the announcement of the lucky winner!

Jewelry from Recycled Materials

One person's trash is another person's accessories!

I'm finally posting again, showcasing other artists' work.  Today I've chosen 6 artists who make lovely jewelry from recycled materials.  Who would have thought circuit boards, bottle caps, guitar strings, zippers, and bolts could look so lovely?!  I love that these jewelers have chosen to recycle in such a productive way - maybe I will try harder to incorporate such reusable items into my work in the future!

And here they are, 6 artists from DeviantArt:

DanceLikeIts1492 with Izze Bottle Cap Earrings

jupiter-storm with Circuit Board Cuff

Tanish-Rohe with Bronze Guitar String Cuff

thebluekraken with Dragonfly Pond Pendant

back2root with Scrap Yard Choker

Anathema-666 with Siren Zip Necklace

I hope you've enjoyed my post!  If you've also enjoyed these artists' works, please visit their DA pages (links above).  Most of them also have shops where you can purchase their awesome pieces.  DA also has many other artists who use recycled materials, so check out a new site and find some other amazing artists!

I hope to continue to have new blog entries at least once a week, probably on Wednesdays.  Maybe I'll be able to up it to twice a week once grad. school is completed next summer!  

In other news, a winner has been chosen for round two of my jewelry giveaway!  More news later, once the prize has been completed.  The next giveaway will be at 84 followers; so spread the news!

Happy creating 

& Happy Thanksgiving,

PZ

Jewelry Woodworkers of DA

I'm delving into the wood realm of jewelry making again, with the help of my brother.  He has the woodshop, while I have the jewelry designs.  Maybe when I have a piece completed, I'll post it here for you to see!

My collaboration project had me wondering what other wood jewelry was out there.  To find out, I searched DeviantArt for some notable jewelry that emphasized or featured wood, and found these amazing artists! 

yakkingyetis with "wood n gold" earrings

bartheks with "paduk set" pendant & earrings

WoodRing with "Wooden Rings"

mcsammons with "cuff" 

AmberSculpture with "Amber Wood 1755" necklace

SongBird55 with "Wood and Turquoise Necklace"

If you enjoyed looking at these pieces, you should check out the artists' DeviantArt galleries for more (links above)!  Some work almost exclusively with wood, while a couple others also work with metal or even 2D art forms, such as drawing, painting, etc.  You can also search through DeviantArt for other great artists that I didn't have room to include here.

Woodworkers of DA

Following along my train of thought can be a bumpy ride sometimes, but I don't think this one is too much of a stretch!  Continuing along the line of natural materials, I am now showcasing some fine woodworkers that can be found on DeviantArt.  These artists have created wondrous, fun, and elegant pieces - some for show, some for function, or some of both.  Most feature carving of some sort, as I find this to be one of the most difficult wood crafts to do well.  Hope you enjoy!

vankuilenburg with Guitar 25

mfirsanov with Tsar

back2root with Hobbit Box

Craftsman107 with Carved Birch Chest

poseidon46 with Mix'n'Match Containers

urvant with Island

Each artist shown here has several other pieces in his/her galleries.  Please follow the links above to view larger images, other views of these pieces, and of course the other works they have created!  These are just a few of the woodworkers to be found on DA, as well, so browse for some of the other talents while you are there!

Only 1 more follower needed and I can start the next round of my Double or Nothing Giveaway!