“I also have so many beads that I don’t know what to do with. Your hooks and chains would really settle that problem.” ~Helen-S
As you may have gathered from reading the daily posts here at this blog, I really like to combine copper wire and polymer clay beads to create unique handmade jewelry.
The asymmetrical necklace in today’s photo, showcases a variety of shapes and sizes of faux raku beads along one side; a hand wrought copper chain with large links on the other; and a wire wrapped flower pendant in the center.
To get a closer look at the raku beads, click here:
Wire Work and Polymer Clay Beads
And to see a different angle of the flower pendant, click here:
Wire Wrapped Jewelry Pendant
The main reason I wrote this post was to remind you that there are more options for your polymer clay beads than just simply stringing them onto a cord. You can often use fewer beads and get more impact if you consider different ways of putting them together.
Yes, do show us how you use the beads. I love to see different ways. ~Freda-K
I also have so many beads that I don’t know what to do with. Your hooks and chains would really settle that problem … Can I just be you for a couple of days? It’ll solve all my problems, learn all the great talents that you have and then I’ll come back to me. I just love everything. Thanks, Honey. ~Helen-S
It is also more unique (and less expensive) when you make many of the wire components yourself, to compliment the beads. Although you can’t see it in the picture, the Copper Wire S-Hook Clasp for this necklace, was also made by me.
I’m sure you will agree that making your own findings will not only make your polymer clay jewelry one-of-a-kind, but it will also save you money!
Oh yeah!!!!! The more of a project I can do without going to the store for something, the better. ~Ken-H
To go with this asymmetrical polymer clay necklace, I also made some copper hoop earrings. I’ll be sure to post the photo of these earrings for you, in an upcoming article.
So does this give you any ideas for your own polymer clay jewelry projects? Can you start thinking of new ways to combine your polymer clay beads with other types of jewelry findings including handmade wire ones? How do you like to use your polymer clay beads?
Love the neckalace, the raku beads are beautifull and the idea of combining them with a flower is elegant. Thank you Cindy for sharing! I think I will try something similar, only I am not experienced with wirework.
Thanks for the inspiration. I would have never thought about putting Raku with the flower bead…Wow. Expect the unexpected. There is so much hand made jewelry that all looks the same. Unfortunately, much hand beaded jewelry is glass bead, spacer, glass bead, spacer, glass bead, spacer, all the same, all evenly distributed. Unfortunately, these it really does not not look much different than what you see at retailers, for much less money and mass produced in China. I recently went to several shops that sell hand crafted items, shop owners have said they are looking for things that are not jewelry because they already have so much of that.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Anna S.
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Ooh, I love this! One of many things I appreciate, Cindy, is how you encourage us to push creative boundaries.
BTW, just a quick follow-up on yesterday’s post — [8 Stages of Creativity for Polymer Clay Artists]. I became inspired to clean and organize my craft room. It took me the whole day but I found so many things I that I forgot I had purchased (more guilty of #2 than I thought), and the finds triggered all sorts of ideas. I can’t wait to get in there today and reap the rewards of my labor. Just a suggestion for those who feel stuck.
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@AnnaS – You’re right about handmade jewellery, you see so much that all looks the same. Cookie-cutter jewellery. And so many necklaces that are obviously just a bought pendant on a ready-made cord. Yawn.
I just can’t help but make everything symmetrical though! Asymmetry just doesn’t do it for me at all. Weird, isn’t it?
The flower’s pretty though. :)
Asymmetry, is a higher order of thinking, a more intellectual way of seeing things, symmetry I find boring.
I’m the opposite to Silverleaf… I *LOVE* asymmetrical designs and am not really into symmetry (except for earrings… those are fine symmetrical, although I do have some very cool asymmetrical earrings too). The important thing is visual balance.
Cindy:
I found a source for free wire!! I was at a friends house and an electrician was rewiring their house (well, two rooms). He left behind all kinds of “scraps” of wires he had cut off for this or that. He was going to put them in the trash! No No No, I said! I scooped them up, took them home and stripped the insulation off them and have a variety of thicknesses of lovely copper wire!
So, I suggest those that want the wire but hate the cost, make friends with the local electrician and offer to “clean up his jobs” and benefit from all that free wire!
@Ileana: Just so you know there will be a wire working video once a month in the library, so before you know it, you will have the experience. :-) BTW I went to your site and see you have made some beautiful book beads, faux raku and flower beads from the videos. I would love to do a Spotlight Feature on you and your beautiful work. If you are not sure what a Spotlight Feature is, type ‘spotlight’ into the search box and you will see the previous features that have been done. I think others would be very impressed with your beads! Let me know if you are interested.
@Anna: Just one more reason to make your own beads EH?
@Elizabeth S: Thank you for posting that! You are an encouragement to us all!
@Silverleaf: Just like you have trouble feeling comfortable with asymmetry, I have trouble with feeling comfortable with symmetry. It is probably not a bad idea to include both styles when making jewelry so you can include both kinds of people. Which reminds me… Mental note: add more symmetrical pieces Cindy. :-)
@Sue: You’re right about that! Asymmetrical pieces still need balance. Which is probably the most difficult thing to achieve with the style!
@Brenda: Great idea! … or you could marry an electrician like KlayKisses did. :-) See the link by my name for full story.
Can’t marry the electrician – already married to the boss (contractor) he he he. I’m traveling now, but will get back to my beads next week. Where did you say we should pick up that good excluder?
Hi Everyone!!! Hi Cindy, The Host of The Post with The Most!!!!Anyway, I started playing with wire and its fun. Hard on the hands but once you start you cant stop. I got the beads out and they were all sticking together. Guess I have to start sanding. I bought some new wire tools, a Wig-Jig, and a whole bunch of clay and spent over $100.00. Too bad I didn’t see the sticky beads, first. I would have bought a rock tumbler. Can you put sticky beads in a rock tumbler? Where can you buy rock tumblers? Well, I never bought the new, beautiful. colorful wire, either.Too much to buy and not enough money!!!! Maybe, if we got a group together we could get a group discount, being we are members of Cindy’s Network? Just a thought…………Honey
Maybe symmetry’s my “comfort zone” and I need to try to break out of it occasionally. It would be an interesting challenge.
I like order, and balance, and I’m not so keen on random either. I’ve been known to spend hours arranging the beads for a necklace so they LOOK random but actually aren’t.
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@Helen: Sure you can put sticky beads into the tumbler. You just have to tumble longer than normal to remove all the stickiness. As far as finding a tumbler, just Google Lortone and you will find some places to get one.
@Silverleaf: Yeah that’s called ‘planned chaos’ and it’s harder than it looks! LOL
@Brenda: Can’t marry and electrician either. I think that would bother Doug some! :-) I got my Makins Extruder at Michaels but if you Google it, you’ll find lots of people carry it.
awesome points. it is helpful to me
Love the necklace, beautiful and the idea of combining them with a flower is elegant.