One Thing’s for Sure, The Sculpted Turquoise Focal Bead Is Made of Polymer Clay:
OK let’s have some fun with today’s photo. It’s a piece that definitely DOES require explanation. But rather than just blurting out the whole story, I’m curious to see if anyone can guess what it is and what it might be used for.
Note the cool texture of the hammered copper wire, flowing elegantly like a meandering stream on a crisp spring morning. At the end of this shiny metallic brook (or the beginning depending on your artistic interpretation), is a sculpted turquoise bead. From the angle of the photo, the shape of this beads appears to be whimsical. But what is it? And what does it represent?
Does the bead shape and color provide some special clue as to the true meaning of this special piece of jewelry? Or maybe… this isn’t jewelry at all!?
So many questions. But who has the answers?
METAPHORICAL HINT: Deep within the pages of this archive of knowledge, you will find the wisdom for which you seek.
HINT IN ENGLISH: Click through the pages of my blog. I’ve written about this topic before… at least a couple of times. And in one of these articles is a word that could actually be misconstrued to mean something completely different.
Cindy;
I believe that this is a bookmark. I also think that it is not pounded copper but textured extruded clay.
It is “wonky” corkscrew you made after going through all of the martini olives and needed to break open a bottle of wine. Always keep one of those screw top bottles of wine on hand for these types of emergencies.
The blue bead looks like an upside down bird…must have had too many martinis.
I believe it is a Book Thong !!!
I think it is a bookmark that has also been called a “thong”.
I think it is a book marker,for where do we get knowledge
(school) but in a books.
I too think it’s a bookmark/thong
and I think that it is really copper. I don’t think clay could hold up to the usage inside the book. It’s a beautiful peice no matter what!!!!!
It may be a thong, but I first glance I thought what a pretty hair ornament it was. If you wear you hair up, it’s hard to find beautiful things that don’t slip out. Except for the doohickey on the end, looks like the copper design would stay in place nicely.
It is a bookmark!
I want to see that little bird up close, he looks cute!
Never heard of a book thong – but love the word! Bookmark it is indeed! And beautiful! And more importantly – inspiring!
I can’t really tell the size of it from the picture but if it’s small enough I would just make another one and hang copper earwires from the curve and wear them as funky earrings! I think they could have been made using the Makins extruder. Don’t really know, but that’s how my mind works!
I believe it is a bookmark or a “book thong” and a lovely one at that. Hey “Bird on a Wire”…wasn’t that a movie? Hey why not have polymer clay beads that represent the title of the book. I see where you are going with this…unless…I came up with something creative just now. Wouldn’t that be a hoot!
I came across jewelry (wire and beads) for your pots in the latest Beads Unique magazine, although they used glass beads. I think I would like to give it a go with polymer clay beads that would match the pot.
That is what I love about polymer clay…so many unique ideas.
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THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MY MIND (SINCE I HAVE LONG HAIR), WAS A BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENT FOR MT HAIR~~~THE WAVY LINES OF THE COPPER COLOR WOULD CERTAINLY HELP HOLD HAIR IN PLACE. SECOND, AS OTHERS, I THOUGHT OF IT AS A BOOKMARK. WHATEVER IT IS, IT’S BEAUTIFUL. THANKX FOR SHARING!! DE BRADEN
Along the hair adornment line, has anyone ever mastered creating hairbands or more elaborate artsy stuff for hair rather than just the hairpin and barette kind of polymer clay? If anyone could share ideas, much appreciated.
I would say it’s a bookmark and the bead is a bird. Can’t wait to find out! since so many of us are thinking the same thing.
It’s really interesting.
Well done everyone! Thanks for indulging me on this fun little post. You are a very perceptive bunch :) Click the link by my name above… and all will be revealed…
What size wire do you use for something like this? I have never tried it but I think the bookmark/thong (hehe) is really neat. I would love to make one for my books.
I used 14 gauge copper wire I bought at Home Depot in the electrical department!
I loved the book mark (just can’t get “book” and “thong” to work for me) and the bird dangle is adorable. To: Jocelyn. I am a hair ‘thingy’ nut and love to put up my hair with all kinds of crazy stuff. One of my favorites is good, old fashoined chop sticks. BUT instead of the pre-colored ones (which can work in a pinch)I can’t have JUST that. I have been known to paint, cane, and/or wire all kinds of fun stuff to a plain pair to dress them up. BESTpart is that the blunt end of the stick doesn’t cause skull damage when your in a rush. I have to take a few pics of the ones i have played with and share soon.
@ Denise
I cannot wait for you to post pics of those chopsticks! Have tons of them, and also the wooden hair stix from Fire Mountain sales. My problem is those darn things fall out and I don’t even notice,lol. Though out of desperation, I found if I twisted a matching rubber band on the bottom or top, hid by the hair, would keep them in place.
Jocelyn,
I have to admit that I have to twist my hair in a long rope then twist it into a bun for the sticks to work. Use its own tension against the twist (and the previous mentioned skull damage when i was using steel pins – long and bad story) and then stuffing the second stick in for the Geisha look. I have been working up a retro skin for some of my ugly (plain) candle holders but s soon as i get that mess completed i will get those photos to you.
Cheers,
Denise
Love the hair sticks ideas girls! They sound lovely. Please do send pics if you make some up!
Jocelyn,
Here is a pic of the remaining hair stick (had to find the box the stick was in since the move). All the others were either gifted, swipped, or just went MIA.
Not all of them looked like this – i am the only one that liked this one – it wasn’t “sparkley” enough for others.
I had a few with just the walnut disk and dangled loops of beads, big fat stamped block topper in cinnabar poly with flat crystals on the sides, memory wire wraps that trailed from the top and spiraled like metalic tendrels.. not one picture, but plenty of happy buddies (i have been begging for days for pics).
.
Denise
This is fabulous, and it acts as a counterweight. I love the design. You are a talented lady!
I’m glad you like it. A few of my sticks that were ‘gifted’ looked more like these from dressy tresses
http://www.dressytresses.com/store/hsshort.asp – my faves being the charms styles so that i don’t have to remake more sticks, just gift out charms:conspiratorial winks: but I have made a promise to someone that I would be making a Chinese zodiac rooster set for her but I have no idea how to make a “chicken” bead. Anyone have any ideas? BTW if this is the wrong thread/area to ask this, please let me know.
@Denise: You could get one of those little plastic chickens from those farm yard sets and make a mold from it. Then you could make as many chicken beads as you wish!
Love the hair stick! Bet you make a statement, wearing those!
**PHOTOS ADDED: Hammered Copper Project Photos have just been added in a Spotlight Feature Showcasing Arlene Harrison. Click on the “Hammered Copper Wire Hookmark” link by my name above to see them now.
NEW PHOTOS ADDED… that relate to the theme of this page… Hammered Copper Bookmarks (Hookmarks). Click on the link by my name for the full story from Carolyn-F.
i like to know which polymer clay to use when making hair wraps? i am trying to start making things with polymer clay but not sure is there is different kinds to chose from. thanks martha
There are tons of brands of Polymer Clay Martha, each with their own properties. Although I have not yet made hair wraps, I think Premo Sculpey may work for you, because it is strong and flexible. You would have to try it to be sure. Do let us know how it goes for you.
If you need more info on how to work with polymer clay, I recommend you get the Beginners Basics course. It will give you a great foundation for working with polymer clay and help you avoid the mistakes that most beginners make.
Good luck!