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The Caprilicious Jewellery Blog

Beautiful Handmade Statement Necklaces and other Fabulousness from Neena Shilvock - Inspirations and Designs From the Week Gone by

Polymer clay and wire week

21/1/2012

3 Comments

 
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Don't you just love that Dr Seuss! - I only read The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham as an adult as he was'nt popular reading for children in India when I was growing up - but he gave me many hours of sheer pleasure reading it to a friend's daughter in my twenties. 
Just like playing with plasticine! - Polymer Clay is just that, but the stuff that can be made with it is amazing. I have to say I was rubbish at it as a child - but I am really surprising myself with my first experiments with the clay. I moulded it and coloured it and patted it, and put it in the oven with a paper 'tent' over it and held my breath for 30 minutes - then I had to wait for it to cool without opening the oven - and this is what I found - after some polishing and buffing I think it is quite pretty, and I am now off and away.
So, from these two
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and a few other shiny ingredients, and a bit of anxiety while my baby baked in the oven, I got this!
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Et voila!!
Magic, or what?? - I am going to eventually combine these pieces with silver and copper clay and make mixed media jewellery - of course, my favourite, wire, will have to be in on the act.
I made a bracelet for Jan, who is celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary in Barbados - she is an amazing midwife who used to be a seamstress before she did midwifery - needless to say, she repairs and renovates clothes for half the workplace, and I have had cause in the last couple of years to use her services - she has been ever so sweet, nothing was too much trouble for her. I hope she has a great time and that she loves the bracelet.
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Bracelet with earrings to match
I used my Wigjig to make the links - have owned for an year but never used - actually quite a lot of fun to use, although not as easy as it sounds - but is anything?? The idea is that all the elements come out more or less alike, so repetition is easy - hmmm...... - OK, I suppose it is better than going freeform -the makers of the Jig seem to take themselves extremely seriously and even have an Internet based WigJig University, with free designs a nd ideas - may be thats why it took me this long to actually use it - I prefer a light hearted approach to my hobby!!
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The WigJig Centaur
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Tthe jig with jewellery elements
I also found the image of this vintage Paco Rabanne necklace on Ebay when I was sourcing vintage diamante pieces for Meghna's Rock Chick necklace - I loved the shape, so I decided to make something in wire in that shape, with a wire woven quartz cabochon in place of the 'G'. I liked the idea of one rounded side and one pointy side - it appeals to my love for asymmetry.
 I have called it the Sea Urchin Necklace. I used a blue rutilated quartz cabochon - it is so pretty, looks like a child has dipped a fountain pen in clear water. It is also very difficult to photograph.Rutilated Quartz is a transparent gemstone belonging to the Quartz family which has inclusions of needle like crystals of rutile which is mainly made up of Titanium dioxide. - It is meant to protect from evil and black magic - Oh well, you can't be too careful - but I bought it just because it was pretty and it reminded me of my childhood - dipping a brush or my fountain pen into water and watching pretty colours develop, instead of studying - anything for a bit of distraction!
And this is what it ended up looking like --- wire spirals embellishing negative space.
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Rutilated quartz cab in an asymmetrical wire necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
Cuteable blog of cute things
Rutilated quartz cab in an asymmetrical wire necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
Rutilated quartz cab in an asymmetrical wire necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
Rutilated quartz cab in an asymmetrical wire necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
Rutilated quartz cab in an asymmetrical wire necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
Ghau box and wire necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
Ghau box and wire necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
Ghau box and wire necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
I have had this Tibetan Ghau prayer box pendant for a while an decided to do something with it - am quite pleased with the result, and some very discerning lady bought it from me - I hope she enjoys it as much as I enjoyed making it.
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3 Comments
Teri McCamish
21/1/2012 08:12:34 am

Hello Neena, I am enjoying reading your blog and share your enthusiasim for all things jewelry! You have a nack for putting into words the feelings we have when we see a beautiful stone. I'll be coming back often to see what you've discovered, made or written! Your designs have caught my eye on another site more than once. After you commented on a piece of mine, I thought I should look you up and introduce myself. I am also learning about precious metal clay. Actually, quite intimidated by it! I purchased a kiln, tools and materials from someone who didn't use it anymore due to illness. They weren't able to offer any help and it's been unused for too long. Polymer clay is in my future as well. My company is going to carry it and I am the designer in residence that needs to become expert in a hurry! My background in pottery isn't going to help me very much. Thank you for the kind words about my lime green and padaradscha colored Swarovski bracelet! I see now that we are not afraid of color! Happy wire twisting! Teri in Gig Harbor, Washington USA

Reply
Neena link
22/1/2012 03:08:15 am

Hi Teri,
thanks for having a look - I enjoy summarising my week on my blog and hope that like minded people will come back with tips and thoughts, constructive criticism is always welcome. Enjoy your kiln - have you ever come across Holly Gage's page - have a look - there are loads of tips for the PMC newbie from old hands - I have found it interesting. Do post pics of your efforts, as will I
http://www.hollygage.com/pages/techniques.html
good luck,
Neena

Reply
Super Absorbent Polymer link
17/9/2012 01:16:35 am

I actually added your blog to my favorites and will look forward for more updates. Great Job, Keep it up.

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     I'm Neena Shilvock,  and I'm crazily addicted to jewellery.

    I've been designing and making quirky and interesting statement necklaces for over ten years and my passion hasn't cooled off one little bit - in fact it has got worse, such that I  even dream jewellery.

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