Friday, December 20, 2013

Sales, Sales, Sales + Lots of Gratitude!


The SUPERPOLY SALE is over, 
and I want to thank you for your helpful comments, support, 
and purchases--
for this event, and throughout the 2013 year!  



I hope you'll keep reading my blog in 2014 as I continue to 
experiment with polymer, metals, and jewelry making!

I always am eager to hear YOUR thoughts too, so if you can, please take a moment on any of my blog posts to add a note, give a suggestion, let us know what you've tried that did or did not work, what you'd like to try but haven't, questions you have, etc.!   

Until our next chat, wishing each of you a  very
Happy Holiday Season!

~Sharyl


* * * * * * * *
P.S.  I've started my last sale of the year!  


SALE! 
Celebrating holidays late? 
Looking for something for New Years? 
Use code STILLTIME to get 25% OFF ALL items, 
including marked-down sales! 

GIFT CERTIFICATES: 

I can create those for you to purchase
 & email the code in time for the holidays! 
Please leave a message at Sharyl's Jewelry 
(Click "Contact Seller")
if you would like to purchase gift certificates 
of any denomination. 


Snowflake on Glass and Silver Earrings

Lampwork beads by BlueSeraphim*

*Please note: Sadly,
Blue Seraphim, one of my favorite stores
for lampwork beads is closing shop.
The good news is that everything is currently 50% off!

Very best wishes to Jennifer Jennings!
~Sharyl & Friends
* * * * * * *

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Last Day for SUPERPOLY Sale and Latest Earrings Using Poly Beads!

Today's the last day for my SUPERPOLY SALE  at Shary'ls Jewelry, and I thought I would show you a couple pairs of earrings I made recently using some of these beads.  "Wonky" though these beads may be, I'm finding they go wonderfully with other artisan beads!

Green, gold and "magic mood" bead earrings


Green dangle beads by ScorchedEarth (UK),
Gold metallic large rondelle beads in polymer clay by Sharyl, and  round glossy mood beads that change from green, blue, orange, brown
 depending on their temperature

 are all wrapped up in genuine copper wire, with copper ear wires.



Teal and gold dangle earrings


3/4 inch round ceramic dangles handmade by EclectricPrairie 
are embossed and colored matte teal and green. They have a lovely soft feel to them. 
Above them are ridged polymer clay beads I've made and layered with colors, 
topped with metallic gold. 
There are bits of sage green and barn red peaking through, adding a rustic look. 
Those are surrounded by teal rondelle manufactured sea glass I purchased from Lisa Lodge. 
Artisan made copper wire ear hooks and copper wire throughout.




Don't Delay! 
 Find something fun to challenge you,
at a price to fit your holiday budget--TODAY!






Use coupon code SUPERPOLY to get 40% OFF in these sections: 
These will appear at regular price with a "COUPON" flag in the bottom right corner of the item photo.  The discount will appear at checkout when you enter the coupon code.

Please Note:  Reduction on polymer ornaments in the HOLIDAY section have already been taken. The price you see is the 40% off sale price.  No code needed.  They will have a "SALE" flag in the bottom right corner of the item photo.  

Thanks for taking a look & Happy Holidays to all!   ~Sharyl

* * * * * * * * * * * * *


Monday, December 16, 2013

Playing with Polymer Clay!

Recent polymer pendant I made.

Between holidays, giveaways, and sales... challenges and blog hops... special events (mine and others)...,  it seems like FOREVER since I've just written a blog entry about jewelry-making, pure and simple.  Well, I have so many blog topics to catch up on, it may take me a while, but today, I thought I'd bring you up-to-date on what I've been doing with POLYMER CLAY.
   
Some of my metal bails, recently sent to the
 Emporium of Impossible Things in Canada.

Yes, I know, METALS were my thing!   And yes, they still are!  But I started experimenting with polymer, not really expecting to like it much.  (It's like PLASTIC, for heaven's sake, and that still bugs me!)  But I confess, I'm rather hooked!   

It all started when I read on Facebook about people making some wonderful looking beads and indicating they had used a tutorial by Ginger Davis Allman  of "The Blue Bottle Tree" on Etsy.

Tutorial Rustic Beads and Components from Polymer Clay Project Fimo- Boho Distressed


Tutorial Rustic Beads and Components from Polymer Clay Project Fimo- Boho Distressed

For some reason, I never thought I liked polymer clay beads until I saw these.  These looked like pottery to me.   They were "my style!"  And I loved them!   So I bought the tutorial and gave it a try.   
A bead from the first batch


Like everything I do though, I want to skip from beginner to expert mode in a flash and skip all the stuff that comes in-between. Instead, it seems like a long, hard road, with plenty of "flops." Isn't that just the way with learning any new skill or art though?  

IN THE BEGINNING: 
WONKY BEADS 

Sometimes, I can't decide if the pieces are really flops or just not my style.   I may like the colors, but not the shapes.  Or the shapes, but not the color.   






These are some of the first pendants I made.  I find them terribly "wonky" and I'll say so right out.  One brave soul suggested I might try making these a bit thinner, and that made a world of difference.  Thanks for that tip!  My thicknesses were not all all even either, and I'm learning to regulate the thickness of the clay a little better since I started, but still struggle.  

I used to have a terrible time trying to move the piece from my work surface to my baking surface, and finally read that the way around that was to put a bit of parchment paper down when preparing the bead, then transfer the bead, paper and all, to the baking pan.   (That was a "palm on forehead" moment!)

MOVING ALONG: 

WINTER HOLIDAY: 

My fun with polymer coincided nicely with the holidays!  I started making "sugar cookie" ornaments...




These all went into the WINTER HOLIDAY JEWELRY & ORNAMENTS section!
There are more!  Check them out!




I started a "Polymer Clay Beads" section for beads and pendants.   Some were holiday-themed.  Others not.

 




PRACTICE MAKES... BETTER?

Now that I'm hooked, I'm reading books and finding inspiration for polymer clay everywhere!  There are so many wonderful artists among us using this medium, and I just never noticed what they were using!   I'm in awe of them!

I'm trying a few slightly more advanced techniques, blending clay colors, making designs in the clay before baking, adding texture, expanding color options.   I'm starting to like what I see a bit more, but know I have so far to travel yet!






LATEST WORKS:
MIXING MY LOVES!

My most recent concept is to combine my metal work and polymer clay.  This purple was one of my first two pieces. 



Once I knew it would work, I tried more! 


You'll find these in a section called "Mixed Polymer and Metal"



AND NOW:   TIME FOR A SALE!

Well, as you can imagine,
several months and many pieces later, 
I've collected so many beads and ornaments,
my store is full to the brim!

What a good time to have... 

A SUPER POLYMER CLAY SALE!





Use coupon code SUPERPOLY to get 40% OFF in these sections:
These will appear at regular price with a "COUPON" flag in the bottom right corner of the item photo.  The discount will appear at checkout when you enter the coupon code.

Please Note:  Reduction on polymer ornaments in the "HOLIDAY" section have already been taken. The price you see is the 40% off sale price.  No code needed.  They will have a "SALE" flag in the bottom right corner of the item photo.  

Thanks for taking a look!    

* * * * * * * * * * 

Wonder where I'll head next?!  


--Do YOU work with polymer clay?   --Would you like to?   Leave us a comment!   --Link us to a photo of your work...or your store!   --If you have helpful suggestions or comments, please leave those too!  


 --If not, tell us what you ARE exploring these days!  We'd love to hear that also! 

 Thanks and Happy Holidays!
~Sharyl
 * * * * * * * * *

Friday, December 13, 2013

Thoughts on "Hope" & Upcoming Store Events!


Sharing a little bit of HOPE!



These are glass decorations on my holiday tree.
Being rather thin glass, they are fragile, but lovely,
and they bring me joy when I look at them.
No, I didn't make any of them, but I wish I had!

"Hope" has become, without planning,
my theme for 2013.

Hope--for better health, for strength and clarity,
for a renewed sense of who I am,
and hope for a future,
even if it looks different than the one I once imagined.

"Hope" is also my wish for you this holiday season!
I wonder what YOU hope for?!

(Please share if you feel inclined!)
~~~~~~



Upcoming Holiday Events at 
1. Free Shipping All This Weekend


Now through Sun., 12/15/13,
use code:  FREESHIP13  
on orders over US $15.00 
to get free shipping 
to locations in the U.S. and Canada! 


Lime, red, and gold polymer clay beads   PC13-001
2. Polymer Clay Sale Starts Monday!

Mon. 12/16/13-Thur. 12/19/13,
Super sale on all Polymer Clay
pieces in store!
Over 40 new items!
Watch for updates!


3.  Gift Mailing Details:

Gift items can be shipped directly 
to desired location.  
(No additional charge 
if all going to one location.  
Slight increase 
for more than one mailing address.)

 Packages gift wrapped and gift card 
with your note included 
at no additional charge! 
Please leave a note with directions
with your order.


 Thank you for shopping handmade at
this holiday season!
~~~~~~

Image Credits:

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

And the winner is...



And the Thanksgiving "Shop Handmade" 
event winner 
of the $20 gift certificate to


chosen by Random Number Generator, is...

**Carolyn from

(Carolyn, I already have your email address, 
so I'll be in touch with you about the gift certificate!)
Happy Shopping!

Thanks again to all for participating!
Hope your holidays were happy!

~Sharyl

***************