Key Chain and Twinchie Swap

  Another swap at the FB International Polymer Clay Swap group is concluded for me - and this time the packages had to go a looong way - from Slovenia to Australia and the other way, too.

  My partner in this swap was Penny Houghton of the Smelly Nelly blog. She "takes pleasure in making 'stuff' from anything she can lay her hands on". She loves walking through the forest discovering new bugs, plants and animals.
  We have many things in common - both have two little children, love the same colors and neither of us is very keen on pinks. We both love Twilight saga and crime too (she says you are never too old to love a good vampire saga and I agree completely).  

  But let's see what I've sent to Penny (click on the pictures to enlarge):

 - a key chain that is a part of my last series (you will certainly recognize the technique of my previous post):

 The lobster clasp can be removed and the donut can be used as a pendant. I love to make multipurpose items.


- the twinchie: I've used a slice I had left from Julie Picarello's workshop I took in April of this year:

 I have to say I'm very happy with how it turned out. The colors of the slice were just perfect for someone living in Australia - representing sea, land and desert ... 

  This is rally one of my favorite twinchies (& inchies included) that I've ever made - I've almost kept it for myself ... :-)

  The set:

~~~~~

And here is what I've received from Australia - that was a very generous package, all created by Penny: 

- a beautiful sugar sculls key chain:

 Penny also put my initials on the back of the white scull:

The sugar sculls are very popular in Australia, she says (and I know that also in both  Americas). In Slovenia we are not very familiar with sugar sculls and the notion of celebrating life with them as it's for South America and other cultures. However the ones mady by Penny are really really cute!!! I'm afraid to ruin them using them as a key chain, my handbag is always too full of almost anything you can imagine, so I preferred hanging it near my pc desk so I can treasure it and smile to it from time to time :-).


- the twinchie:

Front side

Beautiful colors!! And look at the back side, it's so interesting, too, just like an abstract painting:

Back side

  - and she also included a beadwoven sugar sculls bracelet:

Sorry for the picture, it's not really the best, but the little sculls are perfectly made!!


- and it's not finished, she also made this beautiful zentangle card with my name on:

Thank you, Penny, you really spoiled me :-D    
It was a great pleasure to be your partner in this swap!!!

Be happy,

Alenka

 

Pendants for School Teachers...

... of my older son.
Obeska za učiteljici mojega starejšega sina.

Polymer clay, alcohol inks, bronze gilding wax, wire, cotton cord, gloss varnish.
(Click on the pictures to enlarge)
Polimerna glina, alkoholni inki, bronasta patina, žica, bombažna vrvica, svetleč lak.
(Z povečanje slike kliknite nanjo)

Workshop with Julie Picarello / Delavnica z Julie Picarello

  I've spent last weekend in Ljubljana at the workshop with Julie Picarello. She's such a nice lady other than a great artist!
  Prejšnji vikend sem preživela v Ljubljani na delavnici z Julie Picarello, ki je prav prijetna gospa in ne samo uveljavljena ustvarjalka s polimerno glino!

  First day workshop was Magpie Mokume - learning the mokume gane technique Julie uses in her work and making a cabochon. I was familiar with this technique already, as my first polymer clay book I've ever bought and read and tried to apply to polymer was Julie's Patterns in Polymer, but learning from the artist is a completely different thing. She showed us many tips you can not learn from a book.  
  Prvi dan delavnice je bil na vrsti Magpie Mokume - spoznavanje s tehniko mokume gane, ki jo uporablja Julie pri svojem ustvarjanju, in izdelava enega zaključenega kosa za nakit (npr. obeska). Njeno tehniko sem sicer že poznala, saj je bila prva knjiga o polimerni glini, ki sem jo kupila, prav Julie-jina Patterns in Polymer, vendar pa je učenje v živo popolnoma druga zgodba. Julie nam je pokazala en kup praktičnih trikov, ki se jih iz knjige ne naučiš. 

  Well, let's go back to the workshop - there are two difficult things in this technique: choosing the color combination and (the most difficult) slicing. Oh, slicing!!! The first day I was not able to get a single good slice ... :-( ... but managed to get some slices that were big enough to make two cabs.
  Če se vrnemo k delavnici - v tej tehniki sta predvsem dva zahtevna postopka: izbrati ustrezno barvno kombinacijo in (najtežji del) rezanje plasti. Uh, to mi je dalo vetra!!! Prvi dan nisem uspela odrezati niti ene popolne rezine... .-( ... a sem kljub temu dobila par rezin/plasti, ki so bile dovolj velike za dva zaključena kosa.

 I've alread used this one with a piece of shibori ribbon to make the brooch for the Shibori ribbon blog hop:

  Prvega sem vam že pokazala, saj sem ga uporabila pri izzivu Shibori ribbon blog hop:

  
  However, the second one is my favorite! I think I'll use it as a pendant for a necklace.
  Osebno mi je bolj všeč drugi kos - ki ga bom najverjetneje uporabila kot obesek za ogrlico.

  Even if the slices were everything but perfect, I really love the color combination used for it.
  Čeprav so bile rezine/plasti vse prej kot perfektne, mi je pa barvna kombinacija, ki sem jo uporabila, izjemno všeč.

  The second day we worked on a Button Blossom pendant. At first we've repeated the steps from the first day: mixing new colors, imprinting the patterns and ..... slicing!!! I have to say the slices of the second day were much more even than those from the first one. I was really happy with it!!! 
  Drugi dan delavnice je bil namenjen izdelavi Button Blossom obeska. Najprej smo ponovili korake, ki smo se jih naučili prejšnjega dne: mešanje barv, vtiskovanje vzorca in ... rezanje plasti!!! Moram povedati, da mi je tokrat rezanje bistveno blj uspelo in sem dobila kar nekaj skoraj popolnih rezin.   


  And I've also managed to complete the piece at the workshop:
  Na delavnici sem uspela tudi dokončati izdelek (no, verižico sem obesila doma):

My/Moj Button Blossom

  No need to say it was a great weekend and can't hardly wait for another workshop ...
If I get back my pictures, I'll show you some more.
  Ni treba posebej izpostavljati, da sem preživela čudovit vikend in komaj čakam na naslednjo delavnico. Če uspem dobiti nazaj svoje slike, vam bom pokazala še nekaj utrinkov ustvarjalnega vikenda.

  Girls from Izdelovalnica malih umetnin, thank you very much for organizing this event.
  Dekletom iz Izdelovalnice malih umetnin pa se zahvaljujem za organizacijo tega čudovitega dogodka.   

Be happy,

Bodite veseli,

Alenka

    

Rustic Hearts / Rustikalna srca

  Feeling love ... 
  Ljubezen je v zraku ...
 
  Polymer clay heart pendants ... measuring 5 cm (2 in) per 3,5 cm (1.4 in). More to come!
  Obeski v obliki srca iz polimerne gline ... velikost 5 cm x 3,5 cm. Še več jih je v delu!

Available - if interested, leave a comment or e-mail me:

 Na razpolago - če vas zanima, napišite v komentar ali mi pošljite e-mail:

pepita.handmade@yahoo.com  

Be happy,

Bodite veseli,

Alenka

Featured bead ... / Objava ...

  My clowny bead was featured on the Art Bead Scene Blog as a perfect pairing - used by Monique of A Half Baked Notion for her necklace. Monique created the necklace for the March ABS monthly challenge inspired by the oil on wood painting Birds on riser (by Adolf Dietrich, 1944).
  Monique, ki jo lahko spremljate na blogu A Half Baked Notion je za marčevski izziv na Art Bead Scene blogu izdelala ogrlico, ki je bila izbrana za popoln par - popolna kombinacija celotnega dizajna in posameznih ročno izdelanih perl/koščkov (art beads). Med temi perlami je tudi moja. Vidite jo na spodnji sliki (tista pisana).

Necklace by Monique U. (photo by Monique)

Detail of the necklace - my polymer clay clowny (Natasha) bead (the colorful one) (photo by Monique).

You can find more about the necklace and the inspiration behind it on Monique's blog and on the Art Bead Scene blog. Well done, Monique!

Več o ogrlici in njeni inspiraciji lahko najdete na blogu od Monique in na strani Art Bead Scene bloga. Odlično opravljeno, Monique!  

Be happy,

Bodite veseli,

Alenka

Valentine's Swap / Valentinov swap

  For the 9th swap at the FB International Polymer Clay Swaps group the theme was Valentine - hearts, flowers, pink, red ... anything that says Valentine's to you and your swap partner!

  My partner this time was Laura Reed from Missoula (Montana, USA). I've found out that we have quite a lot in common (speaking about preferences) and we both love red (favorite color).


  Valentine ... hearts and flowers. That was my first association and also the final result.
This is what I've made for Laura:

 - a red heart pendant (buffed to a high shine):

 - flower twinchie:

  
- and I've included also one of my faux glass beads:

 Here is all together:

 ~~~~~

  Laura sent to me a beautiful heart and love twinchie ... and I'm still trying to figure out how she created it!!! First I thought she has used a stamp, but only then I've seen it was all hand work ... Such detailed work!! It looks big on the picture, but the whole twinchie is only 2 inchies (2,5 cm) wide.

 
  She went a little outside the box and included a polymer clay covered pen. It is so smooth and just perfect to write with!! It's already my favorite pen! :-)

  All together:

  Thank you, Laura, for being my partner in this swap - I'm really happy with what I have received from you!!!

Be happy,

Alenka

Christmas Ornament Swap / Izmenjava božičnih okraskov

  I know, this topic would be more appropriate a month ago, but I'm pretty sure you are curious to see the results of the 8th swap of the International Polymer Clay Swap FB group.
  Vem, da bi bila ta tema precej bolj primerna pred enim mesecem, vendar vem, da ste vseeno radovedni, kakšni izdelki so nastali ob 8. zaporedni izmenjavi v okviru FB skupine International Polymer Clay Swap.

  My partner for this swap was Ilse (Ilsy Poppins) from Netherlands. The colors that she loves, uses and wears are more to the green/grey/brown and greens. She's been working with polymer clay since 2008 and she loves to make bracelets and bangles.
  Tokratna partnerica v izmenjavi je bila Ilse (Ilsy Poppins) iz Nizozemske, ki dela s polimerno glino od leta 2008. Njene najljubše barve so v zeleno-sivo-rjavih odtenkih in najrajši izdeluje vse vrste zapestnic.

  We decided to make something that will be speaking about the author, using our colors, techniques and shapes.
  Dogovorili sva se, da vsaka izdela okraske v svojem stilu, z uporabo barv, tehnik in oblik, ki so ji blizu, 

~~~~~

  As usually, let me first show you what I've made for Ilse.
  Kot ponavadi vam bom najprej pokazala, kaj sem jaz izdelala za Ilse.

  I was still under the impression of Bettina Welker's workshop in Ljubljana and her jelly-fish earrings technique. At the same time I wanted to create an ornament that will not be used only for Christmas, but would be "multifunctional".
  Ko sem se lotila dela, sem bila še pod vtisom delavnice z Bettino Welker v Ljubljani in njenih meduzic, hkrati pa sem hotela narediti okrasek, ki bo imel še dodatno možnost uporabe.

  I've used the same cane I've made at Bettina's workshop, but I cut a much thicker slice, made a bigger circle from it and formed a different shape, more flower-like. For the dangles I've added some chain and seed beads. I've also added the wire for hanging the ornaments to a christmas tree or anywhere else. 
   Uporabila sem kačico (vzorec), ki sem jo naredila na delavnici, vndar sem odrezala bistveno debelejši košček, ga sploščila v večji krog in ga oblikovala v obliko, podobno cvetu. Na spodnjo stran sem obesila nekaj verižice, kateri sem na koncih dodala perlice. Okraske sem obesila na zvito žico, da jih bo Ilse lahko obesila na jelko ali kamorkoli drugam.

  Now that the festivities are over, Ilse can put on the ear hooks and use them as earrings all the year long.
  Zdaj, ko so prazniki že za nami in okraski pospravljeni, lahko Ilse žico zamenja z osnovami za uhane in jih nosi še vse leto. 

   The second piece of the swap was a twinchie. I've made a simple Christmas tree with sparkles and a Swarovski top. Red and minimalist - just my style.
  Drugi izdelek v okviru izmenjave je "twinchie", to je ploščica v velikosti približno 5 x 5 cm. Obdobju primerno sem izdelala preprosto božično drevo, okrašeno z bleščicami in s swarovski kristalčkom na vrhu. Rdeče in minimalistično - čisto v mojem stilu.

  I couldn't send the package out without adding a little unexpected extra ...
   Seveda nisem mogla poslati paketa brez manjšega dodatka ... 

   ... a lavender cushion (with real lavender inside) and a chocolate bar - with fleur de sel. Yeap, it's a salted chocolate, but it's goooood!!!
  ...blazinico s sivko in čokoladico s solnim cvetom. Take je, čokolada s soljo, ki pa je zelo dobra!!!

~~~~~

And now - what have I received from Ilse:

Kaj pa sem jaz dobila od Ilse:

- a beautiful tree-ornament 

- čudovit okrasek v obliki drevesca

(as you can see, she used the combination of her and my favorites colors)
(kot vidite, je uporabila kombinacijo mojih in svojih najljubših barv)

- a twinchie and
- twinchi-ja in
 
- a pair of napkin rings in the same colors of the ornament;
- par obročkov za serviete v istih barvah kot okrasek;

- and also some little souvenirs of her country.
- poleg tega pa še drobne spominke iz njene države.    

 

 I love this kind of swaps!!!
 Thank you Ilse for being my partner and for the beautiful pieces you've sent to me.
Obožujem tovrstne izmenjave!!!
Ilse, najlepša hvala, ker si bila moja partnerica v tej izmenjavi in za vse lepe izdelke, ki si mi jih poslala!!! 

Be happy,

Bodite veseli,

 

Alenka

 

Workshop with Bettina Welker - part 2 / Delavnica z Bettino Welker - 2. del

  The afternoon of the second workshop day was scheduled for the Sorbetto pendant. This time I've decided to go outside my colour comfort zone and I've chosen an olive green for my base colour: 
  Popoldanska delavnica drugega dne je bila namenjena sorbet obeskom. Pri izbiri barv sem tokrat stopila nekoliko izven moje varne cone in izbralaolivno zeleno barvo za osnovo:

  The base is mica shift, polished and buffed to a high shine; the clasp part is roughly textured.
  Pri osnovi obeska je uporabljena "mica shift" tehnika, nato pa veliko brušenja in poliranja do visokega sijaja; za zaponko pa je uporabljena groba tekstura.


  I almost forgot to tell you one more interesting thing. All the participants at the worsksop had a homework to do - it was a kind of ticket to enter the worshop. Each one has to make 2 equal big beads: they were supposed to be at least 3 cm/1.2 inch wide/high, but there were no limits for the shape.
  Skoraj sem pozabila povedati še eno zanimivost - vse sodelujoče na delavnici smo imeledomačo nalogo, ki je služila kot neke vrste vstopnica na delavnico. Izdelati smo morale dve enaki veliki perli/koščka iz polimerne gline: v širino oz. višino sta morali meriti vsaj 3 cm, ni pa bilo nobenih omejitev glede oblike.  

  These were mine - inspired by the grape harvest:
  Navdih za perli, ki sem jih izdelala jaz, sem dobila kar pri obdobju trgatev:

  All the beads were put on a beading wire and two equal sets were created:
  Vsi koščki so bili nanizani na vrvico in nastala sta dva enaka seta:

   One set went to the organizers and for the second set all our names were "put in the hat" and Bettina was the one that had to draw the winner. Well, it wasn't me the lucky one :-(
  Prvi set so shranile organizatorice delavnice, za drugi set pa smo se potegovale vse udeleženke. Bettina je izžrebala dobitnico in na mojo veliko žalost to nisem bila jaz :-(

 Anyway, I'm soooo happy I decided to participate at the workshop and had experienced a creative weekend with no everyday taskas and worries. And I also have a new polymer clay book in my collection, and this is signed by the author - Bettina.
  A nič zato, zelooooo sem bila vesela, da sem se odločila sodelovati na delavnici in tako preživeti ustvarjalni vikend brez vsakdanjih opravil in skrbi. Poleg tega pa je moja zbirka knjig bogatejša za Bettinino knjigo - s posvetilom in avtogramom.
 

   

Be happy,

Bodite veseli,

Alenka

Workshop with Bettina Welker - part 1 / Delavnica z Bettino Welker - 1. del

  Huh, it's been 4 weeks already from the workshop with Bettina Welker in Ljubljana and I've still not written a word about it!!! 
  Uf, že 4 tedni so minili od delavnice z Bettino Welker v Ljubljani, jaz pa o tem nisem še nič objavila!!!

  It was my first workshop ever and those were two beautiful days!!! Two days just claying and chatting with other polymer clay enthusiasts! Just a blast!!!
  To je bila moja prva delavnica in bila sta dva res čudovita dneva!! Dva dneva v celoti posvečena ustvarjanju iz polimerne gline in klepetanju z drugimi poli-navdušenkami! Pravi užitek!!!
    

  Let's get this party started!!!

 
  Well, we started  with the hinged bracelet and this is the one I've made ...
   Začeli smo s pregibno zapestnico in moj izdelek izgleda tako ...

... and the whole pyramid of bracelets (with Bettina and the organizers):
... cela piramida zapestnic pa je zelo barvita (z Bettino in organizatorkami):

 The second day we started with the jellyfish earrings. Can you guess which ones are mine?
  Drugi dan je bil najprej posvečen meduzicam - uhanom. Ali uganete, kateri so moji?

Photo by Roberta M.

 The red ones!!!
  Rdeči, seveda!!!

 

towards the light / proti svetlobi

  Did you have any doubts??!! :-)
  They are quite small - about 2 cm/0.8 inch wide and very very light. It's so nice to wear them.
  Ali je sploh kdo podvomil v to?!! :-)
  Uhani so precej majhni, v širino merijo le 2 cm, in izredno lahki. Nositi jih je lepo, saj so kot peresca. 

  The second post about the workshop with new pictures is coming soon ....
  Druga objava o delavnici z Bettino in novimi slikcami sledi prav kmalu ....

~~~

In the meantime 3 of my swap packages are wandering somewhere in the postal system:

- one to US for Fall inchies swap;

- one to Netherlands for the Christmas ornament polymer clay swap and

- one to Germany for the Bead Soup Cafe Holiday gift swap.

I really hope they all find their way to the final destination!!! At the moment the delivery is late for all of them ...

Medtem pa 3 moji paketki z izdelki za izmenjavo klatijo nekje v poštnem sistemu:

- eden je namenjen v ZDA za Jesensko izmenjavo inchijev (2,5 x 2,5 cm ploščice), 

- drugi je namenjen na Nizozemsko za Izmenjavo božičnih okraskov iz polimerne gline,

- tretji pa v Nemčijo za Praznično izmenjavo daril v okviru FB skupine Bead Soup Cafe. 

Res upam, da bodo vsi našli pravo pot do cilja!!! Trenutno namreč dostava za vse tri zamuja ...  

Be happy,

Bodite veseli,

Alenka