Friday, July 27, 2012

Polymer Clay Faux Turquoise and Paracord Bracelets

I'm still experimenting with simulating turquoise in polymer clay.  If you are using a food processor, it's best to use a clay that is firm and hard, then break it into very small pieces before mixing.  From my experience, I like to use Premo and Fimo Classic for this project.  If you use a softer clay, it can smear in your food processor and then when you want to change colors, you may have unwanted colors mixing.  See the photo!  If you look close, you will see a lapis color speck in one of the beads!  I didn't really want that there, but it's alright.

I have tried to make the matrix look as real as possible.  I stained the beads with a couple of different colors and then sanded them through five grits of wet/dry sand paper.  These were buffed on a muslin jewelers wheel.

I made bracelets with my beads and black 550 paracord and used black plastic clips.  This style of bracelet has become very popular within the past couple of years.  The paracord contains seven strands inside and in the event of need, the bracelet can be unknotted and the cord may be used.  The inner strands may be used for sewing thread, fishing line and you name it!  Some call these knots the cobra or double cobra.



If the clay is more firm and hard when you process it, the pieces will break up really small and this will give you lots of pieces to press back together.  I have been working on some other simulated stones I will post photos of soon.  Thanks for looking!

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About Me

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I enjoy silversmithing, making jewelry, beads and working with paracord. I sculpt in polymer clay and desert themes are my favorite. I'm always looking for ways to incorporate the beauty of nature into my work. My work has been published in a large book called "1000 Beads," Lark Jewelry and Beading, 2014. I have sold beads through the Glendale Bead Museum Shop, a gallery in Tucson and www.wearartbyjulie.etsy.com. I'm an artist currently showing my jewelry at the Shemer Art Center in Phoenix, AZ.