Rattlesnake Skin on Sterling Silver with Black Double Cobra Paracord Bracelet

Since I live in the desert, I decided to get some rattlesnake skin onto some sterling silver and use the piece in one of my paracord bracelets.  I have a friend who makes knives and sheaths and he gives me scrap pieces of leather and sometimes snakeskin to use in my projects.  I was going to use the snakeskin with leather for a bracelet, but decided to get it on metal!

I have used a metal rolling mill to impress the snakeskin right onto the sterling silver.  I finished sawing and cutting out the holes that my cord would go through, filed and sanded the edges, then added the patina.  I sanded the surface and left more of a satin finish.  It looks more like the real thing without the high gloss polish.  Take a pass on the white diamond and leave it looking more like aluminum.

I made what is called a double cobra 550 paracord bracelet and also used three cords to anchor and weave in the silver piece.  It's different and edgy!

I made a smaller bracelet like this in copper with a copper to brown color cord and sold it right away.  I will be making some earrings and other jewelry components with the same texture.

Stone Inlay Polymer Clay Earring Pieces

I designed these pieces for long earrings.  I really think these have the look of actual stone inlay with a good variety of colors.

I mixed the ivory and coral blends to have waves of color through them.  This gives the look of real material.  You will also see the strips of turquoise and onyx as well.

I sanded these through several grits of wet/dry sandpaper and buffed these to this shine.

I want to experiment with lapis, sugilite, peach coral and some lighter greens in the future!

Polymer Clay Turquoise Ring

In this photo..., you will see the very first polymer clay ring that I've ever made.  Let me tell you it was a true learning experience.  Hmmm, how do you size and sculpt it and then get it off the mandrel without sticking?  I have some ideas for the next time I make one!  

It's so thick and chunky that it works well for a pinky ring.  I did sand the sides down as well as the shank, but it still needs to be thick enough to not flex too much or crack.  So, it is what it is and I like it!  

Copper Pieces with Fern and Grass Textures

These are a couple of sample pairs of earrings I recently made.  I wanted to use the same process of roller milling smaller pieces of fern, leaves and some thin grass on to copper.  The copper was about 20 gauge to start and I think I will try 18 gauge next time.  The tighter or closer the rollers of the mill, the more the metal will flatten out.  I could have gotten the impressions a little deeper into the metal with more pressure.  These have been sanded and there is still plenty of detail from organic material.

I also used the easy and more natural process of adding patina with a hard boiled egg.  When I work on these pieces away from the studio, that is what I use.  The accent or patina color is a darker copper to a dark brown.  It's subtle and has a nice mellow look to it.  Liver of sulfur will produce a much darker to black patina.  I have sanded off the patina and you will see some shine and some darker colored areas.

I will be making more earrings like this in sterling and would like to add some amethyst beads and maybe some labradorite.  Those seem to be my favorites at the moment.

Larger Sculpted Pieces

Well, I guess I've been busy making things the past couple of months!  It's true that you do what you love and I'm always inspired to experiment with new ideas for my beads and jewelry.

I decided that I make some average and smaller size beads, but I wanted to make some really large items.  You can see the colors look quite a bit different and I used a brown and black striped blend for accents that look like southwestern textiles.  I made a stamp with a sun sign on it and that is what is pressed into the earthy colored clay in the centers of the pieces.  The swirls also make me think of Sedona which is a beautiful town in northern Arizona.  The red rocks and scenery up there is stunning.

I used a different blend of stain on these as well and the matrix area is darker on these than the beads I posted just before this.  I wanted the matrix to look more blackish to dark brown here.

I will be making a necklace or wearable rosary with the large cross.  I made a double cobra paracord bracelet with the larger, oval bead.

Thanks for looking!

New Sculpted Pieces with Heshi Beads

I had seen Native American bracelets many years ago that had actual heshi bead strands wired into them.  I can say that for a long, long time I have wanted to try this with polymer clay.  I cut various pieces of the turquoise, coral and ivory blends.  I did string the heshi beads on wire and set that into the clay before baking it.  It was a bit of delicate work and took a steady hand... not to mention some patience as well!  After baking, I had to be really careful when sanding these beads in order to not nick the heshi beads.  These pieces were stained to give them a nice, rustic look.  All of my beads are sanded and buffed to this nice shine.  I've been busy stringing necklaces and making bracelets with these beads.

Liberty and Jagermeister Bottle Koozies in 550 Paracord

I've now figured out a pattern for Liberty/Sigg and Jager bottles!  I've made the Jager bottle in a foliage color, but I prefer the koozie in the black 550 paracord.  A person wanted me to make a Sigg bottle cover and the 32 oz. Liberty bottle is pretty much the same size.  The bottle koozies/holders are made from one continuous piece of mil spec paracord.  I have also added a draw string that can be adjusted with a nice loop on one side with knots and the plastic clip on the other side.

I had first seen the Liberty bottles at REI and they have really nice art work on them.  I have recently discovered that Sportsman's Warehouse is now carrying the Liberty bottles!  They are made in the USA of recycled aluminum.