Bead Soup: Thinking

I have been thinking and looking at my soup. This is so out of my comfort zone I am currently stumped. I've sorted through goodies in my own stash but it feels like I am translating Chinese.

Got My Soup

I am participating in the seventh Bead Soup Blog Party sponsored by Lori Anderson. My partner is Carolyn Gebert from Buda, TX. I took a picture of the "bead soup" Carolyn sent to me. We are in the second reveal in April. This is the first post. I'm still at that point where I am going, "Look at this. And this. And this,too!"

New Biddy Bottles

I am working on my Biddy (bye-dee) Bottles and am having great fun using full spectrum colors without apology. Each figure is unique. Now, I need to step up my cane making to keep the colors and shapes evolving. Here are some images of this week's work. Three bottles, front and back of two Biddy Bottles.

I have descriptions of the historical and spiritual meanings of stones and crystals. I have several big lists I collected when I was a silver/goldsmith. I have always loved stones, gem and otherwise. Also, my brother was a lapidary expert. We always had tumblers full of stones/minerals running 24/7 when I was a child.

I discovered another listing recently, posted it on my FB page(www.facebook.com/billi.rothove) for future reference. I am going to merge the lists and see how they compare. Why? Because I have an inventory of stones from my years of traditional jewelry making days and would love to use them in a meaningful way. The Biddy Bottles give me a vehicle to incorporate these stones since I want to develop them into good karma kinds of symbols/bottles.

Funky Biddy Bottles

After the holidays and putting together new inventory for my galleries, my thought, "What's next?" When I used left-over canes to make some strange blooms for the garden switch plates, I had to recognize that I had thoroughly enjoyed making them. I, also, had accumulated multiple mini bottles that my son has been saving for me. Hark, inspiration!

These bottles are the first. One is titled "Fuchsia Blue Funk" and the other " Stroppel Wasabi Leaf".

This is the front and back of this bottle. Note the earrings, I splurged with sterling silver. I did some research on magical dolls in the Voudoun culture, generally known as poppets. I discovered that Bridie Dolls were created for good luck, fertility, protection, etc. for new brides by the the bride's house slaves. Through time the dolls were referred to as Biddy Dolls. I love that they are good magic. I have translated the concept to become "Biddy Bottles" that I am making for good magic. I'm considering stones, crystals and herbs to put inside the bottles. But I have only finished the first bottle. Now, for the next!

New year polymer

The holidays glommed on to my life for 6 weeks. Argh. It was a wonderful season and I have been working in my studio as often as possible. The week before Christmas was the week I made friends and family gifts. What a push. I'm sharing some images of the new polymer I have been making. I'm just today finishing the palette of polymer canes from gift making and switching over to Valentine's insanity of red and hearts!!

Here is the accumulated items using the soon to be retired canes.

These are mini vases. They are 3 1/2" tall.

I gave Mom a triple switch plate and decided to keep a single for me.

This is a true scrap cane project. It's an experiment of texture and layers of color.

2012 Ornament Blog Hop

I have been making ornaments since Halloween! I found a box of glass ornaments at a garage sale. Brought them home and have actually rummaged through my own stash of Christmas decorations to make more. They are all polymer clay. I hope you enjoy my journey. I can't wait to see what all the other artists have made. I'll be posting everyone's links as soon as the list is distributed. Stay tuned...

I am busy making miniature ornaments for my mother's little tree that she displays in her bedroom. I'm having fun trying to stay within the "mini" aspect of this little project. The naked ornaments are 1" in diameter. They look dull because they have not been baked or finished. I am posting this today in preparation for the annual ornament blog hop that will begin December 4, also, my 60th birthday! Anyway my Dec. 4 post will share my entries in the blog hop and all the links of all the other artist's ornaments.

Head on over to see the rest of the festive decorations created by jewelry designers and bead makers. Happy Holidays! Humblebeads Treasures Found Song Beads Viki O'Dell Sue Beads Modern Nature Studio Diane Hawkey Suburban Girl Studio Jen Judd Rocks Ellie's Bijoux Island Girl's Insights Life By The Seat Of My Pants Too Aquarius Shelley Graham Turner Artfully Ornamental Charis Designs Jewelry Harrison Hollow Designs Silver Nik Nats Bead Soup Mix Toodles and Binks Bead Recipes Play Sculpt Live BeeTree by M.E. Billi RS Rothe A Half-Baked Notion

Polymer Clay First Switch plates

I started experimenting with plastic switch plates and polymer clay veneers last month. One of the gallery owners, in Gatlinburg, liked the idea of switch plates when I mentioned to her what I was working on in my studio. I have been taking advantage of free tutorials I find on the internet about polymer clay techniques. I have been learning to make new surface treatments and patterns for the flat surfaces on the switch plates.

This is the first triple slot switch plate I have made. The detail technique that creates the high relief texture is a new technique for me. I learned to make a slice of clay thick enough to serve as a support for the center of each switch plate while they baked. Good lesson for me.

The two single switch plates, each with a monochromatic layered or tiered color surface, is another new technique. I really like it. I'm experimenting with various colors to find dramatic, bold color combinations in the clay "sandwiches" that I make, to create the layered or tiered look. It's a white sheet of clay sandwiched between two contrasting colors. That sandwich is rolled through the pasta machine at different thicknesses, torn and layered on the surface of the switch plate. The tutorial called it a "faux watercolor" technique. This is a surface treatment I can see using and I'm having great fun playing with the color...polymer clay is like art crack. :-)