New Orbits – Faux Raku Polymer Clay Focal Bead Necklace [Gallery]
“Cindy, you always send us all scurrying back to our clay areas with new ideas to try. There’s just no end to possibilities here, such fun!” ~Joyce-M
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As you may have noticed from today’s featured Gallery post, as well from previous ones (i.e. May 19th Dangle Bangles is another example of a recent Gallery article, these photo spreads are here to provide you guys with creative ideas and inspiration.
Please use the comment section below, to discuss the items presented… or to let me know what other projects / techniques you would like to see and learn more about.
New Orbits Necklace: Inspired by the planetary look of this purple Faux Raku focal bead, suspended on a Copper Headpin axis (flame dipped), I decided to take this necklace where no woman has gone before…
Sorry for the twist on the Star Trek theme. Just couldn’t resist!
Any way, I gave my Out-of-this-World necklace a bit of a space theme, using fresh water pearl asteroids, plus purple and blue shell moons orbiting through the colorful Milky Way of SoftFlex Trios Wire and Sodalite Blue Denim Gemstone Chip meteors.
Worn as a choker, this galaxy inspired jewelry has a handcrafted copper clasp, with matching chain and chandelier links.
This necklace is adjustable from 15.5" (39.5 cm) to 16.5" (42 cm).
The copper wire wrapped Purple Planet Pendant hangs a 1.5" (4 cm) under a copper moon bead.
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Want to chat about today’s post? That’s what the comment section below is for. Scroll Down… We’d love to hear from you!
Or... if you would like to request a topic for a future post, here is the link to do that… PcT Suggestion Box
Cindy, this necklace is charming and unique, and I’d certainly vote that it be added to the tut list.
Used to love to use the transparent fish line to string beads with spaces. Blends into your skin, and from a distance, it looks like the clay beads are stuck on your skin.
If you carefully match the color of the beads to your skin tone, it can take twenty years off your face! A great focal point.
Cindy, I vote for a tutorial on this bead. Anyone else?
@Suzanne C: The Faux Raku technique I used to create the focal bead for this pendant is already filmed and waiting for you in the library back issues (Vol-014). The link by name will take you to the page with more info.
@Suzanne C: The Volume 14 tutorials are some of the best ever! They were chosen for the 1st Bead Giveaway. People sent in some gorgeous examples of their work, all based on the 4 tutorials from Vol-014. Take a look at the Bead Contest Entry Photos, and read some of the posts if you haven’t already. It’s very inspiring to see everyone’s beautiful beads, and read about how they made the tutes their own!
This is a really unique design, Cindy. I love the colors you combined and the faux raku bead is really beautiful.
I bought my soft flex trios from my local bead shop. Normally they sell them one color on a spool but this lady gives you three colors on the spool enough for 3 necklaces and I think I paid $9.00.
Very unique necklace, Cindy. I love that it has some movement (axis). Awesome!
Love the Star Trek theme — funny girl! I love your Faux Raku bead, and the pretty colors. I”m going to have to look at the tutorial again to remember how to make it, though. I can’t quite see how you made this bead. It doesn’t look like the regular raku, but it does look like the crackle raku — without the crackle. Is that what it is? Rolled-smooth crackle raku??
Anyway, this is quite a funky piece here; there sure is a lotta wild stuff going on! The “axis” pendant is a smart idea, adding extra interest to a round bead. All of your wire work is beautiful – the chandelier links, clasp, and did you make the chain, too? It all matches so well. I’d really like to get my hands on some of the SoftFlex Trios wire, but I can’t bring myself to pay regular price online. I wish they had these sets at Michael’s or JoAnn’s so I could use a 40% off coupon. I’ll just keep checking — they’re bound to get some eventually. (Or maybe I’ll find an online sale…) Thanks for another fun gallery post!
Thanks guys! I wasn’t really intending on doing a tutorial on this necklace. Like many of the Gallery posts, it is more a way to show you what I’ve made using a variety of the techniques you’ve learned… to give you inspiration. These Gallery posts also give you some jewelry pricing benchmarks to use as references. The values that I come up with for my the jewerly are based on research I do at Etsy and other comparable sites.
Glad you all liked the fun space theme. I have always been on my own planet, so I might as well make jewelry to celebrate that! ;-)
@Phaedrakat: You are right about the raku bead being a little different than the others I’ve made. The raku sheet I used on this one wasn’t cured for as quite long as what I normally do… which gave a softer looking (less deep) crackle effect.
I love the etherial quality of this beautiful piece.
What a unique necklace! Every time I see a jewelry item you’ve made in the gallery i am amazed at you creativity and the possibilities with polymer clay — put them both together and wow!
I love the pendant on the axis. Would love to learn how to do that. I find I take time to wrap wire. I have just got myself some soft flex trios wire. Want to try it out.
@Cheryl Hodges: Hi Cheryl, where did you buy your SoftFlex Trios?
I am crazy about your gallery photos and articles. This necklace is magnificent. I do think I would like it much better on my daughters smoother much younger looking neck than mine. This is just my personal opinion. I would definitely be up to a tutorial on several aspects. The possibilities are endless just like Cindy’s creativity. Thank you for sharing with us Cindy. Doug your photos are the cherry a top the whipped cream. Once again the perfect match up for this wonderful team. I will be doing the Friday count down soon. Run Zebra run!!!
Have another great weekend Lietz family.
Uuuuugggs to all, Peggy
p.s. Cindy were you a writer in your first life?????????????
Beautiful! I love it, and would totally buy it if I had the cash. The colours are just wonderful.
Cindy, you are so artistically clever! That necklace is stunning! Great Job!
What a unique necklace, I love it. I particularly like the stringing in orbits.