Another Style of Bolt Action Pen...

Introducing the Bolt Action Tec Pen 

(A Great Father's Day or Graduation Gift!)

Here you get the "coolness" of the bolt action click mechanism in a techie style pen. 

This chrome Tec Pen has a soft touch stylus on the end.

Pen without the stylus is available as well upon request.

This pen is available in

• chrome (shown)
• 24K
• antique brass
• gun metal

 Bolt Action Detail

 Clip and Stylus Tip Detail featuring small screws for a technical look.

This pen was created in a black, gray, and white clay pattern layering each color then slicing the clay  and stacking the sections in a different direction and then rolling into a new clay sheet.

In a blue velveteen presentation box.  

This is a pen with more girth than a slimline.

FREEDOM PEN

THE FREEDOM PEN

\

I made this Virage Chrome Fountain Pen with 1776 engraved in the cap. I used a blue & pearl white mix, red, and pearl white.  I sold this pen to an individual in the Air Force who gave it to a friend. He contacted me to commission another pen for himself and told me he named the one he bought the "Freedom Pen."  I LOVE THAT!  So, I asked him if I could name the stars & stripes pens that I make "Freedom Pens." 

(He said yes.)

The following pen is the Freedom Pen I made for him.  This pen is straight blue (not blue & pearl white mixed), white (not pearl white), and red.  I used smaller stars and more of them and I "waved" the red & white stripes (so she will forever wave...get it??)

Anyhoo...I created the blue cap first and then added thinly sliced stars and rolled them smooth.  I did the same with the pen barrel...I created the red then added thin stripes and rolled until smooth.  I contoured the clay mostly before adding the white clay, but then finished it out after the stars and stripes were added.  It required a little extra sanding to get it completely smooth, but I think it turned out quite nice! 

Looking forward to coming up with a slightly different pattern for the next one!

Actual Fired Bullet Cartridge Pens

THIS YEAR'S CONVERSATION PIECE...

The brass shell that is ejected from a gun 

when the bullet is fired is now a PEN! 

The Mini -- a .30 caliber shell:

...and the Big Boy...a .50 Caliber (Machine Gun) shell:

You can see where the hammer hit the shell when it was fired (center fired bullet) 

and the size with the quarter reference.

The brass shell is not polished...it is left as is after firing and the clay component

replaces the area where the bullet was.

The pen twists at the band between the shell and the clay component.

The mini .30 caliber features a rose gold tip and takes mini ink refills

and the .50 caliber features a 24K gold tip and takes Cross(TM) style refills.

Love these!  

Great gift for the hunter, outdoorsman, gun enthusiast, marksman, military personnel, 

Defender of the 2nd Amendment, etc.

(I may keep the purple one!)

HALLOWEEN is Around the Corner

Halloween is just around the corner!

I don't make a huge production of Halloween at my house anymore, but I still get a kick out of the costumes and decorations available and seeing people who do decorate and dress up.  

With some of these items I'm making, I might  even "dress up" at work this year!   

These may be the least expensive Halloween costumes EVER!! 

So, a little glow in the dark clay (or other clay) and a little mica powder or inka gold in a few colors, a hair pin or two, a bit of cord, a bead or two, an ear wire or two...and VOILA!  Halloween Costume!!!   MMMWWWAAAHAAAHAAAAAHAAAA

Vampire Hunter Trophy Earring - Vampire Tooth

Glow in the Dark Clay with red clay blood drips on gum metal fish hook ear wires.  

A single earring with the vampire's tooth as the Hunter's keepsake for the kill!

Horn Hair Clips and Horn Hair Pins

Bobby Pins and Alligator Hair Clips make dressing up easy peasy!

 Werewolf Hunter Trophy Necklace - Werewolf Tooth

Instantly become very scary as you display your werewolf slaying talents around your neck!

My First Silver Piece!

I have been playing again!

Introducing...my first silver piece... 

[ insert drum roll here]

This is silver clay...meaning this piece is .999 pure silver after firing.  This will not bake in the oven to cure...it requires a kiln or torch firing.  I think I will play some more with this awesome medium!

I cut out the shape, added some texture, and I created a bale on the back...

After firing, it was cleaned, and oxidized (the black in the recessed portion of the pattern) and then polished.  It's not perfect...but it isn't too bad for my first piece!

I strung it on 3 leather cords (symbolism), added a clasp, and voila!  

My very own one of a kind cross necklace!  I'm so excited!

Pure silver is softer than Sterling Silver because Sterling is an alloy (it contains other metals...copper, etc.). Alloys are stronger/harder than pure silver...BUT pure silver won't tarnish like Sterling (because of the other metals in it).

I can't wait to make some more goodies in silver!

The New FAVORITE!

My New FAVORITE Pen!

This is the Nouveau Sceptre Ball Point Pen designed by David Broadwell.

I made this pen for a customer and it is a beautiful pen...the photos do not do it justice!

This particular pen is finished in 22K Gold & Rhodium and the blue mix of clay looks so pretty with both finishes.  I am planning to make one for myself - but in a different clay color.  

This pen also comes in a 22K Gold & Black TN (titanium) finish.

It is a twist pen (twists at the end cap) and uses Parker-style refills.  You can definitely tell there is a pen in your hand (it weighs in more than the plastic bic), but it is balanced nicely.

Stretch Rings

Adjustable Stretch Rings

Turquoise, blue,  black & white clay

 These rings consist of a clay medallion surrounded by crystals. The upper is metal.

Black,  Gold & Green Clay Mix

The stretch portion of the ring consists of elongated, curved beads for comfort.

Mock Turquoise Clay Stome

Beige, Copper & Black Clay Mix

Silver Plated Rings

Non-Adjustable Fashion Rings

Clay Adorned - some with Swarovski Crystals.

Size 6.5 or size 8 in most cases.

Oh My Goodness!

Oh my goodness...it has been WAY too long since I've posted anything here on the blog.  It has been a great time since Christmas (with the new addition of the niece and nephew to the family), and it has been a stressful time (at work and with some home repairs).
I haven't done as much with the clay as I had planned over the winter months, but some badly needed organization has been completed and am hopefully going to be in a position to do a lot of creating this spring...and hopefully get the home repairs completed at the same time!  Whew!  A busy time!

Easter has come and gone...I hope everyone had a blessed day yesterday! It's still not very warm here where we are, but the grass is getting green, so hopefully it won't be long before it feels like Easter!

So, in honor of Easter, here's one of the creations I was able to complete this past weekend...

 

This bunny is all clay except for the whiskers (fishing line) and the eyes (glass beads).  Oh...and a few toothpick halves inserted to secure his head and each ear.  Other than that...solid clay.  This bunny was made with pearl white clay, which I probably will not do again.  The pearl clays are so soft that it is more difficult to retain the shape while holding the figure and keeping fingerprints out of the clay.  

I only gloss coated select parts of the bunny - the pink portion of the ears, the cheeks, the nose, the teeth, the egg, and the paw pads. 

He is my first animal "sculpture."  Not too bad for numero uno.  But I do (as will always) see areas that could use improvement. 

Instructions:  He was simply built by shaping the body first, adding the feet/legs and shaping the toes, then adding the "arms" and shaping the fingers.  Then separately the head was formed, the cheeks added and the teeth.  The triangular pink nose was attached and then the strip above the nose to round out his forehead.  The eyes were added by sinking glass seed beads into the clay and then fishing line inserted into the cheeks.  The whiskers were removed for curing and then glued back into the holes once hardened.  The head was then attached to the body using a piece of toothpick to serve as a small "spine."  The ears were formed with pink clay added and shaped before being gently attached to the head, again, using pieces of toothpicks for support.  And finally the tail.  The tail is the same white/glitter clay the cheeks are made with. Many tiny holes were made in the tail before attaching.  The hands were pulled away from his body enough to insert the clay egg.  As he is pretty thick, I baked him for more than an hour -- keeping watch on his ears as they are thinner and didn't want  them to burn.  You could cure the body partially then complete the curing once the head is attached. Just watch your series of bake times based on the thickness of the head.

I"m debating on what do make next -- a frog, turtle, maybe a mouse??  Stay tuned...

STYLUS KEY CHAIN - LONG VERSION

 STYLUS KEY CHAIN

With a plug to store the stylus in your phone jack.

 This kit normally comes with a much shorter shaft.  I swapped the shorter tube with a tube meant for a slimline pen so that it would be longer and easier to hold.  

The rubber tip mimicks your finger, but allows you to be more precise in what you are selecting on your smartphone (or tablet, etc.) as it is smaller than your finger.

This particular one features a mix of turquoise and pearl white clay and a chrome finish.  

Also available in 24K Gold plating.

Adjustable Bracelet & Ring Set

Adjustable Bracelet and Ring Set

This adjustable bracelet features a clay medallion in the center with surrounding crystals, a rope design bangle you simply squeeze to adjust to size.  The matching adjustable, stretch ring also has a clay medallion in the center surrounded by crystals.  The medallion portion of the ring is metal while the stretch portion of the ring consists of plastic elongated beads.
Metal components: Silver plated pewter.

Not the best photo of the ring, bu t it shows the size on a finger.

It is wise, when making items such as these, to use a clay bonder (bake & bond, liquid clay, etc.) so the clay medallion adheres to the metal blank.  When cured, try to pop off the clay medallion (with your finders, don't use a knife or anything that will mar the clay).  If it pops off easily, simply use a strong, permanent glue to fasten it back on.  Better you, as the creator, test it and adhere it permanently, than the customer.  Do this prior to applying the gloss coat.

Cloisonne Look Pendant

CLOISONNE LOOK BUTTERFLY PENDANT

This is the same butterfly used to make the hair clips but made into a pendant.  This piece lends to all kinds of color combinations and crystal colors.  These are unique and perfect size for a not too large pendant.  This one features Aquamarine Swarovski Crystals, turquoise and teal clay along with yellow, bronze and copper clay colors.  A large hole bail completes the pendant and allows for use on cording.  This pendant is being sold as a pendant only for jewelry making supply.   The crystals in this piece are a size ss12.

The image below shows the butterfly before adding the clay, crystals, and clear coat.

Penlight Key Ring

PENLIGHT KEY RING

This heavy duty key ring is attached to a penlight.  

Always have a light at your fingertips when searching for the keyhole 

or need to see to make your way.  

This one is covered in a mix of black and copper clay for a smooth pattern on the barrel.  

It features a textured rope design on each end and 

a textured rope in black clay that wraps around the barrel.  

Six Swarovski crystals give it a touch of bling. 

A simple turn of the key ring will turn the light on and off.

 This key ring is only available in a 24K gold finish.  

It accepts button batteries which are included.  

 Heavy Duty Ring keeps keys secure.

 24K Gold Finish Ring and light bezel

Volcano Swarovski Crystals feature complimentary mutli-colored bling with the copper and black clay mix used.  Features a rope design border and 3-D textured "rope" that wraps around the barrel of the key chain for a very unique, one-of-a-kind design.  

Fan / Light Pulls

Fan/Light Pulls!

These are a great home decor addition!  

They come in a chrome or a 24K gold finish.  

They can be made in a set of 2 or 3...or a single pull.  

It's a subtle change in your decor, but a nice one!