Body Ice Jewelry

Rheann's Fairy

2011-12-03T11:21:00.001-05:00

My niece, Rheann, is also very artistic. Last year I gave her a book on how to draw wizards and fairies. She recently sent me this wonderful drawing of a fairy she created. I love it!

I like how she captured the folds of the dress and the color transitiions from white to yellow to purple and pink. The face is wonderful too. She didn't end in just drawing the fairy, she also gave the fairy a home at the base of a tree.

Keep on drawing Rheann! I will look forward to more of your artwork.

Love you, Aunt Cheryl

Oxidized Copper Wire Wrapped Pendant

2011-11-30T08:07:00.001-05:00

This is another piece I created from the clay artwork from my Cruella DeVille jewelry pieces. It has been wrapped with solid copper and tiny copper rounds. I oxidized the copper to give it an old appearance. The pendant hangs on a hand dyed silk ribbon.

P.S.: I miss my Tiggy. :'(

R.I.P. Tiggy

2011-11-28T13:48:00.001-05:00

Today, I lost my friend. My cat, Tiggy, has been put to rest. This was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. My heart is broken and I can't stop crying. I know in my heart that this was best for him, but at the same time I feel like I should have kept him with us.

Tiggy was 19 years old. We almost lost him a year ago. Due to old age, his kidneys were not working very well. I have been giving him fluids just about every day to flush his kidneys and keep him going. I have tube fed him when he didn't want to eat. Because of this, I have enjoyed him for more than another year.

Recently, Tiggy stopped eating anything and this week he suddenly lost his vision. He couldn't see or hear and he was totally in the dark; lost. Tiggy was such a good cat, even though he couldn't see or hear, he searched for his cat box and always went where he was supposed to.

He will be severely missed. Now, he is the Grand Puba of kitty heaven! Poppy will take care of him now. R.I.P. Tiggy you were my best friend.

Mokume Gane Clay Copper Wire Wrapped Pendant

2011-11-27T20:00:00.001-05:00

This is another copper wire wrapped mokume gane clay pendant that I created recently. I just received these wonderful hand dyed silk ribbons that can be tied around the neck. The pendant can be worn as a choker or longer as a necklace. The ribbon has the same colors in it as the pendant (seafoam green, baby blue and off-white).

This is my cat, Tiger, he is over 19 years old. Just this week he has lost his vision. I have been struggling with the fact that we must put him to rest. He is my baby and this is just an impossible task for me to bear. My heart hurts so much. I will miss him, my little shadow. And I will miss his kisses and snuggles.

Copper Wire Wrapped Jewelry - Pendant

2011-11-20T19:07:00.001-05:00

I love the look of this copper wire wrapped pendant. I have named it vortex because it reminds me of a tornado. Once I completed the wire wrapping, I then created a rosary style chain for it.

Yesterday was the last of my shows for this season, so now I can concentrate on the holidays. I went to a holiday craft fair at the local high school and visited a couple of my friends who were showing there. I also bought a wonderful loaf of crusty bread and fresh made sausage. I have to confess, my husband and I ate the whole loaf of bread. So yummmmy. I also bought some homemade potpourri to make my house smell especially yummy for the holiday.

Another Copper Wire Wrapped Pendant

2011-11-19T17:29:00.000-05:00

This is another copper wire wrapped pendant that I had made recently. This one was sold today at my trunk show at the Dutch Reformed Church in Hyde Park. Thank you to everyone who came to visit me today. I had a great time.

Best wishes to all for a Happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Copper Wire Wrapped Clay Necklace

2011-11-18T22:36:00.000-05:00

I have finally finished photographing and tagging my finished clay pieces. This is one of my newest pendants that I have wrapped in copper wire. The pendant hangs on a hand dyed silk ribbon that ties in the back. The pendant could be worn as a choker or a longer length for a v-neck shirt or blouse. This is one of my favorite pieces.

I have my car all packed and ready to go to my trunk show tomorrow. Come and visit me at the Dutch Reformed Church off Route 9 in Hyde Park, NY. http://www.bodyice.net/

Dragon Skin - Clay and Sterling Silver Earrings

2011-11-17T07:53:00.000-05:00

I refer to these earrings as "Dragon Skin" because I created a sheet of mokume gane clay artwork that resembles dragon skin in the colors of green, purple and black. The clay has a shimmery pearl effect. The featured teardrop pieces were cut from the sheet of clay artwork, sanded and coated with resin. I made the earwires and the connections that run through the clay pieces with solid sterling silver. The beads at the top are black glass crystals that add to the shimmery fun of these dangly earrings. The picture appears to have a couple of bubbles on the clay teardrops, but they are simply reflections on the shiny surface of the resin coated clay.

These unique earrings will be available for purchase at my trunk show this weekend. Come visit me at the Dutch Reformed Church off Route 9 in Hyde Park, NY.

Metal artists use a method called mokume gane where they layer different metals to create patterns. Clay artists have borrowed this method and we are able to create very unique artwork using this ancient technique. Layers of different colors of clay are manipulated and then shaved to use in our artwork.

Cruella DeVille Necklace

2011-11-16T20:31:00.000-05:00

Last January, I posted a couple of blogs about my Cruella DeVille clay pieces and a design that I was working on for one of my necklaces. Well, the necklace was finished a few months back and I am just now posting the finished picture for you to see. So, here it is.. all finished and ready to be sold at my trunk show this weekend.

The necklace is copper wire wrapped artwork in clay and light blue glass pearls. Its a sister to this piece which was sold at its premier show in the spring:

I use the term sister because all of the clay pieces that are incorporated into the wire wrapped necklaces are from the same clay artwork.

You gotta like large pieces that are very unique and artsy to love these necklaces. So, if you are a more conservative type, we make jewelry for all tastes! So check out our website at http://www.bodyice.net/.

Getting Ready

2011-11-15T08:17:00.000-05:00

Greetings,

While everyone is gearing up for the Thanksgiving Holiday, I am busy getting ready for my trunk show at the Dutch Reformed Church in Hyde Park this Saturday. All of my artwork needs to be photographed, numbered and priced before I will put them out for sale.

I enjoy getting out in the public and helping everyone pick out that special gift for the person they love. I get to see the other artisans and customers I have made friends with over the years once more. I especially will like to see my friend Fran who has had some hardships these past couple of years. I hope I will find all is well for her. If you are in the area this Saturday, stop by and visit me at my table.

This is a necklace and bracelet set my daughter, Denielle, made with green pearls and black satin glass. Very lovely on the skin.

Voltaic - Handcrafted Earrings

2011-11-10T07:52:00.000-05:00

If electricity could be seen, I would imagine that it might look something like these earrings.

These earrings are made from clay Natashia cabochons. Natashia beads are usually made with scrap clay of diferent colors, the clay is swirled to some degree and then cut to create artistic mirror images on each of the beads. Cabochons are cut stones, or in this case clay, that have not been drilled into beads.

The clay was cured, sanded with many grades of wet sandpaper and then buffed on a soft wheel to a satin shine. When I determine how I will use the cabochons, I then either wrap them or drill them as needed. In this case, I drilled a single hole at the top of each cabochon and then created a sculpted ear wire. The ear wire was then wrapped together with a small copper round with tiny gauge wire to finish each earring.

The earrings measure 2 inches long and are 1/2 inch wide. Very very light on the ears. I hope you like them!

Contact me if you wish to purchase these earrings at $16.00. Or, come see my artwork at the Dutch Reformed Church, Route 9, Hyde Park, NY on November 19th. http://www.bodyice.net/

Aigaios - A new clay and wire necklace.

2011-11-09T07:58:00.000-05:00

Aigaios was the God of violent sea storms and the ally of the Titans. The Aegean Sea was named after him. The art clay in this piece certainly resembles the torment of ocean seas and if you look carefully you might even see a face or figure in the structure of the piece. The two distinctive swirls representing water funnels and the white representing the froths of the oceans seas that are created from such violent sea storms. Afterwards, the sun shines brilliantly (as in the bright yellow Swarovsky crystals) above and all comes to a calm after the storm.

I first had to create the abstract art work in a sheet of clay before I could cut, cure and coat the central piece of this necklace in resin. I then started work on creating a frame for the pendant which I wove and wrapped with the clay piece in solid copper. I added a cluster of yellow Swarovsky crystals which give the pendant sparkle. I then created the chain from solid copper wire in a rosary pattern with small copper rounds and tube shaped beads of yellow, white and green, the colors of the pendant. And, finally, I created a copper hook from the wire to finish off the piece.

The pendant of this necklace measures 2 and ½ inches wide and is 1 and ½ inches long from the top of the bail. The chain measures 20 and 3/4 inches and has an extension chain for another inch making the total length of the chain 21 and 3/4 inches long. The chain can be shortened by removing one inch links as needed.

This piece will be available for purchase at the Dutch Reformed Church off Route 9 in Hyde Park, NY on November 19th. Come and visit me there. http://www.bodyice.net/

A New Art to Wear Necklace

2011-11-08T08:11:00.000-05:00

Greetings, I have been very busy helping my daughter get her new home together. Mostly building a new kitchen for her. I also love to do tile work. Anyway, here is a new necklace that I created in clay and copper.

Hopefully, I can get back to business working on my jewelry, blogs, shops and whatever else needs to be done for my artwork. If you like my creations, I will be at the Dutch Reformed Church off Route 9 in Hyde Park, New York on November 19th. Come and visit me there. Or, you can see more of my work at http://www.bodyice.net/. Thanks.

Mokume Gane wrapped in Sterling

2011-05-15T18:44:00.000-04:00

This is a pretty pendant that I made with polymer clay using a mokume gane technique. Layers of clay are imprinted and manipulated and then slices are taken to get these great designs in the clay. After curing the clay, much sanding, and a resin coating, I then made a sterling silver frame and wrapped the clay piece with finer sterling silver wire. I accented the clay piece with gun metal grey hematite stones. I like the shape and colors of this piece and I think the piece is rather unique. The next decision is whether to oxidize the silver, but, I like the way it looks now. So I might leave it alone. I still need to create the necklace yet.

Violet Polymer Clay Earrings

2011-03-12T15:43:00.000-05:00

I have made these pretty earrings with polymer clay canes, glass pearls and sterling silver. They are now available for purchase. Check out my Etsy listings (see below) or my website http://www.bodyice.net/ while they are still available for purchase.

Posting New Pieces

2011-03-12T11:08:00.001-05:00

I finally completed all of the tax returns I had to do and today I am working on getting some of my newest pieces listed on my website's shop at http://www.bodyice.net/. I have also decided to list a few pieces on Etsy, just for some extra exposure. Our Etsy shop still exists at http://www.bodyice.etsy.com/.

I have been busy exploring new jewelry techniques and have not spent much time promoting my pieces for sale. This is not my favorite thing to do as I am a jewelry artist and not a website designer. I am sure many other artists feel the same way. However, one could continue to create beautiful works of art, but nobody would enjoy them if the artist didn't display his or her work for public viewing. I need to get my work out there for you all to see. And, besides, I also need to support my passion. So, check out my website to see all of our available pieces for sale. I appreciate your taking the time to join me here at this blog.

Hand Crafted Clay Lentil Beads Wrapped in Copper with Genuine Amethyst Stones

Sterling Silver Wrapped Hyperstene Stone

2011-03-10T21:43:00.000-05:00

This is another one of my favorite pieces. I have taken this beautiful hyperstene stone that shimmers in the light and wrapped it in .925 sterling silver lace. The necklace also features a sterling silver oak leaf. Pictures just don't capture the way this stone shimmers. For more information on this piece, click on the picture while its still available for purchase. http://www.bodyice.net/

Sterling Silver Wrapped African Green Opal

2011-03-09T21:46:00.000-05:00

This is a beautiful African Green Opal that I have created a heart shaped .925 sterling silver frame for and wrapped with the tiniest sterling silver wire. The netting was done with a needlelace technique. This pendant comes on a silver glass sand seed chain of your choice of length. Click on the picture for a full description in our shop at www.bodyice.net/jewelry while it is still available for purchase.

I'VE BEEN SICK

2011-03-02T20:01:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I haven't contributed to my blog recently. This has been the result of my being sick for two weeks, and its tax time. I have been gathering my records and getting our returns ready for last year. I hate preparing tax returns!

I also love to draw and decided that I would give a try to doing some pen and ink on polymer clay. This is my first attempt and it came out okay although I will work more on the technique. I'm thinking I will put this pendant on a black cord with some plain black polymer clay disk beads for a simple choker. I was inspired to draw a koi fish from tattoos. I figured that many people get koi fish tattoos and, while I love the artwork of tattoos, I'm not sure what I would want permanently on my skin. So, this was my alternative. A removable tattoo style pendant!

Anyway, I will continue to work on the technique and figure out what works best for me.

Thanks for joining me on my exploration of jewelry design and techniques.

Check out our website at http://www.bodyice.net/ for our available pieces. We are multi-media jewelry designers and artists so we create with many different materials and techniques. You never know what we will create.

GEEEZ Another Snow Storm

2011-02-01T10:12:00.000-05:00

My son's girlfriend, Allisa, took this picture this morning while he was driving me in to work.

Oxidized Necklace

2011-01-30T12:16:00.000-05:00

I have oxidized the necklace as I said I wanted. I think it makes the clay pieces and pearls stand out better. So which version do you like better?

Finished Necklace for the Cruella DeVille Series

2011-01-28T14:27:00.000-05:00

Well, here is one of the finished necklaces. I think I will oxidize this one to take the shine off the copper and tone it down a bit. It will give this necklace an aged look and make the clay and pearls stand out more. I will post a picture of the oxidized necklace when I have finished. Then, you can tell me which version you like more.

For this particular necklace, I have made it to fit like a collar. So I have also made extra chain to be able to provide a perfect custom fit for the person who will be wearing it.

How to Care For and Clean Your Copper Jewelry

2011-01-25T20:51:00.000-05:00

While copper jewelry has recently enjoyed a new life in the marketplace, man has been creating copper jewelry for many centuries. Today, the price of gold has skyrocketed so high that many designers are looking for a more affordable material. Copper too, has gone up in price but it still allows artisans to create wonderful unique designs at an affordable price for the buyer. As an artisan and designer, I love to create jewelry with copper. It is a wonderful metal to work with and it has an earthy appearance.

Some people are afraid that copper will cause green marks on the skin. To understand the nature of copper, you must first understand that copper develops its patina from exposure to gases and moisture in the air and from your skin. It is this reaction that could cause a greenish mark. However, if you wash your copper jewelry with mild soap and water, rinse and pat dry, you should not have any problems with it leaving marks on your skin. I have personally worn my copper rings for days without having any problems.

As I said before, without cleaning, copper will develop a nice patina and darken to a warm brown color from general exposure to gases and moisture it reacts with. When you wear my copper jewelry, this patina will wear off exposed surface areas and remain in the nooks and crannies giving the jewelry a special character. If you wear your copper jewelry on a regular basis, you will probably not have to do anything at all to keep it looking beautiful.

Should you decide not to wear your jewelry on a regular basis however, you should place your copper jewelry in a zip lock baggie with a piece of regular chalkboard chalk or silica gel packet. The chalk or silica will absorb any moisture in the bag and, of course, the bag will prevent any further moisture from reaching the copper.

If you love the shiny rose gold color of freshly cleaned copper you should clean it when you notice it is becoming dingy. To clean your copper jewelry, prepare a mixture of lemon juice and a dash of salt. Then, you can either (i) dip a rag or soft cloth in the lemon juice mixture and gently wipe or rub your jewelry clean by hand or (ii) place your jewelry directly in the lemon juice solution and swirl until clean. Since lemon juice has an acid base, you should be careful with soft stones or pearls. When your jewelry is clean, you should then rinse and pat dry with a soft dry towel.

If the artist intentionally oxidized or gave your copper jewelry an aged look, I would suggest that you simply wear your piece regularly or wash it with soap and water. If you were to use the lemon juice method, it will most probably remove the intended oxidation and completely change the appearance of your art piece. You can also clean your copper jewelry with a jeweler’s polishing cloth.

NOTE: I would not recommend that you clean your copper jewelry with a toothbrush or silver polish because they may scratch and damage your jewelry. Take care not to damage soft stones and pearls.

I hope this article was helpful to you. Check out my website www.bodyice.net or my available pieces at www.bodyice.net/jewelry. Thanks for stopping by!

Cruella DeVille Series

2011-01-25T08:31:00.000-05:00

I was primarily working on the design I showed you before and created a frame for the pendant. I felt that the frame was going to be too much and broke them down into two individual pieces. The first one is the pendant design that I will create a necklace for and the other will be a chained choker. I am still working on both of them and will post the finished pieces later.

I usually start off with a design drawing or an idea in my head and then I create as I go. These jewelry pieces are created with a polymer clay art sheet (Cruella DeVille Series) that is cut into jewelry components and coated with a high gloss resin. I then incorporate them into jewelry designs. These pieces are done in solid copper wire with light blue glass pearls.

Preliminary Necklace Design

2011-01-21T16:31:00.000-05:00

Ok, so here is the drawing of the necklace design I came up with. Now I will work it into a 3D necklace with wire and, I don't know, pearls or stones or something. We will see.. I generally create as I go. I will keep you posted as to its progress.

Another Snow Removal Day!

2011-01-21T14:50:00.000-05:00

Well, of course, I did not get out of my driveway for the last snow and ice episode and I had to borrow my son's Subaru. I'm gonna get me one of those!! The little beast plowed right through a snow bank from a dead stop at the top of my driveway. Today, we had to remove another 5 inches to get out for work. But I eventually made it in. Ah, well, winter is just one of the enjoyable features of living in New York.

I think I'm gonna draw out a design plan for one of my Cruella deVille clay pieces and get started on a new necklace for that line. In case you don't remember what my Cruella deVille clay pieces are, here are the pics again.

I love the colors of these pieces, they are bright and cheery! Just what I need in the middle of this awful winter. I will keep you posted on its progress.

Jewelry Progress and More Snow and Ice for New York

2011-01-19T08:39:00.000-05:00

Well, Monday was Martin Luther King Day and I spent it making a copper chain necklace with focal beads that I made with extruded polymer clay. I make all of my own chain and links. I have also wire wrapped some small pressed glass leaves and hematite stones. It still needs some finishing touches but it is almost finished and will be ready for my shop soon.

I have also created a pendant wrapped and coiled with copper and another clay bead creation of mine. I decided I wanted to make some small matching beads to hang from the two side loops and then make a simple black cord for this piece.

This is the clay bangle that I last wrote about. As I said, I think it came out cute. They can only get better from here. lol

I find it difficult to stop my creative process to take pictures of my work for you all to see. It takes time to take a "good" photo, download it into the computer, adjust the size, etc. and then post it. So, I truly apologize for this shortcoming.

Yesterday we got more snow and freezing rain and I had to scrape my driveway before work. Today, my driveway is a sheet of ice. We will see if I get out for work. This is going to be a long winter!

If you like my jewelry designs, check out www.bodyice.net/jewelry for my available pieces. Thanks.

Back on Track

2011-01-06T22:12:00.000-05:00

I know, I've not been blogging like I should have been. The holidays demanded all of my time; cleaning, decorating, baking, shopping and entertaining (Oh, also working). But, now I am back on track and a great big Happy New Year to everyone! I have just started working with my clay and will be posting some new creations within the next few days. Promise!

There are just so many things I want to accomplish and so many ideas in my mind. Where do I start? I guess I just have to pick one and go from there.

I have just completed a polymer clay bangle but I still need to buff it before it gets posted for view. I always show my newest creations to my jewelry guru friend (she knows who she is) to get her reactions to my pieces. She wasn't too excited with it so I guess you have to be a country girl to appreciate this one! You will see soon. So check back. I think it came out rather cute and will look great with jeans.

Lots of thoughts still running through my head. The possibilities are endless. Love to create Art to Wear!

New Copper and Clay Necklace

2010-12-09T19:50:00.000-05:00

This necklace was just finished today. I created the clay pendant drop with a sheet of art done in clay in a Mokume Gane technique. The clay is layered and then sliced through to get the pattern. Then I cut pieces from the clay, cure it, sand it and cover it with a coat of resin.

Working with solid copper wire, I sculpted the base for the pendant, hammered it to give it strength and just kept working with the wire in a free style method to get a desired look. The pendant is coiled with tiny guage copper wire and wrapped with hematite stones and copper beads. The large stone in the middle is carved black stone. Then, I created the links of the chain and made the copper necklace and a hook for closure. The chain was then tumbled to harden the copper links. I then oxidize the chain which, I think, brings the color of the hematite up into the necklace.

I think it came out pretty cool.

Wire Wrapped Rose Quartz Necklaces

2010-12-08T22:09:00.000-05:00

Here are two necklaces created with rose quartz stones and wrapped in .925 sterling silver. The pendant above was netted with fine sterling silver wire in a needle lace technique. The sterling silver flower dangles freely. This piece is available at http://bodyice.net/jewelry/product.php?productid=17782&cat=261&page=1. The necklace below was wire wrapped with .925 sterling silver as well. This piece was recently sold and is no longer available but I love the heart shaped caged stone.

The rose quartz stone is considered the stone of love and marriage. The stone is said to give vibrations of love for the wearer and gives inner peace and enhances the feeling of self-worth.

Clay Diva Pins

2010-12-06T21:53:00.000-05:00

These scarf pins were created with face canes of clay, sheets of artwork in clay and various other canes of clay. I had a lot of fun making them and I think they came out real cute. The pins are one-of-a-kind and the face cane is limited. Therefore, I can only make a certain number of jewelry pieces with a specific face. Canes are created the same way tubes of cookie dough with pictures in the middle are made. The canes are sliced and incorporated into artistic pieces.

Clay, Hematite Stones and Sterling Silver

2010-12-05T12:53:00.004-05:00

I recently finished this necklace and had a lot of fun making it. The larger swirled beads are hand created with clay, tumbled and hand buffed. They were strung together with hematite stones of gun metal gray. The pendant part of the necklace was made with a sheet of artwork done in clay, cut, hand sanded and resin coated. I then wrapped the clay in .925 sterling silver and wove the wire into a unique bail. Continuing, I surrounded the clay pendant in more hematite stones and completed the pendant with two dangles at the bottom.

Wallkill High School

2010-11-13T20:34:00.002-05:00

Body Ice Jewelry is attending the Harvest Festival Fine Arts and Craft Show at the Wallkill High School, Route 208, Wallkill, New York. Today and tomorrow. Many thanks to our continued followers! We hope to see you there.

We will also be at the Dutch Reformed Church on Saturday, November 20th, Route 9, Hyde Park, New York.

Jewelry Components for Cruella DeVille Series

2010-09-17T15:20:00.004-04:00

Well, here they are, the new art clay jewelry components that will be incorporated into my Cruella DeVille Jewelry Series. I have just coated them with resin and will have to wait a few days to be sure that they have cured and are hard enough to handle. I have some really cool ideas about how I will put these pieces together which will create some funky new artsy styles.

I can't wait to get started!

Working in my Studio Today

2010-09-16T22:03:00.002-04:00

I had finished a new face cane in polymer clay and decided to create a fun new sheet of artwork with it. So, I've been busy in my art studio today making new clay components for my future jewelry projects. It takes a while to decide how to cut each piece and then process the components to get them ready for a resin coating. They are now ready for the resin, which is what I will do in the morning tomorrow. I have decided that the jewelry created with these pieces will be my Cruella DeVille Series. I chose this name because the face cane that has been incorporated into the artwork reminds me of the mean Cruella DeVille of the 1001 Dalmations Disney movie.

I have yet to take pictures of the new components and will do so after they have been coated with resin. I will post them tomorrow for all to see then. So, come back tomorrow to see what I have done. I have some really cool plans for these and can't wait to get started with them.

In the meantime, I will be working on a few new pieces of jewelry using some clay beads that I had previously made to have them ready for our upcoming show. Body Ice will be at the Big Moose Lodge in Hyde Park, NY this Saturday for a trunk show. All of our pieces will be on display there.

Come back tomorrow to see my new clay components for the Cruella DeVille Series.

Vacation

2010-09-14T11:39:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone,

I have taken a break from my art work and took my Pontiac GTO to the Adirondack Nationals at Lake George, New York. What a wonderful time we had! Many of our friends were there with us and that makes it even more fun. My other love is to go GTO'n with my friends. Unfortuneately, my husband broke his wrist just before we were leaving which placed a black cloud over the trip. Turns out he needs to have surgery to fix it. So, that is what we have to take care of this week.

Here is a picture of the car event at Lake George.

Bead Making

2010-08-28T07:54:00.003-04:00

I figured that I really like working with clay and wire, so why not create my own unique beads and cabs into my artwork. The satisfaction of knowing that my jewelry pieces are completely made by me is worth the work. And, my jewelry pieces are very very different than the jewelry makers that are simply buying components from the same distributors and putting them together.

I have been exploring different ways to make clay beads and the best way to finish them. I have come to the conclusion that for the small round beads, you can simply tumble them and then buff them. But, for cabs and other shaped beads, hand sanding is the way to go.

There are so many possibilities to create fun looks with clay and I think there are many good things to come from it. If you like my art work, follow this blog or you can follow Body Ice Jewelry on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Poughkeepsie-NY/bodyice-jewelry/117115924975790?ref=sgm to get periodic discount codes for purchases at www.bodyice.net/jewelry.

Here is a picture of the second piece of the Calypso Series. I am still working on it and don't know quite yet how I will finish the necklace. We will see...

NEW BUTTERFLY WING EARRINGS

2010-08-25T19:18:00.004-04:00

Here are a couple of new pairs of earrings that I created from polymer clay butterfly wing cane. They have been sanded, buffed and given a gloss finish then hung upon hand formed sterling rings and sterling french style ear wires. I love the look of these earrings. Very unique and colorful. Follow BodyIce on Facebook to get periodic discount codes when shopping at http://www.bodyice.net/.

BRAND NEW CALYPSO SIERES

2010-08-24T17:03:00.002-04:00

Here is the premiere set to my Calypso Series of art to wear jewelry. They are all created from a single sheet of clay art work. Cut, sanded and given a high gloss finish. Then incorporated into art jewelry. http://bodyice.net/jewelry/product.php?productid=17815&cat=286&page=1

New Posting - Mia Earrings

2010-08-23T21:26:00.004-04:00

I'm not feeling too well today, so I figured I would just post a pair of earrings that I had completed and needed to tag and post to the shop.

Here is a picture of these wonderful clay earrings that I just posted to the BodyIce store. Here is the link. http://bodyice.net/jewelry/product.php?productid=17814&cat=285&page=1

Store Postings

2010-08-22T21:01:00.003-04:00

Nixie and Beautiful Butterfly are now available at our on-line store. www.bodyice.net/jewelry Click on the pictures for links to each item in the shop.

August 22 - Finished Pieces

2010-08-22T13:08:00.004-04:00

Hi everybody,

I was supposed to be working the Lomotion Corvette Car Show today, but, it is raining and the show has been postponed until next Sunday.

So, I finished these two pieces. I actually made the clay pendant a long time ago but needed to sand and finish it. I wrapped and sculpted sterling silver wire around the finished clay piece to create this pretty pendant. I will be giving the pendant to her to be made into a beautiful necklace. Who knows how it will turn out. It is always a surprise to see what she comes up with.

The earrings were made with clay beads that Denielle created. I have suspended them on brass pins and made brass frames to go around them. They have a kind of mod look to them. Well, off to work on more goodies.

New Colorful Clay Cabs

2010-08-21T21:08:00.005-04:00

In my spare time, I have been working on making some new colorful clay cabochons which I plan to wrap and incorporate into pendants and earrings. The fall fashion color forecast is calling for bright reds, yellows and sea green colors and I have made these pieces to coordinate with the fashion trend. Here is a picture of some of these unfinished pieces. They have all been sanded and coated with resin.

Who knows what they will look like when they have been wrapped and beaded into beautiful jewelry pieces. When I work on pieces, especially with wire work, I just seem to create as I go.

Beautiful Butterfly

2010-08-18T16:30:00.007-04:00

Ok, so I told you that I wanted to finish my butterfly piece. I did and completed earrings and a bracelet to go with it. They really turned out great. I actually wore the necklace to work to see if the piece would sit nicely around the neck as I had planned for. And, guess what, it is a dream to wear. It is surprisingly very light and comfortable for a rather chunky piece. But, chunky is in in the fashion accessory world so this beautiful butterfly should be just the piece to finish off someone's outfit. The gray color of the piece makes it very sophisticated. Oooh big word for a big piece.

Here is what I did... I first drew out the butterfly pattern that I wanted on paper, then I cut and hand sculpted each little wire of the butterfly and inlaid them into the clay. The clay was then processed, sanded and a coat of resin was applied. Each gray bead was also formed by hand from clay, processed, tumbled and then buffed. I then hand wrapped each bead with brass and completed the necklace with hand sculpted brass hook and rings. I didn't want to take away from the butterfly pendant so I kept the rest of the necklace simple in the same colors.

Butterflies are so beautiful! I still have to post this set for sale at a later date on www.bodyice.net/jewelry

Just Takin It Easy

2010-08-17T21:38:00.004-04:00

After such a long and tiring day, I really want to be in the art studio working on my latest butterfly creation. But, I am so very tired. So, I think I will take it easy tonight.

I work during the day, so my creative time is in the evenings and weekends.

The last few days, I have been working on making some polymer clay beads to match my butterfly pendant piece. I have finished tumbling and buffing them and am now wire wrapping them with brass to create the necklace. Sorry, you can't see it until it is finished. Pictures to come later. :)

Lightning Rod ProMotions is hosting a car show this Sunday, August 22nd, at Lomotion, Route 44, Poughkeepsie, NY. Here is a piece for the event! .925 sterling silver hand wrapped glass art beads with adorable detachable red and blue car charms!

Here is the link for this bracelet. http://bodyice.net/jewelry/product.php?productid=17634&cat=258&page=1 So charming!! You can add your own sterling silver charms to this piece!

Butterfly Wing Earrings

2010-08-16T22:51:00.002-04:00

These earrings were created using a butterfly cane of polymer clay. I sliced off a couple of wings and pinched them to create the base of each earring. They were hand sanded and polished and then I wrapped them in solid copper. I love the combination of the copper with these colors. I love the look of these earrings. Beautiful!

My Latest Creations

2010-08-15T11:48:00.006-04:00

I have just finished this set of sterling silver jewelry with a hand crafted mica shift pendant and earrings of polymer clay. For more details you could check out my website at http://www.bodyice.net/.

Here is a direct link for this piece http://bodyice.net/jewelry/home.php?cat=265

More to come... here is a new necklace created with solid copper and polymer clay. It will be posted for sale real soon!

GRAND OPENING OF NEW ON-LINE JEWELRY STUDIO

2010-06-07T13:37:00.002-04:00

We have been working really hard to get our new artisan jewelry studio on the internet up and running. We have most of our available pieces in our new on-line jewelry shop. Check out our new website www.bodyice.net and/or visit our jewelry shop by clicking the jewelry tab or by visiting www.bodyice.net/jewelry.

For a limited time only we are having an on-line GRAND OPENING SALE so don't miss it. Sale will end June 30, 2010.

BODY ICE JEWELRY will be at the Hyde Park, New York "Car Show and Street Fair" on July 18th. So, please stop by and say hello!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T14:59:00.001-05:00

We wish all of our friends and relatives a very happy holiday season!!
Stay happy... HO, HO, HO :)

Jewelry by SmoochyAngels

2009-07-31T15:08:00.005-04:00

A husband and wife team of jewelry artisans (Ari and Lisa) located in Israel create unique pieces, hand carved and hammered from silver, gold, iron and brass. They say, "we believe that we are all born with a creative spirit, and that it is an energy that feeds the soul."

Ari got his inspiration for this piece while on one of his diving expeditions. The stones appear to be embedded in a hand carved coral setting. This ring was made from sterling silver and 14k gold caps set with citrine, peridot, garnet and blue topaz.

I love this Medusa inspired ring for its sea like tentacle. It appears that she could be sleeping.
If you are looking for one of a kind art to wear, check out their shop at http://www.smoochyangels.etsy.com/

Permission Obtained; Copyrights belong to the Artist.

Blog Renovation

2009-07-29T09:52:00.002-04:00

I am reconnecting with my blog and have given it a face lift. I hope you like its new look. There is a lot more work to be done here. For those of you whom I had a previous link to, I am sorry, during the process I have lost my previous settings. Please contact me if you would like a reciprocal link.

Since I have been busily renovating my home, it seemed appropriate to make changes to my websites. This site is driven specifically towards the creation of jewelry, some mine and some created by others. If this is of interest to you, please become a follower and together we will explore the art of jewelry making.

I have also created a new blog entitled "Cheryl’s Muse" where I will be exploring the world of art. Being a creative person, I love all forms of art, so check it out at http://www.cherylsmuse.blogspot.com

Free Giveway Check It Out

2009-02-23T22:02:00.003-05:00

THE MUDDY MOOSE BATH BOUTIQUE is having a free giveaway that will run to midnight February 28th, 2009. Check it out and get your chance to win! http://themuddymoose.blogspot.com/

New Website Under Construction

2009-01-07T21:10:00.004-05:00

I am just starting to list our jewelry designs for sale at our new website http://www.bodyice.net/. Please keep checking there because it is currently under construction and I will continue to post more of our pieces there. We still have a shop on Etsy http://www.bodyice.etsy.com/. Here is a picture some of my newest ring designs. There will be many more to come, so check it out. Happy New Year everyone!

SRAJD

2008-04-16T17:44:00.002-04:00

I just received notice that I have been accepted by the SRAJD (Self Representing Artist Jewelry Designers). This is my official logo.

Hyde Park, NY Trunk Show 4/19/08

2008-04-06T21:33:00.002-04:00

Body Ice Jewelry will be exhibiting at the Dutch Reformed Church in Hyde Park, NY on Saturday, April 19th for their Spring fundraiser craft show. If you are a local NY resident, come join me there between 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. It would be nice to meet you.

Cheryl

Lampworked Glass Flower Pendants

2008-04-01T17:22:00.003-04:00

From thought, to paper, to create into wearable art. I had these pretty lampworked glass flowers and needed to create something with them that was desirable but not too flashy. So, I played around with the glass beads and then sketched out an idea. I came up with these pretty pendants, entirely a Body Ice design. Let me know what you think.

Copper Chain Maille Bracelet

2008-03-27T21:28:00.002-04:00

This is one of my most recent creations with copper wire. I have created each and every link of this bracelet and then entwined them into copper nuggets. The glass beads were hand made in the torch of http://www.calumeydesigns.etsy.com/. I created the toggle and loop closure from heavy wire as well. I just love the color of these beads. Reminds me of caramel candy.

JET TEAM HUNT

2008-02-14T19:29:00.005-05:00

The Jewelry on Etsy Street Team (JET) is getting ready for their next fabulous Treasure Hunt.

...you just follow the clues leading through our member's shops until you find our...

POT 'O GOLD

The contest begins Friday, March 14 at noon (EST). So, mark the date and get ready for a fun-filled hunt. What's in the pot you ask????
How about we let our friend the leprechaun tell you...

"Hey there etsy lovers...how about I make a big POT of corned beef and cabbage???? Heh Heh...don't think many of you would search for that in our contest. The truth is...maybe I will brew a batch of green beer in the POT. No...you won't search for that either.

For now I can tell you this......all the "Lucky" etsians who correctly complete the hunt will be winners of a One Day Shopping Spree at select members' shops. And, you don't even have to be Irish!

In addition, the first 20 correct entries, submitted by residents in the United States, will receive a handmade pair of pierced earrings created by a member of the team. Due to the complex legal systems in many different countries, the earring giveaway cannot be extended to etsy members outside of the United States.

I'll tell you a little secret, (don't tell anyone), the team is also going to have "Instant Winners" throughout the hunt. But, you have to keep checking the hunt promo thread to win!! So...I'll see you at the hunt."

Take a look in the JET TEAM Shop and you will see examples of the beautiful artisan treasures created by our members.

Keep your eyes open for our contest thread in the Etsy Forums on March 14th at noon. It will be in the Promotions section. All the hunt rules will be posted there.

Don't forget.....Contest begins at noon on March 14, 2008. (etsy time)

Links:
Jet Team Shop:
http://jetteam.etsy.com/
Etsy Forums: http://www.etsy.com/forums_main.php
Promotion Section: http://www.etsy.com/forums_board.php?forum_id=6

Waiting for My New Art Materials

2008-02-12T21:16:00.000-05:00

Now that I have perfected my clay pendants (no more bubbles, whoo hoo!), I have ordered new art materials to create more art jewelry. I am eagerly waiting for my package to arrive. I am going to make glass art pendants next. I love to create and make jewelry using different mediums. Then, utilizing these different mediums, I plan to merge my styles to create really unique art. So, stay tuned for more!

Be true to yourself.. let the art flow from within. :)

JET TEAM SAINT PATTY'S DAY HUNT

2008-02-07T21:30:00.000-05:00

The Jewelry on Etsy Street Team (JET) is getting ready for their next fabulous jewelry give away.
Our JET TEAM hunt will begin Friday March 14 at noon and end Saturday, March 15 at 5:00 pm. (etsy time) The contest will provide clues leading you through member's shops...and ending when you find the POT 'O GOLD.
What's in the pot you ask????
Take a look in our Jet Team Shop on etsy http://jetteam.etsy.com to see what might be in our St. Patrick's Day winner's POT 'O GOLD.
The team is also going to have Instant Winners throughout the contest. You have to keep checking the promo thread to win those prizes!!
Keep your eyes open for the Jet Team Treasure Hunt thread in the Etsy Promotions Forums at noon on March 14, 2008.

When Wire Meets Clay

2008-02-03T22:22:00.000-05:00

I was in a creative mood this weekend. I created three new pendants. Each have been made with a polymer clay stamping technique, brushed with metallic powder, baked and then glazed. I pushed an 18 gauge wire through each prior to baking, making each into a bead. Then, I used the herringbone weave technique to wrap each in wire.

Packaging and Shipping Your Handmade Jewelry

2008-01-28T14:37:00.000-05:00

You work hard to make sure your hand crafted jewelry is unique or made of the best quality materials. You work hard to promote and sell your hand crafted jewelry because it is an extension of you, the artist. When it comes time to present your beautifully crafted work to your customer through the mail, it is really important to make sure that it is presented in a visually appealing, professional and businesslike manner. In addition, the packaging must be appropriate for the piece that is being shipped.

Creating, promoting and selling your work is "hard work," but your job is not done. Your customer has made a purchase of your artwork and is eagerly awaiting his or her package to arrive. Presentation of your piece through the mail is just as important as making the piece. There are several ways to present your artwork through the mail. Here is what we, at Body Ice Jewelry, like to do:

It is very important to print out labels (using a printer or typewriter) for your packages that are an extension of your business. I use the big 3 ½ x 5 inch Avery shipping labels No. 5168. The big labels that I use allows me to insert my return information at the top in small print and in the middle of the label in a larger font I place the purchaser’s address information. One big label looks very professional and neat. Hand written address information is too sloppy and is NOT professional. You say, how do I make a label that is an extension of my business? Well, you could have a small graphic that matches your banner or business cards (nothing large or gaudy). Or, on my return label information, I make sure that my Etsy website address is on the label. I do this for more than one reason. First, to confirm that the package is from my shop to the customer. But, secondly, it is free advertising! I don’t know how many times I have gone to the post office and had someone ask me about my jewelry just because of the website address. This gives me another opportunity to give out my business cards and promote more business. (Speaking about business cards, you should also include several of them in the package being sent so that your customer can give them to friends or family who admire his or her purchase [More Promoting].)

Next, of course, the packaging itself must be neat and appropriate for the piece being sent. For my small clay pendants that are not easily damaged, I generally use small brown bubble mailer envelopes. I neatly wrap each piece in tissue paper, insert it into a small zip plastic envelope and I have neatly labeled the item with its name. For my larger items or breakable pieces, I have purchased Indestructo Mailers that are crushproof up to 200 lbs. (You can purchase them through a company that I use called Uline at 1-800-295-5510 or http://www.uline.com. They come flat for storage and you just fold them up when you need them. They sell all kinds of mailing supplies. Another good company to get your mailing supplies from is Cornell Robbins at 1-888-251-1297.) My jewelry pieces are individually wrapped in bubble wrap, placed in a white jewelry box (which I also get at Uline), and then placed into the indestructo mailer with foam peanuts around the white jewelery box. My jewelry pieces are not going to budge, no matter how much bumping its package takes. It is so important that your product be protected from breakage because, don’t forget, that customer of yours is "waiting eagerly" for their jewelry to arrive. Take this advice from me, I learned through one customer, who was very very nice. I had sent one of my sterling silver wrapped pieces with a delicate dragonfly in the mail, boxed in a white jewelry box and placed in a bubble mailer, thinking the white jewelry box would protect the piece. When my customer had received her jewelry, her package had been greatly damaged. The white jewelry box inside was crushed on one side. But, thankfully, the jewelry item (which could not be replaced - one of its kind) was unharmed. I almost had an unhappy customer. She just loves her jewelry piece and still thanks me when we meet in the forums. Lesson Learned - make sure your item is protected. Also, when you mail your item.. make sure they mark it "Fragile."

Finally, I always include a copy of the Etsy order, which shows a picture of the item they purchased and how much they paid for the item. Then, I almost always send a brief note about the item they purchased. Things like what materials the piece was made from, how to take care of the jewelry they purchased or perhaps a little folklore about the stone that it was made from. This note should probably be hand written, but my handwriting is so bad, I generally type it in script but sign it with my handwritten signature. This brings the customer closer to you as the artist. Then, as a little incentive to purchase from us again, a small gift or a coupon with a discount for their next purchase is always a good thing.

Going that extra mile to make sure your artwork is presented professionally and that it gets to your customer without damage could make the difference between getting that future sale or reference from your purchaser. Your customer will know that you are a serious artisan and business person and that your shop will be around in the future.

P.S.: Always confirm with your customer when you have shipped their item. Communication is also extremely important. In today’s world there are so many rip off artists out there, your customer needs to know that you are aware of his or her purchase and that they are being well taken care of. :)

If you like my article and have some additional advice to give on packaging and shipping jewelry, please add them in the comments section. These are just how we do it at Body Ice Jewelry.

Wire Wrapped Dragonfly Pendant

2008-01-16T20:40:00.000-05:00

Here is one of my favorite pendants. I have created it with many feet of .925 sterling silver wire. A pretty pink beach glass is the center of the piece. Tiny Hills Tribe silver beads create a gardenlike effect and to finish off the piece I added a sterling silver dragonfly. Take a peek in the Body Ice Jewelry shop at Etsy for more like it. www.bodyice.etsy.com

Marilyn Monroe

2008-01-15T20:22:00.000-05:00

I love the way this polymer clay pendant of Marilyn Monroe came out. Very retro.

More Valentines

2008-01-12T17:20:00.000-05:00

Here are two adorable children's valentine pendants that I have just created with pearl polymer clay. Again, having so much fun making these!

I am still experimenting with the very best way to make these. I find that no matter how careful I am, they come out of the oven with the smallest bubbles in the finish. If you look very closely, they are there.. I'm a perfectionist and this bugs me. They are still very cute and someone will appreciate them just the same.

Vintage Valentines

2008-01-09T22:47:00.000-05:00

Since I have perfected my polymer clay pendants, I have been having so much fun making them. These are just a few of my Valentines Day pendants. I have used vintage valentine photos and created these really cute pendants. Since polymer clay is not heavy, these pendants are comfortable to wear. Perfect for children as well.

Natures Art Pendants

2008-01-06T20:21:00.000-05:00

As part of my new year resolution, I promise to post to my blog at least once a week. :)

In my other hobby, I am a car nut and run

several local car cruises. I have a website at http://www.lightningrodpromotions.com/. This is what caused me to pursue jewelry making. I was seeking a method where I could place classic car photos onto polymer clay. This was about a year ago and my first attempts didn't go very far. One thing leading to another, I pursued other jewelry media as I am also a life long artist and crafter. The Lightning Rod ProMotions' logo is my work. I really love working with wire and have mastered advanced wire wrapping techniques. But, now, I have been playing with various techniques of photo transfers onto clay and am only now getting the results I have been looking for. After trying different combinations of products, my photo pendants are finally looking good enough to sell. Additionally, I have had the good fortune to befriend a wonderful amateur photographer whose photographs are amazing. He has allowed me to use any of his photos for my pendants. He also sells his prints at Etsy at http://www.romeojo0213.etsy.com/ these are just a few of his wonderful photos.

Body Ice Jewelry

2007-07-01T21:39:00.001-04:00

Currently, many of our jewelry pieces are listed on our site at Etsy, http://www.bodyice.etsy.com/. The pictures appearing here on this blog are not all of our listings. If you click on any of these pictures, you will be brought over to our site there. This is a brand new blog and we plan to add articles about jewelry and other artisans. So, stay tuned!