Crafts by Chris » Crafts by Chris

FIMO spring 2012 color recipes and a blast from the past

Chris — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:50:49 +0000

Yes! The FIMO Spring 2012 color recipes are done and the ebook is now available right here on my website and in my Etsy shop.

The blast from the past happened a couple of days ago on Facebook. My friend Amy posted a couple photos….

…These were the beads that were on the cover of of Polymer Cafe magazine (Summer 2006). The frenzy refers to the good ole days of eBay when bidding frenzies often occurred.

friday finds – Roberta Warshaw

Chris — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:05:27 +0000

Friday finds is pretty self explanatory. I’ll be sharing things that catch my eye.

This week is the work of Roberta Warshaw. Roberta’s background in graphic design is evident in her polymer clay bead and jewelry designs. Her mix of texture, geometric shapes and crisp clean colors has a modern tribal look to it.

Click on any photo to see the product listing.

Visit Roberta’s Etsy shop, see more of her work on Flicker, and check out her blog here.

in the studio – getting ready to think pink

Chris — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:13:39 +0000

Yes, I’m getting ready to think pink. October is almost upon us which means it’s breast cancer awareness month. One of my Etsy teams, The Etsy Angels, raise funds for various causes throughout the year and every October we raise funds for breast cancer organizations. It takes on a new meaning this year as my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year and is now cancer free.

I like to have some new pink items each year for the think pink fundraising but hadn’t come up with anything until the other day. Don’t you just love it when inspiration hits? I made some beads several years ago for a group challenge based on a painting that was related to the challenge. This painting really spoke to me and because there is a connection between the painting and breast cancer awareness I’m going to revisit it.

What is the painting I’m talking about? I guess you’ll just have to wait and see what I’m up to.

in the studio – back to the basics

Chris — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:18:08 +0000

It’s back to the basics with a new line of polymer clay pendants, beads, jewelry, etc. that I’m currently working on. Often, less is more. Basic colors and shapes combined with simple lines give way to a crisp, clean look.

I decided to make the first pendant using the colors from this week’s color palette a week (CPAW).

I’m easing back into production work as I’ve been seriously slacking these past few months. Well, not really slacking…I have been working on color mixes for the polymer clay color recipe ebooks, things for From Polymer To Art magazine (the Orange Issue will be out soon) and the occasional bead here and there.

finally friday – work in progress

Chris — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:11:38 +0000

Well, yet another week has gotten away from me. I swear, time goes by faster every day. I have several projects on my to do list and in progress, but they aren’t good for show and tell. Things like getting my website set up beyond just a blog, a “creativity” project (that I’ll talk more about in the future), more polymer clay color recipe ebooks that some peeps are anxiously awaiting and a couple tutorials that people have asked for. As I find myself working more on these types of project that take large chunks of time, I have less time, if any for actually making beads. So I’m left feeling that I have nothing exciting to share with all of you. I guess that I need to think of other things to share…..

This week, I am working on a custom order and trying to squeeze time in for this week’s color palette a week project. The custom order is for large lipstick bead earrings. I work small. My tools are small. Working big has been a little bit frustrating. Of course, I’ve learned quite a bit…things that I would have done differently, were I to do it again.

Here’s the lipstick beads in progress…

And yes, I did say they are for earrings!

Here’s my button in progress…I still need to add the flower petals. It also has a wire shank on the back, which I didn’t take a photo of.

This is the inspiration fabric.

monday inspiration – peacock feather

Chris — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:47:26 +0000

This week’s color palette a week (CPAW) is inspired by the lovely peacock feather.

Speaking of color, the Premo fall/winter 2011-12 color recipe ebook should be listed by this evening or tomorrow morning. Kato color recipes are coming, but probably not until May. I have several projects in the works, some with deadlines that I need to get done first. I also need some play time in there, which will hopefully produce some new beads.

monday inspiration – fresh berries and cream

Chris — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:47:23 +0000

A yummy new color palette to start the week.

I’ve been lax in sharing some of the pretties from the Color Palette A Week Flickr group (CPAW), so let’s play catch up.

This is just a small sample, be sure to check them all out on the Flickr group.