New Decorative Trinket Bowl with Kaleidoscope Design

Introducing our New Decorative Trinket Bowl handmade from polymer clay.  As you can see above I've created a new Kaleidoscope cane for the design in pink and brown hues that once together creates this beautiful floral design.

Playing with Polymer Clay this Weekend! Ring Dishes, Beads and More

This weekend I spent it entirely playing with the clay, weekends like this are so few and far between!

I created some new Ring Dishes, as seen above to replace my collection as they are proving very popular, I really enjoy experimenting with the inks to create different effects. 

Turquoise Ring Dish at Lottie Of London Jewellery

I also created some new beads for a new Chunky Statement Necklace here

New Polymer clay beads for Autumn

The colours are created from another colour mixing adventure, this time in more muted Autumn tones for the coming season.

I also had an order to complete for despatch my Leopard Print Statement Ring and created some new studs with a new cane I created recently.

Leopard Print Rings and Stud Earrings with my new cane

Klimt Polymer Clay Canes - Weekend Catch Up

Here is a new cane I created playing around with an idea in my head, this is actually the first cane I've ever made myself from my own idea, I've used the skills I've learnt from previous caning techniques to combine this one.

Polymer Clay Canes by Lottie Of London Jewellery

Its very simple but I really like it it reminds me of a fish tank looking through at all the tiny orange fishes.

Polymer Clay Water Cane

UPDATE 05/10/2017 CraftArtEdu has unfortunately now closed, if you would like more information on this cane here is Claire Wallis Facebook Page.

Earlier this week I took some time out to make this Water Cane, I purchased the tutorial for this cane from CraftArtEdu designed by Claire Wallis.

Its a fairly simple tutorial for those that have experience in caning involving skinner blends.

Polymer clay water cane in the making

You get two tutorials for the price, the water cane and another thunderbolt cane which I have yet to try.

Water cane & thunderbolt cane tutorial by Claire Wallis On CraftArtEdu

Here's what I made with my finished cane, I did have to stretch the cane a little when applying them to my pendants but I'm delighted with the effect.

My polymer clay pendants using the water cane tutorial

I think this cane could look great in an array of colours I'm thinking maybe red next time.

You can see more of my claying with CraftArtEdu's tutorials here

• Turquoise Kaleidoscope Trinket Bowl
• Polymer Clay Kaleidoscope Cane
• CraftArtEdu Review for Polymer Clay Tutorials Part 1
• CraftArtEdu Polymer Clay Tutorial Part 2 The Results

New Turquoise Kaleidoscope Trinket Bowl

Here's another new addition to my ever growing Ring & Trinket Bowl Collection.

I am in love with this one it reminds my of the beautiful tiles found in Turkish baths, in fact you may remember the design from an earlier post Polymer Clay Kaleidoscope Cane.

Polymer Clay Kaleidoscope Canes

Here's my work in progress each cane slice has to be careful placed to create the overall intricate pattern for the bowl. 

Work in progress creating my trinket dish

Just out of the oven and its looking good, once its cooled the bowl will be ready for some sanding, polishing with a little gold application on the trim and finished with a gloss varnish.

All ready my Turquoise Trinket Dish handmade from polymer clay by Lottie of London

All ready my Turquoise Trinket Dish handmade from polymer clay by Lottie of London

Never give up Millefiori Rose Polymer Clay Cane

Never Give Up!

That's my new motto, yesterday I set to work on a new pink millefiori rose polymer clay cane as my stock was getting low. 

Its been a while since I've been caning espeiscally my millefiori rose canes and it was a fail, not only did it turn out wrong but somehow I even got the colour wrong Oops.

Its not the best picture, but here it is...

Polymer Clay Millefiori Rose Cane hone wrong Oops

As you cane see I didn't even attempt to complete it as I didn't want to waster anymore clay on it, I was not a happy bunny that day.

So the following day I set about trying again and this time it went well the colour was just as I wanted and it turned out great, exactly what I need to replenish my stock.

Polymer Clay Millefiori Rose Cane Success!

So if at first you don't succeed Try, Try and Try Again

Polymer Clay Kaleidoscope Cane

Here's some new pendants and earrings I've made from my latest Kaleidoscope cane from my earlier posts a few weeks ago.

Polymer Clay Kaleidoscope Cane - Jewellery brooch & earrings a work in progress

I've also made this bird brooch too along with some smaller stud earrings, they all need finishing now with backs and varnishing.

Below you can see the original canes I made along with the sheet I created.  These canes were the result of a tutorial I purchased from the CraftArtEdu website by Julie Eakes.

Definitely a challenging tutorial but it was so worth it as I'm delighted with the results.

Polymer Clay Kaleidoscope Canes & Sheet

Here's some past blogposts on my Kaleidoscope Canes

CraftArtEdu Review for Polymer Clay Tutorials Part 1

CraftArtEdu Polymer Clay Tutorial Part 2 The Results

My Kalediscope Cane Needs Something More

Polymer Clay Leopard Print Jewellery

Animal print has been featured in quite a few fashion pieces this Autumn & Winter, now I've never been a lover of the animal print personally but thought I'd have a go at a leopard print cane and here it is...

My leopard print cane created from polymer clay

I was really happy with the results of the cane and decided to make a few sheets and some beads.

Bead making with my animal print polymer clay cane

The finished peices come up slightly darker than the orignal cane but I am delighted with the results  and created a few different jewellery pieces.  I'm definitely converted and I think these would look great with a simple black dress prefect for people like me who shy away from animal print but want to show a touch of their wild side.

Leopard Print Beaded Bracelet handmade from polymer clay

 

Leopard Print stud earrings and lentil earrings handmade from polymer clay

Leopard Print Beaded Necklace handmade from polymer clay

Leopard Print Ring handmade from polymer clay

I'm looking forward to trying out this cane in a variety of colours and even trying more animal print canes, now i just have to decide where to start next Tiger cane, Zebra print or Giraffe maybe!

Are you a lover of animal print?

Polymer Clay Ribbon Necklace Comission

I missed last weeks Handmade Monday as I was busy working on a commission.

It was a replica of my turquoise and orange ribbon necklace made last year, I really like the colours on this necklace as they are so vibrant and the kaleidoscope cane used is one of my favourites and reminds me that I really need to make more of these canes if different styles, a blog post for the future.

Turquoise & Orange Ribbon Necklace handmade from polymer clay by Lottie Of London

I also took the opportunity to finish off my Turquoise Rose Ribbon Necklace that has been waiting for completion for a while.

Turquoise Rose Ribbon Necklace handmade from polymer clay by Lottie Of London

Turquoise Rose Ribbon Necklace handmade from polymer clay by Lottie Of London

Well that's all my makes for this week, why not pop on over to Handmade Monday and check out more great crafter's over on Handmade Harbours Handmade Monday

Sea Urchin & Seashell Summer Beads & Jewellery

As we are enjoying our moment of sun over here in the UK, I haven't been doing much this weekend apart from trying to tan my legs, unfortunately without much success.

My Etsy shop has been doing very well since the beginning of July which has prompted me to get my clay out and make a couple of new pieces for the summer.

One of my favourite peices I made last year was my urchin themed necklaces, but this time I've decided to go a little bolder with the colour scheme.

 

Sea urchin beaded necklace handmade from polymer clay by Lottie Of London

As you can see from one of last years pieces, I kept to quite natural tones for my colour palette with white, mint green and a soft beige.

Urchin colour palette from Design Seeds

This time I've decided to go a little bolder with the colour theme.  I've used a palette created by Design Seeds, its a fabulous website offering a vast collection of beautiful colour palettes created from themes, nature and seasons and is definitely worth a look and its perfect for colour inspirations.




So here's my seashell cane using an assortment of the colours mixed and combined a create a cane that will provide the main theme for my beads.

Polymer clay seashell cane by Lottie Of London

Unfortunately I didn't quite mix up enough of the colours for the palette and so I will only be able to create a few pieces, but here's a selection of the beads made with plans to create a chunky urchin necklace, beaded thong necklace and bracelet.  As mentioned due the enjoying the weather the necklaces have yet to be put together.

Seahell & urchin themed beads by Lottie Of London

As I also recently started a collection of polymer clay rings and studs I decided to create some seashell themes for a summer collection.

Seashell ring and stud beads by Lottie Of London

I predict not much claying this week will be done, its quite diffucult claying in this heat as the clay can become quite soft and sticky if over worked, so I guess I'll have a little more time to tan my pasty legs.

This post is part of Handmade Monday don't forget to check out more great crafter's over on Handmade Harbours Handmade Monday

CraftArtEdu Polymer Clay Tutorial Part 2 The Results

In part one of my CraftArtEdu polymer clay review, I reviewed the tutoiral Have a Heart by Donna Kato as I created and learned how to make the polymer clay cane need to progress onto part 2 of the pendant.

My polymer clay cane for CraftArtEdu's tutorial Have a Heart

If you missed part one you can catch up here

Have a Heart Polymer Clay Tutorial by Donna Kato Review

Part two of the tutorial involved the creating of the heart pendant using your kaleidoscope cane created in part one, again I found the tutorial really easy to use and picked up more great tips/techniques on applying my cane to the pendant and creating the heart pendant itself.

So here are the finished results of the tutorial

My Have a Heart Polymer Clay Pendant, created using CraftArtEdu's Tutorial

My Have a Heart Polymer Clay Pendant, created using CraftArtEdu's Tutorial

And of course I just couldn't stop there, here are a few more pendants I created using the same cane and the tips I learnt from the tutorial.

Black & White Polymer Clay Pendant created with my kaleidoscope cane

Black & White Polymer Clay Square Pendant created with my kaleidoscope cane

Black & White Polymer Clay Lariat Necklace created with my kaleidoscope cane

Did you miss my post on digital tutorials here From the Craft Book to the PDF - Online Polymer Clay Tutorials.

This post is part of Handmade Monday don't forget to check out more great crafter's over on Handmade Harbours Handmade Monday

Polymer Clay Millefiori Rose Canes

Caning is my favorite of the polymer clay techniques, I've had some great results from caning and also its the technique I find the easiest to do.


My plan for this year is to cane more, although I have quite a collection of canes already, as you can see

My Millefiori Polymer Cane Stash

I guess I should also make plans to use some of the ones I have already, but I want to learn more advanced canes like the shape shifting and kaleidoscope canes,

For now though as Valentines Day is just around the corner I have decided to make some more Millefiori Rose Canes, I have quite a few already in pink, blue and lilac but for Valentines I wanted a vibrant red and burgundy.

I first learnt how to make these canes using this tutorial 3D Rose Cane by Sigal Simovich,I really like this cane as I find the finished result always differ slightly.

Building my millefiori rose cane

And here's my finished cane once filled with translucent clay and reduced, I think with the vibrant red I made the cane with the whiter edges along the outside and with the burgundy I done the reverse with the outer edges darker.

Finished Millefiori Rose Cane made from polymer clay in Vibrant Red

Finished Millefiori Rose Cane made from polymer clay in Burgundy shades

Now its time to start planning what to make with my lovely new canes.

Resources including more rose cane tutorials

1. 3D Rose Cane Tutorial by Sigal Simovich
2. Rose Cane by Cristalline
3. TrueLiegh Rose by Leigh Ross
4. Rosebud Cane by Tami Shvat

This post is part of Handmade Monday with Handmade Harbour why not pop on over for more crafty goodness.

Creating a Handcrafted Item of Jewellery ... Part One

Todays post is all about how I go about making my Ribbon Necklaces, its not a tutorial but an example of the time, care and attention I take in producing my work.

My Yellow Blossom Ribbon Necklace

Why ? After the recent copying fiasco between a well branded high street store and a designer brand and the mixed feelings raised on the subject, I felt that it was worthwhile showing how much time and effort I put into making and creating each of my jewellery pieces and for my existing customers to show how much care and pride I take in my work.

So for Part One....

9.00am Saturday morning, the old man is off playing SWTOR (a geek thing sorry) on the computer, this means I can get to work on my new ribbon necklace.  I gather all my pieces of scrap clay, the colours needed for mixing and my lilac rose canes made before Christmas.

Everything I need prepped and ready

I need to measure out the base of my beads from the scrap, I'm actually getting a lot better at working out my sizes now and have been making notes for focal jewellery pieces such as my ribbon necklace and millefiori oblate necklaces.

With the base beads prepared its time to prepare my colours for covering, making sure the colour combination is correct and the clay is of the thickness for covering each bead.

9.15am with the colours prepared and rolled its time to start covering each bead, at this point its important for me to make sure the sizing of each bead is correct before the application of the canes.

9.30am With the beads covered and ready for caning I place the beads in the fridge to cool as this will allow for better cane application and stop the bead from distorting and I can have a cup of tea....

Beads are ready for cane application

10.00am The beads are ready for the cane to be applied each bead is covered with various sized slices of my lilac rose cane.  Once each bead is covered its time to create the bead holes and shape the darker purple beads into oblates.

10.40am Bead have been prepared, shaped and are ready for cooking.

Beads are ready for cooking

11.10am Beads are out of the oven and cooling down I like to cool my beads in very cold water this really helps when using translucent clay as it will make the translucency clearer.

So until Part Two Next Week....
Continue To Part Two Now

On My Worktop

Heres whats on my worktop today....

I've been working on another oblate necklace, a new flame red/orange millefiori cane and two colour samples of aqua green/peacock green and turquoise, I fancy trying my hand at some kaleidescope and shapeshifting canes in these colours too.

A colour dilemma

I seem to be stuck a bit of a pink and blue colour rut with regards to my current millefiori canes, I seem to have amassed quite a few now and feel the need to expand my colour collection.

So my aim is to create some new colour millefiori canes and even try to experiment with my colour mixes. Here is my first attempt





Yes that is still a hint of a very pale blue but my main aim was to go for a champagne yellow tone and thought that a pale pastel blue would be an interesting colour combination. I like it but how it will reduce I'm not too sure, I didn't want to go too dark on the outer layers but as I have found out before with my canes this can mean they lose definition.

To make this cane I used a free tutorial from Sandie Weatherford - BeadyEyeBrat


Update Here is a sample bead I made, the flower is quite pale with the blue and the veins are barely visible on reduction but I like that its subtle

The premo test

And here is the offending bead, it only reminds me why I was happy with Kato I was so familiar with it and it worked well with fimo classic that it wouldn't burn hmmm

Testing out premo

I recently ran out of transparent kato, despite using fimo classic for my work I was looking to change over to kato for my cane work after reading some blogs on how much better it is for caning.
Well it would seem that over here in the UK there seems to be a shortage of kato at the moment something to do with supplier issues. So putting aside my wish to convert to Kato till a later date I need to find an alternative transparent clay for my current canon work.
Fimo transparent is now only supplied in small blocks, bit of a pain so I decided to try premo accents and while I was at ordered some premo small packs to see what it was like to cane with.
I hate it, to start it smells weird to me, quite a strong smell I felt, 2nd I can't run it through my pasta machine on setting 5 even 4 on occasions it kept sticking to my machine and lastly I didn't feel it was firm enough on forming the shape of my cane and on reduction some parts totally twisted. See below

New millefiori canes

Here's some new millefiori canes in yellow I'm working on expanding my floral canes in a wider variety of colours for both jewellery and beads.

Updates on previous Posts

Here's an update on my previous posts where pieces where not finished or complete.

Firstly my necklace to go with my new Irregular Choice Shoes here it is

I was thinking of making some floral beads with some polymer millefiori canes but I decided to go with keeping it simple in the end.


Another catch up was on the tutorial I had tried by River Valley Design, here are the sanded, buffed and polished finial pieces.

Well I still don't like the pieces and they will have to go into my bin of rejects, the reason I don't like it though is not because I have the wrong type of texture mould but because I don't like the colours from the alcohol inks.  The Blue/Yellow (the first pendant) is probably the better of the three, I'm afraid this may fall into my failed alcohol inks pile, I think I went over the top with the inks and used every colour I had, a lesson to be learnt.

But I now finally have some new texture plates by Walnut Hollow which seem more suited to the tutorial and I will putting to the test very soon.

Finally I have been teaching my daughter Amelie (age 8) a few clay techniques and here is what she has made

Her millefiroi cane is still sitting in the fridge waiting to be used on some beads :)