I like it here, the weather is perfect…today!
This is the most amazing sky. The colors are almost unreal.
It seems as if you can reach out and touch these clouds.
So grateful to be here now!
Florida, lovely Florida!!
Author Archive for
16
Mar
12
Florida, lovely Florida!
I am in Florida visiting my parents. Sorry I haven’t been around lately. I have been having so much fun and I left almost immediately after Cabin Fever Clay Festival, so it was very hard to get a blog in.
Here is what I started before I left.
I miss you all.
Love and huge hugs,
Marie
I must say that I am thrilled with my classes at Cabin Fever. I am tired, but thrilled.
Judging by what my students did, the classes went very well.
These are creative vibrant women and they learned so fast.
These are from the AM class.
The top row second from left is a heart that is antiqued but not finished with Lumiere.
The two hearts in the bottom row on the right side that are neutral are what the hearts look like not having the antiquing or the Lumiere.
The others have been painted and finished all the way.
They did well didn’t they?
I was featured, well my goldfish in the Hoarders Closet were featured, along with other Etsy sellers and their products, in a blog by Mary and Kate from Reverie magazine.
Thank you, Mary and Kate, so much!!
You can read Reverie Magazine here: http://reveriemag.com/
Every thing for the bride, photographed with style, written with love, and all the latest for your Wedding Reverie.
And here is the blog post, where I and many lucky others, were featured on The Etsy Blog.
Handmade Weddings: Inspired by a City
http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/handmade-weddings-inspired-by-a-city/
Reverie Magazine is a quarterly online wedding magazine created in London, England. Mary and Kate hope to spread their love of wedding design and ideas to brides on both sides of the pond. The next issue of Reverie Magazine will go live on April 12; you can also find daily wedding inspiration on the Reverie Blog.
I learned about my fish and weddings too, from Kate.
The tables would be decorated with wild flowers in mismatched glass bottles, and each guest’s place setting would have spiky air plants and napkins tied with gold fish charms (said by the ancient Greeks to enhance good luck in marriage and relationships).
Thank you again Mary and Kate! and thank you Etsy for having them blog!!
15
Feb
12
Getting ready to go!
I am getting ready to go to CFCF. I have so much to do before 5 am tomorrow morning.
The question is, am I going to get it all done?
08
Feb
12
Another bib necklace!
I am sorry I haven’t been around lately. I am getting ready for my classes at the Cabin Fever Clay fest.
It is now open to day visitors, so if you live in the area of Laurel, Maryland or surrounding areas and you want to take a few classes, this would be a good place to do it.
I will try to keep you up on what is going on while I am away.
Here is another way to use the Hoarders Closet bib finding. It is such a fun and versatile finding to play with. The brass ones can even be drilled.
Check it out here:
http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-finally.html
This is yet another way to use the bib finding.
24 gauge brass of non-tarnish silver Artistic wire
Spool of tiny gold chain or silver chain
Assorted beads, chain, and findings
Flush cutters
Chain nose pliers
Thread the 24 gauge wire into the loop on one side of the bib finding.
Bend a small bit over and twist the wire together.
I am going to use a mix of red, black, and white beads, glass, polymer clay, and some chain.
String on a few of your beads. I am using some of the smaller ones on the ends.
Pull the beads back and the wrap the wire around the end of the finding a couple of times.
Like so.
Push a couple of beads down the wire.
How many you use is up to you and how big the beads are.
Wrap the wire around a couple of times again and then push more beads down and wrap again.
I took the wire and wrapped it around the big black bead and the under.
I just keep adding more beads and wrapping.
This is not something that has to be perfect.
Here I am stringing some of the small chain on to the wire.
String on some more beads. Add some more loops of wire. Add some more chain.
You get the idea.
I haven’t had time to finish this, but you get the idea
Now go have fun and make something.
27
Jan
12
Pennant Necklace- diy part 1
I see pennants all over Etsy now days. I thought it would be fun to make jewelry using that theme.
I also used the vintage chain I have been selling in the Hoarders Closet. It is sweet, small, strong, and great to work with.
I documented this one to share with you, because it is so much fun to make and wear.
I made both kids sizes and adult.
You will need:
1 color of Cernit (I used Turquoise and Light Green) You could even make each flag a different color, just have fun ;-D
double ended knitting needle
22 gauge artistic wire in Non-tarnish silver
Alphabet stamps (I got mine at Michael’s)
Rosary pliers or needle nose pliers
1. condition clay and make soft and pliable, roll out in the clay machine on the 2nd thickest setting.
2. I am making the name “Sarah”
Cut out 10 of the triangle shapes.
3. Cut 5, 3 1/2″ to 4″ pieces of 22 gauge wire with the flush cutters.
4. Place the middle of the wire over one side of the triangle cutter and bend the ends over the edges.
5. Place the bent wire on one of the sides of the triangle. Put the wire down from the top about 1/16″.
6. Place one of the triangles over the wire and on top of the triangle on the bottom. Line the two triangles up and press together.
7. Press the triangles together and focus on the top of the triangles where the wire is.
I like to pick these up and make sure all the edges are pressed together well and the wire is centered and press well at the wire.
8 Do the same thing to the other 4 sets of triangles and wires.
9. Stamp pennants with letters.
10. Press in deeply and firmly for a clear print of the letter.
11. Check the edges and make the pennants are flat after stamping.
12. Using the 5/16″ round cutter, I cut out 10 circles from the sheet of clay rolled out on the 2nd thickest setting. Roll these into balls.
13. Use the knitting needle to poke the hole in the beads.
Turn the bead over and poke the knitting needle back through the hole you just made to even the holes out on both sides.
14. Poke through.
15. Bake on a piece of corrugated box cardboard in a preheated 275 degree oven for 30 minutes, shut off the oven and let cool in there until you can touch the beads.
Continued in part 2…
I am teaching at Cabin Fever Clay Fest in Laurel, Maryland not far from Washington DC. in February.
You can read about my pre-conference and conference classes here
You can sign up here on the registration page
This is the first time I will ever be teaching my unzipped hearts, how to use the zipper mold, how to make the embellishments, stamping both sides of the heart at the same time, making and incorporating the ring bail at the top and anything else I can give you in the time allotted.
I will not be the only teacher there either, there are many great artists coming to teach at this event and it is the perfect thing to heat up your cold winter. I am so looking forward to this and meeting new friends and playing with old ones…
Here is the line up
Beginning 17 Feb. 2012, we will offer a two-day masterclass with Jeffrey Lloyd Dever and seven full-day workshops with each of the following incredibly talented instructors: Jana Roberts Benzon, Lindly Haunani, Barbara Lewis, Liz Potter Hall, Nan Roche, Marie Segal, and Sarah Shriver.
On Sunday, 19 Feb., the conference begins and will offer twelve unique workshops and nineteen opportunities to get the creative muse working again! Instructors include: Blair Anderson, Jana Roberts Benzon, Lindly Haunani, Linda Hess, Doreen Kassel, Shannon Nelson, Kathryn Jo Ottman, Lynne Anne Schwarzenberg, Marie Segal, Sarah Shriver, and Laura Tabakman.
I will also be teaching a class on wire called “All wired up”
That is the pre-conference (master classes) all day workshop on Friday the 17th of February.
We start out making a simple flower cane .
I will be exploring all kinds of ear wires and making a simple clasp for necklaces and talking about wire basket weaving and how to incorporate the cane into the wire.
This is going to be an incredible conference with many wonderful teachers and 20 classes available to you. I am so honored to be amongst this group.
You should come, it is going to be fun and you will have chance to learn something new in the new year.
All of the instructors are incredibly talented artists in polymer clay, metal clay, mixed media, and metalwork.
01
Jan
12
Happy New Year… finally!
Well, the new year is here and I for one, am excited.
I hope you are too.
The year has been interesting.
Thank you so much my dear friends for staying for the year, for sharing your love and your hearts, and for giving me a reason to keep writing.
I am better for knowing all of you!
Thank you!
I have been playing with some new things. New year, new things, I started early.
I thought these were very fun and I thought you might like to try too.
This is like scrapbooking jewelry… woooooooooooo whoooooooo.
I knew my boatloads of fun with Jodi would lead to something like this.
I also like it because it is one of the bib necklace findings I just loaded in to my HoardersCloset Etsy store here for gold,
http://www.etsy.com/listing/88706811/vintage-metal-gold-tone-brass-bib
and here for silver,
http://www.etsy.com/listing/88644235/vintage-metal-silver-tone-plated-bib
That is the finding right there in the foreground above with no decorations on it.
I have had these for years and I have added clay to them and that is fun, but this is cool because I can use all of my newly collected scrapbook and paper supplies on these too.
Here is a pic of some of the things I used on the necklace, plus some scrap book paper.
Yes!
You will need:
1 brass or silver tone crescent
Chain necklace with clasp and jump rings
Scrap book paper
Gel medium- soft gel
1/4″ flat brush
jewels and metal bits
glossy accents
scissors
glue
glitter glue
Distress inks
foam applicator
clay pieces
assorted goodies and beads
brads
Distress ink
paper doilies
Glass rhinestones and cabs
Ribbon
Anything else you think might look wonderful on here
I started with one of the brass crescents
Cut a piece of paper that is bigger than the crescent.
Glob on gel medium, with flat brush, on to the front of the crescent.
Turn over the crescent and place it on top of the paper.
Pick up the both of them and press the paper on.
The gel will squish out around the edges
Set this aside and let the gel dry for a little bit.
Cut off the paper below the loop on the crescent.
Like so. Do both sides.
After it has dried a little cut the excess paper around the crescent.
It should look something like this.
I go around the edges and press the edges to the crescent.
Now I cover a paper doily with metallic ink and let it dry or heat set it with a heat gun.
Now I distress the edges of the paper on the crescent with walnut stain Distress Ink.
This colors the edges of the paper so they are not stark white besides giving the paper on the front a nice soft antiqued look. I love this ink!!
I love the way this looks.
I place the doily over the crescent to see where I want it to go and then cut a section out.
Cut a section to go on one end also, I liked it like that.
I put a layer of gel on to the end where I am going to place the piece of doily and then paint the gel on the back of the doily and place the piece where I want it to go.
Place gel on the back of the other piece and place it where you want it.
Put gel on top of that one.
I set it aside and let it dry on the crescent. Because of the curve of the crescent I lift it upon something (scissor covers) so the edges down.
When dry cut, away the excess doily.
Like so.
With Crafter’s Pick Ultimate or E-6000 Glue on your bits.
I had to throw in some clay. I only use a little glue in the centers of the butterflies the glue seems to press out to the edges when I press them down on the paper.
At this point I just start filling up the base with stuff, rhinestones, flowers, keys and other assorted things.
I haven’t finished this but I will post it when I do.
Have fun with this. I would love to see what you do.
Have a great 2012, much prosperity, health, and peace for us all.
Blessings all over you all.
May the spirit of Christmas bless you with love, abundance, joy, and peace in your heart!
Wishing you all the very happiest of Holidays with your family and friends.
May your New Year be better than 2011 ever was.
Relax. It is all good.
Santa Can Christmas 2011
Marie Segal
Happy Holidays to one and all, that means all of the holidays. No matter what you celebrate, you are important to me. Blessings all over you and yours and may the new year be very kind to you.
2012, how can it get any better than that? :-O
This is my gift to you.
Thank you for following, your kind comments and support, your friendships, and a reason to keep going everyday!
Large focal buttons can be used on handmade coats, purses, bags, and scarves. Or they can be put on factory manufactured things to give them a little individual style all their own.
Easy to make and great for adding a little flair and uniqueness to a special gift.
This is also very basic instruction. You can use a clay machine if you want and if you do, use the thickest setting for everything.
I also love Cernit for buttons, because it is harder than most clays on thicker settings, yet still quite flexible at thinner settings.
You will need:
Two accent colors of Cernit, I used turquoise and poppy red
Cocktail straw
Makin’s clay cutters-M36002 set of 3 squares
Pearl-ex powder-658, I used Aztec Gold
Makin’s Texture sheet set- 38003 I used the “weave” one
Button mold, I made my own from old German glass buttons
Rolling pin or dowel
Ball point pen
Condition black clay and flatten in to a pancake shape.
Roll with dowel until about 1/8″thick.
Roll clay on to texture sheet.
Use largest square cutter and cut out square.
With a little of the Aztec gold powder from the lid on your finger rub the gold powder in to the four corners of the black textured square. Leaving the center of the square free of powders. Put the powder only on the top of the black square and keep it away from the sides of the square too, we are going to place a twisted coil around the square.
Wash your hands to remove excess powder.
Condition and roll out turquoise clay to about 1/8″ thick.
Cut out medium square from set of cutters.
Put turquoise square on top of the black textured square off-center from the black square.
Condition some of the poppy red clay and roll in to a coil about 1/8″ in diameter and then do the same thing with some of the turquoise clay.
Twist the two colors together.
Roll the colors together on the work surface.
Roll down to about 1/8″ in diameter.
Place the twisted rolled out coil around the large black square.
Roll out a smaller coil of the poppy red, about 1/8″ in diameter, and place around the smaller turquoise square.
Make a button from your button mold or some other decorative center.
Powder the top of the molded button.
Place powder on your finger from out of the lid.
Rub your finger around a couple of times to smooth out the lumps and then brush on to the clay lightly and in circles.
You can also roll the whole ball in powder. Make it a little bigger to begin with , press into the mold and then cut off the back so it is flat with the mold.
This insures that there is fresh un-powdered clay on the back to attach to the turquoise square.
Press gently on to the turquoise square.
You could leave the button like this, but I am going to add a couple more things.
Roll 4, 1/8″ or smaller balls of black clay and place in the corners of the turquoise square.
With a ball point pen tip make a little mark in each of the black balls.
With one end of the cocktail straw cut a hole on the right side of the button top.
Turn the straw over and use the other side of the straw to cut another hole on the left side of the button.
I have cut my button holes so the button will sit and be sewn on diagonally.
Like so.
Bake for 30 minutes in a pre-heated 275 degree F oven, shut off the oven, and let cool till you can touch it, in the oven.
Happy Holidays Ya’ll, all of them!!
