Which animal are you?

I have finished working on first couple of my "Woodlands Little Creatures" series. Another three done, but I can't say I am proud of this trio. I recognize my mistakes and I need to work on them.

Anyway, here they are: a (small this time) hare, also small raccoon and a fox.....I won't lie if I say I repainted them at least four times each...I had sorts of difficulties while making them, completely opposite to the first three I made which I painted just once (!) each and the difference it is easily seen - at least for me. So I am not a happy bunny and I am working on new ones. This is not something I want to carry for a long time, rathere a limited collection of 6-10 brooches. Idealy I would like to finish them whithin those two weeks and start something different.



 

 

Brooches. Woodland Little Creatures. Series I

Did I mentioned already that I love brooches? Well, let me say that once more. I really do. As I was working with my bird pendants I came to a conclusion that a face within a bird it is just too much. Although it has a personal meaning for me, it is just too much to take on, especially with strings and beads and so. It works well as a window decoration or something to hang around the kitchen, or a door, but not necessarily as a pendant. Anyway, as I had a few faces made already, I came with an idea to use them in a different way. I made a limited (?) collection of woodlands brooches.

 

So here they are. I fell in love with them from the first sight, didn't you?

After some sanding and a bit of paint my work was done. Here are the first three. A Raccoon, An Owl and A Hare. I am just not sure if I wll stop after those six as I already have ideas for more.....

A back of The Hare...

And a back of The Raccoon..

 

 

While I was busy painting my brooches...Matylda and Liliana were busy painting theirs...I am so exited that my two little girls are finally big enough to just simply play and paint alongside me with concentration and joy on their little faces. We had such a great evening together.

 



Brooch - series I

As I mentioned already, I promised to myself to finish off (or at least try) projects, I have already started. One of them is this brooch I am currently working on. I am more of an abstract person than a figurative one if it comes to paintings (unless we are talking illustrations). I love color and composition. The relationship between texture/size/shape. I always was more interested in pure color and shadows in between shapes than still life itself. I am a big fan of Mark Rothko and Paul Klee. I can't wait to explore the subject of color and texture more, and see what happens.

This particular brooch is just an experiment done long ago, never finished, abandoned...and one of my first ever polymer clay attempts. But...The time has come - along with The Autumn - which I believe is a season of brooches of all sizes and shapes...

There is something about Owls...isn't it?

Two years ago I promised my friend I would make her a birthday present. As my younger daughter was just one that time, and I don't have any help around, I was to busy to finish what I started. Unfinished pendant was laying on my shelf for another year. When I finally decided to finish it off, Matylda broke it :/ Well...I though I will make a new one then! I did, but before I could give it to her, someone has stolen it from my polymer treasures box, when I went to some place to show what I do...

Anyway...the time has passed...another year I think, and here we go! I kept my promise - made a pendant and this lovely bracelet as a reward for a really looong waiting. Thank you for your patience Aldona!



  

 

I even managed to made one for myself :)

 

Those are my first bracelets ever, but I am quite pleased how they turned out. I bought the components on ebay mostly. I would prefer to make beads myself, create something more personal. Mabye next time.

 

Bird pendants

Although I had quite a fun making those, I came to the conclusion I am not a pendant person really...
I prefer bracelets or brooches, which are my favourite part of the jewellery and the reason I started playing with polymer clay in the first place. Having said that, as I also keep my promises, I am going to finish the ones I already started and have the birds for. I am not saying I won't make them in the future, but definitely you won't see them here very often.
Those, which I am working on at the moment, where suppose to be "Summer Pendants" and with the summer already behind it is kind of pointless to make them now. I have to add it wasn't my fault I didn't make them on time...You see, I ordered a nice collection of gemstones for my teardrops but apparently they didn't arrive and in the end I didn't get the refund either. I am still working on that matter, but the case is now closed (run out of time) so I don't know if I get the outcome I am looking for. In the meantime I had to make myself my own teardrops from polymer clay. Lesson learned.

After finishing the pendant on the left I decided it is too plain and I changed the form of it for more of the necklace. I needed something different from the two I made and gave away already.

 

The other one is still in the making but I think I will keep it simple. Nothing hanging around to drive away attention form the bird.

 

I still have those blue ones and a lovely green to play with, not to mention another three powder pink drops in my "pocket". I didn't decide yet what I will do with the pink ones but I can't wait to work on the blues. I think a raven would be suitable for them. Don't you agree?

 



tear drop beads

I am still trying to figure out the best possible pattern for me to work around different ideas and mediums. The best one so far is to organize things in batches. I find it hard as I would love to do everything at once, on the other hand this atitude doesn't really serve me (unless the night would magicaly spread for another 16 hours). Heaving this in mind I was busy making some tear-drop beads  along with more new birds to go with my bird necklaces series. I quite like the marble effect on them, although I would prefer a little more of a transculent clay next time around.

After polishing job done I ended up with a few I really liked, especially the green drop and the biggest - blue one. Those two are my favourite and I can't wait to use them!

I was sanding and polishing all evening. Next day I had to cut my finger nails short as I sanded them as well! I found it very daunting task, how do you sand your pieces? By hand? Mechanicaly? Those drops are not so big and really "wobbly and wriggle" when you try to work on them...any sugesstions?

Back in the studio

I am not very good at regular posting I am afraid... the only thing I can say is that I was away on holiday and that my studio space needed cleaning and de-cluttering first. Now I am back on track with plenty of energy and new ideas flying around. Firstly here are some pieces I managed to finish before holiday, not much but already in new homes, which is always a nice feeling.

 

 

Another thing, I noticed I have lots of things unfinished, partially designed, or living only in my sketch-the idea-book. Ideally I would like to finish at least some of them before moving into new directions. I know the best part is just messing around but it would be such a nice difference not only produce beads, but also use them in my finished pieces.

This probably happens a lot of time - definitely for me - when I think too much (and this is what I do most of the time) about new designs or inspirations I kind of feel like I already created those pieces. I get this feeling of fulfilment and joy even if something is just in my sketch book. I find it very dangerous state to be in. Instead of actually doing I waste my time thinking about "doing", as this way everything is safe, mistake-free, no waste, no leftovers and no guilt whatsoever!

I am not promising anything, but I will try to behave better. Having just night times to work doesn't help at all but as school starts soon, I hope to get more free time during the day. Figers crossed.

Busy Bee





I have been busy again, which is so good for me. I become addicted to birds. It all started with those birds ornaments I was preparing for International Women's day, and as always, the more you work on something - new ideas flying through. I decided to create some more new faces, this time I carefully finished them off. I added nice details, and worked on noses, eyes, mouths as well. The biggest one, the one with the bird is going to be wall decor for now, but I am going to make another one for myself, as a necklace.

 





With my first birdies I used old faces I made looong time ago, and never used. With the new ones I experiment a bit with paints and glazing just now to see what will look best.

After a few layers of paint and golden distress it looks like it is made from wood, has this shabby chick feel about it and I love it. I am going to hang it on my kitchen wall.

This is my first "try out" series, I hope you will like it. It gives me such a joy to make them...I am still waiting for the rest of the components to arrive. I bought some nice gemstones to finish them off. I can't wait!

New name...

I had a bit of thinking lately and come up with conclusion I need to start use my real name some how. The soonest the better, learning from other crafty artists who sooner or latter had to "re-brand" their blog/site to connect it with their real name - I decided to do it sooner. As I am struggling with my real full name as it has double barrow surname, and somehow it just sound all too long for me, I decided to use a translation as well as my full name underneath. SO here it is, from now on I am the "Stone Studio". If I would like to translate my surname (the second part of it - Kaminska) it  would be "Stone"....it seems fair enough for me to use it that way...What do you think? I am struggling now with new banner and banner for facebook page. I don't know why, but it has this grey shade on the background despite the fact it suppose to be plain white...Everything is rather too grayish, I need to work on it more, but don't have the time just now...

Birds ornaments

A while ago I had a pleasure to participate in preparations for International Women's Day here in  Bridging The Gap - Glasgow, where I do some voluntary work. The event was held in the New Church - Gorbals and all the women had a such a great time. We had a wonderful live music event, some art and craft going and delicious snacks to eat. My part was to prepare a small birds ornaments workshop.
Serching through pinterest to find some inspirations I found quite a few I liked :

 

 

 

After some thinking I started to work on components for future ornaments. For base I used paper mache clay and with my cookies cutters I prepared some bird shapes along with some hearts. It dries quite quickly so you have to work with small amounts each time around, especially if you plan to add some details on top.

 

I also had to make some charms to hang, small beads with tiny charm bells and tiny "made with love" signs - how cute is that?! Most of the components I bought on ebay from Kitty Pink shop.

 

In the end, I covered birds and heart shapes with simple washes of acrylic paint and I was ready for the workshops. It was a big success and a great fun watching how different approach each of the women took. They had to finish them off adding details with the paint pens, string them, add some charms I prepared earlier and job done! Unfortunately I can't add photos from the event as I was soo busy helping around I didn't manage to make any. Luckily I had a few leftovers so I finish them at home and this is how they turned out :

 

 

I am going to give them away next Thursday at BTG for those who couldn't come for the event.

 

Anyway, it's been a while since my last post, hopefully with the Spring finally coming, brighter sky outside and some spells of Sun I will manage to stay focus and create some nice artwork again.

I am going to make those birds again for start as I bought paper mache clay and more components for myself as well. Stay tuned!