UFO Sighting!

~~~~UFO Sighting~~~~

UFO for us means.....Unique Fabulous Originals!

Every now and again, we will sneak into our Professional Artisan Team members stores and snap a picture of some of their Awesome pieces of Art. Then we will bring it back here for all to see. 

Today's UFO sighting comes from the store of:

Yolanda Miramontes

of

Yolanda's Clay 

Who are you?  

My name is Yolanda but I go by my nickname, Yoli

Where do you live?

I've lived in So. California for 30 years, I was born and raised in Mexico.

What do you call yourself? 

(Artist? Hobbyist? Professional Ceramicist?)

I am one who believes that those that accomplish an education in the arts are the artists.

I call myself a ceramic bead maker, ceramic crafter or hobbyist.

 

How long have you been creating 

Ceramic Beads and Pendants?

I started making ceramic beads in 2006, and ceramics overall since 1998.

What inspires your work? 

Magazines, clip art, nature, I like fabric prints, books, I find lots of things at flea markets that I incorporate into things I make for texture. 

 

What is your process? 

 I handmake my beads and pendants using molds I make, carving, rubber stamps for texture.  Most of the time I use solid clay but occasionally I use porcelain slip.  Pieces are fired in kiln twice.

Favorite Clay type? 

I work with several types: earthenware, porcelain and stoneware.  I think my ultimate favorite is porcelain because it's soft to work with and for the results I get with the glazes I use.  

 

Glazes?

I use commercial glazes and could not really mention a favorite because one is replaced once I buy new ones.....  There is that glaze addiction part in my life so can't say which one is favorite, I think I have glazes from every brand out there.

Favorite Themes or design inspirations?

I am really random, I follow no agenda, seasons nor trends. I make what I want and like to make because creating is really an escape and very soothing,  it's my therapy.  I am very thankful and appreciative that people like and buy my work.
  

 

Who do you admire in your field and why?

Been a fan of Joan Miller for ever,  her work is so original and unique.  Marsha Neal, Mary Harding, Marla James, Lisa Peters. And of course all the members at BOCPAT for such beautiful beads and pendants, and their hard work too.

What are your favorite tools or equipment?   

I finally found a perfect tool for carving, it's a little plastic medical tool I got from my doctor's office (shhhh she doesn't know)  and a silicone roller from the kitchen store.

Equipment I would say my Aim kiln.

 

Any advise for newbies? 

Take a ceramic class I would say is at the top of the list, nothing like practicing what you are learning. Get a couple books and magazines, do your research on Google everything is on Google! and practice practice practice.  Oh, and take notes, very important too. 

 

  

Yolanda's Clay Beads and Pendants 

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/yolandasclay

Facebook

   https://www.facebook.com/YolandasClay

Blog  

 http://www.yolandasclaybeadtalk.blogspot.com

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Keep your eyes on the skies

for more UFO sightings

OR

Check back here on Mondays!

~~~~UFO Sighting~~~~

UFO for us means.....Unique Fabulous Originals!

Every now and again, we will sneak into our Professional Artisan Team members stores and snap a picture of some of their Awesome pieces of Art. Then we will bring it back here for all to see. 

Today's UFO sighting comes from the store of:

Gerry Lee Cruthird of ClayDesignsbyglee

Here is a little bit she wrote about herself in her store:

I have been making and creating for as long as I can remember. I took pottery classes in 2006. I was then hooked. My work now is primarily in making beads and pendants in earthenware clay. I do make jewelry. I love metalworks and am now taking a metalsmithing workshop in the New Orleans area.

If you would like to see more of Gerry's Work

Please visit her store:

ClayDesignsbyglee

And Keep your eyes to the skies...........

 or here on Mondays ;-) 

for more UFO Sightings!

~~~~UFO Sighting~~~~

UFO for us means.....Unique Fabulous Originals!

Every now and again, we will sneek into our Professional Artisan Team members stores and snap a picture of some of their Awesome pieces of Art. Then we will bring it back here for all to see. 

Today's UFO sighting comes from the store of:
Cecily Maples of Porcelain Jazz

Here's what  Cecily says about herself:

Born in Japan where my Dad was an American consul on the southern island, I spent a good deal of my childhood in various foreign countries. My mother collected folk crafts avidly so I was surrounded by ethnic arts from an early age. Which probably accounts in part for the fact that I became a potter/jeweler. 

My MFA is from Claremont Graduate School near LA where I studied with Paul Soldner. And here I am some 30 odd years later still making pots and porcelain jewelry.

What can be made from clay? Some of my answers are here in this shop. And all of my answers seem to have taken the form of useful adornment for home and body. In fact if I could knit clay I'd be making clay sweaters. 

I never seem to be able to get enough of that part of working with clay that is all about touch and response. This is a part of making that seems to go both above and below the threshold of words. When immersed in making, time and words and lists become irrelevant. All that holds me is the clay, my contact with it and its response to that contact. And somewhere along the way little solidified pieces of this experience and passion remain. They remain to pick up and hold and place in a shop to be sold.

Original, Handmade Porcelain Work

If you would like to see more of Cecily's Work

please visit her Store:

Porcelain Jazz

or on FaceBook:

Cecily Maples

And Keep your eyes to the skies...........

 or here on Mondays ;-) 

for more UFO Sightings!

~~~~UFO Sighting~~~~

UFO for us means.....Unique Fabulous Originals!

Every now and again, we will sneek into our Professional Artisan Team members stores and snap a picture of some of their Awesome pieces of Art. Then we will bring it back here for all to see. 

Today's UFO sighting comes from the store of:
Mary Hubbard of WhiteCloverKiln

If you would like to see more of  Mary's Work

please visit  WhiteCloverKiln

Beads of Clay Artists Designing with Clay

Luscious Coral and Raspberry Valentine Heart Necklace by ClayworksofNH

Many of our BeadsofClay Etsy Team artists are also talented jewelry designers.  Today I am including a sample of some of their great designs.  If you are a BeadsofClay member or design with BeadsofClay artisan beads and would like to be included in Designer features on our blog, please leave a comment below and we will be in touch.

Bohemian Teardrop Necklace by Colors of the Woods

Stone Bee Necklace by Gaea

Berry & Leaf Porcelain Necklace and Earrings Set By Porcelain Jazz

Bird Song Cuff Bracelet by Shaterra

Porcelain Shard Pendant Earrings by MarshaNealStudio

Can I Join Beads-of-Clay Website ?

Beads by JoanMillerPorcelain available for purchase in the BeadsofClay Etsy shop

Are you wondering if you can be a member of the Beads of Clay group on the web?  Are you wondering how to join?

Today in this blog I will answer these questions.

pendant by Gaea available for purchase in the BeadsofClay Etsy Shop

In the past, the Beads of Clay website was only for folks who make beads out of ceramic clay of the earth.  This is still true but membership has been expanded to include  all who have an interest in ceramic art beads, including professional ceramic bead artists, hobbyists, jewelry designers and fans.  No dues or fees or donations are required to be a member or to participate.


TO JOIN Beads of Clay you can go to the website by clicking here which takes you to the home page.  Once there you will see JOIN BEADS OF CLAY on the right column.  Scroll down a bit and you will see a live link saying Click here to join.   I have made this link live here as well.  Once you click the link you will see a membership form that you can fill out to join.  And that is it.

Pendant by Yolanda's Clay available for purchase in her Etsy Shop

If you are a ceramic bead artist with an Etsy shop, website or other online shop, you can have your shop listed here with photos for free.  The requirement is that the shop listed has at least 50%  fired ceramic beads, buttons or pendants.  So if this sounds like you, go ahead and fill out the profile information and follow the rest of the directions to get your shop listed.

Smokey Gray Square Bead  by Artisan Clay available in the BeadsofClay Etsy Shop

To sum up:  Beads of Clay has a General Membership list that includes everyone that has registered an interest in ceramic beads.  In addition, there is another list of the Beads of Clay Artists Shop with photos.  And a third option is to purchase an ad to put on the website and become a Supporting Member. You can find out info about ads here.

The benefits of membership include linking with other ceramic bead artists, participation in swaps and challenges, listing of your website, shop or Etsy store and the promotion of ceramic beads through events and advertising.
I hope you will consider joining Beads of Clay on the web.  There are other options in Beads of Clay that will be covered in another post.  If you have any questions about membership please leave a comment below or use the Contact Us button on the website.

Cobalt Blue Beads by NKP Beads available for purchase from the BeadsofClay Etsy Shop

Small Kilns Survey  Part II will return in 2 

 weeks

STYLIN' SUNDAY...

A PEEK INTO THE MINDS OF ARTISTS WHO CREATE USING BEADS-OF-CLAY...

Due to a very busy schedule and a little disorganization, I do not have an interview prepared for this week.  I do, however, have some special pieces of jewelry to share from some of our very own members.  There is a multitude of talent amongst the members of this group.  I have chosen these pieces to be representative of that...

First we have a beatiful necklace by Kristy of Artisan Clay.

These very cool earrings were created by Marsha at Marsha Neal Studio.

Mary Harding is the designer of these bead weave bracelet with raku bead accents.

These "GO! Ohio State!!" earrings were created by Sharleen at Shaterra Clay.

And these cool earrings created by Dot at Winchell ClayWorks.

And this cool necklace and matching bracelte from Yoli at Yolanda's Clay...

And this cool pendant design on copper chain by Cindy Dolezal.

...and just in time for Halloween...how about adding a little spook to your

step with this cool necklace from Joan Miller at Joan Miller Porcelain.

There are many more fabulous designs out there.  You can start your search by heading on over to the new Beads Of Clay Website and check out the members......

Stop by next week to learn what goes into the designs by Lori Anderson.

UFO Sighting!

UFO for us means Unique Fabulous Originals! :-)

Every now and again, we will sneek into our members stores and snap a picture of some of their Awesome pieces of Art. Then we will bring them back here for all to see. Todays UFO sighting comes from the website of Golem Designs. Artists Vladislav Ivanov and Kremena Ivanova. A Husband and Wife team living and working in Bulgaria.  Their work is stunning! See for yourself!

The attention to details is simply amazing! I bow to their greatness. :-)

 If you want to purchase these or see more of their awesome Artwork, please visit their website here: GolemDesigns

And Keep your eyes peeled for more UFO's!

UFO Sighting!

UFO for us means Unique Fabulous Originals! :-)

Every now and again, we will sneek into our members stores and snap a picture of one of their Awesome pieces of Art. Then we will bring it back here for all to see. Todays UFO sighting comes from the Etsy store of NKPDESIGNS. These are some really cool handmade pieces! The second one is a Whistle!!!

I bet you are thinking that you want to buy these or see more of Natalie's UFO's! Well, you can visit her website here: NKPDesigns And her Etsy Store here: NKPDesigns on Etsy