Rings & Things Design Gallery

Alternative Materials Category

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:57:46 GMT

Patchwork Pins

Artist: Rosanna M Detering (Manson, WA)
Polly�s Pick, Alternative Materials

"My use of Friendly Plastic� began when someone gave me a big carton of non-metallic pieces. There was very little I could do with it. It wasn�t very interesting, so I ordered some metallic colors and, as they say, the rest is history. I live on a farm, but also border the �wild lands� and so I experimented with animals because I come in contact with them ... I have over 70 different animal designs.

�I do not use the water method, but use a toaster oven to melt the plastic. I first cut what I call a �blank� ... out of plain black or white Friendly Plastic. Next, I decide what features it should have and if those features need to go on before the animal is cooked or after it comes out of the oven. Then, I put the various colors on randomly. (I use up a lot of scraps from other projects this way.) When the piece is ready, I put it on a tray and into the toaster oven. I set it on a toast setting and, when it snaps up, I take it out and add the bead for the eye with tweezers, put on the ears (if needed) and use a metal dental tool to score or stretch the plastic while it�s hot. I plunge it into cold water when I want it to stop cooking.

�It takes anywhere from one-half hour to an hour to make a pin, depending on how many pieces it has. The cooking is the fastest part. I do not glue the small pieces on, so if my arm bumps on the way into the oven, I have to construct it all over again. I have found that Joyce Chan scissors are the best for cutting Friendly Plastic, if anyone is interested in getting started." - Rosanna M Detering

Polly�s Picks are designs our editor especially liked despite the fact that they did not win a formal prize. These designs are often simple, practical and/or whimsical examples of how to use Rings & Things components well.

View more 2008 Polly's Picks. Or, check for details about our most recent contest!
97 views
Apr 28, 2008

Glass Category

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:54:30 GMT

Rainbow

Artist: Mary Estrada (San Jose, CA)
Polly�s Pick, Glass

This simple earring design makes great use of our earring hoops with loops. Simply string your choice of Swarovski� bicone bead colors onto head pins for sparkly dangles that easily attach to the earring finding.

View more 2008 Polly's Picks. Or, check for details about our most recent contest!
67 views
Apr 28, 2008

Alternative Materials Category

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:53:41 GMT

Perelandra

Artist: Mara Marlow (Federal Way, WA)
Polly�s Pick, Alternative Materials

"I saw the copper-coated V-cubes at a show and thought 'wow, these would be really cool with some of those new copper beads R&T is bringing out.' Wrong! They just wouldn�t cooperate with my copper, but snuck over to hang out with the gold dyed shell bracelet that came home with them. Using gold beads and chain, and antiqued brass charms, kind of brought all the metallic shades together. ... The necklace is strung on Beadalon� with pieces of chain to dangle the charms from. It probably spent more time in the �what is this going to be?� dish than in the �oh, I know!� phase. Perelandra is the second book in a trilogy by C.S. Lewis and refers to the golden-green planet Venus (before science told us it was a steamy swirl of hot gases)." - Mara Marlow

View more 2008 Polly's Picks. Or, check for details about our most recent contest!
80 views
Apr 28, 2008

Polymer Clay Category

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:40:35 GMT

Cedric and Bubba

Artist: Ann Inman (Rockport, WA)
Polly�s Pick, Polymer Clay

We just couldn�t resist sharing Cedric and Bubba with all of you:

"It's been a long winter. Cedric was out in the woods looking for some new clothes, as is his habit each spring (last winter's fallen leaves). In the warming spring air, he came upon a dragon hatchling obviously lost and upset. Cedric was the first thing the baby dragon ever saw, and he bonded with Cedric immediately and permanently. They are now best friends and spend all their time together. Cedric named the hatchling Bubba, and they can be seen rambling through the woods of the Pacific Northwest. The only problem seems to be where Bubba likes to ride as they travel. This could become more of a problem as he grows.

�This piece took weeks to make. I tend to start projects and work in stages as their story emerges. Cedric is made entirely of FIMO� over a wire and foil base. Bubba is just FIMO. Cedric is jointed with copper wire and hand painted with acrylic paints. They seem to start whispering a story as they come alive during the sculpting process. Bubba was intended for another piece, but kept wandering off to sit on Cedric's head. He was part of a litter of dragon hatchlings, but seemed to have other plans. I let the piece evolve and really enjoy the process. I know that when the whispering starts I'm on the right path ..." - Ann Inman

View more 2008 Polly's Picks. Or, check for details about our most recent contest!
78 views
Apr 23, 2008

Alternative Materials Category

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:43:31 GMT

Shopper Girl

Artist: Sherry L McGilvray (Clinton, WA)
Polly�s Pick, Alternative Materials

"I have made several pins involving different professions: groups of children, nurses, beauticians, golfers and teachers. Realizing there are a lot of us who like to shop, I thought it would be fun to have a pin for shoppers. Development time took about eight hours. My passion for color and pattern drew me to Friendly Plastic� as the perfect medium for my creative expression. At first I struggled with the material to get the design details I wanted to achieve. However, with 13+ years of experience I have developed many techniques to get the desired results. I want to convey the joy of simple, everyday things in life, and hope that others will experience the same delight when they see my work. The �Shopper Girl� design begins by assembling various colored strips of Friendly Plastic. These are fused together on a griddle and then the warm strips are swirled together to get a marbled effect. The dress is then cut from the marbled Friendly Plastic. For the head, a circle is cut from gold plastic. Lengths of wire are formed for the arms and legs. Five colors of wire are coiled and formed for the hair. Next, the head, arms and legs are attached by fusing them to the body in a hot-water bath. Once the body is complete, I attach the hair by fusing it to the head. The purse parts and a piece of colored wire are cut and then fused together on the griddle. Once the purse is completed, it is attached to an arm with a jump ring. A bar pin is glued on the back to complete the piece." - Sherry L McGilvray

View more 2008 Polly's Picks. Or, check for details about our most recent contest!
122 views
Apr 22, 2008

Metal Clay Category

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:41:45 GMT

Illusion

Artist: Judi Weers (San Antonio, TX)
Polly�s Pick, Metal Clay

In this design, we liked Judi�s use of Art Clay� Silver paper, which can be folded to make origami-like creations. We also liked the ingenious placement of the Swarovski� crystal square link inside the metal-clay.

In Judi's own words, "having fallen in love with the square Swarovski crystals, I felt I had to incorporate them into my silver clay. Since the crystals can't be fired at the temps needed for Art Clay, another method was necessary. Art Clay paper is very malleable, even after fired, so it was the perfect solution to "hug" the crystal. After several experiments, I found a pleasing design wrap for the crystal, then created the background square to complement it. Swirls and squares just seem to go together, so this was the perfect texture. Using Pebeo Vitra 160, I added a touch of color to the silver to enhance the swirls and meld with the color of the crystal. I've enjoyed the multistrand beading wire to create necklaces for my work, but I needed something to create an extension to the pendant. I've always liked the look of floating beads/crystals, and it appears to work well with this pendant, creating an extension which continues around the neck. A magnetic clasp was used for easy attachment and removal" - Judi Weers

View more 2008 Polly's Picks. Or, check for details about our most recent contest!
90 views
Apr 22, 2008

Gemstones & Pearls Category

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:41:14 GMT

Pearls That Swim

Artist: Joanne Safron Feissle (Wildwood, MO)
Polly�s Pick, Gemstones & Pearls

This necklace elegantly combines fancy solid-copper beads with pearls and TierraCast� Hammertone findings. Here�s what Joanne has to say about her design:

�I pulled my Rings & Things inventory and let my imagination take over. Yes, there were challenges along the way�this is the third design I created. This first two were disassembled because they weren't quite right. I really enjoy incorporating copper into my designs along with, or instead of, silver and gold. 'Pearls That Swim' features copper and silver accents and the shimmer of the pearls, along with the 'water' of the amazonite that makes this design complete." - Joanne Safron Feissle

View more 2008 Polly's Picks. Or, check for details about our most recent contest!
121 views
Apr 22, 2008

Mostly Metal Category

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:40:42 GMT

Untitled (Christmas Tree Hooks)

Artist: Breelyn Olsen (Punta Gorda, FL)
Polly�s Pick, Mostly Metal

We found this straightforward use of colored wire, wedding cake oval beads and more to be quite "charming." Nine-year old designer Breelyn agrees. In her own words, �after a number of tries, I found the right size of wire and beads to make the perfect hook ... I can be creative and sell what I make. It�s wonderful.�

View more 2008 Polly's Picks. Or, check for details about our most recent contest!
80 views
Apr 22, 2008