This is what I've done with my canes so far.

Some simple beads, some in rectangular frames and some cabochons that will soon be turned into a necklace I hope.

Here are some more canes made from my leftover scraps.

Pictures of my tessellated canes

Here are my primary canes.

It's been awhile....

Wow time sure does fly! I can't believe that it's been so long since my last post. I have been very busy though, I'm getting a lot of clay-time in and that always makes me happy.

This past Sunday was our regular monthly meeting for the clay Guild that I belong to. SOPCG or the Southern Ontario Polymer Clay Guild. This guild is a wonderful group of (mainly) woman that get together to share ideas and techniques. You just can't beat getting together with like-minded people.
This time we worked on caning. Judy Belcher's technique to be exact. Many of us have purchased her wonderful books or her DVD and been very inspired. One of our most avid caners in the group, Sandy led us on our journey of tessellated canes.
http://blog.simple-inspirations.com/

A Christmas craft show

I participated in a wonderful Christmas Craft Show today in Oakville. It was my third consecutive year at this show. It seems that the crowds get bigger and better every year. I was selling my polymer clay jewellery and dog tags. Yes, dog tags are something else I create. When you are the owner of an amazing English Bulldog you tend to put dogs and everything about them in the forefront! I even baked a bunch of fresh, healthy dog cookies to sell at the show and i will admit that they were a big hit.

I wanted to introduce my Remembrance Vessels to the community today but since it was a Christmas show I kept it low key. I had an empty decorated vessel on display with some info explaining just what they were. I figured if anyone was interested they'd let me know. Boy was I surprised at the interest.




I heard so many stories about people and they're loved ones. It was very touching to hear people speak with such love and longing in their voices about someone that had been dear to them so many years ago.




I also heard some not so wonderful stories about where people actually kept the cremains of their departed loved ones. I was told about one elderly woman that just kept her husband's cremains in a flower pot and used this as a door stop. All this because she just didn't know what else to do with them!




Do you have a story about what someone is or better yet isn't doing with the ashes of a loved one? I for one would like to help them to do something more creative, and better yet more respectful with them. I know this lack of respect isn't intentional. They just don't know that they have other options.




I hope to be able to help many people come up with a more respectful solution. I just know that they will feel so much better when they do.

Remembrance Vessel

Cremation Jewellery

I am a jewellery designer that works with polymer clay. I have just recently started a new line of jewellery that I am calling "Cremation Jewellery".

Yes, it is just as it sounds. I am taking the cremains of people's loved ones and using them in one of a kind jewellery pieces.

The tradition of keepsake jewellery goes back to the Middle Ages when rememberance jewellery was created by encasing a lock of hair in gold, silver or any other precious metal.
These days more and more people are choosing to remember their pets long after they ‘re gone, after all, pets are our loved ones too.

At first I thought that I would only be using the cremains of people's pets but then a wonderful lady that I know asked if I would use the ashes of her dear mother in a necklace. I loved the idea. What a great way to keep the spirit of a loved one so close.