Vacation in Naples, Florida and a necklace for Vanessa Lachey!

I'm slowly getting back into the groove after a lovely, pampering, totally indulgent trip to the amazing Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida..  If you are ever looking for a place to be treated like a queen, it is the place to be! The service is just unparalleled.  The beach is gorgeous, the restaurants are fabulous, and I did not want to leave!

Ritz Carlton Naples

Yes, that is me under one of those umbrellas :)

When I got home, I finished up a necklace that is being sent to Vanessa Lachey, via The Artisan Group.

Sunset Necklace with Fire Opal

I am also working on some new designs that are completely different than anything I've done before- unisex designs in faux ivory, metal clay, and polymer clay.  Stay tuned for photos!  

A gift for Tyra Banks and a new website for me

There are many good things brewing here at Kathryn Designs!

I have once again been given a great opportunity via The Artisan Group.  I recently sent this gemstone and mixed media necklace for a special gift bag for lovely Tyra Banks.

I used a gorgeous champagne CZ and added a vintage inspired beaded chain.  I hope she likes it! 

Today, I launched my new website,kathryndesignsjewelry.com, which will replace my Artfire shop.  I have loved being a part of the Artfire community, but I decided it was time fly from the nest.  For the time being, if you visit my old shop, you will see a link to my new site.  I took all new photos for my shop, so it was quite a project!  I am happy to be back in the studio today, creating some new pieces.  

Here is a sample of one of my new photos:

Mixed media pendant, champagne CZ, garnets, polymer clay, and resin

I hope everyone is having a great summer and staying safe and cool! 

<3

Mixing My Media: Metal Clay Plus Polymer Clay

I have worked with Precious Metal Clay and Art Silver in the past, but for my most recent creations, I wanted to try out some of the cool new base metal clays.  I have been a huge fan of Hadar Jacobson's work for several years.  In addition to being fabulous artist, she makes and sells different types of metal clay in powder form.  I love this idea, because there is no concern about the clay drying out. She provides detailed instructions on mixing and firing the various types of clay. The mixing is pretty simple.  It just involves adding distilled water to the powder until the right consistency is achieved.  The firing is a little more complicated, as I learned through trial and error. Best of all, base metal clay is far more affordable than pure silver or sterling silver clay.

I used Hadar's White Bronze Metal Clay for my first experiments. I test fired a few simple shapes and they came out just fine.  However, when I fired my first few "real" pieces I realized they had not sintered because they were thicker than my test pieces (sigh....). Fortunately, all was not lost, and I was able to re-fire most of the pieces at a slightly higher temperature and they were a success!

Here is the first piece I made combining White Bronze and polymer clays:

White Bronze and Polymer Clay Heart Necklace with Garnet

I made a textured dome form out of polymer clay and added a garnet cabochon and some swirly designs. 

I wanted my next piece to be more complex, so I decided to make a test piece with polymer clay only and THAT project became a very fun distraction with a life of its own for several days!

Amulet in Polymer Clay with Fire Opal CZ and Garnets

Here is the White Bronze and polymer clay version:

White Bronze and Polymer Clay with Pink Sapphire CZ, Lab Ruby and Pink Tourmaline

I used a layered construction in both pieces to add an element of depth.  I will absolutely be doing more with metal clay in the near future!

In other news, I was fortunate to have my work included in gift bags for the press at the GBK Gift Lounge for the MTV Awards, as a member of The Artisan Group. 

Press Release for GBK Gift Lounge for MTV Movie Awards

Mother's Day, Celebrity Gifting, Memories

With Mother's Day approaching, I feel my usual melancholy as I remember my amazing and beautiful mother, Mary Elnora Doll.  She was the embodiment of unconditional love, elegance, and grace.  As I pursue my dreams via my jewelry business, she remains a constant source of inspiration! If she were still alive, she would be so excited about my journey with The Artisan Group and celebrity gifting.  Did I mention that she was Hollywood glamorous throughout her life?  She never left the house without looking amazing and put together.  I used to tease her that she put on lipstick to get the mail.  To this day, I hear her ask me "you are wearing THAT?" when I leave the house to run errands looking less than Southern Belle styled.  This is often!

I've been very busy these past few months, getting ready for a great Mother's Day gift bag that The Artisan Group will be giving to the following talked-about celebrities:  Hilary Duff,  Rebecca Gayheart, Keri Russell, Beyonce, Kourtney Kardashian, Lindsay Price, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jessica Alba, Uma Thurman, Alyson Hannigan, Molly Sims, Sienna Miller, Kristin Cavallari, Jessica Simpson, Bryce Dallas Howard, Evangeline Lilly, Jennifer Garner, Marley Shelton, Sarah Polley, Mrs. Jason Bateman (Amanda Anka), Mrs. Bruce Willis (Emma Heming), Susan Downey, Jr., Lisa Loeb,  Mrs. Kelsey Grammer (Katye Walsh), and Jessica Capshaw. How is that for some serious name dropping?

With a mother's love in mind, I created the Cherished Heart Necklace.  It features a heart nestled within a circle and lovely shades of pink and pearl, with gold and coral undertones.

Cherished Heart modeled by Melissa Leila

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/KathrynDesigns

Wishing a very happy Mother's Day to all!  

Don't you love a nice suprise? Kathryn Designs on the myStyle Shop-It List!

I was so thrilled and honored when I saw that my mosaic bangle was included in the April 12th myStyle.com Shop-It List!

Handcrafted Mosaic Bangle

As my shop is still fairly new, I was very excited to get such great exposure on the very chic myStyle.com.

I was even more honored when I saw that my item was included with beautiful items including a Yarnz Printed Cashmere Scarf, Michael Kors Project Suede Fragrance,  and gorgeous candle from a fellow member of The Artisan Group, Deborah Carducci of Villa Lusso.  

My journey continues, and I have two exciting gifting events coming up via The Artisan Group.  First up is a Mother's Day gift bag that will be received by amazing celebrity mothers.  Kathryn Designs will also be a part of the GBK Gift Lounge MTV Movie Awards press and industry mixer gifting.

I feel so grateful that I am able to pursue my dream and build my jewelry business.

Polymer clay plus gemstones for Rachael Ray!

I am very excited to share my latest opportunity via The Artisan Group!  I am contributing a necklace that will be included in a special swag bag for the lovely Rachael Ray.  I have recently become interested in using gemstones in my polymer clay jewelry, and decided this was the perfect time to focus on gemstones as I created a unique piece for her.

Rachael Ray, photo by The Heart Truth

Here is the necklace I will be sending Rachael:

Necklace featuring a lab sapphire (orange padparadscha) and natural garnets from
Kathryn Designs

I read that her favorite color is orange, so I decided to use a gorgeous orange lab sapphire.  I paired it with four natural garnets.  The background is luminous peach, pink, and gold, and the bezel was hand formed using polymer clay.  I am so excited about this new direction for my work!  Here is another sample of a piece I created using a beautiful Olivine CZ and moonstones:

More to come as I pursue my newest obsession in jewelry making!  I have lots of stones that I have purchased over the years, and now I know what I will be doing with them.

Here's hoping Rachael loves her new necklace! 

Signs of spring: Polymer clay jewelry by Artfire Artisans

I am about "this close" to turning on the air conditioning today!  I guess spring is here in Maryland.  At least, I hope it is, because I am not a fan of winter.  In honor of this lovely weather, I would like to feature some lovely work by a few of my fellow guild members from the Polymer Clay Smooshers Guild on Artfire.

First, I found this gorgeous necklace by member Averilpam:

Disc Bead Necklace in shades of blue, brown, cream

I love the beautiful sky blue color of the disc beads and the contrast with the brown beads, plus the organic feel of the disc beads that she created for this piece.  That blue color just sings "spring" to me!

Next, I came upon this lovely retro styled flower pendant by Christina Kosinski Designs: 

Retro Necklace with flowers

She describes this pendant as having a retro, hippie, 1970 style and I agree!  I am always a fan of vintage inspired jewelry creations and I think she really captured that 70's feeling in a modern and creative piece of jewelry.  

Finally, in honor of spring, I found this lovely flower necklace by Strange Whimsy:

Pink, red double petal flower necklace

This pendant reminds me of a dogwood blossom, and that is one of my fondest spring memories from my childhood in Louisville, KY.  I really love the pretty, soft colors she used in this, as well as the sculptural effects of the petals.  

I hope spring is here to stay!