The Glitter of German Glass Glitter

The Glitter of German Glass Glitter 

1st. Kit/ Tutorial now available in my Etsy store for this necklace, which is one of my very favorite, and I have been making for quite sometime, and I love that they can be filled with anything you want to make it special to you. 

Oh how I love glitter, sparkly, glitzy and glamorous but what I love even more is old aged patina'd glitter the kind you find on the old Christmas ornaments and cards.  German glass glitter is just that type of glitter it ages with time and patina's to a lovely shade while still keeping it's spark. 

For those of you who don't know what German Glass glitter is, it is quite a process to make as it starts as a thin substrate of glass that is coated with fine silver (which is why it patina's so lovely as the silver ages). Then after firing the glass 5-6 more times, each time adding additional coats of silver it is cooled and cured. Then is is ground into different grains/ grits that range from 100 grit to course shards at 70 grit. I use both but find myself reaching for the 70 grit most often. While costing a little more than regular  glitter from craft stores, as you can see it is well worth it. 

 The course look great under resin also. It can be applied using any clear glue or double stick tape. I have used it here in my message in a bottle necklaces.  They are in little bottles that have been soldered and rhinestones applied then aged to a lovely patina to give the look of something unearthed and well aged. I then patina the 20" ball chain to give them a aged patina look as well, adding in a aged rhinestone ring for a little extra bling . Coating it all with a layer of preservation wax to protect the patina. Oh, la, la.....

I've never been able to keep on long enough to see the glitter age to perfection but I'm sure they look even better!

Dreaming Big

"Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success"

David Joseph Schwartz

"You have to think anyway, so why not think big?"
Donald Trump

My minds been awhirl lately thinking of all kinds of big thoughts. Perhaps that's why all the earring's I'm making lately are big.........no I think I always like them big. Who said sizes doesn't matter? It totally matters, those small little petite earrings just don't cut it for me, sure I make a few just because somewhere out there there are those who like them, I just don't know any? Are you one of them? What's your earring size pref. do you like long and dangles, big bold hoops, chime type or playful fun, whimsical type or maybe your the one who like the petite elegant , small stud  or just on the ear lob style? Me I'm the big, bold hoop type with an occasional elegant modern geometric style throw in but still on the large side. Whats your type?

The Art of Patina'd Metal "GRUNDGY GLAMOR"

The Art of Patina’d Metals “ GRUNDGY GLAMOR”

Patina metals are beautiful in your jewelry creations. With the cost of Sterling Silver now, it is becoming the trend to use Base Metals like copper and brass which are certainly lovely in the own right but it make them even more of a treasure when you can add a lovely color to the metal. Not only does it open up the design options but also gives you full creative license on metal. You can now add layers of colors and effects giving the Mixed Media Art Jewelry artist a whole new pallet to explore. While the process is, well a process it is very achievable with a few simple steps and the right products.

I love the look of time worn, unearthed and grunge however those items in the jewelry world are getting harder and harder to come by. So being able to create the effect with some of the new base metal findings that are available is the next best thing.  Oh, and the endless options to create metal treasures (from sheet metal) in color like Green Verde or Ocean Blue. Oh, la, la pure bliss.

Now take that same piece and add a swipe, smidge or rub of gilders past over after you seal it and you just add even more glamor. Hmmmm GRUNGY GLAMMOR, Love it! Now you just need to throw a little bling in there to complete the look. I’ve included a pair of earrings in this post that I did with a single coat in Green Verde the rubbed with German Silver Gilders paste; I also put a topcoat of wax just to give it a final coat of protection.

In addition to bling I also love pearls which I use allot in my creations, these earrings have a nice earth tone mix in 4-6mm size.  I love how the have a elegant gypsy feel. 

I love creating with patina's it's my new passion so if you have a pice you have please share I would love to see!