Charity Auction

Tags

angel, art, Charity Auction, necklace, polymer clay

There have been a couple of terrible incidents in England recently but the one that has haunted me most has been the tragedy at Grenfell Tower. I kept thinking: “If only I could send some of the love and care that I lavish on my beads to those involved.”

Angel painting by Cate van Alphen

Finally it occurred to me that the most practical way to do this was to convert some of the things that I’ve made into cash. Therefore I have decided to run a charity auction on ebay. 100% of the proceeds will go to benefit the British Red Cross who are helping the survivors of the fire and those involved in the terror attacks.

Heart necklace by Cate van Alphen

I have made some items especially for the auction and collected together a few other things that I have made recently, or which seemed appropriate. I’ll be writing more about the items individually in the next few days.

Here’s the auction link, although items are only scheduled to go live from 10am on Sunday morning. I’ll be starting the bids as low as I can so you may get a bargain, but I hope you will bid generously.

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Necklace restring

Tags

handmade, macrame, necklace, polymer clay

A few years ago I gave my sister a necklace. At the time I was experimenting with silk ribbon. Unfortunately, although the colour matched fantastically well there were some structural issues. Firstly the beads were able to slip over the knots intended to separate them, secondly the larks head knot securing the pendant kept sliding to the back and flipping the pendant, and finally three years later the silk was not aging well.

Before – beads strung on silk ribbon.

Therefore I have just restrung it on some fine nylon cords. The colour is not as pretty as the jade ribbon, but I have included some macrame knots at the pendant which will hopefully ensure that it sits better.

After – beads on nylon cord with macrame bail.

Necklace by Cate van Alphen

If you are interested, there is a free tutorial here on my blog where I make this polymer clay pendant.

Polymer clay challenge week 38

Tags

2016PCchallenge, beads, necklace, polymer clay, retro

This week I have made some beads using the canes inspired by the vintage teacup I’ve been working with. So far I’ve made one necklace.

The beads have different patterns on either side so the look changes depending on how the beads are flipped.

I plan to make some more beads using the canes, and I have made some accent beads to go with them when I do.

Remember it’s nearly time for the Art Charm reveal :). I’ll be showing the fairy tale inspired charms I made along with links to see what the other participants have made. This will also be the start of the auction to benefit Beads of Courage, so be sure to come back on 30th September.

Green Jewellery

Tags

bracelet, cabochon, earrings, green, kaleidoscope cane, necklace, polymer clay

I have been making some green jewellery using the polymer clay beads I made last year. These, and other green goodies, are now available in my Folksy store.

Big bead choker by Cate van Alphen

Macrame and leaf button bracelet by Cate van Alphen

Kaleidoscope cane cabochon by Cate van Alphen

I also made some earrings using my Blue Palette.

Blue kaleidoscope earrings by Cate van Alphen

Art Jewelry Elements Headpins

Tags

crochet, earrings, handmade beads, headpin, necklace, polymer clay

This month I decided to take part in the Art Jewelry Elements design challenge to make something using artisan made headpins. In an earlier post I showed the polymer clay headpins that I made to use for this challenge. I decided to make several so that I’d have scope to make something other than earrings. Therefore the first thing I made was a couple of pairs of earrings.

I bent the headpin wire into a circle and crocheted over it. I like the negative space that the circle creates. One pair of earrings had petals, and the other was just a simple circle.

Next I combined the petalled circle with the simple circle to create a necklace featuring a crocheted chain. There are a few things I’d like to do a bit differently, but it was so time-consuming to make that I’m not going to change this necklace. Perhaps one day I’ll have a go at making another version.

The yarn I used changes colour, so I decided to jumble the loops to create a patchwork contrast. I’d like to try crocheting from one end to the other to create a more subtle ombre effect. The other disappointment is that the chain links pretty much obscure the flower design. So I had a go at another pair of earrings to see if I could improve the flower shape.

I still need to think about how to link the flowers together without obscuring them to form a necklace. In the mean time I’m looking forward to seeing what the other participants have made.

Guests:

Alison Herrington
Renetha Stanziano
Karin Grosset Grange
Gloria Allen
Deb Fortin
Cate van Alphen
Mona Arnott
Shai Williams
Sarajo Wentling
Kathy Lindemer
Solange Collin
Brooke Bock
Melissa Meman
Patricia Handschuh
Tammy Adams
Melissa Trudinger

AJE Team Members:

Caroline Dewison
Lesley Watt
Cathy Mendola
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Susan Kennedy
Laney Mead
Diana Ptaszynski
Lindsay Starr
Niky Sayers

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Polymer clay challenge – week 24

Tags

2016PCchallenge, ArtVessel, earrings, handmade beads, necklace, polymer clay, wonky bead

My vessel is still a work in progress for this week of the 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge. I have now added a foil and plaster bandage armature around the glass jar. Hopefully next week I’ll be able to finish decorating it.

I also have a ballet time necklace and a pair of earrings that I made from more wonky cube beads. This time I alternated between drilling the beads face on and diagonally through the corners. Wonky beads make me ridiculously happy :).

Wonky bead necklace and earrings by Cate van Alphen

 

ABS February Challenge

Tags

ArtVessel, FEB ABS, inro, necklace, polymer clay

I have finally finished sanding the polymer clay inro that I made for the Art Bead Scene monthly challenge. I combined this challenge with my personal challenge of making a vessel each week.

Simultaneous Dress next to the Simultaneous Car by Sonia Delaunay
Illustrated by George Lepape from January 1925

I had originally intended the inro to be a necklace pendant, but I also wanted it to be big enough to be functional i.e. a key and some cash will fit inside. As a necklace it’s a bit bigger than I’d be comfortable wearing, but I have strung it in a way that allows it to be adaptable… or maybe it just doesn’t know what it wants to become when it grows up.

Inro necklace by Cate van Alphen

If you pull the two beads below the box the cord can be tied in a knot, shortening the necklace into a strap so it can be used like a purse with tassels below. Similarly it could be tied to a belt using a larks head knot and worn in a more traditional way.

The little red ribbon is actually of vital structural importance and replaces the netsuke in stopping the sliding bead (ojime) from falling off the top of the necklace. It took me nearly a week to come up with that! I wanted something that wouldn’t be uncomfortable at the back of the neck if worn as a necklace. I like the cheeky bit of asymmetry it adds.

 

Green set

Tags

earrings, green, handmade beads, necklace, polymer clay

Here’s an earring and necklace set I made last year, but I’ve only just taken photos of it and listed it in my Etsy store. It features some of my stained glass polymer clay beads (here’s my free tutorial for the technique).

And in other news, I am still sanding my inro.

Orange Jewellery

Tags

Cate van Alphen, earrings bracelet, jewellery, necklace, orange, polymer clay

I have been making more jewellery using some of the orange polymer clay components from my Spectrum Year. You can find these, and more, in my Folksy shop.

Spiral necklace by Cate van Alphen

Kaleidoscope humbug earrings by Cate van Alphen

Retro macrame bracelet by Cate van Alphen

Hmmm, nice warm colours! 🙂

Post Christmas Blues

Tags

blue, choker, earrings, jewellery, necklace, polymer clay, rustic

Post Christmas Blues, but in a good way ;). Here is some finished jewellery I made using my blue polymer clay components. You can find the necklace in my Folksy shop, and the earrings in my Etsy shop (or click on the images below).

Blue rustic stack bead choker by Cate van Alphen

Blue kaleidoscope earrings by Cate van Alphen

I’m trying to think of a grand finale to my Spectrum Year. I’ll certainly make SOMETHING, not sure how grand it will be though :).