Alicia and Katy shared my necklace on jtv.com/extra on Wednseday! The hashtag was heavymetal.
It’s at 1:07, approximately, into the show. Katy commented on my signature. The flowers were inspired by Susan Thomas of JTV.
Jan18
Author Archives: karlakrafts
Jan14
Proud Grandma!
On a recent visit to see my grandchildren, I took along some wire, cutters and pliers. Peter James, age nearly nine, made me this “fringe” necklace.
I explained the basic technique, and away he went!
He engineered the closure, too.
The fringe sort of forms a heart!
(The sticker is a reward from my granddaughter for completing a fairy puzzle while she was teaching. I was Pre-K Karla!!)
Jan7
Polymer and Putty
Today’s experiment:
The blue butterfly above is a carved piece of clam shell from China. I made a mold of it from Amazing Mold Putty (yellow,) and cast it with Sculpey Soufflé in black.
I’ve used the Soufflé before and thought its extra soft texture would make it easier to fill the mold. I trimmed the excess with scissors and a box cutter. I have not baked it, yet.
Here’s the mold putty: 
Jan5
Big Decisions, Big Changes
I love this magazine. I hoped someday Mama’s House would be featured.
My mother-in-law passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 22, 2018. My husband had been caring for her almost every day. Now, we are free to move near our grandchildren.
I still don’t have Mama’s House set up completely as I want it, but I was getting close. 
I’ve not gotten to teach in it as much as I planned, either. 
I would’ve liked to have a stained glass studio in the basement in front of glass doors that face south. I also thought about moving my soap station to the back of the basement where there’s a utility sink. I don’t like the idea of glass and soap on the same floor, though.
I’ve bragged repeatedly about how great it is to use my mom’s glass range top and hood for jewelry making.
It is not going to be easy to pack up and sell out. 
Maybe I should keep it and rent it. Then, in 12 years when PJ’s in college and Vivi’s driving, I could move back and give it another try. I’ll be 74. I wonder if I’ll be able to see and use my hands to craft.
Decisions, decisions.
Dec29
Living Coral
is the Pantone color of the year, and look what i just won on eBay!
It’s carved from jasper, not coral, but the color is great. I think I’ll hang it from Kumihimo or Chirimen neckcord. I wonder if I can find or make a rose gold bail.
Dec26
Merry Christmas to Me!
For Christmas, I asked for a year’s subscription to Bluprint that included access to all Craftsy classes and 12 classes to keep!
Dec17
Better?
I changed the middle tassel on my gold pendant from mismatched chain to antique gold silk. I think I like it better.
I swapped the bead above the center tassel, too.
Before:
I also hung it from a gold-plated lantern chain.
I might swap the chain for a heavier one, too. Then I’ll price it and list it in my shop.
Dec13
Going for Gold
When I spotted this swirling gold focal component in Candie Cooper’s Etsy shop, I knew it’d be great for capturing a Czech glass button.
I auditioned several and decided on this amber swirly one: 
The chain tassels, I had on hand. All are from Michael’s. The middle one had to be removed from a lip shell and is a slightly different shade of faux gold. I may swap it out for a gold silk one before I’m finished.
I am pleased with it, and especially with the back:
The Czech button had a metal shank. I snipped it away with shears and filed it with a diamond file.
I wasn’t particularly pleased with the looks of that, so I hunted one of my tiny brass hummingbird stampings:
A little E6000 and ta-da!
A heavy gold bail and chain, and I might consider this one finished!
The enamel on the hand pressed button, is 24K, by the way!
Dec8
A Wreath of Cranberries
I wanted a red bracelet, and couldn’t decide which of two designs to try, so I tried them both. I’ve posted the first. Here’s the second: 
I wasn’t finished, but when the sun hit it this afternoon, I had to take its picture! 
Several times! 
I bought a kit of Softflex beading wire from Jewelry Television, and it included garnet-colored, medium diameter wire. I bought the assortment of wire because it included silver and gold-plated. I wound up intrigued with the garnet.
I used the wire as a “carry-a-long” in the first red bracelet I made.
In this one, it’s the “main frame.”
I used three strands, an assortment of translucent beads, and gold colored findings, including a magnetic clasp.
I have enough materials to make another one, and I may write a little tutorial so I can remember how I made it. I think it’s very photogenic!
I like it so much, I’m wearing it, right now, with my pajamas!
Dec5
I discovered a cover up!
This is possibly my favorite of all the things I make:
There is one little part I don’t like, though, the button shank: 
(It looks like a cat’s nipple.)
Now, you could argue it’s on the inside of the locket and doesn’t matter, but I still don’t like it. (It looks like a cat’s nipple.)
I have some tiny brass stampings I could use to cover it, but they are all too flat. I needed something more dapt, or concave.
Then it hit me, I could use a bead cap! Ta-da!
A little glue, and no more cat’s nipple. It’s a pasty. There might be one for sale on my shop page!Karla Krafts