from my sketchbook.

Over the last few weeks, I've been working taking simple forms from my sketchbook and translating them into stamps for my beads and pendants. This marks a change in how I've been working. While cleaning out my studio, I went back through my older sketchbooks and saw the way I used to work out ideas in my head, specifically for a painting. I realized this is not the same way that I work with polymer clay.

I decided to try and work the same way and I would if I were working on a painting.


 I took this simple shape and drew a design to be reproduced in a hand carved stamp.
 Here are some of the stampings in progress. While I'm carving, I periodically test out the stamp, to check where I need to remove more material.

Here is one pendant that has been baked but not finished (left) and one on the right that has been finished. (right)


This marks a poignant change in the way that I've been thinking about my process as it relates to bead-making. I'm really excited to see where this takes me.

Have a great Sunday!

Barbara Bechtel is a bead and jewelry designer and mixed media artist residing in Merritt Island, FL. You can read more about her at her blog, Second Surf.