About Me

ClaireCreations
a small town in far western NC, North Carolina, United States
I love to work with seed beads, weaving them into works of art to wear as bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and more. I also create art from gourds - I very seldom make birdhouses, but do make beautiful vases, lidded containers, bowls, oil lamps, dolls, masks, and more. Woodburning, or pyrography, is another of my creative outlets - I work on wood, leather, and paper. Much of my work is for sale at my Etsy shop (see link) above - or you can contact me directly (see my full profile). I have many items that are not listed on Etsy. Most are available for purchase. Please contact me through e-mail for information on prices and shipping. I accept Paypal or money orders. I'll also be happy to work with you on custom orders. Just tell me what you want and I'll try to accomodate. And thanks for looking! *Please note that these are my original designs and are copyrighted. Please do not copy my designs. Thank you for your artisic integrity and consideration.
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Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Bulky Serpentine Necklace


One more today. As a change from wrapping wire and beading, I thought I'd try something with these pretty big and bulky serpentine beads I picked up a a show earlier this year. Here's what I came up with. The stones are linked with short sections of brass cable chain and large, thin brass links. The drop at the center is an old Chinese coin I had in my collection of 'stuff.'
Now, it's back to working on the beadwoven bracelet I started the other day. (I'll have to post the picture later. Just got an error message and it won't upload.)

And here's one I did before watching the Reuther video. It's not wire sculpture, it's wrapping, but my own invention. First, I made a squiggle with square wire, well, actualy, first I pushed a piece of 26 ga copper wire through the back of this very unusual stone (I have no idea what it is). It is not drilled, but there was a sort of hole in the back with two openings, one very, very tiny.
Once I had the squiggle done, I wired the stone to it using 26 ga wire, then decided to wrap 26 ga wire around the squiggle and across the stone to brace it. It is suspended on a copper chain.

Wow, I'm posting twice in one week. A record for me. While I still am enthralled with my beadweaving, I'm also doing quite a bid of wire wrapping, mostly with copper, but a little with sterling silver. Last night I watched a Preston Reuther video on wire sculpture, so of course, had to rush down to my studio this morning to try it out. Here's my first attempt at wire sculpture based on what I learned watching the video.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009




I haven't been here in too long, but here I am. Thought I'd post some pics of some of my latest work. I'm still doing my beadweaving, but am doing quite a bit of wire works.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008


Here's the finished Goddess. I've listed her on Etsy.
Changes I made since the last post: I added one more beaded dichroic focal at the bottom and I added the Kumihimo neck rope, which is woven with Sulky thread (just like silk).
BeadLilly commented on one of my freeform bracelets, saying I have a 'gift' for freeform. Thank you, BeadLilly. I do love freeform because I can do whatever seems right at the moment and don't have to worry about being consistent or following a pattern -- which seems difficult for me to do.
By the way, I've recently joined another selling site -- DaWanda. It's based in Europe: England, France, Germany, but there are people there from all over. Prices are listed in Euros.
Not much action there yet, but the interface is really user friendly.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

new freeform project


Well, here's my newest freeform project - she told me she WAS NOT a bracelet. She said she is a large neck adornment-not really a necklace or pendant, but an adornment. What do you think calling it that?
She got too fat too quickly to be a bracelet and she told me her face would shine better on someone's chest than on someone's wrist.
So now I'm working on sort of evening her out. Don't know how I got that fold on the left side, but would like to get one on the other side to complement it. But I don't know how I did it. And I could not rip out any part of this unless I cut the whole thing apart because the beads and stitches go every which way (but loose) and the thread paths are totally mixed up.
I just go bead by bead, attaching one to the next in whatever fashion seems to fit smoothly. Mostly it's peyote, but there's some brick and ladder worked in in places.
And now that I've decided to make her a neck adornment, I don't know what kind of rope to make and don't know how or where to attach it.
Guess I could make her a broach, but I don't think broaches sell as well as necklaces. Hmm,
just had a thought. Maybe I'll put one of those convertable pin-backs on her, the kind that can be worn as a broach or a pendent. Then either use a nice piece of ribbon or make a Kumihimo strap for her rather than a beaded rope.
Your suggestions and opinions are welcome. Thanks.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

my previous freeform bracelet


This is last freeform bracelet I made. Never got a chance to list it in my Etsy shop because it sold at a show a few days after I finished it. Meant to post it here, but apparently didn't, so here it is.