Studio Saturday at Art Bead Scene

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

This weeks winner is Debra Dezinez, Congratulations! You have won a $30 Gift Certificate to Heather's newly redesigned website. 

Send Heather an e-mail with your email address and she will get it right out to you.

This week we visit the studio of Tari Sasser at 

Creative Impressions In Clay.

Welcome to Oslo!

I went to visit my daughter and grandchildren in Oslo, Norway. This is the view from the dock at the end of her lane. She is 2 houses from the water on Bygdøy. Norway is such a beautiful country.

Not your normal thoughts of going to the beach. Usually you think of sun and sand, warmth, not cold  with snow and ice.

Had an egg hunt in the snow and ice. But it was sunny!

  

I stayed with my grandchildren so their parents could have alone time in Spain. 

We went to the Folk Museum.

 

We went to the Vigeland Sculpture Park in Frogner or the Naked People Park, is what my grandchildren call it.

Drove over the border to Sweden.

Took a Mini Cruise to Copenhagen Denmark.

View from the ship. I circled my daughters house as we are leaving Oslo.

Sun is setting on Sweden as we cruise to Denmark.

We walked up a spiral brick walk inside a church tower to get a view of Copenhagen.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig.

My question today is:

Have you had a trip inspire your creativity?

Leave a comment answering the question at Art Bead Scene and you could win a Lotus Button. I was making these my last Studio Saturday post. 

Feeling Sassy as usual!

Tari Sasser

Creative Impressions In Clay

Studio Saturday with Creative Impressions In Clay

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

This weeks winner is Meadowland Designs, Congratulations! You have won a Peacock Pendant. 

Send Erin an e-mail with your email address and she will get it right out to you.

This week we visit the studio of Tari Sasser at 

Creative Impressions In Clay.

I wanted to show you buttons that have yet to make it to my website. Why haven't they made it there, you say? It takes time and usually updating my website is at the bottom of the list because it's so very time consuming. Granted it needs a major overhaul but there are certain things you dread, and for me, that is one of them.

One of my favorite customers is a wholesale customer. Lucy at the Cheshire Cat in Vermont. Lucy has been designing her own line of clothing for many years, starting out with a children's clothing. She and I have been working together for maybe 6 years. OK, I can't remember how long, I've slept since then. Sometimes she chooses buttons from my existing button collections and other times I create new ones. The next three photos are of new ones I designed for her. She gives me a color palette to use and I go from there. I glazed the bees originally with eyes and that didn't fly so we went with them being implied and a brighter yellow. The Birds and the Bees and it's all Rosy...or something like that. 

There's no place like home. The original design is the round bottom button. Instead the final version is a more childlike interpretation. The house has since been made as an ornament in the size shown and a super size version as well.

I love to travel! The travel collection of buttons. I am missing one that I couldn't find, it's a Route 66 Sign button. We have an old suitcase with all the travel stickers, a License Plate with LUV2TRVL and a Stamp. The stamp is a combination piece. She wanted a car and a stamp so I found an old stamp design that combined both. As you can imagine carving some of these designs take a lot of time. You then hope your mold pouring skills are up to par the day you make the mold and you don't get any bubbles so you then have to repair the mold. Next is glazing the color combinations and applying them. On the dimensional buttons can be not only a challenge but time consuming. Efficiency counts to make a profit. For some of my design they just take time and there isn't a way around it.


These were made for one of Art Bead Scene's Monthly Challenges. Based on Kandinsky's Farbstudie Quadrate. I believe there were 6 originally. I love the art of Kandinsky.


Since I make buttons, I attend fiber shows. A lot of my items are geared towards the Needle Arts Community. Above is a two-sided magnetic item. Trying not to call it a needleminder since the name is copyrighted. One part goes on the back of your canvas or quilt and the other goes on the front. It stays put along with your pins and needles. Or it can be set next to you as you work and still minds your pins and needles.


These were a custom order from early in my button making. A woman in California who made hats needed specialized designs that became pins. Along with shells was an Octopus and a Mermaid. I still have the molds but these will most likely never be made again except for the Mermaid. She appears these days as an ornament.


It's a cabochon of a different color. Special order for a beading artist. Lots of cabs in many colors and designs.
If you didn't know all of my buttons can be made as cabs, pins, pendants or with as many holes or loops in any place on the button. Since each is made individually these options are possible.

My question today is:
What do you want to see for Studio Saturday?

Do you like Studio Saturdays? Should we continue? Are we doing it right or wrong? Do you only want tutorials? Not of interest you? 
I ask this because when you only get 5-10 comments for Studio Saturday you wonder if its you or the content.

Leave a comment answering the question on Art Bead Scenes Blog and you could win 3 Cabochons. 

Feeling Sassy as usual!

Tari Sasser

Creative Impressions In Clay

Studio Saturday with Creative Impressions In Clay on Art Bead Scene

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

This weeks winner is Shaiha, Congratulations! You have won a digital copy of Erin's Bohemian Knotted Earrings TUTORIAL. The PDF file will be sent to the winner via email once I receive the winner's email address.

Send Erin an e-mail with your email address and she will get it right out to you.

This week we visit the studio of Tari Sasser at 

Creative Impressions In Clay.

I didn't have time to participate in the ornament blog hop.
So, I thought I would make one for Studio Saturday.

Lets start with cutting the top and bottom off of 2 Sprite cans.
Cut the can in half lengthwise. Cut those two in half, you should have 4 strips. Cut the 4 strips in half.
8 strips total from one can, 16 from 2 cans.

I drew out a shape on a piece of 1/4" luan plywood. My darling husband cut it out for me on the bandsaw. Put a wash of green on the tree and brown on the trunk.


You need a wicked sharp pair of scissors. Cut your strips of the aluminum can into scallops.


Start from the bottom and layer (like shingles on a roof) your scalloped strips using a glue gun or in my case, since I couldn't find the glue gun, double backed carpet tape. Bend over the edges to the backside. This may take a bit of coercing on the sides of the tree so the strips on the back are straight.
Keep layering and overlapping your strips till you reach the top.


Fully layered tree. I then applied Modge Podge and sprinkled fine pearlescent glitter on the tree so it looks frosted. You may choose not to do this step.


I used Vintaj 25mm Altered Blanks, metal stamps and acrylic paint for the topper. A wooden dapping block was used to round the disk. The tree is decorated with my charms and felt balls from Ornamentea. I put a jump ring through the disk, added 10" of ribbon, a glass donut and a decorative copper ornament hook. Voila!

My question today is:
What Makes you happy?

I love to create! It keeps me happy. I haven't had much time in my studio lately but take the time when you can. My job lets me create displays for art. Plus I get to be around art everyday. Happy, Happy!

Leave a comment on Art Bead Scene's Blog answering the question and you could win a snowflake button. 

Holiday Collection

Feeling Sassy as usual!

Tari Sasser

Creative Impressions In Clay

Art Bead Scene: Studio Saturday - Creative Impressions In Clay

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

This weeks winner is Claire Maunsell Congratulations! You have won a three pendants from Jennifer Jangles!

Send Jennifer an e-mail with your address and she will get it right out to you.

This week we visit the studio of Tari Sasser at 

Creative Impressions In Clay.

It's summer. My daughter and grandchildren have been in the country for nearly a month and will be leaving Tuesday to go back to Oslo. How could time go so fast?
The goings on in the studio have been slow. I've been working on glazing orders in between grandchildren running in. They love coming in to the studio where "grandma lady" works, "yets go to the tudio." There is a stash of licorice that is the incentive to go there more often. Alexander, 3, points to everything and tells me "my do dat when my bigger." He is hilarious. He will be using pliers, wire cutters, drills, pottery wheel and other assorted tools when "my is bigger." My will miss them very much come Tuesday.
Summer is filled with shows for many. Busy, busy, busy. Mine is filled with children and not much time in the studio. I would love to start to do more shows but I wouldn't trade my time with my grandchildren for anything!


My question this week is:
How is your summer going?


Leave a comment at Art Bead Scene answering the question. You could win a "Goddess Bless You" button.

Feeling sassy as usual.

Tari Sasser

Creative Impressions In Clay

Studio Saturday at Art Bead Scene

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

This weeks winner is Andra. Congratulations! You have won a new Flower Pendant from Heather of Humblebeads.
Send Heather an e-mail with your address and she will get it right out to you.

This week we visit the studio of
 Tari Sasser at Creative Impressions In Clay.

Happy Saturday and welcome to all!

I have been long overdue to make something new. I saw a bracelet with similar construction. In my mind I figuring out, can it be made out of clay? The answer is yes! Truthfully, I like mine better. The ones I saw had a very messy solder job on the back. Of course I'm thinking I can fire the wire into the clay then there isn't messy soldering involved. The clay pieces needed to be thick enough for the wire to go all the way through but not too thick to look bulky. 

Being the last minute person that I am, I hand formed these Thursday night, fired them last night and put the bracelet together this morning. Most events are like this for me. I formulate a plan, mull over it for far too long before it materializes. More tweeking needs to be done as with anything new. For a first time prototype of sorts, not bad if I do say so myself. They remind me of bugs with antennae. 

So, I know have Connector Bugs.  I think these would work with most of my button designs too.

My question is:

Do you see these as individual pieces for your creations or just put together as jewelry pieces?

Do you like or dislike them? Other color schemes that would good?

Answer my questions at ArtBeadScene and you could win the Connector Bug shown above.

To the potential winner, I am leaving the country for 3 weeks (I'm going to Norway!) next Wednesday. You may have to wait till I return for your prize to be shipped. That is unless I can convince my husband to put it in the mail.

Feeling sassy as usual.

Tari Sasser

Creative Impressions In Clay

Studio Saturday with Claybuttons at Art Bead Scene

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

This weeks winner is ErinS. Congratulations! You have won a Holiday Pendant from Jennifer Heynen of Jangles. 
Send Jennifer an e-mail with your address and she will get it right out to you.

This week we visit the studio of
 Tari Sasser at Creative Impressions In Clay.

Happy Saturday to all and welcome to the glamorous life of buttons! Wait, it's glamorous?! I didn't get that memo. Above is what I have been working on. Snowflakes and Alpacas...sexy (hmmm, right.) 

Clay is a muddy business and it only became remotely sexy with the movie Ghost. Believe me, Demi Moore I am not. Most potters detest even hearing that reference. 

I haven't thrown on my wheel for quite a while but really need to just for therapy. Like Calgon, take me away. There are times you need to have your mind go somewhere besides the task at hand.

Or the mess at hand. This is the usual mess on my work counter. Take your arm and push any and everything to the side so you can begin another project. At some point you will have the time to clean up the mess. 

Time is something I haven't had a lot of in my studio. I have started working outside of the studio. Something I haven't done for many, many years. You do what you have to do. 

I work at a wonderful gallery. What better place to be than a gallery and be able to look at art all day. It's an American Art and Craft Gallery. Yes, some of my jewelry is being sold there. 

I get to explain how items are made and techniques used. I love that part of my job and it helps customers understand what is put into making art. Along with the prices that go with the art.

The owner of the gallery uses Wholesalecrafts (lots) and also attends shows to purchase items for the gallery. I just realized yesterday that she placed an order with our own Virginia Miska. 

Since I am now uber curious to learn about Wholesalecrafts, 

My question(s) is:

Do you use wholecrafts.com? Is it worth the cost? Has it been a successful tool?

Do you vend at any of the wholesale shows to sell and market your art?

Answer one of my many questions on Art Bead Scene's blog and you could win the Celtic Buttons shown above.

My sincere apologies to the winner of my last Studio Saturday. 

I have misplaced your info, could you please resend. 

Feeling sassy as usual.

Tari Sasser

Creative Impressions In Clay

Studio Saturday with Claybuttons at Art Bead Scene

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

This weeks winner is fantayzya. Congratulations! You have won flower stackers from Jennifer Heynen of Jangles. 

Send Jennifer an e-mail with your address and she will get it right out to you.

This week we visit the studio of
 Tari Sasser at Creative Impressions In Clay.

Happy Saturday! I'm going to continue with Jennifer's theme from last Saturday on organization.
Until recently my studio has been an absolute disaster. Meaning there was a path from the door to computer and counter where I worked. To get anywhere else you had to step over or do the sideways shuffle to find anything. It was bad. The picture above shows the beginning of the organization. The shelves (missing the doors) on the left are holding my glazes and molds plus other things that don't belong, just so I could make a path. It was a HUGE job. There are still random items sitting on the counters but it going to have to wait. 
In cleaning this monstrous mess I hurt my back. Seems I can no longer dead lift boxes of clay. Never used to be a problem. When did this happen? When did I get old or to a state where I couldn't lift and pay dearly for it? I was in shock the following morning. I am not the kind of person that likes to be down or sickly and not do for myself. It is getting better, but I am impatient!

The counter where I make and glaze buttons. Wow, who lined up those glaze bottles!
I know you're jealous of my newly tie dyed curtains. Fun, funky and functional! Groovy too!

I moved my desk to the other end of the studio. Shelves are in it's place. You can see the eye painting from school days or "the creepy eye picture" as my daughter calls it, One of the many pieces I unrolled and clipped to the easel. My son keeps waiting for more art treasures to be uncovered to hang in the house.
I can now get to easel! *Snoopy Dance* The pottery wheel is just below it.
This side of the room is "possibilities." Things uncovered with the possibility of now being able to paint or throw on the wheel again. I love possibilities!

My question this:
What possibilities do you have or might have?
An opportunity? A show?

Leave a comment at Art Bead Scene and you could win one of the Four Circle components.
Use it as a connector, a pendant maybe a clasp...possiblities!

Feeling Sassy as usual!
Tari Sasser
Creative Impressions In Clay