[Challenge with Cabochon] Serenity Statement Necklace: Faux Stone Polymer Clay Pendant

The Studio Sublime

Hello friends and welcome to the reveal date of The Studio Sublime's 

"Creating with Cabochons" 

hosted by Ms. Sally Russick.

"Serenity Statement Necklace"

by Michelle Escaño-Caballero

se·ren·i·ty

"the state of being calm, peaceful, untroubled"
"an oasis of serenity amidst the bustling city"

Serenity Statement Necklace
Faux Stone Polymer Clay

      There is a feeling of peace and calm whenever I do something that is far beyond what my day at the office is.  I like spending time at home and being creative.  This challenge was a long process that took about 3 weeks of my free time to finish.  

I love making cabochons from polymer clay so I made 3 teardrops using the Rocky Path technique that I have shared in this blog a couple of times.  Doesn't it look like stones?

Serenity Statement Necklace
Polymer clay cabochon:   Rocky Path Technique
Faux Stone

The embroidery took about 4 nights to finish and that includes sewing and unsewing the beads. LOL.  I am happy with how it turned out but I think I will add a picot beads on the border... perhaps I will write a post blog article on that.

In the meantime, let's head over to The Studio Sublime and see more beautiful pieces.  

Our Host:  Sally Russick

D Lynne  Bowland

Alicia Marinache           

Lynn  Jobber           

Jenny Davies-Reazor           

Jen  Judd           

Jo-Ann  Woolverton           

Marde Lowe           

Dawn Doucette           

Mary K McGraw           

Gloria Allen           

Cheri  Reed           

Sonye Stille           

Elizabeth Owens Dwy           

Veralynne   Malone           

Tania Hagen           

Lynsey  Brooks           

Christina Miles           

Holly  Westfall           

Kathy  Lindemer           

Patti Vanderbloemen           

Therese Frank           

Adrienne Berry           

Liz   E  

Tanty  Sri Hartanti           

Ginger Bishop

Renetha Stanziano           

Marlene  Cupo           

Sandi Volpe           

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson           

Niky  Sayers

Mischelle Fanucchi           

Tracy  Stillman           

Skylar Bre'z           

Ann Schroeder           

Paula Kramer

Jess Green           

Susan Kennedy           

Stacie  Florer           

Cathie  Carroll           

Susan F.   

Michelle Caballero  -  You are Here  ☺     

Sabine Dittrich           

Kristina Johansson           

Kimberly Sturrup-Roberts           

Melissa  Meman           

Cheryl McCloud         

Michelle  Timms           

Cindy  Pack           

Ailsa  Cordner           

Lynda  Carson

Cynthia  Machata           

Julia  Harris           

Karin  Slaton

Ingrid  Anderson           

Karin Grosset Grange

Jasvanti  Patel   

Inge  von Roos

Molly Alexander

Toltec Jewels  

Have a wonderful day!  

♥  michelle  ♥

[Focus on Life Week 31] Hues of Blues

Hi!  It's Week 31 over at Ms. Sally Russick's Focus on Life and the prompt for this week was:

"Hues of Blues."

Let me share with you these special Origami Papers.  I love the rich, vibrant and assorted hues of blues!  these would look really good in origami projects, or as a pendant or in a handmade card layout.  Woohooo!

There are different types of origami paper:

Kami - it is the basic, easiest and cheapest to buy.  It is thin, printed on one side and is easy to fold.

Origamodo - which means "way of paper folding" is handmade paper specially created by 

Micheal Lafosse.

Paper-backed foil - it is more expensive, flashier and is good at retaining creases.

Washi - thick handmade paper usually made with long fibered and soft paper.

Chiyogami - it is an inexpensive substitute for Washi paper.

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Thank you for stopping by the blog.

See you soon!

♥  michelle  ♥

[Focus on Life Week 29] Routine showers with Mr. Water

It's Week 29 at Ms. Sally Russick's Focus on Life and this prompt is:  ROUTINE.

"Week 29: Routine

Do you have a daily routine?
A routine that you look forward to each day.
The morning cup of coffee, the runners high, what ever it may be
and even though it may be a small part of your day its a comfort,
a time to unwind just a little.
This week focus on the beauty and comfort of your
every day routine."

Meet Mr. Water.

Isn't he cute?

Mr. Water migrated to the USA from the "land down under," Australia.  He was one of my souvenirs during our visit there.  There was a drought that time and people were reminded to conserve water by watering their yard on designated days for a specified time and to take quick showers, etc - oh, there was also a small blue hourglass with rubber attachments so you can stick it on your bathroom tile  but I lost it.

It's been 2 years since but he still keeps me smiling every time I take my routine daily shower.

Speaking of taking a bath - it doesn't take me long to finish:  from shampoo, conditioner, lather with body gel and rinsing.  In fact, my husband takes a longer time and oh my sister... no one can beat her (I love you, sis!)  I trained myself to move fast when I was a young student because I've always wanted to close my eyes a little longer in the morning - until I am fully awakened by my dad or mom's voice saying "Let's Go!"  and off to the shower I go!  Oh, fun times!

Please don't stay too long in the shower.  

Be kind to Mr. Water and conserve water.

Let's head over to The Studio Sublime to see what others' routines are.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!  

It's the Bead Hoarders Blog Hop tomorrow so do come back!  See you soon!

♥  michelle  ♥

[Jewelry Challenge] The Studio Sublime's Black and White Challenge

Hello friends!   

Today is the day for the Black & White Challenge at The Studio Sublime, hosted by Ms. Sally Russick.  "The objective of the challenge was simple - to design a piece of jewelry using black and white color palette. Participants were also able to use base metal colors or crystals as accents."

 Most of my pieces are pretty much colorful hence, joining the challenge was really a challenge.  You know by now that I work with polymer clay and I love floral themes so, I made my first black and white cane.  It was a task to cleanly combine black and white polymer clay but it turned out nice.  What do you think?

I made a large focal pendant with 2 smaller flower beads on the side -  I attached a tube bead behind the flowers and stringed them using flexible beading wire.  Black wooden round, disc, beads, white square beads and a toggle clasp were added to complete the necklace.

The necklace measures 22 inches and drapes nicely on the neck.

Please pardon the poor photo quality.  It was a challenge to take photos at night using white light bulbs.  Well, that is another story.

Time to head over The Studio Sublime to see other black and white lovelies.  Thanks for stopping by Cabby Craft ♥!

List of Participants

Sally Russick

Monique Urquhart

Patti Vanderbloemen

Veralynne Malone

Duane Clark

D Lynne Bowland

Michelle Buettner

Pam Sears

Therese Frank

Dawn Doucette

Nicole Rennell

Cynthia Machata

Alice Peterson

Carolyn Lawson

Evelyn Shelby

Ailsa Cordner

Michelle Escano --- YOU ARE HERE!

Mischelle Fanucchi

Jess Green

Adrienne Berry

Lynsey Brooks

Kashmira Patel

Ann Schroeder

Marlene Cupo

Susan F.

Susan Kennedy

Kathy Lindemer

Paula Kramer

Lisa Johnson

Sandi Volpe

Donna Bradley

Karin Slaton

Jasvanti Patel

Stefanie Teufel

Liz Engriser

Christine Altmiller

Have a wonderful day!

♥  michelle  ♥

[Focus on Life Week 27] Texture

Hello there!  It's Week 27 over at Ms. Sally Russick's Focus on Life and it's all about Texture.

" From the course to the soft and fluffy, textures are always at our fingertips but we tend to be too busy to notice. Textures surround us at any given time, we sometimes just need to slow down a little and give them a little attention. Run your fingers down the hem of a quilt or pick up that dried leaf and focus on what your finger tips feel."

I like adding texture in my crafts such as this card - done with textured paper and accented with paper flowers.
A few days ago, I also shared a tutorial using dimensional adhesive.

I also use texture in my jewelry such as in this necklace where I added an embossed a Vintaj blank.  

This necklace was featured HERE.

Texture may also be applied to food and this homemade mango crab salad is full of it!  I combined lettuce, imitation crab and fresh, sweet mangoes.  The dressing was a combination of creamy garlic and Bragg's Hawaiian dressing - it tasted perfect!

Thanks for stopping by the blog.  It's time to head over to Ms. Sally's site to check on different textures.  Have fun!

Have a wonderful weekend!

♥  Michelle  ♥

[Focus on Life] Week 24: Green

Welcome back!  It's Week 24 over at Ms. Sally Russick's Focus on Life and this weeks' prompt is GREEN.  Sally described the prompt as follows:  

GREEN:  the color of balance, growth and harmony.

GREEN:  evokes the feeling of calm and symbolizes self-respect and well-being.

I totally agree with her!  To me, it means life - natural and organic.

This is the photo that I want to share with you.  Can you guess what these are?

Doesn't it resemble a bamboo tree?  

Well, these are tissue rolls that I have been saving for whatever.  My husband would laugh at me when I ask him not to discard odd stuff for me especially when I tell him that I will be using them one day - I think he hasn't realized that I am just recycling and trying to save the environment.  Hahaha!

Well, the day has come for these rolls.  I mixed green and black acrylic then painted them to look like the bamboo trunk.  For added interest, I added a white paper quilled white flower matted on a textured yellow cardstock.  I like how it stands out, looks very fresh.

Now, let's head over to Sally's blog and check out the other "green stuff."

Have a wonderful weekend!

♥  michelle  ♥