Ranunculus ring giveaway results

We are happy to announce the winner of this gorgeous ranunculus ring giveaway!

  Comment #16 by France Irish was chosen as a winner, congratulations!

 Mariia (Mariia Rykhlinska) will contact you to verify your address, then your new ring will be packed and sent to your address!

Congratulations to the winner and thank you for participation, everyone!

DIY tutorial pandora style polymer clay stripped beads

Today, Daria from Dariami shop on Etsy is sharing a great DIY tutorial how to make pandora style stripped beads of polymer clay.

We need several colors of polymer clay for this project, white, brown, orange and beige.

Knead the clay and mix it in different proportions to get several different colors.

Roll the clay out to get layers with different width. You can use special equipment (pasta machine or plastic roller) or use glass bottle or hair spray bottle. It’s better to do this on a glass or ceramic surface.

Put the layers one on top of another and cut to get even edge. We got layered cube now.

Cut one side of the cube with blade to get the 2-3 mm thick slice.

Take neutral color clay for a bead core. Roll a cane a little bit longer than striped slice. We need to do this because the edges will be deformed when we make the cane thinner, so we can cut the edges off.

Cover the core with slices and smooth the slice joints down.

Now, we need to make the cane thinner. You need to press it on center and than move to the ends. Try to press all over the cane equally. The cane will become longer and thinner.

Cut the cane onto equal pieces.

Squeeze the edges of the cylinder and close the core.

Roll the clay by hands to get a ball. To avoid pattern distortion, it’s better to do it both directions equally, clockwise and opposite direction.

Make a hole using a toothpick.

Enlarge the hole with big knitting needle. To make the hole look better use eyelets. Get them on the knitting needle and press into the clay.

Bake the beads according to the instruction on the clay package. Be careful and handle beads with care, they are very hot! Let them cool, then polish and apply special polymer clay finish. Do not substitute with nail polish or acrylic finish!

Your beads are ready! You can use them for your jewelry projects now. Daria used rubber cord and metal findings to make this necklace:

Enjoy!

Interview with a Star Aleksandra VALI

Today our featured guest is Aleksandra Vali who is a member of Russian Artists Etsy team. Aleksandra creates unique and amazingly beautiful jewelry including necklaces, rings, brooches and earrings that are available at her AleksandraVALI store on Etsy.
Q: Aleksandra could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m originally from Siberia, Russia. I grew up surrounded by harsh and beautiful forests, lakes and rivers of Northern Russia. After receiving my Masters Degree from Novosibirsk State University in Novosibirsk, Russia, I worked as a ceramic artist for seven years. My experiments with clay helped me develop a feel for perfect shape, balance my design and contrast texture. My artwork has been highly praised in Russia and exhibited internationally.
Later on I moved to America where metal became a medium for my artistic expression. It was in metal that I found my true passion.
Q: Why do you think metal is so inspirational for you?
For me, metal provides a unique opportunity to create unusual and unique pieces that show my individual approach, skill and flare. Working with gold and silver allows me to experiment and make the most out of the three-dimensional form. I am able to bring my former physical knowledge of working clay into jewelry through carving, casting and smithing. I am intrigued in the complexity of edges, textures and mixed materials.

Q: Are you currently working with any other materials besides metal?
I continue experimenting with clay and create one of a kind sculptures. I like the idea of creating something unique and exclusive that cannot be replicated.

In jewelry I create collections where all the individual pieces are united by one single idea or a vision. For example my Chocolate Dessert collection or my Steam collection .

I like to experiment trying to combine materials that are deemed incompatible or looking for new shapes and ideas. The result is always unpredictable and often times incredibly beautiful.
The second year in a row American Art Collector publishes my art work. My jewelry and sculpture have been featured in numerous catalogues, magazines and art publications. I'm actively participating in art shows and exhibitions.

Here are a few of my recent shows:
2010 February, Lill Street ArtCenter, Chicago Metal Arts Guild Exhibition,Chicago, IL
2010 February, Greater Denton Arts Council, Materials: Hard & Soft, Denton, TX
2008 February, MaNa Gallery, Strictly Black & Wight Show, Chicago
2007 March, Gahlberg Gallery Exhibit, Wheaton
2007 February, A.R.C. Gallery, Chicago, Broken hart

Aleksandra, Thank you for taking your time and talking to us! Russian Artists team is honored to have such a talented and successful artist as its member!

Interviewed by Tonya Utkina at TonyaUtkina

Visart, Happy birthday!!

One of our team member has a birthday today!!!

Victoria, Happy birthday! We wish you to be happy.

Some facts about her:

- She lives in Israel
- She is jewelry and accessories designer.
- She is a self taught, self representing artist and mother.
- In her shop, there are completely one-of-a-kind artworks and jewelry.

That's what Victoria says about herself:

"I have so many designs running in my mind that I have neither intention nor time to make two pieces that are exactly the same. Therefore every creation I make is extraordinary and unique."

Happy Birthday!