These are all the polymer clay feather focals I carved, molded, and colored for my new jewelry collection.
I’m so excited to introduce my new jewelry collection – Of a Feather – featuring my hand-carved feather focals. I’ve been working on this new jewelry collection for quite a few months, making the feathers in batches according to color and finish. I’ve got aged and distressed metals, faux ceramics, metallics, and even some inspired by real birds.
Once I had all my feathers made, it took a few more weeks to come up with the designs for incorporating them into necklace, earrings, and bracelets. There are also some brooches, but they didn’t require any additional assembly because the pin backs were attached when I cured the feathers initially. And then it took me several days to take and process photos plus write item descriptions before I was ready to debut the collection in my online shop.
I must admit I procrastinated a bit on taking and processing photos. It’s not my favorite part of being a self-representing jewelry artist selling my designs online. It’s only slightly less dreary than writing the item descriptions. But, at long last, the work is done and this collection is ready to go live in my shop just in time for Small Business Saturday.
Here’s a sneak peek at all the final designs. I’m showing you the complete sets for each finish, but each piece (necklace, earrings, bracelet, etc.) will be offered separately in my shop.
The Ancient Metals Sets
I used Swellegant metal coatings to give some of my feathers a rustic aged metal finish. I added glass beads in coordinating metallic colors and antiqued metal chain to accent the feathers.
This set has a brass metal coating with a gold-green verdigris. I used Swarovski Elements glass pearls for the beaded chain and bead accents. This set includes earrings, a necklace, and bracelet.
The feathers in this set have copper metal coating with a blue and green verdigris. Metallic copper Czech glass beads were used for the beaded chain and accents. The copper chain has a rich verdigris finish as well. This set includes bracelet, necklace, and two sizes of earrings.
Most of the feathers in this set have a dark oxidized finish that accentuates the textures of the focals. I left one set of earrings in bright silver, just because. Antiqued silver plated chain, Czech glass beads, and Swarovski Elements glass pearls were used for the jewelry. This set includes two sizes of earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet.
The Faux Ceramic Sets
I made these faux ceramic feathers a little differently from the rest. They are more stylized than the others, in order to show off the faux ceramic finishes. They’re paired with Czech glass and gemstone beads on antiqued silver plated chain.
The colors on these faux ceramic feathers were inspired by actual parrot feathers. They’re paired with mosaic turquoise beads and antiqued silver plated chain. This set includes a brooch, necklace, bracelet, and earrings.
The bright pink and lavender feathers of this set were inspired by the amethyst starling. They’re paired with Czech glass beads and antiqued silver plated chain. This set includes a brooch, necklace, bracelet, and earrings.
The Metallics Sets
I used mica powders to create the shimmery metallic finishes on these sets. The blue-black set sort of also belongs to the “Nearly Natural” theme as I was trying to mimic the blue flash of raven feathers. They’re on matte black chain with Czech glass beads.
The blue-black metallic finish on these feathers is even better in person. It’s iridescent and shifts as they move. They’re paired with shimmery blue Czech glass beads on matte black chain and dark annealed steel wire. This set includes a brooch, necklace, bracelet, and earrings.
This jewel tone set has feathers hand-painted in a metallic rainbow. The focals are paired with rainbow finish Czech glass beads on matte black chain and dark annealed steel wire. The set includes a brooch, necklace, bracelet, and earrings.
The Nearly Natural Sets
The feathers in these sets were inspired by various birds, real and mythical. The colors are custom color blends of polymer clay with chalk pastel accents. They’re paired with Czech glass and gemstone beads.
These feathers were inspired by blue jays. The blue background on my feathers is a bit darker than real feathers, but I’m entitled artistic license. They’re accented with cobalt blue Czech glass beads on matte black chain and dark annealed steel wire. The set includes a brooch, necklace, bracelet, and earrings.
These deep red feathers with black tips were inspired by cardinals. They’re paired with dark red glass nuggets and red cracked glass beads on matte black chain. The set includes a brooch, necklace, bracelet, and earrings. There’s also a hair clip, but it declined to appear in the photo.
This feather was inspired by snowy owls. I didn’t make a full set for this feather – there ‘s just the necklace. The pendant hangs on beaded antiqued copper chain with creamy white magnesite beads.
This phoenix feather is a true one-of-a-kind pendant. I couldn’t recreate that pattern of yellows and oranges again no matter what I tried. I used some scrap clay to make it and the larger beads in the beaded neckline. The necklace also has Czech glass beads and antiqued copper chain. As with the snowy owl, this necklace is not part of a set. It’s a stand-alone piece.
There you have it – my newest jewelry collection. These feathers don’t look like the real thing, but they are almost as light, and definitely more durable. And, as a bonus, they’re cruelty-free. No birds were harmed in the making of this jewelry. I may continue this collection, with other finishes and effects, more “real bird” colors and patterns, and possibly more hair accessories. Or I may get distracted by some other shiny object. You never can tell. But you can definitely find the pieces shown here in my shop on Etsy …on or after Saturday, November 26, 2016.
Great looking collection. Love all the different sets and the colors.
Thanks, Cindy. I was going for the “something for everyone” assortment of colors and finishes.
Wow! You’ve been busy 🙂
So many different finishes. Amazing collection. Great job!
Thanks, Marica. I have notes for lots of other colors and effects. But this seemed like enough to call a collection. 🙂
haha I have the same problem too.
I think you launched it with a good amount of pieces and variations. And with many sets too! Something that I seem to “forget” to do usually.
Great idea! The jewelry looks amazing.
Thanks so much, Kathy.
They are all quite beautiful in their own way. I never thought so many look variations were possible with clay. my personal favorite to my surprise is the pink one
Thank you, Divya. One reason I work with polymer clay is its ability to mimic so many other things. I’m not generally a fan of pink things, but I do like that set quite a bit as well. 🙂
Wow Tammy, beautiful collection! I think the Ancient Metals are my favorite ones, but the metallic sets are really nice too.
Thank you, Deb. The collection began with those two finishes and evolved from there.
Congratulations on your beautiful new creations!
Chris Kaitlyn
Thanks so much, Chris.