Thursday, May 28, 2015

Painting Hummingbird Pendants in 5 Easy Steps by Dry Gulch



https://www.etsy.com/listing/233527437/octopus-pendant-antique-brass-hand https://www.etsy.com/listing/233633846/dragonfly-pendant-antique-brass-hand https://www.etsy.com/listing/233605805/dragon-pendant-silver-plated-hand


In today's blog post, we're excited to show you a little step-by-step about our painting process!  We hand-paint all of our pendants and charms, and then seal with resin for an enamel effect.  Let's get started!

Materials:

♦ A charm or pendant needing some color (any metal will do)
♦ Vintaj Patinas (you can find these on our website at www.drygulch.com)
♦ Resin sealer (we use Ice Resin, found on our website at www.drygulch.com)
♦ Paintbrush
♦ Paper towel
♦ Cup of water
♦ Sanding block (optional, this creates a distressed look)

Step 1:

Vintaj Patinas work just like an acrylic or watercolor paint; they mix well with each other and can be used with water to dilute and extend the paint.  We wanted our hummingbird to look like a traditional Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, so we started by mixing greens, blues and yellows for the body.  Tip: To get the effect of changing colors for the hummingbird body, don't mix the green-blue-yellow on your palette; instead load the tip of the paintbrush with the colors so that they can deposit onto the pendant in layers.

 

 

 

Step 2:

After we added the green to the body,we started to add red and orange for the throat.  This was treated in the same fashion as Step 1; red, yellow and orange were loaded onto the brush so they could deposit in layers onto the throat.

 










Step 3:

Next came the wings and tail base coats.  We used the Bronze metallic Vintaj Patina with lots of water for a more watercolor-like wash over the wings.  I also added some green and black.  We just wanted a translucent feel to the wings, so the more water added to the paint the better for this effect.











Step 4:

Now the fun part; details!  Using white paint and a tiny brush, we added a white eyebrow, belly stripe and tail tips.  A little black was added for the beak and eyes.  Touch-ups were added with more green, yellow and metallic paints.  There's so much color and detail to a humming bird, so working slowly in layers and adding water where a watercolor effect was wanted helps to build that illusion of detail.







Step 5:

Now this is optional, but we love to distress our painted creations for that vintage look.  Take a sanding block and lightly scratch at your hummingbird.  The underlying metal will shine through the paint and bring forth that dash of vintage flair.











That's it! 

Your painted creation is complete!  And dashing as ever, too.  The final step is adding a sealer.  This must be done because the Vintaj Patinas will flake off over time otherwise.  There are several sealers on the market; like Ice Resin or Vintaj Patina Sealer Glaze.  Now you have a bit of hand-painted flair ready to use in your jewelry designs!

http://www.drygulch.com/crystalabemeraldabbutterflysilverplatedpendant-1-1-1-2-1-1-1-1-1-2-1-1.aspx



Saturday, May 2, 2015

2015 Bead Peeps Swap N' Hop Reveal!

http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/


The Dry Gulch gals are excited to reveal our creations for the 2015 Bead Peeps Swap N' Hop!  Hosted by Linda Anderson at FromtheBeadBoard.blogspot.com, the Bead Peeps Swap N' Hop is an event were we swap beads with our partners, create jewelry with the beads, and then reveal what we created!  For this Swap, Dry Gulch was partnered with Annica Larsson from Zestyfrog.wordpress.com.  We sent her a collection of pastel colored fibers, handmade pendants, lampwork and stones.  Annica sent us a great earthy mix of her own handmade ceramic beads and pendants.

  

Without further ado, here are our creations made with Annica's collection!  There are four of us Dry Gulch girls, and we each took pieces of Annica's swap mix and began creating. 

 

First up is Deborah's creation!  This necklace features Annica's Raku fired ceramic pendant and red leather.  Deborah added wooden cheetah print beads and crystal chain, and Cat stamped a small dangle charm that says "... Courage dear Heart...".

 

Next up is a necklace made by Gianna!  Using Annica's lampwork leaves and quartz drops, Gianna made a chain necklace using frames that she soldered together!  The frames were definitely tough to make, lots of filing and making sure the corners joined up well.  The little boxes give extra dimension to the electro-plated quartz.


Jennifer took several of the Czech glass beads and semi-precious stones that Annica sent and created a multi-strand bracelet.  So earthy!


Catherine created two pieces for the Swap!  The first showcases a handmade metal-smithed pendant made by Cat using sawing techniques on copper.  It also has little handmade ceramic drops from Annica.  Also included is leather, sea glass and vintage seam-binding ribbon.  Cat has been on an asymmetry kick lately, and this piece definitely shows that!


Catherine's second piece was made with the amethyst, wooly wire and geode slice from Annica.  Cat also added sea glass nuggets to the necklace.  This is Cat's favorite of the two, probably because purple is her favorite color!  The swirlies on the geode were made with iron wire.

Thank you to Annica for being our Swap partner!  And thank you to Linda Anderson for this fabulous event.  Hop on over to all the other Peeps' blogs and see what they're doing.  Thank you!


Bead Peeps Swap N Hop 2015 
Partner List  

 Our Hostess: Linda Anderson from http//:fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com

 

Linda Anderson http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Marica Zammit http://www.beadlovelies.com
Jessica Hocutt https://faithfamilyandadventure.wordpress.com
Kristina Hahn Eleniak http://www.peacockandlime.wordpress.com
Debbie Jeffries http://wordpress/debrasdivinedesigns/blog.com
Rosantia Petkova http://bairozan.blogspot.com/
Shalini Austin http://jewellerybyshalini.co.uk/my-blog/
Catherine La Vite http://drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
Annica Larsson http://zestyfrog.wordpress.com/
Lori Schneider http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/
Divya N http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com
Mowse Doyle http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com
Fay Wolfenden http://torchfairy.blogspot.com
Kathy Lindemer http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Claire Fabian http://saraccino.blogspot.de/
Janice Warden Bergeron http://thejewelryroom.blogspot.ca
Natalie Davidson http://www.northshoredays.com
Deb Fortin http://www.studiok24.blogspot.ca
Inge von Roos http://ingetraud.wordpress.com
Karen Mitchell http://overthemoon-design.com
Robin Reed http://willowdragon.blogspot.com
Marie Covert http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca
Nan Smith http://www.wirednan.blogspot.ca
Johana Nunez http://artincendi.com
Kelly Hosford Patterson http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/
Lori Blanchard http://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com
Sue  Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Shai Williams http://shaihasramblings.com
Niky Sayers http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Melissa Trudinger http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Candida Castleberry http://www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
Erin Guest http://www.renlish.com
Nicole Rennell http://nicolerennell.com/blog
Ien Temaluru http://ienmaginationsjewelry.wordpress.com
Robin Showstack http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/
Sam Waghorn http://palemooncreation.blogspot.co.uk
Marianne Baxter http://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com
Shai Williams http://shaihasramblings.com
Lee Koopman http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Jayne Capps http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com
Marti Conrad http://marticsclay.blogspot.com
Tina Bosh http://bookbug-somanybookssolittletime.blogspot.com/
Eleanor Thomas http://woolywireetc.blogspot.com
Jeanne Steck http://www.gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com
Gloria Allen http://www.wingsandbeads.blogspot.com
Rachel Mallis http://www.mintmonarch.com/#!blog/c1jlz
Andrea Glick http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
Stephanie Stamper http://skwds.blogspot.com
Chris Haussler http://pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Betony Maiden http://www.beadwenches.blogspot.com/
Kari Asbury http://hippiechickjewelrydesign.com/blog/
Jenny Kyrlach http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
Colleen Foley http://colleenfoleycreations.blogspot.com
Marybeth Rich http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/
Marcy Lamberson http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell http://www.deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Ginny Lones http://www.Skippingintotheunknown.blogspot.com
Maria Rosa Sharrow http://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Loretta Carstensen http://designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
Dolores Raml http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com
Michelle McCarthy http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Louise McCormick-Glazier http://jewelrytreasuresbylouise.blogspot.com/
Heather Richter http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
Tammy Adams http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
Shirley Moore http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Seed Beaders
Susanne Stelljes http://pearlify.blogspot.de
Sheila Prosterman http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com
Pallavi Asher http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in/
Jami Shipp http://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com
Peggy Kosier http://www.kosydesigns.blogspot.ca/
Andra Weber http://andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com
Catherine King http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Krafty Max http://kraftymax.com
Sierra Barrett http://giraffecanhas.wordpress.com
Lois Sherwood http://thiznthat5454blog.wordpress.com
Katy Heider http://onthepondcreations.blogspot.com
Rebecca Robertson   (White) http://morganafeycreations.121hub.com/
Heather Richter http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
Brandy Collier http://bhjewelry.wordpress.com
Stephanie Haussler http://www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Lori Blanchard http://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com
Kathleen Breeding http://99bobotw.blogspot.com
Becky Pancake http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/
Tami Norris https://jewelrybytami.wordpress.com/
Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/
Peggy Johnson http://charmbarn.blogspot.com