Welcome! Here it is – reveal day for the “Creating with Cabochons” hop hosted by Sally Russick.
The challenge was to create using cabochons – no holes! I admit – I use cabochons, and make ceramic cabochons frequently. I wanted to challenge myself to set cabs four ways: 1. tabs 2. a soldered bezel 3. polymer 4. seed beads.
I know that sounds crazy – and it was! I havent soldered a bezel since my metal smithing days in college. I want desperately to reclaim those skills, and I will – but it did not happen in time for this hop. I have set cabs in polymer before — with a textured clay bezel. My favorite is using tabs. I like the challenge of designing tabs that are decorative and functional. And I love sawing. But let me show you what I DID accomplish…
Cab #2 – just beginning. Porcelain cab/my work – irregular shape.
My tab set cabs. ( All my work – polymer Ganesh, stoneware butterflies and Green Man foliate head). I was using brass for a change, and left it shiny! Not my usual preference, but I was trying to challenge myself…
Athena’s owl ( earthenware cab, repro of antique drachma coin) The first attempt. Its a little wonky – a few beads sticking out of line here and there. I learned peyote stitch 10+ years ago when I worked at The Shepherdess in San Diego. Never did bezels until now… I adore the painterly aspect of choosing bead colors to accentuate the ceramic glaze!
Full disclosure! I had an assist from Cooky Schock – she was in town for Beadfest and we had a few days of “Art Camp” before she headed home to SD. (She was my original peyote stitch teacher, BTW!) She gave me valuable insight into finishing the backs on my pieces.
From top right: 1. bezel complete – stitched onto pollon in lieu of Stiff Stuff. 2/3. The back plain and then with pellon stitched down. 4. Ultrasuede stitched down! 5. first owl cab with messy stitched sueded cloth. compared to the final of the three cabs with the clean presentable backing!
The final three peyote stitched cabochons. I am pleased with how they came out! It was new to me – even though I had tried peyote stitch in the past… and its very exciting to have a chance to use my own work in such a different context. While I dont know if I will ever switch to seed beads completely – I am glad to have them in my repertoire. I often sit and bead while watching tv… I am so glad Sally threw down this challenge!
Looking forward to seeing all the diverse cabs put to use on this Hop! Here are the participants! Before you go – I would love to hear your thoughts! And thanks for stopping by…
Your Host: Sally Russick
Jenny Davies-Reazor ( you are here)
Jenny Davies-Reazor 
Oooh! I really want to learn how to set with tabs! Yours are a perfect setting for the organic style cabochons, which are gorgeous, too.
Lynda @ Fresh Baked Designs
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Melissa Manley has great tab setting ideas in her book Metals Lab. She helped my vision of tabs come to life…
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Great way to challenge yourself! Such diverse methods. They are wonderful!
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I love the variety of techniques that you used.
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I love your cabs…I have never added the backing to mine, not that I have made many, but I really like how it completes the pieces. Your stoneware pieces are really fun too. Great job on those tab cabs… 🙂
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I’m so impressed with how you challenged yourself! Beautiful cabs, and such a great variety of techniques. I would love to be able to use metal like that, but I’ve given up the idea of ever working with seed beads. I do enjoy looking at other’s work though!
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Thanks Ann – I dount I will ever do any more than peyote with seed beads. Peyote is organized, makes sense. I like the structure since needle and thread are outside my comfort zone.
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You would love sawing! And I envy your tab settings, I have not attempted tabs yet. But that is probably because my dislike of sawing.
Your beading you did around the cabs are fantastic! I am really getting excited about the polymer class at ArtBLISS!!
Jenny, thank you so much for participating in the challenge. I think this is my favorite hop thus far!!
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Hee Hee Come over – have art camp with me and we can saw all day! I am also getting UBER excited for ArtBliss! See you soon!Thanks for another great hop – and for making me break out my seed beads!
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I love your tab set cabs, I would love to learn how to work with metal and your first attempts at bead bezeling are great. I love the textures and colors!
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Thanks Karin – tabs are a fav of mine… ;-D
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Wow…your cabs with the seed bead bezels are gorgeous…you perfectly captured the rustic/organic nature of the cabs with seed beads..no easy feat!
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Thanks Staci – although I feel still a bit akward needle in hand – the selection of the seed beads is the best part! Its like painting …
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Oh, goodness, seed beads really give me the fear-shakes! But I am so jealous of the beauty of these pieces…. and those tab set lovelies? yes, please! 🙂
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Thanks Holly! Really – if you wanted to try seed beads Peyote stitch is pretty safe. The beads lock in place like zipper teeth!
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I love your tab pieces! Sawing gets easier the more you do it, I use to hate it but now i love it!
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Agreed – sawing is Zen. Calm the mind. Do not rush. Stay focused, but … Zen. Soon as I get tense or distracted – blade gets hung up…
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Great job Jenny. I like both your tab set cabs and your seed bead bezels.
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I’m amazed by you created your cabochons are created 6 gorgeous pieces in multiple techniques. I’m blown away. Bravo!
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What a nice variety of approaches you used in your pieces! I can’t believe you were able to do so much! I also really like the subtle colors you chose to work with…blue-gray, sage green, etc.!
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Your tab pieces are beautiful and the perfect setting for the gorgeous cabs you have. Good one you too for stepping outside of your comfort zone with the peyote bezels – you did a great job.
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The tab set cabs have a completely different feel from the seed beaded ones. I love chainmaille so eventually will have to try something with metal. Maybe even setting a cab (some day!). I enjoyed your adventure with the seed beads, as that is where my heart lies. I’ve not picked up many ceramic cabs but I think I am starting to like the earthy nature of them. I enjoyed your post 🙂
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Your cabs are beautiful and I love all of the setings you chose to do. I have not worked with metal yet, but I am a bead weaver and I will tell you it does get easier the more you do.
Therese
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wow…great work with beautiful cabochons..!:)
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I love how your cabs turned out. It is also interesting seeing your work in the different stages.
Well done!
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that your previous teacher was there to give you pointers. I haven’t use the stiff stuff yet. I just use plain felt then this time I used some faux shiny leather as the back. I love all your hints. Great Job! Thanks for sharing.
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