The Painted Artist

Mermaid Bracelet from InArtStudio2 Six Mermaid Bracelet Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 16:25:00 +0000

Each mermaid is from a different geographic location. And, what makes this mermaid bracelet collection so much fun, is that each mermaid comes with her own story. My daughter Marjory, is now making and selling a new collection of Mermaid Bracelets in her store, InArtStudio2. She calls her new collection "The World of Mermaids Collection". There are 6 different designs in this mermaid bracelet collection. Such cute and fanciful mermaid stories, some funny, some sad, but each story is entertaining. There is the Arctic Ocean mermaid and her adopted baby Orca Whale. The Maui Island mermaid who loves to tease the tourists. The Galapagos Island mermaid and Darwin. And while you are there, check out the matching mermaid headbands, they are so pretty. I love her designs. I think they will be a hit with mermaids of all ages. You can see all her mermaid bracelets for sale here:
Mermaid Bracelet Collection by In Art studio2 on Etsy

Mermaid Headband Collection Hair Accesories for Mermaids of All Ages

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 22:10:00 +0000

Here are my daughter, Marjory's new Mermaid Headbands, from her "World of Mermaids Collection". Marjory's mermaid headbands are so feminine and fun to wear, for any occasion.

Silky soft, they have plenty of white satin ribbon to tie in a bow. These mermaid hair accessories are perfectly suited for big mermaids and little mermaids, of all ages.

Marjory's mermaid headbands starts with an exclusive mermaid design, custom printed on silky polyester fabric. For the back of her mermaid headband, she choose a white faux suede, so buttery soft against the skin. Then she added white satin ribbon for a beautiful bow, making it adjustable to any head size. These mermaid headband measures 7 inches long, and 2 1/4 inches wide.

See all 6 of Marjory's mermaid headbands and matching mermaid bracelets from her World of Mermaids Collection, in her store and only at InArtStudio2
You can see all of Marjory's mermaid items for sale here: Mermaid Headband Collection by In Art studio2 on Etsy

Dragon Bracelet Turquoise Dragon Jewelry Cuff Bracelet- 3D Dragon Jewellery

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 19:31:00 +0000

My new dragon bracelet in turquoise is a stunning, sexy, 3-D beastie, that would capture the heart of any dragon jewelry collector. Resilient and f-l-e-x-i-b-l-e, my Turquoise Dragon Cuff bracelet is highly detailed, down to his spiky horns and tiny scales on his magnificent leathery wings. This turquoise dragon bracelet bares his fierce fangs and glares with eyes of fiery golden yellow Swarovski rhinestones. No one will believe my dragon bracelet is not real turquoise, until they touch him. My Turquoise dragon bracelet cuff feels like soft leather. Stunning!

The brass cuff base allows the dragon to be custom fitted by the wearer for a snugger or looser fit. This dragon cuff is tough! He can take lots of action, in any kind of weather, and still look great. Totally water proof, heat proof, and chemical resistant, he's made for the long haul.

BUY my Dragon Bracelet here: Dragon Bracelet in turquoise by In Art studio on Etsy

Mermaid Earrings Silver and Blue Mermaid Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 00:50:00 +0000

These silver mermaid earrings have tails that are hand painted a shimmering blue. Each mermaid holds a glistening Swarovski crystal that hi-lights the blue of her tail. My mermaid earrings measure 1 inch wide and just 2-1/2 inches long, including the lever backs. My mermaid earrings are just big enough to capture attention, but not so long that they are awkward to wear. One of my design criteria was super light weight. I love earrings that are so comfortable, that I forget I have them on.The mermaids together weigh just 5 grams, that is about the weight of a credit card. My little mermaid earrings are individually and lovingly handcrafted. Each pair of Mermaid Earrings I make is a unique work of art, no two exactly alike. Part Sculpture, part Art, part Jewelry. This is sculpture you wear. Pure Fun and Fantasy.

You can see all my mermaid jewelry for sale here: Mermaid Jewelry by In Art studio on Etsy

Mermaid Earrings White Pearl Mermaid Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 18:26:00 +0000

After numerous requests for mermaid earrings, I finally came up with a design that I love. And I think you will too. I created these tiny mermaid sculptures in clay. Then used the clay mermaid sculptures to create the molds. One of my design criteria was super light weight. I love earrings that are so comfortable, that I forget I have them on.The mermaids together weigh just 5 grams, that is about the weight of a credit card. These mermaid earrings measure 1 inch wide and just 2-1/2 inches long, including the gold lever backs. My mermaid earrings are just long enough to capture attention, but not so long that they are awkward to wear.

You can see all my mermaid jewelry for sale here: Mermaid Jewelry by In Art studio on Etsy

Mermaid Jewelry Necklace in White Pearls

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 13:57:00 +0000

My newest mermaid necklace is dripping with white freshwater pearls. A tiny mermaid lies sleeping in a shell and surrounded by an elaborate collection of sea life. With white pearl corals and starfish, and sea horses and sea shells, my mermaid necklace is highly detailed and 3-dimensional. I sculpted and hand cast all the pieces in glowing white pearl resin and then assembled them to 3 strands of gorgeous freshwater pearls. A extraordinary new mermaid necklace design, from my Iridescent Sea Series. Imagine how romantic this mermaid necklace would look on a bride. Stunning!

You can see all my mermaid jewelry for sale here: Mermaid Jewelry by In Art studio on Etsy

How to make Realistic Faux Moss DIY Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:11:00 +0000

Here is my DIY recipe for faux moss, that looks realistic, is weather-proof, and is cheap and easy. This fake moss recipe sticks to concrete, rocks and tree bark. I find that applying the mix thick, makes it look like moss. Smearing it thin, makes it look like lichen. I plan to use this faux moss recipe on many of my garden sculptures. I think it would help age my concrete Japanese garden pagodas, and help blend them in with the natural surroundings.

I love to create garden sculptures in the summer months. This summer, I have been working on a large faux bonsai tree for my Xeriscape Japanese garden project. The base of my faux bonsai dish is 3 feet in diameter, and is poured in concrete, to keep it from blowing over in our high mountain winds. I wanted something that would hide the concrete and look like soft green moss. I needed a moss that required zero watering, would stand up to our high mountain weather extremes, and most of all, would look realistic. After hours searching the Internet, I came up with nothing that fit my criteria. Real moss would die in the full sun. Preserved moss would never handle our Colorado winter weather extremes. One faux moss recipe, called for dryer lint. I do not use a clothes dryer, and I doubt that the stuff that collects in my shop-vac would make a good substitute. After a few days of scratching my head, I came up with a faux moss recipe that I think will fit all of my requirements.

Here is the concrete bonsai tree base almost completely covered.

Here is my faux moss stuck to rock

Here is my faux moss stuck to tree bark

Faux Moss Recipe:
1/4 cup white Elmer's Glue
1/4 cup green acrylic paint (water based)
1/4 cup water
sphagnum peat moss (the kind you use to amend your garden soil)
disposable latex gloves
a spray bottle of water (helps to dampen concrete, especially if you are working in the hot sun)

Start with a large plastic container, I used an old 16 ounce cottage cheese container. Pour in the paint, glue and water, and stir well. Then add the sphagnum peat moss, a handful at a time. Stir until mixed. Keep adding more sphagnum peat moss, until your mixture is the consistency of chocolate chip cookie dough.

Assuming that you have already put on the disposable gloves, just take your faux moss mixture and start applying with your fingers. I tried a paint brush and a trowel and found that using my fingers gave me the best look and control. The mix will be sticky, so using your hands you can apply this faux moss to horizontal or vertical surfaces. The mix will be dry to the touch in a couple of hours, and fully dry in a couple of days. If it looks like you are in for a hard rain, I would throw a tarp over your project, just until the mix is fully dry. Play with different application methods. If you find an application method that works better, please, let me know.

I never measure my glue, paint and water. I just pour what looks like 1/4 cup of each liquid into the mixing container. If the paint proportion is a little more or less, than the last batch, the color will be a little different. Since natural moss is never one solid color, I find that this enhances the realistic look. If you are the kind of person that likes to be exact, all your batches might look exactly the same color. You could then dry brush your faux moss, with different colors of green acrylic paint. This could look even better. I might have to give this a try.

The green paint I used, was a porch and deck, latex acrylic exterior paint. I had half a quart left over from another project. The color was at neon bright, yellow-green. At first, I thought it might be too bright a color. But, the dark brown color of the sphagnum peat moss, toned the color down to a lovely green.

The true test, will be to see how my faux moss stands up to next winter's weather. My faux bonsai concrete base has some dips and hollows that I know will hold ice. I am hoping, the worst case scenario will be, some faux moss patching next spring.

If you try my faux moss technique, I would love to hear about your results.

Crystal Dragon Jewelry 3D Cuff

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:23:00 +0000

Finally, I am making progress, with my big 3-D Crystal Dragon cuff! I decided to order a quart of a new, super expensive, super clear rubber urethane. I am still running tests, but, so far, so good. What a steep learning curve there is with this new resin. The temperature has to be just right, the pressure has to be 60psi minimum, the wind has to be out of the east, etc. The cure time is 16 hours under pressure, then another 6-8 hours at room temp, then into the heat box for another 16 hours at 160 degree F. That is a long time to wait, until you can de-mold, and see if your casting was successful.

I am loving how this new resin looks. Here is a test sample shown against the brass cuff. The brass backing will allow the dragon cuff to be infinitely adjustable.

The clarity of this new resin is amazing. Except for the brass end strips, my prototype is almost finished. For two years, I have been working out the details of this design. I am so excited to see my crystal dragon cuff design come together! NOTE: Compared to optical glass, which has an index of refraction of 1.50, this new resin has an refractive index of 1.488. That is pretty close to crystal clear.

Mermaid Jewelry - Mermaid in a Shell Pendant

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:02:00 +0000

Here is the latest mermaid jewelry design from my Iridescent Sea Series. I sculpted this mermaid in clay, and then used this clay master to create the mold, and finally I hand cast this mermaid pendant in tough and durable, urethane resin. Cast in white pearl resin, there is an iridescent shimmering Aurora Borealis layer, that gives the Mother of Pearl effect. Titled "Sleeping in a Shell", this mermaid pendant is 2 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" tall. You can read about sculpting this mermaid in my previous post.

You can see all my mermaid jewelry for sale here: Mermaid Jewelry by In Art studio on Etsy

Mermaid Sculpture - WIP - for Mermaid Pendant

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:44:00 +0000

My new mermaid sculpture is finally looking close to finished. All the finishing touches are done. I decided to add a big 12mm Swarvoski pearl and sculpted her right arm. I like how the big pearl makes her look even smaller. I have more smoothing to do, and fixing small details, then she should be ready for a final bake. I am anticipating the next mermaid sculpture. An even smaller mermaid for a ring.

This tiny mermaid sculpture has no arms yet, and still needs hair. The shell is 2-1/2 inches tall. That is my baby finger on the right. My sculpting tools were too big, so I ended up using sewing needles and pins.

Compare her head to the size of my thumb! I need stronger magnifying glasses...... It's like looking at a splinter in your finger all day.

I little more smoothing to do, and then she's going into the oven for her 1st bake. After that, I will not have to be so paranoid about accidentally bumping into her face. I have been thinking about adding a big Swarvoski pearl, nestled into the bend in her tail, and draping her right arm over the pearl. What do you think? Pearl? No pearl?

She finally has some hair and her left arm. She looks sooo much better not bald.

I keep taking macro photos, so I can look at her close up on the computer screen. I did get some higher power reading glasses last weekend. Helps a lot. Makes me dizzy when I try to walk around in them.

Searching for the Perfect Color of Turquoise

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 01:08:00 +0000

I have been conducting color tests all week, looking for just the right color of opaque turquoise for my mermaid jewelry. I want a turquoise that is not too blue, nor too green. I want a luminous turquoise that is saturated and bright, not too light, not too dark. The right color of turquoise, is the one that makes me smile, and reminds me of the sunny Caribbean. The perfect color of turquoise, makes your skin glow, even without a summer tan.

I mix up small 4 gram batches of resin and combine different pigments, and pour the resin into my small starfish molds. I take careful notes of what and how much of each colorant I mix. Once the resin has set up, I transfer my notes to a white index card and glue the starfish next to the notes. This makes it easier for me to compare the color of all of my test samples. These index cards are then filed away in a recipe box for future reference. I also transfer these notes to each of the mixing cups, with a permanent marker, and keep them in stacked by color family, in my casting room. As I type this, I am thinking how anal this all sounds.

The decision of color all comes down to placing each small starfish on my wrist, and judging how the color looks against my skin. I am still looking for that perfect color of turquoise. Maybe, if I add just a dab of ......

Mermaid Jewelry - The Importance of Color

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:33:00 +0000

One of the great advantages of creating resin mermaid jewelry, is the ability to color the resin. But, this ability can be a challenge or a headache. I am a perfectionist, and can not be satisfied until the color is perfect. I feel that color can make or break a design. No matter how wonderful the form and fit of a piece, if the color is not perfect, I am not happy with the piece. These imperfect castings are stored in a box labeled "Casting Misfits". I sometimes sift through this box, looking for ideas, remembering all my color blunders. Wondering to myself, "what was I thinking when I cast that awful color?"

Color is a big part of my design process. I can be out shopping or working in my garden, when I see a color that inspires me. I just have to try and reproduce that color in my studio. Or a particular color will inspire a new design. Color is one of the most important elements of my mermaid jewelry design. I believe that if the color does not catch your eye, the design will not sell.

Here is an example of one of my mermaid jewelry pieces in my top selling color. It's not so much a color, as a color effect. I know that the color is perfect, when I can not resist the urge to grab my camera, and start taking photos.

You can see all my mermaid jewelry for sale here: Mermaid Jewelry by In Art studio on Etsy

Mermaid Necklace with Dolphin - Nautical Sea Blue Mermaid Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:23:00 +0000

Do you love the color blue? Blue is my favorite color for summer. My new mermaid necklace is the color of the shimmering blue sea. A gorgeous saturated, transparent, medium nautical blue, that reminds me of long, warm summer days, lounging by the pool. Over this color, is an iridescent shimmering layer, of blue, aqua, and violet. The Mermaid, her dolphin and sea life friends are 3-dimensional and highly detailed, down to tiny scales on both the mermaid's tail and the fish bodies. I sculpted and cast two little starfish in sea blue resin, to grasp the ends of each of the 3 strands of glowing sea blue glass beads. A new mermaid and dolphin necklace design, from my Iridescent Sea Series. Imagine this Saltwater Siren swimming around your neck. Stunning!

Are you planning a romantic get-a-way this year? Imagine how gorgeous this mermaid necklace would look with your favorite cruise wear or beach wear. Fabulous! This blue mermaid would look so pretty this summer, with a simple white T-shirt paired with your favorite jeans.

This mermaid measures 5-1/2 inches wide by 3 inches from top to bottom. At each side are 2 resin starfish bead caps and 3 strands of glowing sea blue glass beads, ending in a gold lobster claw clasp and an extra 4 inches of gold extender chain. At the end of the chain is a single blue bead and my logo tag, for Night Sky Jewelry. The mermaid and dolphin necklace measures 16 inches long, adjustable to 20 inches long.

You can see all my mermaid jewelry for sale here: Mermaid Jewelry by In Art studio on Etsy

Dragon Necklace - White Pearl Dragon Wedding Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:51:00 +0000

Are you looking for pearl jewelry that is extraordinary and dramatic? My white pearl dragon necklace is 3-Dimensional and highly detailed, down to his spiky horns and tiny scales on his magnificent wings. He bares his tiny fangs and glares with eyes of fiery Swarovski crystal rhinestones, defending his dragon's treasure of white pearls. Stunning!

Like a dreamy cloud of creamy white pearls around your neck, my pearl Dragon Necklace looks fit for a queen. This dragon necklace is a combination of silky white, pearl colored resin and real freshwater pearls, and is covered in pearls and pearl cabochons. I sculpted and cast the two bead caps, to grasp the ends of each of the 3 strands of glowing freshwater pearls.

Imagine how romantic this dragon pearl necklace would look on a bride for a spring or summer wedding. Fabulous! Perfect bridal jewelry for a fantasy or Renaissance wedding. For evening glamour, wear this dragon necklace with your favorite little black dress. Or, dress it down, by wearing it peeking out from the neckline of a white tailored men's shirt paired with your favorite jeans.

This dragon necklace measures 5-1/2 inches wide by 3 inches from top to bottom. At each side are 2 pearl cabochon bead caps and 3 strands of real freshwater pearls, ending in a gold lobster claw clasp and an extra 4 inches of gold extender chain. At the end of the chain is a pearl and my logo tag, for Night Sky Jewelry. The pearls and dragon necklace measures 16 inches long, adjustable to 20 inches long.

You can see all my dragon jewelry for sale here: Dragon Jewelry by In Art studio on Etsy

Mermaid Necklace in Tropical Turquoise Blue

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:11:00 +0000

Chase away those winter blahs with my new mermaid necklace in tropical turquoise blue. Like white sandy beaches and warm blue water, my mermaid necklace will lift your spirits. An island get-away, around your neck.

A mermaid necklace, in tropical turquoise blue! The color of tropical water. Makes me want to dive right in. The color is a gorgeous saturated, transparent, turquoise blue. Over this color, is an iridescent shimmering layer, of blue, aqua, and violet. The Mermaid, her dolphin and sea life friends are 3-dimensional and highly detailed, down to tiny scales on both the mermaid's tail and the fish bodies. I sculpted and cast two little starfish in turquoise blue resin, to grasp the ends of each of the 3 strands of glowing turquoise blue glass beads. A new mermaid and dolphin necklace design, from my Iridescent Sea Series. Imagine this Saltwater Siren swimming around your neck. Stunning!

You can see all my mermaid jewelry for sale here: Mermaid Jewelry
by In Art studio on Etsy

Dragon Necklace - AB Crystals - White Pearl Dragon Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:20:00 +0000

Here is the first of my new dragon necklace designs for Spring 2013. The colors of this dragon necklace are so fresh, so young, so romantic. I think it would be the perfect necklace for a spring or summer bride for her fantasy wedding.

This Dragon Necklace combines silky white, pearl colored resin and freshwater pearls. and is covered in the soft colors of Aurora Borealis crystals and cabochons. I sculpted and cast the two bead caps, to grasp the ends of each of the 3 strands of glowing freshwater pearls and Aurora Borealis crystal beads. My mythical Dragon necklace is 3-Dimensional and highly detailed, down to his spiky horns and tiny scales on his magnificent wings. He bares his tiny fangs and glares with eyes of fiery Swarovski crystal rhinestones, defending his dragon's treasure of vintage style Aurora Borealis cabochons and Aurora Borealis Swarovski crystal rhinestones. Stunning!

You can see all my dragon jewelry for sale here: Dragon Jewelry by In Art studio on Etsy

Dragon Bracelet, Black Winged Dragon Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 22:09:00 +0000

About a year ago, I had a customer ask me if I could design a dragon bracelet, similar to the vintage HAR dragon bracelet. I had never seen a HAR dragon, so I did some Google searching and was immediately overcome with jewelry lust. But, at the prices these bracelets were going for, I knew I would have to make my own. Except my dragon bracelet version has horns and wings.
I sculpted this 3-D dragon, with all the same details as my large dragon wristband, but at a much smaller scale. I had to wear my magnifying head piece, over the top of my reading glasses, to sculpt this little dragon. I knew he would be top heavy, so I designed the bracelet in an oval shape, to stay put on the wrist. My Dragon has a long tail, that connects to the body, with a spring loaded hinge. This bypass, clapper style bracelet is nice for easy on and off. I wanted vintage stones, but finding a reliable supply is almost impossible. So, I used the ones I found, to mold my own stones. This makes it possible to cast the stones is any color I want. The Swarvoski rhinestones, interspersed throughout the dragon bracelet, gives the bracelet just the right amount of sparkle.
Here is the all black dragon bracelet.

Available in size small and medium. You can read more about my Dragon Bracelet and purchase one here: Dragon Jewelry by In Art studio on Etsy

Pearl Dragon Bracelet - Winged Dragon Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:32:00 +0000

This is the white pearl version of my dragon bracelet, covered in Aurora Borealis crystals and cabochons. So feminine, so refined, I think this color might appeal to brides. Perfect bridal jewelry for a fantasy or Renaissance wedding.
I love how this pearl white version with all the tiny details. This is a hinged spring, bypass bracelet made for easy on and easy off. The bracelet is 1-1/2 inches in width and an oval shape so the dragon will stay on top of your wrist. My Honey-Do says it's his favorite.

You can see all my dragon jewelry for sale here: Dragon Jewelry by In Art studio on Etsy

Turquoise Cow Skull

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 17:08:00 +0000

This week, I painted a cow skull using my turquoise painting technique. This was a fun challenge. Painting a 3 dimensional object, like a real bone animal skull, is a lot different than painting a flat canvas. There are so many nooks and crannies on a cow skull.

Tom found a box of skulls that had been stored away for years. This is Colorado, after all, and I assume everyone has cow skull and deer skulls in their storage units. What to do with them? I suggested pitching them. Tom decided to give them a good cleaning, then asked me if I would paint them.

The first one I painted was a massive cow skull. First, I gave it a good coating of gesso on all the surfaces I could reach. This step ensures that the turquoise paint will adhere and gave me a white background just like my canvas paintings. Then I used my professional grade, artist acrylics to create the turquoise look. This cow skull turned out so nice, that we decided to post it for sale in Tom's Etsy store, Tom's Critters.

I think it would look great in a western or southwestern decor. For more photos and info, see this turquoise cow skull and more for sale at Tom's Critters

Mermaid Bracelet in Iridescent Blue

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:01:00 +0000

This is my mermaid bracelet in a new color, my favorite color, blue. This color knocked my socks off when I removed her from the mold. I love it! It's an iridescent, transparent, saturated blue. The mermaid changes color from aqua to blue to lavender as you rotate her in the light. She would be wonderful as a necklace, IF, I can find tiny beads in this color of blue.

Available here:
Mermaid Bracelet with Dolphin in Iridescent Blue by In Art studio on Etsy

Mermaid Bracelet in Antique Ivory Resin with Octopus, Dolphin and Treasure Chest

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:37:00 +0000

I love old scrimshaw, so I wanted to make a mermaid bracelet that looks like Antique Ivory. I think it looks like a bracelet found in an antique shop or maritime museum, or a bracelet carved at sea by a sailor, on an old whaling vessel. Titled "Treasure" from my Iridescent Sea Series. Imagine this Saltwater Siren swimming around your wrist. Stunning!
This beautiful Mermaid and her sea life friends are a 3-dimensional jewelry sculpture cuff bracelet, full of detail, down to tiny scales on both the mermaid's tail and tiny pearls and crystals. The Mermaid and her octopus girlfriend are trying on jewelry from a treasure chest. The girlfriend octopus has gone "over the top" with a tiara and jewelry on each arm, and is reaching for more. A baby dolphin is getting in on the fun, and sports a pearl necklace. A school of tiny fish are hogging the mermaid's mirror.

You can see all my mermaid jewelry for sale here: Mermaid Jewelry by In Art studio on Etsy

Designing a Dragon Wristband – Dragon Wings

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:04:00 +0000

All summer my poor dragon sat, wingless.

The summers here in Colorado provide wonderful weather for working outdoors. So I take the opportunity to sculpt outside of my studio. These sculptures are mostly 3 foot and larger, that will not fit through the door and are too messy to work on inside. I sculpt with a modified concrete mix and wire. Totally different material and scale from my jewelry. I have found that switching mediums gives my creativity a boost.

One day, the answer to my dragon wings problem dawned on me. Duh! I was stuck in a rut! I had gotten so used to designing for my standard material, urethane resin, that I could not find a solution for my wings. The wings were not the problem. The problem was my material.

And so my hunt for the perfect new resin began.

Monarch Butterfly Ring

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:22:00 +0000

Celebrate the return of the monarch butterflies. Perched on your finger, with his little wings uplifted, he looks so real, even his little body is 3-dimensional. This is not a real Monarch Butterfly, but a perfect imitation of natures fluttering jewel, captured inside water-clear resin. Monarch Butterfly rings, are perfect casual jewelry for summer.

Find them in my Etsy Store, available in size 7 or size 8"

Fantasy Castle Ring

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:18:00 +0000

This delightful castle ring has been a year in in design. My fantasy castle ring had to be absolutely fabulous and it had to be strong and durable. I designed this extraordinary fantasy castle ring for my daughter, in honor of her upcoming wedding. I gave the prototype ring to her, at her bridal wedding shower, as a reminder, that she will always be "my princess". She will be wearing it as a right hand ring for the wedding, in honor of her Mommy. What a sentimental bunch we are.

A miniature pearl castle floats above a cloud of pearls, iridescent glass beads, and a sprinkling of Swarovski rhinestones, all cascading over a white pearl band ring. Each of the 8 towers on the white castle, is adorned with a tiny, 2.5mm iridescent Swarovski Crystal Aurora Borealis bead. Exquisite!

Who says you need a Prince Charming to have your very own fairytale castle? Every woman needs to feel like a princess once in a while. Do you have a "princess" in your life? Or, do you need a little something to make you feel special? Let me make a fantasy castle ring especially for you. These rings are individually made to order.

Order one in my Etsy Store, available in size 6, 7 or size 8

Blue Morpho Godarti Butterfly Rings are Back

noreply@blogger.com (Liana Turnbull Bennett) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:38:00 +0000

Finally, I have perfected my method for making these rings. Originally, making the butterflies was a hit-or-miss endeavor. Approximately half of them would have to be scrapped, due to imperfections. This was frustrating and a waste of materials, not to mention time. I kept at it, thinking I just needed to perfect my technique. But finally, I realized, that I just needed a different technique.

After much thought, I came up with a better way to make my little butterflies. This new technique involves more time, but, I have cut my scrap down to almost zero. Yeah! And, the butterflies are better than ever.

You can find them listed in my Etsy store, in a choice of size 7 or size 8.

Blue Morpho Godarti Butterfly Ring