JanZio Designs

Fine Silver Pendants: Raven, Kitten and Baby Goat

2008-11-26T21:48:00.008-05:00

Finally, finally, I have finished the silver pendants that have been waiting patiently for tumbling and polishing.

Silver Sunflower Pendant - Before and After Oxidation

2008-07-21T21:13:00.005-04:00

I took a straw poll on Etsy forums to help me decide whether or not to oxidize this fine silver pendant. 20 grams of silver clay, so I was a-skeered to mess it up. I got lots of great ideas and tips - did you know you could refire your silver piece to burn off the oxidation if you don't like it? I didn't, until this helpful etsian let me know: http://beadinbythesea.etsy.com/.

Here are before and after shots of the same piece. The most wonderful colors came up when I painted on the liver of sulphur - gold, blue, red, purple; unfortunately, I could not permanently capture them all, although the front does have lots of blue.

Brand New Brass Pendant Necklaces

2008-07-11T13:51:00.010-04:00

Here are three new necklaces , just posted today in my Etsy shop http://janzio.etsy.com/. The Sparrow image is taken from a 1946 Audubon Field Guide.

The center pendant is a scene of a Japanese maple on the banks of a river. The third item is a custom necklace for a special customer.

2008-07-02T21:14:00.002-04:00

Like free stuff? Vote for your favorite polymer clay creation for your chance to win a prize package of handmade polymer clay goodies.

The Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy is having their July contest - please go to http://pcagoe.com/ to vote. See below for the prize pack.

Brass Obsessed

2008-05-17T19:37:00.007-04:00

I have been obsessed with oxidized brass or "vintage" brass jewelry lately. This is what I have been working on recently:

New Treats!

2007-11-15T22:39:00.000-05:00

I am a pretty lame blogger - simply don't have enough time in the day. Here's a little update of what I have been creating lately.

New Birds

2007-09-20T21:58:00.001-04:00

Here are a few more beaded bird necklaces.
The robin and bluebird are in my Etsy shop. The little wren with the rose and smoky quartz is gone, but I really like how she came out.

Bead Buying Frenzy Today!!!

2007-08-31T10:46:00.000-04:00

****I'm going to a bead show today, so as time permits there will be lots of new lovelies and treasures in my shop in the next few weeks. I have at least 10 new bird necklaces and pendants on deck that are half finished. It has been a very busy couple of weeks for me, and I am eager to get back to work on the fun stuff!****

New Blue Bird Necklace

2007-08-26T11:12:00.000-04:00

I love making these bird necklaces. People have responded very favorably to them. Thank you!

*This lucky bird found a home the first day it was on Etsy!

New Bird Necklaces

2007-08-21T21:15:00.001-04:00

I've got to show you the fancy bird necklaces I've just created. More information about these necklaces can be found at my Etsy shop http://www.janzio.etsy.com/.

Let me know what you think!

My First PMC Pendant

2007-08-17T18:43:00.000-04:00

This is my first crack at working with precious metal clay, and I am so pleased and suprised with the results.

PMC is made of real silver particles mixed with a binder. You can manipulate much like ceramic clay, but it seems more fragile when raw. When fired to the correct temperature, the binder burns off and the silver particles fuse together to form a solid. Then you must burnish it to make it shiny, and you can oxidize it if you wish.

My pendant was created with several rubber stamp impressions and a cut out star. After firing and burnishing, it was oxidized twice. The second time was only on the face, and I stopped the process during the colorful stage, so the fact has subtle colors of gold, blue and pink.

I would love to hear your feed back on this. I plan to work with this medium in the near future, but there is some expense involved in the start up.

Greetings and Salutations!

2007-08-13T22:20:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my new blog. You know how you have all kinds of things to say when you're driving around in your car alone? You know...partially written novellas, letters to the editor that you intend to write or email, the snappy comeback that's about 15 years too late? Yes? No? Oh, maybe that's just me.

Anyway, I thought I'd try my hand at this blog business to promote my Etsy shop and join the blogosphere, but I've found that starting a blog is a little like sex. Takes a while to get warmed up.

This week I received a suprise email from one of the writers of the cool site www.wickedlychic.com notifying me that my spiral earrings were featured on the Daily Ditties section of the site, for Aug 13. Here's a lame screenshot where the text is too small. Well, I am so pleased to be featured, I will copy what it says for you:

"I tend to be looped in by spirals & this pair of earrings stand out. Made from bone & sterling silver, these will be perfect moving into fall. From Jan Ziozios & priced at $15.00. The colors & style of these are exceptional. "

Go check out their site. It is big fun.

So, if you have stumbled across my blog, please say Hi, so I don't feel like I'm just talking to myself. I will do my best to add some interesting content as often as is possible.

As you can see from my Etsy shop, I like to work with polymer clay, and create beaded jewelry. I also enjoy photography, ceramics and my new inspiration is precious metal clay. I'll post pics of the pmc pendant I just made soon.