Polymer Clay and Hemp Accessories

Beware of Eco-Friendly Jewelry...

2008-07-28T15:09:00.003-04:00

Over the past couple of hours I have been mulling over ebay and etsy checking out "hemp jewelry" and "handmade jewelry" competition, so to speak. There is loasds of jewelry being marketed as "eco-friendly" or "handmade" but I wonder how much of it truly is eco-friendly.

For those of us using hemp, it's impossible to buy as Made in U.S.A. since our daft government has outlawed it's production/farming within the states, even though it could replace that nasty tobacco plant and terrible-to-the-environment-to-farm cotton, thus creating an new branch of [our] economy focused on a resource that is entirely renewable and can be used for almost anything! From clothes to food to shelter! Alas...they're afraid we'd smoke it instead..which btw, people are already doing Mr. Government! But they're not smoking hemp!!!

I digress...

Remember to ask questions about what you're buying. Just because it's handmade doesn't mean it's eco-friendly. Anything Made in China is not eco-friendly. China has horrible pollution and an extreme disregard for its surrounding environment. Check out National Geographic's article about China's air pollution being deadly.

And as crafters and artists, we should also be aware of where our supplies are made. Every time money is spent on "inexpensive" supplies that are Made in China, we are fueling a deadly economy.

Did you know, China is also one of the main reasons gas prices are so high? It's true. Supply and demand is in effect and China has the highest demand for oil. As Americans, we have grown used to cheap/inexpensive gadgets, electronics, toys, cars, trinkets, etc. and it has back-fired! It's time to start spending money in our own economy! Pay the extra $1 and buy a Made in the U.S.A. product! For every extra $ you spend to make sure your products are local or Made in the U.S.A, you are creating a need for an American job too!

So, in conclusion, China = eco-unfriendly ("eco" representing ecology as well as economy) and now is the best time to stop [our] addiction to cheap/inexpensive crap that is so wholesale-d it has no real value. Buy local + buy U.S.A. = create jobs and hinder eco-unfriendly practices.

I found this website helpful in explaining exactly how China's disregard for its own surrounding enviroment will affect ours: http://www.unmadeinchina.org

Dirt Ball with Pearl Ballerina Nubbs

2008-05-05T12:04:00.002-04:00

Pearl Ballerina Nubbs on Dirt Balls with Natural color Hemp

Planet Y2

2008-05-05T12:00:00.001-04:00

Moss Globe Blaze Rope with Natural and Mustard Hemp

Mint Caramel Necklace

2008-05-04T13:03:00.002-04:00

Caramel Beads with Mint Cord Necklace

*no longer available

New Storefront!

2008-05-03T16:48:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine suggested using Etsy.com for selling my wares. I checked it out, created a storefront last night and am already addicted to it!

http://thickneckarts.etsy.com is the name of my store. Check it out for prices on some of the jewelry posted here too!

Thanks!

thickneckart-ist

Treasure Box

2008-05-01T14:21:00.000-04:00

Treasure Box

Pitch with Easter Trance Spirals

Cloud Swirl Necklace

2008-05-01T12:29:00.000-04:00

Cloud Swirl with Pitch Cotton Cord

Globe Necklaces

2008-05-01T12:25:00.000-04:00

Phasm Globe with Pitch Cotton Cord

Toggle System

Planet Aligns

2008-05-01T12:22:00.000-04:00

Mars Balls with Dirt Hemp

Hemp Toggle System

Jungle Collection

2008-05-01T12:12:00.000-04:00

Cougar Globe with Cloud-Lite Hemp

Cougar's Lobster Clasp

Rainforest Coin Necklace

Bracelets

2008-05-01T12:09:00.000-04:00

Silver Egglet with Dirt Hemp

*store-bought beads

Blood Flower Focalet with Plain Hemp

*store-bought bead

Fireball with Plain Hemp

Valentine Barrel Necklace

2008-04-30T17:04:00.000-04:00

Love Swirl with Plain Hemp

Super Hero Medalion

2008-04-30T17:02:00.000-04:00

Fire and Water Swirl Medalion with Pitch Cotton Cord

*no toggle system to ensure one-size fits all

ROY G BiV Collection

2008-04-30T16:59:00.000-04:00

Rainbow Marbles with Plain Hemp

Planet Y Necklace

2008-04-30T16:57:00.000-04:00

Moss Globe Blazed Rope with Dirt Hemp

Polar Cap Necklace

2008-04-30T16:54:00.000-04:00

Polar Cap Globe with Pitch Cotton Cord

*no toggle system ensuring one-size fits all

Neopolitan Necklace

2008-04-30T16:50:00.000-04:00

Neopolitan Balls with Dirt Hemp

Ballpark Necklace

2008-04-30T16:42:00.000-04:00

Ketchup 'n' Mustard Balls with Plain Hemp

Blazin' Medalion

2008-04-30T16:36:00.000-04:00

Blazin' Medalion with Pitch Cotton Cord

*no toggle system ensuring one-size fits all

Golden Kelly Pearl Necklace

2008-04-30T13:56:00.000-04:00

Golden Kelly Pearl Barrel with Plain Hemp

*barrel is about 1" deep

Porcelain Focal Necklace

2008-04-30T13:49:00.000-04:00

Porcelain Focal with Plain Hemp

*store bought beads

Iceland Barrel Necklace

2008-04-30T13:45:00.000-04:00

Iceland Barrel with Plain Hemp

Surfer Chick Plaid Choker

2008-04-30T12:41:00.000-04:00

Surfer Chick Plaid Coins with Dirt Hemp

Interlocked Kelly Gold Marbles

2008-04-29T10:44:00.000-04:00

Kelly Gold Marbles with Hemp and Silver Toggle

*also a present for my mom

Interlocked Gaia Necklace

2008-04-29T10:41:00.000-04:00

Gaia Globe with Interlocked Hemp

*present for my mom

Calm Pyramid

2008-04-27T10:30:00.000-04:00

Calm Pyramid

Hollow Barrels

2008-03-11T17:35:00.000-04:00

Easter Prism with Silver Barrel*

Metallic Quicksand Barrel with Silver Pylons*
Rabbit Hole Barrel with Silver Chain Connection*

*no longer available

Zen*

2008-03-11T17:23:00.000-04:00

Egg-Rolled Caramel Chocolate Cadbury Cream Bead

with Zen Icon Flatware

*no longer available

Medalions

2008-03-11T16:45:00.000-04:00

Neopolitan Medalion with Silver Barrel*

Valentine Medalion with Delicate yet Strong Silver Connection*

*no longer available

Super Hero Balls

2008-01-27T17:54:00.000-05:00

SuperHero Balls

*No longer available

Neutral Ground*

2008-01-02T23:31:00.000-05:00

Earth Barrel on Neutral Knotted Hemp Necklace

*no longer available

Sweet Delights*

2008-01-02T23:07:00.001-05:00

Truffle Ball Set on Dirt Hemp

(Silver Clasp with Truffle Ball Locks) *no longer available

Food Balls

2008-01-02T22:14:00.000-05:00

Relish Hotdog Balls

Texture Globe

2008-01-02T22:05:00.000-05:00

Psycho Globe with Built-In Adapter

Happy Nubs

2008-01-02T21:46:00.000-05:00

Auburn Nub

Valentine Nub

Dirt Ball with Sunshine Sweet Potato Nubs
Sweet Potato Ball with Cherry Sunshine Nubs
Elephant Ball with Blazin' Grass Nubs

Dirt Ball with Sweet Potato Rope and Sunshine Cherry Nubs

Elephant Ball with Ballerina Grass Nubs

Elephant Ball with Ballerina Fuschia Nubs

Sour Bubble Gum Globe with Translucent French Blue Nubs

FlatWear

2008-01-02T21:16:00.000-05:00

Conservative Plate with Psychedelic Dollops

Organic Balls

2008-01-02T21:11:00.000-05:00

Cow Balls

Dirty Nub

2008-01-02T21:08:00.000-05:00

Dirt Ball with alternating Pearl and Ballerina Nubs

80s Rope and Barrel

2008-01-02T20:18:00.000-05:00

H-Cap Barrel with Fucshia Rope

VaVroom Balls

2008-01-02T20:16:00.000-05:00

Rainbow Swirl Balls on Hemp Necklace

$15.99

Cool Mint, Violet and Plum Swirl Balls

*Photo courtesy of Starr

VOM Balls

2008-01-02T20:12:00.000-05:00

*Photo courtesy of Starr

Old-Fashion Hue Scheme Balls

2008-01-02T11:24:00.000-05:00

Granny Apple Sunset Balls

*Photo courtesy of Starr

By the way, I also paint and sketch, as well as THINKpieces.

2008-01-02T00:19:00.000-05:00

Mardi Gras '03

The piece was inspired by the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

*Photos courtesy of Starr

70s Pieces

2007-12-17T23:17:00.000-05:00

Polka Dot Globe

54 Globe

Barrels

2007-12-17T23:09:00.001-05:00

Iceland Barrel on Hemp Necklace

$15.99

Desert Barrel

Love Barrel80s Barrel

Earth Barrel
Chocolate Cherry Swirl Barrels
VOY Barrels o'Fun (3 Sold)

Planet Pieces

2007-12-17T22:31:00.000-05:00

Earth Globe with Cloud Rope

Earth Balls

(no longer available)

Cool Mint With Hcap Rope on Hemp Necklace

Cool Mint with Cherry Rope

Moss Globes with Blazing Rope

My Confession...

2007-12-17T14:22:00.000-05:00

I have found my new hobby to be so relaxing! And yet some times very stressful! But it seems to be a good balance.

I actually began this hobby with the simple act of admiring some else's work. I've always loved hemp jewelry but without going to a craft/art show I could never find stuff that was unique or if it was, it wasn't my style. Then I realized I would never find exactly what I wanted outside of my own creation. Only I could create exactly what I wanted!

Long story short, I bought some primary colors to play around with and have been hooked ever since!

Now I'm putting my work out there for other's to appreciate and/or purchase!

Right now, I'm really just trying to sell some beads so that I can keep making them!

I'm currently working on a jewelry box for my grandmother as well as some flat pieces for necklaces, etc.

I could only get 5 pics on here but more are available via email or you can check out my myspace, display name "polybead."

Enjoy looking!

ps-Some of the photos are a bit blurry. Sorry! I have a friend, who is an aspiring and very talented photographer, working on new ones!