Jeweled Mosaic Hamsa Polymer clay + beading from Polymer Clay

A Housewarming Hamsa made for my friend utilizing antique nails found in the ashes of her burned out  house.

I created this jeweled and beaded mosaic hamsa as a housewarming present for a dear friend whose home burned down 20 months ago. I wanted to replace her hamsa/"Hand of Fatima" that was lost in the fire. She was finally able to rebuild and her new home is almost ready. I incorporated three antique hand-forged nails that were found in the ashes of the burned out home site into the design. Her new house is as unique and special as my friend. She designed it so there are almost no 90% angles. Each room is painted a different saturated vibrant color making for a virtual "Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors" visual experience.  The outside of the house is painted a slightly grayed purple that is vibrant in the sun with a bright red door and burgundy trim and roof.

To celebrate her new home I created this hamsa which utilizes the colors scheme of her home and reminds me of her; spiritual, vibrant and VERY much alive. If one looks closely they can see symbols of things that are important to her: musical notes, a sunflower, butterflies, the paw print of a dog, hearts, the words "Peace" and "Love", and ivy leaves (to symbolize friendship).

This 5 1/4" hamsa was created entirely from artist-quality polymer clay, glass beads, and "aquamarine", "topaz" and  "ruby" antique glass jewels that were so generously shared with me by polymer clay artist and clay pal, Scott Mizevitz.

Click here to see my blog post about the Hamsa I made for our own home which is available for sale: Monarch Butterfly and Sunshine Hamsa

I was indirectly inspired to make this hamsa by the work of 4 polymer clay artists and I wish to thank them for sharing their lovely work:
Rev Byrd at Byrd's Words angel-rising small shrine
Marie Young at Creative Sprinkle Office Desk Shrine
Naama Zamir Mosaic Hamsa
Iris Mishly's Hamsa Pages

The hamsa or hamesh is an ancient Middle Eastern amulet symbolizing the Hand of God. In both Jewish and Islamic traditions the hamsa hand is thought to be a powerful talisman believed to bring it's owner happiness, peace, luck, health, good fortune and prosperity. In the Jewish faith many people believe the hamsa pendant symbolizes the Hand of Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron. In the Islamic faith, the hamsa hand can symbolize The Hand of Fatima, daughter of the Prophet Mohammed. Hamsa hands frequently contain the symbol of an eye which is seen as powerful protection against the "evil eye". It is often hung on the front door of a home.

My friend hopes to post pictures of her new home once it is completed later this summer:
http://hartsongnotes.wordpress.com/

Orange Cat Polymer Clay Pin Pendant Necklaces

 Orange Cat convertible pin pendant is my new ArtFire avatar.

 Introducing our colorful, cheerful, charming, polymer clay Mr. Orange  Cat who is proud to have been chosen as the avatar for our new ArtFire studio shop.  He and the other bright and cheerful cats in our Cat Collection  were created to celebrate the joys of being owned by a cat. Except for the realistic whiskers, all the components of the pieces were made using PREMO polymer clay. Cane slices were applied to the raw PC body before it was cured using Liquid PC. The whisker are from a "faux natural bristle" hair brush and were made by curing the face  with small wires in place (the relative diameter of the hair brush bristle). After curing, the wires were  removed and the bristle was glued in the tiny hole with a tiny dap of "Zap-A-Gap" cyanoacrylic glue. The cats eyes are made from a "brain cane" reduced to a very small size. They are made entirely from artist-quality polymer clay and have a clever finding on their backs that allows them to be converted from a pendant to a brooch by simply removing the silky rayon cord. Mr. Orange Cat will be hanging out  at ArtFire along with a bevy of other colorful feline sidekicks waiting to be adopted and is for Cat Collection. (EDITED: Mr Orange Cat and some of his friends now hang out at MelodyODesigns at Etsy)

Convertible pin to pendant shown from the back.