Makins Extruder easy on the hands retro fit CRANK handle from clayalley.com and my hamsas

 The Sedona Red Rock Monarch Butterfly and Sunshine Hamsa is available for purchase from MelodyODesigns at Etsy

After the holidays I challenged myself to make store inventory of a Sedona Red Rock Hamsa wall hanging that I love, but is the most labor intensive and difficult to make piece in my portfolio. It turned out that making them was also very challenging to my delicate wrists and elbows, because each hamsa requires one and a  half feet of extruded clay. That adds up to A LOT of extruded clay plus LOTS of wear and tear on the joints. In the middle of the project my Makins extruder also broke. As I was online ordering a replacement from Karen at www.clayalley.com I noticed that she was selling something I'd never seen before, an inexpensive retrofit kit ($7.50) that converts the regular Makins twist handle into to a crank handle. It allows for a much more user friendly motion, similar to what one would use for a hand cranked pasta machine or a Walnut Hollow extruder. It's listed on the "M" page for Makins at her store.

To use it you just have to cut off one end of the 4" bar T-bar in the crank handle and slide it out. You slip in the new handle, tighten the nut and you're ready to go. Alas, I didn't have Dremel or hacksaw to cut it, as suggested in the directions. My creative husband suggested a file. I found that all that keeps the T-bar in the handle are lightly flattened, slightly wider areas each end  of the T-bar. All I had to do was file down the sides of one of the flattened ends of the T-bar and it slid out. I'm a happy camper with my new toy because it causes so much less stress on my wrists and elbows.

Below is a picture of what I made for the new year thanks to my Makins crank handle adaptor!

To read a short blog post on the history of Hamsas and also a bit on why and how I designed this particular hamsa please click here

Hamsa with Monarch Butterfly + Sunshine theme from Polymer Clay

I designed this new Hamsa wall hanging for our new home. If you'd  like one for your home, one last copy is available for sale at MelodyODesigns at Etsy

This Monarch Butterfly and Sunshine themed mosaic hamsa wall hanging was made as a belated housewarming gift for OUR house. It is 5 1/4" long and was created entirely from artist-quality polymer clay, glass seed 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, who got them from his grandfather's new old stock.

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 at the entry way of a home.

Click here to see my blog post about another Hamsa I made as a house warming gift for a friend whose house burned down that incorporates antique nails found in the ashes :Jeweled Mosaic Hamsa 

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/