Upon reflection

Still developing the layered/transparent beads.  I've got a lot made with a lot of techniques, but they are mostly experimentals that I will likely end up just incorporating into pieces vs. sets for sale.  Just "not there yet" with the technique.  Below's one of the best examples so far.  It still looks pretty unrefined in the sense that it doesn't really reach what I envision, but it's interesting nonetheless.  This has probably 4 or 5 visible layers going on.  I'm unsatisfied with the photos--in person it looks more intriguing with the depth more apparent.  

 The bottom most layer is a "mother of pearl" Pardo brand poly clay. There's a very thin slice of transparent over that, then the turquoisey watery blue, more transparent, the white and blue millefiori cane, then more transparent, then more random small inclusions, then a final slice of transparent clay.  After baking, I did some of the facet obscura-ing, then dry brushed the facet edges with paint, then used the Sculpey gloss sealant.  Overall, I want them to be more impossibly and chaotically baroque or fractal looking.  So I think I need to focus on making the deeper layers busier rather than the outer layers.  I love the idea that things get more interesting and impossible the deeper you look.  It's a metaphor, but there's also truth in it, physically and metaphysically.  As above, so below.

 I once had a kind of liminal, "daiomnic reality" type of experience (written about here) that upon reflection, was a psychological conduit for abstract, meaningful ideas manifested into physicality.  I love the idea of Form itself being a communication.  This is starting to sound abstract.

 Here are some new things.  The necklace above isn't listed quite yet.

 These amethyst earrings are though, and this tiger's eye necklace below.

 This bracelet below is ready to be listed, but seeing it in the photos now, I feel there's something 'off' about it.  It's not tapered enough, and/or it's lacking anything delicate; it's too woodsy.  It seems masculine.  the word that comes to mind when I look at the photos is "tobacco."  There's something 'cigar' about it.  I'm against it.  I can't decide whether to take it apart or alter it somehow.  Altering it won't fix the silhouette though.  The cabochon  there is polymer clay baked right in a brass setting, then carved and painted.  I felt like that and the floral poly bead next to it would lighten and give the whole thing a proper delicacy, but it wasn't enough.