New!

Because I like new!

Yesterday, I made a seahorse.  I was all set to make a post all about colors, and color blending and how much I adore it.  I managed to make a passable reproduction of a discontinued color, which is a gooorgeous emerald green.  But then the seahorse was sad.  His neck was all scrawny and sort of wobbly looking.   It didn't have that curved, arched placement we know and love from seahorses (and I got from the first one), so I decided to spend today on a couple more basic projects.  Dragon and fish.

Don't get me wrong, I still did some lovely color blending tonight...

(Although this guy is slightly less pink and more of a plum than he's showing up)

And another experiment in using microbeads.  I painted the area with liquid clay first, and for the dots on the body, poked divots in the body, filled with liquid clay and then pressed the beads in.  Then just coated with a good coat of glaze.  It's a mix of copper, gold and antique gold.  

Today's projects were 50% successful.  The butterfly I was making for a friend came out burnt.  Boooo.

However, the horse I made is nifty!

Today's projects!

This one is a fun little steampunk dragon.  He's a mix of  gold (which is a bright *GOLD* color, while antique gold is the more "traditional, pale color), silver and blue.  Leather straps are clay, few pearls, and just some pearl powder (yes, I am addicted to the pearlized powder

This guy is a sea turtle, if you couldn't tell.  I'm so pleased he didn't come out with brain damage ;).  The first couple attempts I made didn't come out so great, so this is a much better try!  I need to work on his shell shaping, but he's cute!  (I may be biased)

This next one has been floating around in my head ALL week.  It's meant to be a wall hanging, or a large pendant.  I think I really like it.  It's sort of a strange dreamscape.

The hanging hooks on this one aren't quite as neat as with other attempts at adding them, so my next attempt, I'll add them to the back before adding any details.  The moon is silver/pearl clay that's done on a mold (seriously, not that good).  The background is blue granite with clouds of micro pearl.  leaves are individual with size 2 wood screws.

Only got one thing done tonight...

But quite pleased!  The head is much more proportionate and delicate than I've managed before, and I really like the multiple layers of feathers in complimentary colors.  There's definitely more differentiation than my phone was able to capture, but I like the grace of the neck in this.  There's a hanging loop on the back, which is new for me.  And I think that's going to be my new plan.  And now, bed.


Edit: So there's a hanging hook behind the bird's shoulder, to which I attached a jump ring.  This seems to be a much more successful way to hang anything that really needs to hang a certain way, and then I also don't worry about the hole getting distorted or anything and consuming headpins like the purple bird is.  Win.

Random...

Tonight I feel the need to make another bird using all the layered feathers.  And a steampunk tree. Provided I can stay awake late enough.

birdies!

New projects for today! Yay!

New photos for some things...

I went out this morning and got some paper to take new photos of my creations.  The colors end up coming through a lot more clearly, which is nice.

See them below the cut!

Today's first two projects...

Well, I burnt my first project.  I've read that pearl clay burns easily (thank you, lovely teacher) so have a premixed bunch of white and pearl, but it didn't save the inner, reaallly thin portion of this leaf. 

But that's ok! Because that's what antiquing is for ;)

So this is also a really good moment (and photo) to discuss that I love color blending. *LOVE* I have a clay conditioning machine, which is a fancy-schmancy name for a cheap-ass pasta machine I got for 50% off at Joann's (1).  I find that it works well for big streaky color blends, but when I want something much more delicate and swirly, I really want to use my hands and also the roller.  It lets me keep a really nice eye on what's going on with the colors, and also seems to have the color pop on the outside rather than have to cut stuff open as often.  So yes, I will antique this, paint the leaves with gold/copper acrylic paint and wipe most of it off.

The other piece I have finished so far this morning is...

I think he's going to be one of my new favorites.  I had some trouble curling his tail around in front to start, but then wrestled it into place.  He was a good teaching model for the dragon I just put together, how better to curl the clay in the way *I* want it to go, as I am actually in charge of the damn stuff.

In looking at some older projects...

It's a blog!

Hey there!
Welcome to my blog.
This is where I'll chronicle my pursuit of polymer clay art/jewelry, as I am officially a total addict.  I'm sure my writing will be a strange mix of rambling musings and storytime, and may include some other stuff such as taaasty recipe time.  But for the most part, it's all about the clay.  I'm not sure I've ever been so amazingly inspired and excited about an art form, and that helps make today just about perfect.  Designed my blog, went to the farmers market (http://walthamfarmersmarket.org/), and have two pieces already in the oven, terrible movie on...
So, welcome, don't run with scissors in my direction, and enjoy!