BomB #1 (Blurb on my Blog)
Arlene Harrison has shared with us her experiment with ReadyTac and Canes. I’ll let her tell you about it. Thanks Arlene for sharing this tip.
The title of her post is First Play-doh – now ReadyTac.
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27 videos, step by step, beginner cane workshop
What people are saying about this tutorial.
jennifer rose
Just finished this first workshop on how to make canes, and I must say I learned so much. This is exactly what I have been looking for, someone who could explain cane making in a step by step that process that I could replicate. I watched the videos, went into my studio and began to create all of the canes Alice showed. I finally have results I can be proud of, and I say thank you so much for doing this workshop. My only question now is when do we get more workshops. If you are only going to take one online class let it be this workshop. Thank you Alice for your hard work, and your dedication to helping others learn the joys of polymer clay.  Member IPCA |
 My First Covered Vase 2001  Color Vase 2 Someone asked me the other day how I came up with the fish mosaic technique. I thought about the progression that led me to create that first fish. The Color Vase in this post was covered with polymer clay canes by me in 2001 and even listed on Glass Attic. It was my first polymer clay work to be shown on the internet and let me tell you, I was thrilled. It was when I still had my old business website, Talented Friends. The link is no longer active to say the least, but the listing is still there on Glass Attic under covering glass.  Color Vase 3 From this vase, I covered many other things and experimented with all sorts of techniques that I saw online or in books or classes. Several years ago, while I was director of Highlands Art League, we were having a members exhibit and I wanted to do something in PC. I decided I didn’t want to cover an entire vase, I just didn’t have the time. Plus I thought there had to be an easier way to create the designs with clay than trying to do it on the actual vase. I wanted the design to be recognizable, and something that would lend itself to cane work. I drew out a fish shape on paper and taped it under a flat piece of glass. From there I created the fish vase below and displayed it in our members show along with the Color Vase and two other vases I had done over the years.  Fish Vase Art League I stepped away from the art league late last year because of my husband’s health. I was home now and had time to actually grow my clay work and expand my horizons. I opened an Etsy shop and decided to try and make small things that I could sell in my Etsy shop and went to clip art for my general pattern for the fish and even a crab. One thing always leads to another as you can see by the cuff bracelet I did this week with the same technique. This fish led me to share this technique with you. By signing up for my newsletter on the right hand side of the page, you can view the 20 minute film showing the technique I used to achieved this design. I hope you decide to enter my contest too. What I have discovered is that nothing replaces just getting your hands in the clay and letting the work evolve. One idea will lead to another. Be bold, experiment, enjoy the process. I know I do.  Group of Vases shown at Highlands Art League 2007  Polymer Clay Mosaic Bracelet Well, I couldn’t wait until tomorrow. I finished the cuff bracelet tonight and I kind of like it. Just one more experiment added to the already long list. Hmm…I think I’m thinking of something else to try.
I don’t know if you can see the face, it’s in the middle, yellow nose, green face and red lips. I drew out a pattern and began. As you can see, it’s colorful. Actually more colorful than I originally planned. The inspiration piece was pretty simple in design and mostly solid colors. It looked nothing like my finished piece. I still have to straighten up the edges and put it on the bracelet form, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. I can’t decide if it is just too busy or if I really like it. I guess it can be both. Busy and likable! Come back tomorrow if you have a minute. I should have it finished by then.  A Dish  Bottom of the Dish I have so many things that I have made over the years. This is one of my favorite pieces. I made this after taking Kathleen Dustin’s class. At the time I was busy at work and really didn’t continue to make many other things in this style. I love to make canes, but I think now that I have more time, I need to start experimenting again. I drew that face on my computer in a paint program and applied it to the surface. I continued with what I learned with Kathleen. It you ever have the opportunity to take a class from Kathleen, do it, you will learn so much., What I might never be able to do is to sand it as much as it needs. Does anyone know if I can hire that done???? A couple of the canes that I used, actually came from a cane swap I did with I first started with PC. I love that about this kind of work. You can incorporate canes and each one can have a memory or special meaning. Kind of a scrap book of work that you and friends have done. Most of us would like to make some money from our work, if for no other reason than to support our habit. But we can’t forget the pure enjoyment that we get from making that special piece that we won’t sell no matter what. This dish is one of those pieces for me.  Girls - Polymer Clay Salt and Pepper Shakers I was going to show you some more flamingo things I’ve done, but my camera’s battery was low. I had already taken pictures of these girls so I thought I would share. I have sold quite a few Salt and Pepper shakers over the years and given away more. I have several sets myself and laugh when I look at first ones I made. I love to wear bracelets. But I don’t wear other jewelry because I’m allergic to most metals. I love to surround myself with things that are beautiful, that make me laugh or are nostalgic. My work certainly falls into at least one of those categories. I wanted to make things that I could either look at or use in my every day life. Sculpture, art dolls, salt and pepper shakers, vases, bowls, containers of all kinds. I’m lucky to have a kitchen in my studio and an oven that is only for polymer clay. I am limited to the size of my items only by the size of my oven. My question is, do you use your favorite canes and cover something that you use everyday? Or are you a jewelry person only? If you have only done jewelry, what would make you consider covering something else with your favorite canes? And if you’re new here, I have a couple of videos you might like to watch. Check out the Video link on the left hand side of the page or at the very top next to the links page.  Flamingo Salt and Pepper Shakers  Flamingo Salt and Pepper Shakers Back View I have been making flamingo salt and pepper shakers, business card cases, wine stoppers and I don’t know what else for a couple of years now. I love flamingos, they make me laugh. And maybe I relate to Alice in wonderland and her flamingo croquet stick. Poor Flamingo. Flamingos continue to be a popular item with all kinds of people, tourist, natives (of FL.) collectors, artists… artists love to paint, sculpt and even cane them. Plus I don’t think there is an age range for people who like the pink wonder. Flamingos really are a beautiful bird, but they still make me laugh. They’re Florida’s Christmas equivalent of the northern snowman. We put a santa hat on him and there you go! I think I’ve even seen them trying to take over for the reindeer that pull Santa’s sleigh.  Business Card Cases After Arlene Harrison signed up for my newsletter and my video showing how I cover business card cases, she emailed me saying that she had some cases that she just hadn’t gotten around to doing. Yesterday she emailed me the picture above of the cases she finished after watching my video. I don’t claim to have influenced her polymer clay work, but if I helped with anything, then that’s a good thing. Arlene has been a featured artist on the website of Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy. Visit her Etsy Shop or her blog, Harrison Hollow Designs, and more of her work on her Picture Trail Site. Arlene is also a member of the Central Mississippi Polymer Clay Guild. I’ll be posting the Business Card Holder Video soon here for everyone. I’ve replaced it on my newsletter signup with the Fish Mosaic tutorial video. Thank you Arlene for taking the time to share your cases with me. Happy 4th of July! I’ve gone fishing again, but not in the lake.  Fish Vase Mosaic Front I finished this fish mosaic as part of a video. He wraps around the vase, it’s difficult to take a really good picture. So I’ve taken several.  Fish Vase Side Front The video isn’t quite finished but it will be soon. The rest of the day will be spent with friends and swimming in the lake. What else to do on a hot 4th of July?  Fish Vase Mosaic Side and Back This picture shows part of the tail on the front and part of the head as seen from the back side. That’s what’s so cool about these mosaics made this way. They are the same on the back as on the front. Lots of ideas running around in my head. Not enough hours in the day. Isn’t life grand?  Red Headed Vase This is an old face cane that I made several years ago. One of my first with my newest method. I really liked her except the area around her eyes was a different color. Yikes. Really was bad. I decided to separate the areas with glasses. And it worked. She is still way red, like she was out in the Florida sun. But I was happy and it was one more step on my way to better face canes. You never know how one mistake, a plan gone wrong, an almost throw away cane can be Ta Da…..Saved!  Red Headed Girl I still have more cane left, I think I’ll work on some outrageous glasses for the next girl. I should have added making crazy girls from face canes to my list for the last post! |
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