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.
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 was inspired by a face I saw in a magazine. It was made of several pieces of glass in different colors. I decided to make a mosaic like the fish I make and apply it to a cuff bracelet. 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. 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. 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. 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. Are you like Arlene Harrison? Do you have business card cases that you purchased and they’re still in the box they came in. Okay, maybe you opened the box. (Of course you did, what was I thinking, we are internet ordering specialist aren’t we? When the boxes come, we open before the mailman can get out of the driveway.) But maybe you just didn’t exactly know how to apply the polymer clay to the case. So you thought about them for awhile. Then you thought about them some more. Then you forgot about them. Then one day you came across them in the bottom of the drawer or the back of the closet. How did they get there? You promise yourself you are going to do something with them soon. Hey, if they were going to make great Christmas presents last year, well, they still will this year right? You have plenty of time, it’s only July. You put them on top of everything else in the drawer. If they’re on top, you’ll be sure to see them now and you’ll get around to figuring them out soon. Well, procrastinate no more. After Arlene watched my video she finished her “closet” cases and you can too. Who knows, you might even purchase more. I purchase mine at Polymer Clay Projects. Watch the video below and combine this technique with your favorite polymer clay technique to create your own fabulous cases. Enjoy! I’d love it if you’d leave a comment now and then to let me know how you like my videos and maybe a picture of what you do with your cases. If you enjoy this video, be sure and take a look at my other videos.
Yesterday I made a face cane in profile. I’ve made canes like these before and made several vases, postcards, canisters, and oh I don’t know what else. I either gave them away, donated them or sold them. And I didn’t take pictures of them. I regret not taking picture of things in the beginning. If only just to see how far I’ve come. Anyway, I’m play around with the profile here. Same cane different hair styles. I have some other ideas that I’m going to work on today. If you haven’t already, be sure and check out the Fish Mosaic contest in the last post. 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. |
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