Spring Fever Pendant

Spring fever struck early!  Temperatures in the 50s and 60s encouraged us to forget about winter.  I was inspired to think about spring flowers and summer breezes.  That was right before it snowed!

A few more spring things are in the works despite the “big freeze” temperatures in the teens while the unseasonably warm weather is on its way again.

Traditional style rosary with Black Madonna center.

Here is one project finished in time to fulfill the request of a friend who will give it as a Christmas gift to a favorite relative.

The dark blue (Pater) beads have gold fleur de lis inspired by the  Black Madonna’s blue robe and gold fleur de lis design.  They were created by using the makume gane technique.

To see antique rosaries or see instructions to make your own, the Rosary Workshop is a good site to visit.

If you haven’t been caught up in Stroppel Mania, there’s still time!  Alice Stroppel developed a terrific way to use leftover canes.  You can see her tutorial here.  Just like working with polymer clay – there is no limit to projects which can sport a Stroppel Cane.  They are popping up everywhere.

Linear Stroppel Cane Center

Copper Bracelet with Stroppel Beads

CABZ on Flickr

After a bout of Stroppel Mania,  I got out the cookie cutters and made some charms and ornaments. Check them out on Flickr.

Still have some of those canes to use.  Maybe after the New Year arrives there will be some spring Stroppel flowers?  Maybe some scribed flowers too.

Mini-book cover

Scribed bell & heart

Impressed candle with holly on Christsmas Tree

Scribed Angel

It is a long road and her latest success is just one stop.  On the other hand, polymer clay is relatively new to the art world, reaching the U.S. in the 1970s, unlike oil painting, for instance, which dates back to the 1300′s or mosaics from 2000 b.c.  (You get the idea.)  This means her planning, foresight, and successes are just short of remarkable.

Elise has been focused on moving polymer clay from being classified as craft and hobby to fine art and museums. Her art is has been featured and is sold all over the country.  The movement to support this medium as “museum quality” is gaining momentum.  Ornament magazine did a wonderful feature story on polymer clay art and artists in July of this year.  Kathleen Dustin, anothere fantastic polymer clay artist who has help this art form develop, has been featured in Smithsonian Magazine.  She has exhibited at the Smithsonian Museum, twice, as a craftsman. Her creations have been featured in numerous museum shows and collections.

The versatility and accessibility of polymer clay sets it apart as a medium.

Time to experiment with this technique!  Those turning out a little too dark for spring are fine for fall.  I’ve tried back-filling designs with liquid polymer clay and powders.  This seems like a natural progression.

Every time I visit artybecca’s scribed beads photostream my mind races with new ideas and color combinations.

Artybecca’s tutorial provides the important steps for using her technique. It’s much easier than methods I’ve run accross before which required backing the clay and then carving (by hand or machine) to expose

underlying layers of color. Most polymer clay’s are soft enough after conditioning to allow accurate “scribing” of almost any design.

These mauve and green beads have a black clay core.  Artybecca uses Perfect Pearls and black Pearlex.  I’m substituting black fine detail embossing powder.  Because the embossing powder has a different texture than mica powders, I wait until the beads cool to sand.  As I try to master “scribing” more beads are posted at CAB’z on Flicker.

Copper Gold Double Strand Multi

Double strand of Makume Gane beads in multi-colors. It can be worn as one long strand.

To create the pattern a wavy blade was used instead of straight blade. The beads were shaped and some of the little dabs of colors removed by the blade were placed back on the beads before baking.  The “little dabs” added extra texture.

A “fine” sanding pad (#3) makes fast work of any bumps and imperfections on the surface of the setting – or the design. But if the design is too delicate you risk sanding it away. The 1500 “wet dry” sheet is a good partner for removing the remaining scratches. A few turns of the polisher and if all is not well, a

A litttle more rubbing with the 1500… repeat process as needed … Voila! All shine, no scratches.   No smelly stick sealants!

We found one for $35.00. After some trouble keeping the polishing wheel in place (It wanted to wobble and wander.) Hubby found some plastic washers. One on the outside of the wheel holds the wheel in place while the grooves keep the washer in place. Works like a dream.

The metallic clays shine in a about 2 minutes… haven’t tried pearl yet but I think all the micas would get the same results. My favorite is copper (very sad that Premo is changing it but that’s another story). Other opaque colors take longer.

Click to see larger image

Very easy set up. To test mine (see the photo) I put it inside a box so I wouldn’t kill anything when a bead flew out of my hand.

(Click on an image to see a larger version.)

Makume Gane … a technique used in Polymer Clay borrowed from metal work. Thin layers of different colors are stacked, impressed with a texture or design, and then raised areas are carved away. The carving reveals the colors of the layers.

The pin has a makume gane depressed insert with a textured border. The insert is coated with apoxy resin. Inserts on the Timex watch cuff are makume gane polymer clay in place of the original paper faux blond leather.

For instant random patterns: use a wavy blade. Small “chunks,” instead of thin slices, will be removed from the surface.  Those tiny pieces of clay can be placed on the surface to add more texture. (see earrings)

Copper Wire Flamingo

After getting some projects finished this summer, it’s time to get ready for fall. Here’s one of the fun projects from this summer… (Click to see the image.)

CAB'z Photos on Flickr

A Flamingo Pin: “Main Ingredients”

• Polymer clay gradient in the background,
• copper wire,
• colored with mica powders
• sealed with resin.

There will be more experimenting with wire and resin.

I’ve taken to walking through our local Peddler’s mall… Not so much for bargains but for the walk and the surprise finds.

Wow! Found something today that was both a bargain & a surprise – 3 packs of Polymer Clay for only 50 cents.On sale in the craft stores these days 1 package for $1.25 is the best price I can find. Even Hubby was amazed. Maybe because I brought home over 40 new packages of polymer clay?

40+ packages? Maybe over the top.

I’ll just need to try to harder to find new projects for this fall and winter :  )