Just for Fun

When I was starting to work on the "Screw" necklace I came across this doll leg.  (I found it when I was looking for a bone from one of the grandchildren's old games.)

Since I took so long getting the other necklace started I felt I should do something extra for my customer.  So........ just for the fun of it I made this "leg necklace" in honor of the broken leg.

It was fun!

Biggest Challenge

This past summer a former student of mine (from my days of teaching elementary art) asked me to make a necklace for his daughter that incorporated a screw that had been in his daughter's broken leg.  Sometimes I have an idea immediately, but this time my mind was a big blank.  (Ask my husband..... this is nothing new.)

It took me quite awhile.  ( I was busy enjoying summer and kept putting off what I knew I needed to do.)   About six weeks ago, I finally just told myself "Do It!"  So I drew up some ideas, sent them off to the customer to see if any of them were what he had in mind.  

After he picked his favorite, my next challenge was to figure out how to actually make it.  There were several techniques that I've never tried before and I decided to try them in this piece.  

Some of the challenges:

1.  Getting the piece to shrink to the right size so the screw would fit.  That one was pretty simple as the piece is made 118% bigger than the final piece.  The scanner and the computer are invaluable as tools to figure this out.  (Although there is a metal clay shrinkage ruler that can also help determine the beginning size and I did use it too.)

2.  Making the sides thick enough to create wells to hold the items.  I could have rolled the clay out with cards but felt that I needed something thicker.  So, I pulled out my clay extruder (which I've used only once before to make a bezel tube.)  This time I used the square cam to extrude a thick square snake which I cut into fourths.  The inside dividers were rolled by hand.

3.  Next I had to figure out how I was going to keep the screw in place.  (I didn't fire it in place as I wasn't sure what it's chemical makeup was.)    I decided to try resin.  Never used resin before either.  I did some test pieces before I took the plunge.  (Nervously took the plunge!)  The screw is held in place with clear UV resin and the blue is also resin, tinted.  (Had the resin supplies for years.  It was about time.)

4.  Finding teeny tiny pearls was impossible.  So...... I made some.  Once before I "made" a pearl for a piece so it was no problem to do it again.  Just polymer clay and "pearl" powder.  The most difficult thing here was how small I had to make them.  I thought I had them tiny enough but still ended up cutting them in half to make them fit.  (Glueing them in was no picnic either!)

5.  Finally, hanging the piece on a cord created yet another challenge.  Originally I was going to put the three keys at the top of the piece so they would go through the cord.   I wasn't sure what type or thickness of cord I was going to use so I turned them and hung them by putting jump rings through the keys.  But, when using the same size of jump rings, the pendant didn't hang right.  I had no problem leaving the middle key without a jump ring but wasn't sure the customer would see it the same way I did.  So..... after some trial and error, I enlarged the two outside rings and left the center ring the same size.  

6.  The amount of time I spent on this piece was quite extensive.  I didn't really keep track but it took  days and days and days.  (Mostly because I wasn't sure what I was doing and because I was trying new things.)  The piece has lots of silver in it and lots of time but I didn't charge the customer for all the hours.  Instead I looked at it as a learning piece.  It made me try some things I hadn't tried before (and definitely will try again.)  The customer shouldn't have to pay for that.

The back....... it's important too.

PMC Conference..... day one

Well, we are here...... finally.  The Conference is something I've been anticipating for months.  This is the last conference ever to be sponsored by the PMC Guild.  The guild is shutting down.  They've accomplished what they set out to do and it's time to end it.  What will pop up in it's place is any body's guess but I'm sure there will be something.

But for now it's time to enjoy the conference in all it's glory.

The day started with the Keynote speaker, Ellen Wieske. the assistant director at Haystack School of Crafts.  She had an inspiring presentation which included slides of her work and slides of those who inspire her.  Her work makes use of materials that many of us would throw away.  (Her work would have been perfect for our Junk Art Show.   I'm inspired to start now on next years exhibit.)  I'll be spending several days, googling her and the list of those who she admires.

Afterwards I attended a demonstration by Chris Darway and Terry Kovalcik, better known as "The Jersey Boys."

Chris Darway and Terry Kovalcik

Terry showed us how to use polymer clay and two part silicone mold making material to create forms for draping and shaping the metal.  (Can't wait to get home and try it.)

Chris shared tips on using titanium wire with metal clay.  He shared some ideas on tools that we can make to use in working with small pieces of clay.

Their demos were projected onto a screen behind them.  That's why this appears blue and blurry.

Day one was a success.  More to come.  

Tearaway technique

Paper side of tearaway

Paper and polymer piece (detail is in the clay although it's hard to see)

These are used to roll the clay onto to create texture

It's been eight months since I've been to a guild meeting.  I belong to the Western Pa. chapter of the PMC Guild which has meetings whenever we can find a place to host them.

Last Tuesday evening we had a meeting at the Four Directions Jewelry Studio of Barb Kaczor (one of our members.)  The studio is located in Springdale, Pa and is very impressive.  Stop in and check it out if you're down that way.

We usually have show and tell and some type of demo.  Donna Penoyer gave a very informational demo on tearaways.  (Any demo Donna does is great.)  Tearaways are another thing that metal clay artists have adopted from the polymer clay people.  I've used them but never made one (until today.)

A basic description would be that a toner based copy of a black and white line drawing is made on glossy paper.  White polymer clay is conditioned and rolled into a thick sheet and the copied drawing is laid face down on the polymer clay.  Using the palm of the hand, the back of the sheet is rubbed to create heat and friction.  Slight pressure is applied while doing this and the rubbing continues for a specified time period and then allowed to rest and cool.  This rubbing and resting process is completed one more time and then followed by a final rubbing.  After the final rubbing the paper is torn off with a quick pull.

This process creates two plates that can be used to create texture on the metal clay.  The paper picks up polymer clay on the inked lines and the drawing cuts into the polymer clay.  Both pieces are cured in a toaster oven when finished.

The polymer piece can be used indefinitely unless it cracks.  The paper piece can be used multiple times until it wears out.

I tried making one for the first time today.  Rubbing the back was a little warm (and tiring..... I'm such a wimp.)  I was anxiously looking forward to the ripping action and I have to admit it was fun.  (Like ripping off a band-aid.)  My piece turned out perfect.  I was thrilled.

Forget new, I want to the old ones

A very simple and fun project is making polymer clay covered pens.  My art club use to make them to sell.

On Saturday, I offered an appreciation class in making polymer clay pens.  Luckily I had eleven Bic pens made with a white plastic barrel as these have been successful in not melting in the toaster oven.  I never dreamed that I would not be able to buy them any more.  

Instead I had to buy pens that "looked" like the Bic pens.  They were different in two ways; they had 1/3 less ink in them and they melted in the oven.  Darn!  I may never be able to make these pens again.   Now I'm stuck with sixty pens I don't want.  Anyone need a pen?

Accountability buddy

Van Gogh Palette earring collages by Cassy Muronaka

     As was mentioned in an earlier post, I'm taking the Artful Success class from Tonya Davidson.  The class is packed full of good information (which is an overwhelming task to process.)  But, bit by bit we are all making progress (at our own pace) and will eventually put into practice what we are learning.

    We have "Accountability Buddies" in this class to help keep us on track and to have someone to bounce ideas off.  My buddy is Cassy Muronaka from California.  Cassy is a photographer, writer and polymer clay artist.   We've communicated by email and by phone.   Due to the time difference it's a good thing I'm a night owl.  We've discovered that we are very much alike in many ways and talk like we've been friends for years.

    Check out Cassy's website, http;//cassymuronaka.com (which will also take you to her blog.)  Especially look at her publications, many of which I recognized as being something I was interested in.  How cool (okay, I've dated myself again) to know people who write articles that I've read.

(Getting into metal clay has also afforded me the chance to know lots of people who write magazine articles and books.)   And while I'm at it, here's a shout out to my friend Carol Scheftic who had two of her pieces published in Hadar Jacobson's latest book.   Check her out at the Convergent Series link in the right hand column of my blog.

 

 

Need a pearl?

Make one!  (Well actually make a faux pearl.  It was the easiest thing to make so far.)

Faux Stone

The two jades with metal clay and the turquoise that sort of turned out.  Still more practice to come!

Time to play!

I've always been somebody who has been a little on the reserved side.  I follow the rules, do what I'm told and usually don't make waves.  (Although once in awhile in my old age I've surprised myself.)

I can laugh and have fun but am not overly playful.  But I think I need to learn how to let go and play!

My jewelry leans more towards the traditional although I try to break out of my box.  Sometimes I make it but usually not.

I'm saying this because I am trying to put together a class that incorporates both metal clay and polymer clay.

Years ago I worked with polymer.  I taught it to my students at the end of the school year.  It was new enough and different enough to keep their interest.  I mostly taught them how to make canes (and there in lies my problem.)

Metal clay is totally different than polymer.  Besides being much cheaper it handles differently.  It doesn't harden until cured in a toaster oven.  It sticks and drags when a needle tool is pulled through it.  Rolling it causes it to stretch out.  These differences were not a problem when making canes, but it became a problem when I tried to make slabs of faux stones.

I'd gone through a variety of polymer clay books to find "formulas" and
directions for making the fake stones.  The list I came up with is long.  As usual I ran out and bought more supplies than I needed.  (That's another side I need to work on!)

Well, I've been following the directions (which sometimes leave a little to be desired) with a minimal amount of success.  There are a couple of "jades" that looked better once they were buffed up.  I've gotten one "okay" batch of "turquoise" and one bad batch.  That's as far as I've gotten.

What I've decided I really need to do is lay out some real stones to look at.  Pull out the polymer and just start playing.  Heck what's the worse that can happen?  I'll waste some polymer!  It's not like it costs as much as the silver clay.  So why can't I do it?  It's just not in my nature.

Maybe I need to go down the slide a few times with my grandchildren to get me warmed up!

All in a days work

Yesterday I was able to spend some much needed time in the studio. Life has been hectic lately and there have been more important things to tend to. But, it is getting to be that time of year (the holidays are fast approaching) and I need to get more work finished.

Fall is a good time for festivals, but since I got started late with those I have to wait until next year. The one exception to that is the Foxburg Festival this weekend. I make jewelry for them with the Foxburg logo on it and they've invited me to set up a table in the store like I did last year. Nice thing about that is I'm indoors. (Applefest this year ended with a very cold, very rainy day. Hope next year's weather is better as I hope to do that one.)

Coming up is a home jewelry party (thought I'd give that a try), my annual open house, Second Saturdays at the studio (one which is a Holiday Gala), a chamber mixer, several fund raisers, a trip to Disney World and upcoming classes.

So..... yesterday I was trying to prepare. I did accomplish more than the photos show as I finally finished up some pieces, have some more pieces ready for the kiln, cleaned the studio (somewhat) and have some ideas formulating.

The photos:

As mentioned in an earlier post, I redesigned the ring from my Rio Certification class to make it stronger. (It broke at the joint between the band and the signet. I've heard that they are rethinking that particular project.) The simplicity of the design was appealing to me so I wanted to keep it simple. I added silver nuggets (not the right word but I'm having a senior moment.... darn) between the two parts to connect them better. (Just can't keep the organic element out of my design.)

The large polymer piece (that I was making into a pin) broke when I tried to force it into an earring display piece thingy (darn those senior moments). So...... it took on a new life as two pieces, a pair of earrings and a pendant (with the addition of add-on bails.) Actually I like it better but now I have to buff the ragged edges.

Lastly is a photo of the backs of scarf slides I'm making for Foxburg. They are drying (did the joining two fired pieces technique) and waiting to be fired. I don't wear scarf slides and was confused as to how I wanted to make them. (The ring mandrels came in handy. I think a size 7 makes the right size for a scarf.) After asking for several opinions, this is what I decided on. Hope they're right.

Look what I found!

I was cleaning out the bottom of the jewelry chest today and found these polymer clay pieces.

By the last grading period of the year, my students were tired and it took a lot to motivate them to keep working. Polymer clay was a medium that most of them weren't familiar with and was just the motivator we needed to keep going. (The bad thing was that my art room was usually pretty warm by that time of year, which made working with the polymer more difficult than it needed to be. We ran to the teacher's room fridge quite often to cool the clay.)

We started out by learning how to create a variety of canes; gradation canes, jelly rolls, checkerboards, striped and picture canes. Their assignments consisted of making a piece of jewelry from polymer clay and combining it with other materials, covering something with the polymer and creating a sculpture from polymer clay. Over the next few days, I'll share some more examples (a filler while I work on more metal clay. I wish metal clay costs were comparable to polymer clay costs.)

The single square cane was created by combining leftover canes, cutting and turning them to create a new cane. Wish I could remember exactly the process for doing this. Anyone want to share the technique?