Orinendo Shawl Pins

A few have asked me when I would be doing a Shawl Pin tutorial. What better way to get me to do it when the weatherman is correct in predicting nothing but rain for the week which means I am spending more time indoors again.

Perhaps you are wondering (or maybe not, lol) about the strange name I gave them.
“Orinendo”.  Maybe it’s their shape of the clasp or maybe the Geisha-like pins, but the techniques themselves are actually influenced by Asian Artisan methods, Origami and Mokume Gane. Many polymer clayers are familiar with Mokume-Gane which means ‘wood grained – metal’. Some prefer to call the technique Mokume Nendo when applied to polymer clay, as Nendo means clay. Ori-gami means ‘Folding-paper’. So how does this relate to the pins and tutorial? Well, the pins are made with using my color-gradient blend which I named ‘Origami Blend’ and with the extra steps added it resembles Mokume Nendo, so it seemed natural to combine the names.
Perhaps more of interest will be the revelation how to painlessly make your clay resemble Mokume Gane or Mokume Nendo without the normally required skill of using a thin tissue blade to reveal the various layers of colour. I'll show you how apply coppery patterns and coloured crackle details. The hexagon pin is the one I’m doing in the tutorial, but you can create any shape you like.

Your finished project will be an elegant compliment to any shawl or sweater, especially with the colder season heading upon us…
Look for this collage banner on my ArtFire.

Button Button who's got the Button?

Julie Witt does! I was pleasantly surprised when Julie of Sewknitful sent me a photo of her wonderful Flower pin that she knit up. Julie then used one of my buttons for the flowers' center and I think it turned out just perfect. The contrast between the blue of the jacket and red of the flower just pops. Julie has posted a link for the pattern on her blog. I think I'll want one of these! Thanks Julie!

I've done various types of mokume gane and have a tutorial on a variation that I call Dichroic Pendants, but learned this style with the 'River channel' from Julie Picarello when she came to Vancouver in November of 2009. I didn't make very many and am honoured this button found a prominent place.

Polymer Clay Pins and Brooches

I finally finished some of the Polymer Clay Mokume Gane pieces from the Julie Picarello workshop last month. There seems to be some fog in the photo toward the back. When I looked at the lens it was all steamed up...it was cold outside. Next time I need to acclimatize the camera first, lol.
Yes, I sanded, but didn't buff them too much, just a few quick rubs on my jeans.

2 Days with Julie Picarello

I finally get to write about the fabulous 2 day Polymer Clay Workshop that I spent in Vancouver amongst old and new friends and the fabulous Ms. Julie Picarello. You'll probably recognize her style...

I love Julie's style, not only her wonderful mokume gane work and jewelry, but also her style of teaching. I absorbed as much as I could. I actually got into trouble with Julie when 'someone told on me'! that I'm a sanding rebel! She had to have a word with me about that and I promised sheepishly that I would sand. Well, it really didn't help that most of my usual work is of such nature that it doesn't require sanding. Pebbles, anyone? lol Ok...seriously...I don't really need any convincing that the mokume gane would benefit from some sanding. It really makes it 'finished' and of course do I want my pieces to look finished (when they get finished, haha). What I loved about this workshop, there was a lot of laughter! (we all got to wear our comfy slippers and Julie had chocolates on her table that we got to munch on!...mmm...)

Julie taught us her particular style of mokume gane with imprint and incorporating interesting bits of funky metals, drilling, sanding, copper tube bails and intriguingly patterned lizard tails...Thank you for a great weekend, Julie. (Sorry about the pic...I should have aimed a little different...no folks, Julie is not wearing a hair barrette...oops)

Julie instructing and intent listeners...

Well, those are some of my 'colors' and then I made this...

 I think it was a nice surprise. Ok, ok...not finished yet. I'll show you later, I still have to sand! lol

Julie's fabulous jewelry.

and interesting 'lizard' tails...I see a lot of potential!

Group Photo...we all fit in!!

That shot took some maneuvering on a ladder, lol. A very Big Thanks to Linda ( third up from bottom left with her hand on my shoulder). Linda was our wonderful Hostess for this Retreat. Those of us that chose to stay with Linda got comfy beds, yummy goodies for breakfast and lunch and a great atmosphere in a wonderful home. Check out Linda's blog for any upcoming workshops or happenings in the Vancouver area...

I want to do this again...asap!!

Layered Polymer Clay Discs

Oh my, how time flies. Wednesday already! Had a friend visiting for a couple of days that we tried to cram with as much Polymer Clay as possible. There was a lot of 'lets try this! or that!' but we didn't get as much done as we'd hoped for. Some of it was work...namely 'sanding', but we took some breaks with beach and forest walks to clear our heads or give our shoulders and hands a rest. Beach and sand and sanded fingertips...mm...The weather wasn't too great, a bit drizzly and wet, but this is a Rainforest, what can I say, misty facials, lol.

Our heads are crammed full with ideas! It was inspiring to chat in person about various techniques. While Vanessa has left for home, my work isn't done. I still need to finish the box that I started and create a few more molds and stencils. Some of the stencils I made didn't work out...photoEZ has a limited shelf life when undeveloped.


We actually got something done and finished! - Layered polymer clay disc necklaces similar to Bettina Welker's necklace in PolymerCafe ( Summer 2007). Instead of magnetic closures we used a beaded loop-over-button method. We chose a mokume gane technique instead of texture. While the concept of the layered disc necklace is appealing to me, the flipping and layering of the beads at random when the necklace is picked up and laid back down again, is not. It would be a problem when trying to sell such a necklace in person, it would require constant fussing with the beads to stack up properly again. I thought that adding size 6 czech seedbeeds between the disc beads would help prevent the problem, it didn't, but it gives the back of the necklace a tidier finish and also lengthened it a bit, necessary for my larger size. I think this necklace will be a 'keeper', that is, I will wear it. I'm going to play a bit more with the concept and am sure I can come up with a way to keep the beads stacked.

The dark blue necklace is Vanessa's, the azure blue is mine. Aren't they lovely?

Polymer Clay Mokume Gane or Mokume Nendo

There has been quite the heated thread going on about misrepresentation of a technique. Metal Artists have complained on an Etsy thread that some polymer clay artists are using the term "mokume gane" in the tag line for their projects and that it is inappropriate. Some very negative things were thrown at Polymer Clay Artists such as:

"polymer clay is a BIG insult to the actual technique! If only the polymer clay makers knew what a bit of LABOR goes into the REAL Mokume Gane!!!!!!!"
"What on earth has that got to do with smooshing some polymer clay together and calling it Mokume Gane???"
"stealing the term to advance the value of the clay"
"terrible disservice to the talented metal smiths who make the real thing"
"it's highly insulting and devaluing to see people calling it the same thing"
"it cheapens it for the metalworker studying it and builds up the image for the clay artist"
"artificially increasing the value of your work by appropriating a term that is steeped in historical and cultural significance."
"it is an insult to them to call a polymer clay approximation of their labour by *their* name. I could not do it; I would be ashamed to do so."
"it makes the polymer clay artists look like -- excuse me for saying it -- posers."

Then the positives:

And also, since we're quoting, here's some positives:
"I do recognize that poly clay is an art form, and I recognize its practioners as artists."
"In truth, I think your art is valuable enough to stand on its own two feet..."
"The clay one in no way takes as long. That does not detract from its beauty or aesthetic."
"Well in all fairness here, the clay artists here on etsy didnt start this..."
"Who is denying the clay items are not the result of hard work and talent??"
"I do appreciate polymer and precious metal clay work..."
"I think its a fine media, and definitely is at times just gorgeous stuff."

The negativity toward us artists who have come on such a long road to educate people that Fimo is not Filo! that polymer clay is not cheap plastic stuff! and that 'no' it is not a kid's toy! only to be devalued again by metal smith artists as 'posers' is an insult, to say the least. We borrow terms from other materials all the time, when we make stone, wood, ceramic and metal. And Mokume Gane...aren't metal smiths just imitating wood grain?! there there, calm down, lol....

Moku (wood) Me (Eye) Gane (Metal) has been applied to polymer clay as an imitative technique for some time.
It has been suggested that the term "mokume nendo" (nendo - clay) would be more appropriate, and even though I like it personally, why should we have to change it when after all we are simulating...

In the end some Metal Artists say they never meant to attack Polymer Clay as an art medium, but some are still stuck on the thought that polymer clay is EASY!!!! ahem, ok...while some have natural talents and it may come easy to them...come on try it, I say and then repeat that it is 'easy', lol

Oh boy, what is next...millefiore caning?

And there goes that necklace

Remember the necklace I made a couple of posts back? Well, didn't take long...first market it shows up and woosh....gone. I think it really suits Julia of Victoria, BC who was kind enough to pose it for me. Looks great on her, doesn't it? It was a great Market btw. We actually had some fabulous duo singing in the most professional way, on occasion even sounding much like Sarah McLaughlan. They came all the way from Florida.

V Day!

A visit from my friend Vanessa made this rainy day much more fun than it would have been. Coming up to Tofino is a more than 3 hour long drive (not counting the drive back!), so V as I like to call Vanessa, was a real Sport when I suggested we experiment with a little polymer clay. I wanted to try a hidden magic mokume gane thing that I saw on Parole de Pate (Feb2008), but with a slight difference, by adding a sheet of translucent with pinata inks and another one translucent with painted gold leaf sandwiched in between. The result wasn't quite what I imagined or had hoped for, but am happy nonetheless. The result was an 'aha' moment because now I now what to try next....a thicker version for more depth.
Thanks for a great visit V!

A lot of green...(that table cloth must go....I don't like gingham)

V's sheet which reminded me of some ancient script....

Goofin' around, lol.
Finished one project...

More Triangle beads

Made some more mokume gane, translucent with red pinata, gold leaf, copperleaf. Made some triangular beads and carved them a bit after baking and giving them a bit of antiquing.