Workshops, lessons and PhotoEZ

Am working on putting together some kits for my upcoming workshop at Horizons 2009 next month. Besides providing materials such as beads, templates, artwork and a little surprise 'gizmo' that I created, am getting quite excited about teaching because I just got word from EZScreenPrint that they will help sponsor me with some much needed supplies!

Students will have to wait and see, but I am thankful to EZScreenPrint for their generosity! And if "you" want to benefit from their generosity, check out their website because they have some awesome sales happening right NOW!

For those that aren't familiar with the material, it is an ideal screen printing material. It can be used on many types of materials, such as ceramics, fabric, paper, and polymer clay. I know when most of us think about screen printing, we imagine these hard to use, messy and expensive tools, but not so with PhotoEZ. That is where the EZ part comes in....ease or easy!

Check out the videos that Christopher Avalos posted on YouTube. The first tutorial shows you how to create an image on your computer, the second one how to create the screen, and the third, how to print with the screen. I can tell you that it only takes me about 40 minutes from printing artwork to having a finished screen ready for my polymer clay.
Here is my own tutorial (free) on how to achieve templates for screens....made on your computer from 'dingbat fonts'.

I must explore this material for scrapbooking next.

One World One Heart Give Away...

I am getting involved in the one world one heart give away. If you are an active blogger and leave a comment on this post with your email address I will choose a winner on February 12th Pacific Coast time....that is I will draw on midnight February 11th....;)

Artists from all over the world are participating. If you click on the image above you can see the list of bloggers that are giving away a piece of art to participate.

~*ONLY ACTIVE BLOGGERS ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE TO WIN MY OFFERINGS*~
You need to be a blogger yourself, in order to qualify.
Please just leave 1 comment to qualify on ~*THIS POST ONLY*~
(You can comment on other posts all you wish!)

If you also would like to participate just click the photo and find out all about it!

This is what I will be giving away...The Love Bug Heart Pendant.....

Anyone else fascinated with Mars?

I'm throwing in a post that has absolutely nothing to do with polymer clay, but not every day involves working on our favourite medium. I for one am fascinated with Mars, no matter how boring some of those pictures are.
Here are some interesting pictures! Those cameras from those little landers are still sending pictures back to Earth which in itself is amazing, considering no one counted on those rovers surviving this long.
Now...what would create those strange 'small craters...? And the long line, kind of looks like evidence of a riverbed...

The white patches on the top right corner...is that evidence of ice? Dry ice? And some kind of erosion below?

More of the dots, but these aren't craters, but raised and in kind of random pattern. What could produce such a thing?!

And now the weirdest thing of all. First we get the "Face of Mars". And now we find GIANT foot prints? This looks like a foot print doesn't it?!!

These pictures were taken from an altitude of....about a meter. well, ha ha ha....it was our local beach. lol. sorry, couldn't wait till April 1st.

Polymer Clay and name that heart!

If the heart is the symbol for love, I have a funny way of translating it. I love to find the humour in things, so I'm giving these polymer clay pendants some funny names. How about a pierced heart, chained to love, love knot, love bug and the dirty heart. Well, the dirty heart probably wasn't what you expected, lol. I had stamped and colored some clay, decided I wasn't happy with it, but when I mushed up the polymer clay mess...decided I like it after all. Now, I need a 'key to your heart'. Yes, I have to fill that empty spot beside the puffy heart.

Heart concept or hard concept

Whichever way one calls it, my friend Vanessa and I brainstormed about what kind of Polymer clay heart pendants I should create and had some funny ideas. Well, you saw my "Eye love you" hearts and am presently staring at my colors of polymer clay blocks right now, then at my sketches for ideas. Wordplay definitely is fun and hopefully those ideas will translate into something real tomorrow....gotta get going so I'll have some photos to show for, right?
Mmmm...I did make a few hearts today, but not pleased how they turned out...they looks so...well, dirty. I don't know if you wanna see my 'dirty hearts'...or do you?

Eye love U! polymer clay hearts...

Eye love you! or something like that.
I made these polymer clay hearts by adding some 'eyes' to them. Had these doll eyes kicking around from my "green man" days back in the early 90's when I put eyes in polymer clay jewelry such as brooches and barrettes. Kinda creepy, eh!



I had given them funky names like:"I'm keeping my eye on you" and "I've got eyes in the back of my head". I had called them 'green man series' because it started with a large polymer clay clock with eyes (c.1991), a partial face peeking out from a whole bunch of leaves.

Time flies!

Can't believe it's almost mid month of a new year!
Had my polymer clay and supplies stashed away over the holidays and only a few unfinished bits and pieces on my desk.
Here I thought I had plenty of time to rest up...well, what I call rest is working on 'designs' for another season, haha, but with the economy slow-down felt that there was no rush on actually 'producing' anything. Well, seems I was wrong! Better get my polymer clay back out! Due to belt-tightening and constraint on spending, Arts and Crafts, especially locally, are becoming more desirable than ever than that Drugstore perfume or panini grill.

Time flies and Valentines Day will be soon upon us! ....gotta make more hearts!!

Leaf Toggle Clasp Pendants for Polymer Clay Jewelry

An updated version of my tutorial for 'polymer clay toggle clasp pendants' is now available.



Perhaps you too have become a little bored with using the same commercial clasps over and over in jewelry design. Toggle clasps are very popular and seem to grace almost every bracelet and necklace today. While Gold, silver and copper are great materials, sometimes the shiny metal distracts from the design or calls for a clasp that isn't too obvious at first glance. There are of course other not so obvious styles such as polymer clay covered barrel clasps, but this style of clasp serves double-duty as both clasp and pendant. My solution was to make a toggle from polymer clay, large enough to be both durable and functional as both clasp and pendant.



About my toggle clasp, it was first published in PolymerCAFE (April 2008). This newer version has now been reworked to include more detailed instruction, that I feel even a beginner would be able to achieve.
The tutorial, like in the magazine, includes a colored crackle technique, actually two methods because one that is achieved with inks, the other without. This newer version includes a whopping 37 photographs, 27 steps and 13 pages in an easy e copy .pdf file download. The tutorial guides you to create a leaf with branch toggle, but you can easily adapt or use any shape you desire, round, triangle, rectangle, flower or other shapes that inspire you.

Available through  my Artfire and Etsy shops.

Polymer Clay Bead Cap Tutorial

Have you ever wondered what your beads or gemstones would look like with your own handmade bead caps?
This tutorial shows you how to produce versatile, attractive and durable bead caps from polymer clay. These days, polymer clay's versatility allows it to simulate virtually any or most material. Polymer clay can simulate stone, wood, bone and even metal, as these bead caps will demonstrate. Decorative buttons are used as the basis of the texture of the bead caps. The finished bead caps fit 15mm beads, but other sizes can easily be made by choosing smaller (or larger) buttons for the mold.

For a mere $2.50 you get 5 Pages of 8 easy to follow steps and 13 photographs. Use the "Buy now" button below which will take you to a secure checkout via Paypal and your tutorial will come to you immediately via Payloadz.

Polymer Clay Vessel and Holder stands

Am glad that my CD polymer clay tutorial, on using old CD's and making leg stands, inspired at least a couple of people in different ways.

Vanessa made this nifty lidded vessel with very nice Mokume Gane. Love the colour combo for this mokume gane!



The curly legs and top give this box a very nice appearance and can't help when I say it has a "Dr Seuss" feel to it. It must be the curl on top!



Moyra aka "Radically Riley" made this candle holder with transfer mini tarot cards along the CD, then added curly legs, sideways.