Steampunkery - Polymer Clay Bracelet

My Polymer Clay bracelet a day (almost) color challenge is taking a turn with technique. I'm still playing with my Batik and will continue making more, but am thinking of doing a tutorial again on how to make various bracelet tiles and thought it needed a theme that was simple to do. I chose 'steampunk'. This bracelet has a steel blue base with metallic silver and bronze highlights. The tutorial will focus on simple surface treatment, texturing and also show tips on how to create gear look alikes with common tools for those that don't have watch parts handy. Focus will be on simple materials and simple tools.

Art Week in BC, a fun hunt for my pendants and more

It's been a busy week and seems to be getting busier now that Spring has finally showing signs. Hummingbirds are here, flocks of Geese are arriving and daffodils and tulips are in bloom.
Am working on another tutorial which I hope to share soon. Actually I have a few on the go and have a hard time just keeping focused on one thing. Someone mentioned 'multi-tasking' and yes, maybe that is the word I should use. Or maybe it's just an excuse for not finishing other things, lol. I do eventually get around to them...

Lot's of things going on. During the week of April 18-25 is Art Week in BC which for our communities here on the West Coast it's time for RAATUU!! -  aka Random Acts of Art in Tofino and Ucluelet. To celebrate BC Arts Week RAATUU is a unorganized proliferation of instant art. If you are standing in the Coop line up, break into your favorite poem for all to hear, dance a jig on the crosswalk in town, paste one minute sketches on all the telephone poles, or whatever makes you feel enthusiastic about being an artist. Never mind the government cut backs, let your art be free! I'm planning on caching little pendants here and there with clues on the Bulletin Boards where they can be found ...kind of Easter Egg Hunt style...

Talk about hidden things...don't catch me peeking into Pandora's Box, but it sure looks nice from the outside. I'm pleased to share with you the recent box that Maja of Polipap Crafter in Slovenia has created. I like the antique effect and reminds me of an olden stone slab jar that is found in ancient toombs.
Maja says she didn't have any of the cutters handy, but used a card board box that was a similar size.

This is the original box. If you wish to create one, you can find the tutorial on my ArtFire

This morning, the usual routine is to grab my morning coffee to sit down at this machine, to check emails and found that a couple of Canadians, including myself and Gera Scott Chandler are featured on the front page of VOILA! 
Check out this great site when you can.

Versatile pendant - clip on and off

I didn't have time to work on any polymer clay today, but thought I'd give you a break from my daily bracelet and color challenge by posting something that may be of interest to you.

A local gallery once mentioned to me that on ocassion a customer will comment "oh, I'd like that necklace better without the pendant" or "I'd like that pendant but would like it on a plain cord". Well, it isn't always easy to have the right piece for a customer, but how about letting them choose? This way, a pendant can  be worn evenings in a more elegant way and during the day it can be worn casually on a cord.

A couple of years ago I started making a few of my pendants with lobster clasps, so they can be clipped onto a nice beaded cord, a plain cord, a chain or even used as a zipper pull. Works like a charm (pun intended), lol

Polymer Clay Batik Bracelet - Color Challenge

This Polymer Clay Batik Bracelet color challenge imposed on myself is kind of fun. This one was supposed to incorporate pink, black and gold. The pink is very subtle underneath the surface treatment of golden bronze and texturing, but my husband commented with a big smile 'very regal' when he saw it finished. Little did he know the pink was a scrap blend from red, alazarin, white and gray...

The Polymer Clay Highway - Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

My current destination creating with Polymer Clay is a virtual stretch of road with many stops and side roads inbetween. The last week or so I've been creating "Batik pendants, bracelets, earrings..." and now mirror compacts and likely some other things are on their way. The technique is a chameleon of sorts as one can change one thing such as the texture or clay color and it's like day and night.
Am I there yet? Not anywhere near finished exploring, lol
For photos and more read on...

Polymer Clay Batik Bracelets - Tomato Puree

I completed my challenge from yesterday. Red, white and black polymer clay tile bracelet in my Batik Technique. 
The red turned more into the Pantone 2010 Tomato Puree than true red and also picked up a few yellow/orange highlights. In some places the red and black are crackled and there are red metallic highlights here. I like this effect. I'll try some other colours next.

Polymer Clay Batik Bracelets

I have to say that my latest batik effect on polymer clay is one that got me hooked. I usually get bored easily and move on to something else, combining the old with the new. Not this time because a variety of things are done to the clay. Each finished piece turns out different and is a bit of a surprise, depending on the paint, the texture and the base colour of the clay.
I had another 'aha' moment yesterday that I will try next, but here are a couple of tile bracelets I made...

Polymer Clay Ephemera - time to destash some supplies

I'm creating more than I can finish, into jewelry that is. I'm hoping that some polymer clay bead enthusiasts will take advantage of my little clean up. I'm destashing all sorts of baggies with beads, pendants. I have in my estimate more than 2 lbs of hand made supplies to bag up and list. Check out my ArtFire. These bags start at just $3 and shipping is reasonable.

Polymer Clay Batik - Butterflies in Flight

I'm still very excited about my new polymer clay Batik and Shimmer technique which creates a batik like effect over shimmering clay. Again, I use no pearlex or gold leafing, although the latter can be used. Pearlex can enhance any bezel added around a pendant. Depending on the textures and colours you choose, each creation will look  unique and different and that is what I like about the faux batik. It is possible to recreate batches though. Does this make you curious? I hope so, lol.

Anyway, I'm very pleased that Arlene of Harrison Hollow Designs has allowed me to share her creation of using the Batik Technique. I love the spring colours. Arlene has this gorgeous necklace for sale on Etsy.

 If you are pleased with this technique and have a photo or link to share, please drop me a note.

Polymer Clay Tutorial - Make Mini Display Stands

Here is a polymer clay tutorial that shows you how to make small effective display stands for your earrings and rings using polymer clay. All measurements are approximate as you can make the bases as big as you like, but should be a minimum of 1 1/4 inches (35mm). You can embellish these further as the instructions are very basic. One should possess basic skills such as conditioning, hand rolling, and texturing. Just click on the photos for larger view and readability.