Inspired by a Reproduction

I saw the below wall bracket in a catalog and I fell in love with it. I wanted it so badly, but couldn't afford it. I was so inspired by the colors & textures I thought I would attempt to make my own version. Below is a better view of the catalog picture.

I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a damaged wall bracket for $10. It was plain other than the bow at the bottom and the three scrolls at the top. Perfect size and the chips didn't matter because they would be covered. So, voila, below is my version.

All the flowers, leaves, ladybug, bee, pine cones, acorns and bird are polymer clay. I hand sculpted the bird, roses, ladybug and bee. I had molds for the pine cones, acorn, leaves and smaller flowers. I shaped them by hand after adding a few veins, texturing or fingerprints. I baked them and hot glued them on to the bracket. I reinforced different areas under my polymer pieces with tissue and wood glue.

I added bronzing powders, acrylic and iridescent paints to highlight areas on the acorns, flowers, leaves and bird.

Below is a close-up of the lady bug (lower left hand corner).

I loved the way it turned out. Below is a close-up of the bee in the upper right side.

I love working with polymer clay. Endless possibilities.

Canes

Good Morning. I love making polymer clay canes. Absolutely love it! I usually set aside 3 or 4 days and do nothing but make canes. To store the larger canes, I put one coat of liquid polymer clay on them, wrap them in press 'n seal (sticky side in) and place in an air tight container. The medium, small and tiny canes I don't coat or wrap, but store them in ammo boxes according to size. Ammunition boxes come in various bullet & shell sizes so they are perfect for keeping the canes clean and separated. I have been using them for years and have had no problems with the clay interacting with the plastic casing or drying out.

I purchase ceramic or porcelain teapots and vases and then try to vary the shape/form by adding a small bird, embellishing or sculpting a new lid.

The following are polymer clay bracelets.

Below is a memory wire bracelet I made 3 years ago to match an outfit. The smaller beads are vintage. The polymer clay beads are canes over scrap beads. I love this bracelet. I love periwinkle.

This one is a bangle. I purchased the Teflon coated blank bangle through the Internet and covered it with scrap canes. It was somewhat of an experiment, but I ended up keeping it and wear it often.

This bracelet was one of those fake rhinestone bling pieces that were popular a few years ago. I left the large plastic rhinestones as they were and just covered them with cane scraps. No problems with baking it either. The elastic and plastic weren't compromised and the polymer adhered without a hitch. No bubbles and no cracking. I would caution though that one has to be very careful with baking any kind of plastic. Fumes can be toxic and some plastics will melt at low temps. I know because I once tried to cover a plastic piece from the 50's. Big mistake. Ever since I have been extremely cautious.

So, try it. Whip up some canes and embellish!

Brady's Finger Painting With Polymer Clay Technique

I know, you're asking yourself, "Finger painting with polymer clay? What?" But it is. Had this vase that I loved and in the process of moving to Arizona, it cracked. It didn't just crack a little, it cracked from the top to the bottom. I warmed up some green, copper and gold. Took a smidge of green and smashed it on there. The warmth from my fingers allowed it to thin as I applied pressure and it became easy to build layers. Took some copper and applied it over the green, pulling the ends out to resemble a cactus.

Added some gold here and there and that was it for the outside. The crack was covered and I was happy with the design. I did the same on the inside where the crack was apparent, finger painting a cactus design. I have a large convection oven just for curing polymer clay so the vase fit perfectly on its side. So far so good; the polymer has not chipped, cracked or peeled in six years.

Alter Ego Sculpture

I took a Maureen Carlson weekend sculpting workshop. We were supposed to make our alter ego in art or a reasonable facsimile. We laughed so much and had such a good time, no one wanted to go home. The pic below is taken at a bad angle and her arm looks choppy, but in reality, she's perfect (yeah, right). Pants, shirt and shoes are from polymer clay canes I made previously. The sign says, "I used to have a handle on my art, but it broke off." Her hair is from the fishing department at Bass Pro Shop in the lure section. Some kind of rubbery pom pom I cut up for her hair. She has acrylic eyes and a little resin here and there for a wild look. Though she may appear a little discombobulated, she's not. There is just not enough time in the day for all she wants to create.

We took a day to make the armature for the head and the wiring, armature, wrapping and hanger for the body. The next day we did all the sculpting and assembling. But since I was playing catch up with the class, I basically took notes and finished her at home.

The flower and her coffee pot hat are from air dry polymer clay. The silk ivy leaf is from my dining room table arrangment. The concept was that an idea percolates, takes shape and blooms. I am a captive of polymer clay, beading and painting so I had to throw those in there.

The painting and palette are from air dry polymer clay. I painted the painting and palette with acrylics and used plastic beads to embellish.

Below is a native american polymer clay sculpture I made for a wreath that is embellished with arrows, leather, wood, beading, baskets and antlers.

Another view.

I added some feathers, hair and fur and thought I'd better quit.

Below is a polymer clay head I wanted to use in an experiment with polymer clay liquid cloth. The body turned out ok, but would like to try a couple more. I beaded a head piece that included chips of turquoise and fresh water pearls and some vintage beads.

His eyes are acrylic. I dipped cotton Tee shirt material into the liquid polymer material and draped it over an armature of styrofoam, wire, tape and batting. It takes about a week to dry and is quite durable. The liquid polymer material is the same I used in the abstract paintings I posted a couple of weeks ago.

Polymer Clay BIG Cane

The center of the teapot is the end slice of the 4" cane. The other end of the 4"cane is on the other side of the teapot. I just couldn't scrap them and couldn't think of anything else to do with them. There are various sizes of the cane on the rest of the teapot. The handle and spout are embellished with Swarovski crystals.

Below are two pin designs using the same cane and crystals.

Below is the first slice off of the final reduction of the 4" cane.

Another view of one of the pins.

Another view of the cross pin.

I love the color periwinkle; it's my favorite.

Small Sculptures

I have found so many people online and off who love little figures with stories put to them. So, what is it all about (besides me, of course)? Creating! I gave it a try and it was a lot of fun. I'm not good at writing or telling stories, etc., but the pieces fell into place enough that they sold. It is one of the greatest feelings to have someone fall in love with one of your pieces and tell you that they "just have to have it."

This one is a little imp who has hidden your other boot and is thoroughly enjoying watching you spin out of control because you can't find it. They are sculpted from polymer clay, over a wire and foil armature, have acrylic eyes and have either polymer clay or air dry clay for wings and accessories. The boot was purchased.

Gun Case = Portable Art

I have a new found respect for all those who have had any kind of joint replacement. These past two weeks have kicked my butt royally! If only I had prepared some little projects that would have met my need to create, but noooooo. That would have been the smart thing to do.

I thought as soon as I felt a little better, I would go to my bead stash, put together a project, put my feet up and be snug as a bug in a rug again. No one told me that after a hip replacement you can't bend at the waist for several weeks because that may cause the new hip to dislocate. So my beads, clay and paints are too low to reach. Of course. But my books are within reach so I will be catching up on reading. I guess this blog is a form of creating something each day, so I will shut up already.

The reading lasted about an hour. I have to have something somewhere and then I remembered my handy dandy gun case/art-to-go case. I have one for watercolor painting and one for beading. Now that I am desperate for sculpting, I will make one for clay too.

In 2000 I took a weekend workshop in downtown Chicago at The Whole Bead Show where Elizabeth Knodle was teaching. I took her Jewelry Design and Construction and her fabulous Free Form Peyote class and one more that I can't remember the name of. I stopped in to say hello when she is at the Windmill Inn in Tucson for the Tucson Bead Show and one of these days hope to take at least one more of her classes. She is so phenomenally talented and a wonderful teacher. She showed us how to travel light with our beading. I just adapted it to the painting box and will for my clay also. So here it is a regular gun case from Walmart, K-Mart, etc. Back then I think it was between $6 and $8:

It comes with two unattached sponge/foam protectors that are reversable

For my watercolors below, I bought a small Field Box at Dick Blick Art Materials (upper right). I bought the retractable watercolor brushes, artist grade paints, paper and cases at Pearl Art Supplies in Chicago, but you can purchase them at any good art supply store. The Field Box has a small water container on the right and the lid converts to the water bucket. Everything is easily cleaned with a paper towel and water (which I haven't done yet).

I threw a couple of pencils, sea sponge and a ruler under the foam on the left and would normally include a couple of folded paper towels, but because I am just sitting here, I have a roll handy. I can comfortably use the flat side of the sponge/foam to work on. I paint in the car, on the train or just sitting in front of the TV. I am not a true watercolorist (obviously). I use the artist grade paints like acrylics. Don't know what I am doing, but I am happy. The little 4x6 painting at the top and the small portrait below are examples.

When it's time to close it up, I don't need anything on the right because the sponge on the left holds everything securely. I make sure everything is dry, close up the boxes and then close the gun box.

Neatly packed and ready to go.

Below is my bead case. I keep a crimper, knot picker, small scissors & tweezers and a bead scooper on the left side under the foam insert. I cut a bead mat to fit the shape of the left side sponge.

Above is a Starbucks gum case. I keep my bees wax in it and it works great. It fits perfectly in the spot on the upper right of the case. In the lower right of the case, I have Thread Heaven and a few bead stoppers. I keep extra needles stuck in the bead mat and I keep extra Silimide thread on cards with the tools under the left side foam.

Above and below is the little project I have been working on while recuperating. It is Jean Campbells' buttons. I had signed up for her master class at the Arizona Bead Museum and had to cancel because of my hip. My good friend Debi Wirth (extremely talented beader and one of the founders of the Sun City West Beading Club) bought me one of J. Campbell's button kits as a get well present and I am having the best time with it. Of course they don't look anything like the master's, but you can tell they are mine. I haven't decided whether to make it a necklace, pendant, pin or bracelet. If it keeps growing, it will be a wall hanging.

Beads are kept in pill holders purchased at Walgreens for $.99 each. I test each one before purchasing. I stand there opening and closing them to make sure they close securely. Haven't had any problems (knock wood).

I used to just pour the beads into the dimples in the foam and work out of it. I did that for years because I rode the Chicago Metra train to and from work which was usually a 30 minute ride. I could work out of the divits without any problems and easily scoop them up to put away. But now I like working on the bead mat. Something different I guess.

When it's time to close up, everything is held in place by the foam piece on the left.

These gun boxes are extremely sturdy and lightweight. I will post the clay box when I can get at my clays.