Happy Halloween!!

 Silly me....this is so appropriate for Halloween.  Here I was thinking I didn't have one thing I could post for this creative day.  But after emerging from my laboratory I went back and took some photos of my latest project.  This is a 40" doll I have started to "alter".  She has gone through several changes in these first drafts. After a base coat of metal paint and an application of lace here and there, I added the chains.  Nope, didn't like them and I didn't like the hair.

Her head was shaved and the large glass eye was replaced with a medium size glass eye.  The other eye remained small.

 After the second coat of metal paint dried, I filled in her leg joints with Apoxie Sculpt so she would be stable and not bend.

What are those circles?  Worries that are surfacing and working their way to the top and will eventually fly away to make room for whimsey.  No, seriously, I have no idea.  Just added them for interest.  More to follow.

Bubble Ring

I have been busy getting ready for an upcoming art fair Nov. 2 and haven't had a chance to do my Halloween "thing".  Boooooo.  I've been blending colors, making canes and creating some new jewelry for this show.  Hope you have a fun day today....I know I am.

Sarah Shriver Workshop

 I took another Sarah Shriver polymer clay workshop over the weekend.  I really enjoyed it.  I had so much fun, I wanted to turn right around and take another one.

 The Arizona Polymer Clay Guild sponsored the workshop.  I'm still working on the canes I made, so I will post on Wednesday.

Going Batty

I've got all the good pages marked with some polymer clay batty bookmarks.  I foresee lots of Halloween fun in your future.  I used a bat cookie cutter and cut out two medium thick bats from my polymer clay and sandwiched a paperclip in between them and baked.  I glued the eyes on after they cooled.

Liquid Metal

 Bronze, Brass, Copper and Iron VerDay Paints from Ten Second Studio.

I love using this paint on my polymer clay.  Time consuming, but worth it.

B4 Oxidizing

I rolled out my polymer and cut out circles.  I textured each one on both sides using four different texture sheets.  Today I'm painting them with metal paints and letting them dry until Wednesday evening.  Then I will spray them with a patina solution and wait for them to oxidize.  Hopefully I will have photos for you on Thursday.

Dutch Spiral Encore

 I had this dutch spiral strung and finished, and then.....wanted it bigger.  Took it apart and now I am happy with it.  I like being able to slip it on a cable or chain.

Dutch Spiral in Neon

 I beaded this dutch spiral in coral glass beads with accent beads in gold, purple, golden jade and dark green.

The statue is my latest treasure from Savers (a donation center much like Goodwill).

Retreat Projects

Besides starting the gourd piece and giving a demo, I worked on creating more polymer clay Zombie necklaces and a couple of donation necklaces.

My work area.  A 4'x2' folding table, 2 collaspible shelves filled with my supplies and a cup warmer I use to bake on.  I brought my own chair too.  Not too spoiled.

Tea With Friends

An enchanting gourd house (click HERE) needs some polymer clay accessories such as some wooden spools with leaves as a tabletop and seats.  Miss Ladybug has her tea and hound dog has his bone as polymer bats perch nearby.

The Old Woman Out Of Her Gourd will be an ongoing project.  I have started the garden/patio section that these pieces will be a part of, but have shelved it for now.  We will visit it later.

The Old Woman Out Of Her Gourd

"Out of Her Gourd" 9"(wide) x 10"(deep) x 23" (high)
Gourd:  From a Second Hand Store
Base & Rock Armature:  Aluminum Foil & Tape
Base & Rocks:  Apoxie Sculpt & Acrylic Paint
2 Large Plants, Pots & Saucers:  Polymer Clay
Small Plant:  Purchased
Door "Bell":  Wire and Found Object
Blue Bird & Nest:  Apoxie Sculpt & Acrylic Paint
Door, Windows, Vine, Leaves & Mushroom Chimney:  Apoxie Sculpt & Acrylic Paint

Gnome Home?

 No, no gnome home in the gnome home.  Say that 3 times.  I gave a demo on sculpting with Apoxie Sculpt at the AZPCG Retreat up in Prescott, Arizona.  Apoxie Sculpt is a good alternative when polymer clay cannot be used.  This gourd was unopened so it might explode in the oven.  I did not want to open it.  I just wanted the shape and the lightness of a large gourd.  I will use polymer to sculpt the accessories.

 This is just the base.  I still need to add accessories, more rocks here and there and some hardware, paint and sealer.

And, in the end.......it is not going to be a gnome home at all.  Stay tuned.

AZPCG Polymer Retreat 2013

 There's a couple missing from the photo, but we had 26 polymer artists attend the 2013 Arizona Polymer Clay Guild's Retreat up in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona for 4 days.

 Several rooms overflowed with clay.   Lots of laughing, sharing, ooo's and ah's as we all admired each other's work.  A good time was had be all.

Zombie Raggedy Ann

I tried to make a zombie Raggedy Ann (on the right), but she didn't turn out too scary.  Maybe the next one.  Zombie Raggedy Ann lives on a dead end street, but vacations at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel.  No groans?  Just dead silence.

3 Zombies Hanging Around

I've been having fun making Zombie necklaces.  None of my zombies have hair, but if they did.....they would use scare-spray.  Yeah, I know.  I can hear the groans.  Can't help myself.

Blue & White Beads

 I made more blue and white canes to make more Delft pendants, but reduced them too far leaving the pattern too small to distinguish.  Ugh, I hate when I do that.   All I could do was make some beads, but they are not what I was looking for either.  They're nice, but not what I had in mind.  I've put it aside for now because I am frustrated.