Polymer Necklace Slide

I slipped the corral and jade beads through the back of the polymer clay faux jade/cinnabar enhancer and slid it up to the top.  I secured it between the coral and it wears beautifully.  Not quite a bolo, not quite an enhancer, but a necklace slide.

Polymer + Pearls = Perfection

 I love the combination of faux jade/cinnabar enhancer with the pearls.  I love the elegance of it.  A completely different feeling from the southwestern look of last Wednesday's post.   Polymer clay never ceases to amaze me.

Faux + Real = Fo-Real Beauty

I have been wanting to make this polymer clay faux jade/cinnabar enhancer for a long time.  I also have wanted to string the 8mm round turquoise beads, the branch coral and the large bamboo coral.  Finally did.  I was so pleased when I put them all together.  My polymer clay enhancer has proven to be an extremely versatile piece.  It has inspired the next several posts.

Tribal or….

Ethnic or Native, I don't know.  It's a first try.  I'm working on the second.

Hot Pink Interlocking Circles

I love the workshops taught at Clay Carnival and the fun of discovering new products.  While at Clay Carnival, I had the opportunity to purchase some of the brand NEW Kato Flourescent Pink to use to make my Interlocking Circle Cane taught by Sarah Shriver.  Thank goodness for my table mate, Becky Acosta of Bliss Point Creations.  She helped me literally turn things around.  I have taken several of Sarah Shriver's workshops and want to take another.  I am in awe of her talent and art.

Above left is the cane I made in Sarah's workshop.  After I reduced it, I cut some cane slices to cover my drawer pull burnisher, made two interchangeable tops for the "Snap" ring and a couple pair of earrings.

Peraud Inspired Pendant

 Inspired by Sylvie Peraud's pendant, I created my carved version.  The act of carving is very meditative.  This piece has inspired another to be posted later.

Sylvie Peraud's Workshop

I made the above pendant in Sylvie Peraud's workshop at Clay Carnival.  I made two, but finished the second one at home which will be posted in a couple of days.  It was a very creative environment and easy to put myself into my work.  I put my own spin on the second one.  I loved learning all the new techniques and getting tips from the instructors.  For me, the value in taking workshops like these offered at Clay Carnival is seeing how an instructor thinks, processes their ideas, corrects mistakes, discovers something new in the process of teaching, shares something spontaneously; I love being part of that.

You can see more of Sylvie's work on her website (click HERE), or on her Flickr site (click HERE).

Polymer Clay Pendant

 I made this polymer clay pendant from parts of other molds and then made a mold of it.

 Needs work.  I thought I would like the solid color, but no.  Guess I will have to darken up the background and highlight here and there.  The fun of experimenting!

Polymer Clay Cross

 I made a silicone mold of a purchased rhinestone cross.  Then pressed the raw polymer clay into the mold.  I then sculpted tiny roses and added some yellow and blue detail.  Cured it and strung it with some 4mm coral beads.

Polymer Crosses

More polymer clay crosses.  After photographing these, I realized the colors are too similar.  I did use different shades of red, but after applying the turquoise, they all looked the same.  I even used some bronze Rub & Buff on a couple to change it up, but I'm not liking it.  So, I will probably sand some and try a different color.

Polymer Pendant

I used a mold from Krafty Lady to create this pendant.  When I use a purchased mold, I always try to rework parts of it so it is not an exact duplicate coming out of a mold.  I loved how it turned out.

Polymer Pendants

 Above is a mica-shift technique I learned from Misha Barbee and below is a pendant with a cane pattern I learned from Sarah Shriver.

Polymer Pendants

 Some of the polymer clay cane pendants I made for the art fair.

Polymer Cross

 I used a mold for the cross and then applied the hand sculpted rose and leaves.

 After baking, I highlighted the raised design with acrylic paint and sealed it with PYMII.

Pins Worn as Pendants

 Bettina Welker's fabulous tutorial (click HERE) for her polymer clay pin converter is wonderful.

 

Pin converters have been around for a while, but new designs such as Bettina's and Lorenzo Mele's vertical adapter (above left) and Sean Brown's (above right) are so refreshing.

In 2012, I did a post on using a straw as a pin converter (click HERE).  Something quick and easy.  For something stronger than a straw, you can use various sizes of brass tubing in whatever size that would accommodate your cable or chain.  Just slip it over the pin, close, lock and slide it on a chain.

My polymer clay Chameleon Pin (below) converted to a necklace (above) using a straw.

Polymer Mexican Embroidery

Ever since I watched Penny Jo Couch's polymer clay ribbon embroidery demonstration at the Arizona Polymer Clay Guild (click HERE), I have wanted to give it a try. Penny Jo teaches her faux ribbon embroidery technique (click HERE); most recently at Cabin Fever Clay Fest.  Between Penny Jo's demo and a Mo Clay's video tutorial on how to "embroider" with polymer (click HERE), I finally got the hang of it.  Very fun.  In fact, I am loving it.  The freeform sculpting is right up my alley.  I am doing a polymer clay demonstration today at our local art fair here in Sun City West, Arizona.  I'm looking forward to setting up my booth and spending the day making polymer clay canes, watching people and enjoying the sunshine.  Oh yes, I hope I sell too.

Polymer Cross #2

I purchased several new cross molds and have been having so much fun with them.   Just picked up another one which is larger so I can't wait to give it a try. 

Polymer Cross #1

 I love these colors.  Below was the beginning of the painting process of the crosses the the fairy door pendant (click HERE).  That ugly container on the left has been my brush cleaner for the past 17 years; just can't part with it.  I used acrylics and some Rub & Buff to highlight the crosses.  I use a very light spritz of PYMII as a sealant.

Polymer Canework Pendants

I am enjoying making these pendants with slices of my polymer canes.  Fun.

Textured Polymer Pendants

The patina on these polymer clay pendants is exactly what I wanted.  The bronze has a delicate patina while the brass is strong and dramatic.  I sealed them with PYMII.