Clowning Around

I made these fun Clown Rings in the wonderful Leslie Blackford's workshop at Clay Carnival last August.  You can read more about Clay Carnival in LasVegas, Nevada by clicking HERE.  It is tentatively set for October 12 - 15, 2016.  I'm hoping to go again.

Leslie Blackford Workshop

Leslie Blackford's workshop was on June 28.  The Arizona Polymer Clay Guild members learned how to take a character of their choice and create a sculpture based on that character.  I made several attempts at sculpting a girl pulling a wagon, but just couldn't get it going.  I had about 4 hours of sleep the night before and was so tired I couldn't think let alone sculpt.  Feeling punchy and going for humor, I thought I could make an evil bunny with a basket full of skeleton eggs.  Again, not great, but made me giggle.

Fishies Workshop

There were 21 Arizona Polymer Clay Guild members making polymer clay pins - Donna Kato's fish pins to be exact. 

Donna Kato taught us cane work, inlay, carving, cut & replace, etc.  

My fishies above and below aren't pins yet and look nothing like they are supposed to, but I'm happy.

With Halloween not too far off in the distance, I tried my hand at a Skeleton Fish.  Not great, but it made me giggle.

Bottom row, second from right……my smiling face.

If you love fish, Donna Kato has a Ziggy Fish Necklace workshop available on CraftArtEdu (click HERE).  

Polymer In The Pines

Finished putting together 30 packs of my Faux Mexican Embroidery Tutorial, a cable necklace, a headpin and jump ring for finishing the pendant.  It will be a fun class to teach.  I'm ready to head up to the mountains of Prescott for 4 days of glorious polymer clay.

I love Penni Jo Couch's Best Flexible Molds for my cabochons (Above is PJ002). Her Etsy Shop "ClayLady43" is stocked with her fabulous molds also.  I just ordered two more and can't wait until they get here.  I included all of Penni Jo's websites for members to refer to as an excellent source for tutorials and supplies.  And, of course, the neverKnead is also coming with me.  I will demo it for those members who attend the retreat only.   So, if I am missing in action for a few days, you will know that I am in a beautiful setting in the mountains, working with polymer, learning and laughing with friends.

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.

POLYMER CLAY ADVENTURE RETREAT

Announcing the first ever all inclusive virtual polymer clay and mixed media retreat!
Right Now -  $80 - the lowest price it will ever be.

Sept.  1 - 10   - $__

Sept. 11 - 20  - $__

Sept. 21         - $99

Polymer Clay Adventure Virtual Retreat is a Celebration of Art for polymer clay and mixed media enthusiasts at all skill levels.  It’s about connection, community, and honoring the creativity in all of us.  It’s designed for people who love to create and meet kindred spirits, and want to immerse themselves in unlimited learning  without breaking the bank.  [Partial excerpt from Polymer Clay Adventure]

The Virtual Retreat is open for registration NOW and officially kicks off January 1, 2015.

Interested?  Wanting to know how to sign up?

Read more on  POLYMER CLAY ADVENTURE

Hosts:  Ilysa Ginsburg and Kira Slye

Classes:
Syndee Holt - multiple bracelet technique
Christi Friesen - walking pod sculptural vase
Barbara McGuire - faux stone and face pendant

Laurie Mika - mixed media mosaic house
Sarajane Helm - ball jointed doll

Ilysa Ginsburg - decorated display stand

Kira Slye - polymer vase and flowers

Chris Kapono - suncatcher tiles

Katie Oskin - woodland critter sculpture

Layl McDill - cat cane

Anke Humpert - translucent jewelry

Lisa Renner - bathing beauty figural sculpture

Tammy Durham - illustrated greeting cards

Karen Lewis aka KLEW - bead shapes and designs

Tristina Elmes - sculptural fine art with clay and paint

Teresa Salgado aka PANDORA - caning

Marlene Brady - sculptural beads

Linda Hess - votives and vases

Wendy Orlowski - cabezel jewelry

Suzanne Ivester - painting with polymer

Jennifer Morris - embroidery technique

Cat Therien aka CAT - flower cane

PLUS two BONUS lessons designed to kick off the event and close it with a bang....

Haunani Gane'

I finished the framed cross (in the middle) in Lindly Haunani's Clay Carnival workshop.  I loved the vibrant colors and wanted a bigger piece.  When I got home, I used the scraps from class to finish covering the 6"X6" wrapped 2" deep canvas.  It can be wall hung, easel set or stand on its own.

Most of all, I love how the light shines through the translucent clay.   When time allows, I will be trying the Haunani Gane' again.  Lindly is a wonderful teacher with a unique sense of humor.  You can find Lindly's work and class information on her website LindlyHaunani.com and her Facebook Page.  Lindly also has a Pinterest board and a great blog.

Kato Style

I had a great time in Donna Kato's Clay Carnival workshop in Vegas.  I finished the workshop pin in the background and then came home and made a pendant with carving (in the foreground).   I'm barely home and I can't wait to go back next August.

You can sign up to receive Donna's Prairie Craft Newsletter where you will receive the latest info on new products and receive CraftArtEdu coupons.  You can see more of Donna's work and learn more about KatoPolyClay on her website and to keep up with the latest, check out her Facebook page.

Pollen Inspired Beads

"Under the Microscope" was the name of Natalia Garcia de Leaniz Clay Carnival Workshop in Las Vegas.  It was extremely satisfying to experiment while building my beads (above).  Natalia is inspired by pollen photographed while under the microscope.   Just so interesting to me how artists get inspired and then translate/interpret it into a piece of art.  Pollen.

You can see more of Natalia's work on her website (click HERE).

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).

Magic

When I was little, about 7 years old, I garbage picked looking for toys.  We lived with my maternal grandmother in a house on the corner of an alley.  I never really found much.  Then, one day, I opened the lid of a garbage can two houses from ours and found a brand new box of magic tricks.  It was like Christmas.  I’ll never forget it.  From time to time, there were more new toys and I always had the same reaction--eyes wide, mouth open; pure wonder.  It was years later I found out that Mr. and Mrs. Hall did not have children.  The new toys were for me.

I googled 1954 toys, newspapers and toy ads, reduced them to fit my matchbook and garbage can.  I googled 1954 playing cards, reduced them to fit inside her pockets, on her hair and in the box of magic tricks.  I sculpted the figure, rabbit in the hat and the garbage can from polymer clay.  Her eyes are beads and she wears glued on doll hair.

I loved Leslie Blackford's sculpting workshop at Clay Carnival.  I learned a lot, laughed a lot and "remembered" a lot.  And that's how my rabbit in the hat, my "something personal" fit into my sculpture.  Click HERE for Leslie's workshop description.

2014 Clay Carnival

All Photos From Donna Kato

I'm home from Vegas.  This year's Clay Carnival attendance was the largest in Clay Carnival history!  Everyone was fun, the classes challenging and Vegas, well, Vegas is crazy, wild Vegas!

 Instructors Left to Right:  Lindly Huanani, Judy Belcher, Donna Kato, Natalia Garcia de Leaniz, Leslie Blackford, Sylvie Peraud and Sarah Shriver.

 The Zen (sort of quiet) Room was the largest, but we still had plenty of room to work.  My schedule was a full 8 hours with Sylvie Peraud on my first day.  Classes start at 8:30, break for lunch at 12:30, resume at 2:00 and go until 6:00.  My 2nd day was a 4 hour class with Natalia Garcia de Leaniz and my afternoon class was 4 hours with Lindly Haunani.  3rd day, 4 hours with Leslie Blackford and 4 hrs  with Donna Kato.  4th day, 4 hrs with Judy Belcher and then we ended with 4 hrs with Sarah Shriver in the afternoon.

We have 3 choices of where we would like to work.  The Rowdy Room, the Chatty Room and the Zen Room.  The Zen Room is supposed to be zen-like; quiet room.   However, several teachers commented that we could be mistaken for one of the other rooms.  Oops.  We never have to change rooms, the instructors bring their tables to each room so it is really convenient.  Once we are set up, we are settled in for the 4 days.  Can't wait until next year!

Maggio 2-Day Workshop

 I created a happy little collage of colors I love.  That little face is my "inner child".

I had so much fun playing with color.  I really needed a couple of days to restart my creative energy and this was perfect.   Maggie Maggio is an excellent teacher.  Her passion for color is contagious and her sense of humor is great.  I came away with a very detailed booklet on color with many exercises I can continue learning with, a laminated color chart I absolutely treasure and an understanding of color I never had before.  It was great.

Maggie Maggio Workshop

 Ahhhh, what a great workshop on color taught by the magnificent Maggio Maggio (click HERE).  I purchased her book on color, but never got the hang of it……..until the workshop.  A lot of "ah" moments for me.  Love the book, "Polymer Clay Color Inspirations" by Lindly Haunani and Maggie Maggio (click HERE)!

  The first day of the 2-Day workshop was sponsored by the Arizona Polymer Clay Guild.  It was great to see so many AZPCG members that I had not seen in a while.

Lots of laughs and sharing of ideas.  Maggie teaches color workshops from one day to four days.  Oh, how I would love to take her 4-day workshop.  Maybe someday.

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.

Clay Carnival Workspace

Above is my workspace.  I had a collapsable-folding shelf (on the right) that held my jewelry findings, buna cord, tape, small stuff area under it and on top were my tools, glues, polypaste, etc.  On the left I kept all of my cutters, templates, glass & tiles  It worked out well and I wouldn't change anything.  I really did not need to bring all of that (other than the usual workspace basics) as pretty much everything was supplied and if I needed something extra, there was the Carnival Store where I could buy extra clay, findings, etc.

 There are 3 work rooms at Clay Carnival.  The Rowdy Room, The Chatty Room and The Zen Room. I chose the Zen Room because I tend to get in my own world and am oblivious.  There were 16 average in the 3 rooms with plenty of space to work and move around.

Some people brought small tarps to put under their chairs, some flattened leaf bags and some used the large paper supplied by the hotel.  But, everyone cleaned their area & table.  It was so well arranged, it just flowed like butter.

Clay Carnival Class #7 - Sculpting

My "Creative Spirit" floating around my studio.  Above is the "head" I sculpted in Diane Keeler's sculpting workshop.  I received lots of helpful tips and instruction from Diane that I am so grateful for.

 Diane had several heads that we could use as references.  Look at that perfect ear.  I could not get enough fast enough.  More, more, more, teach me more.  And what an excellent teacher she was.

 Diane's dolls (below) are phenomenal (click HERE).  Wish I could take more of her classes.

Clay Carnival - Party

 Clay Carnival Group Photo

 Raffles, gifts and a drawings for scholarships.

Really had a lot of laughs and enjoyed myself immensely.