Polymer Clay Carnival Las Vegas

I finished the polymer clay pendants for Clay Carnival's artist swap.  I made 100 and then I made more for myself and for an upcoming sale.  Driving out in the morning and should be to Vegas in about 6 hours.  Classes start on Wednesday and go through Saturday.  Can't wait to see everyone and learn new techniques.

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.

Polymer Clay Pod Men

At Clay Carnival, I did the center sculpture in a class taught by Dawn Schiller of Odd Fae.  It was such a pleasure to meet her as I have admired her work for many years.  It was so much fun, I have continued to make these little fellows.

Polymer Clay Carnival

 After arriving in Las Vegas on Wednesday, we walked, took photos and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

 Below, we are setting up our work spaces Thursday morning in the Zen room; getting ready for 4 full days of polymer clay classes.

This year was even better than the last three.  Really had fun.

Clay Carnival Inchies

Heading out to Las Vegas for the annual Polymer Clay Carnival!  So excited. The Grumpy Cat inchies were a challenge.  They look more Grumpy Cat Zombies so they fit right in with the rest of my pieces.  The piggies are a hold-over from the "Bacon Necklace".  Had to throw some of them in.  Thurs. 4hr. class in the morning is with Jana Roberts Benzon, Leslie Blackford's 4 hour class is in the afternoon.  Friday morning is Judy Belcher and the afternoon is with Dawn Schiller.  Saturday's 8 hour class is with Bettina Welker.  Sunday's morning class is with Donna Kato and the afternoon with Natalia Garcia de Leaniz.  Whew!  Since I will be busy with classes and not able to post, I am filling in with some fun mold-making in the next few days.

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.

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!

Polymer Clay Magic

 I'm taking Leslie Blackford's "Circus Train Car" sculpting class at Clay Carnival in Las Vegas.  The objective of the class is to create a “character piece” that tells a story.  By using details from life events and memories we will sculpt a character that reflects our own personal  journey.  My something personal is a small polymer clay magician's hat with a rabbit coming out of it.  I sculpted it from polymer clay and can't wait to see how I will be able to incorporate into my piece.

Judy Belcher And Inchies

 Last year at Clay Carnival, Judy Belcher purchased one of my Inchie necklaces.  Polymer clay artist, Lynne Schmitt took a photo and recently sent it to me.  I'm thrilled to have it, thank you Lynne.

Each inchie was bagged with one of my cards in a zip lock bag.

Some of the new inchies for 2014 was Minion from Despicable Me, Sponge Bob, Zombie Pumpkin and Crazy Haired Zombies.  I hope people will like them.  I really had fun making them.

Clay Carnival Inchies

 Last year I was one of the lucky recipients of a partial scholarship to this year's Clay Carnival 2014, so I'm heading back to Las Vegas for another creative, crazy, wild and wonderful good time taking seven  polymer clay workshops.  Last year for Clay Carnival I made my first series of inchies, "Monster, Robots and Zombies, Oh My!  This year's Clay Carnival is sold out so I am making my second series of Monster..Inchies - around 100.  So far, so good, I only have about 20 more to go.  I like making a few extras just in case.

Teachers' Inchies

Above are the Clay Carnival teachers' inchies.  Everyone attending the Pizza Party traded an inchie with each other.  Love them a lot.  What is an "inchie"?  It is a 1"x1" piece of artwork.  As long as it is an inch squared, you are good to go.  Inchies can be made of polymer clay, as ours were for Clay Carnival.  Or they can be made of card stock, paper, fabric, wood, metal, just about anything depending on what group is doing the swap.  These will probably end up as pendants.

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.

Clay Carnival Class #6 - Kato Pendant

 Above is the polymer clay pendant I finished in Donna Kato's Clay Carnival workshop.

 Donna Kato above and her exquisite necklace below.  I took a workshop from her in 2000 and here it is so many years later and she hasn't changed.  Her attention to detail is unbelievable.  Can't wait until the next Carnival.