Collage Images

I had several reprints of tags leftover from the art fair. Hate to waste, so tore them up and

threw them on the copier. The fun of this is not knowing what will show through and what won't and how that will play out and what you can combine it with later.

Looked good to me so this one went in the collage file for future use.

Fall Art Fair 2009

Thought I would post photos of some of the pieces I sold.

Polymer clay, beading, textile, textile hardener, acrylic paint & sealant.

Acrylic paintings.

Air dry polymer clay "Flower Boxes".

Fall Art Fair 2009

Setting up the tent in the dark! Looks like the hubby is holding torn material, but those are the expanding tent legs. It was around 5:45 A.M. and it was still dark as night.

Finally daylight by 7:30 A.M. I took some quick pictures of my booth. I had a wonderful spot with lots of space right at the entrance to the art section of the fair.

Art Fair Tips

I'm not too hyper. But I thought as long as I was packing everything for the fair tomorrow, I may as well pass along some helpful hints. Transporting paintings that are 36" to 48" from the car/trailer to your booth can be cumbersome. But not with a handy dandy canvas bag. I bought some heavy canvas duck material and sewed up the sides and some sturdy straps and they work great. I place a piece of cardboard between each painting and that keeps the abrasion to a minimum.

I made various sizes starting at 36"x40" and on up. I made 3 to carry paintings and two to carry my check out stand and shelves.

To transport the smaller paintings, I use a plastic box; again with pieces of cardboard between each painting.

I forgot who gave me this tip, but it saves your walls and fingers. You can use a 3" piece of aquarium tubing to cover the hanging wires (where you attach the wires at the screw eyes). I also use masking tape at the 3 points of tension; by the two screw eyes and where it will hang on a picture hanger.

To transport small paintings, I have these inexpensive, sturdy bags (below) we picked up in Mexico.

I finished stringing all my pendants and my fingers are full of Krazy Glue (there went the manicure). So I am off to set the alarm for 4:30 and to get a good night's sleep. 

Loading the Art Fair Trailer

We have started to load the trailer and car for the art fair tomorrow. I wanted to show my husband's clever idea of using one of IKEA's pot hanger bars to use as a bar for hooking the tie down straps to. They come in different lengths, but he felt this shorter length would give the most stability. He put one on each side, but I have a feeling he is not done.

In the below photo, the four 40 pound weights are on the left.  The rolling cart for transporting boxes of paintings and table set up. The EZ-UP tent and walls are on the right in the long black bag.

Below shows my grid walls for my booth on the right with the "legs" in the blue bag.

Behind the blue bag is my folding director's chair, check-out stand and shelving, tissue and bags for purchases (please let there be many). All that is left is to load the paintings tonight and the jewelry and we will be ready to roll at 6am tomorrow morning.

Fall Art Fair Preparation

Right now I'm at the computer printing out the little cards that go in the upper right hand corner of each painting with the price, medium and materials used. I only have a few done right now because I'm blogging. I have so much to do tomorrow.  So all the paintings are lined up in my studio ready to go. Tomorrow I will finish pricing everything, get my hair and nails done and pack my snacks and drinks for Saturday.

Portable Beading

I've been using wet wipe containers for some kind of craft storage for a long time, but had not thought of gluing some velor material on one side (or both) and using it for a portable beading box. Thank you to Barbara Winkler for showing me this. She uses hers when she flies and has had no problems getting it through security.

So, I have one handy, ready to go for the next long car ride or short flight somewhere wonderful. I can hope, right? I will more likely be using mine while sitting in the doctor's waiting room or waiting in a long line at Walmart. Which I don't mind as long as I can use the time to create something.

My small drills fit perfectly in a Huggies container and so do my coloring pencils and pastels.

Since I have on occasion taken a class and lent my things to someone and forgot who, I mark everything with my name or initials (what memory?). Seriously, if it weren't funny, it would be embarrassing.

This is a Space Maker storage container which is a little larger than the Huggies box. I won it in a raffle, so I'm not sure where they can be purchased. I need to look it up because I would like a couple more. Anyway, that's it for today. I have to get these paintings finished and some polymer clay pieces done for the art fair on Saturday. Nothing like the last minute. I guess I will be using that last sentence for the next couple of days.

Silicone Mold Making

I have no idea what these are, but carefully placed them separately in plastic bags to bring home from New Mexico. I'm thinking a nature collage of polymer clay pieces, but who knows.

What is nice about the silicone is that the polymer clay doesn't stick to it (you need no release like water or cornstarch), its flexible so the polymer piece easily slides out or supposedly you can bake the polymer right in the mold. I haven't tried that one yet.

I think the silicone takes a more detailed, crisper mold than the Sculpey Mold Maker, but then again, the silicone is very expensive compared to the Sculpey Molder Maker. But basically, you just scoop a little out with your finger (equal amounts from each) and keep folding and kneading in your hand until it is a consistent color, roll it in a ball, press your piece into it and let it sit for a couple of minutes and that's it. It sure is handy for taking small molds of bits of nature.

Polymer Clay Texture Stamps

Aren't these are great tool to have? And they are so much fun to make.

Thank you to Arlene Harrison of Harrison Hollow Designs at http://www.harrisonhollowdesigns.blogspot.com/ for teaching me how to do this.

I have tons of texture sheets, but they are difficult to use on some projects so Arlene's little creation is ingenious. The best is these are made from scrap clay! From Arlene’s blogspot: “I remembered seeing an article on PolymerClayWeb about making your own texture tools using buttons and other things around the house. I took that a step further by cutting ½ inch round swirly textured disks (for Santa's beard) and ½ inch round disks of different textures (for Santa's hat). These were then laid on tiles and baked just long enough to firm them up – about 10 minutes. The reason that I did this was so that when you attach them to the "sticks" you don't want to mess up the texture. ”

A sample of her stamps are shown above. The photo below is the print out of her article so I could photograph it to show you the detail Arlene goes to in her blogspot. She is a gifted and talented artist who graciously shares and teaches, as well as promotes other talented polymer clay artists.

So, give them a try. I also like using the 2-part mold making product and made some molds of the "things" I brought back from New Mexico. Just not sure what I am going to make from them, but will post tomorrow anyway.

Halloween Polymer Charms

Yeah, I know Halloween is over, but I think Day of the Dead would still count. I made more Halloween charms yesterday. Pretty sure I have enough for several charm bracelets or necklaces.

I even finished putting the wrapped loops on the candy corn. Played around with spacer beads...black, yellow, maybe an orange or green. But they will wait until I find a nice charm bracelet or necklace to finish them.