Studio

This is the entrance to my studio in the center of our home. The Native American figure on the left is an oil based clay sculpture I did to be bronzed. But, as you can see, he has not made it to the foundry and probably won't until I win the lottery.

Lots of great books and reference materials. I love books. No, I mean I LOVE books.

The bookshelves hold everything from my painting supplies to my beads.

Above and below are the new cabinets we had built in for art supply storage.

Just starting to move everything from the bookcases to the cabinets and label things.

The bottom shelves are on rollers so I can access the supplies in the back. The cabinets are directly behind my work table.

Every once in a while I take stock of my supplies. Thank goodness I have such generous friends who have given me their polymer clay discards. Otherwise I would never have the color and brand assortment I have.

More is more, less is a bore.

I am beginning work on canes and mokume gane so have organized according to color.

I have custom blended some colors, rolled and wrapped them for the upcoming projects.

Boxes and containers of scrap clay will be used. I liked the below tool holder so much I copied the pattern and made one out of scrap clay.

Not all the same color, but it does the job perfectly and has withstood the test of time.

Below are some heads I have been working on in between jewelry pieces. I've included them as long as they were in the mess on the table.

My electric motor and pasta machine. Love that motor. Has a foot pedal so I can use both hands to feed long sheets.

My second pasta machine is for manual rolling. If I can't sleep and want to condition clay, I can do it quietly without waking the hubby. I just realized how bizarre that sounds. How many people condition clay when they can't sleep. But it is relaxing. Really.

I store my finished canes in ammunition boxes which are stored in the cabinets when I'm not caning.

The above ammo boxes vary in sizes from small caliber to shotgun for larger canes and plugs.

Above are rolling carts that hold my paints and more beading supplies. New cabinets are in the background.

My TableTop Photography Tent and lighting system. The sides of the tent filter the light so no shadows are cast. I also purchased several backdrops sized for this tent. They conveniently clip and velcro to the inside. The whole unit completely folds down and is stored in a zippered case about 14". The lights also telescope and fold for storage.

My painting area. Right now it is a little messy (ok, a lot messy). But I am still in the process of sorting, moving and organizing. Who am I kidding? I will get involved with an idea and the moving will be put off. I know it is not the norm to have a studio in the center of your home without a door to close on the mess. But that's ok, I'm happy. I love my studio. Every square inch of it. And let's face it, it is so me.

Blue Bird of Happiness #2

The bird and birdhouse have a wooden armature and are covered with polymer clay canes. Wooden armatures can be problematic during curing as they can expand and contract, causing the polymer clay to crack and/or bubble during or after baking (as it cools). Or it can secrete oil during curing causing a sticky and nasty surface. I look for better quality hard woods and stay away from any soft woods with dark spots or cracks in it. I clean the wood thoroughly, sand any rough surfaces, wipe it with a tack cloth and lightly run a rag dampened with rubbing alcohol over it. It is also important to make sure your polymer adheres smoothly with no air bubbles.

Polymer Clay Vases (no faces)

This vase is the largest I have attempted. It is 9" wide x 14" tall. I made a leaf cane and a petal cane in various sizes and used an acrylic roller to apply them. I wanted it seamless, so I took an inordinate amount of time to manually smooth each area.

I cured it at 260 degrees for about an hour. After curing and cooling, I put on my magnifier and checked for bubbles and/or cracks and luckily, there were none. Very happy with the curing, color combinations and smooth texture.

This vase was an attempt to visually vary the canes and their placement on each side of a square vase to create interest. It's different, but I need symmetry. I've hung on to it because I love the colors, but am happy with the exercise.

I read jewelry artist, Kelly Russell's blog, Beadfuddled, where she talks about doing workshops for herself, challenging her creativity. She had a piece of jewelry she was using as an inspiration piece, but she did not want to "copy" it, but to create something completely different from it. The piece she created was an upside down interpretation that was stunning. Not quite related to vases, but to pushing the envelope. Pushing creativity; starting one thing and letting it take over, following its lead. Getting wonderfully lost in the process. Heaven in a nutshell.

Polymer Clay Fases Vaces #4

Fases Vace #4. This one is very primitive and rustic.

No smooth edges to these characters. I intentionally did not blend, smooth or integrate any of the shapes, texturing or layering.

Long face, blue tear and having a bad hair day (above).

Going to take a break from Fases Vaces and tomorrow am going to post a couple of caned vases that have clean, simple lines.

Polymer Clay Fases Vaces #3

Fases Vace #3. The largest polymer clay hand sculpted face is less than 7/8" (lower right bottom of vase). The average is less than 1/2" and the smallest is about a 1/4".

I did not use any tools; only my fingernails. I wanted it's "finish" to be on the rough side. Life can be tough and confusing with moments of going round and round with something and if we are not careful, we end up spiraling out of control, regretting our choices. Unhappiness at its best.

The vase was originally made to sit on a lighted, revolving base, but ended up in my curio cabinet. It is lit from above and the light shines through the blue glass just as nicely.

Polymer clay canes embellish the strip spiraling around.

I built up the top of the glass vase and ruffled it out, adding an orange and yellow marbled edge.

Purple Haired Ladies Spiraling Out of Control.

Polymer Clay Fases Vaces #2

Fases Vace #2. Triangular heads hand sculpted from polymer clay. Bulls eye and checkerboard canes complete the embellishment.

Tomorrow is "Purple Haired Women Spiraling Out of Control".

Polymer Clay Fases Vaces #1

Fases Vace #1. Individually hand sculpted faces; no molds. I have boxes and boxes of these. Once I applied for and received the copyright on Fases Vaces (yes, purposely misspelled), I did nothing but create these.

Polymer clay is portable to a point, so I could sculpt these pretty much anywhere. I sculpted, placed the heads in a compartmentalized container and cured them when I got home.

This Fases Vace belongs to my youngest daughter, Elaine. She has graciously let me hang on to it "unofficially". Tomorrow's feature is a Fases Vace with triangular heads with multicolored features.