Here are my latest designs using polymer clay, stamps and mica powder. However, these are a little more special because...
...they have interesting things on the back! I used alcohol inks to make the marbled backgrounds and then stamped with pigment ink once the alcohol ink had dried a little.
I tried other base colours and textured stamps to see what the effect would be...
...and made the backs more interesting, using stamps and the alcohol ink. I was really pleased with how these turned out and have ordered some more alcohol inks in blues and yellows to play with too. I need to finish these by sanding down the rough bits and then giving them a coat of varnish (matt or gloss - haven't decided yet). I can see I shall be doing a lot more experimenting...
On a completely unrelated subject, Stephanie, over at
millefeuilles is having a very special giveaway. She creates the most beautiful hares, rabbits and mice using vintage French fabrics and her own beautiful and delicate embroidery. I am in awe of her workmanship. The exciting thing is that you could win one of her beautiful creations - this meadow hare (she has given permission for her photos to be used).
Isn't she gorgeous? If you don't win (and I think there will be many, many entrants!), you can also commission her to create a special one-off hare/rabbit/mouse for you.
Have a lovely weekend.
I love your new designs Ellie, great to have something different but equally interesting on the backs.
ReplyDeleteJoy xx
Dear Joy
DeleteThank you. I am really pleased to have found a way of making the backs of the pieces more interesting. If I look at a piece of jewellery with an obvious back and front, I always turn it over to see the back and I think most people do that too. I am loving all the experimenting I'm able to do at the moment.
Best wishes
Ellie
What beautiful buttons! How do you make them? I'd love to see the process, it is quite an art! The colours are just stunning, and I love the patterns. Oh do tell us more! Chrissie x
ReplyDeleteDear Chrissie
ReplyDeleteThank you. Polymer clay is perhaps more recognised if you say 'Fimo', but there are many other brands out there (the one I use is Sculpey Premo). It comes in a multitude of colours and 'accents' (gold, silver, glitter, pearl, granite). It is baked (on a really low heat) to 'fix' it and make it durable and strong. You can blend colours, roll it out like pastry, use cutters, stamp onto it, make any number of canes using different techniques (such as kaleidoscope, stained glass, bulls-eye, spiral), make millefiori flowers, create jewellery, pictures, buttons, cover vases, cutlery, pens...the list is endless. If you put 'polymer clay' into a search engine, I am sure you'll be amazed at what can be made with it, by some incredibly talented artists. I am a beginner really, but am finding just how versatile a medium it is and how much fun it is to do. I have documented my polymer clay journey on my blog, so if you click on the label link words, it should take to all the related blog posts. Also, the next time I make anything, I'll do some process photos so that you can follow the stages.
Best wishes
Ellie
Thank you, Ellie! I'm going to read more of your blog adventures with the polymer, and I'll look it up online - I'd love to try it out after seeing what you've done! Thank you for telling me more about it and for the inspiration, Cx
DeleteDear Chrissie
DeleteThank you - I looked back myself and found I have been making things with polymer clay for one year! It is a fantastic medium to use and I am constantly amazed and inspired by artists' work. Just one word of caution...it is really easy to become completely hooked - as I am!! I think that little polymer clay buttons would be fun to make but haven't yet done that. Just think...original buttons to complement any project!
I really hope you enjoy looking at the work out there. If you do want to start making with it, once you have researched it a bit more, I have found that jewellery maker (jewellerymaker.com) have a good selection of products and at reasonable prices too (eg.clay rolling machine £14.95) and they often have special offers with money off. They also do DVDs (£4.95) which show the basics of working with polymer clay and some more advanced techniques too. The internet is also a good source of 'how to' clips as well and there are a huge number of books available too.
Best wishes
Ellie
Very pretty Ellie! What a lot of different looking things you can make with that stuff!
ReplyDeleteI'm also looking forward to the process photos... :-)
Love, Mirjam.
Dear Mirjam
DeleteThank you. It is an amazingly versatile medium and I am inspired by all the things which different artists can create with it. It is starting to become recognised as an art medium in its own right now and museums are beginning to have exhibitions (seems to be mainly in the USA at the moment).
Best wishes
Ellie
Your work is to original, Ellie. I really like the writing on the back of those pieces, they seem more finished somehow.
ReplyDeleteDear Toffeeapple
DeleteThank you. I have to admit that these are ideas I have seen on videos and in books, but it is my own idea to put the different elements together in exactly this way with exactly these colours. I think we are all influenced by others, but we all add a little something of our own to the projects. I am really pleased with the way the writing turned out because it was an experiment, but I like the effect and you're right, it does make the pieces seem more designed and thought through and finished.
Best wishes
Ellie
polymer clay art has come a long way! those are stunning.
ReplyDeleteDear MB Isaac
DeleteThank you. Yes, polymer clay has indeed come a long way and seems to have no limits (except the maker's imagination!) I have just got the most fantastic book featuring work from 125 polymer artists from around the world and it is amazing to see what can be made. I'll share a few of the pictures in a future post.
Best wishes
Ellie