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Sunday, 16 November 2014

Polymer Clay Days

I have been enjoying working with polymer clay and introducing more friends to this versatile medium.  Below is Angie's first attempt at pendants and earrings using just black and white clay.  She made spiral canes, flower canes, extruded canes and then did the Sutton Slice (on the teardrop shapes)  I think she may be hooked now!
 My friend Rachael has discovered what she described as 'her thing' - Kawaii creatures - which means 'cute' in Japanese, I think!  She started off making a dragon (and made me one too) and then made a gingerbread man and reindeer.  They are indeed very cute!
The dragon...
 ...the gingerbread man...
...and the (rather nose-heavy) reindeer, who needed a bit of support to stay upright!
She was delighted with these little creations and then tried out a new mould which I had just got the previous day.
 I think it worked beautifully!
So, what have I been making?  Well, I absolutely love using the silk screen kit and have made two pieces into pendants with tassels.
 I call this the 'Frankenstein' pendant because the pattern reminds me of lightning and electricity and I chose gemstones which had the same shine and colours including snowflake obsidian, shell, pearls and quartz.
The other one I made has a range of blue gemstones including pearls, sodalite, blue quartz and labradorite.  I love the blue colour on the labradorite which is at the bottom of the tassel (the correct term is labradorescence!)  Chris suggested using cord to hang them on and I agree, as the plaited beading thread just didn't look quite right.  I wore the blue one at work on Friday and got several compliments, which was really nice.

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16 comments:

  1. Mª Reyes16 November 2014 at 18:05

    Unos trabajos preciosos. Besos

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    1. Ellie Foster16 November 2014 at 21:32

      Thanks, Ma Reyes. My friends are really enjoying working with polymer clay too. I love finding out what it can do!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. Stins16 November 2014 at 19:13

    What a lot of pretty things you made Ellie!
    So many possibilities with polymere clay....
    Love from Mirjam.

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    1. Ellie Foster16 November 2014 at 21:33

      Thanks, Mirjam. It is so versatile and depending on the skills of the maker, it can do so much.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. Elephant's Child16 November 2014 at 21:56

    LOVE your work. And have a huge weakness for dragons - cute and otherwise. I hope Rachael makes more. Many more.

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    1. Ellie Foster17 November 2014 at 17:27

      Thanks, EC. I do enjoy my hobbies and it is good to have a designated time so that I actually do it! Rachael is really good at sculpting (and I hope she makes loads more too), which is something I'm definitely not, but my 'thing' is jewellery.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. Anonymous17 November 2014 at 13:08

    Goodness, our creativity knows no bounds! Those pendants with the danglies are amazing.

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    1. Ellie Foster17 November 2014 at 17:30

      Thanks, Toffeeapple. I do have a fondness for tassels and the silk screen patterns do lend themselves to being pendants. I think that there may be many more to come yet...
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. Wendy17 November 2014 at 13:39

    very pretty necklaces, I love the stones you've used in the tassles

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    1. Ellie Foster17 November 2014 at 17:32

      Thanks, Wendy. I have amassed a large collection of stones over the last couple of years, so it is lovely to actually start using them!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  6. crafty cat corner17 November 2014 at 22:33

    I've never tried this, must have a go some time. How do you get it shiny/
    Briony
    x

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    1. Ellie Foster18 November 2014 at 16:38

      Thanks, Briony. I usually glaze my polymer clay pieces, partly to protect the finish and partly to give the pieces a nice shine - Sculpey make a gloss or a matt glaze and this is the brand I use. Some varnishes will react with the polymer clay, but there will be lots of info available on the internet. I hope you do have a go sometime!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  7. Amy at love made my home18 November 2014 at 10:39

    I had no idea you could do so many things with this clay! I love the last blue pendant best of all, but they are all great! xx

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    1. Ellie Foster18 November 2014 at 16:39

      Thanks, Amy. Polymer clay is amazing and can be used to create so much - I am in awe of what some artists can make. I really enjoy being able to make and wear my own jewellery, knowing that no-one else in the world has a piece exactly the same!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  8. Josie19 November 2014 at 16:39

    Wow they look amazing! My children and I sometimes play with air-drying clay but our results look nothing like yours x

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    1. Ellie Foster19 November 2014 at 17:58

      Thanks, Josie. The polymer clay I use is the Sculpey Premo, but Fimo is well known too and you need to cure/'bake' the pieces in the oven, rather than air dry. It is great for children to use and they could create fantastic creatures, but it could be quite expensive if you use a lot of it, although a little does go a long way, especially for the creatures which Rachael made. Also, there is no waste as the scrap pieces can be used as a base for other designs. As you can tell, I love it!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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