Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Polymer Clay Madness

It all started simple enough....I saw a tutorial on distressed polymer clay headpins by Ginger Davis-Allman from  The Blue Bottle Tree.  I bought some of her headpins previously and thought, hey I can do this, they are so cool, just what I need and want ...so I bought the tutorial and downloaded it on the spot.
  This tutorial is really well put together with every little detail covered.  The step by step instructions are clear and easy that even a learning impaired adult like myself could understand it.  There are lots of pics, again clear and nothing left out...Ginger did a great job.

Next stop, good old Micheal's for the little packages of clay...I chose  Premo and Fimo...I thought I'd try both to compare the two.  I have tried making polymer clay beads before and went through about a pound of the stuff with some disastrous results...Ginger told me I was using crap clay for starters and between her and Rey at Greybird I  realized I wasn't cooking for a long enough time and at too low of a temperature...  Yes Rey!  The high priestess of clay started with polymer...have a look at her old sales if you don't believe me...she put polymer clay into the stratosphere...  I sent her one of my bead mishaps clear over to the Isle of Skye and she helped me too.

Here's the first batch...

 So...I have been clay shaping, bead painting crazy over here ever since I got the tutorial...somebody stop me!!  cause I am hooked...it's fun...it's challenging and you get some cool beads and focals no one else has.

The Ancient Ones were inspired by American Indian pottery...



Chaco Canyon




Bullseye!



Pottery Shards...



see I told you...Stop Me!



Works in progress



And another thing I learned...is how time consuming, frustrating, did I say time consuming making beads is...I had no idea...So next time you have to send you hard earned cash to Greybird Studio, Ragged Robyn,  ScorchedEarth, Numinosity, Sara at DivineStudio2, Happyfish, Shipwreckdandy...be thankful these hard-working gals are doing it all for you and at a real bargain for all the time involved in the making of hand-made beads.  

Still a lot to learn and many mistakes to make I am sure... 





25 comments:

Terra said...

These beads turned out beautifully.

Numinosity said...

These are over the top wonderful! I just got that tutorial and some clay just this week. See what a polymer slut I will become! But it's oh so cool when you have a stash of your own beads with which to create and you are allowed to high grade the stash as well.
Congratulations on your instant success with the medium and thanks for the mention.

Ginger Davis Allman (The Blue Bottle Tree) said...

Wow, Cynthia, you made some serious magic here! I love how everyone who uses this tutorial puts their own spin on things and comes up with their own look. Thank you for the mention, I really appreciate it. And welcome to the addiction that is polymer clay!

Jiorji said...

these are all fantastic!!
keep experimenting :D

darlene said...

what exquisiteness! keep going and yes! appreciate all the lovely and talented artists who work in the often small and love in the big!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

These are wonderful! It looks like you are having a ball! I guess it is a lot like Gourmet Cooking---Use the best ingredients and cook at the right temp! I think you've got that down well, my dear, plus you have your artists eye and talent.

Juliette said...

Beautiful, beautiful work!!! I have to say that I've been doing more work in polymer lately too, in between snapping up finds from Happy Fish, Scorched Earth and Stillpoint Works. I am going to get that tutorial as well for more information! Your pieces are gorgeous xoxo J

Lucie Tales said...

Gorgeous beads you've been making Cynthia! and yes clay is time consuming but so fun too!

Chris said...

Very cool~!!! LOVIN the works in progress and the greeny-bluey colors. Fun to see you creating and going nutsified~ :-)

richelle said...

Thanks for the mention. I'm so glad you figured out the weird problem you were having with your polymer beads. I think we tried to troubleshoot that, but it was an issue that made no sense to me.

There is a huge difference in the clay brands, as you've now seen. Some are good for this and not that, some are good for that and not this. It's funny--every time I see a certain clay being referred to as 'bad,' it seems to be one that works great for me. And the 'better' ones often seem too plastic-y or otherwise unmanageable to me. But it seems everyone who works with it for any extended time gravitates toward a favorite. I buy the big 8 pounder white industrial Sculpey loaves.

"46 ties weed" is what I am typing in to prove I'm not a robot. I totally wish I was a robot. That's the kicker.

fanciful devices said...

OMG these are AMAZOINKS! after typing this i have to go back and stare some more.

JuLee said...

I also have Ginger's tut and have been having a blast making rustic beads. Love the Pottery Shard earrings! I will have to try out that shape next.

Lela said...

Hrm. Once again, blogger has eaten my comment. I know for sure that I left one.

The aforementioned comment went something like "wow, you're having fun! I've got a package of Sculpey III (?) that's unopened...and getting harder by the day."

I have no idea if it's still good. Maybe I better chuck it and go get the brands you mentioned. I want to try this. Of course, there are lots of things I want to try.

The bottom line is: Your beads are AMAZINGNESS! Very Cool!!

RaggedRobyn said...

Love the earrings and your paintwork is perfect, like the washed effects and those headpins you just listed are insane! Love it all x

La Petite Gallery said...

Cynthia, you really are a go getter. I think it is amazing how well you are doing. Are the ear rings very heavy? The art work and colors are beauiful. Keep it up. yvonne

Anonymous said...

These pieces are amazing, you made it look so easy to do! I have just been learning about polymer clay and the different things you can do with it! This new product development is awesome for crafty people like yourself.

Anvil Artifacts said...

After seeing these beauties, I'm really kicking myself for forgetting to grab my polymer supplies before they got packed and stored in a hot Texas warehouse for months. Not that my polymer work has ever looked like this. You've done a beautiful job. Wow!

Tinkerbell of Laka said...

Great, i llove it!
If you want to follow each other on gfc and bloglovin let me know on my blog:) Follow me and i will follow you back,promise!

http://tinkerbelloflaka.blogspot.com/

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

Cynthia ...... you are a cleverclogs !!!!
Beautiful ..... I love the way that you keep your work fresh and try new things..... the sign of a true artist.41 rityBMP XXXX

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

Don't know how that last bit appeared but I didn't write it !!!!!!!!!!!! XXXX

Joanna Jenkins said...

You learn FAST! These beads are gorgeous! Wow.
jj

Unknown said...

I'm so late to the party on this one but I too have bought and eaten up the tutorial. OMG...your beads are beautiful and now I have a stash of stuff in my kitchen that is waiting for me to get reinvolved (except that it's school holidays here but i guess the best bit is that me and my daughter have been making beads for her today).

Himalaya Polymer said...

Wonderful, really you create magic. I feel really very fabulous and great designs.

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