Friday, June 24, 2011

Mostly Purple Polymer Clay

Our farmer's market is on the square this year, very convenient for us as we live less than half a block from the square. It's every thursday from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM...the day and time is a little strange but it works for me. I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to have fresh homegrown vine ripened delicious tomatoes... so yummy!!  I didn't want to appear greedy, they only had two beer flats full so I controlled myself and  bought 4 big ones.... we came home, I sliced one, we gobbled it down and then consumed a second...  to heck with the greed,  I send hubby back for more.  I  also purchased 3 zucchini, a container of blackberries, a loaf of homemade cinnamon raisin bread, a dozen homemade donuts, a couple caramel brownies and a couple cherry crumble thingies.   The lady who makes pepper jelly wasn't there  and I didn't find any apple butter... maybe next week..  That is the day I have eye surgery but it's in the morning so maybe by afternoon I can still make the farmer's market.

My muse was in a purple mood this week,  Here's what I made

Click on the photos for a closer look.

Mixed media pendant, the frame is woven colored wire and beads.  The bird silhouette is on purple clay, sealed with Kato liquid.  The Swaroski rhinestone catches the light for a bit of sparkle.



I had purple clay left over from my mixed media purple cats so I made these.  The swan silhouette is sealed with a thin layer of liquid Kato.



I am still mixing Pardo Art Clay with Kato pearl, I love the shine it has when sanded and buffed. The pendant on the left is made from left over scraps from the one on the right.


These were made from a small kali cane of purple and yellow. I used the end piece from the cane on the middle tile.  I added Swarovski rhinestones for a little glitz.  Did you know you can sand rhinestones? It smooths off the points and gives them an opal-like look like the ones in the centers of the square tiles.... just make sure they are firmly embedded in the clay.  



Mostly blue with purple accents, made from solid colors and striped canes. I like to cut shapes and assemble them in layers.



and just for fun, mirror image cabochons from Jackie cane ends.  Don't you think these would be pretty beaded or wrapped with wire? 


I'm thinking green for tomorrow, Thanks for looking. 

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

My Mixed Media Cardinal and His Friends

The backs are on and I am pleased with the way they turned out. The backs still need to be sanded.... and pinbacks added... I will do that later. I used Pardo Art Clay mixed with Kato Pearl for all the critters.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

My Cardinal is "looking good" don't ya think?  I gave him a patterned background in shades of red and silver.


I made a marbled stripe pattern covered with crackled metal leaf for this happy bird.



This is my "skylark", I forgot to take her photo before I added the backing. I wanted the background to look like the sky, I think it does don't you?


This little bunny has been hanging around for months patiently waiting for me to come up with a background..... she hated the others I tried but is happy with her new "pretty in pink" look.


It took me awhile to match the color of the beads along kitty's back and in her bangs... kinda a muted purple blue. I used a new texture sheet for the pattern and highlight with PearlEx. I love her pink eyes.



I used another of my new texture sheets for "Freckles" and a touch of gold PearlEx.




And there you have it.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Wire Birds of a Feather and other critters

I am having cataract surgery on my left eye on June 30 and the right eye on July 14. According to the surgeon I am "legally blind"..... I must be very suggestible because every since he said that I haven't been able to see worth a damn. Needless to say I am looking forward to the surgery.

My polymer clay muse is also "legally blind" or gone on vacation, so I have been playing with wire.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

I like the shape of this one.




This one is a little chubby


I like this Cardinal, this shape works for a Blue Jay too. I'm working on the Jay now.



I made another cat, she's a little fancier than the others I've made, see the beads in her bangs? and she like sitting on the fence.


Last but not least is my begging dog, isn't he cute?


I hope to back them with clay tomorrow.

Heather is at the annual YaYa retreat in " hotter n hell" Texas. She'll be back on the 28th. She took some of our jewelry with her so I put our Etsy shop on "vacation mode". That's why there is a big white space where the link our Esty shop should be....





Wednesday, June 1, 2011

More Mixed Media Critters

I put polymer clay backs on the owl and the squirrel .  I made a marbled orange sheet with Pardo Art Clay to finish the owll and a marbled green for the squirrel.

Click on the photos for a closer look.




My muse likes owls so I made a couple more. The first one is multicolored, the frame is 18 gaurge wire and the weaving is done with 28 gauge wire.   I combined the new soft Kato Pearl with purple Pardo Art Clay for the backing. I used a texture stamp for the pattern and highlight the raised areas with Pearl Ex.  


Here's how it looks assembled. I use liquid Kato along the edges to secure the wire to the clay. 



The next owl is in shades of green with gold accents.  


I mixed green and yellow Pardo Art Clay with Kato Pearl and then created a crackle effect with gold leaf for the backing.  


This is the finished owl. 


I have been mixing the new Kato Pearl, which is soft and sticky,  with Pardo Art Clay.... 1 part Pardo with 3 parts Kato Pearl... So far I am very pleased with the consistency.  My next project is to cane with the new mixture.  I will let you know how it goes.