CraftyGoat's Notes

Creative Un-Conferencing

2008-11-18T16:54:00Z

As some of you may know, I work from home, splitting my time between blogging, crafting, and freelance web development. As part of the latter, I recently had the pleasure of attending an "un-conference" called Open Beta here in Oklahoma City.

Open Beta was set up as an opportunity for local web professionals with different specialties to connect with each other. See, while there are several groups in this area for tech professionals, they all have their specific niches: web designers, Ruby on Rails developers, Java developers, etc. There's never been one event for these people with different specialties to meet up and exchange ideas... until now. Open Beta gave people a chance to share what they were doing and see what others in the community were doing. It gave us a chance to meet folks we might not have otherwise. And it allowed everyone to get excited and inspired by the ideas of others.

I love being surrounded by creative people sharing their creative ideas. The excitement and energy is so contagious! And so I came away from Open Beta, not only having made connections with other local professionals that I may be able to work with in the future, but also totally inspired to hit the ground running with my own ideas.

Wondering why I'm talking about this on a crafting blog? Here's the reason:

I'd love to see this happen in the crafting community. We also tend to socialize based on our specific niches — a knitting group, a polymer clay group, an Etsy sellers group, etc. And that's great: it's a good way to learn together with others in your specialty. But it seems like there are very few opportunities to get together and share ideas with a broader group of creatives. Here are the benefits I think such a meet-up would have:

Find out what else is going on in the local community. While I'm aware of things that are going on in the local polymer clay community and a few paper crafts groups, I know I miss out on a lot of other things. It wasn't til I started chatting with a gal at the state fair that I knew there was a local beading group. And I just learned from a Twitter friend this weekend that there's a monthly craft supply swap, an event I've frequently envied in other cities but hadn't realized we had here. If various crafty groups could print fliers or set up info tables at an event like this, think how many more interested folks could get involved in these groups.
Share what you're working on and connect with like-minded folks. Open Beta had both demos (people showing their latest projects) and mini-talks (people talking about ideas or projects). I loved that a couple of the speeches were just ideas — things along the lines of "here's what I'd like to see happen... if anyone's interested in helping me make it happen, let me know." When you share like that, you open yourself up to finding kindred spirits, people who may have had the same ideas as you and want to partner up to make them happen. Things that seemed impossible on your own are suddenly possible. For example, I've wondered about starting a local Church of Craft group, but wasn't sure whether there would be any interest or how to get started. This would be a great place to find out! Same goes if you're thinking about starting a group that donates quilts to a local charity, or any other bigger-than-yourself project.
Just get inspired. I've always been a bit on the shy side, but there's something about being around other creatives that can make me feel instantly connected. Seeing what others are doing and seeing the passion they have for their ideas can be truly inspirational.

So here's what I'm wondering:

If you're in the OKC area, would you be willing to work with me to make this Craft Un-Conference happen?

First a little background on what an un-conference is:

"The name 'unconference' arose to describe conferences that step outside of the more traditional model — that is, presentations selected months beforehand, sponsors buying speaking slots, boring panels of talking heads, and high fees." Unconference.net

There are a variety of different un-conference models (barcamps, foocamps, etc.). I'm imagining an event where, at the very least, groups can share information about where/when they meet and individuals can do talks and demonstrations about their projects or ideas. Some other options include:

An opportunity for folks to sell items, though we'd want to limit the time on that. The sellers shouldn't be stuck behind their tables the whole time and miss out on the conference!
A series of instructional workshops where anyone can share their expertise in any area (whether it's a specific craft, or a related topic like pricing your work to sell).

If you're interested in helping me make this happen in OKC, please contact me. I'd like to start bouncing ideas around.

If you're not from around here, I'd love to hear from you too. Have you been involved in any local events like this? What worked? What didn't? Leave me a comment telling me about your ideas or experiences.

Studio by Sculpey Super Slicer Blade Review

2008-11-14T13:31:00Z

I was pleasantly surprised the other day when I found out my local Hobby Lobby has started carrying Studio by Sculpey products. Since I no longer have to order online and pay shipping, it seemed like a good time to give their Super Slicer blades a try. I've only ever had the one rigid clay blade, and it's gotten pretty dull with years of use, so I wanted to replace it. Plus, since I've never had a flexible, wavy or ripple blade before, I was looking forward to trying those out.

The price was the number one reason I selected Studio by Sculpey's set. Getting four blades for $12.99 seemed like a good value, compared to buying each blade individually. And of course, I used my 40% off coupon to save a little more.

One of Studio by Sculpey's big selling points for these blades is the safety of using their interchangeable handles. This wasn't really a big deal to me. I've used my clay blade for years without handles, and I know how to make my own handles from clay if I want them. I can imagine this would be an attraction for some people, though.

And for something that the company has put a lot of focus on, the handles seemed very poorly implemented. Not only are they not easy to interchange (I imagine I'll leave my handles on my most-used blade) — but the instructions for attaching the handles are awful. Jenny at Craft Test Dummies mentioned this in her review, but even having been warned, I was still surprised at how bad they were. (I've scanned in my package's instructions [PDF] in case anyone is interested in taking a look.) The main problem is that there are no diagrams in the instructions. Not only that, but there's no diagram or picture anywhere on the product packaging showing how the assembled handles should look. So when the instructions say, "For correct placement, longer part of handle should be angled slightly up diagonally from blade," you're left wondering which part is the longer part and what that slight angle might be. A simple diagram would have been much better than that description.

But that's not all. The instructions also fail to mention even once that you're going to have to take the handles apart to attach them to the blades. Since the handles come pre-assembled, it didn't occur to me that they came apart. I was imagining some sort of retractable mechanism inside the blades that snapped into place once I had it positioned correctly... and nothing in the instructions told me otherwise. It wasn't til I went out to their website looking for clarification that I saw their (much-better) online instructions and figured out how it all worked. Please, Studio by Sculpey, fix these package instructions.

While I'm talking about packaging, the actual packaging of the blades was also poorly done. They were taped into place in such a way that getting them out was a little dangerous. These are sharp blades. Don't make me pull and pry them out of the packaging. I think this was a missed opportunity, too. Studio by Sculpey could have packaged them in something re-usable, some sort of nice sleeve that could be used as storage throughout the life of the blades. They could even put some branding on it, and assume that folks will carry it that way to classes and guild meetings — a little free advertising for them.

But enough about the poor packaging and instructions. How do the blades work?

As I mentioned, I primarily needed a rigid blade to replace my old dull one. So I started by trying out the rigid blade. That is... once I figured out which one was the rigid one.

Unfortunately there's not a lot of difference between the flexible blade and the rigid blade. They're both pretty flimsy. I looked back at Studio by Sculpey's online product write-ups for the blades to see that the longer one is supposed to be the rigid one. But it's too thin and flexible for my tastes, much more so than the rigid blade I was replacing. I don't know whether this is a consequence of the increased length — perhaps you lose some of the rigidity as a result. But regardless I don't feel confident it will give me straight cuts.

I was originally concerned that it might not be strong enough to cut through thick blocks of clay. I tried it with a few new blocks of clay I had sitting around. It cut through them successfully, almost as well as my old blade. I'm not sure how well it would work on older or stiffer clays, though. It just doesn't seem sturdy enough.

I have been more pleased with the other blades. Of course, since I didn't have these blades previously, my requirements weren't as high for them. The ripple blades work well: I think I will enjoy playing with those for mokume gane and for decorative edge cutting. And although I don't see myself using the flexible blade much, perhaps having it around will encourage me to round my corners a bit more!

So would I recommend purchasing this blade set? It depends. If you're looking for a good strong rigid blade, this set doesn't have it. But if you've already got that, and just want a variety pack of blades for a decent price, this is a good choice. I don't recommend buying this set just for the handles, though. They're too much trouble to change from blade to blade, and just generally don't live up to expectations.

Summary

Product: Studio by Sculpey Super Slicer Blades (4 blades with interchangeable handles)
Price: $12.99
Pros:
- The set of four blades (rigid, flexible, wavy, and ripple) is a good value over buying the blades individually.
- The length of the rigid blade is nice for cutting larger clay sheets. All of the blades are slightly longer than the blade I was replacing.
Cons:
- The rigid blade is not strong or sturdy enough for my tastes.
- The package instructions are seriously lacking, and the blades are poorly packaged.
- The interchangeable handles aren't worth the trouble required to switch them.

Making Clothes and Quilts for Your Polymer Clay Creations

2008-11-11T17:38:00Z

The very-generous Maria Maestri allowed me to teach a couple of projects from her Simply Ornaments CD (reviewed here) to my local polymer clay guild last weekend. As I was preparing samples for the class, I tried to come up with a variety of suggestions for changing up the projects and personalizing the characters. Turns out, one of the easiest ways to do that is to dress your characters up in different polymer clay clothes.

Here are a few ways to make your own "fabric" from polymer clay — whether you need it to clothe your custom characters or make mini clay quilts:

Make Patterned Canes: Canes are an obvious choice for creating your own polymer clay fabric, since you can cut lots of identical tiles to replicate a fabric's repeating pattern. If you need a starting place, check out Lisa Clarke's tutorials for making weave and plaid canes.
Extrude Your Own Fabric: I'm not much of a caner, so I was excited to find a recent tutorial by Sue Choppers-Wife on Art Ravings. She shows how to use an extruder to make your own polymer clay fabric.
Just Applique It: If you want an even easier option, use small cookie cutters to create simple shapes from an unbaked clay sheet. (Or use a hole punch with baked clay sheets.) Apply your appliques to a solid color or Skinner blend background to make a simple fabric.

Whichever method you use to create your fabric, don't forget to texture it. The Art Ravings fabric post suggests a straining screen, and I love her results. I also like ShadeTex Texture Sheets — the Textile set is perfect for texturing fabrics.

And once you've made your fabrics, what can you do with them?

Clothe Your Characters: Maureen Carlson's books have the best instructions I've seen for making realistic clay clothes, with tips for making "patterns," draping fabric, and more. I can personally recommend her excellent How to Make Clay Characters. And while I haven't read it yet, her Family and Friends in Polymer Clay also appears to include good fabric- and clothes-making advice.
Make Polymer Clay Quilts: If you've got some fabric scraps after clothing your characters, use those to make your own patchwork quilts. Sarajane Helm and Judith Skinner wrote the definitive book on this: Adapting Quilt Patterns To Polymer Clay. But you can also check out these sites for more quilted goodness:
- beadyeyedbrat lists lots of polymer clay quilt resources, including cane tutorials, quilt inspiration photos, and more.
- Jenny Patterson of Quilted In Clay has lots of gorgeous examples of polymer clay quilt blocks that she's turned into jewelry. She also occasionally writes about her creative process on her blog.

Winter may be on its its way — but if you follow these tips, your polymer clay characters will be happily bundled in warm clothes & quilts til the springtime thaw!

Halloween Tutorial: Eyeballs in a Jar

2008-10-31T06:41:00Z

Need one more thing to make your Halloween decor complete? Try this quick and easy project! Polymer clay eyeballs float in a jar of colored water to make a delightfully weird conversation piece for your home or office.

Materials

Polymer Clay: White Ultralight Sculpey plus tiny amounts of black. red. and any color of your choice
Jar
Food Coloring
Water
Optional: Alcohol Inks, Pasta Machine, Clay Extruder, Small Round Cookie Cutter, Kato Clear Liquid Medium

Instructions

Form clay eyeballs. Use white Ultralight Sculpey to make two matching balls for the eyeballs. The advantage of using Ultralight Sculpey over other brands is that it's lightweight enough to float after baking. However, it's also very soft and can be tricky to work with. I made one eyeball with half Premo, half Ultralight, and it floated just fine — so try experimenting with different mixtures.

A note on floating: My first batch of eyeballs floated iris-side up — which is not ideal for viewing from the jar's side. After some further test, I found that whichever way I baked them is how they tended to float. So you should be fine if you bake yours as shown in the photos. If not, another trick is to add a weight (such as a core made from a heavier clay) towards to bottom to help it float right.
Cut out irises. Use a pasta machine to roll out a very thin sheet of whatever color clay you want your irises to be, then cut two matching circles using a small round cookie cutter. If you don't have a pasta machine, use an acrylic brayer, jar, or clay-dedicated rolling pin. A small circle template will work in place of the cookie cutter.

Optional: Irises are rarely a solid color. If you're going for a more realistic look, try adding gradiations and specks of color. One way to do this is to dab the piece with alcohol inks before baking. A Skinner blend would also work.
Make pupils. Measure out two very small balls of black. I rolled mine out on a pasta machine, then used a small cookie cutter to ensure I got the same amount for each pupil. Now roll these into a ball and smash them slightly into a disk. Press them into the center of the irises.
Assemble eyeballs. Add the pupil/iris to the eyeball, gently reshaping the eyeball if necessary.
Add blood-shot lines. I used my clay extruder's smallest disk to create the red "blood-shot" strands on the eyeball. I first traced the veins I planned to follow with a needle tool, then pressed pieces of the long red strand into the indentions, using my thumbnail to snip off strands once they were long enough. If you're going for a more subtle look, you could just trace the lines before baking, then come back with acrylic paint and antique it after baking. (Of course, if you're going for subtle, this project may not be for you!) You'll probably want to seal it with something like Kato Clear Medium afterwards, though — just in case the acrylic paint you're using doesn't hold up well to its new watery home.
Bake. Bake the eyeballs on a layer of polyfill to prevent flat and shiny spots.
Assemble jar. Place water in the jar until it's as full as you like. Add a couple of drops of food coloring (I used green, but brown or yellow would also look cool). Drop in your eyeballs and you're done!

Variations & Links

Add an antiqued label to the jar. You can go for laughs ("Spare Parts") or chills ("Last Year's Trick-or-Treaters")
What's spookier than finding a body part in a jar? Finding a body part in a rusted jar! I mean, who knows how long that old thing's been down in the basement! Use Sophisticated Finishes Rust Antiquing Set to add an easy rusted look to any lid.
Martha Stewart has a video tutorial for making specimen jars. Her special twists? Spooky lighting and black ice. [Thanks to Noadi for the link — be sure to check out Noadi's very cool sea creatures in a jar.]
You're not limited to eyeballs. Try making your jar with toes, severed fingers, or vague shapes (a la the "Thing in a Jar").

Here's hoping you have a fun and safe Halloween!

Candy Corn Crafting Fun

2008-10-24T15:17:00Z

Halloween's just a week away, and you know what that means... All the stores are filled with a bountiful harvest of this year's candy corns. (My husband swears this is an actual crop!) Here are a few ideas for using this colorful candy of the season for some crafty decor:

Lotsa Candies: Make lots of polymer clay candy corns (instructions here). Then use them to make a fun frame, geometrical magnet, or even a nature-inspired centerpiece.
Flattened Candies: Crafty This & That has instructions for making very cute felt candy corns. Try using her pattern to make a polymer clay version, complete with antiqued faux stitching. You can make your own eyes, or just glue on googly eyes after baking.
Big Candies: Make a polymer clay candy corn shelf-sitter. I like the jute-style legs in Joshua Burkhardt's Hangin' Around With Noah. Try making color-matched buttons (here's instructions & a video) as perfect little candy corn feet... check out the queen's frames if you need button inspiration. These would make a perfectly sweet decoration for any shelf!

Here's hoping you have a crafty weekend full of yummy-looking goodies. I should warn you, though. Polymer clay candy corns may seem like a low-calorie way to keep these festive candies around. And it could just be me. But it seems like the longer I work with the faux candies, the more likely I am to break open a bag of the real thing!

Autumn-Themed Thank You Card

2008-10-04T11:49:00Z

I always like to keep a few "Thank You" cards on hand, and seasonal ones are especially nice. In honor of World Making Card Day today, I thought I'd share instructions for this stamped autumn-themed Thank You card.

You won't need to buy special scrapbooking papers for this one. Just use your ink pad with plain card stock to create a beautifully coordinated look. And while this quick-and-easy project is all paper, I've included a polymer clay variation at the end just in case you want to spruce it up a bit.

Materials

Card Stock: 1/2 sheet (8.5" × 5.5") each of cream and tan
Ink Pad: I used Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink
Stamps: I used PrintWorks Thanksgiving Blessings and D.O.T.S. Seasons of the Heart Set
Tools: Paper trimmer, adhesive, stamp cleaner

Instructions

Cut the Background Paper. Cut a piece of tan card stock measuring 4" × 5.25" for the background.
Apply the Ink Pad to the Paper. Use a piece of scrap paper behind the card stock to protect your work surface. Hold the ink pad upside down and press it directly onto the card stock. Apply it in a random pattern with some of the ink-prints going off the edge of the paper. Overlapping the prints will create darker portions, as will varying how long and how hard you press down on the pad.
Stamp the Image. Apply ink to your leaf stamp, then stamp the image on the tan card stock.
Trim. Cut a 1.5" square around the stamped image.
Ink the Edges. Hold the ink pad in one hand and the card stock in the other hand. Run the very edge of the card stock against the ink pad, turning it until you've inked each side.
Cut the Mat and Edge Pieces. You'll need a 2" square piece of tan card stock for the mat, and a 1" × 4" piece of tan card stock for the bottom edge.
Use Ink Pad to Color Paper. Using steady pressure, drag the cut pieces of card stock against the ink pad to dye them. Dab the ink onto any spots you missed. The color doesn't need to be completely uniform -- having uneven colors creates a rich, leather-like finish.
Stamp the Greeting. Stamp your "thanks" greeting onto the tan card stock.
Trim. This piece should be approximately 3/8" × 4". My stamped greeting said "thanks to you," so I trimmed off the extra words.
Ink the Edges.
Fold Card. Fold the cream card stock in half and use a bone folder to crease the fold.
Attach Layers. Use tape or glue to attach the stamped layers to the card. For extra dimension, use a Pop Dot behind the leaf.

Variation

The stamped leaf portion of the card could easily be made from polymer clay instead of card stock. Consider turning it into a magnet or pin so the card recipient gets a little gift with their card.

More Polymer Clay Mosaics Reviews

2008-10-02T04:59:00Z

After reviewing Laurie Mika's Mixed-Media Mosaics, I decided to look into what other polymer clay mosaic books were out there. Turns out there are two good ones with the same name: Polymer Clay Mosaics by Krista Wells and, well, Polymer Clay Mosaics by Sue Heaser. While both books are out of print, they're easy to find used. I got my hands on them and wanted to let you know my thoughts.

Polymer Clay Mosaics by Krista Wells

Published in 2004, Krista Wells' Polymer Clay Mosaics focuses primarily on a traditional mosaic type with tiles, traced patterns, and grout. The 21 mosaic projects cover a range of difficulty levels: from basic magnets with just a few tiles, to a large-scale tiled backsplash project. This is nice since it helps highlight how many possibilities there are.

Wells has a good grasp on polymer clay. Unlike Mika's book, which didn't adequately cover some polymer clay basics, I think this book would work fine for polymer clay beginners. This one has a nice amount of detail on all the basic techniques. It also includes some mosaic techniques that aren't just the same old ideas. I loved her tip for cardboard strips, and used it liberally for my latest batch of mosaic ATCs.

Wells includes the patterns for her projects, which she allows you to photocopy for your own non-commercial projects. Unfortunately, though, this leads me to one of the weaknesses of the book. She doesn't really go into the next steps — things like what would make a good design for a mosaic, or how to choose and modify a pattern to use for your own projects. I prefer books that help you think past the projects themselves, and this one didn't really do it for me.

My other complaint is that the book was lacking in step-by-step photos. Only one sample project had individual steps pictured. The other projects showed only the finished project. In some cases, it was difficult for me to understand the written steps without more visual clues. I would have preferred the book have fewer projects and more depth on the remaining projects.

Still, it was an enjoyable book. The projects were creative, and there were several that I really liked (faves include the CD Clock, Byzantime Clock, Thoroughly Modern Mondrian Mirror, & Klimt-Inspired Backsplash). I loved the quotes on creativity that were sprinkled throughout the book — a fun touch! Overall, this is a good (but not great) book if you're looking for lots of traditional mosaic projects.

Summary

Title: Polymer Clay Mosaics by Krista Wells
Pros:
- Good descriptions of clay techniques
- A wide range of traditional mosaic projects
Cons:
- Not enough step-by-step photos
- Doesn't include information on creating your own projects
Who It's Good For: Polymer clay beginners will find good clay information here. Intermediate clayers will enjoy the wide range of fun projects. This book is ideal for folks who like to create projects just like they are in the book.

Polymer Clay Mosaics by Sue Heaser

Written in 2003, Sue Heaser's Polymer Clay Mosaics book includes 15 projects in 4 different mosaic techniques: classical, tile, micromosaic and pietre dure. Heaser is uniquely qualified to write this book — not only is she a clay expert, but she also has a background in art history. She includes origins and names of various techniques, along with photos of ancient artwork. It ends up being a nice educational experience that doesn't feel too scholarly.

The section on clay basics is well-done. It includes clear instructions on all the techniques a beginner would need (like Skinner blends), but it also has some more advanced techniques (such as other blends and applique) that might interest intermediate clayers. Her graph paper technique for cutting tiles is a nice solution.

Heaser covers four types of clay mosaics in this book:

Classical Mosaics: These are typical tile mosaics with grout. I like that she gives advice on how much grout to mix up for an area. She also has good tips on layout, such as how best to cut pieces to fit around other pieces.
Micro Mosaics: These mosaics use tiny soft-on-soft clay pieces, cut to form an image. This is very delicate-looking work, but I love the idea and am eager to try it.
Pietre Dure Mosaics: This is a type of inlay technique. While she cautions that this is a difficult technique, I like that she has the projects in order of increasing difficulty so you can ease into the technique.
Tile Mosaics: These are tiled mosaics without the grout. These projects use transfers, stamping, and cutters to make them look great without a lot of effort. This section includes one of my favorite projects in the whole book, the Herb Fossil Picture Frame.

I really like how Heaser gives tips on taking the next step creatively. For example,
she tells us which types of images make good mosaic patterns. And almost every project has ideas for other variations.

Another plus for this book is that it has lots of step-by-step photos. You won't get lost with these instructions!

If you only buy one mosaic book, this is the one I recommend. The fact that it includes several different mosaic types makes it more of a toolbox than the other books — a place you can learn techniques that will serve you in a variety of projects.

Summary

Title: Polymer Clay Mosaics by Sue Heaser
Pros:
- Great instructions for four mosaic techniques and a wide variety of projects. All projects include step-by-step photos.
- Pointers for taking the next step in creating your own designs
Cons:
- The book is out of print. Amazon has good prices on used versions, though, and I get the impression Heaser's new Encyclopedia of Polymer Clay Techniques includes at least some of this information.
Who It's Good For: Beginner clayers will find a good foundation here. Intermediate clayers will likely find techniques, projects, and ideas to inspire them. And anyone interested in mosaics will enjoy learning about the different types.

More BOH Publicity, A Public Crafting Poll

2008-09-20T13:16:00Z

My polymer clay group made the TV news again yesterday. This time the local Telemundo affiliate interviewed me for a Spanish version of last week's Bottles of Hope story. Here's the new story (in Spanish), and here's a photo of the angel bottle I made during the filming. (A couple of my other bottles were featured too.)

I suppose I should clarify, though. I didn't actually make that angel bottle during filming. There are several shots of me working on an angel bottle... but the angel bottle I worked on there got wadded up into a ball of clay before I left the building.

A couple of the other folks making bottles got wide-eyed when I disassembled it, and asked what I was doing. I didn't realize til I got home what a jerk I must have looked like. There we were, decorating bottles for cancer patients, and I rip mine apart as soon as the camera crew leaves.

It's not like it looked, though, honest. It's just that I'm not a public crafter. No matter what I do, I just can't seem to be happy crafting anyplace but home.

This time I tried really hard. Knowing that I have trouble thinking of ideas when I'm on the spot, surrounded by other people, I planned a project ahead of time. I even took along pictures of an inspiration piece in case I needed to reference it. Having the project picked out helped me with the other thing I tend to have trouble with — taking the right supplies. Since I knew what my project was, I had a general idea of what tools I'd need. (Too bad I got in a hurry and forgot a couple of those.) I even made an ambitious goal to try to keep myself on track: I was going to finish not just one, but two bottles while we were there.

But even after all that, I still couldn't do it. I got flustered when I realized I'd left my clay blade at home (it somehow didn't occur to me to borrow one of several others in the room). I hadn't brought enough beige clay and didn't like the replacement color I mixed up. But mostly, things just weren't looking right. The skirt didn't drape nicely. The wings weren't pretty enough. I felt like if I were at home using my own tools on my own desk, I could get it right. And so, like I've done at so many guild meetings and other public crafting sessions, I left without having created a thing.

It's not that I don't enjoy crafty get-togethers. I love being around other creatives, watching their process and absorbing their conversations. But I just don't create well in that situation. Maybe it's performance anxiety. Maybe it's perfectionism. For whatever reason, though, I prefer to do my creating in my own comfy little craft room, where I can really dig into a project and do it just right.

So is this just me? I'm curious what the rest of you think of crafting in public...?

Bottles of Hope Story on Local News

2008-09-13T04:13:41Z

A local TV news channel just aired a story about the Central Oklahoma Polymer Clay Guild's involvement in the Bottles of Hope program. Our Bottles of Hope Coordinator was actually the one interviewed, but you can see me in several background shots making my bottle. Check out their nicely-done feature story here (see Group Bottles Hope under Featured Videos).

This just goes to show that some shows that're filmed do eventually air! ;-)

Review: Mixed Media Mosaics

2008-09-10T02:20:00Z

I'm really drawn to mosaics, but I've often felt they were overwhelmingly time-consuming. Not only do you have to create lots and lots of identical clay tiles, but you then have to line them up perfectly and adhere them to your background surface. And don't get me started on the mess grout can be! Still, I love the look — and when I'm in a certain kind of mood, it's worth all the time involved.

But when I got Laurie Mika's Mixed-Media Mosaics book, I realized mosaics don't have to be so time-consuming. I read her book cover-to-cover as soon as I got it (it's one of those craft books that's actually interesting to read!). I was immediately attracted to some of Mika's time-savers, like the fact that she uses a variety of tile sizes and that (gasp!) she doesn't use grout. Now that I've had a chance to try out some of her projects, I wanted to share my thoughts.

About The Book

First of all, let me just say that this whole using-different-sizes-of-tile thing is new to me. I've mentioned here a time or two that I tend to be a little obsessive-compulsive. There's a reason I'm a big fan of TV's "Mr. Monk." So I was originally pretty unsure about making the tiles different sizes. Shouldn't all the tiles line up perfectly? Aren't perfect geometric patterns part of the beauty of mosaics?

But I'm sold on the idea now. First, it's way easier just to make a bunch of different-sized tiles. No measuring, no stressing. And I ended up enjoying the puzzle-like assembly of all the different elements. I was surprised at how well it all matched up, actually — I had to trim my clay tiles here and there, but nothing major. And it was freeing not to worry about whether things lined up perfectly.

Of course, this this puzzle-like arrangement all works out because of Mika's unique alternatives to grout. My favorite is the "grout stick" made with metal leaf (I also love the other cool things she does with metal leaf). There's still a time and a place for grout, and she has a few tips on that towards the end of the book. But the no-grout approach is clean and fast, and I can certainly see using it for many of my mosaic projects.

Another pleasant surprise about this book: I didn't realize just how much I'd enjoy the tile-making. It was really a lot of fun — I could have spent hours building up a huge supply of tiles! She has several different techniques (stamping, painting, scoring, etc.) for making your own tiles from clay or decorating pre-made tiles.

Some die-hard "why-would-I-buy-what-I-can-make?" polymer clay artists may cringe at that last part... Mika encourages the use of pre-made tiles to supplement your handmade ones. I bought a few glass tiles for my first project, and I'm still unsure whether I like the idea. Yes, it's much easier to grab a few perfectly shaped, color-matched tiles from a bag. And it can give a nice range of textures to your artwork. Still, there's something about it I don't like. Maybe I'll get more comfortable with the idea after a few projects. Or maybe I'm just a polymer clay purist. Either way, I'm glad she included this idea for another mosaic time-saver.

There were a couple of places I felt the book was lacking. First, she recommends using Original Sculpey White for many of her tiles. I always cringe when I see that, especially in a book like this that's intended both for polymer clay and mixed media artists. I wish she had given information on the clay's strength issues, so that new-to-clay folks won't be disappointed if they find their tiles breaking.

Also, when I was scanning the Table of Contents, deciding whether to buy the book, I noticed what appeared to be a section on "Bringing Meaning to Your Work." I was looking forward to some discussion on the process of making mosaics, the artistry of combining elements to share a message. What I didn't notice til later is that this "section" is only one page — kind of a tease really. I would love to have seen more there.

However, we do get a peek into Mika's process in the 6 featured pieces of her art. I like that she tells how she found her supplies, what her inspiration was, etc. It's a nice glimpse at what she was thinking as she created some of her beautiful mosaics.

Summary

Title: Mixed-Media Mosaics: Techniques and Projects Using Polymer Clay Tiles, Beads & Other Embellishments, by Laurie Mika
Price: $16 + shipping
Pros:
- Great tile-making ideas and painting tips. Unique ideas for mosaics, many of them real time-savers
- Wonderful box and "mosaicon" projects
- Nice descriptions of the process behind her featured works
Cons:
- I don't like that she recommends Original White Sculpey
- Would have liked to see more on "Bringing Meaning to Your Work"
Who It's Good For
- Both mixed media artists new to clay and clay artists new to mosaics will likely enjoy this book's tips. And the wide range of unique ideas should satisfy intermediate clayers and mosaic buffs.
- If you're the type who wants to create something exactly like the book's examples, you'll be disappointed. She uses lots of found objects, so that's pretty much impossible. While that makes it a little trickier to decide how and where to start, it's good in that you're challenged to do your own thing.

Polymer Clay Mascots, Racing for the Cure

2008-09-03T12:26:00Z

This Bottle of Hope has been posted on my Flickr account for a while, so many of you have already seen it. It's a pink ninja, made for a local cancer survivor named Cindy who helped get my guild started in the Bottles of Hope (BOH) program. Pink ninjas were Cindy's personal symbol of strength through her cancer treatments, so I made this bottle to thank her for her help and for speaking to our guild.

The sculpture itself was a bit out of my comfort zone. I'm no ninja expert, so I had to do a fair bit of research on what makes up a ninja. Sculpting people & making clothes are all new to me, too — not to mention doing these things around a bottle form. It was definitely a learning process. I was really relieved when I gave the bottle to Cindy and she seemed to like it.

But I was especially thrilled when I saw that she liked it enough to use it as the photo for her Pink Ninja Race for the Cure team page. I do believe this is the first time a creation of mine has been used as a team mascot. I'm so proud!

One month from now, I'll be joining the Pink Ninja team as they take part in the 2008 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. (I'm planning on just walking the 5K this time instead of running it... ya know, being pregnant and all!) If preventing and treating breast cancer is a cause that is important to you, I would truly appreciate your support in helping me reach my personal fundraising goal.

Thanks so much — and GO Pink Ninjas!

Favorite Baking Surfaces for Polymer Clay

2008-08-27T21:48:00Z

A few weeks back, I talked about how to avoid burning polymer clay. Several of you shared great comments with your own tips. And as part of that, folks made several suggestions for baking surfaces. I thought I'd do a separate post here talking about some of my favorite baking surfaces, as well as highlighting some of your suggestions.

My Favorite Baking Surface

My baking surface of choice is a toaster-oven sized pizza stone I found at a garage sale a few years back. (Here's a similar one available online for $17.) There are a couple of features I really like about it:

Even Heating: One of the great things about pizza stones is that they heat food (or polymer clay) evenly.
Nice Surface: Pizza stones are naturally non-stick once they're broken in. This is also the surface where my corn starch trick works best (corn starch may pool on slicker ceramic tiles). Keep in mind that these stones do have a little texture, though, so you may want to add a layer of parchment paper if you don't want your work to have a rough back.
Large Size: I like that the pizza stone is large enough to fill a regular-sized
toaster oven. This makes it perfect for baking larger or multiple items.

My Other Top Choices

While I love my pizza stone, I'm always a little worried about breaking it. So for guild day, I take little 4" ceramic tiles. Less than 50 cents each at Home Depot or Lowes, they're a nice inexpensive option that can double as a work surface. I keep 4-5 on hand for when I'm doing lots of baking at once.

Another good choice (and I think the first surface I ever baked on) is the glass from a picture frame. These are pretty cheap — even cheaper at garage sales or thrift stores — and come in a variety of sizes. They're also nice as a work surface, especially if you want to see through to a grid or design below the glass. The downside is that they are fairly fragile and can have sharp edges, so you have to be extra careful using them.

What Hasn't Worked Well for Me

I used to use the flimsy aluminum bread loaf pans. While they're cheap, they tend to distort. This can be bad if you're trying to bake a flat sheet in the bottom. But if you're not concerned about that, you might give it a try. They are nice to use with polyfill: just put a layer in the bottom of the loaf pan.

Another surface that seems to work better for other folks than for me is card stock. For some reason, my card stock seems to curl in the oven — and curls the clay with it! One of my guild members suggested that the card stock I'm using may have some sort of surface finish that's causing this. It's possible that some brands work better than others.

Readers' Baking Surface Suggestions

In the comments of my post on burning clay, Jeanne Rhea mentioned that baking on metal trays (such as cookie sheets) made burning more likely for her. Instead, she recommends using ceramic tiles with a layer of manila folder weight paper.
JuLi recommends baking in an upside-down pyrex-form chicken roaster.
Karen T. suggests using an old microwave oven glass tray. This heavy glass sounds much sturdier than the picture frame inserts I've used!

So... what's your favorite baking surface?

Tag Ideas for Bottles of Hope

2008-08-22T20:42:00Z

I've been finishing up some Bottles of Hope for my guild, and I thought it might be useful to talk about some tag options.

For any of you who aren't familiar with Bottles of Hope, they're bottles that are decorated with polymer clay, then given to cancer patients. (For more info, read about Bottles of Hope or watch my video tutorial.) The name "Bottles of Hope" comes from the practice of writing wishes and putting them inside. As program founder Diane Gregoire explains:

"I told my friends to just make a wish, write it down and put it in the bottle, and it would come true. I don't know why, but we all just believed this... maybe because we just wanted to, or that it was something to hold on to."

And while many polymer clay artists choose to leave their bottles empty so cancer patients can fill them with their own wishes, a lot of artists like to include their own special quotes for the bottle recipients. If you're interested in putting a message of hope with your bottle, here are a few options for how to do it:

Ways to Enclose the Message

Slip of Paper Wishes: This is a simple way to include a message in a bottle without a lid. Print and cut out the message on a narrow slip of paper, then let the paper peek out of the bottle's top. Idea Source: dragonflypath's Bottles of Hope.
Rolled-Up Wishes: Here's another wonderful option for bottles without stoppers. Print your message on a piece of paper slightly taller than the bottle, then roll it up scroll-style and put it inside. Idea Source: Thejoyof's Dinner Party Bottled Fortunes.
Accordion-Style Wishes: To enclose a long, thin quote in a bottle that has a lid, fold your piece of paper accordion-style and attach the paper to the lid. When the recipient takes the lid off, the quote comes with it! Idea Source: Fellow guild member, Lee Ann K.
Wishes on the Outside: Another option is to punch a hole in the paper and tie it onto the bottle with a ribbon or rubber band.
The official Bottles of Hope site recommends including a program description in a baggie with each bottle you distribute. That baggie would be a perfect place to include your quote. Idea Source: Bottles of Hope site

Message Ideas

And what should you write (or print) on the slips of paper? It's totally up to you: use anything you think would be inspirational to someone.

The Bottles of Hope site has PDFs of various quotes you can print and include. See Tags [PDF] and More Tags [PDF] on this page.
A friend and cancer survivor offered me one of her books to use for tag inspiration: The Language of Courage and Inner Strength. It's full of courageous quotes that work well. Here are a few of these quotes I've formatted to print for Bottles of Hope: Courage Quotes [PDF].

Many similar quote books are available. Check your library or local hospital gift shop, or just search Google for inspirational quotes.
Some of the best bottles I've seen have a quote that fits the theme of the bottle. This is sometimes easier to do if you find a quote you like first, then create a bottle that embodies that theme.

Of course, the love that's shown by making and donating these handmade bottles is often enough of a message. So don't feel obligated to add a written message to every bottle.

I'm fairly new to Bottles of Hope. I imagine those of you who have worked with them longer have some other ideas for both how to include a message and what types of message work best. I'd love to hear your suggestions.

Advertise Your Holiday Wares Now

2008-08-18T11:54:00Z

I'm the type who cringes when I see Halloween and Christmas goodies out during the summer. I've got an August birthday, and somehow I feel personally slighted when retailers rush past the end of summer to the next big holiday. Still, if you're a crafter and plan to sell fall- and winter-holiday items, it does pay to think ahead.

If you fit into that category, see Wendy's post at Polymer Clay Craft Gossip for a great way to start advertising your holiday wares. The gals at Polymer Clay Productions are working on a handmade holiday gift guide featuring polymer clay artists. They need all the entries in the next month to have time to put everything together. So act soon if you want your crafty business listed.

Just do me a favor and don't forget it's August. Some of us have birthdays coming up. :-)

Artist Profile on Layers Upon Layers

2008-08-14T13:21:00Z

I'm honored to be today's featured artist on Cyndi Lavin's Layers Upon Layers site.

If you're not familiar with Layers by Layers, it's a mixed media blog with lots of fun and inspirational features. Recently, Cyndi's been doing a series of favorite art quotes. I particularly liked Bunny Wilson's choice, taken from a Calvin & Hobbs cartoon: "“From now on, I’ll connect the dots my own way.”

Of course, you can't beat Cyndi's own quote in the sidebar: "Do not throw ANYTHING out!" (I can certainly relate to that!)

Check it out & enjoy!