Comments on: Phthalate-Free Premo Polymer Clay – A Blessing or a Curse http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/ "I learned by making mistakes... Now you don't have to." Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:56:13 -0800 hourly 1 By: Jayne http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-31967 Jayne Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:54:19 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-31967 I was not aware of the recent changes to Premo clay. This week I received my clay in the new packaging. I have been caning for ten years now with great detail. With the new clay, there is a dramatic difference between the white and black, even though to the touch they seem very similar. Premo has always been my favorite clay, but after going through 5 pounds of clay with poor results,what other clays do you like as well? I am in high production this time of year, and prefer clay with a minimum of conditioning..also what product would you use to equal out the white clay if that really is the only issue? I'm not that familiar with added conditioners. Thanks! Jayne I was not aware of the recent changes to Premo clay. This week I received my clay in the new packaging. I have been caning for ten years now with great detail. With the new clay, there is a dramatic difference between the white and black, even though to the touch they seem very similar. Premo has always been my favorite clay, but after going through 5 pounds of clay with poor results,what other clays do you like as well? I am in high production this time of year, and prefer clay with a minimum of conditioning..also what product would you use to equal out the white clay if that really is the only issue? I'm not that familiar with added conditioners. Thanks!

Jayne

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Bead Giveway Event http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-29469 Cindy Lietz@Bead Giveway Event Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:16:58 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-29469 @Phaedrakat - Being long winded is just fine :-) It is one of the reasons why this is a <em>"such a great place to visit."</em> Thank you for the kind words. By the way, if you figure out how to turn back the hands of time, let us all know. I would love to know how to do that too... LOL. <em>"...the great thing about PC is that I can stop at any point and go lay down. When I feel good enough I can get right back to it. Such a fun and forgiving medium!"</em> <strong>~Phaedrakat</strong> I completely and whole heartedly agree! Welcome again! @Phaedrakat – Being long winded is just fine :-) It is one of the reasons why this is a "such a great place to visit." Thank you for the kind words. By the way, if you figure out how to turn back the hands of time, let us all know. I would love to know how to do that too… LOL.

"…the great thing about PC is that I can stop at any point and go lay down. When I feel good enough I can get right back to it. Such a fun and forgiving medium!" ~Phaedrakat

I completely and whole heartedly agree! Welcome again!

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-29460 Phaedrakat Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:51:59 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-29460 Thanks for the welcome! I have been poking around this blog for months now. I am kicking myself for not joining sooner. I see now that I could have had access to the last few months of videos for a third the price, but I thought I knew enough that I didn't "need" the subscription. But, after watching my first 2 member videos, I can see that it would have been soooo worth it. I have learned some new things already, and I'm sure there are many more great things in store for me. You are a great teacher, and you have such a supportive group of people here at your blog. I'm glad I finally made it to member status! (If only there was a way to wind back the clock and get Vol. 14 to 19 for $3.32 each instead of $9.95! What a dummy I am!) Phaedra was the name of my first Persian female. I was thinking of breeding cats, and had not discovered the pleasures of jewelry making yet. I had never heard of polymer clay! My baby kittykat is long gone now, as are days when my back doesn't hurt. But I do love me some clay! I can only "play" for awhile, but find it to be very (mentally) therapeutic. The great thing about PC is that I can stop at any point and go lay down. When I feel good enough I can get right back to it. Such a fun and forgiving medium! Sorry, I tend to be long-winded. Thanks again for such a great place to visit! I think I'm going to like it here... :) Thanks for the welcome! I have been poking around this blog for months now. I am kicking myself for not joining sooner. I see now that I could have had access to the last few months of videos for a third the price, but I thought I knew enough that I didn't "need" the subscription. But, after watching my first 2 member videos, I can see that it would have been soooo worth it. I have learned some new things already, and I'm sure there are many more great things in store for me. You are a great teacher, and you have such a supportive group of people here at your blog. I'm glad I finally made it to member status! (If only there was a way to wind back the clock and get Vol. 14 to 19 for $3.32 each instead of $9.95! What a dummy I am!)

Phaedra was the name of my first Persian female. I was thinking of breeding cats, and had not discovered the pleasures of jewelry making yet. I had never heard of polymer clay! My baby kittykat is long gone now, as are days when my back doesn't hurt. But I do love me some clay! I can only "play" for awhile, but find it to be very (mentally) therapeutic. The great thing about PC is that I can stop at any point and go lay down. When I feel good enough I can get right back to it. Such a fun and forgiving medium!

Sorry, I tend to be long-winded. Thanks again for such a great place to visit! I think I'm going to like it here… :)

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Video Library http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-29447 Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Video Library Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:15:58 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-29447 @Phaedrakat - Just wanted to say a big Welcome to you. So glad you found us here. There is tons of helpful info at the site that will keep you reading for hours and hours if you like. The search box at the top of the page is the best way to find articles on specific topics. And I see that you have decided to become a member at the video library too. Friday's will now have a whole new meaning for you. That's when the new video tutorials for the week are posted for paid members. By the way, your Phaedrakat name is very unique. I bet there is a story behind it. I'd love to hear more if you would like to share. All the Best ~Cindy @Phaedrakat – Just wanted to say a big Welcome to you. So glad you found us here. There is tons of helpful info at the site that will keep you reading for hours and hours if you like. The search box at the top of the page is the best way to find articles on specific topics.

And I see that you have decided to become a member at the video library too. Friday's will now have a whole new meaning for you. That's when the new video tutorials for the week are posted for paid members.

By the way, your Phaedrakat name is very unique. I bet there is a story behind it. I'd love to hear more if you would like to share.

All the Best
~Cindy

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-29435 Phaedrakat Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:41:30 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-29435 Wow, don't I feel like a complete do-do-head. 4 or 5 years ago, I decided to take up polymer clay. (I saw Lisa Pavelka "caning" on TV. I just had to try it.) I ended up buying some of every Premo color Michael's had, as well as tools & a PM. I made a couple of simple canes, but soon had to package everything up & store it to have back surgery. I am now on disability, my back doesn't allow me to do much. Lately, though, when I can, I reach for that clay I bought years ago. It's amazing, most of it is still pretty easy to condition. But some of it requires dilutent & some major effort. (Black & translucent are the most brittle, for some reason. Weird, since they're at opposite ends of color saturation...) A few months ago, I purchased a couple blocks of the more "brittle" colors, so that I could skip the hard work if I needed a color and was hurting too much. When I tried the new stuff, it was too soft! I got air bubbles, etc. I leached some of it; some I just combined with my older "brittle" clay. The "oh, dopey me" part is that I have been seeing things in blogs about Kato's new Phthalate-free clay. I assumed that Premo would probably be following in the future. It never occured to me that the new soft stuff I'd purchased WAS Phthalate-free. I knew the label was a little different, but I didn't know it was a new formula. (I only noticed some font changes on the label, I didn't even notice the little oven or the website.) When I bought my "new" clay, they had some of the old stuff on the shelf. I wish I had known the difference then--I would have bought it! Anyway, thanks for clearing this mystery up for me. Since I only get to play with clay for short periods of time, I think I have plenty now to wait for the new stuff. I know where I can come for info if I need it! Wow, don't I feel like a complete do-do-head. 4 or 5 years ago, I decided to take up polymer clay. (I saw Lisa Pavelka "caning" on TV. I just had to try it.) I ended up buying some of every Premo color Michael's had, as well as tools & a PM. I made a couple of simple canes, but soon had to package everything up & store it to have back surgery. I am now on disability, my back doesn't allow me to do much. Lately, though, when I can, I reach for that clay I bought years ago. It's amazing, most of it is still pretty easy to condition. But some of it requires dilutent & some major effort. (Black & translucent are the most brittle, for some reason. Weird, since they're at opposite ends of color saturation…) A few months ago, I purchased a couple blocks of the more "brittle" colors, so that I could skip the hard work if I needed a color and was hurting too much. When I tried the new stuff, it was too soft! I got air bubbles, etc. I leached some of it; some I just combined with my older "brittle" clay.

The "oh, dopey me" part is that I have been seeing things in blogs about
Kato's new Phthalate-free clay. I assumed that Premo would probably be following in the future. It never occured to me that the new soft stuff I'd purchased WAS Phthalate-free. I knew the label was a little different, but I didn't know it was a new formula. (I only noticed some font changes on the label, I didn't even notice the little oven or the website.) When I bought my "new" clay, they had some of the old stuff on the shelf. I wish I had known the difference then–I would have bought it!

Anyway, thanks for clearing this mystery up for me. Since I only get to play with clay for short periods of time, I think I have plenty now to wait for the new stuff. I know where I can come for info if I need it!

]]> By: Debbie http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-29161 Debbie Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:52:40 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-29161 Hello! Thanks for this informative blog. I just made my first two miniature roses tonight and I must say, they look adorable! lol. I'm looking forward to using pastel dust and variegated clay colors for more realism. I am using Premo Sculpey since it sounds like the preferred clay for most people. I bought mine at Michaels (on a sale, of course) but I see no oven or website on the package. It does say it contains PVC and plasticizers. But maybe it's the final recipe? I say that because my Michaels stock turns over pretty fast. Anyways, the clay worked great! Hello! Thanks for this informative blog. I just made my first two miniature roses tonight and I must say, they look adorable! lol. I'm looking forward to using pastel dust and variegated clay colors for more realism. I am using Premo Sculpey since it sounds like the preferred clay for most people. I bought mine at Michaels (on a sale, of course) but I see no oven or website on the package. It does say it contains PVC and plasticizers. But maybe it's the final recipe? I say that because my Michaels stock turns over pretty fast. Anyways, the clay worked great!

]]> By: Robin Elsey http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-28496 Robin Elsey Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:02:38 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-28496 Hi Cindy, Thanks for your encouragement -you certainly are a prompt responder! Ref. dip coater - have come up with a better construction method - so slight delay on .pdfs while I adjust text. Glad you liked my mosaic idea- had the thought that if one wanted non glitzy effects one could use acrylic painted egg shells (duck or goose better than chicken?). Also safer for kids or near food. Of course if you are Eastern Orthodox you could do icons by combining egg shells with the baubel idea for the halos. I liked your idea ref. the Sculpey material. Not sure it is available in UK I have another soloution to the problem of adhesion- using the hot melt powders mentioned in the entry about realistic pears pendants. Not sure if you would be interested but I counted up over 10 mainly finishing ideas which have not been published or if covered, then in other contexts and not gererally applied to PC. If someone is writing a new book on PC jewellery then I might be able to help them add a few more pages. But I need some time to get my 'phthalate' tests started! Hi Cindy,
Thanks for your encouragement -you certainly are a prompt responder!
Ref. dip coater – have come up with a better construction method – so slight delay on .pdfs while I adjust text. Glad you liked my mosaic idea- had the thought that if one wanted non glitzy effects one could use acrylic painted egg shells (duck or goose better than chicken?). Also safer for kids or near food. Of course if you are Eastern Orthodox you could do icons by combining egg shells with the baubel idea for the halos.
I liked your idea ref. the Sculpey material. Not sure it is available in UK I have another soloution to the problem of adhesion- using the hot melt powders mentioned in the entry about realistic pears pendants.
Not sure if you would be interested but I counted up over 10 mainly finishing ideas which have not been published or if covered, then in other contexts and not gererally applied to PC. If someone is writing a new book on PC jewellery then I might be able to help them add a few more pages.
But I need some time to get my 'phthalate' tests started!

]]> By: Cindy@More Info about Phthalates in Clay http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-28477 Cindy@More Info about Phthalates in Clay Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:21:30 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-28477 Hi Robin - I look forward to hearing about your phthalate testing results. Thank for "long term" dedication in reporting on topics like this. I'd be interested in seeing your dip coater PDF. Please do email it to me. Hi Robin – I look forward to hearing about your phthalate testing results. Thank for "long term" dedication in reporting on topics like this.

I'd be interested in seeing your dip coater PDF. Please do email it to me.

]]> By: Robin Elsey http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-28466 Robin Elsey Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:49:24 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-28466 @<a href="#comment-28175">Cindy</a>: Hi again - thanks for your response - I have decided to do a test program using Fimo Classic and Kato with various permutations of acrylic undercoating. As the insidious effects of phthalates can take some time to manifest themselves I won't be able to report results until early summer next year. I have also developed a dip coater suitable for occasional use - and an improved version for more intensive use. The construction is simple but it works very well. If anyone is interested i can send them a pdf file. Unlike many PC workers I am interested in surface effects and my particular 'holy grail' is bright metallic effects in precisely defined graphic images. Again , if there is anyone interested I can send them details of my progress so far. @Cindy: Hi again – thanks for your response – I have decided to do a test program using Fimo Classic and Kato with various permutations of acrylic undercoating. As the insidious effects of phthalates can take some time to manifest themselves I won't be able to report results until early summer next year.

I have also developed a dip coater suitable for occasional use – and an improved version for more intensive use. The construction is simple but it works very well. If anyone is interested i can send them a pdf file.

Unlike many PC workers I am interested in surface effects and my particular 'holy grail' is bright metallic effects in precisely defined graphic images. Again , if there is anyone interested I can send them details of my progress so far.

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Beginners http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-28442 Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Beginners Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:08:10 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/phthalate-free-premo-polymer-clay/86/#comment-28442 That is normal Marta. Especially for the strong colors like red and black. I like to keep baby wipes close by to clean my hands between colors, so I'm not getting my other colors dirty. That is normal Marta. Especially for the strong colors like red and black. I like to keep baby wipes close by to clean my hands between colors, so I'm not getting my other colors dirty.

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