“It’s great to be
included in the
process… being able to
give and hear input
about upcoming
lessons.” ~DJ
As most of you know by now, I always appreciate hearing your thoughts about which topics and video tutorials you would like me to include in upcoming Volumes at the Polymer Clay Members Library. And in keeping with this tradition, I’m going to start publishing a regular series of what I call Gallery posts, to showcase some of my current jewelry designs and projects.
The idea here is that when you see something you would like to learn how to make, simply post a comment to let me know. Your suggestions could be for specific bead shapes, cane projects, wireworking, jewelry making techniques… or whatever else may be on your mind.
In fact, your requests and ideas don’t even have to relate to the Gallery post you are commenting at. I’m happy to hear about anything you would like me to try to work into the schedule.
And just like I have said many times in the past, your comments are like votes. So be sure to tell me what’s on your mind.
One other new feature you will notice in these Gallery posts, is that I have put a sales price on the jewelry pieces being showcased. I end up making a lot of items to use for show & tell in my videos. And I figured there are probably at least a few of you who might want to purchase some of my Cindy Lietz Signature Designs.
These are not production jewelry pieces so you will have to go ahead and contact me about availability.
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Anywho… enough rambling about how things work. Here’s the first Gallery piece I’d like to present. It’s a Polymer Clay Mushroom necklace. The cute little ‘shroom would also work perfectly as a charm for a bracelet. Design possibilities are endless. You can literally let your imagination go wild with color combinations, shapes and sculptural embellishments.This little cutie is just the kind of mushroom you would see in a Fairy’s Garden. The Pink and Orange striped base, topped with a Mauve sculpted flower, and soft green tendrils, are perfectly suited for you girls who love a little whimsy in your jewelry!
This unique pendant has been placed on a 15″ rubber choker cord with an antique brass chain and glass bead dangle on handmade copper headpin that can be adjusted up to 18 1/2″. The cord ends and clasp are hand wrought copper, which ties in nicely with the messy wrap headpin design used to hang the mushroom pendant. Price: $25 — If you are interested in purchasing the full necklace displayed in today’s post, then send me an email. Be sure to provide me with your full mailing address so I can work out the shipping cost for you. |
REMINDER: As was discussed a few days ago on May 1st, my Polymer Clay Tutor Blogging Schedule has changed. There will no longer be any Saturday and Sunday blog articles published on the weekends. This will give you more time catch up on topics that you may not have been able to get to during the week.
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| ** Did You Know… Members with current subscriptions to the weekly tutorial videos are always entitled to a 10% discount when purchasing 6 or more back issue packages in a single transaction. If you are interested, let me know which back issues you would like and I will send further instructions on how to complete your order. |
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First and most important have a wonderful weekend off with your family however you decide to spend it, I am so very happy for all of you.
Next your mushroom is so very very cute, colors and super shine. As you mention above the colors and embellishments make this little gem of a guy’s possibilities endless. I would be very interested in learning how to add the extension chain onto the rubber cording. This makes such a neat little closure. I would be interested in making any part of this cutie honestly. Thank you both Cindy and Doug for this awesome gallery idea. Definitely a great blogging experience to see your collection Cindy. Super picture set up Doug.
Hats off and Uuuuuuuuugggggs to the both of you, Peggy
Almost forgot on my way to watch the video YIPEEEEEEEE then off to see my youngest daughter and grandkids. Once again Cindy you picked a wonderful weekend to start off with both Sat and Sun off. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to you and all the MOMS out there. Remember you do not have to give birth to be a wonderful Mother. So again HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to ALL MOMS out there.
Special UUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGS to all MOTHERS!!!!
everyone else too, Peggy
I like the mushroom, it’s cute and should it come up, would like to see how it’s made. I hope you enjoy your first weekend off.
Love your ivy leaf charms Cindy, that was a great video. Wish I had some of the beautiful leaves that I left back in Wisconsin. I really like the Studio by Sculpey for those types of pieces. What gauge was the wire you used to wrap it with?
By the way, I bought a new pasta machine that you don’t have to take apart to clean. I put a picture of it on my blog and show how to use it. It has two screws that hold the blades on. All you do is unscrew those and the blades come off for easy cleaning. I bought a new one but you can send your old one in and they will modify it for you.
If you talk to Carolyn please tell her I’m thinking about her and wish her speedy recovery.
Since I won’t be blogging on Sunday, I want to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to everyone here! Even if you aren’t a Mom yourself, we have all come from one and we can honor that special relationship we have or had with our Mom’s. Hope that it is a lovely day for you all!
@Peggy Barnes: Thank you so much sweetie for all your kind words! It will be nice to be able to have Mother’s Day this year, away from the computer. Thank you for your input on this necklace and the little Mushroom Pendant. The fun thing about this bead shape is the range of design possibilities. So stay tuned for other neat mushroom beads in the future. Have a wonderful Mother’s Day! Uuuuuuuggggggs for you as well!
@Ken H: Thanks! Have a great time with your Mom if you are able to get together with her. Glad you like the Mushrooms. They look great in lots of different techniques, including being wrapped in canes or made of jade!
@Bonnie Kreger: Cool! You know I’ve never understood why pasta machines weren’t easier to clean in the first place. They are designed for food… isn’t it a problem if you can’t properly clean something you use with food? Anyway, that is a rant for another day! :-) In regards to the headpins, I used a 20 gauge 4″ handmade copper headpin but you could use whatever size works for you. If you’re making your own, it helps to make the whole wire dead soft, by heating it to cherry red including the ball you’ve made on the end. When the whole headpin is soft like that, it will twist easier into the tendrils and such. About Carolyn, her pastor said he would let her know we are all thinking about and praying for her.
Wow. love the ivy leaf…love the shroom !!!! Can’t wait to start making the leaf. Everyone left for the weekend so I might just get some clay time in. Happy Mother’s Day all. Sure hope Carolyn gets back here soon.
Andrea
Cindy,
I am so glad you chose to take the weekends off, you sooo deserve it! Hope you have a very happy and RELAXED Mothers Day! The mushroom pendant is very cute,I would love to learn how to make it, and so would my 9 year old daughter. You should see some of the things she has made with clay. She loves to watch your videos with me. We sit at the computer and each hold an ear bud to learn our new lesson. She has quite the knack for it. She does beading and string too. Its fun to have her fresh look on things!
I think the mushroom bead is so cool and i to would love to learn how to make it. I loved the video today it was great and i will most definitely have a go at making it. Well Cindy were did that week go to enjoy the weekend off with your family if anyone deserves it you and Doug does, Love to all on mothers day ours has already gone different date in the u k, look forward to Monday bye for now
I love the “high tech” tool used to cut the ivy leaf! Now I understand why you used the Studio clay, good texture. And…I would also love to see a “shroom tute” (hint, hint, hint).
I’m very late getting to my computer today. I really enjoyed the leaf tute and will try it once I get a leaf. I also love this little ‘shroom and making a video on it would be great.
BTW, do you know what has happened to the Studio Sculpey clay? It was taken off the shelf in Joann’s and that was the only local source in my area.
Happy Mother’s Day everyone.
@Joyce M: I bought most of what was left of the Studio by Sculpey clay at my JoAnn’s, since it was on clearance for $.97. That was my first time buying it, but I knew the clay was “good”, & that price couldn’t be beat! But I wonder if it wasn’t selling well enough or something? The “Studio” line of tools has been renamed to just “Sculpey”, though; so maybe they’re going to rename/repackage the clay, too? If you end up writing to Polyform about it, could you please let us know what you find out? They’re supposedly really good about answering questions & getting back to people quickly!
Happy Mother’s Day, & Have Fun! ;D
@Phaedrakat: Hi Kat, I think I know what happened with the Studio by Sculpey line of products. I’m certified to teach One Stroke painting and I attended a training session shortly after the Studio line was released…this is what I was told: Polyform made an arrangement with Donna Dewberry to market their new clay and tools. She created a teaching certification program for Studio clay (the program still exists, by the way). Polyform thought that putting her name on their products would be beneficial to them.
For whatever reason, the contract was not renewed and Polyform is now repackaging the Studio tools. That’s why the ones in the old packaging are on sale. I have no idea what will happen to the clay.
The Studio clay was specifically made for home decorating, which is why it has that suede-like texture. It’s slightly flexible after baking, which makes it good for 3-dimensional items that are attached to things like frames and vases. And that’s about all I know.
@Linda K.: Thanks for the info — you know a lot! Joyce M. was asking about the clay, too (above.) I still haven’t tried mine, but I’ve heard good things. It would be a shame for such a good clay with unique features (like its texture) to disappear.
I wonder why that happened with the Donna D. program? Does she still have her contract or affiliation w/One Stroke? It seems like I read some comments about something going wrong. It’s been awhile, though. Maybe just a dissatisfied customer. BTW, I totally admire your painting talents. I have none, so I’m not sure I’d be able to grasp those techniques. It sure would be cool, though! Thanks again, ~Kat
@Phaedrakat: Actually, Donna Dewberry IS One Stroke…she’s the one who invented the techniques used in One Stroke painting.
Regarding the clay, my opinion is that most One Stroke painters just weren’t that interested in learning how to work with clay, so Polyform ended their alliance with Donna.
@Linda K.: I guess I knew that — sorry! I’ve never heard anyone say anything but good things about Donna Dewberry personally, either. I did read something; I just can’t seem to find it! But I’ll drop it — it wasn’t a big deal, anyway. Probably just someone complaining. When I mentioned a “dissatisfied customer” I was talking about someone who said they couldn’t get the technique down. (I found that comment.) Nothing to do with Donna D. I’m sorry I brought this up, though, it was insensitive of me. I should have thought about the fact you’re an instructor.
You’re probably right about One Stroke painters not wanting to learn to clay. If I had painting skills, I might not want to, either! The main issue was probably having to invest in a whole new set of tools & supplies, with no overlap with what they’re already doing. It’s much easier to go from beading & jewelry-making to polymer clay.
Did Polyform even advertise the Studio line well enough? It doesn’t seem to me that the products were even out that long. I know they weren’t available at my stores very long. As soon as I saw them at the store, I started buying them. (Slowly though, with coupons!) Then again, I only started paying “close” attention again a year ago. Was it Donna’s involvement that got you into polymer clay, or were you already a clayer? Anyway, it’s cool you’ve got the skills to do both, you lucky gal!
@Phaedrakat: Oh, Kat, don’t be silly! You weren’t insensitive at all. I think there was a comment here from someone who had trouble learning to paint using One Stroke techniques. I could write a book in response to that issue, LOL, but I didn’t want it to sound like I was advertising One Stroke here. I do have to say that Donna Dewberry is one of the loveliest people I’ve ever met.
When I attended the training session where they demonstrated the new (at that time) Studio clay and tools, I thought it was interesting, but I wasn’t really enthused about decorating household items. Also, I was busy teaching painting at the local Michaels store and making jewelry at the time. The trainer told me that Donna wasn’t going to get into bead-making. If Donna had done something with beads, I probably would have jumped right in.
I think you’re absolutely right about the painters not wanting to invest in new tools and supplies for a new craft that doesn’t link in to what they already do…and they economy was starting to falter then.
Not being a clayer at the time, I didn’t notice how much advertising Polyform did with the Studio clay. I think they just gave it to Donna, thinking that her huge network of teachers worldwide would fall at their feet.
I took a Polymer clay class years ago at a Michaels store and enjoyed it, but I was working too many hours and taking care of a sick mother. I just didn’t have time for it, so I put it on the back burner. Last fall there was an article in one of the beading magazines on mokume gane earrings and I HAD to make them. So I dragged out my supplies and started scouring the internet for information. Funny thing is, I still haven’t done them yet!
@Linda K.: The repackaged Studio tools are now at Michael’s so maybe the clay will appear there also. Will keep an eye out there and maybe inquire about it next time I’m there. Thanks for the update, Linda.
@JoyceM: Yes, I’ve seen the tools at the Michaels near me, too. So far, though, no Studio clay in my store. If you have AC Moore stores near you, they sell it.
@Linda K.: Thanks, Linda. No A C Moore stores in this area (St Petersburg, FL). Wish there was, our clay family talks about good things there often. Well, guess we can’t have everything in one place. Hope everyone’s day was great, lots of sunshine here, just wonderful.
I am late getting on. I also wanted to wish all the moms, a Happy Mother’s Day. I like the mushroom…very cute! And I like the gallery idea! Have a nice weekend Cindy!
A very happy Mother’s Day to all. What a good idea that is, having a day just for us! Hope it’s especially restful for our hard-working Tutor. XX Mary
Strange, not that many people commented about today’s video on the Leaf Tut page. It was mentioned here a lot, though! Maybe because it’s a busy weekend — like a “two birds w/one comment” kind of thing? LOL
I’m so happy that Cindy gets to have Mother’s Day off. Her first 2-day weekend in two years, I can’t imagine how crazy hard that must have been! Have a great weekend, Cindy! And Happy Mother’s Day — I hope Willow & Fisher make you something cool out of polymer clay! :D
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you — be good to your Mommies! If you’re a mom, I hope you have fun spending time with your kids. Unless you’re a stay-at-home mom, that is — in which case I hope you get some blessed time away from them! (You know, go out to dinner, get a babysitter…) LOL Kidding! ;D
Oh Kat, you made me laugh out loud on that last paragraph……:)
@pollyanna: All moms need a break sometime! They all have their own idea of an “ideal” Mother’s Day! ;D
I’m super late getting on today but want to add my wishes to everyone for a Happy Mother’s Day. Cindy, I just know your family has something cool in the works for a most deserving mom. Enjoy the week-end with your family.
This baby mushroom is adorable! Colorful, beautifully sculpted & detailed, a very cute little ‘shroom. My neice would LOVE this necklace. I think it’s a great idea to put a price on these gallery pieces. After all, you spend all that time creating projects, experimenting with ideas, trying to come up with “the one” that will become a tutorial. What happens to the ones that don’t? You might as well sell your pieces. And this is a wonderful way for fans to get their hands on a “Cindy Lietz Signature Design”, especially those of us who have been dying to even see one of your beads! What happens, though, if more than one person wants to buy a particular piece? Will you make more? Or are we going to end up “duking” it out over your next design? lol ;-D
I’m voting “yes” on this little ‘shroom. It’s very cute, and there are lots of people who are into the whimsical, fairy jewelry. It’s not my style, necessarily — it’s a bit too cute for jewelry that I’d wear. But I could use it on a keychain, or as part of a purse charm, etc. Not to mention, selling, gift-giving, etc. The shape is very unique, and I imagine Cindy has a quick and painless way to teach us how to make it. And the sculptural elements — extremely useful info to have in my bag of tricks. Being able to embellish with flowers, little tendrils, etc. is always handy! And what technique was used for the stripes on the ‘shroom? All-in-all, this seems like a very good tut to improve skills!
One last thing, I notice people are saying they’re “late” today; lots of mad rushing around before the big “Mom’s weekend”. Just keep in mind everyone, that you can pop in anytime over the weekend to comment, catch up on the week’s articles, or even posts from the past that you never had time to take a look at! Hope you have a great weekend, or perhaps I’ll see you around here…
Once again, Happy Mother’s Day to all… ~Kat
Cindy-
I need help!!! How can I minimize distortion on a bead that I have placed cane slices on when I roll it to smooth out lines? I am working on a job where I need round beads with little bows on them. Surprisingly, caning the bow went quite well but whenI put slices on a bead and roll it smooth the bow gets twisted.
Also, I would like some tips on pricing my jewelry. Judging by the $25 you are charging for the mushroom I am undercharging! I charge $10 for a pendant on a simple chain, $13 for a pendant strung with seed beads, and $15 for more complicated styles. My worry is that I live in such a small town and I’m afraid my customers won’t pay alot for jewelry.
However, just wanted to let you know that I made $125 in 5 hours at the craft show I went to!
One tip for everyone: I discovered that alot of people are having a hard time believing that my items are actually clay. So I took items from each step in the process to show them. i.e. I took a package of premo, my color recipe book, a raw extruder flower cane, a baked unsanded bead, and then the finished item all sanded and buffed.
Everyone was shocked! I think them seeing the process set me apart from the other jewelry vendors.
@Carrie: Is the base bead the same colour as the background colour of your canes, or do your canes have a translucent background?
If so, you can use a knitting needle or something similar to meld the cane edges with the base bead first. Roll the knitting needle gently from near the centre of the cane slice out towards and past the edge of the cane slice. Repeat this all the way around the edge of the cane slice. You can also roll back up from outside the cane slice towards its centre, which can also help minimise distortion. Go around the cane slice several times if you need to, as it’s best to be gentle than to try to flatten it all out in one go. When you can’t see the lines where the cane edges were any more, give the whole bead a roll as you normally would for final shaping.
Also, make sure your cane slices are even and as thin as possible (thick slices will distort much more, and varying thickness will also cause distortion). Use the sharpest, finest blade you can to slice your canes (I use a tissue blade because I haven’t found any polymer clay blades that are sharp enough). It also helps if your cane is well rested and cool. And experiment with how you slice the cane — e.g. with the surface to be cut facing towards you, away from you, or to the side — as one way will probably work better than the others for getting fine, even, complete slices.
If the base bead is a different colour to the background of the cane, I saw a technique at Parole de Pate that works well for hiding the base bead colour without distoring the cane slices on top of it:
translate.google.com.au/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fparoledepate.canalblog.com%2Farchives%2F2007%2F01%2F08%2Findex.html&sl=fr&tl=en
(If that link doesn’t work because of its length, go to the Parole de Pate post from Monday, 8 January 2007.)
@Sue F: Wow, some great advice! I love the translations of Parole de Pate — it’s funny how “canes” end up as “ducks”!
@Carrie: One other option: if your cane can handle being “reshaped” a little, you could try the technique Cindy showed us in her Heart Bead tutorial. (It’s shown at 8:11 on the video.) Or you could go to the Heart Bead post.
There was a lot of talk about that tip — after the vid came out on Jan. 15th, of course… ;D
@Carrie: Hi again, Carrie! I forgot the other parts of your question! There was quite a lot of pricing info that was discussed on Melinda H’s spotlight — Pricing Tips for Polymer Clay Beads.
Also, I wanted to congratulate you on your sales at the craft fair. Such a smart idea to show people how your jewelry’s made. That’s actually what made me buy my first polymer clay piece. It was a sculpture that I paid something like $250-300 for (an extremely cool snake by Jon Anderson.) The artist did the same thing you did, explained and demonstrated a few steps of the process. This was at least 14 years ago, maybe more, and I had never seen anything like it before (or polymer clay.) So not only will people appreciate all the work you’re doing to create your pieces, there are also those who will be so intrigued they have to buy some!
I like the “Gallery” idea very much and think it will be very inspiring to see finished pieces made by you as well as your prices (since pricing is such a tricky area).
Some of my necklaces fall naturally together which is very satisfying but often I fiddle and fiddle and they just don’t look quite right. I try very hard to make assymetrical necklaces which I think are far more interesting than regular bead-spacer-bead ones, and find that by using different shaped beads with different textures I can achieve this effect.
Anyway, ideas from you for finished items will be really welcome. You just keep on coming up with great new ideas and continue to amaze me with your endless creativity! This is just the best website ever.
Thanks for the tips! My problem is patience! I’ve never been patient enough to use a knitting needle to go over it more than a couple times! guess I’ll have to work on that! I already use very thin slices and I use utility knife blades. They are super sharp and small so they are much nicer to work with!
Wow,
It’s Saturday night where I live and because of a very busy day I am just catching up with the posts. In ten minutes of reading I have learned more from you guys than I could ever imagine. You are all so talented and generous in sharing what you know.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! I’m thinking of my amazing Mother today, but I thought I’d put a few quotes here — do any of these remind you of your Mom, or yourself, perhaps?
Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. ~Author Unknown
God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. ~Jewish Proverb
Sing out loud in the car even, or especially, if it embarrasses your children. ~Marilyn Penland (guilty of this one!)
A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother. ~Author Unknown
Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly. ~Ambrose Bierce (guilty)
A suburban mother’s role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after. ~Peter De Vries
Mother – that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries. ~T. DeWitt Talmage
There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.
~Chinese Proverb
Setting a good example for your children takes all the fun out of middle age. ~William Feather
If nature had arranged that husbands and wives should have children alternatively, there would never be more than three in a family. ~Lawrence Housman
And remember that behind every successful woman……is a basket of dirty laundry. ~Unknown
Bless all of the wonderful mothers of the world today. I love you, Mom!
Phaedrakat, great quotes. Some made me laugh. Some made me tear up. Happy Mother’s Day to all the Tutorville moms! @Phaedrakat:
By the way, I love this little mushroom. It reminds me of the early seventies when my big sister and I made candles in our basement. We had a mushroom candle mold that looked a lot like this little guy.
Oh, I love these!! How wonderful of you to post them today! @Phaedrakat:
This is a very, very sweet mushroom!
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who are lucky enough to have children!
Cindy, you’ve done it again. If you had asked us if we wanted to learn how to make a mushroom without showing it to us, I would have had a hard time getting enthused…but this mushroom is just SO cute!
I say YES, for all the same reasons that Kat wrote about.
Happy Mother’s Day Everyone!
I’m a clay & jewelry instructor @ JoAnn’s. I started out just the clay instructor. At that time, they had just started offering the Studio by Sculpey classes. It was mentioned to me that JoAnn’s was encouraging all their instructors to get certified through the Donna Dewberry program (as you’ll read below, that would have been a large expense without much benefit for me specifically [definitely beneficial in different circumstances]).
I started to gather the necessary materials for that first project and was horrified. The cost of all the supply list materials was well over $50! The project was beautiful, but who’s going to pay that much to make your own picture frame? I got permission to make do without one of the leaf sets and a few other small components.
I don’t think a taught a single clay class for the first year I was contracting with them. Suddenly late last fall, I started having people sign up for clay. I was stunned; but by then, JoAnn’s had stopped offering classes featuring the studio line (they switched to Premo & Sculpey III).
On a different topic entirely, I would really like to learn tips/techniques to best handle translucent clay to keep it as translucent as possible. I’ve seen beads that incorporate canes which are mostly translucent with small rectangles or open circles of white, suspended at differently layers of the bead. It is an incredible effect, but I’m too chicken to try it (I’m afraid I’ll work the translucent in such a way that it will not be translucent anymore).
The mushroom is really cute. A gorgeous borosilicate glass pendant with a mushroom suspended inside is what really got me into making jewelry in the first place. I rarely wear any, but I love making jewelry! (Jeepers, I’m long winded today!)
@Ellabella: I ran into a similar problem of the high expense of supplies for the required One Stroke classes when I taught at Michaels. Those project and supply lists were not generated by Donna, but by the manufacturer. I don’t know if it works that way with clay classes or how it works at JoAnne’s. Of course, the more supplies you sell to students, the happier the stores are, too. I know that the contract agreements between Donna, the paint manufacturer, and Michaels was very complex.
Anyway, I had the freedom at Michaels to schedule my own classes (and I kept the supply costs down), as long as I scheduled the required class each month, too. Very seldom did anyone sign up for the required classes, probably due to the supply expense.
@Linda K.: It sounds as though JoAnn’s has similar class policies to Michael’s class policies. I have the opportunity to propose my own classes, however, my day job is currently too consuming to dedicate time to that. I’m not sure where the project and supply lists are generated from (I wouldn’t presume it was specifically Donna).
I really should get around to designing a class or two…
@Ellabella: Hi Ellabella, I just wanted to say, “Welcome!”
@Phaedrakat: Thank you!
@Ellabella: Yes, all the box craft stores are similar in their class policies…or I should say were. Michaels eliminated all of its classes 2 years ago because they didn’t think it was financially beneficial. I understand that some stores have recently been allowed to start up classes again, but not the store near me. I sure do miss my discount!! The JoAnne’s store in my area is tiny and doesn’t have a classroom.
@Linda K.: I understand…although I don’t purchase that much from JoAnn’s. Although the 40% off coupons drag me there from time to time!
@Ellabella: I know what you mean, I feel like I’m “wasting” the 40% coupon if I don’t use it, even if I don’t really NEED anything. Of course, I always WANT something… :D
@Ellabella:
Hi Ellabella, just to say Welcome here. Nice to know another devotee for Polymer Clay.
This is the greatest site!
I have been doing and teaching polymer clay for some years now, but it never ceases to amaze me how much I learn from Cindy’s videos, even tho I must have every book thats worth having on Poly.LOL
It also helps me to keep focused on Polmer Clay.
I’m sure you will have fun here and whatever you do with it… and it will enhance what you already know. Nice to meet you Ellabella
Love
XXX
Elizabeth K.
@Elizabeth Kerr: Wow… thank you so much for your kind words about the videos. Hearing you say what you said is so rewarding for me to hear. I just wish you did not have to pay so much for you clay in Australia.
@Phaedrakat: Thanks for your list of “other” tute suggestions. As always, comments are like votes. So the more support an idea gets, the more likely it will happen for you guys in an upcoming tutorial.
@Cindy Lietz from Pastor Gift Ideas – Book Bead Bookmarks:
My pleasure to you Cindy. You give me a reason to Comput
XXX
E/K.
Catching up a bit today….I love the mushroom it’s really adorable, I’m sure my nieces would be thrilled too. Yes from me if this becomes a lesson. Lots of great info too, thanks everyone!
Oh, hope everyone is enjoying a lovely Mother’s Day as well!
Since the mushroom is about as “not me” as you can get — i.e. I’m a “No” to that particular topic ;) — I’m going to suggest something else that others might find interesting: screenprinting. I haven’t tried it myself yet, but when I can find a clear weekend in my schedule I want to give the PhotoEZ approach a go.
It could also be interesting to try “faux screenprinting” (stamping with acrylic paint and then flattening slightly).
Fantastic discussion everyone!!!
In response to Phaedrakat’s question on availability of my jewelry pieces for sale… should more than one person want to order the same item. Everything is I do is time permitting. So just send me an email and I’ll do my absolute best to accommodate.
P S. Me again,
Subject, Buying Polymer Clay,
you would be aghast to know we pay up to $6 50 a 2oz block here
We were paying #3 99 and it has gone up so much in the last year.
I think there is only one Co in Oz that actualy makes their own. I am nuts not to buy from them, altho their prices might be as much, dont know?
Sculpey is all I can get here at home at Spotlight. like your Michaels
,it is #5 50 . Send away for other brands.
So you see how dedicated I am still wanting to pay those prices to keep my craft going.
I dont sell, and I only Voluteer to teach it, so no profits around here. Still I’m happy.
Keeps me out of mischeif LOL
Bye
love to all.
E. XXXX
@Elizabeth Kerr: Wow, that’s a lot for clay! I’m sorry you have to pay so much, you must be a bit irked by us when we’re going on about clay sales! Good thing you are dedicated to staying out of mischief, though. How are those eyes doing? Have your eyes “adjusted” to how bright things are? I sure hope so, and I hope everything else is great, too! Have fun! ~Kat
I noticed on another thread how someone requested ideas for a tutorial. I’d forgotten that you asked us to put down some “other” ideas for tutes (besides the ones you’re showing us in the gallery.) So I thought I’d throw some ideas out, too. The first few ideas are more vague, or let’s say “general” ideas. The last two are specific tute requests.
I’d like to see some kind of project, like a pendant, with little windows or cutouts. I’ve got some ideas about what I want to try, but I’d love to see Cindy’s take on this supposed “trend” I heard about on Polymer Clay Daily. They had some cool pendants & other items that have windows to various things like photos, drawings, textures, etc.
Another tute I’d like to see is bangle bracelets, and perhaps a bracelet using the “galvanized flashing bracelet blanks” you ‘teased’ us with during the Hammered Metal Bezel tutorial.
I’d still love a Pandora or Troll bead tutorial, lots of requests for that one. I’d like to learn a new surface technique, maybe using something like pastels or oil paints.
Oh yeah, last one. A rose cane, the realistic kind. I pretty much know how they’re made, but I’d love to see someone build one on video (namely, YOU!) Well, that’s all I can think of right now. Thanks, Cindy! You’re the best!
I second Phaedrakat on the bracelet blank and the rose cane.
I add my vote too for the dangle bangle and the bracelet with the galvanized metal blanks and yes to the rose cane too. I’m sure you will have a better rose cane than many out there. I haven’t seen the window pendant, Kat but would love to learn how to do it. I’m sure it would lead to many possible designs. I’d love to learn a ‘paisley cane’ and I think someone has requested a cane based on a ‘Celtic’ design.
@Cheryl Hodges: Yes, I hear ya! I’ve seen some gorgeous paisley canes. I’ve also seen some examples that turned out horrible. (With the proportions all wrong.) That makes me think that there might be a bit more to it than I originally thought. I would be happy to see Cindy’s spin on this…
A big “YES” to paisley canes!