Vid #163: “Oh,
yeah. I thought
those tube-y looking beads
were different. “Rocker
Beads,” huh? Cool!”
~Phaedrakat
Some of the coolest beads are discovered purely by accident. And that is the case with this unique paddle shaped design, which I have defined as a Rocker Bead. They are named for how they are made, as opposed to how they look. You will see what I mean when you watch this weeks tutorial video.
My Rocker Beads have an organic, flowing feel to them. The surface is smooth and the shape is a flattened rectangle with a gentle curve.
They can be made in any size and can incorporate a wide variety of polymer clay techniques. You will find them to be extremely versatile! Use them for making charms, dangles, links and toggles. As well, they can be strung into jewelry, just like you would do with any other bead shape.
On Friday, July 9th at the Polymer Clay Library (Volume-026-2), the member video tutorial will teach you how to make Rocker Beads. Recently, this project was briefly referenced over at this Gallery post: Cirque de Cindy, Polymer Clay Circus Jewelry
I know we’ve seen some of the beads in your gallery post, but we get to see even more of them in the video – stunning! I’m hoping your “rocker beads” are on the tute list too, because they’re really awesome. You make THE BEST tutorial vid’s there are! ~Phaedrakat
The “rocker” beads look fabulous! ~Melinda-H
Please Note: A general prerequisite for all of my weekly tutorials is that you have a good understanding of the polymer clay basics, including: conditioning clay, using a pasta machine, clay blade and other simple tools, making Skinner Blends or Teardrop Blends, baking clay, as well as sanding and finishing. If you need help in these areas, my Polymer Clay Beginners Course will get you up to speed quickly. There is also plenty of free information on this blog. Use the search box at the top of the page to find articles on specific topics.
Supplies & Tools: Video-026-2 Rocker Beads:
- Small piece of conditioned polymer clay.
- Bead piercing pin.
- Flat clear acrylic block or sheet of plexiglas (an empty CD case will work in a pinch).
The full version of the Vid-026-2 Rocker Beads video will be posted in the Polymer Clay Members Library on Friday July 9th, 2010. But if you would like to see a sneak peek intro clip right now, scroll down the page a bit to the video player below.
Here’s That “Link Below” Referred To at End of the Video
>> Polymer Clay Tutorials <<
The full version of the “Rocker Beads” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Vol-026 Back Issue Package.
Customer Feedback About Membership Value:
Just wonderful info that gives me the confidence to try these things! Thank you again Cindy, I can’t believe what a great value I get from subscribing to your site. ~June-W
Hi Cindy. Geesh I’m all blushing and stuff that you used my comments in your article. Thank you. But every word I wrote is the truth. If I was asked right now what tools you would need to get started in polymer clay? I would have to say that besides the pasta machine and some clay. The best tool you could have, and the best value for your money, would be a membership to the Polymer Clay Tutor and your wonderful tutorial library. I cant say it enough. Where were you 20 years ago when I started with this stuff? LOL. You’ve even taught this “old dog” a few tricks. Gotta love that! XOXO ~Jamie-H
To sum things up, I have to agree, that you always show us something that I didn’t know before and that is precisely why I keep coming back. ~Carol-C
The following topics are included in this week’s Rocker Beads video tutorial:
- See examples of several different rocker beads using different colored clays, canes and clay techniques.
- See how the beads can be used for many jewelry making projects, including links, earrings and toggle clasps.
- Discussion of the amount of clay and tools needed to create this unique bead shape.
- Learn how to form the rocker beads and tips for getting the shape right.
The full version of the “Rocker Beads” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Vol-026 Back Issue Package.
Never mind the rocker bead, Cindy… the pendant from the colourful set that you haven’t made up yet steals the show! Well, the preview, anyway. ;)
I’d love to see how you achieved that effect. I can think of two ways of doing it, one cane-based and one not, but I bet you have your own special trick!
@Sue F: Sue, your first post is important! LOL! Oh, Cindy……that patterned necklace is stunning. Would you consider putting it on the list for a future tut?
WOOOOO HOOOOO Another great one to learn from. As always so many possibilities and all the different techniques of mixed clays that can be used to make them. Where ever your mind wants to go with this one it should work. I am so excited like a kid in a candy store or me in hobby lobby. Just think, So many of the tutes Cindy has taught us can be used with this one. If you have a lot of scrap clay you might be able to work wonders with some of it. Like I said where ever you mind goes. Thank you so very much Cindy and Doug you have done it once again.
love and Uuuuuugggs, Peggy
These are GORGEOUS and although it will be my first day in the UK with my family on Friday I will definitely have to break away to check out your tutorial! I second Sue F about the pendant and would love to learn how you created this effect at some time in the near future.
I agree with Sue – I am absolutely drooling over the rainbow pendant set you made – those colors – yum! The rocker bead looks like it will be fun to make and very versatile too. Thanks Cindy and Doug!
This is a good example of why a teaser video works so well. The plain jane pic of the bead simply doesn’t do the bead justice. The shape is very popular, I love the dagger style. Now I’m wondering how to combine this with the faux ivory… (And let’s convince Cindy that we need that tutorial for that pendant soon!!)
Looks good, sorta tie-dye looking, looking forward to Friday!
Now I have a question, does anyone currently use the Walnut Hollow clay extruder (came packaged like the Makins in a hard case) it cranks just like the makins also. My question is to those who use it, do you like it, any quirks, and the like. I just brought one at Michaels yesterday (7/5), also noticed Michaels carrying a line of products now from Lisa Pavelka (hope I spelled it correctly), got a mold from her line also, looks like Michaels is upping their game PC wise.
@Ken H:
Ken, I have the Walnut Hollow extruder. I just love it. The discs are interchangeable too. The only thing I have found is that the base gets really hot. I can turn the crank faster and that pushes the clay through faster and it gets hot. I have an “ove glove”(?) that I use to get my clay out of the oven when I use the extruder. It’s works great. The Michael’s here also carries Lisa P. and other things that Joann’s and Hobby Lobby don’t carry. Hobby Lobby carries Pardo and Cernet and has a great choice of colors. So when the coupons come out, I go to all 3 stores. Have fun using your new extruder.
Linda B.
@Linda B:
Hi
I am thinking of getting the Walnut Hallow Extruder that Michaels has with the great coupons..Are the extra discs that Makin makes fit into the Walnut Hollow extruder? Are any of the Makin accessories adaptable to the Walnut Hallow extruder?
Natalie aka Safti
@Natalie H: The die disks are the same size as the makins but if you’re gong to try Cindy’s extruder flower cane the O-rings are a little different, and that difference throws the flower cane “outta wack” I own both Makins and WH and I like them both.
Ken, I found Lisa Pavelka”s line of water transfers at Michaels! Also, they had her texture products, along with all the Studio goodies, including the “Etch ‘n Pearl” thingie. Had a very hard time not to buy out the stock.
I saw the transfers, they were beautiful, and also two of her foils. The mold I brought is supposedly for borders for scrapbooking but with a flat back they could be turned into anything, my first thought was rings since a future goal is to learn to work with the PMCs. But I was quite impressed with the condition of the PC aisle in Michaels yesterday.
Wow@ what a beautiful pendant and set of beads. I add my vote ffor a tutorial too. Look forward to this tutorial. Great use for scrap clay too.
@ Ken – I have Lisa Pavelka’s foils and a texture sheet. The Michaels here in Mississauga does not carry any of her stuff; in fact besides the 2 oz blocks of the polymer clay and a couple of bigger blocks and clay rolling machine and few molds (face and leaves) they don’t have much for polymer clay. I bought my Etch’n pearl set online too.
I’m begining to think that my Michaels is a test store, I remember seeing the Donna Dewberry PC products before anywhere else, so keep your fingers crossed. I hadn’t seen that PC aisle so well stocked with products in a long time. They even had kits from premo that looked like they were designed to contain complete product to do the project from the box. Saw the Premo glitters that Cindy spoke of in the Faux Agate Vid and brought a set of cutters in different shapes I believe also from premo. There was a lot of new merchandise and rebranded sculpy items (sans Ms.Dewberry)
@Ken H: I am officially jealous — you are very lucky to have such a well-stocked shop close by. Although most things are available on-line I would much prefer to be able to purchase things in person and not have to be patient and wait for my on-line orders to reach me. By “PMC” are you talking about Polymer Metal Clay — which I find fascinating and would love to try sometime?
@Susan B & Ken: I discovered today after adding some new Facebook friends from the blog that Sarahwww (Sarah Wood) works with Copper clay (PMC–I guess Copper clay is still referred to as Precious Metal Clay.) She has some pictures of some flowers she did, but she said she used a kiln—not a torch. I’d love to try PMC sometime, but it would have to be the torch-fire kind. A kiln’s out of the question for me…
@Ken H: I also had purchased items form the Lisa Pavelka line at Michael’s here in El Paso, her foils and the border molds. You’re right-the Michael’s pc aisle is awesome now. Happily, the other items you mentioned are here also Maybe pcers are being taken more seriously. Hope Hobby Lobby follows suit (much closer to me)-last time I was there they had a smattering of the LP line but none of the other cool stuff you describe. HL frustrates me often in the limited clay color choices as well. If I want pearls or more unusual colors, at least in Premo, I have to head for Michael’s.
BTW, loved the pictures from your day with Carolyn. Sounds like you had so much fun.
@Ken H: Hi Ken, yep, you must have missed Linda K’s previous review back in April of her Walnut Hollow Extruder. :D
She gave it an interesting write-up, as she had some difficulties with the first one she bought. She also mentioned all the new goodies they are carrying at Michael’s, including the repackaging of the Donna Dewberry tools. We talked about that back in early May, where were you? ; D LOL
I’m joking, because right above Linda’s extruder review, she commented on some of the cool new items she found in her store.
However, a few weeks later, when I discovered the cool new clay aisle at Michael’s for myself, I wrote all about it, like I had no idea Michaels was in the process of adding new things. I can’t remember now if I just couldn’t remember (I can’t remember if I forgot ;D — huh?) or if I was just trying to spread the good word. Anyway, I was quite happy to find the new products, not only in the polymer clay aisle, but in jewelry too. They have new wire/metal-working tools, like chasing hammers, punches, forming pliers, & metal sheet.
Anyway, I’m glad you had the fun experience of “discovering” all of the new stuff. Those aisles were looking very “blah!”, and the new life they have now is promising…
@Phaedrakat: Yes I did miss the posts you pointed to (hangs head in shame) went back a reread and has anyone had success with the extruder flower cane with the walnut hollow extruder?
@Ken H.: Hi Ken, I see that you read my prior posts on the Walnut Hollow extruder. After I wrote them, I thought maybe I had done something wrong, so I watched the video again and made sure that I followed the instructions exactly. I still could not get the mod flowers. My cane splits open into sort of a ribbon with ridges…it is very pretty, though.
I had read that Makins makes the extruders for Walnut Hollow, but now I’m not sure if that’s true. If I had a Makins extruder for comparison, I could probably figure out what’s different…I’m guessing that either the disc or the rubber washer are a different size.
Since I used a 50% off coupon when I bought it, I don’t feel too bad. It still does lots of other things and those extruded ribbons can make some interesting designs.
Yes I am, but I think it’s called precious metal clay, I am sooooo intrigued by them it’s crazy, they come in gold, silver, bronze, and copper and some of them even come in a paper form, I can see a silver origami crane pendant, but I’m not that far yet into origami to attempt the crane with PMC silver paper. The silver can be fired with a hand torch, not sure about the gold or copper, but the bronze is a different firing technique altogether, you need a small tabletop kiln for that.
I was VERY surprised when I saw the PC aisle this time, it’s not always that well stocked and well taken care of.
I will be so glad to have a new bead shape to add to my possibilities and oh yeah, that pendant is gorgeous. Tut, please
@ Ken – I’ve tried PMC – clay form and i would love to try the paper form. Haven’t done too much because of time and a budget. So far I’ve done two rings, one a plain band type , the other with a firable stone and two pendants.
Cindy — Awesome Rocker Beads! Wow, are these babies versatile! I’m amazed at the beauty of all the examples you showed. Of course, I love the pendant and the gorgeous multi-colored technique you used. I would certainly love a tutorial on that! Back to the beads, I thought they looked lovely as dangle earrings with the butterfly cane on them. The link was cool, and they make fantastic toggles, too. Now I know what you used on your Faux Agate bracelet (that now belongs to Sue F.) Anyway, lots of beautiful beads. I thought this was a gorgeous preview, and it has me excited about the new tute coming on Friday. (And you got that vote for the pendant, right?)
@Phaedrakat: Kat, here is the link to those cutters: “Valerie Wallace”
flickr.com/photos/anandauk/sets/72157623401020621/
@Bonnie Kreger: Thanks, Bonnie. I sent her a “Flickr Mail message.” Appreciate the help!
@Phaedrakat: Good catch on seeing the rocker bead toggle on the faux agate bracelet!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE show us how you did that rainbow pendant!!!!!
Cindy -Hold it right there! That colorful pendent in the rocker bead video is show stopper!!!! WE WANT A TUTE -right gang? These are really outstanding. I love the colors and they are so smooth and satin-y looking. I had to stop the video and just look at them. When do you have time to make them -from 12 midnight to 3 AM, huh ? Do you ever sleep ? Please , consider doing a tute…………patt
Wow, I LOVE these too!! Can hardly wait until tonight…I’m really hoping for a lesson on the gorgeous mosaic-type pendant as well. Cindy you’ve spoiled us once again! ;)
Knew I would love this tute even before I watched it. You 2 never let us down. You could put 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back and never have to worry about returning a penny. The dream team has done it once again. I don’t know about the rest of this clay family but I plan to ROCK the ROCKER this weekend. Thank you so much Cindy and Doug.
Many Uuuuuuggggs, Peggy
I also would PLEASE appreciate a tute on the pendant. It just completes the look in that necklace. Just think how lonely ours would be without the pendant. PLEASE YES A TUTE FOR ME TO!!
Don’t come knock-in cause I’ll be in the house rock-in.
You did it again Cindy!
@Sandy T: ?That was too cute….lol. I will also be rocken this weekend. I keep saying I love this tute….but it’s true every week. My vote also for the beautiful pendant. Love the colors.
Andrea
@Sandy T: Very cute!
I won’t be rockin’, but only because I’m still not feeling that great. I absolutely loved the Rocker Bead video, and I think the organic shape is wonderful. I think this video will be very useful in making some very cool beads. Ken’s idea is awesome, too, using graduated-sized Rocker Beads to make a necklace. If the organic shape is not for you, you could also cut the ends straight to make them more even. But I love the look of Cindy’s examples.
I’ve already mentioned how much I love the earrings and your cool new “Blend and Switch” technique jewelry. Thanks for a wonderful tutorial, Cindy. You did it again, like you always do, week after week—you give us a great video with something new and inspirational! Thanks!
Hmm… the rocker beads haven’t “grabbed” me really, but that pendant definitely has – it’s gorgeous! I definitely agree that we need a tute. ;)
@Silverleaf: The rocker beads as shown aren’t my thing either, but there is a variation that I would use with faux stones. If you made a single really long, completely even rocker bead, cured it, and then cut it into bead lengths before sanding, etc., you’d get my favourite rectangular bead version for real gemstones: oval/marquis is cross-section, rectangular when viewed from the top (the curved surface helps catch the light, subtly without going all bling as facets do).
Great tutorial Cindy. And I’m going to jump on the bandwagon about the pendant. The colors are beautiful.
Thanks again for a great Friday.
These rocker beads are great! Nice big design surface, easy to produce, and quick to finish. Can see them as flower petals too, just insert the head pins, and attach to the center of your choice.
I just love the rocker beads. I can see how they would make lovely components. The earrings were beautiful. Thanks again Cindy for your tute on rocker beads.
Cindy, these are great. For the toggle, do you insert the hanger before baking? Add me to the list of those who want a tutorial on the pendant. Did you use UltraDome on it – or is it just sanded and buffed?
Thank you eveyone for your sweet comments! I really appreciate it! Geez it looks like I’m going to have to do a tutorial on the pendant. It is a technique I came up with, just fooling around the other day. I think I’m going to call it the Blend and Switch Technique. It’ll make sense later when you learn how its done. Turned out pretty cool Eh?
@carolyn: Yes the hangers are added before baking but there are a few tricks to it to making it strong and still look good. I’ll be doing a tute on it soon, so stay tuned. And Yes that is Ultradome Resin on that pendant. Both sides actually, because the piece was so thin it needed it for the strength.
So pleased to see a video on bead shapes. Sometimes I get stuck in a terrible rut with bead shapes and it’s always nice to see a new idea! I’d love to see more videos on this subject.
@Vladadeska: Hi there! I agree, it’s really nice to learn different bead shapes to “mix things up a bit!” Cindy tries to do one bead shape video every month, or at least something in that category. Last month was the Mushroom beads (and we also learned the coin shape with the Faux Agate.)
If you look back at the member’s library, you’ll see that she tries to fill each month with a variety of tutorial types. Most months do include tutes for a bead shape, a cane, a technique (like surface or faux,) and one for wire or metal.
Thanks for another great technique Cindy! You have got me hooked!
Especially love the Studio Sculpey. The colors are awesome, and I love the names, little weird, I know! I also find I can use most of them right out of the package, without tuning them up, with blending, was wondering how you feel about that. Pam
@Pam: It’s just fine to use the colors straight from the package Pam, just make sure you condition the clay properly before you make it into something.
@Cindy Lietz from Conditioning Polymer Clay:
Oh, I always condition, this clay is like the polar opposite of Kato, love it!
@Pam:
…this clay is like the polar opposite of Kato…
I was thinking of trying Studio by Sculpey, but now I think I’ll hate it! LOL ;D
@Sue F: Studio by Sclupey is a wonderful clay if you aren’t expecting it to shine after using it. It has a suede finish and is very beautiful as a matte clay. I use a lot of it and sometimes I add a little Premo Pearl just to give it a little pizazz. The best part about this clay is it doesn’t smell like Kato does. I get severe headaches from Kato and had to give all mine away. I’m going to be ordering Cernit from the Clay Factory. It supposedly has the same great caning capabilities as Kato but no smell and much easier to condition.
I bought a Walnut Hollow extruder even though I have 3 Makins Extruders. I thought the handle would be great. It went back in the box and it’s still sitting there. It is not self cleaning like the Makins and small pieces of clay get caught everywhere. The handle keeps falling down and makes a lot of noise. I’m going to try it again and then if I don’t like it, I’m going to sell it. I keep one Makins extruder for white, trnaslucent and pearl clay. I use the other one for everything else and I keep an extra in case someone forgets theirs when we have a clay day here.
@Bonnie Kreger: It’s the (apparent) softness of a “polar opposite of Kato” that I’d hate, actually. ;)
Kato is pretty close to a perfect clay for me. (Well, it was before they softened it recently to make it easier to condition, anyway; I definitely prefer the old “hard” stuff.) I even like the smell of it, and think Premo is the clay that smells weird! LOL
I do appreciate the extra information though, and expect that I will buy a pack or two of Studio some time when I’m buying other things from somewhere that stocks it. But I think I’ll put it much lower now on my (extensive!) shopping list.
I haven’t tried Cernit, but I’ve heard the same and hope it works well for you.
@Bonnie Kreger: Hi Bonnie, since you have both types of extruders, can you tell what might be causing them to have trouble making the Extr. Flower Cane? Maybe a little bit of comparison info can help them out so they know if they should return theirs or keep trying to get it sorted out…
You probably already have plenty of info (with your guild connections,) but just in case, Susan B. also uses Cernit clay. (Nevena does, as well, but I haven’t seen her comment in awhile.) I’m not sure if I got thanked you yet, but I did get an email from the woman who sells the cutters. Thanks so much for getting me the address! ~Kat
@Phaedrakat: Kat, I haven’t used the Walnut Hollow to make the flowers. I’ll try when I get back in August.
@Bonnie Kreger: Oh, I didn’t mean you had to make anything with it; I was just asking if you could compare the two extruders side by side to see if their measurements are different. Also, if you could check the disks used for that tute, Ken said he’s been trying the hex disk and the 7 round spaghetti disc. You mentioned the end of August—are you taking a trip? If so, wish you the best, and hope it’s fun yet safe… Thanks!
Cindy, it sure looks like the time is right to squeeze in a quick tut on that new Walnut Hill extruder. It sure sounds great if you could work out the kinks for us.
@Jocelyn: I agree, something basic, like the differences between the maikins and walnut hollow (diameter of tube and the likes), similarities, Interchangeability of dies, etc. There must be a difference somewhere for the extruder flower cane not to work correctly with the walnut hollow extruder. I just purchased a WHE from Michaels. It was the first time I had seen a “screw” extruder at Michaels since I passed on a Makins a looong time back, never saw them again until two weekends ago. I was so excited to see an extruder of this type, I brought it without having a coupon, so as not to miss out again.
@Jocelyn: Did you buy one of these, too? (I mean, did you tell us you did? I guess I need to take a better look at that list—I think I’m missing some posts!)
Hi,
I just signed up for the membership and I am so very excited. I am very new to working with the clay, but I am very artistic and creative and am very excited to get started. I Love this rocker bead…. very cool. I did not see a video for beads with the cores, do you have something like that? What I would like to do is make beads like the Pandora beads that have the cores in them instead of just a hole. Do you have anything like that? Thanks so much for the effort that you put forth for all of us!
@Kim: Welcome Kim, hope you enjoy the family here, and I do mean family. Most of us have said at one time or another we would like a pandora type bead tutorial, we hope that it is coming up soon, but Cindy’s list for producing the videos must be a mile long by now. So onec again welcome to the family, you’ll see very soon it is the best money that you’ll ever spend.
Regards,
Ken H
Philadelphia, PA, USA
@Kim: Welcome, Kim! So happy to have you here! Cindy does make some very cool videos, doesn’t she? Easy to follow. Of course, there’s help if you need it. Not only from Cindy, but from members, too, if you want. Everyone is really helpful here.
Also, this (very big!) website is full of polymer clay tips, and a search can help you find info on any topic you need. The search box is at the top of each page. For example, if you type “Pandora beads” in the box, you get a list of articles where the subject has come up.
Although Cindy hasn’t done a video on this yet, she did show us a Pandora-type bead—which is how we found out she started experimenting with them. It’s a square bead, which looks pretty cool! She mentioned that she’s putting a tutorial together for us, so hopefully it won’t be long now! The bead I mentioned is in the picture at the top of this post: 2nd Bead Contest Winner Prize Beads
Welcome again, and enjoy your first Friday tut! It’s exciting, right? Have a great time…
~Kat Riverside, CA, USA —Where are you from?
@Phaedrakat:
Thanks for all the comments. I am very excited to get started and make some “stuff”. I am also a hairdresser and nail technician so I’m looking forward to making some canes that I can use in my nail art. I do a lot nail art now, so it will be exciting to have something new to add. Thanks again to everyone!! Kim—-Crystal River, FL, USA
Hello, My problem with sandpaper has been solved. I received the correct type of paper and it works very well. I did find a hole in one of my beads so now I know what you all are talking about squeezing out all the air. I had no idea the air was trapped in there. Well, moving on…I keep at it until I get the whole process down.
@Sue C: I’m so glad it’s all worked out! Have fun with your nice, smooth beads! Sorry you had to discover air bubbles, but at least you know now! Happy claying! ~Kat
JUST POSTED… Member project photos that relate to the theme of this page… Polymer Clay Rocker Beads.
You can view the larger images by clicking on the link by my name.
BTW: Thanks to everyone above, who took the time to comment in this thread. Your feedback, support and engaging conversations are always such a wonderful part of my day. Although I don’t get a chance to address everyone individually, please know that I do read and give consideration to everything that is said here. ~Cindy
Ken
As a fairly new a polymer clay which one would you suggest to start with..Using a Micheal’s coupon, I can get the WH one for 40% off as oppose to $22 for Mankin on Amazon?
@Natalie H: Well first of all I’m a big advocate of doing your own shipping and handling meaning going to the store yourself, Secondly you get the instant gratification of having the object in your hands when you get home, to me IMO both WH and Makins are quality extruders, I just happened to find the WH first, also both are screw operated but my preference is the WH handle it has a little bit more to hold on to, again that’s my preference, now with the extruder flower cane, Cindy does it on the Makins, the technique doesn’t work as well with WH because the O rings are a little smaller but if you get the correct sized O rings the WH works just a well. I realise this hasn’t been much help but I DO like both, it may work out less expensive to go get it yourself with 40% off than paying S&H.
Cindy – With your guidance, I am changing how I make my polymer clay beads beads. I have made Rocker Beads that are smooth. I have also made Jupiter Planet Beads that feel like butter, but I didn’t buff them. Now I know after your last Faux Jasper Video that they could have had a shiny finish without varnish. I have a Dremel and a table top buffer that I will be using more often now.
Your videos are definitely quality and have helped me rapidly advance my skills!