Vid #153: “I grow
Pansies every year in
pots around the patio, so to
make them in clay would
be great.” ~Ritzs
Every year around this time, the tiny little Viola flowers pop up all over my garden. It’s no wonder they are often called Johnny Jump-up’s.
When I asked you guys about adding a tutorial video to the members library about demonstrating how to make a Johnny Jump-Up Cane, the response was very positive, as you can see by the feedback listed below. These comments were originally posted here: Nature Inspired Polymer Clay Flower Canes, Johnny Jump-Up
I’ve never heard these called Johnny Jump-Ups, but they are absolutely adorable in cane form. Great idea, Cindy! This looks like it would make a fun video! ~Phaedrakat
Cindy, count me in. When I first moved to Arizona I planted pansy’s and the quail ate them all so this would be perfect, the birds can’t get to them. ~Bonnie-K
I vote yes to anything Cindy offers to teach us. The feed back that I get from projects I make with her tutorials is amazing. Keep them coming Cindy! ~Brenda-M
Yes for me too! I love pansies and it’s my moms favorite flower too along with roses. She paints them a lot.
~Cheryl-H
Johnny Jump Ups or Violas same flower so sweet to see. Lots of color variations in them being seen in the nurserys. We expect you to be unique Cindy. I love that aspect of you. I vote yes on this video proposal. ~Illaya-B
I’d love to see the Johnny Jump Up cane be the next cane making tutorial! My favorite idea for a cane of all those tossed out there in the past few weeks! ~Laura-B
April showers, looks like a beautiful arrangement of polymer clay will reign! Yah, looking forward to all these special techniques. It bears repeating, Cindy you are the best. Thanks again for all you efforts to give us what we want. ~Joyce-M
I grow Pansies every year in pots around the patio, so to make them in clay would be great yes please Cindy. ~Ritzs
Cindy, I vote yes for the flower cane. I don’t cane much which is exactly the reason I need to have this base knowledge somewhere in my head. That cane is beautiful and it is the perfect time of year to do it. Thanks!
~Sam-M
Yes from me too, pansies and violets are favourites of mine. I love the colours. The little sweet violets I grow in my vegetable garden, as companion plants and occasional salad items, have started to grow again now the weather’s warming up. Looking forward to being able to get working in the garden again! ~Silverleaf
Yes please – what a delightful looking cane. I could make a great key ring with this for the gardener where I work! ~Susan-B
Cindy: I thought about these cute little flower canes several times today – so adorable! It’s almost like they have a sweet face – love it! ~Phaedrakat
I vote an emphatic yes! ~Rachelle-W
With such a clear Yes vote, I am happy to say that the Johnny Jump-up Cane tutorial has now been filmed and will be posted on Friday April 23, 2010 at the Polymer Clay Library (Vol-023-4).
Please Note: This is an intermediate level project that requires prerequisite knowledge of how to make Skinner Blends (Teardrop Blends) as well as how to reduce the size of your canes. If you need assistance with these topics, there are other videos in the members library that teach what you need to know. The library volume references for these prerequisite videos are listed just below in the next section.
Supplies, Tools and Prerequisites:
Video-023-4: Johnny Jump-up Cane:
- Clay Blade.
- Pasta Machine.
- Good knowledge of making Skinner Blends or Teardrop Blends (Vol-009), as well as Reducing Canes (Vol-010). This Johnny Jump Up Cane is an intermediate level project with many steps. But even if you’re a beginner, you will still be able to do it as long as you follow all of the steps. Start by practicing the techniques in Vid-009-3 (Teardrop Blend), as well as in Vol-010 (Making and Reducing Leaf Canes).
- Good firm clay in 4 colors plus white and translucent. I used Premo Sculpey clay mixed into the 4 colors of the Johnny Jump-Up Color Palette as my 4 colors. But you could use any color combination of your choice to create a different look. If your clay is soft and mushy, you will need to firm it up by leaching it on paper.
- You will need the approximate amounts of clay in each of these mixed color recipes:
>> 1/2 package Johnny Jump-Up,
>> 1/4 package Song Bird,
>> 1/8 package Bird Bath,
>> 1/4 package Sunshine,
>> 1/2 package White and
>> 1/16 package Translucent or Frost Premo.
The full version of the Vid-023-4 Johnny Jump Up Cane video will be posted in the Polymer Clay Members Library on Friday April 23, 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 “Johnny Jump-up Cane” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Vol-023 Back Issue Package.
Customer Feedback About Membership Value:
Cindy – I have already recommended your Beginners Course to others! It is a great foundation on which to build. I like the way you have it set up so one video flows right into the next – very user friendly. I just sat and watched the videos, until you got to the cane making. Then I took the time to make the canes right along with you. Thank you for sharing your own learning experiences with us. It has cut my learning curve way down! With your videos I feel I can tackle just about anything you present. Your course, and the weekly videos, are worth every penny I have spent for them. ~Carolyn-F
The following topics are included in this week’s Johnny Jump-up Cane video tutorial:
- See examples of several different beads and jewelry projects using the Johnny Jump-Up Cane.
- Discussion of the colors and blends needed for this intermediate polymer clay cane project.
- Learn how to roll and combine the blends to make an intricate and detailed looking pansy cane.
- Tips on how to make the perfect petals as well as how to pack the background so as to keep the shape of your lovely flower cane intact.
- Find out how to combine the three different component canes into one stunning complex cane, that can be used in many of your polymer clay beads and jewelry making projects.
The full version of the “Johnny Jump-up Cane” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Vol-023 Back Issue Package.
Cindy I love doing canes and this one is going to be great because you are showing us how to do it. You always make a tute so easy to understand. Another I can’t wait for Friday tute.
While thinking about canes and with summer around the corner (WOO HOO) maybe you could show us a butterfly cane. I would love to have a butterfly cane to add onto my floral pendants. I’ve seen a couple of tutorials but yours are so much easier to follow. Would you PLEASE think about it!!!! Butterfly or not I love all your tutes.
Thanks and Uuuuuuugggs, Peggy
Now I just have to figure out what colors those are. Obviously I saved the recipes in the wrong way. I have a folder for red colors, blue colors, green colors – you get the idea. Those of you who use these blended colors, how do you save them so you know what to use for different projects?
I just write down the color combos in my notebook where I also write down the instructions. That notebook also containes purchases and finished pieces with prices. Not very fancy but everything is all in one place. Someday I may get ambitious and make the color index cards like Cindy has when she gives the color recipes. For now, just having the colors for mixes lets me mix what looks pleasing for a project. Sometimes a color may look great one day but needs “something” else the next.
Now I figured out why I don’t have the colors to get ready for Friday. That is when she gives those recipes. Right? I’d still like to know how others save the recipes. It would really be good to make small circles of each recipes to stick on a paper with the recipe. I’m not that ambitious!
@Freda K: I save them in folders named “Red”, “Blue”, etc., as well. But there’s nothing to stop you saving TWO copies of each recipe – you could have a second set of folders named after the palettes, like “Modern Romance”, “Johnny Jump-Up” with the files saved in there too.
That way you could find them by colour, or by the name of the palette.
@Freda K: Although I save the recipes on my computer too, I mainly use colour chips with the recipe written on stickers on the back. I keep the colour chips on ball chain.
When I mix up one of Cindy’s colours I cut out two chips. One of those goes onto a ball chain organised by palette, so I can see how they all work together as a palette in real life (photos on the computer can be very misleading). I put a neutral divider in between the colours of each palette. Here’s a quick pic of my “Cindy palette” chain:
NB: When I’ve done Kato conversions of Cindy’s colours, I put Kato chips onto the “Cindy palette” chain too. In the photo above, the chain is split at Cindy’s Alpine Succulent palette: chips for Cindy’s original Premo recipes are on the left of the split (with the recipe labels showing), and chips for my Kato conversions are on the right of the split.
The second colour chip goes onto a different ball chain which is organised by colour, with the “regular” colours in one sequence and the metallic/pearl colours in another. Here’s my Premo chain, with Cindy’s Premo recipes and a few others:
On the computer, I save the palette preview pictures all together in a folder with them organised in published sequence, and I have a single file containing all the actual recipes (Cindy’s originals and any Kato conversions beside them).
That file has all the information Cindy publishes, including colour family, so I could filter it on that if I wanted to, or find all the recipes that use particular ingredient colours… but I still almost always use the colour chips. The colour families, for instance, are a bit subjective — e.g. where does Blue finish and Purple start? — so I prefer a continuum of colours.
@Sue F: How organized you are Sue. Thank you so much for sharing your method. When I started out with Cindy I made several samples but couldn’t come up with a way to keep them organized. I have the recipes on cards but its to keep the palette together. I will start again using your method. It will take me some time to catch up but that’s OK. Love your ideas. Thanks again.
@Sue F: Thanks for sharing your organisation. Being new to colour mixing I hadn’t even thought about organising my chips. I have them in a box and they have the recipe on the back but its not very easy to see them. I keep meaning to thread them – will get more organised now you guys have inspired me with your ways.
@Sue F: What an awesome Idea Sue. You are so organized!
Sue what an amazing aray (?) of colours!! They look so neat like that, I may have to make that as well, it is so pleasing to the eye and what a quick reference for any colour. So cool!
@Freda K: Deb N. was asking how to search for certain colors in her computer the other day. I left a lengthy response (surprise! LOL), which shows how I sort the colors on my computer, also mentioning a couple other ways it can be done. The colors Cindy is referring to have been given one-by-one over the past month. Except for the last one, which will be given on Friday in the video email. The colors are all part of the Johnny Jump-up Palette shown on the March 22, 2010 post.
I think printing out the cards and having a piece of the clay would be the best way. The you could put them in a box maybe alphabet wise or color wise e.g blues, reds etc. I think sorting by colors would be easier. However I havent got around to that as I just did not have time to do it. At the moment it’s on a CD. When I want to make a project I just put my disc in and scroll down to the color I need.
If anyone is interested there is a wonderful website, iciclepansy.com/colors.htm that shows some beautiful colors of pansies and more clicking on the subtitles under icicle Pansy Mixes. Looking forward to working with this technique, thanks Cindy.
wonderful cane Cindy! thanks so much you you sweet comment on my jewelery:)
Sue – that is awesome. What a great way to do it. I presume that you have written on each one what the color and number is.
Thanks Phaedrakat – Good way to do it.
@Freda K: That’s just how I organize them on my PC until I’m able to make samples. I wish I had thought of posting a picture, though. It would have been much easier to explain it, instead of that long, confusing thing I wrote! Then again, I wouldn’t be able to show the entire folder, or it would show Cindy’s recipes. That would be an “Ooops!”
Maybe I’ll send a “modified” picture in to Cindy, to post with my “essay” to make it easier to understand. On the other hand, we need to be creating the actual color samples, not finding ways to make it easier to work without them… (and by “we” I’m talkin’ “Me!”)
@Freda K: Yep. Here’s a close-up showing what I write on the labels/stickers on the backs of my “Cindy palette” colour chips:
Since the chips shown are from a “B” series palette, and Cindy posted the full recipes for the entire Alpine Succulent Palette when discussing the Christmas Holly Leaf and Red Berry Canes topic anyway, I figured this photo wouldn’t be giving away any secrets. ;D
(I suppose I should put the Kato conversions there too…)
NB: I’ve included the type of clay next to each colour name on these chips, since some of the earlier recipes used a mixture of brands, and some were completely in other (i.e. non-Premo) brands. I don’t bother with that on the labels/stickers that I put on my brand-specific colour chip chains, which makes it somewhat easier to fit everything on the label!
Cindy, I’m soooo looking forward to this tutorial. There’s something so cute about this Little Johnny cane! It’s little face looks adorable! Can’t wait for Friday…
BTW, I found Studio by Sculpey clay on clearance for 97 cents at JoAnn’s in Riverside, CA today. I haven’t tried this clay yet, so I was happy to find it at that price! I already have so much clay; I really don’t need more. But those pretty colors beckoned to me. I couldn’t help myself…
Oh, and of course, they had Bake and Bond, too. Yep. The stuff I ended up mail-ordering because I couldn’t find it anywhere. I just rx’d it in the mail yesterday. Of course, I found it in a store today! Things that make you go, “Hmmm…”
Well, I was a bit freaked out, so I had to treat myself to some new tools. (that’s my excuse.) I got the Studio by Sculpey ones Cindy uses, that I always admire (the detail tools w/cool, rounded ends & the etch & pearl set.) Used a couple 50% coupons (not “just” 40% this week,) so the tools ended up cheap. I also got a leaf cutter/texture set on clearance for $1.97 (only one kind left.) The “cheap” clay though, not so cheap if you buy too much. Right, Peggy B? LOL!
I am looking forward to Friday as always. Got some catching up to do on trying out the tutorials but love to watch them. Off to check my colours – thanks for the list Cindy.
OK you are all way to organized. I put mine on a recipe card and have them sorted by color. I wish I had thought to make a second copy and organize by palette. You guys know way more about computers than I do. I wouldn’t even begin to know how to organize them with the picture like Sue did. I need help lots of help. I have been bothering Cindy way too much to try to come up with a way she could sell all the back color pallets with the pictures. Sue how do you save these into a folder?? My husband knows computers much better than I do so I think I am going to have to ask if he can help me save all the new color palettes from now on then maybe someday I can get all the back issues. I own all of Cindy’s tutes even the beginners and refer to them often I just wish I could do the same with the color palettes.
Phaedrakat I am going to have to search back and see what you do I missed that one. I don’t know if I will ever catch up with everything but it sure is fun trying.
Uuuuuuuugggs everyone, Peggy
@Peggy Barnes: The way that you save the preview pictures into a folder, and then what you do after that, will depend on your type of computer, operating system version, web browser, and possibly other programs, and your own preferences for working with the colour palette information, of course!
In my case, I use the Firefox web browser… and a whole bunch of different computers so I’ll describe what I do on my Windows Vista machine.
Firstly, when Cindy posts a palette preview, I right-click on the photo and choose “Save Image As…”. That displays a pop-up screen where I can navigate to the folder where I keep all the palette preview pictures, and add extra information to the filename before I actually save the image file.
The extra information I add to the filename helps me ensure that the preview pictures are kept in published order, and also helps me search for information about the palettes without needing to open any files.
I start my extended filenames with the date the preview was published, in yyyy-mm-dd format to ensure the files will be sorted as I want them to be. (And because I’m a geek and I think that the more normal date formats like day-month-year and month-day-year are totally illogical. ;D)
Next I add the volume’s number and an A or B series indicator. Then I add the name of the palette, followed by the individual recipe names along with their recipe numbers. I include some punctuation so that it’s both nicely readable for human viewing, and consistently presented for when I want the computer to manipulate it (e.g. automatic information extraction). And I leave Cindy’s filename on the end of all of that “just because”.
For example, the Alpine Succulent palette’s preview was published on 24 September 2009, it was volume 017-B, and its recipes were called Succulent Red, Frosted Leaf, Succulent Green and Forest Floor. So the full filename that that palette’s preview picture has when it’s saved on my computer is:
2009-09-24 (017B) Alpine Succulent Flower – 1B Succulent Red, 2B Frosted Leaf, 3B Succulent Green, 4B Forest Floor – 24-succulent-palette-color-recipes-017-b.jpg
Since I’m talking about Windows Vista, I have the viewing mode for my palette preview picture folder set one size down from Extra Large Icons (I have a high-resolution screen), and I have the folder sorted by Name. I can type anything into the Search box — e.g. part of a palette name, recipe name, palette publishing date, palette volume number, or whatever — and instantly see just the matching preview pictures.
There’s no reason not to have further subfolders for colour families or any other kind of organisation you want. You could still use the kind of searching I described; you’d just have to initiate the search from the parent folder that all the subfolders branched off, to ensure they were all checked. (You might get multiples if you did that, however, for example if a palette had both red and green colours and you therefore saved the picture (or just a link to it) under both red and green colour family subfolders.)
If your computer operating system doesn’t have a corresponding viewing mode I’m pretty sure just about any photo organisation program would let you do the same kind of thing.
For the details of the recipes themselves, I store all the recipes for all the palettes in a single file. The palettes, and then the recipes within each palette, are arranged in numerical order. I include the name of the colour family against each recipe name, and the brand of the clay against each ingredient colour. So I can read all the details as published if I want to, or I can filter it, or I can search for any text I’m interested in.
However, I’d really like to emphasise that there is no effective substitute for making the colour chips. Folders and files are OK to get the information together in the first place, for instance in preparation for making up colour chips, but they can only ever be a rough guide. Even if you tune the preview pictures and your monitor settings so that a colour onscreen matches a colour chip perfectly under a particular lighting condition, the difference between emitted light (monitor display) and reflected light (colour chips) means you’ll never be able to match the visual characteristics of the colour chips. And it’s not very convenient to drag your computer around when you want to see what colours work when you’re visiting the bead shop, fabric shop, etc. ;)
The good thing is that there are plenty of different organisational ideas being talked about here and under other blog topics, so you should be able to pick some that you think will work for you. There’s never just one way of doing things.
@Sue F: Sue my head is spinning of color palettes. That is a good thing. Thank you for all your information even though I have to admit I didn’t understand it all. I will try to get my husband to read the information and translate for me. If you have time and you wouldn’t mind sharing a little more information and answering a couple of questions, would really like to chat more with you. You can find me on facebook under Peggy Barnes. Since I don’t have your last name I couldn’t see if you were a member. I understand if you would rather not. I just don’t want to tie up Cindy’s blog with my problems.
Thanks and Uuuuuuuuuuuuugggggggs, Peggy
@Peggy Barnes: I’m happy to share information and answer your questions, Peggy, but I don’t use Facebook (and won’t, for a number of technical and philosophical reasons). Maybe if things are still unclear after your husband has had a go at deciphering my rambles you can post any remaining questions here anyway. Other people might be wondering about the same sorts of things, after all.
@Sue F: WOW-Thanks a million for the info on organizing the colours Sue. You have my vote for the best organized.
I do something similar then import the palettes and recipes into Word and print out for my Colour Binder.
You are so right in that “I’d really like to emphasise that there is no effective substitute for making the colour chips” something I haven’t got around to yet, unless I need a specific colour blend.
Thanks again….
@Lawrence: Thanks. :D
One final tip/suggestion if you’re thinking of keeping a chain of colour chips grouped by palette:
I’ve found that it’s better to make the palette dividers larger than the colour chips (i.e. taller and/or wider), since it helps to visually separate the chips in one palette from their neighbouring palettes.
I’m doing this right from the start with the chain on which I keep my original Kato palettes, and it looks much better because you don’t get colours from adjacent palettes appearing to clash.
I haven’t yet changed my “Cindy palette” chain over — it still has dividers the same size and shape as the colour chips, as you can see from the photo above — but I will do so when I get time.
@Peggy Barnes: You said in your comment that you wanted to search for what I did. I linked to it from this page, about 6 comments above yours. My comment is here, and contains a link to the post where I tried to show another member how to search for certain colors in her computer. It’s not the best set of instructions, though. In the future, I will use pictures like Sue F. did when describing things done on the PC. It will make things so much easier to understand (and write!)
@ Sue F – Wow! Thank you! I have been telling myself to get my colors organized for a long time – you’ve inspired me to do it…
OK… I nominate Sue-F for the “Most-Organized-Polymer-Clayer-Of-The-Year” awards.
Thanks so much Sue, for sharing your methodologies with the group here. I’m sure you’ve helped and inspired many with your organizational tips.
@Cindy Lietz from Kato Polyclay Color Recipes (Sue-F): No doubt about it, Cindy, I’ll second that nomination and say: “Kudos” (Honors) Sue-F.
I really should get round to making colour chips – if nothing else they look really pretty strung together like that!
LOL. Thanks. ;D
WOW, that was SOME blog today!!!! Well, I’m back, and my head is spinning after reading about three weeks of blogs. I had computer problems. I called Dell for virus protection and more virtual memory and everything was incompatible for my computer. Well, for three weeks they tried to get everything off the computer-. I’ve been having soooo much fun. I see I missed a Spotlight Contest. I also missed everyone here, especially you Cindy. I’m trying the glow in the dark cane. I saw a tute somewhere for bottle cap zipper pulls and now I can’t find it. These would be great for my Grandkids on their school backpacks. My husband had three stents put in and has two more to go. My back still hurts but at least I can walk a few blocks now. Happy Claying Everyone, Honey
Sue F thanks so much for all the info. That took a lot of typing for us who aren’t organized at all so we really appreciate it.
Now that Sue has done such an incredible job of impressing you with her color chip system (it really is quite impressive) …. here’s another idea …
You could keep things real simple and just print out the recipe cards I email out each each week. Then add the little chip of color to the spot provided :-)
The volume numbers are printed in the corners of the cards so that the sets are easily kept together and since the color chips are in the corner it is easy to scan the whole box of them to see which color you want.
I have almost 200 color recipe cards in a Celestial Seasonings tea box and I used up hardly any clay making the chips. I know it is a low tech way of going about it, but it does work really well :-) :-)
@Cindy Lietz from Beaded Lanyard Tutorial Vote: Hi Cindy and all
Yes Cindy, right from the start, I have done just what you said.
I save and print the recipes as they come,and make a small chip and glue to the card.Have to be honest and say I havent done all the chips, never enough time in a day.
I use index card 6×4,lined or not as the lines dont bother me.cut the card to the shape on your site. They look good I think.
Sometime even use them for printing nice polyclay items I like, instead of Kodak gloss paper
I get a pack of 100 for $5 bought in the newsagent, or stationary shop. It has lasted a long time, just bought another one recently.
To make the samples I get the clay needed and to get the right proportions I make coin size shapes and then cut to how ever many portions are needed. I found that the hardest part when I first started,,the proportions.Yes Cindy the trick is not to use up a lot of clay doing it too.
I will try to put an example in next week, when I finally get home and have been thru that er OP!!
Sue you are the most organised gal I have heard of, great work.
love the way you do this too.
Bye fopr now
Elizabeth K. XXX
@Elizabeth K: Don’t forget the video is available for viewing now. I’m gonna watch it now — can’t wait!
@Phaedrakat:
Thanks Phaedracat, this tut is huge isnt it, but will be lovely when done.
Am having that buffering trouble but have written to Cindy about it.
I am preparing my colours at present, have been away, and OP is this wednesday, so wont be around for a bit.
XX Elizabeth K.
@Eliabeth K.: I will be saying extra prayers for you on that day. It will be so nice for you to see clearly. This will be so good for your art!
Yes, Cindy really worked hard on this video. She’s an amazing woman, isn’t she? Sometimes I’m just blown away by all she does! I agree that this will be an awesome cane. Are you trying to finish it before Wednesday, or are you just getting your colors all mixed up for now?
Best luck to you, Elizabeth! Hugs and prayers for you!
@Eliabeth K.: I hope you’re recovering nicely, and that your vision is excellent! Can’t wait to find out how you’re doing, now that your surgery’s done! Let us know as soon as you can… :-D
@Phaedrakat: @Phaedrakat:
Hi Phaedrakat,, and all, Im Back!!
just saw the comment in here from you.
It was on the day of my eye Op. Which was a week and 2 days ago now.
I had stayed off my comp til yesterday and til I saw the surgeon.
He is very pleased with his work and so am I.
Wow what I cn see, Colours are all bright and beautiful, tsmartie me thought I opiuld see before BUT it was what I was not seeing.
Thanks Cindy for as you told me, others had fouynd it a great help.
It was not a painful Op in anyway either, and I cant wait til the next one is done, which is at the end of the mointh 26th May to tbe exact.
So thanks for thinking about me.
things are here they should be for me
Bye for now
Love
XXXXX Elizabeth K.
@Elizabeth K.: HURRAY!!! She’s back! I’m so happy that you’re seeing so well, and that your op was relatively painless. Good thing! You have one more, huh? Well, it will most likely be even easier, now that you know what to expect (and not to fear it.) We missed you around here, and I’m guessing you have a lot to catch up on. Both here and at home, right? Good luck re-adjusting your brightness settings and all. Once again, Welcome Back — I’m so happy that you’re seeing better! ~Kat
P.S. We’ll let those mistakes go, just this once… ;-D (LOL, look who’s talking!)
@Phaedrakat:
Hi Phaedrakat and all,xxxx
I was so chuffed with your replies, and felt so welcome,it was like walking into a room and getting hugs from everyone there, I could really feel the hugs.
I laughed and cried at the same time.
Thank you all so much.
The terrible mess of my email is because It is still hard to adjust to the screen, so bright, and it will be a little time before my eyes adjust and some time before I can go back to the Optician for a remake on my reading glasses, which I have never needed for the screen, but time will tell.
Thank you so much again.
Yes Cindy xx my fingers were out of control and I think my head was too, not noticing all those mistakes LOL BTW, my videos have righted themselves ,so far, and I have just watched the Ivy Charm one today without any troubles, so thank you . Just wait til I get colour mixing again that will be amazing.
I have started on the Hammered Bezel one, bought the cute little hammer , found some metal and bashed away at it, just loved the texture of it, so will be getting on with that this week end.
Hi Catalina xx
thanks for your thoughts, am I enjoying the view, I sure am, its like Christmas all at once, as everywhere I look its all new and bright and clean.
,Apendix is a nasty thing and is usually sudden like that, so am so glad your son had such quick treatment and will do well now its over.
It is certainly not a nice thing to happen. Yes hes still your baby whatever the age isnt he.
Thanks Cara for taking the time to think of me. XX
See you all here again soon. bye for now
love from Elizabeth K. XXXX
Elizabeth
@Elizabeth kerr: Thanks for your well wishes for my son. I’m just glad you have your sight in good working order! I treasure my sight so much. I guess most artists do. Can’t wait for you to send Cindy some photos of your work we would all love to “see” your progress! :)
@Elizabeth K.: That is so great that it all went well for you Elizabeth! I knew it would. And to think you get to see all the colors better. Way better for color mixing I’m sure! I saw those spelling mistakes and figured your were just so excited about being able to see that you’re fingers were out of control!! LOL ;-)
@Elizabeth K.: Great to see ya back! You are so brave to have eye surgery. I don’t think I could handle that. I may have to have surgery soon myself but I will just not think about it right now. Especially, since my son just had his apendix removed yesterday! it was quite sudden and he is doing fine. He had a 103.6 temperature and a little stomach ache. Doc said to take him to the hospital to have a CT scan STAT! What a whirlwind! I almost freaked out, but I had to stay calm so not to freak him out. Well, glad you are back and enjoy the view!
@Catalina: sorry to hear about your son, that must have been scary! How old is he? Glad he is doing fine now.
@Cara: He is 23 but my baby. He has a high threshold for pain. So when he told me he didn’t feel well I knew it was more than the sniffles. He has finals this week and was not too happy to have missed one. Hopefully he has a good professor and will understand and let him take it another day.
@Catalina: Your poor baby, and how bizarre, it coming on suddenly like that?! Sounds like your son’s pretty “tough,” though. (And you had to be brave for him!) I hope he’s 100% very soon, and that his prof is understanding, too. Now it’s time for “Mom” to really breathe — her son’s okay! I’m just sorry this happened. Good luck with your own upcoming surgery, Catalina; what kind is it? (You can tell me it’s none of my business if ya want! ;D ) Please keep us posted so we know when it’s time to pray for you, keep you in our thoughts, and cross our fingers… (Of course, you’re always somewhere in our thoughts! But remember, can’t type so well with fingers crossed!)
@Phaedrakat: Thanks so much for all your concerns about my “baby boy”! Marc is doing good and went to his exam today but will be off work for at least a week. One more exam tomorrow and he can rest if he can get a hold of his prof from the class he missed the exam in. He has four phone messages and two emails into the prof and no response! He could take a lesson from Cindy! She is so on top of everything here at the blog.
My surgery will be to remove a ovarian cyst! Yuck! I will know more on Thursday. I’ll keep you all posted. I will need and want all your prayers. I’m so lucky to have so many caring friends here. I just wish I could hug you all!!
P.S. You type just fine with your fingers crossed! I know because you seem to always have them “crossed” for someone here! :)
@Catalina:
Hi Catalina,
Wow things are certainly happening around you.
Reminds me of once when my DH and I were in the hospital twice together, and I once had to go home with stitches in me to look after him.
But that was a long time ago.
You will be fine, they do such wonderous things, as I have found out of late.
I will add you to my prayers as I do say them for my friends and family.
Cindy,
thats a great idea to sell your pieces here,
I will be looking out for something from you.
Think I will look back and see what I can see, and what I would like, not that the little mushroom isnt lovely.
To all here have a
GREAT MOMS DAY’,
Ive already had a lovely lily plant delivered and it Mom’s day tomorrow(Sunday 9th) here, so I am smiling.
Bye for now
XX
Elizabeth K.
@Catalina: Thank heaven your son is OK. That had to be very frightening for your whole family.
You are in my prayers for a successful surgery, with a quick recovery.
@Linda K.: Thanks, Linda. Mother’s Day was very nice just knowing he is ok. He was joking around and laughing but had to be careful because it hurt to laugh.
@Catalina: Removal of the cyst will be a breeze. I just had everything removed in Nov.24th of 09. What I am happy about, No more visits from T.O.M ;) I am so glad that your son is doing better. What a scare that had to have been for you.
@Cindy: I think we need a private section for our medical problems *giggles*
@Brenda: Funny! That would be good — just one page where we could moan & groan about our ailments, and those of family members. Then we can keep it “on point” on the other pages… ;~D
Seriously, though, there ARE a lot of members who live with serious, chronic pain. Everyone is always so nice though, offering kind words & encouragement to those in need. What a great place, with wonderful people!
@Phaedrakat:Yea, I am one of those in pain management. I fight it everyday. Sometimes it feels good to vent and share with ones who understand here at Cindy’s blog.
@Brenda: Right you are! I hope your doing better. Polymer clay is great therapy. I just realize I haven’t been able to play for a month now! I really want to try this tut! Is anyone sending in photos of their version to Cindy yet?
@Catalina: Thank you Catalina. I have to take mine day by day. I never know how I am going to feel. I just made the leaves. I want to try this one this weekend. I found out last Saturday that I can set up a booth at the farmers market for free. Yay! I am trying to figure out how to make some really cute cards to attach my pendants on. Any ideas??
@Brenda: You can check out my etsy shop (designsbyCATALINA) and see what I did on a few. I think very simple with your name and if you use a logo or symbol to make it more your own would help. I used old resume paper but card stock would work nice, too. If you need ideas let me know maybe I can help.
@Catalina: Oh” You have some *cutie patutie* stuff. I Love what you did with the cards.. And the wire wrapping on that heart is the bomb! Thanks for the help…..
@Brenda: Thank you! I’m glad you like the heart pendant. I’m still working on a better way to do the wire wrapping. At least get the size of wire that I can handle better.
@Catalina: Oh, I just found the heart pendant. I just LOVE the way you wrapped it.
@Catalina: Oh, my goodness! I just looked at your Etsy site, Catalina. Princess Daisy is totally precious and those barrettes are just darling on her little topknot. She sure is lucky to have been rescued by you. Everything in your store is beautiful, but I have to say that I was really struck by your rosaries and the boxes that you covered in clay to hold them. Just wonderful!!
@Linda K.: Thank you! My little Princess Daisy look very royal in the barrettes but she only wears them for photo opportunities!
I love making rosaries and have given away most of them. So many family and friends have been sick so I give them one to keep their minds on healing instead of worry.
The Heart pendant is a favorite. I want to experiment more with different flower petals and colors.
Oh, just made the Johnny Jump Cane! I had to let it rest a bit. But, I’m not sure it is going to be as nice as Cindy’s. I will have to practice a bit more.
@Catalina: Yes she does look very royal! I especially liked the pearl tiara-style barrette. My Daffney has a puppy cut, so she doesn’t have a topknot big enough to put that size barrette into. I couldn’t find any small blanks, but I’m going to keep looking.
Did you design the wire wrap for that heart necklace? If you did, you should write a tutorial…I would buy it.
It’s so nice that you make rosaries to give away. When I was a girl my grandmother gave me the most beautiful rosary made with a sterling crucifix and clear AB crystal beads. It breaks my heart that I don’t know what happened to it. I’ve been toying with the idea of making one for myself, but the thought of making wire-wrapped loops for all those beads has kept me from it. It never crossed my mind that I could use seed beads or tiny metal beads instead of chain. Maybe I’ll make one for my great-niece when she has her First Communion next year.
@Linda K.: Yes, I designed the wire wrap myself. I had been inspired by a local artist who demonstrated his technique at a local art fair. He used real dichroic glass pieces. I guess I could try to write a tut on this. If I do I’ll let you know.
I was scared at first of doing all those links, too. So, I strung the beads with seed beads in between. The wire is stronger than links because it will less likely to come apart. Most people will say they don’t use their rosary because they don’t want it to come apart. But, you can make links that are more secured to prevent that but they do take a little time. But, the more you do it the faster you become. The first rosary I did took me over an hour and a half to link! If you make one for your niece send me a photo. I would love to see it.
@Brenda: Hi Brenda, I don’t know if you’ve already read them, but Cindy has some articles about craft fairs and display cards for your jewelry. This article is tells How to Make Jewelry Display Cards.
This article has a Checklist for Craft Fairs and Jewelry Shows, with some really good tips! It also has a link to another article that shows How to Make Hang-Tags. Good luck at the market!
@Phaedrakat: Ah” Card-stock…. I will have to try that. thanks for the tip. I just purchased a bunch of Tags off etsy they are recyclable made with pulp and flower seeds. I am going to wait until I have everything ready before I set up. I still need a 10×10 canopy. Too hot here in Fl.
@Brenda: Wow, the tags you bought sound cool! (And “green”, which is awesome too!) Definitely get the canopy, whew, I know about that FL heat. We’re getting it in CA, too, but w/o the humidity. Good luck this weekend, I hope you sell lots! Just put that stuff on display, and I’ll bet you will. Your work that I’ve seen is gorgeous!
@Phaedrakat: I won’t be setting up this weekend. I have to much to get together. The weather hasn’t been too bad these last few days. But you never know here. It will be sunny one minute then raining the next. My Sis said that people are telling her that I am under-pricing my work. She is my biggest fan :) They are selling and I am making a little off them. Actually” I am not, I have so much invested right now. I am sure it will pay off one day. I just enjoy claying.
@Brenda: Brenda, I just looked at your site and your work is beautiful! I fully agree with your sister – you are underpricing your work. I usually charge $30-35 for a pendant. I notice you only charge $20. Now maybe this is a difference between CA and Fl prices, but I think you can definitely go up by at least $5.00.
@Maria: Thank You Maria, I keep thinking Oh” it isn’t real silver. Fl is expensive. I will take your advice though. I would be lost without this site ;)
@Brenda: Where is your selling site Brenda? Would love to see your creations!
Checked out Catalina’s etsy shop and was blown away!
@Lori F.: Just click on my name. I am redoing my etsy shop. Nothing in it. I wanted to get some good photos up. All I have is a website that I put together showing Pics and the last page where you can purchase it. I do have a daycare website that I and going to add some pages to so that the flow will be easier. It most defiantly needs some more work. Ive just had way too much going on these last few weeks. Last night was the first night I could really sit down and enjoy myself.
@Brenda: Your creations are to die for Brenda!!! Lovely gorgeous items! What is your etsy name and you will let us know when it is all set up again, won’t you? I have just started working with Polymer clay but am on a leave of absense with it currently, due to hand surgery – the cast comes off later today! But then several more weeks of therapy and a splint. I am going bonkers here wanting to get back at it! Your items have sparked me even more!!!
@Lori F.: Ouch! Hand surgery, huh? I’m glad you’re finally getting the cast off. I’ll BET you’re goin’ bonkers! How long has it been? I hope not too long — good luck with your therapy!
@Phaedrakat: It has been since April 14th – one awfully long month! Thank you for the well wishes!
@Brenda: It’s strange how we put so much into our creations, and yet we can’t bring ourselves to put a big enough price tag on them. I guess, at least in my case, it’s a matter of confidence. Even though I get lots of praise, I still end up giving things away or letting them go for peanuts! Definitely raise your prices, girl. They’re awesome! “Unique” and “cool” are just as good, or better, than silver!
@Catalina: Poor Mark! That’s rough when it hurts to laugh, especially when you’re in pain, and laughter is exactly what you need (the best medicine, after all…!) I hope he got everything worked out w/his prof, if he ever answered his messages! I’ll bet he’s feeling so much better by now, right? It’s amazing how fast you can heal from surgeries these days. Medicine & the stuff they can do is mind-blowing!
I’ll be keeping my eyes open, waiting to hear about what your doc says on Thursday. And of course, our thoughts and prayers are with you!
Thank you everyone for your supportive comment to each other. Isn’t this community great!
@Catalina: That must have been very scary for you! Only now as a parent, do I have any idea how scared my parents must have been when my Appendix ruptured as a kid. I was 11 and the doctors had trouble figuring out what was wrong since it ruptured and the infection had spread out over a larger area. Took a few days of high temps (104F) and hallucinations before they operated. The doctor said it was close. I remember the look on my parents faces as I was wheeled into the operating room. I felt I needed to be brave for them.
It is great that they were right on top of your son’s appendicitis and was operated on so quickly. He will recover quickly and will be writing his make up exams before you know it! Tell him to get better quick! :-)
@Cindy Lietz from Polymer Clay Tutorial – Ivy Leaf Charms: Wow! What a nightmare your parents had! I guess we should be even more thankful that you are with us here today! I never heard anyone having a burst apendix for two days and LIVE!! Wow! CT scans are amazing. It caught it early and saved him a lot a pain. They did the “three holes” I forgot the technical name, so he will heal really quick.
@Elizabeth K.: glad it all went well and wasn’t painful!
@Elizabeth K.: So glad to hear that your surgery was successful and pain-free. All that new brightness must be like seeing things in 3-D!
Yay!!! Johnny Jump-up Cane coming very, very soon…! About 4.5 hours til the fun starts!
Wow, Cindy! I just watched the video, and it’s wonderful! What a huge amount of work for you, Cindy — trying to fit all of that into one video! You did an excellent job, and made it very understandable. Even a beginner could do it, as long as they learned the steps you didn’t include (reducing, blends.) I’m very impressed. I hadn’t realized how much there would be to film, but you managed to cover every bit of it. (I loved the little flashforward when you did the plug.)
Now I’m even more eager to make a little Johnny Jump Up Cane (or Pansy/Viola, or whatever — I want one!) I need to get my act together here, & get my back to cooperate. I need my workspace done so I can get started on this pretty flower cane.
Once again, great tute, Cindy. I soooo appreciate all that you do for us. Thank you for giving us so many tutorials at a such a low, low price. You publish daily, answer questions, and now you’re offering prizes! You’re always having to come up with ideas to please a bunch of members who have different wants and tastes. (We’re getting so spoiled!) Please forgive me for the times I’ve acted ungrateful.
You ask nothing in return, except that we show how inspirational your tutes and this blog have been when we submit our spotlight entries. Let’s not forget, that we need to be using Cindy’s tutorials, variations of them, or those we’ve come up with on our own. (Or things the blog has inspired us to try, as in the team effort to help Cherie make her Faux stone beads!) Cindy you’re so amazing for putting up with us! I say this all the time, but I don’t know how you find the time to do it all. Thanks so much for this fabulous tute!
Backtracking a little to those floppy curvaceous moulds a couple of weeks back, I borrowed His Round Tuit out of the garage (imagine the looks you’d get from the Blokes at your local hardware store when you asked for THAT!) Got out the swags mould, as that is the one I have most trouble with, tipped it upside down and filled it’s bottom (LMAO) with runny Plaster of Paris, let it set. I took the precaution of lightly oiling the mould first (with healthy rice bran cooking oil). When set, the mould peeled back easily from the PoP. So I still have my very flexible mould, but when I prefer, also have a firm “frame” to sit it over when I slice my blade across to peel off excess polymer clay.
Now while I’ve got that Round Tuit out, Sue’s inspiration above has to compete with the Dancing Dust Bunnies in the Lounge (I think they’ve all crept out to listen to the Ten Tiny Tenor Teddies).
Cindy just watched the tute and I agree with Phaedrakat, it was great and so much information very well done. You and Doug make a wonderful team. Thank you both for another home run in tutes.
Uuuuuugggs, Peggy
Loved this tute. Cant wait to try it out. Thanks, Cindy.
Andrea
Hi Cindy,
Just wanted to tell you that I just finished watching the Johnny Jump Up Cane video and you are right by saying that it would make me smile!
I am going through a series of difficult life/health issues with my family and self lately and your videos are very much bright spots to me during this time!
I look forward to each new one to come out! You are so much more than just a Polymer Clay Tutor – you are a ray of sunshine to those who are under dark rainclouds too! Thank you so much for being the person who you are and for ALL that you do for others!
xoxoxoxoxoxo,
~Lori (aka Renegade Rose)
Hi Cindy, I so enjoy your videos.
I was looking at the last “jumping jack” installment and you were guiding us on how to make the blend. You said that you made the first blend balls an inch. Could you tell me how you measured each ball to know it will measure an inch, total. I hope this is not a stupid question, but I really don’t know and did struggle with uniformity until you showed me how to use different sizes to measure uniformly. If you used a cutter which one did you use for this video.
Thanks
@Cindy; I just love the tute. When I went to pick up my G-kids I noticed that my daughter had johnny jump-ups. I was like oow…. Cindy is doing a tute on those :) I am like two weeks behind in making things. When Lori F mentioned the rain-cloud, I though it surely has passed over my way too.
@Lori F; Hold your chin up sweetie. The sun is shining bright here today. I will send it your way……..
@Elizabeth K: Thanks! I’m glad to hear my low tech system works for you. I like to wait until the end of the month and do all 8 recipe cards at once. Keeps it updated without a lot of work!
@Phaedrakat: Thank you so much for bringing that up! This video was a huge challenge to get everything I needed in the time frame. (With more time I would have been more precise with putting it together, but as you see it didn’t really matter since the cane comes out pretty even if it’s not precise.) Thanks for noticing since this one was probably the most stressful to put together to date…. for both Doug and I, since so many steps had to be edited together in such a short window. It ran overtime a bit, but I figured this would be OK with most of you. Phew! Glad that clip is done! On to a few easier ones to film! :-)
@Squiddy: Thanks for the PoP Mould update.
@Peggy Barnes: Thank you sweetie! You and Phaedrakat have always been such a support to me. I appreciate that immensely!
@pollyanna: Let us know how it works out for you.
@Lori F: I just wanted to give you a HUGE thank you! It means a lot to me that you would come out and share your story with us. So many others like you in this community are going through similar health issues and it is so gratifying to know that we can be so uplifting for you. Thanks again for your lovely comment!
@Ifama Jackson: First of all let me say that in the end, it won’t matter too much the exact measurements you use to make your blends. As long as they go from one color to the next they will work out. It doesn’t matter if each cane is exactly the same. Also, once the separate canes are made, you can cut them all the same length and use the leftovers for other things. So if you’ve made too much of one cane, it will still work. That being said, to get the approximately 1 inch ball, roll a hunk of clay into a ball and measure it across the width. If it is too small… add more. Too big… take some away. Once you have the right size, then roll into a teardrop. This should work fine for you.
@Brenda: Thank you what a sweet thing to say! Have a lovely day with your Grandkids!
@Cindy Lietz from Tribal Cane Purse Charm:
Cindy, it takes a special person, like you are, to inspire so many others – not only artistically but by touching their hearts.
Oh, and I just LOVE your low tech system with the file cards for storing all of the color recipes – I put mine in a binder, instead of a box, for easy reference!
xoxoxoxoxo,
~Lori F.
@Brenda: Thank you so much for your kind words Brenda! You are such a Sweetie and you warmed my heart! Please send lots and lots of sunshine – the clouds of health issues for 3 of us here are so thick and dark right now…
xoxoxox,
~Lori
This looks so cool! I can’t wait to try it. Had to give my “Art Director” Princess Daisy (my Maltese) the works! Brushing, bath, haircut, feet trimmed and nails!! Two hours later she looks wonderful and will be ready for her new barrettes made from this cane! I may try to make buttons, too. I think I could go crazy with this one, thanks, Cindy:)
Cindy, this is a fabulous video. It’s just amazing how you put together the clay to make a flower petal –and what a lot of work you did on this one. Love it!
@Catalina: My Art Director is a Yorkie named Daffney. I never thought to make things out of clay for her, but I might have to start! Oh, yes–buttons would be beautiful from this cane.
@Linda K.: Oh, you have to try to make some barrettes for your Yorkie! My Daisy hates them but she looks so cute for photos. She will leave little scarfs on and I thought a cute pansy button would be perfect.
@Catalina: Yes, Daffney hates barrettes, too. We keep her fur short, in a puppy cut, so there isn’t a lot of hair to put into a barrette…but I think I’d like to try some anyway. What do you use for a base on your barrettes?
I like the idea of a scarf with a button, too, but I know Daffney wouldn’t tolerate a scarf.
@Linda K.: The base I use is a blank barrette. Michaels sells them. Look for them in the jewelry findings.
The scarf can be made to slide over the collar so they can’t scratch it off. They can hardly feel it and will leave it alone. Dogs – why don’t they want to look pretty? LOL!!
@Catalina: Thanks. I never noticed the barrette blanks. I’ll look next time I’m there. My sister recently got 2 Maltese/Poodle pups, just the cutest little girls. I’ll bet they’d like barrettes!
Daffney doesn’t wear a collar because she has a problem with her larynx, so she can’t have anything that presses on her neck when she walks on her leash. We get a custom harness for her that rides low on her chest…the woman makes them in silk dupioni. How spoiled is that!!
@Linda K.: Wow! She is a pampered pet! Good for her! Well, since you can’t dress her up you can make photo frames out of clay. I have done a few and they came out really nice. This way you can show her off in a photo and she won’t mind a bit :)
I love this video, I can not wait to make it, Thank you so much Cindy. You are the best.
Wondering how you folks handle this: When I make up the colors, I usually have a bit of clay left over. I’m not sure how to store that little piece – in a baggie with the name or with the index card with the recipe (which I’ve been doing – not very convenient) , or what? I keep my Premo sorted by color when it’s in its pristine unmixed state. Should I have a compartment for mixed clays too?
@Maria: I have one of those small, plastic tabletop storage boxes with three drawers. The drawers are just deep enough for me to store my unopened blocks of clay with the color names up. I do store them by color.
I put all of my leftover clay into zipper snack-bags and I write the color name on the outside of the bag with a Sharpie. I store them in a different drawer.
I use the snack bags for any unmixed clay that is leftover once I open the block. I also use the snack bags for any colors that I mix. I write the name of the color and the volume and color number on the bag. For example, I make a lot of Peony, so on the snack bag I write: “Peony, 21-1B.”
@Linda K.: Snack bags to the rescue! Thanks Linda. Anyone out there have a different system they could share with us?
@Maria: I have a couple of relatively shallow but wide containers that I keep leftover mixed colours in. One is for Kato, the other is for Premo.
I roll the leftover coloured clay into a log and stand it on end in the relevant container, close to other similar colours. It doesn’t take up much space that way, and it’s easy to see the full range of colours in the container with one glance.
I don’t bother labelling them with the colour name because of how I tend to use such clay. Basically, if I’m not being really particular about exactly matching a colour recipe, I’ll just grab all the bits of similarly-coloured leftover clay out of the container, mix them together, and adjust the final colour as necessary or add more clay it to get the quantity I want.
When I started I used to put the leftover clay in ziplock bags or wrap it in Glad wrap, but it was more of a bother and much less convenient for the way I work.
With cane ends and leftovers that aren’t just a single colour, I tend to put all similarly-coloured scraps together into small takeaway containers (new ones: I bought a whole bunch in various sizes from an office supplier here). That way they’ll be already colour-coordinated (or easy to select from) if I want to use them for Jupiter beads or swirly lentils or such things, and they’ll also mix up to nice and relatively predictable organic colours if I want “mud” or backing clay.
And anything that’s just too disgusting to salvage goes into either a “light scrap” or “dark scrap” container. I use that clay for things like making my own texture sheets, and occasionally for bead cores. Although I never seem to have enough of it!
P.S. with all those mistakes youd think I still had that C in. LOL but in a big hurry as usual, not to say everything is so bright I have to adjust.
Bye
E .K.
@ Catalina – you are in my prayers. Glad marc is recovering and doing well.
@ Brenda – I know what you mean. i too have chronic fatigue and pain. just finished a whole lot of test – all normal. Have an ultra sound soon. There are days i just seem to have no energy. By the time i am finished teaching I can’t do anything else. But clay is good. I find it really relaxing and so satisfying.
@Cheryl H: The pain is what wears me out.. I don’t stop because if I do I know it will get me down and I won’t get back up. What do you teach?
Hi, Just a quick update! I tried the pansy cane and messed it up! LOL! I didn’t make enough clay to properly make each section! I will try again! (Still pretty though!)
My son, Marc, is recovering very well and will return to work this week!
My mother-in-law is in the hopspital and they hurt her throat taking the tube out after surgery she is only breathing at 10%!
My husband will go in to have his bladder check, on Tuesday, for any tumors – if clean he won’t have to be checked for a year! Cross your fingers for us!!
My situtation – more tests are needed and will see the OBGYN again in two weeks! Whew!
So, you can imagin I’m pretty busy! I may take some time off from claying. I’ll try to keep up with you all. Thanks for the prayers!
@Catalina: Whew! is right — quite a lot going on with you and yours! I’m sorry to hear about your MIL’s surgery mishap, poor thing; I sure hope they can fix her right up! I’m very happy to hear about your son doing so well, though. And your hubby, hopefully his checkup will be clean. That would be wonderful for you guys to have a year without having to worry about tests and all that. Except now you need more tests! It’s always something, huh? You KNOW that we will be prayin’ & thinkin’, feelin’, crossing this & that, all for your benefit! I’ve gotten pretty good at crossing these ol’ fingers for you and others I care about here in this community! I will definitely be praying for you guys, hoping for good things for you and your family.
If you end up having to take time off from clay, I suppose we’ll understand (of course!) Sorry your Johnny-cane didn’t come out perfect, but I’ll bet it’s pretty, none-the-less. I haven’t tried it yet, although I’m eager to. I was supposed to start claying, but we’re getting a pool put in. Everything in the backyard and a lots of stuff from the garage has to go, which means “Garage Sale” this weekend. Yuk! I’m exhausted. I’m not able to do that much, but I have really pushed myself over the last few days. It’s been crazy. Anyway, I know when your life has settled a bit, you’ll be back at it. And I know that you’ll make a Johnny Jump-Up cane that you’re VERY happy with!
Thanks for keeping us posted, Catalina. I wish you Good luck with everything, both you and your family!
@Catalina: Catalina – what a lot of stress for you and your family! I’ll keep you in my prayers… good thing we have claying – it’s definitely a stress reliever! The Johnny cane colors are so beautiful that I bet you can still do some really neat stuff with the “messed up” cane you have :)
@Maria: Thank you for the prayers I really appreciate it. I did cover a pen with the “messed up” pansy cane and it come out nice. I took it to work and everyone thought it looked very “floral” lol!! So, it looks better than I thought. I think I will use all my “messed up” canes for pen now.
I have to ask Carolyn about the PYM II when she is better. I use it on the pansy pen and it didn’t cover very well and was a little rough and not as glossy as I had hoped. I put three coats on it, too. I wonder if I should have sanded it first anyway before applying the PYM II? Anyone have any advise for me?
@Catalina: Yes, definitely sanding is a must! I do like PYM 2 – I have used it on my pendants and bracelets which I wired with copper or silver and they have worked out well.
@Maria: Sanding! I guess i should have known that. I want to try to use it on copper wire, too. I bet that keeps it from oxidizing. I got to try that. thanks!
@Catalina: Hi Cat, it’s Kat! (Oh, brother) I haven’t tried PYM II yet, but I wanted to mention something from their website. One of the selling points for this product is that it retains the texture of the product you spray it on. So, if you use it on newspaper, it supposedly still feels like newspaper. I’m guessing that’s why it’s not smoothing your pen out like a regular finish would. I know Carolyn uses this stuff a lot (according to her blog, anyway,) but she still sands her beads completely first.
I wish I had bought some PYM II before I went out and got some of the other junk I have. I’d buy some from Carolyn right now, but I have so many finishes already! Seriously, I think the only kind I DON’T have is PYM II. Now that I know Maria likes it, too [ ;D ] I’ll get some from Carolyn when she gets back. I should be in need of more finish by then, because I plan to get A LOT of work done in the next few weeks (and I think I’ll just toss that globby ol’ Sculpey Gloss!) Oh, please, let it work out this time! I’ve got a lot of clayin’ to do! :D
@Phaedrakat: Hi Kat, it’s Cat! (And don’t you mean: “Oh, sister?” LOL!!) I have only tried it on this one pen. I will have to keep experimenting with PYM II. Good luck with all your projects. I’m still waiting on my tests results and need another one, too. I hope I don’t have to wait too much longer. I’m so tired of the pain. Gall bladder and ovarian cysts – who needs them? Plus, I have jury duty on Monday!!! Not fair!!
@Catalina: Hi Sister Cat! I’m soooo sorry to hear about the gall bladder, too! It’s definitely not fair! And jury duty? Wow, have you been hurting small children & animals or something? I’m kidding, I know you’re an absolute sweetie, and you certainly don’t deserve all that pain. No one does, of course, but I hate to hear about all these surgeries & pain happening to YOU! I guess the fortunate thing here is that they do these kinds of surgeries all the time, so they know what they’re doing. No weird experimental stuff. Still, I’ll expand the amount of time I spend on prayer for you — my neighbor down the street is going to have to do with a quick “and don’t forget Victor”! (He’s not very nice, anyway… LOL!) Really, please let me know when the actual surgeries are, so I can “help” you get through them. They say God doesn’t give you more than you can handle — He must think you’re a very strong woman! You know what? So do I! Take care, Cat, my thoughts & prayers are with you…
@Phaedrakat: Thanks sister, Kat! I love all the support we give each other here. Tuesday is HIDA scan and hopefully by the end of the week I’ll know when they want to do some yanking of body parts! I hope I’m strong. I’m used to being the support for everyone else. I hope this will make me feel more “normal” again. I will keep you updated with all the details. Thanks again!
@Catalina: Hi Cat! I was thinking of you today, hoping that things went well with your scan. I guess it takes a few for the results, but just wanted you to know I’m still praying for you. You’ve been strong for others, helping your hubby and other family with all things medical. Now they’ll be more than happy to help you thru your own surgeries, procedures, etc., until you DO feel normal again. Wishing you the best — hang in there! Hugs, Kat
@Phaedrakat: Thanks, Kat! I had the HIDA scan and it was not fun. It showed the gall bladder was not functioning. So, I’m guessing they will want to take it out. My boss will be on vacation next week and we will be audited any day now! Everyone is freaking out and I have to be there for the audit. They say Friday to expect to see the auditor – I hope! Then I can go ahead with scheduling the surgery. I won’t put it off if they don’t don’t come Friday. But, I hate to put the pressure on my new boss. She has only been here three weeks.
Thanks for the prayers they are appreciated. Now, I have to go lay down. I feel worse since the HIDA scan.
@Catalina: Oh, you poor thing! I’m so sorry about your gall bladder. And all the work stress—I’m sure that’s not helping. No wonder you’re feeling worse since the scan! It’s really nice that you want to help the new boss and make sure everything’s ready for the audit. But you have to think of your health; don’t jeopardize it any further for work. What does your doctor say? Should you even BE working now? I hope the auditor shows up when he/she’s supposed to—and that it all goes well. Mainly so you have one less thing to worry about!
I’ll stop with the lecturing—I know you’re just trying to be a good person/employee. Please just go lay down, rest, and take care of yourself! You must be feeling rotten. It’s hard, but try to reduce your stress as much as you can; it might help lessen the severity of your symptoms. I sure hope they can schedule your surgery soon, so you feel better faster. Thank Goodness it’s done laparoscopically these days—a much quicker recovery. I will keep praying for you, Catalina. Hang in there. You’ve still got a ways to go, but just stay calm and you’ll get through all of this! Blessings and Hugs, Kat
@Phaedrakat: Dear sister Kat, you may lecture me anytime! I need it! I feel a lot better today. I guess the side effects are gone. Just gotta wait for the doc to call and let me know what’s up!
I got some “medicine” coming on Sunday. My husband decided to get a Chihauhau puppy from his mother for Father’s Day! He should be a lot of fun! I hope my Art Director, Princess Daisy, will take to him ok. She is a spoiled Maltese diva!
FB me (Diana Catalina Ledesma) and you can see some pics and video of little BUBBY. Yes, that’s his name and I didn’t name him. I wanted to call him Tacquito but my hubby said, no, BUBBY! Men! :)
@Catalina: I’m so glad your feeling a bit better. And that’s before you even got your cute “medicine!” I sent you a friend request on FB, so when you approve I’ll certainly check-out the video & pics of Bubby. I hope you’re little diva doesn’t snub him. She’s used to having the run of the place, and all of your attention. She might not appreciate the intrusion! Then again, if he is muy guapo, she might think something else entirely (puppy love, ahh…) I just can’t resist those little Chihuahuas, so adorable! We’ll keep up the prayers for you, Cat, they seem to be helping… I’m hoping the auditors show up for you tomorrow, too (one less thing to worry about…)
@Catalina: I think of PYM2 as a sealant/fixative rather than a glaze/varnish, particularly now that I’ve played with it.
Also note that in my experience — including specific tests on this — sanding and buffing might not actually make any difference to the glossiness of the finish. I described it in more detail in these two comments (the second is more relevant to glossiness):
>> Preserve Your Memories [Comment 1]
>> PYM2 [Comment 2]
Basically Premo was always glossy for me after PYM2 (even with no sanding), Kato was sort-of in the middle but not as smooth as I’d want unless I put a really heavy coat on, and Fimo was always satin even after thorough sanding AND buffing to a high gloss before applying the PYM2 (which turned the highly glossy Fimo back to satin!).
@Sue F: That makes sense! I thought it would not only protect but give it a nice shine and feel. I’m going to try it again and hopefully I’ll have better luck.
Gosh I missed a lot on the blogs. Had this nasty virus for the last 9 days; still not completely over it. Haven’t done any claying.
@ Catalina – Will definitely keep you in prayer and your husband too. glad to see marc is doing well.
@ Brenda – I teach piano – mostly in the evenings as kids are at school during the day. I do have a couple of adult students in the morning. I teach Mon – Friday (Thursdays do theory class) When I’m not teaching i make jewelry. I’ve mostly done beaded stuff and have only just started with polymer clay. I’m loving the clay and have so many ideas but not enough time.
@Cheryl Hodges: I loved the piano. As a child I remember my mother had this old antique one with ivory keys. really tall. My sistertook lesson she would play around on it. I wish I knew how to play. I just don’t think my fingers would go though.. Cindy has been keeping us pretty busy. I just got around to one of the spoon handles this morning. Not finished yet. I still need to do the Johnny jump up cane. I think that will have to wait until this weekend.
@Cheryl Hodges: thanks Carolyn! Glad to see you are feeling better. We missed you!
Oops! I meant,
Carolyn and I answered it to Cheryl! I’m on the iPad at Best Buy! so I’m trying to get use to typing by touch! my husband got me one for mother’s day and I haven’t received it yet! Once I get it I will be able to take my Polymer Clay Tutor with me wherever I go!!!
I was just thinking the same thing – why is it that life seems to throw us curves like this? You have all the health issues and family issues going on and now you also have a crisis at work! How about being dealt one thing at a time? Unfair! We’re all praying for you Catalina – strength to you!
@Maria: You are so right! One problem at a time would be nice. I’m hoping this will solve a lot of issues for me.
Everyone’s prayers are working. You all are amazing and deserve a big HUG!! Thank you!
I have a question/problem re the pasta machines. My machine goes from 1-9, with one being the thickest setting. My problem is that when I fold the clay in half for the skinner blend, or even doing the tear drop blend, my clay gets shorter rather than longer so after it is blended it ends being quite small. Is this a pm problem or am I doing something wrong? would appreciate any light on this.
Thanks
Sandra
Hi again, just viewed the Johnny Jump Up cane. gorgeous. I just want to say that you, Cindy, do a marvelous job on your tutorials. They are so easy to follow and clear. thanks for sharing your amazing talent with us.
Regards
Hi Sandra! You’re talking about the clay getting wider and shorter, instead of being narrow and long — is that correct? If so, you must not have seen this week’s video yet…Cindy covers this! I’d say it’s a coincidence, but I think she’s been getting a lot of questions about this very issue. I think that’s why she demonstrates a couple tips and ways to fix this problem in the Spotted Lily Petal Cane video… ;D ~Kat
PS: Best of luck! If you meant something else, or the video doesn’t answer your question, please leave another comment…
thanks. that’s exactly what i meant. I’ll watch the video again and hopefully i will pick the tips up this time.
Cheers
Sandy
JUST POSTED… Member project photos that relate to the theme of this page… Polymer Clay Johnny Jump-Up Pansy Canes.
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
Thanks, Sandra! :)
It’s by far the best way I’ve found to manage things, at least for how I like to work. Choosing colours is easy when they’re all arrayed in front of you, a bit like using those fandecks of paint or Pantone colours although this way extras can be added at will. And there’s no need to look any recipe up elsewhere (an unnecessary extra step to my way of thinking) because they’re all right there on the chips.
The colour chain chips pictured above are my relatively small Premo sets… I have at least 3 times as many Kato colours!
members.ozemail.com.au/~scef/stuff/images/KatoColourChips2.jpg
@Sue F: Wow, and I thought you had lots of Premo samples! They look so pretty… :)
Hope all is well with you…haven’t seen any of your comments in quite a while…you are missed! Wish you the best, Kat