“Butterflies make
me happy! They’re so
delicate and colorful. I
would love to be able to do
them in polymer clay.”
~Cheryl-H
As you may have realized from my Circus Theme Jewelry article a few days ago, these Gallery posts allow me to show you guys some of the current projects I have on the go in my studio.
The idea here, is when you see something that you’d like to learn about, simply let me know by posting a comment below. Your feedback will help to determine what video tutorials get filmed for the Polymer Clay Members Library.
Suggestions could be for specific bead shapes, cane projects, wire working, jewelry making techniques… or whatever else may be on your mind. In fact, your requests don’t even have to relate to the Gallery post you are commenting at. I’m happy to hear about anything you would like me to try to work into the schedule.
Sometimes the thinnest slice from a polymer clay cane, can make the biggest statement. That is certainly the case with this resin coated Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing Cane Pendant.In shimmering Blues and Greens with a distinctive White and Black spotted edge, this delicate butterfly wing flutters around your neck like the essence of Summer itself. It has the natural beauty of a real butterfly wing… and there were no precious creatures harmed in the making!
Created with a very thin slice from a Blue Morpho Butterfly Cane, the wing was baked, sanded and given a glassy coat of UV Resin on the front. The resin enhances the color and provides an incredible shine. Plus it gives strength to the delicate wing… and durability. This 2-1/4″ x 1-1/4″ (6cm x 3.5cm) Butterfly Wing Pendant looks lovely on either a Sky Blue or a Black rubber cord necklace. The cord length, including handcrafted copper wire clasp is 15-1/2″ (39cm) and has a 3″ (8cm) antique brass extension chain with a glass bead or Hematite dangle. Making the total possible necklace length 18-1/5″ (47cm). Price: $25 – If you are interested in purchasing the necklace shown in today’s post, then send me an email. Be sure to indicate whether you want the Black or Blue cord and to include your full mailing address so I can work out the shipping cost for you. |
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** Did You Know… Members with current subscriptions to the weekly tutorial videos are always entitled to a 10% discount when purchasing 6 or more back issue packages in a single transaction. If you are interested, let me know which back issues you would like and I will send further instructions on how to complete your order. |
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Wow, that is such a lovely butterfly cane! Prettiness! What a lovely way to wake up.
While I’m not much of a cane person, I really like this one. Bring it on! :D
It is indeed very pretty, love those blues
This is sharp looking… I vote yes on learning the butterfly wing.
~Lisa :)
Love it! I would definitely want the butterfly wing tute. Making butterflies has been on my personal list for a long time. This cane is a big step in that direction! I never thought about making just one wing, but it’s gorgeous! The resin is perfect, protecting a thin little slice, making it look even more like a delicate wing! This necklace is lovely. I’m looking forward to your resin tute even more now, too. BTW, is Willow getting a modeling fee? lol
“Oh happy days”, that is how the pics in this gallery make me feel. Love the combination of blue colors, so bright and cheerful. They go so well with the design. A tut would be wonderful. Happy claying everyone…
molto bello una lezione con ali di farfalla, per favore Cindy la resina va bene anche se è bicomponente?
@Pamagela’s Comment, I used Google to Translate it to English:
a very good lesson with butterfly wings, please Cindy resin okay although bicomponent?
Here’s another vote for the butterfly wing cane. Especially the blue one.
Love this one Cindy and I would love to learn how to do a butterfly cane the color on yours is amazing.I have been doing a good deal of resin work with the clay lately I love the shine and depth it gives, cant wait to learn more about how you do it
@Ritzs: I’ve been thinking about trying resin – where do you get yours from?
I like the butterfly Cindy, it’s cute!
I love the blues and would love to learn your butterfly cane. Cindy, you always make a cane that looks complicated, so easy to put together. My vote is YES…
Linda B.
Kansas City, MO
oow…….. I want to learn how to make this one!!!!!!
I’ve already made a butterfly cane, without a tutorial, but I would love to see how you do it!
Tut for me!! Beautiful!
I vote yes, yes, yes, I would assume that once the technique is learned you could make the smaller lower half, and then create a sculpture. I can see it, a large rose made from your Rose vid, and a complete butterfly made from this in a sculpture reminiciant of Capo di Monte(sp). I had better try that rose tute again and REAL soon.
Yes, yes, yes. I can’t say it enough. That cane is absolutely beautiful!
Absolutely, yes! This is stunning, especially in blue.
I have a major butterfly phobia, and even I want the butterfly wing tutorial!
another yes vote from me it looks realy stunning.
Absolutely yes from me! Fun!
Cindy, Gorgeous butterfly wing pendant and I especially appreciate your mention of it not causing the death of one of these lovely, fragile creatures. (Those real wings encased in resin or something give me the shudders.) But this clay one of yours, all glossed up, is beautiful and I’d love a tutorial on making it. Adore those stunning colours too.
A definite “yes” from me the butterfly cane! Love the colours and shape!
Looking at the pendant also got me thinking that a tutorial I would be really interested in is different ways of finishing pendants and attaching findings and the plusses and minuses of each. Such as… depending on the project is it better to drill a hole or cut a thin slit and embed a jump ring, eye pin, looped piece of wire or make a finding or whatever. It seems that sometimes I have made a great pendant and then am just not quite sure what the best way is for finishing for looks and durability.
@Laura B: I agree with Laura. I sometimes have a hard time deciding what to do and second guess myself about how to do the findings. A lot of it really is “art” in that there is no right answer, but rather the conceptual design of the artist. Yet I do think there must be a few “ground rules” as to how to best attach findings. I would welcome a discussion on this topic.
Bring on the discussion! Do you have an example of a pendant that didn’t work? Send a pic to Cindy, and explain why. I’ll bet she’d welcome that, since she usually asks not only for our “best” pieces, but the ones where “something went wrong.” We could either have the discussion here, or she might start a spotlight. Ritzs’ “Help” spotlight, with the cracked bead, and Cheryl V.’s “Heart” spotlight, also cracked, have been popular posts, and invite a lot of discussion and bring helpful tips. Send in pendant-hanging problems as your spotlights, and you’ll most likely get a big response. Sorry, Cindy, if I’m speaking out-of-turn here!
Thank you everyone for your comments. I just love Blue Morpho Butterflies and thought it was the perfect way to represent their beauty, without taking away their flight. The principals in making a butterfly cane can be transferred to most species of butterfly and I look forward to teaching you all how to make it!
@Phaedrakat: You are by no means speaking out of turn. Your suggestion and advice is excellent! I love those types of types of help and support discussions / spotlights.
@Cindy Lietz from Leopard Cane Tutorial: Oh Cindy how beautiful your butterfly wing is. I am so glad I didn’t miss this. You know I have asked for a butterfly cane even the word butterfly sounds of beauty to me. Please tell me they don’t really make a piece of jewelry from a real butterfly’s wing. How tragic when you can use pc and get this much beauty from it. Ken you are so great for suggesting how to make a full butterfly from this one wing. Cindy I have to admit a full butterfly is what I was wanting but this wing will more than make up for the other missing parts. I agree with Ken after making some wings give the rest of it a try. You can always go back to the single most gorgeous wing. Thank you Cindy for the creation and Doug for the presentation. YES, PLEASE YES. The sooner the better for me.
Love and Uuuuuugggggs, Peggy
@Peggy Barnes: “I have to admit a full butterfly is what I was wanting”
Me too, although I like this pendant, I’d prefer a full butterfly as well. But once you have one wing it’s easy to make another I guess! I can’t quite get over the thought of a dismembered butterfly…
@Silverleaf: Dismembered! Ooooh, that’s too sad to think of it that way! I’m going to think of it as depicting a beautiful part of a creature, like angel wings, or hand charms. Like if you see a feather used in jewelry or fashion. Think of its beauty, not that it might have been “plucked from a bird!”
This butterfly cane slice is so gorgeous in the resin video! The colors are even more beautiful than they look here. The wings have a shimmer to them that’s absolutely stunning!
As for a full butterfly cane, it shouldn’t be hard to make once we learn this cane. Make another slightly larger (or smaller) wing, and shape it into a “top” or “bottom” wing, as appropriate. Cut both canes in half. Place the four cane parts into a butterfly shape, with some clay in the middle for the body. Then add some “feelers” or antennae. Background clay fill-in, reduce, and you’re done. (Right, easy for me to SAY, LOL) ~Kat
@Phaedrakat: It’s just my brain being a bit weird at the moment! (Blame my being a wildlife rehabilitator, I’m always seeing injuries and sickness so it’s more in the front of my mind – if I see a wild hedgehog my first thought is, is it okay, does it need help?)
I’d definitely like to make a butterfly wing cane pretty much as you suggest. I think I’d make two canes, one for the upper and one for the lower wings, and then use two slices of each to create a more sculptural butterfly piece with a clay body and possibly wire headpins for the antennae.
And here’s a piece of butterfly knowledge – you can tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth by looking at the antennae. A butterfly has antennae with little knobs on the end a bit like one of Cindy’s copper headpins, and a moth has antennae that are almost like little feathers. Both can be very beautiful.
@Silverleaf: Thanks for the clarification on moths and butterflies regarding their antennae.
Ah, now I get it–you rescue hedgehogs for your job. I thought maybe you found a sick one in your yard that you were caring for. Sometimes I’m a little slow, LOL.
@Linda K.: No, it’s me not being very clear! I don’t actually have a job, but rescue hedgehogs in my “spare time”. I can only accommodate at most 4 hedgehogs at one time, but even one can take up a lot of time and energy and money. Luckily I have a friendly vet who only charges me for medication if a hedgehog needs treatment from them so that helps a lot.
Hmmm…polymer clay hedgehogs…now that could work!
@Silverleaf: Oh my goodness, it’s wonderful that you rescue them. I don’t believe that we have hedgehogs here in the U.S. They’re awfully cute. Do you have lots of them? Do they wander around in people’s yards? What happens to them that they need to be rescued? Yes, polymer clay hedgehogs would be adorable!
@Linda K.: Yes, hedgehogs are wild animals here and it’s quite normal to have them living in your garden. Unfortunately, for reasons we’re not entirely clear on, their numbers are falling all the time (personally I suspect that people using pesticides which kills their insect food supply, tidy gardens full of gravel and decking and almost-airtight fences with nowhere for hedgehogs to hide in the daytime, and farmers pulling up hedgerows to make huge fields have all contributed). I’m certainly seeing less of them in the local area over the last few years.
I don’t really have the facilities to accommodate many hoggies – probably 3 at a time is the limit. After releasing Fern back into the wild the other weekend, we have none at the moment.
And as for reasons why they need to be rescued… well to be blunt, they’re not very bright, and their defence mechanism of curling up into a ball and staying still doesn’t work all that well in the modern world. Common problems include wounds from strimmers and other gardening implements (they tend to hide in long grass and people don’t see them), burns from garden fires (again they hide in the unburned fire and people don’t notice), being run over by cars, injuries inflicted by dogs/foxes/badgers, getting caught in nets, getting trapped in ponds/pools/drain pipes/the plastic loops that hold beer cans together… the list goes on. Add that to various illnesses, parasites, infections, and the fact that a hedgehog needs a certain amount of fat to survive hibernation in the winter and if it doesn’t it gets hypothermia – unfortunately they can sometimes have babies so late in the year that the young ones don’t have chance to build up their fat reserves before the cold weather kills off all the insects and bugs.
I usually have a couple of young ones living inside over the winter because they simply aren’t big enough to hibernate successfully. I feed them up and release in the spring.
Just to give you a flavour of what happens – this is the story of our latest rescue, Fern. My dog found her on our lawn in the middle of the morning, which is a bad sign as they are nocturnal. A hedgehog out in daylight is usually starving, sick or has hypothermia – Fern wasn’t really cold but she was very underweight, the thinnest hedgehog I’d ever seen, and seemed to have no energy or much interest in anything, and she had a fairly heavy burden of intestinal parasites. I brought her inside and kept her quiet and warm, but she refused to eat and I was very worried. I began feeding her with a syringe but I couldn’t persuade her to eat very much, so I took her to my local friendly vet, who didn’t seem very optimistic about her chances but gave me antibiotics and some special recovery food. Fern began to eat a little more by herself, but I still needed to hand-feed her 4 times a day which could take 2 hours each time. And about five days into the treatment she suddenly decided that the food in the syringe was yummy and began to actively seek it out and bite at the syringe and lick the food – it was like a miracle after all the hard work of basically forcing her to eat. Within a week she was eating all by herself, putting on weight, and I soon moved her to the outside pre-release pen where she lived for a while getting used to the world outside before she was released two weeks ago.
And the best thing is, we saw her last night! She’s gained a little more weight and looks really healthy and wild so she’s doing well. Hopefully she’ll have some cute little baby hedgehogs and help to grow the numbers a bit.
Sorry for the essay!! But it’s impossible to stop when I’m talking about my beloved hoggies. Next time you’ll think twice before asking me Kat! ;)
@Silverleaf: Nope, I’m so glad I asked! Thanks for all of the great info; now I understand. It’s absolutely wonderful what you’re doing! I’ll bet they are cute little fellas (or excuse me, hoglets, kits, etc.) I had to google them to see pictures. That’s very sad what’s happening to them as a species. Thank goodness there are people like you who take care of them. They look so adorable, but aren’t they prickly to hold? No matter, it’s got to be so fulfilling. Watching a hedgehog like Fern go from being so sick, to being nursed to a self-reliant hoggie out in the wild! Now all you need to do is make some polymer clay hoggies. Be sure to share pictures if you do! Thanks again! :D
@Phaedrakat: They are lovely, I love the little prickles! They are stinky, stupid and messy, but wonderful anyway.
Yes they are somewhat uncomfortable to hold if you’re not used to it and/or they’re all curled up, but it’s easier when they relax because the spines lie flatter and the underside is just hair. Getting them to relax is the tricky part… I use thick gloves or a towel to pick them up, even the young ones that haven’t learned caution yet, because any sudden movement or noise results in a curled up hedgehog with erect spines which, let me tell you, really hurts the hands!
That’s the idea, being able to take something injured and sick that would probably die without help, and getting it to the stage where it can lead a natural wild life out in the “real” world. It’s great, but it’s hard to let them go when I know there are so many dangers out there – still I know that a wild animal deserves to live in the wild. Hopefully I’m making a difference, no matter how small.
I haven’t really tried polymer clay sculpture, but I do make knitted hedgehogs which I’ve sold to raise money for hedgehog rescues. You can see some of them in the Sold list of my old Etsy shop. etsy.com/shop_sold.php?user_id=6122241&order=&page=1
@Silverleaf: All I can say is that you are one brave woman…. I don’t think I would want to mess with them..
@brenda: They aren’t that bad really, once you know how to handle them! And they’re certainly not aggressive – I’ve only been bitten maybe three times – they mostly just ignore you and do their own thing.
@Silverleaf: Three times too many for me.. I swear…. I went to bed laughing my head off picturing Doug, the cat, and Hedgie. Such a cute story.. I don’t know what came over me but I had the giggles bad.
@brenda: Well I still have all my fingers, lol!
I know, isn’t it funny? Like some kind of sports game, Motor vs Doug, with Hedgie as the ball!
@Silverleaf: I love your hedgehog stories Anna! That reminds me of a story… Doug has this little Steiff Hedgehog stuffed animal he got from his parents when he was young. He calls it Hedgie. He always has it sitting somewhere, on or near his desk as he works. (Awww, I know our tech guy has a little hedgie! How cute!)
Any way… Years ago we had a cat named Motor who would climb up on Doug’s desk and attack poor Hedgie. Doug would move Hedgie higher and higher up on the shelf, but every morning he would be lying on the floor!
Finally Doug ended up having to put Hedgie into a little stone bowl that Motor couldn’t get at. Fun times!
Our new cat Candy can’t be bothered with Hedgie, so he’s back on the shelf a little lower now. Still lives in the bowl, but now his head peeks out the top watching Doug as he slaves away for us all on his computer! :-)
@Cindy Lietz from Polymer Clay Color Recipes – Candy Cat Palette: Aw Cindy, how cool to know that Doug’s being watched over by a hedgehog!
Everyone seems to love hoggies, they are just so cute and interesting. And so many people haven’t ever seen a real live hedgehog, even here in the UK, so when they find out I rehabilitate them they are full of questions and often want to meet one.
@Cindy Lietz from Polymer Clay Color Recipes – Candy Cat Palette: That has to be the cutest story I have ever read… You should right a childrens book based on that. Too cute. I am still laughing picturing your husband moving that around.. *chuckles*
@Silverleaf: Thanks for writing your “essay!” This is fascinating information. With all those problems it’s a wonder the poor little hedgehogs survive at all. They’re very lucky that people like you care enough to help them. I love the story about Fern’s recovery. How can you tell it was Fern you saw the other night?
I watched some hedgehog videos on YouTube the other day. There are some really cute hedgehogs in those videos.
@Linda K.: Well I do what I can to help, anyway. How could I say no to those cute little faces?
I mark every hedgehog with a different colour before I release it – Fern has a spot of green acrylic paint on the prickles above her shoulders (not that you can see her shoulders, lol) so when I saw her I knew it was her straight away.
Oh and she turned up again last night too. :) So she’s still around!
@Silverleaf: Thanks for the butterfly knowledge — I didn’t know that about the antennae! Now that I think about it, though, I can picture the “feathery” kind that moths have. (They can look a bit scary sometimes.) Pretty cool info. I see where you’re coming from, with the “rescue” thing now. It’s so awesome how you rehabilitate wildlife!
As for the butterfly cane, I meant using 2 canes, as well. I’m not sure if I was clear on that, though; I was trying to keep my comment shorter — to no avail! Anyway, I’m sure your butterflies will be beautiful, and have the appropriate type of antennae, of course! ;D
@Linda: You, slow? Never! I don’t believe it for a second…
***
Does anyone have any basic “ground rules” for attaching findings to pendants they’d like to talk about? Laura B & Maria would like some info & tips! I think it would make a good conversation. Or even an article, or a spotlight done by a member.
I think a “Finishes” Spotlight, with photos of all types of finishes on the same item, would be helpful, too. Someone could take pendants or cane slices, and finish them with Future, Varathane, Sculpey Gloss, Studio by Sculpey Glaze, Liquid clay (like Kato Clear Medium,) UTEE, Resin, etc. Then put them all side-by-side, along with a plain, sanded & buffed piece. It would be wonderful to see how they compare to each other on the same item.
I’ve got so many finishes, I could do it. But now I have to get my clay back out. I had to put everything away when we started getting ready for the pool. While I’m excited about having a pool and jacuzzi in a few weeks, it seriously messed with my plans to get my craft area (too small to call a “studio”!) ready & organized. Cleaning out the garage added more “junk” that has to be gone through, organized, disposed of, etc. Arghh!…I was almost there! Anyway, I’m working on it. I reeeaaallly want to get my hands in the clay — especially to make animal canes! ~Kat
@Phaedrakat: Sorry if I got confused! It’s hard to describe what I mean without pictures.
@Silverleaf: I know what you mean! Speaking of PC hedgehogs, have you seen Heather Power’s? So cute! Check them out at Humblebeads. I’m pretty sure she still makes them. I don’t really know much about hedgehogs, but I think it’s great that you care for them the way you do!
@Phaedrakat: Oooh, Kat, will that jacuzzi help your back to feel better? I hope so.
@ Cindy – I’m late seeing this post. I’ve been sick with this virus thats going around- feverish, headache and totally lost my voice. I planned on doing the glow in the dark jelly roll cane but only got as far as conditioning the clay. With a headache and runny nose and cough it just woudn’t work. Yesterday our computer had to be fixed. I was eagerly looking forward to watching the video and reading your blog; I just opened it and wow- what a beautiful butterfly wing. It really made me happy. You’ve captured the color and the delicate wing perfectly. I just have to own this pendant. I’ve found the pendant- I’m going to buy it. It will be wonderful to wear and treasure – a signature piece for the best polymer clay artist and tutor. And yes, I would love a tutorial.
@ Ken- As soon as I saw the photo of the wing, I had exactly the same idea as you- a 3D rose with a 3D butterfly – it would make a beautiful sculpture piece. I have to get going with my rose cane too. I’ve been wanting to try it for awhile.
Silverleaf, sorry I just noticed your question I got my resin Magic gloss from polymer claypit I use it as Tina Holden said to do the rim, cure and then fill the centre and it works well hope that’s a help to you Ritz.
@Ritzs: Thanks! I’ll check that out.
Hi Cindy
I wanted to let you know that I just received your package with the butterfly wing pendant that I purchased. It’s gorgeous – even more beautiful now that I can see it. Can’t wait to wear it. I showed it to mum and dad when I talked with them on Skype. They loved it… especially mum – she paints butterflies too. I look forward to learning how to make a pendant like this.
Cheryl
@Cheryl Hodges: Ooooh, how exciting to have a “Cindy Original!” I’ll bet your necklace is gorgeous, it sure looks that way both here and in the video. I’m so happy for you! Can’t wait for the tutorial, so I can TRY to make something that pretty!
Cindy.. I keep stairing at this wing trying to pick it apart as to how you got those colors to do that.. I am looking forward to this tut…
The hedgehog artist I mentioned (don’t want to advertise anyone else too much, LOL!) uses paints on her beads. I know how to splash paint around, but I don’t have any “real” painting talent. To make good use of paint with clay, I need some good tips or directions to make it look fantastic. I think a paint tutorial would be fun, and I don’t think you’ve covered it here before (except for antiquing.) I’d like to learn various ways to use acrylic paint as a surface treatment, and oil paints in raw clay. I think it would be helpful to go over the use of acrylics, oil paints, oil pastels, etc. –Just trying to through some ideas out there. I have some Lumiere paints that I’ve had sitting around. I think I’ll do some “practicing” with them, especially now that Hanne R’s tip inspired me in her Spotlight.
Thanks for all you do, Cindy! ~Kat
@Phaedrakat: thanks for your great ideas, Kat – you’re inspired. Paint and clay: Acrylics, oils, pastels -what are ‘oil pastels’?- it all sounds so exciting. So much for me to learn. What fun! We’re so lucky! I was wondering if I should ask Cindy if it’s possible to do a Celtic cane, you know, those swirly, curvy intricate Celtic designs. We could have our very own version of the Book of Kells in GITD clay!
@Mary: So true about the GITD! We are lucky, aren’t we? Ask away about the Celtic cane! Cindy loves requests, or so it seems, anyway. You have to mention what you like, so people can talk about it and drum up some interest. That’s when Cindy finally say’s, “ok, people really want this. I’ll make a tute.” (Or so it goes, in my mind! LOL) I imagine Cindy’s list of items is a mile long, but you never know what everyone is going to get excited over. Keep bringing it up, and see if others will chime in…
I’m off to see the new video! Yay! See ya at the Zebra page~
Phaedrakat said… “Cindy loves requests, or so it seems, anyway.”
You are absolutely correct Phaedrakat. I take notes on ALL of the requests you guys make here in the comments. As the saying goes… “Squeaky wheel gets the grease…” :-)
@Cindy Lietz : Cindy, did you get my email? The Zebra Cane video is not accessible to me for some reason. I’ve tried from 2 computers!
@Phaedrakat: Yes I did get your email. The problem has been solved. My name link will take you to a comment where I provided more info and an explanation about what happened with the Zebra Cane Video this morning.
I’m going to add my wish list too – I would love to learn how to do a ‘Paisley cane’. Anyone else interested in the paisley pattern?
@Cheryl Hodges: Ooh, I would love to learn a paisley cane. I recently made a paisley-shaped pendant, but a can would be much better.
@Linda K.: Hi Linda, it certainly won’t hurt! The Jacuzzi will give me some relief, I’m sure. I’ll be able to get more exercise with the pool so handy, too, and it’s a lot easier on the ol’ bod. It’s nearly impossible to do regular exercise with my bad back and neck (plus bad knees & feet problems.) Makes it hard to walk or anything for any length of time. I get a lot of intermittent pain, too, like in my hip, shoulders, legs, etc. — the jacuzzi should be great to help ease those pains. And the exercise will help me get into better shape, perhaps lessenening my pain even more. They’re on track with the building schedule. It’s gonna be great when it’s done! Thanks for asking… :D BTW: I’m glad you asked about the hedgehogs. I was wondering the same things!
@Cheryl Hodges: Good wish, Cheryl! A paisley cane would be fun, and they’re really pretty. I’d love to see Cindy’s take on a Paisley Cane. She would probably have some great tips, too. I’ve seen some “unattractive” paisley canes on the web that didn’t turn out well. A tutorial by Cindy would ensure our canes look great!
@Phaedrakat: It sounds like your in just as bad shape as I am in.. I wish I had a jacuzzi. I just paid off my car and about to pay off my workshop so……. I might just get me one.. :) I don’t exercize either. I wish I could though..
@brenda: I hope you’re able to get one. When you have a lot of pain, anything that gives relief is a blessing. I used to exercise all the time (a fanatic!) but that slowly died down as my pain got worse. After my surgeries, I did basic physical therapy, but I’ve never been able to do much more than stretching exercises to keep as limber as I can. I haven’t had regular access to a pool, so I’m hoping this will do the trick. A reduction in pain, and getting in better shape would be a dream come true. It would probably help with my depression, at least a little. Pain & depression are one big cycle, feeding off each other, making it worse. Anyway, I’m hoping for the best, and for you, too! Actually, for all of the women (and men) at this blog who suffer from various forms on chronic pain, depression, and illness. Bless you all!
Now, back to polymer clay… Unless Silverleaf will please tell us about the hedgehogs! ;D
Oops. Make that “a cane would be much better.”
@ Kat and Brenda- Hope you feel better. At the moment I am not in pain except for my left arm/shoulder. The doctor said I had probably overreached and caused a bit of damage to the rotator cuff. I had all the tests done – blood work, xrays, EMG p nothing sofar. I even had an ultra sound )pelvic and abdominal) to check kidneys and ovaries for the back pain but it seems it’s all okay. So now she has asked me to get massage and physio. I wish they had some answers. I don’t swim (I’ve heard exercising in water is good) and would love a jacuzzi but thats out. We want to buy a home so it’s a very tight budget.
@Cheryl Hodges: Thanks for the “pain-free” wish! I’m pretty much in constant pain, though, but I take medications that make it “bearable” (most days, anyway.) I spend lots of my time in bed, so moving in the pool will be such a good thing for me. I do leave the house once in awhile, but I have to max my meds to get through it. I can’t sit or stand in one position for long, so when I do errands I have to lay down in the car in-between stores (I look ridiculous!) I’ve had to lay on benches (like outside Target!) when the pain gets too bad. It’s pretty embarrassing. Sometimes the medication doesn’t work, and that’s when the depression hits hard. That’s why I feel so bad for you, and for all the rest of my polymer clay friends here at the blog who suffer from pain.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to go on & on. I’m feel really bad for you, Cheryl; that’s horrible when they can’t figure out why you’re hurting. I know you were sick with a really bad virus a week or so ago, too. I didn’t know about the back pain. And rotator cuff! Ouch! I’m glad they did all those tests, hopefully the ones that haven’t come back will help them find the source of your back pain. It’s awful not knowing. Don’t give up, and stay on top of them. Doctors just don’t seem to care like they used to; or, at least they don’t have the time or resources to help the way they once did. Either way, patients have to really take charge of their own care. It’s exhausing when you’re sick, when you want to “let” them take care of you. Instead you have to “make sure” they take care of you. Arghhh!
Wow, sorry for the rant. I will pray for you Cheryl, that they find out what’s wrong and a way to make you feel better. Also, that the physio & massage help you. (Massage is always nice. I try to get one once a month, when I can afford it.) I hope your arm and shoulder feel better, too. That’s really bothersome — I sure hope you’re not left-handed! I ruined my right shoulder playing soft-ball years ago; the pain kicks in every now & then. I used to get cortisone shots — was that an option for your pain? They hurt a lot, but if you’re lucky they’ll fix the pain for a few weeks or even longer for some people. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck with your health (sorry I kept mentioning mine!) Thanks again!
Oh, I wish you could get a jacuzzi. But that home-budget is very important, of course. I forgot to ask you about the subject of this blog post — have you been wearing your beautiful butterfly pendant? Which cord did you select — the blue or the black? And what about reactions? What kinds have you had while wearing Cindy’s creation? :D
That story’s hilarious! As a cat person, I can appreciate the humor — I’ve been in that situation myself with tenacious cats who just HAVE to get their prey! Even a poor little stuffed hedgie, or hoggie. I guess the nicknames for hedgehogs differ from continent to continent?
@ Kat – Poor you! I went for a massage today with my 16 year old daughter who was also prescribed a massage for neck strain. It felt good though they have to work a lot on the upper back and neck muscles. I’ve to see the doctor next week. The lump that the massage therapist found the last time (at the base of my spine) seems to have gone down a bit. They think that was due to chronic inflammation – a kind of fluid filled pocket wich may have been caused when i fell in India years ago ( in my teens) I had compression of the spine at the time and they only treated it with some light treatment for pain. I think the doctors neglected it back then.
I haven’t gone out except to the doctors so did not get a chance to wear Cindys pendant – just itching to wear it . I’m accompanying our youth choir at a ceelbration at our church, Saturday evening (our parish priest Monsignor , will be clebrating 45 years as a priest) so I have my outfit ready – I chose it so i could wear the pendant!
@Cheryl Hodges: Oooh, that massage sounds good. How nice & fun to have one with your daughter! I hope her neck is okay. Make sure she finishes all of her therapy! I haven’t had a massage in over a month. I am using the money to buy clay stuff instead — pretty crazy, right? I really want that Lortone! I’m glad to hear that your back isn’t hurting you as much right now, though. I know what you mean about the “old fall.” My pains all seem to stem from old injuries; they weren’t properly cared for at the time, either. Anytime I hear of someone’s new injuries, I always urge them to take good care of them, and get things completely checked out. So often we start to feel better, so we just let things go. But that’s when we still need physical therapy. Instead, people just let things heal the wrong way, setting themselves up for worse pain and problems down the line. There are so many injuries I “let go” when I was younger. I sure wish I could have had a talk with that crazy girl! Not sure she would have listened, though. [*w*]
I hope you enjoyed the celebration yesterday. I was wondering how Cindy’s pendant debut went? Or did the priest get all the attention at his own party? LOL I just wanted to see if you got a lot of compliments. Hope you enjoyed your night! ~Kat
@ Cindy – A friend of mine came by to get her necklace extended. I made her an onyx and crystal necklace for her daughters wedding. I showed her your butterfly wing necklace and she loved it – she said it looked like glass and also like shell because it was so flat and shimmery. She loved the colors too. Can’t wait to let everyone see it on Saturday – our church is having a little concert. I have this beautiful summery skirt the exact color of the cord with deeper blue and green flowers; will wear a black top to sow off the necklace.
The celebration went very well on Saturday – our youth choir sang well. And i wore Cindy’s pendant. .
People whom i met commented on the necklace – they loved it; said it looked like glass, that it was beautiful. The loved the colors and were amazed when i told them it was polymer clay.
I can not wait for this one, I have bought so many tuts and just had no luck in mine looking anything close to real, I will be signing in first thing to have a look at this one [Butterfly Wing Cane Video Tutorial]! Thank you Cindy for all you do for us !
I have been using q-tips when applying S by S Glossey Glaze and I get lines on the bead. A friend suggested using a sable brush. Any other suggestions?
OK, this thread convinced me I have to take a speed reading course, because I just invested in good glasses.
Is it just me, or have I noticed an incredible jump in membership and forum postings? It’s great!
@Jocelyn: Definitely been a jump in postings—I hope they’re new members, for her sake! I’ve been trying to help Cindy answer questions, but I can’t keep up right now, what with the neck hurting so much! In fact, I want to answer the one above this, but I’m going to have to find a certain link first. (You know how I like to provide breadcrumbs…)
@Samone: Yes a sable brush would work nicely for putting on glaze. If you need more help, type in your keywords into the search box at the top of the page and it will take you to a list of articles that will help.
TO ALL: Phaedrakat has been a Godsend in making sure that everyone’s questions get answered in a timely manner. But like me, she is starting to get overwhelmed with the obvious increase in activity that has been happening here in this wonderful polymer clay community. If all of you regulars could please keep your eyes open for opportunities to respond to new questions that come up, that would be GREATLY appreciated! Even if you don’t have a complete answer, just share what you know… or share a few words of encouragement. It all helps in making sure that everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Thank you SO much.
@Jocelyn: There has definitely been a jump. Great things are happening here!
@Phaedrakat: Thank you for everything you do. I am sorry you are in so much pain. I wish it would just go away. You deserve so much better!
Looking over this thread again, I realized I haven’t seen Silverleaf for a little bit. Does anyone know if she is away? I emailed her a week or so ago and did not get a response. Hope she is OK.
Used the easy cast resin on some of the blue morpho butterfly wing pieces. That was the cane I did not blend enough. The pieces still look pretty but should have had more blue. I had this bottle of easy cast and am using it. Experimenting with the different types of resins. My Ultra Dome piece – which is in the competition has turned out the best. i did not have any bubbles or problems. I’ve tried Judikins fluxe enameling resin and thats messy. No mixing as it’s powder but you can put a bit too much and though it’s self leveling I did have it spill over. Also when I went to drill the hole to make it bigger, it cracked around the edge. I could lift the whole piece out and it got a bit yellow. I had to redo it after enlarging the hole. Yesterday I used Easy cast – it’s a bit messy as you have to keep pouring it from one container to the other. It degassed well, did not have any bubbles but I did have a bit spill over. Have to sand off the back and put a thin layer for the blend and switch slices which are still too thin. It set well in a couple of hours without any oven. Any suggestions with the hole? I think I’m going to need to enlarge some of them to get the jump ring in but I hope they don’t crack.
Oh I forgot to add, a couple of them pulled a wee bit away from the edge. Can I add some more to the edge? Will it cure and look one piece or will the ege look separate?
Cherie moved her question to the Ultradome thread, where it was answered by Carolyn.