HELEN BREIL'S SHAPES eBOOK

Helen Breil, a wonderful polymer clay artist from Canada, has just released an eBook called "Shapes".  The book shows how to create 25 unique dimensional multi shape pendants.

Check it out: Helen Breil's eBook - Shapes

 I was asked to create a jewelry item for the book's gallery using one of the 25 designs.  This is the necklace that was in the book's gallery and it's gallery page.

 

This wasn't the only piece I created.  Here are the other three.

Now I just have to find time to try the other 24 shapes in the book.

 

IMAGE TRANSFER USING DONNA KATO'S WATER BASED TECHNIQUE

I just started playing with image transfers, which I haven't done in a very long time.  Previously I had done transfers using Lazetran Silk paper.  My reason for working with transfers again was a post that had a link to a Donna Kato video of her water based technique. Check out her free tutorial  Donna Kato's Polymer Clay Image Transfer Technique.  I found the technique extremely easy to do.  I don't know if all laser printers work as well.  I have a Samsung CLP 315W.

A few comments on the video:

1.  She doesn't specify how long to let the image sit before spraying with water.  I sprayed it as soon as I was done burnishing. 
2. I found it easy to feel when all the paper was off of the clay, so I used touch more than sight to know when all the paper was off.
3. I also ran running water over the clay to get the last bits of paper off.
4. I also did a quick test with a laser copy that has been sitting in my studio for a couple of years.  It transferred, though there was an area that didn't transfer as well.  I can't say for sure if it was because the transfer was old.  I used previously conditioned clay, but it was still pretty cool when I placed the transfer over it.  Since my studio is in the basement of my Minnesota (in winter) home, and the heat wasn't on, the 53 degree room temperature might have had something to do with it.

This is a pendant in progress using the first image I transferred.  The image on clay is as good as the image was on the paper.  The portion within the gold metal frame is slightly domed.  I didn't have any problems with the image cracking when it was slightly stretched to dome.

Polymer Cafe Monthly Challenge

I just got my December 2012 issue of Polymer Cafe and was thrilled to see that I won fist place in their monthly challenge whose theme was Black and White.  The three intricate main beads were created using two techniques from my tutorial "Jan's Jacob Ladder Variations" which is a fun, and easy way to create highly patterned polymer clay designs. 

If you are interested in giving it a try, the tutorial is for sale in my Etsy shop www.jangeisen.etsy.com

POLYMER CLAY TUTORIAL IS NOW FOR SALE

I did a tutorial on crackling polymer clay using alcohol inks for the premier issue of the new magazine From Polymer to Art.  That first issue has been sold old and the publisher has given me permission to sell the tutorial.

I created a slightly expanded version of the magazine article.  The tutorial has more examples of additional, more complicated, jewelry items that I created using the tutorial's crackle sheet.  The tutorial is for sale my Etsy shop:  http://www.jangeisen.etsy.com/.  I always try and have one tutorial listed for sale.  If there aren't any for sale please contact me, or just check again later. 

 

NEW POLYMER CLAY TUTORIAL FOR SALE

I have just finished another polymer clay tutorial.  It was a lot of fun, but more involved than I expected - too many variations, not enough time.  The tutorial shows how to create what some people refer to as a Jacob's Ladder cane.  It contains step by step instructions for two variations of the Basic Jacob's Ladder, plus three of my own.  I have also included a list of 15 other ways to vary the Jacob's Ladder pattern with three of them with photographs.  There is also a section on ways to use the ladder, plus photos with explanations of 13 pieces of jewelry I created with the cane. 

The tutorial is for sale in my Etsy shop:  http://www.jangeisen.etsy.com/