FINISHING TECHNIQUES FOR POLYMER CLAY

Recently I was reading a posting on a polymer clay discussion group. The artist was grieving over the loss of her favorite finishing material. It was her method of getting rid of the dusty look on sanded polymer clay. For many years I used Carnuba wax to finish beads when I didn't want the high gloss finish achieved by buffing beads. A few years ago I discovered Renaissance micro crystalline wax polish. So I decided to partially wax a bead and photograph the result. The tiger striped bead was first sanded with 400, 800, then 1500 grit wet/dry sandpaper. I taped off one half then waxed the other half. Here is the result. The black/pink bead was sanded the same way then buffed. The wax gives a nice satin finish. It brought out the mica shift in the gold clay though not anywhere near as much as sanding/buffing the bead to a high shine. I also use it to finish unsanded beads. It doesn't provide as much shine as on a sanded bead. I use it just to protect the bead. I have never been fond of varnishing beads. I just can't get an even finish that way.

I purchased my Renaissance wax from: http://www.restorationproduct.com/

NOMINATED FOR SISTERHOOD AWARD

I have been nominated for an award called the "Sisterhood Award." Given to me by NKdesigns http://www.nkdesignslindariopel.blogspot.com/. It was given because she thinks my blog is creative and inspirational, and in return, I get to nominate women whose blogs inspire and encourage me. I have chosen: 1. Marcia Palmer http://www.marciapalmer.blogspot.com/ 2. Organic Odysseys http://www.organicodysseys.blogspot.com/ 3. Dharmadesigns http://dharmadesigns.blogspot.com/ 4. Pipsjewelry http://pipsjewellery.blogspot.com/ 5. Beadbunny http://beadbunny.blogspot.com/ 6. Beadazzled of Oregon http://www.dini-beadazzledoforegon.blogspot.com/

So go check out their blogs.

COMBINING MY PASSIONS

I started my artistic life as a photographer decades ago and later fell in love with polymer clay. Now with the advent of high quality digital photography and wonderful image manipulation tools I have been having fun combining these two artistic passions.

The thread that runs through all my work, independant of the medium used, is a love abstract composition. I have been having a great time taking photographs of my polymer clay jewelry and using The Gimp software (an open source image manipulation program similar to Adobe) to create digital mosaics.

Here is a brooch I call Pod and Bone. It made some great digital mosaic photographs. This was my first successful digital mosaic created from my jewelry. I was still learning how to use the software so didn't use any special features of The Gimp software, except to made the layers transparent. I also added a border.

This variation is very similar to the first one. I just added a small section of the mirrored image and rotated it. Good composition works when viewed from various angles. Though there is usually one direction that is most pleasing.

For this variation I used less saturated colors, in addition to using transparencies. I liked how it changed the feeling of the photo.

Here is another successful digital mosaic. The brooch is called Circle of Endless Possibilities. I gave it that title because it looked good no matter which direction I turned it. Using it to make digital mosaics really creates endless possibilities.

FIRST ARTISTIC COLLABORATION WITH BEADAZZLED OF OREGON IS UP FOR SALE

My first collaboration necklace with BeadazzledofOregon, which she calls Trifold, is now up for sale at her Etsy shop - http://www.beadazzledoforegon.etsy.com/. Check it out and see additional photos of the necklace.

ANOTHER COLLABORATION NECKLACE

Dini Alves (Beaddazzled of Oregon) has created another wonderful necklace "Cleopatra was Here" using one of my polymer clay pieces - Eye of Horus. It is for sale in her shop at Etsy.com. Check it out and see better photos. The eye of Horus is also called the Udjat and is the symbol of health, healing and completeness.

Check it out: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19283902

Artistic Collaboration

Many years ago I made a pendant that I liked a lot and strung it into a necklace I wasn't really happy with. Fancy bead stringing isn't my strength! That necklace was for sale at a Christmas sale at my fellow polymer clay artist's home. She bought the necklace for herself and restrung it. She has always been very good at stringing! That was my first collaboration.

I always liked the idea of collaborative art. Until recently this necklace was the only one. Not long ago a jewelry artist (Beadazzled of Oregon), who does really nice assymetrical beaded necklaces, bought a few of my pins to incorporate into her jewelry. She just emailed me photos of the finished necklace. See more of her work for sale at: http://www.beadazzledoforegon.etsy.com/

Bead Style Magazine's e-newsletter featured one of my necklaces.

Bead Style Magazine's November 2008 e-newsletter featured one of my necklaces. That was a very pleasant surprise for me. Check it out using the link listed here. http://links.mkt746.com/servlet/MailView?ms=Mjg4NDMyMAS2&r=MzgxNjQxMTM5MgS2&j=MTAyNzUyMjE1S0&mt=1&rt=0

Here is a photo of that part of the newsletter.