Perfect Premo

...a follow up to my grumpiness about hard Premo-

Polyform shipped a replacement batch of absolutely beautiful malleable black Premo! I'm a satisfied customer.

Earth Clayer Inspiring this Polyclayer...

The hard clay thing gave me the blues. Happily I have been advised that Polyform is shipping me 20 lbs of nice malleable premo for me to work with!

I cheered myself up by visiting Sandra Dolph's website. Sandra is an earth clayer extraordinaire. I never miss a visit to her beautiful gallery whenever I visit Galiano Island. Her work fuses the colours and textures of our west coast environment with a wonderful Asian inspired style.

I feel energised to try some tiles that veer away from flowers, fish and fruit for a while.... hope you'll visit her website http://www.sandradolph.com/ and see how she inspires you!

Premo Polymer Clay Lacks Consistency

Today I'm in a pretty grumpy mood. I purchased 20 lbs of black premo and it's an awful batch. It's too hard and requires a ton of conditioning. Even after spending time that I can't spare on extra conditioning, when I run out a thin sheet it's too brittle to work with. I have tried the clay packaged on the July 7, 2008 and July 21, 2008. Two pounds of hell-clay.

My understanding is that Polyform has changed ingredients in its formula. Getting the right consistency has been problematic and and the difficulties have been passed down to artisans using the clay. Over the past year we have endured months of rock hard clay. My supplier included complimentary bottles of Sculpey dilutent but it's messy to use when you work with large batches as I do and the time wasted conditioning the clay is unrecoverable. After the hard clay era we had batches of very soft clay (that i loved) that frustrated caners. The worst of all of this is that you never know what to expect when you place an order. I just emailed my poor supplier who has no control over what Polyform is doing in the factory and explained the situation. I have a show coming up and constant orders- I need to be at work to keep up. Taking extra time for conditioning and dealing with constant cracking affects my business. An art-based business is hard enough without this issue.

If polyform blended the current clay (packaged on July 7, 2008) with one of the soggier batches from earlier in the year they might have a consistency that would please most clayers.

I'm waiting to hear what my supplier suggests- perhaps a swap for 18 lbs of Studio?

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PS- my wonderful supplier has requested that Polyform replace the clay by express courier.... my fingers are crossed this will work out....

POST SCRIPT- the hard clay has been replaced with a beautifully malleable batch of PERFECT PREMO!

Perplexed Packrat

I am a packrat when it comes to materials for making art. My husband interprets my tendency to collect rusty bits of metal, weathered sticks, stones and dried up bits of seaweed as a sympton of a deep psychological disturbance, but as most of my best friends suffer from the same syndrome I usually don't worry about it much. Every now and then I begin to feel a bit hemmed in though and consider what I'm creating and whether my extensive stash compliments the effect I'm after. I did such an exercise a few weeks ago and with a smug sense of orderliness I filled bags with a tangle of sticks from many beachcombing sessions and sent them off to be chipped at the reycling depot.

I forgot the rule "If you toss something- you are guaranteed to need it within a few days" I did a batch of tiles today with a neutral toned organic sort of look. I have in mind to make a wall hanging with them.and I'm mourning the loss of a certain twisty stick that I discarded .... grrrrr

Polymer Clay Clocks and a Great Tool Source

I made my first two clocks today and I am really going to enjoy making these!

It helped that I received a new tile cutter yesterday. It's like a very heavy duty cookie cutter and stamps out 5x5" tiles. Polymer Clay artists should always keep pottery supply stores in mind when they need supplies... I got my cutter from Clay King. http://www.clay-king.com/ The service was wonderul and considering that I'm in Canada and the package had to go through customs, the shipping was lightening fast!

Moxie Tiles and Polymer Clay Projects

I'm doing pretty well with my September project list. The new "Polymer Clay Basics Workshop" is set up and I've begun spreading the word. Yesterday I received a box of clock movements for making some polymer clay clocks and today I finished a little collection of Moxie Tiles.

The Etsy Shop set Up Project is still ongoing.... the photos of the first ten tiles are done ....

This Blog's First Anniversary!

I was looking at an echinacea in my garden and recalled posting about echinaceas in the early days of this blog so I back-scrolled and discovered that this is actually the first anniversary of my blog!

Thanks to everyone who has shared the year with me!

My New Polymer Clay Workshop!

Polymer Clay Basics & Giftmaking
Presented by Gera Scott Chandler in Victoria, BC- http://www.amusedgallery.com/

In this lively and inspiring beginners workshop Gera will provide an introduction to the basics in polymer clay while showing you how to make beautiful one of a kind gifts for the special people in your life. The class is specifically designed for people who are new to polymer clay. The 5 hour class is project-driven and each participant will learn to use colour blending, backfilling, inclusions and basic millifiori techniques to create one piece of wearable art and two functional items that will be perfect for gift-giving in the upcoming holiday season.

Take your new skills and inspiration home with you and continue
creating special items for all the people on your gifting list.

Gera will also provide tips on packaging and presenting your creations.

$75 includes clay and materials.

A pasta machine is required.. Affordable starter machines are available at Michael’s or check garage sales, eBay or Used Victoria.com for deals on used machines!
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The workshop will be held in Victoria BC

Saturday November 22 - 10:00-3:30

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There will be a 30 minute break for lunch (not included )
Self-Serve Coffee and Tea will be provided.

Please email gera at amusedcreations@shaw.ca to request registration information.

A Polymer Clay September

I LOVE September! I think it 's better than New Years, maybe cos there's less food around or there are a lot of holidays to look forward to. Nonetheless it's a good time to come up with new goals that don't involve accumulated angst.

My arty goals are-

*Before October set up an ETSY store starting with with tiles for sale

*develop polymer clay classes- I'll be offering a local beginners class in October to start and begin to find venues to introduce my Crackle Process in Canada and the US - email me if you are interested amusedcreations@shaw.ca

*make clocks- wall mount and stand-alone- that's going to be FUN- clock works are on order!

*explore the idea of Muses/Moxies and tiles in assemblage

*incorporate "cedar whips" in sculptural work- I need a big wind storm to do it. I'll explain when weather conditions allow.

*get a DREAM Machine- c'mon Artway!!

*Get set for the GIFTS FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS SHOW here in Victoria in November and blog through booth design as I go.

Who has time to rake leaves?