At the Worktable... and a sense of foreboding

I just put my completed commissioned diptych in the oven - it's taken a while to get it just right and I'm very happy with this piece! I'll put the picture up tomorrow.
I've continued experimenting with an entirely new process using multiple layers of clay- alchohol inks and scratching and stamping. I've made Fusions with it and for the remainder of the week I'll be making a family of Muses. 

All the fun in the studio is tempered with a deep sense of foreboding. The postal workers have delivered strike notice and may suspend services in less than 72 hours. This means a vital shipment of findings that's snagged  at the border will remain so and worse still- any  gallery cheques winging their way to me will be stuck in a mailbag somewhere for the duration.

New Stuff

Back again after a blog-lull. Never did get around to that studio cleanout. My Kindle, the garden and a couple of orders stopped my good intentions. When in the studio I kept tinkering with the Klimt  technique and as a result I have a new look for some of my earrings and pendants - the resin sets the colour alight!

Variation on a theme

I received a commission to do a diptych based on Sockeye Sunset. The new piece will be on two 8"x8" wooden panels. The working title is Sunset and Moon Rise. Work begins in earnest today. The first step will be to prime the board with weldbond and then let it dry- it will form a seal to prevent bubbling when I begin laying the clay.

I'm feeling very encouraged lately- I was just informed that "The Meadow" that was at the Crafthouse on Granville Island has been sold!

On with the Shoe!

I'm home again after a short trip to Vancouver. The city has playoff fever and this arty Canuck Car was parked on Robson Street to show the team colours! Go Canucks!
 I was able to visit the art gallery as well as have a stroll around Granville Island to spark my creative process.  I also spent more time than cash oggling a myriad of shoes that were incompatible with a.) The Weather b.) My polymer encrusted  lifestyle c.)My family's need to maintain a roof over our heads and to eat. City hiking is harder on the feet than covering ground being in the bush or on the beach.  I did  serious blistery damage to my feet as I stolled the city wearing "sensible shoes" and so I replaced them with a nice new 3 inch heeled strappy pair of  sandals with a back of the heel zipper. New shoes and a couple of blister pads  reduced the pain considerably . Heels can be comfortable! Sorry- I am here to discuss polymer clay and got distracted.


Home again. The studio is in chaos. I have two shops that need new fusion bangles and resin/polymer art-wear. I have a wonderful commission for a diptych that will be a source of creative delight over the next two weeks. Today is a "shoveling out day" though-I have to tidy up before I can get back to work. The good news is that it's pouring outside which helps me focus on doing this rather than heading outside with my kindle.
I'm also going to re-open my etsy shop  I'll be having some interesting mixed media items for sale.

Storing polymer clay sheets a la Carol Simmons

I make lots of sheets of polymer clay- some are skinner blends, some are multi-layered "Klimt sheets" and some are sheets with various surface treatments. I've often found myself short on table and shelf space with all of the sheets I generate and need to set aside for later use. Last summer I met Carol Simmons and she shared her incredible collections of mokum game. I loved her mokum game but was also enormously impressed with her storage system. Each sheet is inserted in a plastic display binder. Flat, airtight and safe. Carol gifted me with some of her mokum game with the request that I show her what I ended up doing with it. Here it is, working inspirationally as the cover of my sheet book!
Thanks Carol!

assorted sheets- placed on plastic binder sheets-