Showing posts with label ceramic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ceramic. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
What's New
I'm in the process of trying (once again) to create some ceramic mobiles. Every time I decide to do this I get sidetracked and never manage to complete them. This time I'm using some great old pieces of embroidered and eyelet fabrics to create a pattern. I think I'm going to start with three "dangles" instead of planning some huge piece. I REALLY need to apply the less is more mantra to more of my life's issues. I tend to over think a lot. I'm going to force myself to keep this simple. Stay tuned for further developments! ;)
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Thinking of Spring
As I can see it's been a full month since I've posted, I've got a new treasury to add. It makes me so happy to see these cheerful items listed by some of my new and old Etsy friends!
Visit my Etsy Shop and save 25% with my coupon code: Butterfly!
The monarchs are visiting my milkweed.......and laying eggs!
Visit my Etsy Shop and save 25% with my coupon code: Butterfly!
'She's a Butterfly' by ALDDesigns
The monarchs are visiting my milkweed.......and laying eggs!
 The Monarch Conserv... $39.99 |  Flutterby Butterfly... $23.00 |  35% OFF SALE - Fly ... $19.50 |  One day I'll fl... $12.00 |
 Table Decor, Paper ... $48.95 |  Lemon Chamomile, H... $6.00 |  Blooming Tea - 5 as... $7.99 |  Yellow Mod Sunflowe... $28.00 |
 Marigolds linen tea... $22.00 |  Vintage Leaves Felt... $45.00 |  He Loves Me, He Lov... $12.99 |  Gemyma -Orange Butt... $4.95 |
 organic baby quilt ... $120.00 |  Into the darkness -... $25.00 |  Matte Gold Butterfl... $17.50 |  elyse SIGNATURES Ci... $109.00 |
Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.
Monday, February 15, 2010
First YouTube Tutorial
I know it's not the best, but it's not the worst either...lol. At least no one has to listen to me talking.
My Zinnia Tutorial
I made some of these zinnias and was getting ready to list them, then I saw someone on Etsy's front page who had made something similar and I felt weird adding mine right after-- especially since hers were not only stunning but beautifully photographed. I try not to look at stuff that is very much like mine when I'm on Etsy. For one thing, even if it didn't influence me whatsoever, I feel concerned someone will think it did. Also, if I have an idea I love, I'll feel disheartened if I find someone doing something similar. Ignorance is bliss..lol...so I try not to look too much. In my personal way of thinking, even if someone set out to do something EXACTLY like something of mine, it would always look a bit different because of the individual artistry of the other person. YET, here I am sweating it...lol. Once I made a glass bead depicting a father penguin and a baby, yes I was inspired by some pictures of penguins, but not by someone's artwork...and this person actually made a big ole thing about it on a message board. It was actually enough to sort of kill my creative spirit for a time. I know it is part of what took my heart out of lampworking. So this time around, I don't know if I will go much to ceramic message boards, I'd like to meet other artists, but at the same time there is always going to be someone pointing fingers and accusing people they don't even know.
Anyway, I don't put out tutorials for my own gratification, I put it on to help other people starting out. So if you use the tutorial to make something and then turn around and sell it, I'm honored.
My Zinnia Tutorial
I made some of these zinnias and was getting ready to list them, then I saw someone on Etsy's front page who had made something similar and I felt weird adding mine right after-- especially since hers were not only stunning but beautifully photographed. I try not to look at stuff that is very much like mine when I'm on Etsy. For one thing, even if it didn't influence me whatsoever, I feel concerned someone will think it did. Also, if I have an idea I love, I'll feel disheartened if I find someone doing something similar. Ignorance is bliss..lol...so I try not to look too much. In my personal way of thinking, even if someone set out to do something EXACTLY like something of mine, it would always look a bit different because of the individual artistry of the other person. YET, here I am sweating it...lol. Once I made a glass bead depicting a father penguin and a baby, yes I was inspired by some pictures of penguins, but not by someone's artwork...and this person actually made a big ole thing about it on a message board. It was actually enough to sort of kill my creative spirit for a time. I know it is part of what took my heart out of lampworking. So this time around, I don't know if I will go much to ceramic message boards, I'd like to meet other artists, but at the same time there is always going to be someone pointing fingers and accusing people they don't even know.
Anyway, I don't put out tutorials for my own gratification, I put it on to help other people starting out. So if you use the tutorial to make something and then turn around and sell it, I'm honored.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Useful Things to Know When Working with Clay -- Part 1
I've been thinking a lot lately about the merit of a bamboo skewer. You can get a big package of them for about $1 and they are about the best tool you will find for working with clay. I've used them to carve details, create molds, poke holes, hold beads for drying, wrap wire for loops and I'm sure I've used them for other things.
Another thing I love is polymer clay. I use it to make molds quite a bit. You can press buttons into it, as I've mentioned, but try rolling out a sheet and them poking it with the blunt end of the bamboo skewer, or try using a straw. You quickly create a texture similar to that of a sea urchin test or a tribal design of dots. You can coil metal wire and press it into a sheet of polymer clay and you can create another pattern. I do this with earthenware clay too, but polymer has the advantage of being able to be baked right away, and test the design. I've recently been working on molds using polymer clay and bamboo skewers to make floral molds for pendants.
I've learned that stoneware clay makes beautiful raku pieces and that lower temp clay doesn't work as well because it becomes too close to vitrification and won't pull in the smoke as well. This was a HUGE tip to find because it has a made a tremendous difference.
Another thing I love is polymer clay. I use it to make molds quite a bit. You can press buttons into it, as I've mentioned, but try rolling out a sheet and them poking it with the blunt end of the bamboo skewer, or try using a straw. You quickly create a texture similar to that of a sea urchin test or a tribal design of dots. You can coil metal wire and press it into a sheet of polymer clay and you can create another pattern. I do this with earthenware clay too, but polymer has the advantage of being able to be baked right away, and test the design. I've recently been working on molds using polymer clay and bamboo skewers to make floral molds for pendants.
I've learned that stoneware clay makes beautiful raku pieces and that lower temp clay doesn't work as well because it becomes too close to vitrification and won't pull in the smoke as well. This was a HUGE tip to find because it has a made a tremendous difference.
As you can see these are a big improvement over my first birds. They hold up to the thermal shock wonderfully as well.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Pics
So I haven't really played with regular clay since about middle school age, which is quite awhile ago! I'm really excited with how these are turning out. I'm using high temp wire for the whiskers but I'll probably either loop the ends or epoxy tiny beads over the ends to make them a little less likely to catch on stuff.
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