by Ronna Sarvas Weltman

I was recently lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the new book  Ancient Modern; Polymer Clay and Wire Jewelry by Ronna Sarvas Weltman, being published by Interweave press. The book can be pre-ordered here.

Featuring artistic, bold, and organic jewelry, the book is a joy for sheer eye-candy value.  Ronna gives an excellent overview of the basic techniques for working with both polymer clay and wire,  and she also gently reminds the reader  that practice is the only true way to build the skills required for working with both materials.  I found the section on designing jewelry while keeping in mind the physics of how it would hang on the body especially useful.

After the technique sections, there follows fifteen projects and a gallery of lovely work.  A couple of instructions are repeated throughout the book, for example several projects require a zebra cane and the instructions are reprinted each time.  This may be useful if you are following the projects exactly,  as you will not need to go back and find the instructions in another section, but not really necessary if like me, you tend to look for techniques to add to your arsenal,  and not projects.   Ronna paid attention to the little details like filing wire ends and tucking them in so that even the very dramatic and bold jewelry would remain comfortable and wearable.

Overall, I found the book to be a delight, there were several texturing and antiquing ideas that I am excited to try in my own projects,  as well as some new (to me) bead shapes with which I am planning to experiment.  It has also reminded me what a great compliment to clay wire makes, and inspired me to pull out my wire once again!

P.S.:  Stay tuned to the blog for the next week for two giveaways!

[tags]interweave press, Ancient Modern, Polymer Clay and Wire Jewelry, Ronna Sarvas Weltman, polymer clay book, book review[/tags]

Memory Brooches by Linda C. Moseley

We’ve had several letters and comments, requesting an easy way to do image transfers.  Well, we opened up the mailbag, and found a glowing recommendation to share with our readers!  Here’s the letter:

My friends and fellow PCAGOE (Polymer Clay Artists Guild Of Etsy) members, Ilysa Bierer and Kira Slye sell it at their website at www.polymerclayproductions.com and it is the easiest way to transfer images to polymer clay ever!

The paper is for use with laser printers only.  You print your image from a laser printer, burnish it to the raw, conditioned clay and then soak in water for a couple of minutes.  The paper dissolves, leaving the image in all its glorious color on the clay.   Or, you can burnish and bake the paper right on the clay and then run it under water.  The paper still dissolves, leaving your image intact.

Here are a few examples of what I’ve done with the MTP.   Ilysa and Kira will send you a sample to try if you contact them.   I buy it by the 20 page pack about once a month.  I will never go back to agonizing over messy, goopy liquid clay, decal type, or filmy residues again!

What shall I try first?

After a hectic week, it was a nice treat to open up my mailbox and see the April issue of “Polymer Cafe.”  My first reaction upon perusing the cover was “cool!”

The Lantern Beads by Sophia Lenz are bold, colorful, and definitely have that  “WOW!” factor.  I read through the instructions, and feel confident that while it may take some practice to make them as sharp and stunning as Sophia’s beads, the article was clear and would lead to a successful project.

Sharon “Harry” Solly shares a painted mica technique originated by her guild mate Mary Lee Forsythe.  This is one of those sweet and simple techniques that can be adjusted for a whole variety of looks.  (And it’s shiny and sparkly, which are two of my favorite adjectives in conjuction with polymer clay!)  I especially enjoyed the examples of this technique from the Blue Ridge Polymer Clay Guild in Asheville, North Carolina shown in the Reader’s Gallery.  (The “home guild” of the author)

This issue also features lots of cool work submitted for the Mixed Media Challenge, a charming story about “nudging” your creativity by Christie Friesen,  profiles about the President and Executive Director of the IPCA (International Polymer Clay Association,)  and a touching and inspiring farewell from the former editor of “Polymer Cafe,” Connie Donaldson.

This issue seemed to be a bit heavy on jewelry projects, although techniques can always be used in other ways.  With jewelry remaining a very popular item to make with polymer clay, there may be a lack of non-jewelry project submissions.

[tags]polymer cafe review, polymer clay magazine, april issue[/tags]

Polka Dot Creations has just released their “Best Seller ” list for the month of February.  Click on through here to check ot out, and see what’s hot in the polymer clay world!  (And perhaps add a couple of titles ot your wishlist!)

[tags]february polymer clay books bestsellers, polka dot creations[/tags]

If your just starting out working with polymer clay, you might be better off with one of the cheaper ones like the Amaco brands. You never now if you’ll like claying or not.

Then again, you may have to end up buying a better one because the Amaco types tend to get their gears warped. When you get as far as buying an Atlas, you’re hooked, LOL! But, if you’re REALLY into it like some of us, you have to have the Marcato Atlas. They roll smooth without ripples, my Atlas doesn’t seem to get as “dirty” as the cheaper brand. But let me warn you, the Atlas’ brand will do the same if you put clay that is too firm or shoving too much into it isn’t going to help either. Make sure you soften the Kato clay some before putting it in the rollers.

Oh, make sure you are taking a hammer, acrylic roller, let me think, maybe a sledgehammer would be best for Kato brand clay, it tends to be a little on the firm side. Then use all that built up tension and swing like hell. Pretend it’s your husbands head after you just found out he forgot to mail an important letter!!!!!

Happy claying!

Getting back to voting, While I can’t sit here and tell you word for word what’s in this issue of Polymer clay. I will tell you that the tutorials are great. I hope I get to keep it long enough to do the ones I want to try, or well ….. until I have to mail it to the winner sometime this week To be entered to win,all you have to do is go to PCC and vote for your favorite entry  then email me with who you think will win in the PCC drawing

                Don’t forget   Email me at polymerclay@craftgossip.com  if you think you know who will win

I just love the eggs on the front cover. They aren’t polymer clay, but the roses on top are. I don’t think I’d have patience for something that detailed. (I mean the etching on the eggs) The roses maybe, not the eggs.

Don’t change the channel, I’ll be back with how to go about winning this issue!

I haven’t tried the Magic-Glos yet, although I do have a sample I received at the CHA show I attended a few weeks ago. I plan on trying it as soon as the weather and I are on the same schedule. However, I have ordered some of her products before, like the foils, tins, texture stamps, and blank jewelry settings. The quality of the products I received was par for the course with the prices, which were very affordable for even the most frugal among us clayers, myself included.

I have ordered from this website only twice, and while most of the products are of average quality, I found the level of service lacking in some areas. Both times I’ve ordered, I had at least one item to be missing upon arrival, although they do send a sampling of extra products along with your missing item when it’s shipped. The shipping time also varies greatly and it has been my experience that it depends upon Ms. Pavelka’s show schedule, and it may be more than a couple of days before your order is processed or you are able to get in contact with someone about about your order.

All in all, while I do enjoy using the items I’ve bought and I like the the other items that are available on the site, I think I may try finding them somewhere else next time.

[tags]polymer clay, Covered in Clay, reviews[/tags]

One factor of flexibility depends upon how thick you make the item. They all flex when very thin, less than 1/16 of an nch. Of them Kato is the most flexible, then Fimo, Fimo Soft, Premo, and finally Sculpey III. In general, do not use Sculpey III if the item needs to flex after baking. It tends to be brittle at any thickness. Sculpey also produces Bake-n-Bend which is a flexible clay. No matter what brand you use, they all must be properly conditioned by hand kneading or by putting the clay through a pasta machine. Remember that conditioned clays will need reconditioning if left unused for several days.

While Sculpey III is one of the most brittle of the polymer clays. After baking, Bake-n-Bend will become brittle over time. Mix 1 part Premo to 1 Part Bake n’ Bend for a more durable yet flexible product. For even greater flexibility add 1 part Kato Clay to the mix. Pure Kato or Premo should do the job if cured properly. To give you an idea, if you mix Premo 50/50 with Bake and Bend, the result can be extruded for snakes flexible enough to crochet. If that is more flex than you want, try Kato and Premo in a 50/50 mix. To avoid breakage be sure to cure at a high enough temp for at least the manufacturer’s recommended temp and time. Any longer than that and the clay won’t be as flexible. If you have mixed clay brands it is safe to bake at the higher temperature for the recommended time.

Polymer clay is also pliable right after it comes out of the oven. You can twist and bend it into the desired shape then cool it under running water to set the shape. You can also cut tube beads after removal from the oven to keep distortion down.If polymer clay is under cured it will degrade over time.The plasticizers will leach from the middle to the outer layers.You need to be extremely sure you’re curing at the right temperature. If you don’t have a freestanding oven thermometer you should get one. Big Lots, dollar stores and Wal Mart type places have them for around $8.They stand/hang in your oven on the rack, (not a probe or anything like that) It is always important to use one of those in any oven you bake in to get the temperature right before you put in your items.Undercuring is thought to cause cracks in beabds and such. There may be cases where people recommend putting clay into a cold oven and heating it to the max temperature and leaving the items to cool before taking them out (some old timers say this method is good for beads that may crack while baking), but some have found that toaster ovens spike while it preheats, which can burn clay. Convection ovens have been used with success also. Never use a microwave to cure polymer clay.

Even though I had a great time, I was a little disappointed with the show. It was 99% scrapbooking vendors. I was hoping that all of the polymer clay related companies were going to be there. Ilysa told me that there were a lot of companies that didn’t show up at this time. We did however meet with Kathy of Staedtler and she gave Ilysa the info on the Bottle of Hope Designer’s challenge.  This year the theme is “A Message of Hope”. Here are the contest guidelines:

The bottle used must be any standard size bottle such as the ones used during chemotherapy treatment, insulin bottles, or any glass bottle 4 inches or smaller.

75% of the piece must be made with Fimo brand clay

All entries must be received by December 15, 2008.

Three award categories:

Best expression of hope, chosen by Lisa Pavleka and the Staedtler group.

Best of show, chosen by leading editors in the craft industry.

Peoples choice award, chosen from the attendees.

Each winner will get $250 for themselves and $500 donated to a cancer related charity or hospital of their choice.

The top four entries will receiving the most votes at CHA will receive a gift basket valued at $100 retail.

Get busy on your submissions, December always seems to sneak up on some people (like me) .

Good luck on everyone’s entries.