Polymer Clay

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Lindly Haunani – Artist Spotlight

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lhaunani4-copy.JPGPolymer clay pioneer Lindly Haunani has been teaching across the country for over 10 years, exploring the endless possibilities of this versatile medium.  A founding member of the National Polymer Clay Guild, Lindly’s work has recently appeared in Ornament magazine and on the cover of the Crafts Report. I want to thank Lindly for taking time out of her busy schedule to share a little bit about her creative process.

What was your first polymer clay project?

My very first polymer clay project was a watermelon cane brooch. I was inspired by a brooch I had purchased at The National History Museum that has been made by CityzenCane ( Steven Ford and David Forlano). After closer inspection of their piece, I guessed that they were using a pasta machine to roll their sheets of color blends and then stack them. I bought a few packages of FIMO at a local doll house store and “borrowed” my Atlas pasta machine from my kitchen where I had been making layered pastas using fresh herbs.

In 1988 there was little information available on polymer clay, so when I saw that Kathleen Dustin was offering a polymer clay bead making class at the Art League School at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia I signed up. Initially I didn’t want to learn how to make beads and was more interested in making sheets of flat surface designs…. after taking her workshop I made over 1000 beads in a couple of weeks!

Besides a pasta machine, what polymer clay tool can’t you live without?

A very sharp, honed Thomas Scientific tissue blade. I have yet to find another blade that holds an edge so well, bends handily and can be resharpened.  Polymerclayexpress.com

What inspires your polymer clay creations?

Everything, especially food. Many of my “best” ideas have come up when I am exploring options by making multiple versions of a project that I am currently working on. There are times when I will make something say fifty times, walk away and then return with dozens of ideas that elaborate on the same theme. lhaunani2-copy.JPG

Would you share a color recipe with us?

My basic color palette uses Cadmium Yellow, Fuchsia red and Ultramarine blue.  One of my all time favorite color mixes is 1 part Fuchsia red, 1 part neon pink, 1 part white and 4 parts Ultramarine. Saturated blue-violet makes my heart sing, but the color I find myself mixing the most is a yellow green which is 7 parts cadmium yellow, 1 part Ultramarine with a small smidgen of Fuchsia.

Visit Lindly’s website and blog for more inspiration and information on her work.  Lindly’s blog is new, but already brimming with good food for thought, definitely one to bookmark!

[tags]polymer clay, crafts, artists, lindly haunani[/tags]

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How To Make A Milk Mache Molding Compound

There are some craft projects that feel like they belong on a rainy afternoon kitchen table, and this Milk Mache Molding Compound is exactly one of them. It is part craft, part science experiment, and part “wait… did we just turn milk into something solid?”

This clever little project from CraftBits shows you how to make a simple homemade molding compound using just milk and vinegar. The idea is wonderfully old-school: when the vinegar reacts with the milk, it separates into curds and liquid, leaving you with a soft mixture that can be pressed, shaped, and dried into a hard, stone-like material.

It’s a lovely one to try with kids, especially if you enjoy hands-on STEM-style crafts that do not require a trolley full of supplies. You can use the finished compound to make small charms, beads, ornaments, rustic tags, or simple molded shapes. Just keep the pieces small and thin, as this is not really the sort of compound you would use for large sculptures or anything that needs to be perfectly smooth.

What I like most about this project is how accessible it is. Most of us already have milk, vinegar, a bowl, and paper towel in the kitchen, which makes it a brilliant last-minute craft activity. It also has that slightly magical quality children love — one minute it is liquid, the next it is turning into a moldable material.

A couple of tips before you try it: use whole milk if you can, as it tends to give a better result than skim or semi-skimmed milk. White vinegar is also the best choice, as darker vinegars may affect the colour and texture. And don’t rush the draining stage. If the mixture is too wet, it will be soggy and hard to shape; if it is too dry, it may crumble.

This would be a fun companion activity for our other kids craft ideas, especially if you are looking for something simple, inexpensive, and a little bit educational. It also fits nicely with home crafts and handmade gift embellishments if you want to turn your dried shapes into tags or decorations.

Would I call this a polished, professional clay substitute? No. Would I call it a wonderfully curious, messy, memorable craft experiment? Absolutely.

If you enjoy homemade craft supplies, kitchen-table experiments, or easy projects that make children ask “how did that happen?”, this Milk Mache Molding Compound is well worth a try.

You can find the full project instructions here: Milk Mache Molding Compound