Scrappy Spiral Squares

Hmmmm...I have been trying to sort my scrap pile but I've discovered it's just too much fun to play with scrap clay.

This is a different version of the scrappy spiral beads and instead have turned them into scrappy spiral squares.  These are pretty funky.

Create the spiral log as you would if you were making the beads.  I twisted mine as if I was making the scrappy stries.  Cut off the four sides to create a nice square log.

Slice it up and voila!! scrappy spiral squares.  Love these.

Scrappy Spiral Beads Tutorial

How many of you pop all your scrappy clay bits into colour lots?  ...well yes, I do.  I'm a bit "obsessive compulsive" like that actually and regardless of how hard I try, I find it difficult to leave scrappy bits alone.

Here's a really cool way to create some very tactile beads.   Depending on what colours are in your scrappy stash, you can end up with some great results.  Wear them in a bunch on a bright coloured, long cord and you won't be able to stop yourself from playing with them.

Wad your scrap clay up and have a knitting needle on hand as well.

Roll your clay flat with your acrylic rod.

Roll through the pasta machine on the thickest setting.

Fold in half and roll through again still on the thickest setting.

Do this once more.  Don't blend too much or you'll lose the pattern all together.

Roll up to create a scrappy cane.

Trim the end up.

and neaten the seam.

Slice the end off and check out the gorgeous patterns inside.

Insert a knitting needle and start rolling on your work surface.  I use plain A4 paper as it doesn't slip.

Pop your fingers on either end of the knitting needle and roll increasing the thread hole.

Continue until you have a large, organic looking centre.

Now flatten with an acrylic sheet.

Flatten until your bead is about 7mm thick.

Slice up the rest of your cane and repeat.

Bake at the recommended temperature.

String on some gorgeous, coloured cord.

This is a bead I created by simply cutting from a pre-existing cane and following the above instructions.

Beautiful Bollywood Flowers Workshop

Thanks to the most amazing group of ladies who came over on Sunday for the Bollywood Flowers workshop.  I had a few students who had barely played with polymer clay before and their finished flowers were sensational.  They should all be incredibly proud.

Thanks gorgeous girls.

Keep a Record of Everything...Yes, Even Your Failures

You know, I'm sure we all have those cringe-worthy pieces of polymer clay tucked in a box or at the back of a drawer somewhere.  I have some horrendous pieces that I've created over the years - but you know what, they are all important.

When I first started experimenting with polymer clay, I never used to record anything.  I would just make stuff and if it was good - yay!! if not, it would just go in the bin.

Nowdays, I record or take note of everything I do.....even the failures.  The failures are awesome!! and recording the failures is even better, because I know I won't make those mistakes again.

A huge pile of "failures" in this lot but at least they won't happen again.

Lots of failures here too - this is a great way to record your experiments.

I like to record everything.

It took some time but is well worth it.

...and what else can I do with my scrappy stripe veneer????

Make a very cool, two colour striped sheet.  I simply created two different colours of a striped veneer and cut slices from each one of varying thickness.  Pop them together, alternating colours and voila! you have a really cool sheet to play with.

Sensory Beads

I've finally been making up some necklaces using the many beads I've been playing around with lately.  I love the mix of colours, textures and shapes and find them all very tactile.  Like many beads, these evoke lots of different emotions for me.  I decided to continue the theme of tactile or, what I like to call "sensory" beads and came up with a few different colour combination and shapes today that I really like.  These beads will all work together to become new pieces.  I learnt lots today and have lots more sample beads to explore and develop further.  What a great day!!

Kato Polyclay Hits The Outback - Woohoo!!!!!!

Yes, you heard right.  Mt Magnet Post and Lotteries are now stocking Kato Polyclay - how awesome is that!!!!!  Jade was one of the students who attended the "Art in the Outback" workshops and fell in love with polymer clay.  Jade has a background in ceramics and earth clays and took to polymer like a duck to water and of course, being the owner of the Mt Magnet Post and Lotteries store, simply couldn't resist adding another art medium to their already well stocked supply of arty goodies.  So now, if you're travelling through the outback of Western Australia and you run out of clay, don't stress, simply call in and see Jade.