Nearly Famous, Almost Well Knows

Well it is not the cover of the Rolling Stone, but I would be lying if I said there isn’t a little thrill to seeing the article that I wrotne in print. Thank you  Saskia and Marjon for including  my piece in the latest edition of From Polymer Clay to Art. There a great interviews, articles and tutorials in this edition and I am proud and happy to be included. To I have a look at my original article press HERE.

Neither Rain nor Sleet - Nor the Postal Service

Dragon Parts and examples

Teapot Tempest and examples

Well it wasn’t really the postal service so much and the border customs acting together – not sure if it was the Canadian or the American services – but the conclusion is that my stamps have finally arrived after a prolonged tour of the West Coast. I have them posted on Etsy but I am happy to answer any questions here. I hope they sell so I can finish more designs and have them made into stamps.

Much Stronger than You Would Think

The pieces on your left are cooked version of the ones on the right

I wanted to have some record of how different translucent colours looked before and after they are cooked. This is not an orderly way of approaching the matter, but until I sit down and do something more orderly this will serve as a reminder. If you want pastels in translucent clay you have to dilute the coloured translucent clay with a lot on non-coloured translucent clay.

Many people use ink to make translucent work but I am wary of inks and dyes because in the old days they were thought to be fugitive – meaning that the colours would fade over time.

The Question of the Month
Do inks and dyes fade when they are used in polymer clay? Are the pieces made with these pigments colour fast?

Making Pretty

We have been busy at the studio. It still is an unfinished basement but we have decided to bring out some of our work to pretty it up and if someone passing trough wants to own something – well there it is.

Looking from the fibre studio into my space - still a ways to go.

Actually there has always been some work out but it has not so much been on display as it has failed to have been put away – I thing that I am more guilty of this that Kirsten or Carmen but there are always little balls of fluff competing with the little balls of clay. What can I say, we are well suited to working in the same space. Tolerance of others messes is a prerequisite of sharing a studio space.

Almost finish putting up the show.

On the other hand – today is the first Monday on the Month so I was off to Seymour ArtGallery to help with the installation on a new show. I have been doing this for the past few years and find it great to see art by a lot of artist with out having to attend opening – well actually I just enjoy putting up shows and there is always something new to learn. Today's show with collage and ceramics by Sunshine Coast artist, Kay Bonathan went up fast and pretty. Nice to something with other peoples art.

Kay's opening is tomorrow evening if you happen to be in North Vancouver.

Catching Up

Week 45 - Blossoms on black

Week 46 - Cinnabar

This has been a very busy month. Getting show applications in is one of my least favourite tasks but Carmen and I refreshed our shared studio and that was fun. We aren’t finished yet – pictures will arrive on this blog eventually.

It was nice to get over to Victoria to hang out with the Vancouver Island group. (Thank you Nancy for driving ) I wanted to give the group there a chance to get buy some of my rubber stamps and texture sheets before I put them up on Etsy. We had a great time ( at least I did). It was good to share ideas and energy.

I haven’t forgotten about the earring challenge. I am including a couple of pairs with this post. I have always liked the idea of the back of object holding a little extra. Sort of a surprise, so I have shown both sides of the earrings.

Now off again to try to catch up.

Both Sides Now

Reversible Shawl Pin

Working in a studio with two fibre artist has had an effect on me. First is was buttons, then drop spindles, then stitch markers and knitting needle. Now it is shawl pins, big shawl pins that do double duty. I make the two sides different and include two pins so a pin can be used with either side facing out. The ring is flat and curves a little in the direction that you wear it but will bend back the other way so you can get a whole different look. I have borrowed fibre to show the two faces of this shawl pin but they will work for hair too.

This is fun! I think that I will made a bunch of them!!! But all little different of course.

Making Lemonade

Week 47 – Drying Flowers 

An upbeat friend pointed out to me that having a bad left hand might be a good thing. I like drawing and I have been developing a line of texture sheets and stamps. The bad hand might just get me to focus more on that avenue of creativity. I will soon be unveiling some of my stamps.

And for the earrings of the week I was inspired by flowers hanging to dry. Simple millefiori canes reduced and recombined to give a slightly irregular shape. The stones are natural amber – I really like amber.