The Bizarre Little Bracelet

 Well here it is.  The Bizarre little bracelet  that I just made as a sample for a class that I am teaching at a local high school on a polymer clay techniques.

This is why I needed that Black Premo Clay.  I am so glad that the clay came good in the end as I was down to my last block of black clay. The stone skull focal bead is sure to be a treat for the boys in the class.

I've also planned on an alternate bracelet for anyone that prefers more of a traditional design.

Just to the left is an image of all the polymer clay bead parts that the secondary school students will be making on the day.

Plus the spooky little skull bead; just in case someone wants that affect.

They'll also be making a pair of polymer clay earrings for themselves, their mums, girlfriend, nanna, a teacher.  Who knows.  Who ever gets them will surely love 'em.

This particular one was as tough as an old tire

I've just conditioned an old block of Premo Black Polymer clay that I had laying around for a while and I gotta tell you "It was as touch as an old tire... you know like one left out in the sun for ages". 

I could tell as I was slicing it up that it was going to give me a hard time.  Every slice was dry with white bits.  Thank goodness for the Sculpey Clay Softener.

It only took about five or six drop of the clay softener and a little bit massaging to make it right as rain.  I nearly thought that I was gonna have to bring out the ole' food processor.  Good thing that I didn't have to go that far with it.  Anyhow, all's good!

Okay, now to get back to the claying table. No rest for the weary.

3D Kaleidoscope Cane



Bearded Purple Iris Cane

I've taken a little bit of a break from working with PMC.  Although I am really enjoying PMC... I needed to get a sample Kaleidosope Cane made for a class that I have been asked to teach in the Hunter Vallery, in November.

Yes, it's been quite a challenge getting this cane to come out with a 3D affect.

Did it with only two blocks (equiv) of clay.  I had to get really creative with the use of the clay.  There's a Skinner blend in there, as well as a striped loaf cane and a spiral cane, too.

Lots of technique in that little baby.  I'm telling you.

Cave Art Drawings

I thought I would take a little time out and work on a new idea for jewellery that I will teach at the High School next year.  Something that is easy to construct yet interesting and having an indigenous look and feel.

Polymer Clay focal in earthy colours. Carved shapes impressed with aluminum ribbon in various designs.  White acrylic paint applied with a match stick for that dot painting affect.  Gold rub and buff paint for highlights and shine.  Braided waxed linen cord.  Base metal beads and findings.



Lot and lots of Lady Bugs

Here it is... the Lady bugs images that I promised.

An example of one of the pieces of jewellery that will be displayed at the Old Butter Factory Cafe, Bellingen... starting tomorrow.



Lady Bug necklace



"Medicine Leaves" Polyclay Art on Canvas by Year 10 Students

Jess showing her Medicine Leaves Polyclay Art on Canvas



Click on Jess' Polyclay Art Canvas to view larger and see how it shimmers.



Polyclay Art created by Nambucca Heads High School Students in a class that I taught today.



Leaves' Eyes - A Winter Poem lyrics



Polymer Clay Leaf and Feather Canes that I have been working today.  I love it when my art has a feeling of movement.  I feel like the leaves are alive and flowing out from a living organism.  Perhaps even from mother nature's infinite well of knowledge.

I think that the image goes quite well with the song.  Click on the YouTube link below to hear the music to the words.



Leaves' Eyes - A Winter Poem lyrics

 One million crystals on the outside of my window

One single thought, a thought of missing you

But only one word from within me

Describes the thought without of you

Ice feathers on my window

Reveal a single thought

A painting of your eyes

Is a sign that you do know

One million crystals

Not enough to page your beauty

Beauty of your soul

300 days I counted

Almost a year,

A mere of missing you

Ice feathers on my window

Reveal a single thought

A painting of your eyes

Is a sign that you do know

Once again waters change

Winter spell comes to life again

Ice feathers on my window

Reveal a single thought

A painting of your eyes

Is a sign that you do know

Ice crystals on my window

Hide frozen life inside

Ice storm outside these walls

But I feel my heart is warm

Faux Ceramics

Here are pics of the Faux Ceramic beads that I taught Virginia how to make today with Kato Clear Medium and Alcohol Inks.  The base bead is a mixture of White Premo Clay, a bit of beige and a lot of beach sand.  The beach sand came from the Nambucca Heads Beach.  Adding the sand gives the clay just the right look.  All of these beads are Virginia's except for the little spotted fish at the bottom right hand corner. She's going to give these a couple more coats of Magic Glos at home.

There just wasn't enough time in the day to finish all the tiles.  These ones are partially finished.  Virginia decided to take these ones home to finish.  I'm sure that however she finishes them will be fantastic.  She has a wonderful eye for colour and design as you can see from the bottom three images.

These are a couple cheese knife handles that Virgina covered with polymer clay cane slices.  They're very popular in the Craft Shop where she sells them in South West Rocks.  She just can't keep up with the demand at the moment.  The shop's wanting more of 'em.  I can understand why!

Notice the little grey bags that the knives are set upon.  Virginia made those herself with some leftover felt that she had from when she was felting.  What a fabulous case to put them in after using and putting away.  Great protection from getting nicked.

Gifted and Talented Year 9 Students

A few pics from the two-day class that I taught at a local high school to Gifted and Talented Year 9 students as part of a Literacy and Numeracy Project at the Trade School.





Year 9 Students creating art





Polymer Clay beads created on Day 2





Proudly showing off their creative talent







Pendants the Year 9 students created on Day 1 and some of their Polymer Clay Art on Canvas







Stevo putting some details into his Polyclay Story




Adrian proudly showing his necklace and bush tucker bracelet. Click on image to see  his amazing colour combinations and details.



Polymer Clay art on canvas

"Bush Tucker"

I call this "Bush Tucker". The focal critters are Witchetty Grubs, which are a principal food source the Aboriginal women gather in Central Australia. The black line through the centre represents a trail of termite ants. Whilst the spirals with black and white are the termite mounds... saw them on my trip to the outback a few years ago. The dots are vegetation and other bush tucker.

This is one of the art projects that I'm teaching at a local High School to Aboriginal Students through a Literacy and Numercy program.

Mini Display Easel with Canvas that I purchased from the Bellingen News Agent. Canvas measures 6cm x 8cm.

Ancient Tribal Bone

This bead is made with polymer clay and made to resemble carved bone. Ultra-fine layers of differently coloured clay make this pendant resemble the fine graining of real bone. A variety of tools is used to give an aged tribal look.

The fine silver band is handcrafted using a texturing tool and buffed with a steel brush to give it more of an aged feel.

This contains fine layers of a polymer clay cane that I made with a Fish Bone design that I created.

Length 6.8cm x Width 1.2cm (at it's widest).  Leather cord (4mm thick) with sterling silver findings.  Measures 53cm (21 inches). 

Who says a Zebra can't Change it's Stripes?

Today I made this Translucent Skinner Blend Stripe Cane‏ with a bit of yellow that I mixed up and a bit of green.  Seems like I'm always picking those two colours for some reason.  Don't know why, guess I just like 'em.

I love this technique that I learned from a Donna Kato tutorial.  She's one of my favourite polymer clay artists.  She's always making fabulous things with bold designs and colours.

Below is an image of the pillow beads that I made using this skinner blend plug. I find that it's better to use a sheet of white clay, rolled on the #3 setting, as the base. Unless you'd like to bring forward another colour. So in this case, I shaved thin slices from the cane and applied them randomly over the top of the white sheet of clay.



This fresh summer bracelet includes coral beads and shell pearls. The shell pearl beads are spiral encased in 20 gauge non-tarnish artisan wire.

Made this for a flyer promoting a caning class that I'll be teaching at Studio Amara in the Southern Highlands later in the year.

A limited number of unique and original loose beads created with this cane will be available for purchase on my website soon!