My clay secrets

Today, I must tell you my secrets. About a year ago, the craft store had Fimo clay on sale for .99 each. At the time I was in one of my bead making phases, and was using a LOT of Fimo Transparent! So I went Michael's, only to discover that it was sold out. However, I know Michael's does rain checks, so I took advantage of that, and put 20 transparent blocks of clay on rain check. A few weeks after that I got the call that my clay was ready to be picked up~ and wouldn't you know by that time, I was no longer in the mood to make beads! So, I tucked the blocks away for another day. Needless to say, now that I'm in the mood again, it's nice to have all this pre-bought clay on hand!

Remember the blue beads I made the other day......I was able to make one last bracelet before I realized that I'm out of wire, and crimp beads, and clasps! Ugggg! Well, at least I have lots of pretty beads for when I get around to making more bracelets! Another secret of mine is how I bake my beads. Actually, it's not really a secret, it's just how I do it. I use the toaster oven to bake my beads, so I needed something small to fit in there. I bought a 6inch ceramic tile that works perfectly. Then I used some scrap clay to make the little stands on the ends. Bake those first, and then you can reuse them! I reuse the same ones every time I bake, and they have lasted for a long time.

One day I will learn the secret to keeping the cats out of my clay! It never fails, as soon as I walk away from what ever project I'm working on, one of the cats wants to come along and walk through it. I wouldn't mind so much, but do they have to leave their hair and paw prints embedded in everything?? (honestly, I love the foot prints, I think it adds character!!) I remember when I first learned this lesson, I was about 15. I was working on an oil painting, and made the mistake of walking away........in the 2.2 seconds I had my back turned, my Siamese cat, Ebenezer, went running across my masterpiece. Luckily, he ran across the bottom part of it, so he didn't mess up the painting, but my Mother did not appreciate the paw prints he left across the carpet! From then on, the paintings were stored up high on top of a hutch to dry. The hutch was very tall, there was only a couple of inches between it and the ceiling. LOL, it's hard to find places that cats can't get to!

So, now that you have the background on me 'learning' this lesson.....here's what these cats have been doing to me now......First I was sitting on the bed Sunday night, making beads. When all of a sudden I hear this galloping noise coming down the hall. Something told me to brace myself, so I leaned over the tray of beads I was working on. As I'm leaning over, Otis is in the process of launching himself onto the bed. Luckily, I was able to bend over in time, and he landed on my back~ and I managed to save the whole tray of beads. Last night, I was not so lucky!

Here I am, sitting on the couch this time, with my beads on the coffee table. I was almost done making all my big beads.....about 20 of them, when Pocus comes sliding across the table. And Flips my tray into the air! Yes! My poor unbaked, just rolled out beads went flying everywhere! Needless to say, I spent the next 2 hours trying to pick out all of the fibers that had attached themselves during the tragedy. I spent 2 hours picking out fibers because it took me less time to do that, then it did to roll out all those darn beads. They turned out OK, so I guess my time was well invested!

It's all about the beads....

Thought I'd show you you the extremely long process of my favorite beads. I'm using Fimo Translucent polymer clay and Adironack Alcohol inks. I take a block of clay, and divide it into sections. Then I add the ink.....the first section of clay gets 2 drops of ink, the second section of clay gets 4 drops, and so on, until you have color in all the sections. Then I roll out each color into a slab. I put them, in order from lightest to darkest, and then paint each of them with acrylic paint. I used a lime green paint in these. (Don't paint the lightest shade~the top color....I make this mistake every time! And if you accidentally do, you can just flip the slab over.) Once the paint dries, I use my little circle cutter to cut out the circles you see on the left of the picture.

Then you stack the colors from lightest to darkest. After you have your little stacks made, start to roll them into a bead......
And of course I don't have a picture of what the green beads look like.......that be too easy, huh! But I do have a picture of a bracelet I made using the scraps that were left over. Although I like the color....I wanted to make it where you could actually see the different colors..........
Like these! Perfect! I'm so freaking happy with the blue ones, it's scary! They remind me of marbles...Oh, I can't wait to make a bracelet with these....won't it be fabulous?? LOL
Otis says Hello.....he's busy napping again.........Isn't he the cutest~ I love it when they sleep with their tongues hanging out!

More beads....

No, I haven't falling of the face of the earth.......just my muse has. I wish I could nail her wings to the floor, but I can't. She comes and goes at will.....hopefully she comes back soon, and points me in the direction of that doll house! But, until then.......I'll just keep experimenting with my beads.

This first one didn't turn out at all how I imagined it. I wanted you to see the different colors I used, but they all blended together. This was my second attempt......better, you can actually see the different colors this time.......but, I still wasn't happy. So, I decided to try and make orange ones. Do you see the ones on the metal pokers? Those haven't been baked yet, but when they are, they will be the same color as the ones in the upper right.
I also made the pink ones...well, they were suppose to be purple, but ended up with that mauve tint to them....either way, I like them! Now, to make necklaces, my least favorite part.....I'm just never happy with the end result.

Some eye-candy for you...

I know, I know...I'm getting pretty bad about not blogging everyday.....my excuse this week, is that I think I've caught that cold my daughter had last week......at least I hope it's just a cold?! Needless to say, I haven't got much accomplished around here other than napping. So, I thought I'd drop off some pictures to keep you coming back!

First we have 2 of my favorite kinds of beads. The one on the left was made with Sculpy, and the one on the right was made with Fimo. I love both of them! One has a more natural finish and the other looks like I actually sanded it down. I have made lots of bracelets with these beads, and have more tucked away for a rainy day. These 'charms' were made from the scraps from some of those earthy beads......couldn't tell you how I made them, but I like them, lol. I do that a lot...have "Happy Little accidents!".....wasn't that Bob Ross that said that? I sure do miss watching his shows!! Here's 2 more of my favorites....the brown one was made to match one of my favorite shirts. I just took my colors from the shirt and than fed the clay into the clay extruder, and Ta-da! A pretty flower! The clay extruder is a tough little sucker....helps to have someone around with a little bit of arm power! The yellow flower was made with a piece of mokume gane.....did I spell that right?? Oh well....hopefully you understand what I'm saying.

Here's another one of those "Happy Little Accidents"........again, don't ask how I did it, I have no clue...looks like it might of been the end of a cane that got turned into a bead, then flattened out. I sanded it down, and shinned it up.....one day I want to get it wrapped in silver so I can wear it on a necklace. Reminds me of a flower......And here's a leaf cane that turned out pretty good. I cooked a piece of it, so I could go back one day and figure out how I did it! Even added a hole in there......I think it wants to be a dangly earring??I hope you have enjoy this eye-candy......I'm heading back to bed! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz