Over the week end, my husband and I where out of town for a wedding. We decided to do some “shopping” while we had time before the wedding. So we went to visit used bookstores and Antique stores. My husband collects books and I look for things that I can turn into barrettes.
We stopped first at a thrift store. They are always good for finding things in. Every now and then, you find really good things, like a large toaster oven that works well. I actually found two tins that have patterns that while make great barrettes. One is a older tin that has small pink roses all over. The other is a newer tin with bouquets of flowers. Each one of the bouquets while make a barrette. Out of both tins I should be able to get 10 to 12 barrettes (if not more) and only spent $1.50!
Our next stop was an antique mall. My husband had no luck finding any books but I found more tins. I ended up buying a total of four. They all have Christmas designs on them. One is a set of three that should make many barrettes. I am not sure how many but I should be able to get at least 10 from each tin. The single tin is covered with Christmas tree ornaments and again I should be able to get 8 or so barrettes from it. The best part is that the tins where on sale. Instead of paying $12.00 dollars for the 4, I only had to pay $6.00. A great deal!
The rest of the stores yielded it nothing. But I do enjoy looking at all of the goodies. Sometimes I find something to give as a gift or to take home with me.
Today, I got some glue that was recommended to use with the Herkimer Diamonds and polymer clay. I will try some out tomorrow and see how it does.
I, also, got the hair sticks that I ordered. I am excited to work with those as well. I am planning on wire-wrapping some of the smaller Herkimer Diamonds and hanging them off of the hair sticks. I can do charms out of polymer clay as well to add some interest to them.
The really fun stuff that I got was all of the Kato Polyclay that I ordered to play with! I have to wait though to do so. I am off to a wedding this weekend and have just started classes at school. Next week I start a new job as well. But I will find time to play! Hopefully on Tuesday.
I can’t wait to try the Polyclay. I have plans on making a petunia cane out of some of the colors. I have heard that Kato Polyclay is the best to cane with. I will be trying it out for myself. I am excited to see if I can reproduce the beauty of the petunia. If I can only get half of the beauty to come across in the clay, I will be happy.
There are many days that I want to working in my craft room but don’t really know what I want to be creating. Recently, I have just been getting by doing sheets of clays covered with the numerous flower canes that I have.
Then I look out the window and see the wonderful Petunia’s that I planted in on of the boxes on the deck. I really like the colors that Mother Nature put together. I am going to start making canes to match. Or at least I well try to get them to match.
I also see the beautiful day lilies that are just opening up for the summer. I think that I will do petal canes to create them in clay. I could even add Herkimer Diamond chips in the center to create a little details.
There are many things that I can try to imitate. I am getting to the point where I want to try. I just have to set down and do it.
That in and of it self can be hard. But at least finally I am getting the ideas that I need!
I have always loved things that sparkle and glimmer. I have been using glitter on some of the barrettes to halp create that effect.
My earlier ones where simply braids of polymer clay covers with glitter and then sealed with a finish.
I have been playing with creating more dimension with the glitteriness. I will say that this is one of my favorite seasonal barrette.
I really like how the light reflects off of the glitter and the dimension that it creates.
When using glitter with polymer clay. I recommend that you only use metal glitter. You can test a small amount of glitter on a piece of paper in the oven at the temp that the clay is cured at. If the glitter does not melt, it will work with the clay and not turn into a gooey mess. I, also, always cover the barrettes that i add glitter to with some sort of sealer. Flecto Varathane is a good choice, it is now sold by RustOleum. (For more information on this check out the following website, http://www.polyclay.com/flecto.htm ) There are other glazes that work with polymer clay but this is the one that I have always had the best results with. I know many artists that use Triple Thick with luck but be aware that the spray kind stays sticky.
I was given a gift certificate for a mail order place that carries Kato Polyclay. I have heard a lot of good things about the Kato Clay and decided to order some to try.
Kato Polyclay was developed by Donna Kato, who is a talented artist and instructor. She developed the polyclay to over come the problems that many people encounter with the other clays that where on the market. To find out more about Kato Polyclay, check out their website at www.katopolyclay.com
I am excited to try it and hope that it is as good as I have heard it is. I will find out in a week or two, since I am waiting for it to arrive.
Along with the Polyclay, I have order more barrette backs and some hair sticks. I am thinking that I could add charms to the hair-sticks, or even wire-wrap some of the gem stones that I have dug to decorate them.
Always more things to create!innclude: consistency of feel throughout the line, ease of conditioninopy transfers, and increased strength and resilience of the final product.