This weeks colour palette creations

In my last post I told you about the Color Palette a Week Group on Flickr. Well here is this weeks colour palette - it's bright and I didn't think I liked it but you have to try these things.

I mixed up the colours with some pearl clay included to make them a little softer and because I was in a shimmery type of mood. I also used the opportunity to try out some of the things on my 'want to try' list.

Here's what I made

Thin stripes, yes all 3 colours are in there but it's hard to see the pink especially. I wasn't sure how to string the donut type pendant other than the obvious way which I am not overly keen on. Tried it on black buna cord, black suede,  grey suede and pink rattail before I decided perhaps red looked best as it saved introducing another colour.

This is a very experimental piece. I finally tried using metal leaf for crackles and I think you will be seeing more of that! The top part is a Sutton slice which worked beautifully thanks to the tips in Lisa Pavelka's -The Complete Book of Polymer Clay, I used another of her texture stamps to do it, the back is textured with the same stamp btw. I then tried out using a layer of  liquid polymer clay as a varnish/protective layer over the gold crackles. I baked the piece as normal and the liquid clay was still a little milky so as recommended by Donna Kato I got the heat gun on it and wow - before my eyes it transforms to become clear and shiny.  I'm not sure you will see a piece quite like this again but I will be using all those techniques some more. I didn't like this at all when I first made it, it was a playing about piece but now it's growing on me and I almost like it.

A hollow oval donut  in mokume gane. These colours don't really suit mokume gane as there isn't enough contrast but it is a technique I am keen to improve. I thought after I had stacked them a second time - should of put another colour in to lift it but it was too late by then. I rescued the rest of the clay I had stacked to make the striped pendant above. I see so many stunning examples by other people and am never really that happy with mine. The Lisa Pavelka texture stamps are better to work with than most of the other stamps I have as they are deep so you get a good impression.  I look forward to wowing you with something stunning one day.

Whilst shaving the mokume gane I created a pile of shavings which looked rather appealing, they became this funny little pendant, another one I'm not totally sure about but it's different!

So nothing I am totally in love with, they aren't my colours but they did make me push some boundaries and try some new things so it was a worth while exercise. If nothing else the scrap clay from the 3 colours together makes a lovely red!

Sutton slice technique

Whilst at Polymer Play Days I saw some stunning jewellery both for sale and being worn by the other participants. I shall perhaps try to feature some in the coming days. One of the pieces I admired had been made by Irene Hoiles using the Sutton Slice technique. She was kind enough to describe the process to us. I couldn't wait to try it out so had a go in my hotel room (luckily I was given some stamps in the goody bags we were given when we registered).

I used a tiny flower from a larger stamp, pressing white clay into the stamp and then shaving off the excess clay

Here is is after pressing a piece of blue clay on top

I used my lovely new cutters that I bought from Valerie (no they aren't rusty it's funny lighting I think)

Little finished piece

It's not perfect by any means but I had got the basics of the technique. Tonight I decided to practise it. Hmm I think it was beginners luck before and I had many attempts to get anything that wasn't screwed up for scrap. The problem seems to be to get the clay to 'stick' in the stamp whilst you are shaving of the excess and then getting it out. I can do one no problem, but not both. If I spray the stamp with a mist of water the clay will lift out easily - too easily so it just lifts out when I try to shave it. If I don't it will stick in well to shave it but not come out completely. I guess perhaps my shaving technique needs improving. As always tips most gratefully received!

Here are my efforts tonight. I do think getting the right stamp is important too. I don't have many deep stamps so will have to keep a look out for some better ones for clay work. These were 2 of the several I tried which worked best.

Clay in stamp

Clay on black backing

 

Using a different stamp