Saturday, January 31, 2009

No it's not painted.

Here's the completed pendant, resin finished with Aanraku bail.
Some people ask me if the flowers on my pendants are painted. They are not painted. They are tiny pieces of clay made into a "cane." A cane is a cylinder of clay with a design running through it very similar to those holiday cookies you buy to slice and bake. In the first photo, a skinner blend is prepared with slits to form the veins of the flower. Then the plug is reduced (or made longer and cut into six pieces. Then they are placed around a central stem (as in the second picture). The third picture shows the translucent clay placed between the petals and around the plug. The plug is then reduced again as in the fourth picture and extremely thin slices are taken from the cane and placed on the pendant as in the fifth picture.

Skinner blend plug with slits made for the veins of the flower.


After it has been reduced and cut into sections, placed around a central stem.

Then translucent clay is wedged between the petals to keep them apart. The cane is then reduced once more to elongate it and make different size flowers.

Here is the cane made into different size flowers.

Extremely thin slices are then taken from the cane and placed on the pendant before firing.



Sunday, January 18, 2009

Spring Classes

I will be starting the spring classes for polymer clay I and II at the Adult Continuing Education at Hauppauge High School and Smithtown High School. The evening sessions for PC I at Hauppauge High School begins on Tuesday February 24th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 and run for four weeks. The PC II at Hauppauge start on Tuesday March 24th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 and runs also for four weeks. At Smithtown, the PC I classes begin on Thursday, March 5th from 9:00 am to 11:00 and run for eight weeks. The PC II classes at Smithtown begin also on Thursday, March 5th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm and run for four weeks. Contact me at NIKKIKEN20002000@yahoo.com if you would like more information.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Valentine's Day Hearts




Something a little different, mixing silver leafing on silver polymer clay, red flowers and a resin finish with Aanraku bail.

A Little About Me

I'm retired from Stony Brook Hospital (administrative), and since then have been exploring the wonderful medium of polymer clay. I have two children, and two grandchildren, 5 years old and two years old. They are truly a joy. I am married to the same guy for 41 years. He's supportive of my art and teaching. I'm a Law and Order Junkie and love all books by James Patterson, the Eagles music and Billy Joel.

Proud member of the Polymer Clay Artist Guild of Etsy

Since May of 2007 I have been a member of the Polymer Clay Artist Guild of Etsy. Etsy is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. The website, which launched in 2005, has an online community that includes tutorials, downloads, blogs, and a variety of articles on the latest in handmade artistry. In 2006, started by Ilysa Bierer, the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy (PCAGOE) was formed. Today 87 members strong, PCAGOE provides a forum for polymer clay artists to showcase new and exciting techniques, discuss designs and materials, problem solve, and even encourages friendly competition with a monthly challenge. The Guild has supported with the artistry, time and consideration of its members, many different charities. This past spring, tiny clay decorated Bottles of Hope were designed by many members to be donated to cancer patients at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Massachusetts.