RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!!

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RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 9/25/2007 7:15:50 PM

lobsterlu

Posts: 378
Joined: 10/12/2005
Status: offline

Hey,
Pendants seem to be the most popular items on Etsy. Go for it!

I so need to organize my workspace!
Thanks for the inspiration!

-mLU

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Post #: 161

RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 9/25/2007 7:53:13 PM

Harlan

Posts: 10158
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: Michigan
Status: offline

THanks!!! I need to do that! :)

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Jeanne
The Intimate Forest

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Post #: 162

RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 9/30/2007 9:24:11 PM

trish

Posts: 281
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: Sudbury, ON CA
Status: offline

I am so impressed with what you guys do with polymer clay and I know it can't be that easy.

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Trish

http://www.funkyfunctionalart4u.com
http://www.trishishere.blogspot.com
http://www.zazzle.com/trish1958*

The guy in the picture with me is not some new young boyfriend..lol...it's my youngest son..now 19!!!

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Post #: 163

RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 10/8/2007 7:09:50 PM

lobsterlu

Posts: 378
Joined: 10/12/2005
Status: offline

I think polymer clay really IS easy.

Here are some examples of some pendants I've been making recently.
http://www.ebsqart.com/Art/8354/450392/SearchingforSymbolsCharmsPolymerClayPendants_275_275.jpg

(in reply to trish)

Post #: 164

RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 10/8/2007 7:12:11 PM

lobsterlu

Posts: 378
Joined: 10/12/2005
Status: offline

And here are a few others.
http://www.ebsqart.com/Art/8354/450389.jpg

They are all in my portfolio.

It's a fun material.

(in reply to lobsterlu)

Post #: 165

RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 10/8/2007 8:43:47 PM

Harlan

Posts: 10158
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: Michigan
Status: offline

It can be easy! It also can be very complex - it is such a versatile medium!! I love looking around and finding out what people are doing with it.

This is a piece by Jeffrey Lloyd Dever

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Jeanne
The Intimate Forest

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Post #: 166

RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 11/5/2007 12:40:22 AM

BentWarpedAndTwisted

Posts: 72
Joined: 8/31/2007
From: Athens, GA
Status: offline

Just so all of you incredibly talented polyclay artists know, I'm not a slave to lampwork beads... I love to love on polyclay beads too, long as they tell me what they want to be ;)

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Post #: 167

RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 12/21/2007 4:39:31 PM

labeana

Posts: 9732
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: Pocono Mountains, PA
Status: offline

oh goodie...the polyclay thread!!

ok, I have a question for anyone who knows....I haven't looked through my books yet but I want to be sure I am making these pieces as strong as possible...I'm using a lot of Fimo translucent to mix the colors...then I'm baking them in a 275 degree overn for between twenty to twenty five minutes.....oh and I'm only making the base shape as thick as the thickest setting on my pasta machine....so the pieces are strong as long as they aren't mishandled....

but looking at pieces like Kathleen Dustin's gorgeus bags that sell for lottsa money I'm sure her stuff is STRONG.....I've seen them in person and they do look well done, I was just too afraid to touch them lol..

anyway, any info is welcome...

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Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. The slogan "press on" has solved, and always will solve, the problems of the human race.

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Post #: 168

RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 12/22/2007 7:24:45 AM

labeana

Posts: 9732
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From: Pocono Mountains, PA
Status: offline

bump

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Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. The slogan "press on" has solved, and always will solve, the problems of the human race.

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Post #: 169

RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 12/22/2007 11:20:06 AM

Harlan

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Joined: 7/30/2005
From: Michigan
Status: offline

What exactly is the question, Lauren??

For a thickness of #1 on the pasta machine - 20 - 25 minutes should be more than enough time for it to cure. If you want to be really certain go for 30 minutes if you know that your oven temperature IS accurate.

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Jeanne
The Intimate Forest

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Post #: 170

RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 12/22/2007 1:40:03 PM

labeana

Posts: 9732
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: Pocono Mountains, PA
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lol...sorry, my question became a ramble...
I was just wondering if you've heard of anything that would make the clay really strong..like baking longer, or additives, etc...and is the fact that I'm using largely translucent clay a good or bad thing strength wise...

and how important is thickness to strength....these earrings i'm making seem fine but i want to make sure i'm doing it right.....

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Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. The slogan "press on" has solved, and always will solve, the problems of the human race.

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Post #: 171

RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 12/23/2007 12:14:02 PM

Harlan

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Joined: 7/30/2005
From: Michigan
Status: offline

I believe the most important factor is the baking time - so your best bet is to follow the manufacturers instructions which are usually 30 minutes for 1/4" thickness at 275 degrees. I tend to bake my pins for less than that but my pins get multiple bakings.

IF your oven is set up to the right temperature you could actually bake your pieces for a lot longer - that isn't known to add any additional strength to the piece - just a comment that if the oven temperature is correct piece can be in there for a lot longer and never burn. Most of our ovens are not that consistant with their heat and do burn.

I haven't read anything about the translucent polyclays being weaker than any of the other polyclays so that should be fine.

The only other considerations that pop into my head are related to the construction -

Polyclay mixtures should be well kneaded so that they are very uniform (hope that makes sense) if you are placing design elements on top of a flat piece of clay and these really are not being kneaded into one piece you might consider using a bit of liquid polyclay as a "glue". I've had pieces of polyclay of only 1/8th thickness be very strong given their purpose - for earrings I wouldn't expect a lot of stress on the pieces.

Some of my pins are built with sections being laid next to other sections and those seams can be a bit weak until I am able to put a backing on the piece.

Can you post a photo of what you're doing, Lauren??

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Jeanne
The Intimate Forest

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Post #: 172

RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 12/23/2007 2:35:17 PM

labeana

Posts: 9732
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From: Pocono Mountains, PA
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I do use liquid clay when attaching just about any form of clay on top of clay....and it seems to work really well, like a glue

I will take some photos...I just put some in the oven...

I'm having so much fun with these because I've been working with white clay for so long makiing the originals for my handles that playing with the color relationships are such a joy....

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Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. The slogan "press on" has solved, and always will solve, the problems of the human race.

(in reply to Harlan)

Post #: 173

RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 12/23/2007 3:36:13 PM

labeana

Posts: 9732
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: Pocono Mountains, PA
Status: offline

well, it's gotten so dark here that I don't have enough light to photograph the pieces I made today....but I did look at that pin you gave me, Jeanne...and it looks like you did the front as thick as the thickest settiing on the pasta machine, but you also have a backing of the same thickness....so I'm thinking that i need to do that too...

check out the earrings and one pin that I did recently and put on Etsy....not the "retro" ones or the handles, but the ones with colors of salmon, sage, purples...these I've been making with that thick setting but I'm just not sure they are strong enough....what do you think?

labeana.etsy.com

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Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. The slogan "press on" has solved, and always will solve, the problems of the human race.

(in reply to labeana)

Post #: 174

RE: The POLYCLAY thread!!! - 12/23/2007 5:45:27 PM

Harlan

Posts: 10158
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: Michigan
Status: offline

They look GREAT!!!!

I would put into the description when they are posts and what the post or drop earring metal is - I'd love to have something like these but I cannot wear posts, and I'm pretty sensitive to different metals too! :)

If you've "cemented your different elements together pretty well, I think these should be sturdy!

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Jeanne
The Intimate Forest

(in reply to labeana)