Mixed Media Polymer Clay & Wire Critters

 I know, I know, I have badly neglected my blog but a lot has been going on.  What with scary storms, yard work and vision problems I haven't been doing much with clay.

My vision has been bad for a couple months so I finally gave in and went for new glasses..... or so I thought.   Without glasses the only letter I could read on the eye chart was the large "E" at the top and even that was a little blurry. The Doc says glasses won't do the trick this time.... I have cataracts and must have them removed.  I have an appointment with the surgeon on June 3rd and I hope to have the surgery soon after that... of course they can only do one eye at a time so I'm not sure how long all of this is going to take but everyone assures me it will be worth it..... "like having new eyes" .   We shall see.... at least I hope we will!!

A friend asked me to make a purple kitty, she wants it for a birthday gift for a friend. I have until the end of June to get it made but as I will be preoccupied with with my vision quest I thought it best to make the kitty now... I made two, so she can have a choice... which do you like best?  

Click on the photos for a closer look.

Purple Kitty #1

Purple Kitty #2

I also made a couple Wire Doodle Critters. I will back them with polymer clay once I decide what colors and designs I want to use.  

The first is a Squirrel 

I have a thing for owls... so this one is my favorite.

I hope to do better with my blog... I really like blogging but real life things keeps getting in the way.

Oh... I used Pardo Art Clay for the Kitties..... it is fast becoming my favorite clay, just wish it came in metallics too.  I am going to try mixing it with some of the soft Kato Pearl and see what happens.

Back to Pardo Art Clay

After my experience with the new Premo and the new Kato...... both brands were soft and sticky I found it very refreshing to work with Pardo Art Clay once again.  One pack of the white Pardo was a little dry and crumbly but I added a little translucent and after a few passes through the pasta machine it smoothed out nicely.  And there is no smell... I love that... the raw clay doesn't smell and it doesn't give off fumes when it is in the oven.

First I tinted translucent with a few drops of alcohol inks.  The cherry red beads are from a scrap that I had in my Pardo drawer. I think I colored it with Stewart Gill Byzantia paint.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

This is a two piece pendant made from the end piece of a cane and a round bead made from a striped cane. 

Pardo Art Clay Canes.  The lines are clean and  sharp and they reduce beautifully. They slice cleanly too.

The canes on the right and left are made from the center cane. 

This pendant is made from one of the striped canes above. 

The last necklace is an experiment. I over reduced a cane..... no big surprise, I just can't seem to stop myself.  So I cut off slices and ran each through the pasta machine to the number 5 setting.... fairly thin. I then baked the slices and joined them together with cute little brads that I found at Michaels.  I am going to wear it for a couple days and see how it holds up. The slices feel sturdy and they bend but do not break.  If they hold up well I will make more necklaces. 

This is the back of the necklace. 

I am going to take a couple days off from claying. The weather has improved, no rain or tornados the last couple days so I'm hoping to do a little yard work. Grandson Brandon moved the lawn today and Heather helped me pull weeds. I hope the weather says nice so I can start planting flowers.