Dirty is, as dirty does!

I’ve started experimenting with “dirty pours”, and I think that I’m in love!!!! They're so much fun, that I’m sure it will become yet another fascinating addiction for me (heh, heh, and perhaps for a few others)! !

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, you could use either resin or acrylic pouring medium, as the base of your pours. I used pouring medium this week, but I do promise to work with Ice Resin next time. The small measuring cups were overkill, as no measuring was required with the pouring medium, but you will need to remember to use them when working with resin!

If you ask me how I did this, I’ll need to give you a sketchy answer, as this is definitely not a scientific process. I’ve found that it’s impossible to duplicate pours, even when working with the same batch of paint. I splash in a little pouring medium, then add dollops, or drops of paint and ink. For the purpose of these experiments, I used acrylic craft paint, acrylic ink, high flow acrylic, and alcohol inks, but not all in the same batch. The pouring medium goes first, then paints and inks, from heaviest/thickest, to lightest/most liquid (on the top). Alcohol inks, if you’re using them in the mix, go in last. A quick swish with a toothpick (you do not want to mix thoroughly), then you’re ready to pour. I chose to use four different substrates for this first go! Domino game pieces, glass nuggets (thanks Malliga), laminate countertop samples (courtesy of my local home improvement store), and a couple of little wooden hearts (thanks Pam). No real reason for choosing them, other than that’s what I had on hand. I intend to pour my next series, onto metal blanks and glass tiles (available at BeadFX).

My process still needs refinement, but I started by pouring a line of the paint mixture, in the middle of my substrate. It’s fairly thick, so it was easy to spread to the edges, via my very sophisticated, toothpick tool! If you try this on your own, be careful not to over pour, as you will make quite a mess, and end up with a puddle of paint, flowing over the edges. In a true “dirty pour”, you pick up the edges, and rock the substrate back and forth, until you're happy with the results. I didn’t have gloves, so I decided to leave that technique for another day. You’ll notice from the photos (each represents one batch of “dirty pour” paint), that the colouring for each batch is the same, but the patterning is completely different. The layering of the different densities of paint, as it comes out of the pour, is like magic! You can also do another pour, on top of one that you weren’t entirely happy with, but let it dry first. Take the dark purple set, for example. They looked okay in the photo, but I decided that I really didn't like the results, so I mixed up a lighter batch, and changed the look entirely (see below). Plus I was able to add an extra piece, as a bonus! I also tried splashing on alcohol inks, after the pour, for yet another look. However, you need to hold your breath, and hope for the best, as this causes a drastic change to the look of your pour!!

All of these pieces are destined to be pendants and cabochons. They'll get a top coat of Ice Resin, but I still need to figure out how I’m going to finish the backs and edges. I do have ideas, but would like to try them out first, before revealing all of my secrets. After all, I am participating in the BeadFX, Artisan Trunk Show, on October 2nd! I do promise to take photos, and will show them in a future blog post!

Go forth and be dirty, my friends! My apologies in advance, if I’ve tempted you with a new technique/addiction!!!

What the heck is a dirty pour?

You may or may not know this, but one of my leisure activities is to troll the internet for unusual art activities. I belong to several resin and alcohol ink groups, and the latest one I joined, “Let It Flow”, introduced me to the “dirty pour” term. Just like in the old blogging days, one Facebook group leads you to another group, and the cycle is endless. It’s fun, it doesn’t hurt anyone (other than discretionary time), and you are always learning.

What exactly is this strange and wonderful term? It has nothing to do with either bad language, or construction leering! It really is an art term, but perhaps one that has not been associated with jewellery yet. I haven’t actually played with “dirty pours” (except in a very limited sense), but I find it quite fascinating. You take either resin, or acrylic pouring medium (dries clear and somewhat shiny and found at an art supply store), and then layer up various densities of paint dollops (heaviest on the bottom, and lightest on top). A couple of light swirls with a stir stick, and then you pour on your background. When you’re done, you start tipping the substrate, for a wonderful, swirling explosion of colour saturated eye candy! Gloves, masking tape, and table protection, are a very wise investment! Lacing effects and cells (think frothy waves on a beach) can be obtained via various methods, which include some that I’m not comfortable with (at least yet)! Effects are intensified, and bubbles vanquished, via your trusty torch (I’ve heard that a heat gun is also useful). You apparently need to do this at 10 minute intervals, as bubbles are known to be obstinate, and very, very tricky! I’ve heard of bugs and flies, curing along with the resin/paint, so you must be vigilant! Dust motes, cat and dog hair, are not your friends!!! Overturned cardboard boxes, are an acceptable barrier, but don’t forget to check them out for dirt and dust, before setting them over your masterpiece. The above photo is not mine, but rather one I grabbed off Google images, by an artist called Miabella, from Dream Spirit Studios. She has a YouTube out there, that illustrates her process (as it relates to acrylic, not resin). Take a look, if you’re interested in learning a little more.

House paint, fluid acrylics, high flow acrylics, acrylic inks, alcohol inks, Pebeo paints (including Vitrail and Fantasy Prisme and Moon), resin, airbrush medium, and acrylic pouring medium, are all products that I have heard associated with “dirty pours”. I’m not sure, but I believe that the Fantasy line (it’s solvent/oil based) needs to at least partially cure, before pouring resin over it, but then again, these artists seem to be leading edge, and are willing to layer on just about anything! On one group (this one, I think), I heard that you could add alcohol inks to the top of your Fantasy paints, then add heat, to produce the “lacing effect”. Well of course I had to try this, but in a much smaller format, on a domino. As I forgot to put the domino on a heatproof surface, I quickly learned that parchment paper is not flame safe....yikes! Good thing I had water nearby! The experiment was not exactly what I would call a success, as a lot of the paint, slid right off the domino, onto the parchment paper. However it did give me an interesting texture, so I will certainly continue the experiments at a later date. If any of you try to do this, please do it outside (or in a very well ventilated area), on a heatproof surface, and have something close, that could quench the flames. My little inferno was very small, and I was able to put it out fast! These fumes are probably toxic, so a good protective fume mask (not just a flimsy dust one), is an absolute must! The photo showing above, is said domino, after it cured for 72 hours, and then was trimmed. The ceramic tile in the background, was painted with alcohol inks and fire (but not at the same time as the domino).

If you’re wondering where I’m going with this, it’s that I intend to continue experimenting with “dirty pours” in a much smaller format. Mainly to see if I'd be able to scale down the process, and adapt it for jewellery purposes. At the very least, I'd like to be able make something interesting, out of the colourful runoff. Think Fordite, on a much smaller scale (see above)! If you’re looking for me, during the fall/winter, you’ll probably find me in mad scientist mode, up to my elbows in resin, ink, and paint!!

What's on my bead mat - July edition!

We’re having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave”, so what better way to deal with it, than a long, cool drink, a few beads, and some mixed media items? Once again, I’m all over the place artistically, but that seems to be a huge part of my creative process!

I facilitated two completely different workshops this weekend, and thoroughly enjoyed both, thanks to my eager and talented students! Who knew, when I was living the stressful corporate life, that I would get so much pleasure out of sharing my creativity? I always knew that there would be a “Plan B", when I decided to chuck it all, but I didn’t realize that it would come so soon. Also, I’m not really an art supply junkie; I’ve just been saving for retirement! At least, that’s what I’ve been telling myself! By the way, the bezel in the above shot is still waiting for its resin layer. Somehow, I didn’t get around to adding it in the class.

Which pixie misplaced my beaded pendant (last Friday’s workshop)? This one was made ages ago, but has mysteriously gone missing, and is probably somewhere in my home. Surprise, surprise! Did the faeries spirit it away? Is it hiding under the dust bunnies? Or could it have fallen into an open stash bag, a box, or that infamous “safe place”? Sure, I was able to stitch up a couple of replacement samples, but the mystery remains unsolved! The pendant I started in the class has not been completed, so I expect you may be seeing it in some future update.

I find that I’m never quite as creative in a workshop (resin this time), as I am when I’m working solo. Teaching is less about experimenting, and more about describing a process, and then demonstrating techniques. I had planned to experiment with resin and a torch, but I think that needs to wait for another day. Probably not a good idea to try it, with impressionable students!!!! Confession time! Gulp! I did use the torch just a little! Enough to realize that I liked the effect, but not enough for show and tell! Could this be another class in the making? We played with collage, botanicals and Ice Resin (including various colourants), and I even demonstrated Iced Enamels, and Pebeo Fantasy Paints (Prisme). We had a blast! The shell is a borrowed idea (I learned it on one of my internet groups, but my apologies, because I don’t remember who the tip was from), and a way to use up those leftover bits of resin. Drip them into a seashell, and turn it into a decorative element. This is my first one, but this serendipitous multi-layered approach, seems promising! I’ll be sure to collect some more interesting bits, for future shells!

My “Silly Goose” doll is progressing nicely (I’ve fallen in love with the Czech Rizo beads), though she’s still missing her hair! The pile of Archeology beads will be turned into a bracelet, the filigree pieces are for a future mystery project, and I’ve included a workshop teaser shot! It’s all fine and good, but I do have some paperwork to complete, before settling into any extended beading sessions. Wish me luck!

Despite the heat, summer is a fabulous time for both exploring your creativity, and discovering new techniques, so don’t forget to check out the BeadFX classes! Now point me to a cool drink, because I feel the need to bead, as I find all that paperwork terribly distracting!!

Resin play!

Who says that everything needs to be serious? Playtime is an essential part of the creativity process. Some may think that it’s a little frivolous, but I believe that it’s the only way to go! I do so love to play!!

I spent a little time on the weekend, experimenting with Ice Resin, Iced Enamels, Iced Enamel Tints, Pebeo Prisme Fantasy paints, nail polish and Ranger Distress Paints. I made some clear resin cabochons earlier in the week, and all I needed to do was embellish them! After spotting a nail polish marbling video, on one of my Facebook groups (sorry, no link!), I decided to try it out on resin (float the nail polish in a bowl of water, and then dip-dunk the resin). Well, suffice to say that my nail polish selection is very thin, so the results were a little under whelming, but I did get some interesting colour on my nails (that’s what happens when you don’t wear gloves). But did that stop me? Not with a good selection of Iced Enamels and a heat gun! Note: not much of the nail polish remains in plain view, but next time I'll try harder!

Then on to Ranger Distress paints and another cabochon! I dabbed a couple of colours on the resin, waited for it to dry, then added Iced Enamels (using a wooden skewer, to apply the Iced Enamel Medium), for a dimensional effect! I liked the effect, and plan to try out some of my other acrylic paints, in the near future.

The third experiment, involved coating a couple of cabochons with Pebeo Fantasy Prisme paints. I quickly realized that the results were not going to be quite what I expected! Most of the paints slid off the rounded cabochons, and the only place the cellular effects showed (the effect these paints are known for), was in the puddles at the bottom of the cabochon. As these paints are solvent based (use these outside, or in a well ventilated room), I had to wait 72 hours for the paint to cure completely, but then I was able to simply cut off the blobs (of course I saved them). I haven’t added the next step yet, but the plan is to tart them up even further. Should I use drips of coloured resin, fire, an additional layer of Distress Paints, Iced Enamels or something else entirely? Who knows, but it will certainly be fun to figure it out! By the way, after I’m satisfied with (&/or finished embellishing) all three sets of experiments, I plan to brush on a thin, finishing coat of resin, to make them shine!

On another of my Facebook groups, someone had the brilliant idea to use up her leftover resin (the bit that’s not large enough to use, but too good to throw away) by dripping it into a seashell, to make a totally unique decoration. Mine isn’t finished yet, and I really wish that I had used either blue or green, but a girl’s got to start somewhere! The blue bead was made from clear resin and a tiny drip of one of Ranger’s new Iced Enamel tints (picked up at Bead & Button, by a very kind friend). Far from a perfect result, as the bead mold is very tiny, but I will keep on trying! The next photo is a classic fail, but that doesn't mean that I'm giving up!! I promise that I'll get it to work one of these days!!!

Encourage and nurture your inner child! Play, experiment and give yourself permission to make a few mistakes. Not all play is productive, but it’s definitely necessary for growth. Besides it’s fun, and we all need more fun in our lives!!

What's on my bead mat - June edition!

June has been an interesting month! The Canadian crew is back (exhausted) from the big Bead & Button show, but what have I been doing lately? Surprisingly, not all that much in the beading line! Other things kept distracting me, thus keeping me from my normal state of beaded bliss! Sigh!

I did work on a couple of potential BeadFX “Inspirations”, and added wire to a Freeform Peyote beaded bead. I’m not that happy with the wire or accent beads, so I expect to make a few changes and/or modifications in the future. After abandoning her for a couple of weeks, I’ve made another start on my “Silly Goose” doll. A little more stacked stitch around her neck/chest, joined by a couple of lines of Peyote (stitch) on her belly. These will probably morph into Freeform Peyote, as I’m itching to go a little crazy!!! The regular Peyote stitch sections are being used to stabilize the looser stitches (freeform right angle weave), and anchor the piece. Who knows where I will go from there?

You might also notice a silver bezel, with a turquoise coloured background. I originally started working on this piece, in one of my Mixed Media: Open Studio Evenings (the next one is this Thursday). The painted background was attached to the bezel, and then I glued on a rough, diagonal line of gold glass glitter. Well, I really didn’t like the results, so the piece didn’t progress any further. Last night, I decided to partially cover up the glitter, with a couple of layers of Iced Enamels (German Silver first, topped by a touch of Ivory). Better! Then I dipped the end of a bamboo skewer into the Iced Enamel Medium, and dotted spots onto the watery background (sometimes simple tools are the best). Then I sprinkled more German Silver, tapped it to get rid of the excess, applied heat (via my trusty heat gun), and my bubbles were born!!! But it still needed something! I rummaged my stash, to find the miniature starfish I made earlier in the year. Recipe – One itty-bitty starfish (borrowed from a friend), plus two-part epoxy silicone putty (to make a mold), plus polymer clay, plus an oven for curing the clay, equals a perfect focal piece! The colour is perfect, and only needed a little Gilders Paste for accent. What’s next, you say? Well, if I can wait that long, I will use this piece as a demo in my July Resin workshop. I plan to half-fill the bezel with clear resin, wait for it to cure (12 hours), and then add another shallow layer of resin, topped by the starfish (which will not be completely covered in resin).

Alas, the purple doll remains naked, and I haven’t even spared a thought for my pearls! Am I a bad doll momma and stash hoarder? In my defence, I seem to work in colour phases, and my current one is obviously green/blue. My prior one was purple, and I think I hit a purple “wall”! As for the pearls, I still have ideas roaming around my head, but nothing is really gelling right now. No more new pearls, until I use at least one string!!!

The message in this blog post is that you can’t spend all of your time on creativity. Sometimes other activities drift in to steal your time!! Deal with them, and then get right back on track! Better still (something I did not do, but wish I did), reward yourself with creativity breaks, to help you deal with all the stressors!

Let's go walkabout!

Does anyone but me, think that it’s a tad strange to see (and feel) the temperature soar to almost 30C (or did it surpass that) yesterday? We were already geared up for warmer temps, but that high and this early in the year? Toronto is quite unpredictable! Winter, spring and summer, in the space of a couple of weeks…and I’m not exaggerating!!! Is everyone prepared for the change? No of course not, but as true Canadians we’ll adapt, and soon be complaining about how freaking hot it is!! I still need to clean my air conditioner filter, and I haven’t even transferred over to my summer clothing yet. Sigh!

In light of the warmer temperatures, I dusted off my trusty Canon, then spent a pleasant afternoon going walkabout, around the Toronto Botanical Gardens (Edwards Gardens) on Sunday. I snapped tons of photos, but focused mainly on close-up shots of the last remaining tulips, and some fabulous blossoms. The smell was incredible, despite the fact that I tried not to get too close to the lilacs (achoo!). But what does this have to do with beads, you say? Well, (and I think that I’ve said this before) I believe that you can get your colour cues from just about anything. If you’re ever lacking in inspiration, I highly recommend a walk in the park, don't forget to take your camera along, and take photos of anything that catches your eye. Don't worry about composition, you're looking for colourful ideas! The exercise will freshen your brain, and your muse will appreciate the reminders. When you download the photos, you’ll be able to take a second look, and should easily spot a colour scheme or two. If you don’t own a camera (and yes, there are some people who don’t), simply cut out any magazine photos that grab your attention. File them in an "Inspiration" file, and trot them out whenever you’re stumped for ideas! Even better, bring your images to BeadFX, and we'll help you pick out the colours!

My photos have been downloaded, but I admit that I haven’t had a chance to focus on future projects (although I am rather fond of the colours cues in the first and last photos). However, I did complete two new Freeform Peyote Rings. The first was based on a soft, almost Victorian colour scheme, and the second on a Facebook photo I shared last week (of a turquoise door, surrounded by a brick wall). I’m teaching a ring class on Friday, and I’m hoping to design one or more new ones, inspired by my photos. Hmmm, I wonder which photo I'll choose? By the way, feel free to borrow some of my colour cues! I have a million of them!! Close your eyes, and imagine the necklace or bracelet you could make with these colours? Or how about creating something with Ice Resin, Alcohol Inks or Epoxy Clay? Wouldn't they be wonderful?

I encourage you to go “walkabout”, in the hope that it will prod your muse into action! Immerse yourself in colour, and let the summer begin!!!! After all, we deserve it!

Rings and things and resin!

I started thinking about what I was going to write this week....and then....absolutely nothing!!! Don't you hate it when that happens? Nothing funny or bright or even remotely interesting crossed my thinking path. Were my creative neurons on strike? What to do, what to do? Then I started reflecting on what was going on around me, and came up with a few ideas! The first one is freeform related (see last Wednesday's post), and has to do with my obsessive need to try out everything that interests me.

Karen Williams posted some delicious little Valentine rings on her Baublicious blog. I drooled and obsessed for a while, and then decided to give it a try. Her idea for the starting string of beads is solid, but of course I didn't end up making mine that way! No little charms because I don't own any....but I do reserve the right to add a few in the future. How about a little Swarovski heart or a sparkly dangle? Pretty but fragile....I wonder? The blue/green ring is my first and it's a little large, but does fit my middle finger. The black/grey one turned out just right, and I absolutely love it! I'm simply enchanted with this process, and predict many more rings in my future (and perhaps even a wee workshop). It's amazing how much design you can pack into these little treasures!

Next obsession, resin! When you forget to bring along your personal supply of bezels (to the workshop you're teaching), you're forced to improvise. I had a "what if" moment and decided to turn more trash into treasure. I've used metal bottle caps before, but I wondered what would happen if I included some rayon thread ends (saved from my fibre days) and then added Ice Resin in to a larger plastic cap. The metal bottle cap (with a few small shells and a bit of birch bark) turned out great, but the plastic cap was certainly not awe inspiring! Mainly because the colourful threads darkened considerably, and seemed to suck all the light out of the piece. Not entirely daunted, I decided to add some teeny stones, a bit of dyed silk cocoon, and a final sprinkle of fine glitter (to represent pond scum). It's not perfect, but certainly improving. I still need to disguise the white plastic, but what if I made a bead embroidery piece, cut a hole in it and then inserted the little pond? Wouldn't that be interesting? I'll probably cover up the white plastic with Apoxie Sculpt (I'm giving a workshop on that tomorrow evening), Gilders Paste, and perhaps a dash of Vintag Patinas! I know, I probably should have done all this before adding the resin, but oh well!

Improvise, improvise, and improvise some more! If you're obsessed, it probably means the universe wants you to do something about it. Also remember that creativity sometimes takes a vacation, but will always return!!

Paper jewellery collage or decoupage?

What is the difference? Collage, according to dictionary.com is "a technique of composing a work of art by pasting on a single surface various materials not normally associated with one another as newspaper clippings, parts of photographs, theatre tickets and fragments of an envelope." On the other hand, the Decoupage definition from the same source is "the art of decorating something with cut-outs of paper, linoleum, plastic, or other flat material over which varnish or lacquer is applied." Sounds similar, except for the fact that decoupage uses cutouts and lacquer or varnish. For the purposes of this blog post, I'm just going to talk about collage. I use it in some of my mixed media art, including altered dominos, and resin covered bezels. Could beads, pendants and necklaces be far behind? Perhaps not!

Now let's talk about paper! For the last few years, I've been involved in an international paper swap, run by a lovely lady in Germany. If you're interested, check out the Paper Swap Blog, and follow the instructions to join. You will be paired up with someone in another part of the world, and for the cost of postage; end up getting a generous supply of various papers and ephemera to use in your art. Good mail is always exciting, and it's really quite addicting! Of course the papers will not necessarily be acid free, and could possibly yellow over time. However, I'm not all that worried! I do try to use acid free glue, resin and varnish though (UHU glue sticks, Ice Resin, Mod Podge, Acrylic Gel Medium).

If you're gluing paper to paper, use the glue stick (as it will prevent wrinkling). Use Mod Podge or Acrylic Gel Medium when gluing paper to chipboard, wood or metal. If you want to add a paper collage to the bottom of a metal bezel, make sure that you coat all sides (including the edges) of the paper with Mod Podge, then once dry add embellishments and the finishing layer of resin. Do not add resin directly to paper as it will cause staining. With the exception of Ice Resin (when fully cured), these glues and finishes are only water resistant, and not waterproof. Collage is a very flat art form; so remember to add depth by layering colour, value, and texture. You'll be surprised at how easy it is!

Why don't you give collage a try in one of your next creations? A small wooden heart would be perfect as a pendant. As it happens, Pam just gifted me with a few, so I believe a bit of collage play is in my future. I'll be sure to post the results!

Reflections on an exploding stash!

Santa Baby, I've been a very bad girl this year!! I purchased tons of stuff, with absolutely no idea, what I was going to make! Sure, I whipped up some class samples, and made an Inspiration or two, but did I really need all of those pearls? I ask you, would you?

Then, let's chat about the paint I purchased. Yes, I absolutely needed the Pebeo Fantasy paints, Adirondack, Alcohol Inks, Ice Resin, Iced Enamels, Gilders Paste, Mica Powders, and Spectrum Noir markers, for workshops I was teaching, but did I need so darned many of them? Not to mention seed beads, shaped beads, stones, buttons, bezels, rusty objects, found items, and perhaps even a cabochon or two. Should I mention the findings, threads and tools? It doesn't matter, because they make me happy, and if that means that Santa is not going to slide down the chimney this year, then so be it!

Now, how about talking about the stash from my pre-beading life, when I fancied myself a fibre artist? I own piles, and piles of thread, paint, paper, embroidery floss, and even a bunch of yarn (despite the fact, that I don't knit). It's not like it suddenly disappears, in a puff of smoke, when I head off in a new direction! It's still there, and it's clogging up my studio, and if the truth be told, my living and dining room, and storage area. When will I ever learn? I'd be embarrassed to show a photo of said studio, so I won't....but believe me, you're not missing anything! Sign me up for hoarders anonymous!

So, in the interest of full disclosure, I've been participating in an international paper swap, for a couple of years. Do I need more paper? No, of course not (except as collage fodder for my altered dominos), but I still signed up for 2016 (if anyone is interested, it's www.paperswap.com). It's a fun way to add some unusual papers to your stash, and meet a bunch of lovely people, along the way. Should I mention the fact, that I also monoprint my own papers (mainly for collage, paper beads, and swaps), via a wonderful tool, called the Gelli Arts, Gelli Printing Plate? You'll need to look them up, because they're not sold in the store (but I do use the printed papers, in several of my workshops). There are tons of YouTube videos on the subject, and it's just waaay too much fun!

I'm not really one to make resolutions, but if I were, I'd vow to make a pile of pearl pieces, and perhaps a few mixed media projects, over the holidays. In addition, I would dust off my neglected sewing machine, and give my beads, a little dose of fibre, for good measure! You see, I love it all, and it saddens me, when my older treasures are neglected. But seriously, I really do need to purge and organize my stash!!!

It's an exciting time of the year, despite the fact that Toronto is having unseasonably mild temperatures (by contrast, the above photo was taking after the ice storm, on December 22nd, 2013). There is, no chance of a white Christmas, but that's not stopping us, from celebrating the spirit of the season. So with that, I'll wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and to those that do not celebrate, a happy and healthy holiday of your choice. Enjoy your time with family and friends, and if you get a chance, try to relax, with a few beads! You've earned it!

I'm late, I'm late, and my creative dilemma!

Once again, I seem to have given myself a bit of a challenge! What better time to do this, than when you're supposed to be madly shopping, creating, wrapping and sending gifts off to the west and the north? Rats! I do this every single year, while vowing to never do it again. Despite this fact, I don't remember ever being late for the big event. If you pay enough dollars to the postal gurus, and remember to send your parcels a few days early, your package will get there on time (I always keep my fingers crossed,and still worry). Although most of my shopping is done, I haven't wrapped a single present, despite the fact that it's already the 16th. I know what I'll be doing, later today!! But wait, I ran out of tape......aaargh!

Back to my dilemma! I don't really want to wrap, I want to play! I seem to be in a high creative phase, and I've been madly working with both Ice Resin, and Apoxie Sculpt. Not in the same project, of course, and both are quite different, but fun just the same! For those of you, not familiar with Apoxie Sculpt, it's a two-part epoxie clay, similar to Crystal Clay. BeadFX carries both products, and the only reason I've chosen to work with this one, is that I already had a couple of tubs of it, in my stash. I also like the fact that it comes in a plastic container, with a tight fitting lid. That's important, when you're not planning on using it all up on a single project, as it won't dry out. I purchased a fairly large quantity (like the ones, shown below), before I realized that BeadFX carried the product. Another interesting fact about Apoxie is that, while it has a fairly long shelf life, you can actually freeze it, to extend it even further (but I don't know if the same can be done, to Crystal Clay). You will also be able to thaw it out, use it, and then re-freeze, without compromising the integrity of the product. Sculptors use it to sculpt and carve, and I've seen some very creative pieces, made out of this medium (especially in the world of dolls). You can even use it to repair, almost anything. As usual, YouTube is full of videos to delight you!

My personal challenge, is to come up with a project, that's completely different from many of the two-part epoxy pieces, that I've seen in the past. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love the look of the crystal based pieces, but I have a burning need, to make something completely different! Not being a sparkle girl, and still in love with my techniques, I'll be designing something, more mixed media inspired. My first piece is actually finished, although it seems to be more of a hybrid, than true mixed media. It does include crystals, but I also mixed in some pearls and metal, to give it more of an edge. The components are already laid out for my second piece, and it's turning out to be quite different. More metal, a teeny bit of sparkle, and a non-traditional coating or two. Will it work? Only time will tell! I'm working this up for a class sample, so won't be able to show the photos, until it's up on the site. I believe that this new workshop, has been scheduled for February.

I originally purchased the Apoxie Sculpt, for last year's Toronto Bead Society, Bag of Beads challenge. I made a doll, out of a silver plated spoon, fork, plate, fibre, polymer clay, and the challenge beads. I ended up attaching the face to the doll, and the doll to the base (a small silver plate), with the Apoxie Sculpt. I've learned that it will virtually attach anything, to anything!!! The photos, don't really show the Apoxie Sculpt, but believe me, it's on there, and it's rock hard!!! I buried a few beads on it, and sculpted it to look a little like grass (I never said that I was a sculptor, did I?).

The Ice Resin piece that I mentioned earlier, is a gift, so I won't be discussing it, except to say that it involves my monoprinted paper, metal, leather, and I'm happy to say that it's finished! While it's curing (resin dries overnight, but takes 3 days to cure), I'm going to let myself play with the Apoxie a little more. Now, what are you up to this week? Still scrambling to buy, or make that perfect present? Or perhaps you're just relaxing with a snack, beverage, and sappy TV movie of your choice? Whatever you're doing, enjoy the season!