365 Days of Lip Service

How Big???

I've heard from several people following the blog that they wanted to know more about February 14th's chocolate box including a better perspective of it's size. We'll due to popular demand, here are more details. The open box of chocolates measures 7/8" inches high (23 mm) and 3/4" inches wide (19mm). All the chocolates were made with polymer clay including the foil covered one. I've taken this picture with real chocolate truffles to give a sense of scale. If only all chocolates were guilt free!

Renaissance Rapture

This collage was made using my pre-printed Waterslide Transfers (from the Fine Arts and Tiny Tats collection). White polymer clay was used as the background along with the addition of millefiori flower and leaf slices for a dimensional quality. The "Tiny Tats" butterfly was hand-tinted with permanent markers before being applied.Two, thin  layers of Magic Glos UV resin were applied (curing between each layer) for a glass-like finish with a cabochon effect. The rim is textured, black clay.   

 

 

So Bright, I Have to Wear Shades!

     

 

This was a cane I made by combining other cane odds and ends. I love the vibrancy that the yellow adds to the orange and pink tones. I feel that yellow is probably the most under-appreciated and under-utilzed color in creativity. Yellow does wonders for making light and bright colors pop, while softening darker tones. The center is accented with a SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Hotfix flatback in Crystal Volcano (#001 VOL). Atomic Orange strips of lined clay were trimmed with a deckled edge and place along the top and bottom of the rim after lining it with fucshia clay for an edgy effect (pun not intended!). 

 

 

 

Crystal Pyramids

 

A few days back, when digging in my SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS treasure trove, I also found another type of triangular component, the Pyramid Fancy Stone #4842. These complimented a triangular millefiori cane design I had in my clay drawers. Separating the simple, lined black clay border is a single strand of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS single row #50 002 plastic banding in Topaz (#203). Polymer clay bakes at a low enough temperature that the banding won't melt in the oven! The pyramid stones were removed after baking and reattached with two-part epoxy.      

 

Hail to the Chief!

     

Happy President's Day, especially for you lucky ducks who get the day off from work. U.S. presidents were of course my inspiration for this lid. I've also been ruminating lately about how much I like charcoal rubbings. If you're not familiar with the concept, it's the art of placing paper over textured objects, typically old architectural elements or tombstones. Charcoal is rubbed over the paper to get a ghosted duplicate impression of the design. I wanted to see if I could create this effect with clay. This was done by putting a very thin layer of black clay over a quarter, burnishing with my finger and then applying a light coating of mica powder on the raised surface.I have to say that I was more than happy with the results. In keeping with a patriotic theme, I used red, white, and blue stripping over my Stars and Strips foil. It's not news how sad the economy is. We all know the dollar continues to shrink, but I bet you didn't know it was getting smaller in value and now in size! I glued miniature, replica coins to the rim. These miniature and micro miniatures versions of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters are a part of my Micro Inclusion line and coming soon to www.lisapavelka.com

     

Good Vibrations

     

In going through my crystal treasure trove I came across this lovely SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Topaz (10mm) triangle cut stone (#4722). I made today's lid with no idea of what it would look like when I started out. Sometimes, my favorite creations are those that begin this way. After placing a stripped clay border around the stone and baking it, I decided that I'm still not over my Spring Fever and am longing for green. Onto a green base of clay it went. Then i noticed some wavy clay strip scraps sticking out of my scrap clay jar from a previous project. Voila! i decided to build an abstract sun concept with the crystal as the focal point, thus the rays of black and light green clay emanating out from the center. To highlight the strip border of the stone, I decided to add a stripped border around the rim. Even though I was inspired by the thought of sunlight on grass, I now also see the design as vibratory currents coming out of the stone. Whatever way you look at this, I hope it inspires you to do something creative today.    

Spring is in the Air?

     

 

...okay, well maybe not yet, but you can't blame a girl for dreaming. Keeping on the track of yesterday's blog creation, I feel the need for color that brightens my spirits! What better way to do that than with a confetti millefiori cane accented with bull's eye cane slices and a fabulous SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystal rivoli. A simple, textured blue clay rim causes the blue color in the cane to pop! 

 

Leaving on a Jet Plane

 

The biggest blessing of being a working artist is connecting with others through my classes and workshops. Another wonderful perk is the chance to see the world through my work. I'm incredibly fortunate to have the support of my husband and kids. Once in a while they get to travel with me too. Not every venue is exotic or exciting, but the point is sharing the love of creativity far and wide. Oftentimes a trip means breezing in and out of a town without time to site-see or relax. When I do get the chance to do this, I consider it a bonus, but the biggest payoff is creating with new and old friends. So far this year, I'll be traveling to locations including Slovenia, Austria, Alaska, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Canada, and other locations throughout the U.S. I made today's lid as a tribute to the joys of travel. This mixed media collage is made using polymer clay, micro components and products from my line (including Magic Glos resin and texture stamps). A stripped border finishes the piece. For more information about where I'll be teaching along with links for class offerings visit www.lisapavelka.com

Kaleidoscope

     

One of the most popular (and one of my favorite) Mallorie caning techniques is a variation of the traditional kaleidoscope caning methods I refer to as "mirror caning." Traditionally, a kaleidoscope cane consists of six, identical cane sections, assembled together. Today's creation is accented with a stripped clay border, a donut shaped hotifx nailhead and Magic Glos resin for a glass-like finish. As winter wears on and the last of the major holidays are over for some time, I believe surrounding yourself with vibrant color is one of the best ways to fend off seasonal doldrums.

About Face

     

 

If you haven't heard of metal clay, it's the newest true artistic medium. I recall it's introduction from Japan in the 1990's. The concept is based on powdered metallurgy. Incredibly small particles of jewelry grade metals (gold, fine silver, copper and bronze) are m temperatures ixed with an organic cellulose binder to form a "clay" of sorts. This material comes in various forms including lump clay, slip, paste, and paper types. When molded, sculpted, formed, stamped, cut, extruded, or punched. These types of metal clay are then dehydrated of all water. Depending on the material, quantity and objects it can be used with, it is kiln or torch fired at high. The binder burns away, leaving pure metal. The disintegration of the binder causes the metal particles to come together in a process known as sintering. The loss of the binder results in a percentage of shrinkage that can range from about 8-14% depending on the brand, application of the clay. I dabbled with the art form for over a decade until my friend and metal clay mentor, Art Clay Silver President - Jackie Trudy encouraged me to begin the process of certification. I have been Senior Metal Clay instructor for just over three years now. I love that metal clay can be used as a stand-alone material, but that it has nearly unlimited mixed-media applications; especially for polymer clay. My devotion to the medium has lead me to  a regular magazine feature (Clay Convergence) in the premier publication for the art form, Metal Clay Artist. One of my favorite uses for small bits of metal clay that are left over from larger projects is to make accents and charms. This tiny face still captures a lot of detail as the focal point in a millefiori lid. An asymmetrical clay frame highlights the Fine Silver accent. A gold leave crackle finish is used over black polymer clay for the rim. To learn more about the medium of metal clay, visit the link to Art Clay World USA, for a wealth of information about materials, classes and more!