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A geometric pattern is achieved by carefully wrapping colored Parawire around a large SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS focal crystal. After setting the wired stone over Crystal Clay epoxy clay, stars of twisted wire (from Rings & Things) are added along the edge. Polymer clay millefiori canes slices are laid over a clay covered rim. Lastly, AB finish (aurora borealis) chaton crystals are glued into the center of each wire star.
While teaching in the Czech Republic a couple of weeks ago, I demonstrated how to make foiled clay checkerboard patterns. I did this as well in Serbia the week following. The heart is given a glass-like finish with Magic Glos UV resin. The base of the lid is foiled clay too. The rim is textured striping with millefiori cane slices overlapping the edge.
Marquis-shaped SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Crystal set frames are filled with tiny millefiori cane slices and a tiny crystal set in the center. Each has been arrange to form a trefoil pattern. A small chaton crystal is set in the center and framed with polymer clay. In between each setting one the outer perimeter are crystal stars and larger slices of the same cane design. Millefiori striping is left with the distorted edges intact to give a ruffled edge which was flared outward along the base of the rim.
This "Greenman" enjoys the last of verdant leaves as Fall creeps into place. MIllefiori leaves overlay one another along the lid, leading up to the molded polymer clay face. Sneaking up from the bottom of the rim are more scalloped leaves in the shades of Autumn.
As cooler days begin to turn the leaves, I bid the flowers of summer adieu. Being a warm weather person, I find this time of year bittersweet. While I love chilly nights where I can curl up besides a fire with a mug of tea, under my favorite throw, I'm sad to see the seasons change. A few flowers of a brighter hue cling to life, but not for long, as they make way for more autumnal blooms and warmer colors. Today's lid features thin, millefiori cane slices embedded into a white clay background. The sides of the lid are covered with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Hotfix crystal trim. Lastly, ball chain fills the gap between the rim and lid.
Without having intended it, this mirror cane with a distinctly floral feel to the pattern, ended up resembling an X or cross, depending on the orientation you are viewing it from. The layered millefiori leaf cane slices rising up from the base of the rim seemed to be the ideal finishing touch along with a tiny SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS flatback crystal to highlight the center.
This lid is a tribute to all of the wonderful followers and supporters who have taken this creative journey with me. From the blog itself to Facebook, Twitter and other channels, I have to say how touched I am by the continued outpouring of interest and support in this project. To express this appreciation, I wanted to create an expression that symbolized this. I used my crackle technique from my last book (The Complete Book of Polymer Clay Techniques) to create a puffed polymer heart. The wings are black clay covered with clay/crafting foils and them impressed into hand-formed molds. Over a base of epoxy Crystal Clay, I pressed thin brass filligree that I had purchased at a miniatures show nearly two decades ago. I have been saving this little treasure for years, knowing one day I'd have the perfect application for it. I used some fabric trim to cover the rim with a red polymer clay base. Lastly, tiny gradient leaves cut from a millefiori cane were scalloped along the edge between the rim and lid.
I've been looking forward all of this year to tackling one of the earliest concepts I had on my list of possible jars and themes to create. I have been to a few areas of France for teaching and pleasure. To date, I have only been in Paris as an airport stop-over. Seeing this city is on my bucket list and one day, I hope to check it off. I speak enough French to get by and love the romance that surrounds so much of French culture. I knew somewhere along the line of this project, I would have to create a tribute to this incredible landmark. I distressed the polymer clay to appear like old metal using Christi Friesen's Swellegent patina agents. A snake of striped clay surrounds the edge between lid and rim. The base is marbled polymer clay. The rim was made using the Sutton Slice method with a Dynasty texture stamp.
It's amazing how finding one little element meant for some other purpose can inspire a totally random idea. I found this little glass half dome at a booth filled with vintage findings at the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee last June.I immediately had an image of the board game "Trouble" which I so enjoyed playing as a child and with my children. Rather than a traditional board, my current home town of Las Vegas, became the inspiration of a different type of game board - a poker chip. Polymer clay was used to create this base. and the rim covering. I created the card spread and poker chip images on my blank water-slide image transfer paper. Game on!
At least that's what I believe. When I create, I take charge of my happiness on at an entirely higher state of mind. It's my meditation, release from physical or emotional pain. Creating gives me tangible proof of my efforts. I have grown and gained so much from getting in touch with my inner artist. I believe we are all artists; you only have to find your canvas, or canvases (as is the case for most people who've communed with these amazing and transformative powers. I believe in this theory so much, I have been working on a book of the same title. I wish I had more information that I could share about when this will be available, but the news will be on my website once I have more to share. Today's jar is a collage of mostly polymer clay and other elements that symbolize today's theme. The rusted key is made from polymer clay and is symbolic of creativity being the key to greater happiness and self-actualization. The effect was created with Christi Friesen's Swellegant, an incredible line of patina and coloring/texture agents from my dear friend and talented artist, Christi Friesen. Just about any surface, especially polymer clay can be treated to look like metals, new and old. The letter tiles are surrounded with a snake of twisted, stripped clay and anchored with tiny millefiori leaf canes. Thin clay snakes were hand formed across the lid into swirls and squiggles. Tiny bead spacers were pressed down into the clay base. Ink stamped onto clay was used to make the hands that surround the jar.
