Learning some new things

Lately I have been trying to learn some new techniques, or revisit some I had tried a long time ago. I was getting kind of bored and burned out only doing millefiori work all the time. So I decided instead of just setting aside my work until I got "unbored" I would try a few new things.

The technique I revisited first was mica shift. I had made a couple things a long time ago that I didn't really like at the time, so I hadn't gone back to it. Just before Christmas last year I decided I'd try again. I made a bunch of people in my family personalized ornaments. This one was made for my granddaughter. I had a lot of fun with them, so I made a bunch of different things. Next on my list of techniques was mokume gane. Like the mica shift, I had briefly experimented when I first started in polymer clay. I decided to come back and try again. This time around the things I made came out much better. Like all things you get better the more you practice. Here are a couple of the projects. This is a business card case.

This is one of my favorite things I have made using mokume gane. Purple is my favorite color and the swirls just seemed to come out right.

The next technique I tried was taught to me by my good friend Linda of NKDesigns. This is from her tutorial on claylessons.com.http://www.claylessons.com/. It is a small altoid tin. It has several layers of shades of green clay, pearl clay and gold leaf.

The newest technique I am trying is using alcohol inks. I bought a tutorial from RiverValleyDesign from claylessons to try them out. This egg was covered using pearl polymer clay, gold leaf, mica powders and the alcohol inks. It is also a technique I like and will have to explore further.

Maybe one day soon I'll get back to my millefiori work, but for now I'm having fun with my clay again :)

Polymer Clay for a Cause

Polymer Clay for a Cause is the main charity supported by my guild, The Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy.

This is taken from the shop anouncement of the Etsy store for this worthy cause.

"I started Polymer Clay for a Cause in honor of my daughter, Cortney. Cortney had an incredibly artistic mind, but due to her Muscular Dystrophy we were not able to find a medium that she could do. So in turn during her years of living at Childrens Hospital she would tell me GREAT stories and I would try to bring them to life thru polymer clay. Clay became both of our worlds, just in different ways. Cortney left this world at the age of 14 to go dance for the first time, but I try to continue her spirit through clay and charities (Cortney would grow her hair out, just to donate it to locks of love - which for a girl in a wheelchair is rough to do - that was the kind of soul she was). I will list photos of her in the store, if you wish to see her! About the store.....This is a non-profit shop that takes art work from any polymer clay artist that wishes to contribute. About every four months the PCAGOE (Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy) will vote on a children's charity for which to donate ALL of the sales from this shop go to that orginization. If you wish to contribute, please look in the stores policy sections for information. Feel free to purchase an item for more than that item is listed for if you wish, but this is NOT a must! THANKS!!"

So far she has been able to make three donations.

FIRST DONATION - $108.90 to the Easter Seals Camp (Colorado)..This was Cortney's summer camp and her whole world!

SECOND DONATION - $198.00 to Canines for Disabled Kids!

THIRD DONATION - $194.50 to FREE ARTS for Abused Children http://www.freearts.org/

This store is filled with lots of beautiful donations. Listed right now there are all kinds of jewelry, bookmarks, keychains, containers and all sorts of home decor items. These are just a few:

Please go visit the store and see all the other beautiful donations and make a purchase for this worthy cause. Thank you.

Gorgeous Tin From a Very Talented Lady

altoid
Originally uploaded by Linda-NKDesigns

This is an Altoid tin covered by a very good friend and fellow PCAGOE member Linda of NKDesigns. I just absolutely loved this unique pattern so much I had to know how she did it. She has a tutorial on how it was done on claylessons.com. In the tutorial she explains in very easy to follow steps on how to achieve this gorgeous pattern. She also has a couple other tutorials worthy of checking out. She is such a kindhearted and giving person, I feel blessed to have known her for the last couple years.

Please check out her Etsy shop for some of the most beautiful creations in polymer clay you'll ever find.

Possible prizes for my guild's monthly challenge

Every month my guild, the PCAGOE, has a contest for it's members. They set a predetermined theme that each entrant has to make a creation that fits the theme of the month. The public is invited to vote on their favorite entry. Each month a pool of 16 prizes is available for 5 lucky voters to win. This is the prize pool for this month

First row: a pair of earrings by StudioSchiek, a pen by me, PolymerClayCreations, a covered tin by ClayCenter and a necklace by KDollDesigns

Second row: a pendant by NKDesigns, a brooch by RenGalSA, a pendant and bead set by AshPaints and a pendant by BeeTreebyME

Third row: a pair of earrings by 11BoldStreet, a polymer clay painting by AlisonEKurek, a pendant by RiverValleyDesign and a necklace by LaurelSteven

Fourth row: a pair of earrings by Juliespace, a pair of earrings by JanGeisen, a bead set by ClayHappy and a pendant by SCDiva

The theme for this month's challenge is "Texture". I had so many ideas running through my head. It was hard for me to pin down any one. I finally desided on this:

It is a mirror that I first covered with a layer of polymer clay. I then made each individual tile. There are 4 tiles with molded roses. They were painted with a metallic paints and then baked again with some purple micro beads added to highlight the roses. The other tiles have either a floral or butterfly theme done in a mica shift, or ghost technique. I then added the tiles to the mirror frame with some marble clay "grout". Lastly I added some flower stems, also finished with some micro beads. There is plenty of "texture" going on here, from the smooth ceramic feel of the mica shift tiles, to the bumpiness of the micro beads. I titled it "Picture Yourself in Spring" because I am so ready for spring. Ready for warm sunshine and flowers blooming. It can be used either as a mirror or picture frame.

The voting for the challenges are from the 1st of every month through the 7th. The winners are announced on our guild website on the 8th.

My very first blog post

Hi, my name is Angela Hickey. I am a mother to 3. Daughter Christina, sons Jonathan and Daniel. Mother-in-Law to Elijah, Nicole and Michelle. Grandmother to 4 beautiful grandchilren from Christina. Chance 11, Hannah almost 9, Cameron 4 and Cash 3.

I have been a artist and crafter as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is designing clothes and shoes for my Barbies. After I was let go from my last job after almost 12 years, I needed something to occupy my time and mind. I discovered polymer clay. I've used several mediums and done lots of different crafts over the years. I've got to say polymer clay is the most amazing medium I've ever come across. The possibilities of what can be made and done with it are endless.

I first started selling on eBay as a way to make up for my lost income. I found there was actually a market for the things I was making. I never had any trouble selling. A little over 2 years ago one of my customers told me about a site called Etsy. I fell in love immediately. It is a wonderful market place for handcrafted things. I sold my first item 5 days after joining, and haven't looked back since. Here is my store, if you'd like to take a look.

I joined a team on Etsy called the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy (PCAGOE for short). I mainly joined as a way to help market myself. It is more than just a street team on Etsy. It is the most talented, wonderfully giving bunch of people I have ever met.

This is my very first blog post. I hope to make it a habit to post something every week at the very least. Thanks for looking and have a great day!!