Faux inspiration!

3 Bears made of faux ivory, by Luann Udell

Here are some links and inspiration to help get you revved up for our upcoming faux demos in 2011!

We'll be seeing demonstrations for making faux ivory/bone and jade.  Here is a short supply list for you to start working on and gathering up before our meetings:

-- your usual polymer clay tools
-- at least 2 - 2oz. blocks of translucent polymer clay
-- at least 1 - 2oz. block of white polymer clay
-- at least 1 - 2oz. block of ecru OR beige clay
-- some small amounts of blue, green, and yellow polymer clays

Polymer Clay Daily has some posts on faux ivory and bone.  Check out this post, from May 31st, on artists Luann Udell, Genevieve Williamson, and Elvira Lopez del Prado.  And this one, from June 4th featuring Laurie Prophater.  Sarajane Helm's site also has some examples of her Victorian Hand Beads made of faux ivory which I must say are quite exquisite!

Mixed-media necklace with faux bone pendant, by DesertWindDesigns

 If you do a search on Polymer Clay Daily for faux jade, there are a number of posts as well.  One of those mentioned Lynda Moseley's research which resulted in her discovering that there are six different colors of natural jade.  Did you know that?  I sure didn't!

Faux jade earring, by ojamaa9design

Asian necklace by Margit Böhmer

There are also different resources for you to learn about faux techniques.  There are many books which include faux tutorials, with at least a couple of them having that as their focus:

Victoria (Tory) Hughes' book: Polymer - The Chameleon Clay
Irene Semanchuk Dean's book: Faux Surfaces in Polymer Clay

And of course, you can find lots of tutorials and tips online if you Google "faux ivory bone polymer clay" or "faux jade polymer clay."

These appear to be faux bone/ivory over pill bottles, by Michelle Ross

 Are you excited??  People will be asking if your pieces are "faux" real!  Haha.  Okay, I couldn't resist!

December 2010 - Ornament swap, silent auction, and potluck!

Suzanne K.'s mice ornaments -- all tucked in for a long winter's nap!

We had a wonderful time with the ornament swap, silent auction, and potluck this month.  There were 10 members participating in the ornament swap with quite a diverse selection of ornaments!  Our silent auction brought in money for the guild, and hopefully we can have even more offerings in the future (you know you don't need ALL those polymer clay books and videos you have!).  Members had a great afternoon conversing with one another, sharing their polymer creations, and enjoying each other's culinary treats.

Upcoming demos for January and February:  Faux

(Sorry that I still don't know all the guild members' names! When I get the names, I will credit them in the photos!)

The following pictures, as well as the one at the top of this post, are from the ornament swap.

An assortment of colorful filigree and caned trees, cactus, and more!

Mother and child ornaments

Cute polymer clay santas, angels and "gingerbread"!

Polymer "lights" by Jerry Hunt (I think that's who made them!)

Polymer xmas trees and other ornaments by Bev Pressey

 

Truly 3-dimensional snowflake ornaments by Barbara Watson!  Made out of thin stamped cut-outs and assembled together.  These lay flat, but open up when hanging.  

Cookie ornaments -- good enough to eat!

Textured and cutout ornaments by Betty Wilkinson

Angels, ready to watch over you!  Made by Barb Harper.

 

 

Slipper ornaments with plumeria flowers, by Jainnie Jenkins

Guild member with her polymer clay necklace.  She had some pieces in our silent auction!

Guild members looking over the silent auction

Guild member's piece, inspired by Laurie Mika

Fabulous textured blues! Polymer clay necklace by a guild member.

A memorial piece made in honor of a guild member's husband.  This is made up of tiles made by guild members.

Close-up of memorial frame

Close-up of memorial frame

Close-up of memorial frame

Close-up of memorial frame

Guild members eyeing the goodies of the potluck!

Suzanne K.'s sleigh with rein-bugs!  Undeniably cute!

Close-up of Suzanne's sleigh

Suzanne's rein-bugs (not sure what she calls them, but that's what I call them!) -- such cute expressions!!

Happy Holidays everyone!  See you in January!!

Artist Doreen Kassel

Ornament made by Doreen Kassel

This evening I came across the artist, Doreen Kassel.  I'm in love!  This New Jersey artist is a former illustrator of children's books and products, and now makes the most delightfully quirky creatures. 

Christmas ornament by Doreen Kassel

She forms and sculpts polymer clay over glass ornaments, then rubs layers of oil paint over them post-firing.  There is something quite satisfying about being able to see the layers of clay and paint in her pieces, and her fine attention to detail with facial features and expressions. 

Christmas Ornament by Doreen Kassel

I had to look up some of her inspirations -- E.H. Shepard and William Holbrook Beard -- and instantly recognized their works.  Shepard is the Winnie-the-Pooh author, and Beard is known for his paintings of animals (most notably bears) engaged in human activity.  I can only imagine the wondrousness of her dreams, and how charming and amusing to be surrounded by all of these creatures in her studio. 

I'm going to bed tonight and dream of dancing bears.

Website:  http://www.doreenkassel.com
Etsy:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/uncommoncreatures
Be sure to also check out her tiles, jewelery, music boxes and adopt a piglet pages!