Thursday, May 19, 2016

POLYMER CLAY ADVENTURE: More Puffy Hearts Using Mokume-Gane Technique

ready to be glazed....
Hope everyone is having a great week! I am still working on finishing my puffy heart pendants and charms. This week I have been glazing them using a thinned out triple thick glaze.
TIPS ON GLAZING
1. Air bubbles are easily produced when painting on glaze with a soft bristle brush. I discovered that they tend to lessen with gentle single strokes. Moving the brush around too much incorporates air. The air bubbles dry and then my pieces are "un-sellable" - is that a word? So gentle stroke on the glaze, ideally in a single stroke. If bubbles appear, pop them with the brush, gently.

2. Thinning out some glazes. 
I am using Triple Thick glaze. I tried it as a thick product and I found it was too thick and sticky. So it seems far better to add some water and gently mix, (remember those air bubbles we want to avoid!)
3. Varathane Be Warned: 
Well, I was going to use my Min Was Polyurethane Varathane to glaze everything. But, guess what? My little can had not been opened in about seven  months and after about 20 minutes of prying, hammering and prying again, my husband got the tin lid off (it is the same as a paint can lid) and lo and behold, it had all dried out! A basically full and new can, hardened, unusable. Why? It isn't the first time for me, so I think hopefully, it was my fault for not making sure the lid was hammered on tight. Also make sure to clean off the groove where the lid goes into so it won't dry solid and be easier to open! Should have took a picture. It looked like yellowed, clear caramel. Not tasty!

4. Suspending your dangles or charms or pendants to dry.
Since my clay journey began I have been learning megatons! One thing I did this week, thanks to watching all those YouTube tutorials, was to cut about 3 centimetre or 1/25 inch wire pieces and make "S" hooks. Then, as you can see here, because my dangly pieces have jump rings (eye screws work too) embedded in the clay, I coated both sides with glaze and then suspended them on an earring rack I got on sale at Michaels.

5. Or Coat one side, Dry, Then Coat the Other Side:
I did that as well and laid them on wax paper.
6. Waiting Before Storing: Make sure you wait a full 24 hours for any glazes to fully cure or dry before putting them in storage or you may end up with a lump of pieces!!

Questions? Comments? Ideas? Please comment below. Like and Share and don't forget to Subscribe if you liked this article!!

HeArtfully Creating,
Anita




Saturday, May 14, 2016

STUDIO LIFE: Using My DIY Texture Sheets

A while back, I was having fun creating texture sheets and stamps for my polymer clay designs out of polymer clay. They work really well. It does take trial and error, because some designs can be to uneven to imprint your clay well. As well, you want to try different depths. You can essentially "carve" into a thick sheet or piece of clay to you can "add" to a sheet of clay. Click here to go to the  article I did back then about my handmade polymer clay texture rollers and click here for the texture sheets.
Here are a few photos of the results from testing out my favourite dandelion seed texture sheets.







All made with these texture sheets below I made last year!!







Friday, May 13, 2016

STUDIO LIFE: What I've Been Working On This Week?

It's been a fast paced spring so far trying to complete polymer clay designs for my online Etsy Shop. That's why sharing links with your friends and family, always helps out artists like me! Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, Hint, hint ;o)
Since HeArtfully Creating is about creating and encouraging minds of all ages to create, I thought it made sense to share what I've been working on for weeks now. If you follow this blog, you know I have a shop online with  Etsy called, A Bergie Creation. As most fashion accessories do, there are seasonal pieces. Well, I am a visual artist and not a merchandise expert, but I do want to offer new jewelry pieces in my shop each season and between. One thing I have been learning is that, it takes so much time for me to create my pieces from beginning to end, that I am not getting them completed in time. Of course that is just in my mind. So I have accepted that fact and am steadily working on my designs, finishing them up and then designing pieces of wearable art with them! And once they are complete, then to offer the best photos possible for potential customers to see, I literally take hundreds of photos, then edit the best ones and format them for my shop. As well, marketing your shop is important, hence blogs and social media.

Since the process is part of the fun, I thought I would try to post more Studio Life, In Process photos and blog articles. So below are some more puffy heart pendants and charms or dangles that I have been working on this week. And here is the link to my A Bergie Creation, shop blog.

I would love to hear from you if you have requests, questions, thoughts or comments. Make sure you always enjoy creating!

A Bergie Creation, my Etsy Shop is HERE - click and share !! Thanks!!

Here's the link to more pics on my shop blog:
A Bergie Creation: STUDIO LIFE: Puffy Heart Obsession: My growing collection of hearts. Contemplating having fun with some Steam punk motifs too! To see my Etsy Shop,  Bergie Creation...








Wednesday, May 4, 2016

PEEK INSIDE MY STUDIO...What Am I Creating These Days?

Take a look here to see what I have been working on in my studio recently: A Bergie Creation: PEEK INSIDE MY STUDIO...What Am I Creating?: My recent work in progress. Puffy Heart Pendants with colourful mokume-gane cane. Hi, just wanted to share what I have...
I have added some photos below... 

HeArtfully Creating,
Anita
Puffy Heart Pendant- work in progress by Anita Berglund of A Bergie Creation, that' s me!
Puffy Heart Pendants and beads- work in progress by Anita Berglund of A Bergie Creation, that' s me!

Puffy Heart Pendant- work in progress by Anita Berglund of A Bergie Creation, that' s me!

Puffy Heart Pendant- work in progress by Anita Berglund of A Bergie Creation, that' s me!
Beads in the soapy water, waiting to be sanded, waxed and buffed. 
Puffy Heart Pendants and beads- work in progress by Anita Berglund of A Bergie Creation, that' s me!
Puffy Heart Pendants and beads- work in progress by Anita Berglund of A Bergie Creation, that' s me!

Puffy Heart Pendants and beads- work in progress by Anita Berglund of A Bergie Creation, that' s me 
Puffy Heart Pendants and beads- work in progress by Anita Berglund of A Bergie Creation, that' s me!

Puffy Heart Pendants and beads- work in progress by Anita Berglund of A Bergie Creation, that' s me!

Puffy Heart Pendants and beads- work in progress by Anita Berglund of A Bergie Creation, that' s me!

Puffy Heart Pendants and beads- work in progress by Anita Berglund of A Bergie Creation, that' s me!

Puffy Heart Pendants and beads- work in progress by Anita Berglund of A Bergie Creation, that' s me!

Puffy Heart Pendants and beads- work in progress by Anita Berglund of A Bergie Creation, that' s me!


Puffy Heart Pendants and beads- work in progress by Anita Berglund of A Bergie Creation, that' s me!