100 Grams of Coppr Clay....

...And all I have to show for it is a small wing charm, and a toggle clasp, well unless you count the first 10 "I'm-not-sure-what-I-did-wrong-and-they-all-ended-up-in-the-trash" attempts!  Is it cocky that I'm happy with that?  The Mr. believed I'd only wasted map gas and approximately $20 of clay...meanwhile, I'm over the moon with my accomplishment!

Maybe if said spouse hadn't of stood over my shoulder continually asking "are you sure you're doing this right?  Want me to do it?  This isn't going to work!  Here, give me the torch!"  I might have gave in and agreed with him, but see, I'm the kind of girl that when you say I can't...you can bet the farm I will...just as soon as I waste $20 worth of clay!!! LOL!

Granted, I'm well aware that working with metal clay long term will probably require a kiln, but watch out world...I'm a girl with a torch at the moment!

So finally, after I got a piece to sinter, and it didn't break in two, my smug little self handed it over to "my better half" and walked inside.  Where he was hot on my tail with "It doesn't even look like copper...it's dull!  Who wants to use that?"  I tried to explain it was oxidation but he thought I'd been beat...sometimes he doesn't know me at all!

I head to the kitchen to pickle my two treasures, and while he fixes himself lunch I hear a "that's more trouble than it's worth baby!"  I stick to my guns, and get to burnishing. 

It IS A LOT of work!!!  I'm thinking a tumbler would make things easier...

I gave my accomplishments a dip in liver of sulfur, and a quick polish.  Happy with the results, I went in search of dear sweet husband.  He was floored at how they turned out.  After all, I am just a wee thing, who couldn't possibly accomplish something so "manly"...that included fire...all by my lonesome!  Wanna know what he said?  "Hmmm...maybe WE should think about saving for a kiln, so you won't have to spend so long holding the torch!"  I LOVE HIM!!

I know my technique and process need TONS of work and refinement, but I'm a happy girl at just a teeny accomplishment...and now I need more clay!!

And I won't even show them to you...as I'm thinking of using them in my Bead Soup creations!!

Evolution

I'm always in the mind set of evolving, with art.  At times, it gets the best of me.  Painting was a complete disaster...think along the lines of obscure stick people!  Drawing?  Well that's just as sad, believe me!  And forget about me sculpting anything...there are better results from preschoolers!  I've tried my hand at MANY other expressions of art, and it seems that I always come back to polymer clay.

Unfortunately, polymer clay gets a "bad rap" among the general population.  In my experience most (non artisans) equate it to "cheap plastic" that's molded, mass produced, or a child's art medium comparable to Play Doh.  During art/craft shows, I only have a few moments to explain the logistics of what polymer is and what it isn't....extremely hard to do to someone who has no experience with it...believe me!  Hence, the reason, that I always have just as many pieces for sale that DON'T contain any polymer clay in their creation.

The Mr. and I always like to play a discreet game of "What will they pick up first"...are they "clay people" or "non clay people".  Most of the time, I can spot them...they "get" it.  Don't judge us :) ...shows take so much prep, planning and overall stress that we need little diversions or we'd kill each other!  What you see in our booth is months of planning, mock set ups, building of displays, sewing table coverings, and spending MANY hours in our tiny studio together creating.

Our 2011 Booths:

Now, as much as I'd love to try my hand at lampwork, or even pottery, the start up costs intimidate the hell out of me!  Anyone that has teenage children (x4 here) knows that extra funds for such "hobbies" just don't exist.  I have racked my brain on how to mesh my love for polymer clay with another medium.

PMC, or precious metal clay seemed like the best option.  Not only is the consistency somewhat similar, but I have most of the needed/desired tools already on hand here in the studio.  My dear sweet husband bought a torch the other day (talk about a romantic Valentine's gift), so that I could get the feel of working with it without the expense of purchasing a kiln off the bat!  I've ordered a sampling of clay, and I can't wait to dig in when it arrives!!

Just a few excellent examples of PMC art:

Wax seal PMC pendant from New Hope Beading

Bronze Copper Silver PMC ring from Deb Munroe Studio

Silk Ribbon Wrap Bracelet from KLM Designs

And of course I have to include my BSBP partner's creation:

Love Glass Necklace by Jennifer Cameron available at Glass Addictions/Jen Cameron Designs

So, come back in a week or two...maybe I'll have a few pieces completed, and I'm sure many stories to share!