Have you seen the IPCA Synergy2 Exhibition? They asked nearly 60 amazing artists to explore collabroations with polymer clay and mixed media. They also asked me. :-) I'm humbled to have my name listed with so many polymer clay greats.

You can check out my entry here, and the rest of the gallery here. The pieces are available for sale online now or at the Synergy2 event in February.

More details about my piece are available here.

Posted in: Blog News , Polymer Clay | Comments (2)

Have you guys played with the little bottles of colored flock that are now available in craft stores' paper crafting aisle? I'm not sure how paper crafters use it (I guess glued onto a project like glitter?), but it's a lot of fun to use with polymer clay.

Sold under various names (Fuzzy Fun Flock, Crushed Velvet Flock, Flocking Powder), flock is basically tiny colored fibers. (Think dryer lint, but without all the cat fur.) You can use flock a few different ways with polymer clay:

• Pour a small amount and mix it thoroughly into your clay for a muted mottled effect.
• Brush a tiny bit onto the top of the unbaked clay with your finger, much as you would Pearl Ex or chalks. This gives the clay a fuzzy, fabric-like sheen.
• Apply liquid clay to specific areas where you want a more pronounced effect. Either pour the flock over your the liquid clay like you would embossing powder, or use a paintbrush to dab the flock onto the areas you want to emphasize. You can even do this after your first baking if you want to protect other clay sections from attracting the fibers.

I have tried several colors with each of the above methods. The fibers seem well-adhered after baking, and I haven't noticed any color change from the heat. I love that it gives the clay a softer, more fabric-like look. It's perfect for Christmas-time projects (stockings, Santa's suit, snow), or any other time you want a softer look.

Have you used flock? If so, I'd love to hear about your experiences!

Posted in: Polymer Clay | Comments (2)

Those of you who have been following this blog for a long time might remember that back in May 2007, I filmed a segment for HGTV's That's Clever show. (Or, ya know, you might have forgotten, seeing as that was 2.5 years ago! A lot has happened. Whole babies have been conceived of & have practically started walking since then, just for example.)

After being fairly well convinced that HGTV would never get around to airing it, imagine my surprise to come across my episode listing on their site this week:

Ceramic Rocket Clock, Fused Glass Frame, Mailbox Desk Set, Poker Chip Coasters (Episode HCLVR-517)

Mary Burrows from Reno, Nevada creates a ceramic rocket clock, while Vicki Olson makes a superstar fused glass picture frame in Minneapolis. And, Angela Mabray of Yukon, Oklahoma creates a mailbox desk set and poker chip coasters.

January 19th is the big day, with an air time of 7:30 a.m. E/P.

I honestly have mixed feelings about this. I'm still a little excited about the whole being on TV thing, though I'm very nervous about how the episode turned out. (If you're familiar with the show, you know that sometimes the silliness can be a bit over the top.) But more than that, I've moved on as an artist. The stuff I submitted to the show was old work even then. Two plus years later, I've changed opinions on various materials and techniques. I suppose at the very least it'll be interesting to see just how much has changed.

So anyway, I just wanted to share the big news. I'll be sure to remind you a few days ahead of time so you can set your DVRs.

I just hope I won't be sorry I told everybody about it... :-)

Posted in: That's Clever Show | Comments (6)