Gay Mardi Gras

Still exploring the possibilites with polymer clay. I have begun a series of masks which reflect the inner person. This was a commissioned piece which will hang in an office in Melbourne. Masks are an interesting form of Art Narrative. They either tell a story of an aspect of one's inner life or they can disguise or hide the truth. This one I'd say is right out of the closet.

I am building my own website at the moment which will have masks on it and other things.

NIGHT FIRE

I love using metal leaf and pinata inks together. This one is on silver leaf with magenta, purple, blue and black ink on top. I used translucent (Frost) on top so I could sand and polish it. It always looks such a mess when I start but I manage to find interesting pieces in it. This one reminds me of a radiant sunset or the glow of a bush fire storm.

My sisters arrive from America tomorrow so one lucky sister will get this one. I'd better hurry up and finish another one.

Roman Beauty

I've gone off on another tangent. I started using some of my scrap clay to cover objects, like glass and boxes. Mum really likes the vases I'm doing so I've kept going. This is an old vinegar bottle covered in scrap clay and the mould came from the brass book ends I came across when cleaning off the book case. I covered it in copper pearlex and gave it a light sand after it was cured. I've applied two coats of Cabots varnish

Roman Beauty

This is the other side of the same bottle.

Another Seahorse

I really like the sea horses. I just may have to go to one or two of Christi Friesen workshops while she is in Brisbane later this year.

Mr. Frog

Froggy Vase

I'm enjoying this playing around with Christi Friesen's books.

MR TOITLE AND HIS MATES

Christi Friesen inspired pets. I bought her books recently and became fascinated, although, once again I need a lot of practice which is fine by me.
When I started mooshing polymer clay over a year ago I thought I'd only ever make jewellery/jewelry and I couldn't understand the Christi Friesen phenomenon then or the world of Maureen Carlson but I have to admit one needs to try different things before one can pass an opinion and even then one's opinion doesn't amount to a hill of beans. That is because the experience is personal.
Wonder what I'll try next week?

A Seahorse?

Slaying Dragons

Unfortunately my first attempts at dragons look more like donkeys. Here they are huddled on the dog blanket with a doggy bone to eat. I'll give them another go at a later stage.

GARDEN SPIRIT

This is my version of Maureen Carlson's 'Green Man'. I just bought her book, "Fairies gnomes & trolls" while I was at the polymer clay retreat in Canberra (thanks to Linda & Lex for making it possible to get it sooner rather than later).
I've got a long way to go and a lot of practising to be done. I think it's The Green Man's prehistoric ancestor and some evolution needs to happen to improve his looks. Anyway I'm pleased with me first effort. Dad said he looks like a cross between a cartoon American Indian and Max Klinger (MASH).
The other bits in the picture are for holding flowers and herbs from the garden.

Retreat 2007

We had a class on how to make a frog and he looked very much like a gherkin with legs. I had to put a rock, of sorts, under his head because he kept wanting to lay down (the clay got so gooey in the warm room). He is in the process of catching a bug.

ZULU

Playing around with clays with mica in them.

PAVLOVAS TO POPCORN, an Australian War Bride Story

And now for something a little different. My Mum is about to launch her first first book 'Pavlovas to Popcorn' so I thought I would put the picture of the book and her website on my blog. www.frostmedia.com.au/ruthfrost/

My son put the website together and I'm still waiting for mine.

It's her story as a WWII Aussie war bride married to a Yank. I designed the cover for the book and put it all together before it went to the publishers. I hope some of you will visit her site. She is 83 years old and spends most of her time in front of the computer writing. She suffers from congestive heart failure which causes her ankles to swell and needs to keep them elevated so I had to laugh when I went in to see her one morning and found her trying to use the keyboard with her feet up on the windowsill. She complained that the keyboard cord wasn't long enough so she could sit it on her lap. Wish I had the camera then. And I might add not to many 83 year olds can get their legs up on a windowsill.

Spirits of The Enchanted Forest

The Spirits of the Enchanted Forest I made for a friend for her birthday. She lives near the Enchanted Forest in Portland Victoria. I hope she likes it. It's done in the same way as the earlier post below it.

Mooloolaba Sunrise

I've called this piece Mooloolaba sunrise. It's using the feathering technique with liquid polymer clay. I got Carol Blackburn's book 'Making Polymer clay beads' and decided to try this out. It is done with oil paints, liquid polymer clay and some scrap clay,(of which I have plenty).

The Ghost Sisters

I created this one out of scrap clay. I am always amazed at the images that appear by accident when I do this, or is it an accident? To me, the image appears to be two ghostly sisters from another time period. If you click on the photo you can view a larger version which gives more detail.

5 Part Skinner Blend

This necklace was made by following Donna Kato's tutorial from http://www.katopolyclay.com/ I used 5 different colours mixed with translucent clay to make two different canes and then one translucent and black cane.

Pendant and earrings, well they will be earrings when I've finished them.

Left over scrap clay from the coloured translucent clay made into a pendant

The Heart Julie Rose Neclace

I have called this the Julie Rose after my friend Julie who brightens and colours my world by her sense of humour and friendship.

Rose Cane Pendants

My first attempt at a rose cane.

Filigree

Faux ivory beads, 3 of which are filigree and the rest solid. Made into a necklace with green dyed freshwater pearls and soft glass dyed with green pinata inks.

These are some of the pieces I have sold recently.

Lime pendant

This necklace was made using a faux ivory cane, a chrysanthemum cane and a leaf cane.

African woman. My former Somali students were the inspiration behind this piece. The person who bought this named her 'Whoopi'. Can't see it myself.

The Mica Shift Experiment

These mica shift pendants are my latest achievements. I love the way the metallic clays can produce depth in any pieces they are used for. My preference in polymer clay is Kato since I live in sunny, warm, humid Queensland Kato seems to hold its shape while I'm working with it a lot better than the other polymer clays. This is the reverse side of the following pendant.

These pendants are my first attempt at trying to produce faux Paua shell. They are reversible so can be worn both ways.

This is the other side of the pendants with beach themes. The surface of the pendants is completely flat and smooth but because of the mica in the clay it still reveals the stamped impression. Many thanks go to Cheryle of 'Beguiled Handmade Jewellery' for teaching me this technique.

This is a completed necklace using faux paua shell and shell impressions in the clay. I've used grey freshwater pearls in between the poly clay beads.