Tags for my new stuff

Hi Everyone
Fabulous sunny day today.
I'm rather late in posting because Ive been off with a friend visiting a new (to us) bead shop in our area. Lovely basket of stash later and lots of the day has gone ! Great - that's what life's about !!

Today, is Die Cut Friday. I'm thinking about packaging today and finding some good designs for making tags for my new stuff. This new stuff are jewellery items inspired by Miss Burton - here she is for reference.



I thought I would look at a range of dies that I could use as tags. Some dies are specifically designed as such but there are many more possibilities which could lend themselves to the job. I have a board of ideas which I put together for a friend who was selling bracelets.


We looked at a number of shapes and sizes and came up with a smaller selection to meet the design of each bracelet. These were the basic tags which eventually were decorated and became part of the 'look' or identity of the product.



I'm not sure exactly what I want the packaging to consist of but Im starting with the ideas I have here and the inspiration of the artwork linked with my jewellery (rings and beads using polymer clay).
I think I will create gift pockets using Miss Burton for the basis of the artwork. These pockets are very simple bits of thick paper. My size is approx. xxx. I like the idea of a very large tag for the package which could be a gift tag, so I don't want to over publicise me or thepapersac as a brand. I want the brand to speak for itself via the painting and the quality/style of the tag. Some of the tags in the previous photos are a little small for me but Im not ruling anything out at this stage. Miss Burton has various characteristics which could be highlighted eg music, roses ,red, black etc. she also could have a very simple tag with a printed image of her. I've decided to do a mind map exercise to develop my ideas. I've printed some papers to look at sizes of images. I hope to complete my job later today and will post my process and findings.

See you later .......

Making rings

Hi Everyone
Much brighter today and almost warmer (I think ?). Unfortunately, it's very lightly raining. Just short bursts at the moment. Fingers crossed that the sky will clear.
Thursday blogs are all about 'technique'. My technique of the moment is to develop my skills in using and applying polymer clay. I want to add some elements to my monthly painting for April. I've got some ideas about how to go about it but not sure of the items I want to produce. The dolls I mentioned yesterday will also use clay - I have several clay products and am hoping to understand which to use by experimenting. My experiments will aim at producing jewellery - mainly so I can wear it and make use of the end items. I would like to make 3 rings and have done lots of research via Pinterest as well as some project books. My 'ring' page on Pinterest is full of fabulous rings. Take a look. My inspiration for the ring 1 is the two examples in the photos here.








I also particularly like this paper ring and will try and do something similar for ring 2




I'm hoping to produce clay canes to develop the ring 3 - mentioned on Tuesdays blog




and will use slices of the cane on my painting for April.
I will take lots of pictures of production stages and give an update each Thursday until Ive got my basic 3 rings. I aim to review the clays used and give any tips based on my experience. I will also write notes as I go re the aspects of the photos which I take as ideas which will illustrate my design process. I want to develop an approach so that my designs 'work' as a wearable piece of jewellery. Ive made many jewellery items in the past which look great but are not practical or comfortable when worn, usually its to do with weight and breakages.
There will be some clay left so will experiment further as I go - who knows what will come out ? This is an ambitious project but Im optimistic I can make something which is 'wearable'.
Must get on with it.
Bye for now.

Making a Miss Mitchell Brooch

Hi Everyone
It's raining this morning ! and there is a rather depressing 'feel' to the day. I'm hoping the forecast will be right and sunshine is on its way.
Today, is Doll Day and Im looking at making a mini Miss Mitchell. It's long been a dream of mine to see Miss Mitchell as a doll - I'd like to make one suitable for children but that's a different idea altogether. The Miss Mitchell doll of the moment will be a brooch and is inspired by polymer clay (this weeks inspiration theme).
I've recently celebrated my birthday and received a book about making art dolls with some great accessible projects.




This book has given me a way into making an art doll. I've spent lots of time just looking and reading up on techniques. Now, I think, Im ready to 'dabble' in the real thing. It's such an art - my attempt will be experimental but I have high hopes and am aspirational (as ever).
The dolls I would like to be able to make are dolls like these, made by Sarah Strachan. Check out her site for more of these lovely items Here




My dream doll would have a clay face with lots of detail such as the pretty face with the castle.




However, lets get real !!
Here is a quick look at the plan for me - the photo shows my book (present) with the project and of course Miss Mitchell.




The project uses some charms as hands and feet (ordered) and the head in the project is a button but I will use clay. I will make the dress from fabric and am looking for tartan (still not over tartan). I'm really excited about this project and am going to make three dolls - I will be offering one of them in a blog draw. Keep calling in to check the details of how you can win a Miss Mitchell brooch. Hope they turn out well.


Bye for today.

The Button Project

Hi Everyone
Very breezy this morning but bright and cheerful weather.

Tuesdays, are all about 'mini' projects which will continue until complete and I will report progress each Tuesday. The current project is the paper buttons project. Not too much progress (my excuse is holiday break) but the buttons are primed and ready for final decoration with colour.



The buttons have been painted in 'pastel like' shades and are destined to match the tartan mini painting. The tartan design will pick up the deeper colours. I also have some little cards (to be) to mount my buttons. Theses cards will be created from the artwork in the painting. I'm thinking of more embellishments eg scalloped edges on the cards to make them look special with coordinating thread to attach. Here is a peek at the print I will use.






The idea of the mini project is to test out an idea for further development as well as learn from the experience. This project is a really useful exercise and the buttons have come out much better than I expected. I may think of covering them with resin to make them truly buttons. Further down the line I will make copies in polymer clay and possibly air dry papermache (another thing on my horizon). For me, the texture from the egg carton is brilliant - it's almost like PaperClay in appearance.
Here is a quick look at the original inspiration for my project, Im hoping to be complete for next Tuesday.



On another subject, I'm also currently obsessed with making a clay ring. I've done lots of research and am keen to try and do this.



I've admired this for a long time and with my current clay practice I think I can do something which may resemble this masterpiece. The ring is a project in a book by Donna Kato : The Art of Polymer Clay. I like the pattern but aim to complete my ring with 'the tartan' theme. It's an aspiration !!! I'm calling it a mini project but .......lets see how things turn out !

Bye for today.

Exploring POLYMER Clay

Hi Everyone
Holidays over and back to work today - always a bit unsettling for me. The regular routine had been shelved and we threw away the clock (for 2 weeks). Big change today and the alarm clock was in operation this morning. However, we did it and we are all back to work ! The weather is bright and windy. Clear blue sky with daffodils out in the garden (at last). So 'all will be well' - for the moment.



I've just done a quick review and have failed miserably to update my promises of photos of various events over the holiday.

A variety of issues such as just enjoying the experiences and chat of our family Easter Tea and our holiday (round about Keswick) without thinking about taking my camera, as well as a very poor Internet connection in most cases - ultimately, it got too difficult - I abandoned the photos generally ! However, we had a fantastic time, weather was great and we did some great walking. Our family visits Keswick most years at this time and we tend to do the same sort of things, which is strangely quite exciting ! One of the visits I always look forward to is our Derwent Pencils trip. There is a museum of pencils, a cafe and a shop. We always spend far too much money in the shop but the visit rejuvenates the family drawing and painting interest. We have lunch in the cafe and they provide pencils and lovely little cards to paint on. I always take drawing stuff everywhere (in the hope of art opportunities at all times) but the Derwent visit encourages the boys to get down to drawing and painting. I love them to share this activity with me, especially on the top of the fells. Generally,we had a great time.

I've been inspired by lots of things over the last few weeks and found it quite difficult to pin down my inspiration for this week. However, in the end it is POLYMER CLAY. I've dabbled in clay for a while. My huge problem was 'cooking' my creations. They all didn't quite 'cook' ! mainly because the temperature of my oven didn't stay consistent over the baking time. I have a dedicated small oven with a thermometer and have tried many times to make the oven suitable with various modifications. A few weeks ago, I decided to move the oven to a new situation, away from drafts and easy to use without having to move it - bingo ! It works. So, I'm off again. I need to develop my skills but so far Ive had some pleasing results. I have several books on the subject and have re read and identified some initial projects to develop my skills. You may remember, I did suggest a few weeks ago, making some Fimo tartan buttons. Another few days and I think I can do it. I've done some 'sort of striped' stuff. I've learned lessons about techniques and colours and baking with a few exercises and feel quite confident. I thought I would share where Im going with polymer clay over the week. Just to show where I am, here are a few photos of my efforts so far.


I think the first photo shows my best effort so far.











The photos (collectively) show 2 sessions of 'making' and all the beads use the same clay ie Fimo in pink, orange and brown. I've strung them on some leather and stretch thread for now but I hope to put them with some other beads to make up jewellery. The colours are inspired by Miss Burton (one of my dolls) so I will weave their development into her style. Here she is for reference.



My clay development was focusing on developing the tartan buttons. He is another reminder of the buttons Im hoping to develop. These ones are for sale on Folksy (by Pat Longmuir), sadly,Im not good enough yet !




That's it for today. Looking forward to exploring polymer clay further this week. My 'map' (ie mind map) on the subject is quite extensive !!

Bye for now.