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Fulgorine

~ My adventures with polymer clay

Fulgorine

Category Archives: 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge

I plan to make a vessel each week.

Polymer clay challenge – week 32

13 Sat Aug 2016

Posted by fulgorine in 2016 Art Charm Swap, 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge, My work

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

2016PCchallenge, art bead, charm swap, headpin, kaleidoscope, polymer clay

I have finally found some time to work with polymer clay, even though I haven’t worked on a vessel. I have signed up for this month’s Art Jewlery Elements design challenge to make something using art headpins, so I have made some using a polymer clay kaleidoscope cane.

Headpins by Cate van Alphen

Polymer clay headpins by Cate van Alphen

I tried to make several of them so I’ll have the option of making something other than earrings (although I have already siphoned off one pair for earrings). I also changed shape when I got bored ;).

Headpins by Cate van Alphen

Come back on the 27th August to see what I make using them.

Art Charm SwapIn other news my Art Charms arrived today from Jennifer Cameron’s Fairy Tale themed swap, but you’ll have to wait until 16th September to see what I made for that.

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Art Vessel – week 28

17 Sun Jul 2016

Posted by fulgorine in 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge, Art Vessel, My work

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

2016PCchallenge, ArtVessel, light catcher, polymer clay, vintage bead

I have missed a couple of weeks from my Art Vessel challenge. Firstly I lost momentum with the vessel I was working on, then I was inspired by the British summer weather to knit a cardigan so I was working on that in the evenings instead of polymer clay. Then because I wasn’t working on polymer clay projects in the evening, or planning them in the day, I noticed there was a terrible backlog of housework to do, so I have spent all my time and energy working on that.

However this week I was inspired by my parent’s 40th wedding anniversary to create an assemblage that includes a polymer clay vessel. It is in shades of pink and red as it’s their Ruby Anniversary.

Ruby Assemblage by Cate van Alphen

Ruby Assemblage by Cate van Alphen

I used 4 vintage crystals (possibly from a chandelier) for each decade together with a scattering of old foil beads, and a few modern ones. I also had a few textured cube beads that I had made from polymer clay that were waiting for a purpose.

I chose the stick which I pruned from my honeysuckle for its shape, but it turns out that in the language of flowers honeysuckle represents “the bond of love”, so that fitted in perfectly. It’s a little weathered too, but 40 years will do that. 😉

Assemblage detail by Cate van Alphen

The vessel in the assemblage is a little scroll case where I added a short message with good wishes. The kanji charm has the symbol for friend as I believe that is an important element of marriage. I attached it using two gold coloured wire jump rings to represent wedding bands.

Light catcher by Cate van Alphen

It looks good in a window, but I didn’t manage to capture it that well in a photograph.

Polymer clay challenge – week 25

25 Sat Jun 2016

Posted by fulgorine in 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge, jewellery

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Tags

2016PCchallenge, 80s, earrings, polymer clay

I have been suffering from crippling hay fever this week, so I still haven’t finished the vessel I’m working on. Sculpting and constant sneezing are not compatible. I have added another layer, but I will spare you more work in progress pictures for week 25. Instead I have a pair of black and gold earrings that I made from scrap polymer clay.

Earrings by Cate van Alphen

Grace Jones Earrings by Cate van Alphen

They are pretty chunky and retro. As I made them I pictured Grace Jones wearing them in the 80s. I think the long triangles reminded me of her chiseled cheek bones.

I also worked on a necklace for the Art Bead Scene monthly challenge, but I’ll save that for another post. There isn’t much month left, so I’ll try to finish that anon!

 

Polymer clay challenge – week 24

18 Sat Jun 2016

Posted by fulgorine in 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge, Art Vessel, jewellery

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

2016PCchallenge, ArtVessel, earrings, handmade beads, necklace, polymer clay, wonky bead

My vessel is still a work in progress for this week of the 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge. I have now added a foil and plaster bandage armature around the glass jar. Hopefully next week I’ll be able to finish decorating it.

Mixed media jar in progress

I also have a ballet time necklace and a pair of earrings that I made from more wonky cube beads. This time I alternated between drilling the beads face on and diagonally through the corners. Wonky beads make me ridiculously happy :).

Wonky bead necklace and earrings by Cate van Alphen

Wonky bead necklace and earrings by Cate van Alphen

 

Polymer clay challenge – week 23

12 Sun Jun 2016

Posted by fulgorine in 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge, Art Vessel, beads

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

2016PCchallenge, ArtVessel, mokume gane, polymer clay

So I am still running late for showing my weekly 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge projects. My vessel for this week, 23, looks a bit of a mess, but it is a work in progress.

Polymer clay and glass jar

I have partly covered a glass jar with a sheet of polymer clay mokume gane facing inwards. I plan to build something up around the outside leaving some of the glass open to show the interior pattern.

Polymer clay beads by Cate van Alphen

Polymer clay beads by Cate van Alphen

For the last couple of weeks I have been trying to clear away some of the scrap on my work board, so I also made a few beads while the bottle was baking in the oven.

Art Vessel – week 22

06 Mon Jun 2016

Posted by fulgorine in 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge, Art Vessel, jewellery, My work

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

2016PCchallenge, ArtVessel, earrings, handmade beads, polymer clay

So it’s nearly halfway through the 2016 Polymer Clay challenge and I am still finding my vessels something of a struggle. While it’s great to push the comfort zone, it has occurred to me that perhaps following the comfort zone for a little bit is how an artist develops their “look”. I’m imagining a miner following a mineral seam instead of digging through bedrock the whole time.

Currently my comfort zone is making earrings, so this week I have made a pair of “vessel” earrings.

Polymer clay vessel earrings by Cate van Alphen

Vessel earrings by Cate van Alphen

They are not particularly functional vessels, unless you need a place to transport a tiny fairy or perhaps you need to collect pollen like a bumble bee.

Earrings by Cate van Alphen

The green cup and saucer are polymer clay and the blue beads are glass. As usual they are on niobium hooks.

Art Vessel – week 21

30 Mon May 2016

Posted by fulgorine in 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge, Art Vessel, fabric, My work

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Tags

2016PCchallenge, ArtVessel, candle lantern, flourescent, polymer clay, spoonflower

This week’s vessel is pretty late. I did finish it yesterday morning, but I wanted to wait till it was dark to take photos because it’s another candle lantern. I used one of my spoonflower fabric test swatches on a glass jar with an edging of polymer clay. I wanted something a bit irregular, but also something that would maximise the windows.

Mixed media candle lantern by Cate van Alphen

Mixed media candle lantern by Cate van Alphen

Candle lantern by Cate van Alphen

Lantern with lit candle inside

I used flourescent pink acrylic paint to highlight the texture of the polymer clay, because who doesn’t have neon pink decor – right? The photo under UV light doesn’t really look like it does to my eye, but it does show the glow.

Lantern by Cate van Alphen under UV light

Lantern under UV light

I lined the inside of the mouth of the jar with scraps of fabric before adding the polymer clay around the outside. I was concerned about the safety of having polymer clay on the inside of the jar with the heat of a candle inside. I think it looks a bit more finished than just leaving clear glass with polymer clay on the outside.

Candle jar by Cate van Alphen

Art Vessel – week 20

22 Sun May 2016

Posted by fulgorine in 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge, Art Vessel, My work

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

2016PCchallenge, ArtVessel, mosaic, orange, polymer clay

This week’s vessel is more of a techniques sampler than a harmonious object. Some of the things I tried have potential and others not so much.

Vase by Cate van Alphen

The ruffled neck of the jar is starting to work, but next time I think I need to do that first and then work on the rest of the jar afterwards to get a more harmonious shape. The feet slipped when I put the jar into the oven on so, in addition to its other problems, the jar tilts to the side slightly.

Vase by Cate van Alphen

Because I was planning to do the ruffled top, I did the base of the jar first and it doesn’t look right as a whole. I do like the frilly feet, but not on this jar.

Jar feet by Cate van Alphen

Polymer clay challenge – week 19

14 Sat May 2016

Posted by fulgorine in 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge, Art Vessel, jewellery, My work, WIP

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

ArtVessel, beads, bracelet, mosaic, polymer clay

This week my Art Vessel is still a work in progress, but I do have a bracelet that I made.

Vase in progress by Cate van Alphen

Work in progress by Cate van Alphen

I made this bracelet mainly to practice knotting beads.

Bracelet by Cate van Alphen

Art Vessel – week 18

08 Sun May 2016

Posted by fulgorine in 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge, Art Vessel, My work

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

2016PCchallenge, ArtVessel, polymer clay, recycled jar, vase

I almost had my 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge piece finished on time this week, but it was sunny yesterday so we went for a walk instead :). This week my vessel is a progression of the lantern I did a few weeks ago. I have used a variation of the solid backing from last week and added a bit of shaping to the filigree snakes.

Polymer clay and glass vase by Cate van Alphen

Polymer clay and glass vase by Cate van Alphen

This time lined the inside of the top of the jar as seeing the thread through the glass really irritates me. It looks a bit chunky as I needed to build up the layers to cover the bumps, but I have an idea to try next time.

Polymer clay and glass jar by Cate van Alphen

There are a few things I’d like to do differently next time, but I think I’m making progress.

Polymer clay and glass vase by Cate van Alphen

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Fulgor, n.
Dazzling brightness; splendor.
Fulgorine, n.
One who creates that which dazzles.

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