Off to Italy!

The past two weeks have been all about a special design for a very nice lady in Italy. She saw the stamp tests I made a while back and asked me to do a custom piece for a special friend living far away. She also wanted a matching piece for herself. So here they are: a talisman for him and a pendant for her.

Two blue butterflies in the sunshine above two trees reaching out towards each other, their roots intertwining on a grassy hill - like two friends...far away...but also so very close. And on the backs, I inscribed their names each with a blue butterfly flying above.

This new project turned out to be a bigger challenge than I'd first thought, but I'm very happy with the way they turned out. Last Thursday they left for Italy. I love the thought that I was able to help bring two people so far away a little closer with my creations!

Heart of the Forest Necklace

The first of my new stamped necklaces is finished! I used a jade green clay mixture and added a bit of red for the heart. I also made a texture sheet so I could make matching beads. To make the beads I first baked a core bead a little smaller in diameter than I wanted the final bead to be, then I wrapped the core in a thin layer (4 on my atlas) of clay. I rolled each wrapped core over my texture sheet. All the beads and the pendant were lightly polished and given a wash of burnt umber to enhance the detail.

Two more new stamps just came out of the oven - I'm off to try them out!

Toucans in the Tree - Part 3

A few days ago I finished the toucans for my leafy tree vase and thought you all would like to see how they went together.

I start with a rolled blend of yellow, pearl and orange. It's cut into two pieces - the top portion larger than the lower - these pieces will form the upper and lower parts of the bill.

Next I cut off the tip of the large piece (the upper part of the bill) and add a bit of contour using a crochet needle - a perfect fit for the black spot.

And here's the bill all put together.

The steps to making a toucan - I start with a body shaped black piece of clay, a bill and a white ball. After flattening the white ball a bit, I press it into place on it's throat. Before placing the bill I add a small amount of black clay to the front.

A small spot of orange is added to the face. I make a small dent in the orange forming a "socket" and gently press the eye in place. Using an upholstery needle to add "feathers" to her wings. A little dark grey foot and she's all ready for the tree.

In these next photos all the toucans are perched in their tree - at home amid lush leaves and vivid blooms.

Next I think I'll add a thin wash of burnt umber to highlight the details…

Now for some real toucans - I got these from Wikipedia.org.

Aren't they beautiful?

Making the Leafy Tree Vase - Part 2

In Part 1 of this project, I covered the glass and started forming the tree roots. Now it's time to finish the trunk and add flowers and leaves.

…Stacking, packing and extruding - I lost track of how many times I did this.


Placing each root with care.


More and more.


I use a rubber tipped clay shaper to reach where my "log fingers" can't.


Adding the last bit to the trunk.


Finished roots.


Placing the branches.


The finished trunk - finally - I wonder how many curls and snakes I shaped.

Now I start adding the leaves. I cut moderately thin slices from the leaf cane and then using my needle tool (my own invention of a needle tipped mechanical pencil - it's like a real pencil - I just have to remind myself not to make any notes with it!) I add tiny grooves to the sides. I later found this wasn't necessary, that when I dent each section it forms ruffles with or without the grooves.

Placing each leaf with care.


More leaves added and still so many more to go.


All the leaves in place - this time I did count - just for fun: there are 135 leaves on this tree!


And now for the flowers. I cut slices and then bring the pink base together.

Using my trusty upholstery needle, I pick up each petal, lay it on the tree and then press it into place with my finger tip.

Next I add texture.

The finished tree. When I started this design it was to be a forest tree with sparrows, owls and woodpeckers, but I think it has more the look of a tropical tree - it's funny how designs develop sometimes. So instead of sparrow nests and speckled eggs this tree is going to be the abode of toucans. (Next time I'll try to stick to sparrows - actually this design has giving flight to a lot of new ideas…)

One last look at the trunk. Next time you see this hole it will be a toucan nest. I'm off to create the toucans…

See Part 3 of this project here.