New clay creations

Fairies, Gnomes & Trolls: Create a Fantasy World in Polymer Clay

I've been quite a busy bee lately, had a few orders for cake toppers, mostly birthday toppers which I will put on here another day.  But I've been working through a couple of the projects in the Maureen Carlson books I bought recently.  I made these little fairies from one of the tutorials. 

I'm loving some of the skills I am learning from the books, I definately feel that my faces have more character now... but the hands still defeat me, although practice will make perfect (eventually!!).

Maureen Carlson Clay Characters

How to Make Clay Characters

Sorry about the long pause between blog's, I am a bit disheartened with the internet at the moment, my speed is not what it's supposed to be!!!

Well last week a did a little bit of online retail therapy, for a little while now I've been scouring the net to find sites about creating more realistic characters from my clay...

I bought three books in a bundle from http://www.amazon.co.uk/  two were by Maureen Carlson and one by Katherin Dewy.  I am enthralled by their work and would love to be anywhere even half way near to the talent of these artists.... but one can dream!!!

My first attempt is from the book by Maureen Carlson on How to Make Clay Characters, I tried Maureen's character Suzette, (I called my little one Tammy).  I am still trying to get to grips with the hands.... they are quite tricky, practice makes perfect!  i deviated a little from the character in the book, as I only did one ribbon and added a large lollipop for Tammy to hold.

I love the details and the information about actually clothing your characters, which I have found quite hard in the past, I never really thought about designing them as "actual" clothing patterns before, but Maureen's background is in sewing so naturally she thought as a seamstress.  Which makes sense really....  this is definately a must have for peeps looking to improve their sculpting skills.

When I get time I'll review the other books!!!

Here's my attempt at Maureen's character.

I've been so enthralled with the book, I've hardly looked at the other two, I will though!!

Oh and there's a new addition to the family.... meet Princess the goldfish........ she's happy in her new home!

Facebook addict cake

Royal Easter Show 2010, originally uploaded by Creative Cakes by Julie.

Recently I have become very interested in the art of cake craft, after watching the "cake boss" on tv endlessly I have found myself browsing flickr and google for other innovative cakes.

Being on facebook and knowing how difficult it is not to "just log on for a second" and end up spending endless hours browsing and chatting when I saw this cake I just thought it was absolutely so apt! What brilliant work....

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Washout weekend... typical!

What a washout of a weekend.... I had three days off work..... and guess what it has rained for 2 of them so far! After such a beautiful couple of weeks, it's just typical of my luck that it has been miserable since I have been off.....

But  I won't let that phase me!

We went to Dundalk Craft and food fair today (north of Dublin, near the border of Northern Ireland)  it was a nice day out, almost 40 min's from where we live, but I wanted to see how others were displaying their crafts, as yet I have never done a craft fair so  I was interested to see how they run.  We spent most of the money, actually make that ALL of the money we spent was on my 4 year old daughter.  She got her face painted and she painted a model, she got a beautiful felted hairband from a girl from Latvia... photo will follow.... her web address is here. 

I haven't been to that many craft fairs before, but I definately got some ideas of what not to do.... I would have bought from a lady who sold some beautiful jewellery, but when she asked me where I "bought" the necklace I was wearing I told her I made it myself she was like a rat up a drain pipe... she had some beads in her pieces I had never seen before, and  they were very wearable, had she not run away from me as if I had a bad smell I would have bought from her.......  very poor selling skills....  i've often bought jewellery from fellow crafters online so I was always going to be a customer! But her reaction to me being a fellow jewellery maker put me off.

I was a bit intimidated by the work that others have put into their stalls and crafts....  I always think that mine is just "not good enough!"

Thought I'd show you my little un wi her face painted from a lady called Jo-Anne from Erin Crafts lovely lady and my daughter ACTUALLY listened to someone which is a first!!

It was indeed a nice day even tho it rained!

Beaded bead

Pink Candy, my newest is my newest creation, I've not done so much beading recently, since I am working a lot of 12 hour shifts of late, (damn those bills!!!)

You might recognise the focal bead, I made it quite some time ago, following a tutorial from Liz Reed at the Crimson Moon, I loved the tutorial, but just wasn't sure how to use the beads I had covered so painstakingly.  After making these candy floss beads (they remind me of candy floss) from fimo, I immediately thought that the beaded bead complimented them, so I teamed them with some lilac irradescent size 8's and some wire beads and this is the result.... I'd like to make a bracelet to go with it, but that would mean making a smaller beaded bead and I really just don't have the time.  Maybe a pair of earrings will do the trick!

Little girl topper

 

I made this topper after a day out with my little munchkin, she loves nothing better than cake dresses and presents!!!  What little girl doesn't?

I kinda wish I'd made her sitting up a bit more, she looks like she's about to fall over with the laughter! 

My little girl who's 4 has taken to naming my toppers now, I think she said this one's name is McKenna, I'd say that's after Barbies friend  although, by morning the name could have changed (our poor goldfish don't know whether they are coming or going, one day it's Peppa and George, next it's Marlin and Nemo!!!).  The main thing is that she loves the toppers..... next job, find some customers who'd like my toppers too!!!