Polymer Clay podcast and TV

We decided to talk about faux food this week. Polymer Clay can mimic almost anything, and many artists are using it to make very convincing food. You could make miniature food, for say, earrings or a dollhouse...and you can also make food intended to trick the eye. I have seen faux chocolates made from pc that I would pick up and try to take a bite out of! Just google faux food or do a search on youtube, and you can find lots of ways to try this technique. We'll show some next week on PCTV.

Amaco sent us some bead rollers and bead baking racks to try out. I must say, I never tried using them before, and there is a learning curve, at least for me. I'll show you next week on Polymer Clay TV. Enjoy the show! Ilysa and I are going to CHA at the end of July, so remember to drop us an email if you'll be there and you want to meet us!

Last week we talked about how even a 15 year old boy loved the new polyform Bake Shop clay, which is really economical at 99 cents per 2 oz pack, very soft and smooth out of the package, comes in 12 colors, and is just fun to work with. We didn't feel that this is a "professional" grade clay, as it remained pretty soft and spongy after baking and we're not sure about it's strength- but we don't think that's the point. It was just plain fun. Watch Ilysa's demo and see!

We tried out Bakeshop, I tried it with 11& 15 year old boys, and they really loved it. They used it all up! I taught them basic sculpting and caning and they were able to do lots with the clay. It's a bit rubbery both before and after baking, and we haven't strength tested it yet, but be sure to come back next week- Ilysa is going to try it out and do some tests.

Magic Glos is a UV cure resin, single step product that has so many advantages over 2 part resins. First of all, no mixing. Second- it cures in 15 minutes! No waiting overnight to work on a piece. Third, you can bake it!!!! Think about what you could do with this stuff. Best of all, if you live in a sunny area, you don't need special equipment- you can use the sun to cure your items. But, if you're in an area where the sun is unreliable, you can always get a little uv lamp, like the kind at nail salons, to cure your stuff. Check it out. Thanks to Lisa Pavelka, www.heartinhandstudio.com, for letting us try it out.

We discuss Lisa's Magic Gloss UV Resin, as well as the upcoming IPCA Guild retreat, our Synergy II Proposal, book submissions, and other stuff.

This week, join us as we add polymer clay embellishments to our wall decals by LanaKole.etsy.com.

Those vinyl decals for walls are so pretty. Did you ever think about adding some clay embellishments to make them even cooler and more personalized? Be sure to come back next week to watch Polymer Clay TV, where we will show you what to do. Other talking points this week- the book Handmade Nation, the Rise of DIY - was an awesome read. Be sure to check it out. It's about DIY craft artists in America. We also discussed Penni Jo's generous gift- 10 kits to make the cameo you saw last week. Listen to find out how you can win one.

That's right, she bakes a handmade cabochon, stamps a basic image on it, and then builds up color using oil pencils. They blend so beautifully, and Penni Jo makes you feel as if you could do it too. Maybe you can- follow her instructions and watch! The demo is long- be sure to come to our site for the rest.

Christi is such a fun artist to have for a teacher. Her brain is always "on" and her animals just come to life under her deft fingers. Be sure to visit Polymer Clay TV.com for the whole video- it was quite long!

Be sure to sign up for the Mother's Day Gift Guide, as well as to submit yourself and your Polymer Clay Guild for possible inclusion in our new book about Polymer Clay Guilds around the world! Check out our site for the details. Be sure to come back next week for Polymer Clay TV- a very special demo by Christi Friesen that she did at this year's Orlando Clay Fandango retreat.

This week, see what all the fun is at the Orlando Clay Fandango! Enjoy some of the weekend's events along with us. A Hat fashion show, an auction, and other fun stuff.

This week we're talking a bit about Fandango, also commenting on the articles in the Kalmbach mags Bead Style and Art Jewelry (a good one about Melanie West!) and inviting you to be part of the Mother's Day gift guide- a video with your photos and shop url that will be posted on April 24, all around the 'net. We won't take it down, either. So you'll be advertised forever. For just 5 bucks. Sign up on our sidebar and email us your photos.

We all know and love sugary, sweet, cute Peeps! Ilysa and I are fond of the yellow bunnies. So we're going to show you how to make a set of realistic Peeps earrings you can wear as a Spring Celebration- and keep long after the real ones go stale. Enjoy!

We're back and we had a blast! Christie Friesen, Lynne Ann Schwartzenberg, Penni Jo Couch, Dan Cormier and Tracy Holmes...and bonus, Tommie Howl sculpting away in the daytripper room! We saw amazing polymer clay art and had a great time with the Ladies and Gents of the Orlando Guild.