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Saturday, September 17, 2016

Cernit red translucent fixes

There have been a couple of changes in the red/ruby translucent.
I am going to show you how I usually do with things that could be potentially be a real pain when manufacturing for myself.
As in yarn dye lots, there are always differences and then there is the added changes in products for using in polymer clay being in the safety and availability ever changing field!
So I usually go with the flow on the changes coming forward nowadays and hack the color. Or as close as I can get!
 OK, the skull in the middle is the older red/ruby, the one on the right is the new red/ruby, and the one on the left is the red/ruby I made from the new red and the Yellow/Amber translucent color.





They are all slightly different: the one on the right, the new one, is very Carmine-y and bluer, It is lovely in its own way. I thought this may be a better mixing red, it is but I will get to that later. Notice the darker skull at the bottom right, that is the purple I got from 3 part  Ruby and 1 part Sapphire, it is a gorgeous purple and rich, if you added another part of the new ruby, you will a bight intense purple which most people know as violet.
One advantage of this new red is pleasing purples and oranges from it's mixing abilities.

The one in the middle is the oldest red/ruby color package that I had, it is definitely Warmer in color.
The one on the right is the color I mixed up the first time: it is 3 parts Ruby and 1/2 part Amber, it is not warn enough to match or get close to the middle colored skull. But is it good and you can barely see the difference, so it probably needs maybe 1/4 part more. I can tell that from these sheets below.  

The red on the left is the mixed color I made after using the new red 3 parts and the amber 1 whole part now to  see where to go next with the color. I believe that the paragraph above is the answer with 3/4 part amber to 3 parts Ruby.


This is the purple I mixed up with the new Ruby Color as per my last shipment.

The purple on the right is the one I mixed up from the formula 3 parts ruby and 1 part sapphire. The one on the left is the purple that we have available to us in the Cernit palette, Now these work fabulous together and can be the other color you need in your purple shades that you use.


The photo here on your right with one piece of purple clay I am holding. Isn't it gorgeous? It is also yummy hit you in the face face color, that I love so much. But when you use it with light behind it, oh my goodness. This is wonderful!









Here is the whole palette of all the colors mixed and otherwise and this a great bunch of colors that shout come play with me!
All of these Cernit translucent sheets are rolled out on the thinnest setting in my machine. My setting go from the thickest being 0 and the thinnest being a 9.
I am quite pleased at how Cernit does this so very well.
Just roll down one thickness at a time to get sheets like this! Oh and do not try when the clay has just been made, it is too smooshy for that!


Need some incredible translucent clay to play with?
www.clayfactory.net/
http://clayfactory.net/cernit/cernit-polymer-clay-translucent-colors.html

Saturday, September 3, 2016

ToolTime with Marie #1- WS tool


I carry a ton of tools at the Clay Factory, I thought it might be nice to show you a few of them.
This first one on the list is mini wire tool, used for Sgrafitto, the wiki definition for the word, give it a click.
Or for carving out small areas, like around the eyes when sculpting. I am also playing with tool for texturing.
This is the way I learned sgraffito on Ceramics back in the early 70's.
This is a lovely little wire tool with many applications and many possibilities.
 
I am going to show you "A" way to use it with Polymer clay-Cernit, Pinata inks, and the WS tool, called a wire stylus by the manufacturer.
Here is the link the the picture of it.
http://www.clayfactory.net/kempertools/pages/WS.htm
Here is how much it costs from my Clay Factory
http://www.clayfactory.net/kempertools/Page9.htm 
Scroll down the page a little 

You will need:
WS tool
Pinata Inks
Porcelain White Cernit
Pasta machine or stainless roller
Ruler
LED night light w/clear acrylic shade
sharp blade
glue- e6000 or scotch quick drying paper glue or Ultimate glue from Crafter's Pick


Step 1. Condition and roll out your clay on the thickest setting in your pasta machine.
Step 2. Make the sheet if clay 2 3/4" tall by 2" wide.

Step 3. Ink it, I am going to draw a basic Mountain scene for the project, please feel free to go nuts. Draw in the blue line for the sky. I am using Baja Blue Pinata.

Step 4. Blur the line with a cotton swab. I waited between pictures awhile, and the ink had dried partially


Step 5. Add more ink and blur. Fill the sky


Step 6. Using now, Lime green, I fill in the mountain.


Step 7. I used the Baja blue side of the cotton swab to blend the mountain and gave some variation to the green color of ink



Step 8. Once I make the sheets I let them dry. it only takes a hour or so to be completely dry or in my area right now about 10 minutes. The ink will also dry out the surface a bit and make the scratches easier and cleaner while carving.



Step 10. Start carving, the tip on mine bend down a little I like this. Cut in to the clay lightly with the wire and in one stroke with out turning the head  of the tool pull the tool towards you at the same level.



Step 11. Start carve in the outline of the mountain. It is harder to turn the head of the tool as you go so go slow and steady and not too deep. With practice you will be amazing. If you work on cardboard you can turn the cardboard while you are carving. The wire tip needs or works best when it parallel



The more detail you put in the better it looks. You  zentanglers are going to love this.


Step 12. Finish off the picture, it is a practice one anyway, Practice!


Step 13. You will have little bits of porcelain clay colored by inks so... to leave nothing to waste. Roll a ball of clay porcelain or another color in the little bits to clean them up and to use them up.



Step 14. Picked up.


Step 15. Roll in to the ball.



Step16. Flatten a little, make a hole in it, and cure in the oven at 275 degrees for 30 minutes.




Step 16. Bake your piece on the curve of the jar. I made this from one of my glass vitamin jars and I pressed the jar in to 1/2" logs of clay. They will stick so you can bake this piece with out gluing it.
Once the legs or logs on the bottom side of the jar are baked I glue with Scotch paper glue and let dry. That way I can re-bake this and use it over and over again.


Use the glues mentioned above to glue the Clay piece to the clear acrylic shade of the NightLight.
Do not block the Sensor with the clay sheet.

This night light is done with a mandala rubber stamp stamped right in to the porcelain colored clay.
The stamp is from Studio G, and distributed from Hampton Art Inc. Another great source of stamps for Polymer clay is Rubber Stamp Plantation in Honolulu Hawaii. Tell Deb, Marie sent you!
After stamping and carving while the clay is raw drop on colors of ink and spread, wipe off extra ink with clean up solution added paper towel. Do not scrub with paper towel, but wipe off gently!


As beautiful hanging out during the day!
 As it is lit up at night!

Have a great weekend, it is a holiday in the US, drive careful and be nice while you are out and about, you may give another being a reason to live another day by your miracle of kindness.

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Translucents- Christmas Reef

I love this little piece.
It is Chihuly in polymer clay for me!
I admire the work of this man so much, the play on light through the glass and the clear colors that flow in his pieces.
Look here:
Something so peaceful and glorious about his stuff.
Made from Sunshine and Sand and human artist, very simple things combining for effect.
One of these things alone is not what the three are together, this is creation.
Christmas Reef
I am back playing with Translucent intensely for the 3rd time since I have started in polymer clay in 1978. I am loving every moment of it!
I am so glad I decided to walk this path again and I am loving where I am going. I am wondering why I ever put it down.
This is actually a teaching sample. It shows different applications of the exact same cane.
Have a great week and be the change you wish to see in the world.
Marie






Christmas Reef 2016 Copyright Marie Segal

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Nan Roche I are teaching together in September!

Yay I am so excited. I love working with this woman.
Nan Roche is fun, smart, and I have a wonderful time playing clay with her.
So we decided it was time for another class.
We are teaching in West Virginia at the Train Station in Shepherdstown. It is a quaint little college town with boatloads of history and the Appalachian trail close by.
I love this part of the country and September should be gorgeous.
This is small and intimate class of 15
We have some spaces left.

Delving in the Translucent Deep
With Nan Roche and Marie Segal, September 2016 for the Shepherdstown Mixed Media Group.
Two days, two teachers, too much fun.



Nan and Marie have taught a couple of classes together. They have found that they love collaborating and they bring a lot of combined knowledge to the classes they have done.
Translucent clay is very versatile and can look like Millefiori glass with many layers, if handled carefully.

Come play with us! Discover you!Discover what you can do!
In this class we will explore the many treatments of translucent clay with caning, layering, andClay “fabrics”.
The first day we will work on many caning techniques, layered canes, and cane sheet work(fabrics).
The second day we will concentrate on construction and fabrication with our canes and sheets, giving you insight to into jewelry fabrication, wall pieces, bowls, and other kinds of pieces, as well.



These are Marie’s pictures of the work she has been doing in Translucent Cernit.
The clay will be supplied by the 
Clay Factory
PO Box 460598
Escondido, CA 92046
www.ClayFactory.net

Bring a basic tool kit- clean pasta machine, clean blade, wet ones or wipes, plastic deli sheets,  
Circle cutters large and small,
Teardrop cutters large and small,
Needle tool or thin double ended knitting needle












Where:  Shepherdstown Train Station
100 Audrey Engle Drive
              Shepherdstown, West Virginia

When:  Friday, September 23, 2016
10 AM to 5 PM
             Saturday, September 24, 2016
10 AM to 4 PM

Cost:  $225 for both days.

Registration:

Name: ____________________________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________________

Telephone: ________________________________________________________________________

Make check payable to MFJ Designs mail to MFJ Designs, 5423Shepherdstown Pike, Shenandoah Junction, WV 25442 before August 15, 2016.  

Visa and Master Card available.  Call 304-876-1076.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Something to think about Sunday's
Still trying to get used to blogger so I have put a picture of this onsie(looks a little like a t-shirt)
I made Madi a long time ago

Happy Sunday!
Have you ever wondered why they call "T-shirts" t-shirts.
I have!
Wiki says:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-shirt
T-shirt (or tee shirt, or tee) is a style of unisex fabric shirt, named after the T shape of the body and sleeves. It is normally associated with short sleeves, a round neck line known as a crew neck, with no collar.
Typically made of cotton textile in a jersey knit, it has a distinctively pliable texture compared to shirts made of woven cloth. The majority of modern versions have a body made from a continuously woven tube, on a circular loom, so that the torso has no side seams. The manufacture of T-shirts has become highly automated, and may include fabric cutting by laser or water jet.
The T-shirt evolved from undergarments used in the 19th century, through cutting the one-piece union suit underwear into separate top and bottom garments, with the top long enough to tuck under the waistband of the bottoms. With and without buttons, they were adopted by miners and stevedores during the late 19th century as a convenient covering for hot environments.
I am grateful for technology today. I learn!
Have a great week!
Peace out,
Marie

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Okay this is the point where I apologize again. I am so sorry.
I have had quite the roller coaster ride in the last few years (10+) and it has been a little much too keep up with.
It is a flying by the seat of the pants sort of thing.
I have been doing that.
It is a not having the feet on the ground kind of thing.
I have been doing that.
It is not knowing if my plans will work out.
I have no idea.
It is a feeling of being to old to make it work again.
Trying to ignore that.
It is a colapsing in a puddle because I have no idea what to do.
I get up and do something.
It boils down to a feeling of being not good enough and not being able to change things anymore.
Life has been too much for too long, I have been trying to remember myself before being beat about the body and head by it.
The self with happiness, the one with Joy, the with anticipation of the beautiful things and the expecting of them.
I have also started seeing and acupuncturist to help me with me stress.
Stress is about money for me, I pay for her, I will go when I need it, it has change my life. I honestly believe if I would have continued giving, and worrying, and panicking, I seriously think I might not be here today.
She SAW me, she asked what I did for a living and I apologetically said "I am an artist" and she said "What a Gift". Mouth wide open here. I have never heard that before. I will go to here until I feel I do not need to anymore. "When the student is ready the teacher comes" 
Moral of the story-
Life is sometimes knowing that you do not know what the hell you are doing, even if you have been around a long time. It is a a place between Joy and Pain, it is a balance.
It is a remaining true to yourself and your beliefs when people are telling you different or you are "Hearing" different.
It is knowing you have friends and family that make that roller coaster of life a little more easy to live in.
Love is all there is.
And boy am I learning!
Love to you all
Me
I finally updated my web site. Have a look if life is not too much for you. And even... maybe if it is.

Http://www.mariesegal.com
I am on Facebook a lot
Http://www.facebook.com/mariesegal1
It is quick and easy, but I am pulling all of me together and miss my blog and you.
At my daughters wedding