2 new tutorial posted on another blog, for now. www.silastones.blogspot.com

I just found out that slide.com had shut down. :( Good new is I have all the pictures on my computer and back up disc.
Please give me sometime to work this out. I will try to put them all up in different format.
Hugs
Ponsawan

This is how I make the Mini Roses. The main idea is to make the blend sheet and shape it into petal cane. You can make a regular Skinner blend for this project, I just like how the the colors bend together, this way.

First, I cut strips of 1"x3" clay. Then make a blend sheet as shown. The things that I put on my Pasta machine are homemade sheet reducer. I made them from scrap clay in various sizes. The idea is to be able to control the size of the clay sheet. (Because you will fold the sheet in half and run it through, the sheet will spread and we don't want that to happen).

Fold the blend sheet in half, squeeze the sheet side way together and run it through the pasta machine. One by one I add the sheet reducer until I get the strip of clay to the size that I want. In this case, about 2" wide.

As you know, there is the other way to get the strip like this, but I just like it this way. Notice that I only use a small strips of clay. I don't like to make big canes, I feel out-of-control. :)

Cut the strip of clay in to 5 pieces and stack them as shown.

Cut off both ends of the stack and squeeze each end till it pointed. Now you will get a log or a cane. Reduce the cane and shape it into a petal shape. Cut out several petal, 10 for each flower.

Stretch one of the petal out and roll it on to the small knitting needle to make the base for the flower. Make it plump like a pear shape. Then stick the petals on the base. Don't push the petals together, make them stick together lightly, that way the flower will look light and airly just like fresh flower. 4 petals inside and 5 on the outside and make the outside a bit lower than the inside row .

Add sepals and small stem with green clay.

Auction for Ada - Round two

More information, visit www.silastones.blogspot.com
Thanks

Auction for Ada

I am running an Auction for my daughter, Ada for 2 weeks starting on Saturday, September 25th, 2010 till Friday, October,8th, 2010. Please check out my other blog for more details.

CUTE AS A BUTTON RING

I am re-thinking the way I do my work. I get bored easily so to do things over and over is not my cup of tea, but when it's time to do shows, I need a lot of goodies to fill up the table. So I decided to try this method. Nothing new, I am not re-invent the wheel, just different way to work. So I made rings out of some wire. (I will show you how later, I promise) Then made a round base, covered with some canes then insert the ring into it. You can use store bought ring blank, the one with round base. Here's how.

Material
Black clay, ring base, several canes, copper mesh, circle cutter and plastic wrap.

1.Make rings from wire.

2. Run 2 sheets of black clay at thickest on PM. put on top of each other, cut out w/ cutter. Make several of those.

3. Cut small pieces of copper mesh, put them on top of the discs.

4. Run another sheet of black clay at thickest, cut out w/ round cutter. Put them on top of the copper mesh, press lightly make sure it stick together.

5. Put plastic wrap on top of each disc, cut out w/ round cutter, bake for 10 minutes.

6. Prepare the cane sheets, make sure they are big enough to cover the disc. Cover the discs with them, trim the edge, then decorate with other canes or what ever you want. Bake.

7. Turn the disc up side down, carve the deep channel with carving tool, deep enough that the ring can be embedded into it. Cover the channel with some clay. Press the ring into it, then cover with more clay, bake and put varnish on them.








If you have the ring blank with round base on it, just carve the circle out of the back to embedded the ring in it. The possibility is endless, you can make different shapes too.

Round beads with Chinese word in the middle

I bought the Metal stamps with Chinese word on them a while back from somewhere I can't remember (Sorry). They are not as big as I expected but using them this way might work out fine.

So, what you need is some Black Clay, stamps, plastic wrap, texture tool, copper mica powder, clear varnish..

1. Make a sheet of black clay. Run it through the thickest setting on PM.

2. Stamp the words on to the clay. Leave enough space in between words

3. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap over clay. This way when you cut out with the round cutter, the wrap will round up the edge of the cut out pieces.

4.Press the cutter lightly on the wrap, enough to see if the word will be in the center, then press the cutter down.

5. Peel off the wrap, and excess clay.

6. Texture the discs lightly if you want then cover the surface with copper mica powder. Apply it with your finger so it only stick to the surface, not in the words. Baked.

7. Prepare the base clay for beads. Make a round shape clay about the size of your thumb., press down to almost flat. press a disc on both sides, make sure they line up at the middle. This might need a few practice. Press the discs down between your finger, like so.

8. Make texture with a needle tools, then bake. After that, put a few coats of varnish on the disc. Mica powder do rubbed off through time.

I made a few beads and a flat disc with one side. Those I will use to make rings.

Don't forget to check out my project with "Ring a day" group on Flickr. We have to make one ring each day for a year (365 totals) and post the picture on Flickr.