hi all, After doing some browsing on glass attic, I decided to take my Atlas pasta machine apart and clean it, since I had not used it in a long time. All went well, but I have a dopey question! I assume that the sharp edges of the blades should be set so they are both under the 'center' of the...

Hello, I made a clay-covered tin that reminds me of the "memory vessels" in folk art/tramp art. The memory vessels were usually bottles or jugs, sometimes boxes, covered with various found objects like keys, buttons, etc. Some were then covered with a unifying color, some weren't. Thought I'd...

Hi, I know I'm a stranger here, pretty much, but I thought I'd show 'n' tell a sculpted face I finished recently: http://photos3.blogger.com/img/209/2894/320/100_3912.jpg It's the first one of this size, done on a heart-shaped Altoid tin (so it's about 4 inches tall). More like a bas relief, I...

I meant to ask... will using a leafing pen cause any kind of adverse reaction with clay? Thx! Alisa -- http://altjournaljourney.blogspot.com/ --My Altered Journal Journey

I'm making some jewelry inspired by a terrific book, "Creating Your Own Antique Jewelry" by Cris Dupouy. When I picked this up at the library I figured it involved using metals; I didn't even look inside 'til I got it home. What a pleasant surprise that it's all about clay! Sooo.... I'm using...

Hi all, Somewhere recently, I came across a link (that I foolishly didn't follow) for instructions about dipping clay beads in Varathane or polyurethane, so as to avoid brush marks. I thought it was Sarajane's site, but couldn't find it when I went back. Does anyone have info on this? If you do...

Hi all, I'm going to Honolulu, first week of May! Since I don't do a lot of travelling (and this will be my *very* first time flying), I'm pretty darned excited :) Of course, the most important questions are - who's local and where are the bead shops? g I'll be looking for places near the...

Yikes, I forgot to post this here when I sent it to rcb (although I know a lot of you probably read both g). Anyway, new website is up, some parts still under construction (but I'm getting back to work on it now). Feedback on layout/design/navigation much...

Hi all, Well, I've finally got enough stuff unpacked and set-up so I can get back to the really important business of making beads/jewelry g. Of course, the rest of the apartment is still mostly a wreck :) I've put up a couple of albums - the "jewelry" album only has one photo, so far; and...

A couple of months ago, I saw a plastic ammo case used for storing clay canes. I thought that would also be a good way to store tubes of seed beads, to keep them upright and easily accessible, etc. Unfortunately, I can't remember the website I saw it on. I've gone looking for "plastic ammo...

Ok, the new room is shaping up, and now I'm zooming the internet. I feel like I've taken another small step into the 21st century :) The unpacking is going slowly (dumb job keeps expecting me to show up every day g). Hopefully, I'll be back to beadwork by week's end. It's been about a month...

Hi all, I was reading about transferring images to clay on the Glass Attic website. While there's a *ton* of useful info there, I was wondering if anyone could provide something more basic; along the lines of "Step 1 - do this. Step 2 - do that. Step 3 - etc."

Yesterday, I picked up my first package of Kato polyclay. I know it comes highly recommended. When I opened the package, I was struck by the *very* strong odor from it. I worked with it for a bit (easy to knead right out of the wrapping) and started shaping some beads, but the smell started to...

Hey all, There's a bead show in town this weekend; just wondering if anyone from the group would be coming in for this? http://www.wholebead.com/shows_chicago.html I'll be attending Sunday afternoon. Cheers,

I mentioned just recently that I was having less than successful results with buffing. I was feeling discouraged. The latest effort was using a Q-Tip wrapped in muslin, then stuck in a little battery operated drill (from American Scientific, btw. Great place to shop). It seemed like it would be...

Okay, I just tried using a Scumbuster to some sanding. It was an...interesting experiment :) Along with sanding a few beads, I sanded the inside of the kitchen sink, my nails, and a couple of fingertips. I figure I need a longer rod to hold the bead on, so I don't have to get my hand so close to...

I ordered, and received a rotary tool (imitation Dremel), to use for buffing beads. I had it up and running last night and was *much* impressed by the results. Around 8:00 p.m. I got the bright idea to go through all my clay stash, stuff that wasn't already strung or made into something else;...

You probably don't know who I am because I never had to ask any questions. I just Googled and found every answer to every question I ever had about polymer clay! From molding, baking, buffing, baking...whatever! You guys knew it all!! A couple of months ago I started playing around with PC and...

Does anybody have knowledge of commercial mitre boxes (or designs)? I'm relatively new to PC, and I can't use my woodworking mitre box (with a saw) on such delicate things like 1/32" translucent slabs for a PC stained glass, for example. I'd like to be able to do perfect 72degree cross-sections,...

Hi Folks: I've watched Donna Kato & others on the Carol Duvall Show for yrs. & have resisted buying polyclay, etc. One thing that has worried me is baking in your cooking oven & possible problem with residue/fumes. To make a long story short, I purchased a single small white block of Sculpey I...