MPCG-10 Class description Leslie Lockhart and Sherry Nash

A BOOK WITH A SECRET… A HIDDEN CLAY NICHE

Welcome to our fun and exciting workshop where we will explore the art of “altered books” and how they marry with Polymer Clay to create a “new book look”.

We will teach you how to line a niche in clay and then introduce you to exciting new applications to fill that niche, techniques to embellish your book and for the more ambitious, possibly construct a drawer or two. The ideas are only as limited as your polymer clay supply and imagination … fill your niche with a mosaic pictorial, a vignette, a polymer clay painting! Your altered book can become a travelling suitcase or art gallery to showcase your finished ATCs, jewelry pieces, mini art works. Or add polymer clay fronts to drawers designed to store beads and miniature pieces. Think “Infinite”!






Optional – Advance Prep work
1. Find a good book (but not to read! To ALTER!) and construct a niche* …or NOT (if you just don’t have the time or inkling to hunt for a used book and do the pre-work, we will gladly provide you with a book complete with prepared niche (measuring 3.5”h x 2.5”w x ½”deep) and ready to alter for a nominal fee ($5.00).
NOTE: If you want to purchase a prepared book, please notify Leslie by email no later than Friday, 26 March 2010: leslock@total.net


2. Bring a finished polymer clay focal piece to showcase within the dimensions of your completed niche …or NOT (you could use something you create while in Morrisburg).
NOTE: If you’re purchasing a prepared book, pay attention to the size of your focal piece as it must not exceed the dimensions of the niche.

3. Decide whether you want a theme for your altered book …or NOT: Some artists enjoy working with a theme and can be inspired by the title or content of their book while others prefer to see what develops (or… let your focal piece inspire you).

*For those opting to prepare their book in advance
What kind of used book? The only pre-requisite is that the book must be hardcover as they work best. The ideal size is around 5”wide x 8”long x 1 ½” deep, but for just this once, size won’t matter….. it just has to be deep enough to carve a niche to hold your focal piece. Click on this instructional link for more details: Considerations for Choosing a book.

How do I construct a niche? To create a niche you will have to glue and cut pages ahead of time. Click on this instructional link for more details: Gluing and Cutting Niches

Materials List – MUST HAVE’S

· Basic polymer clay kit items
· Cutting Mat
· Cork-backed metal ruler
· Heavy duty utility knife with supply of extra blades ($store brand ok)
· Used hardcover book with prepared niche OR $5
· Polymer clay focal piece to fit the dimensions of your niche OR create one in Morrisburg
· Polymer clay of your choice – approximately 2oz – to line a niche and for embellishments
· Acrylic paints in your favourite colours
· Glazing medium or pre-mixed acrylic glazes
· Glue – White craft glue and acid free glue stick – PVA or archival
· Paint brushes for painting altered book pages (flat ones, sizes 8 – 14 work well) plus one for applying glue
· Palette or container for mixing paints and holding glue
· Container for water
· Waxed paper
· Paper towels
· Scissors

Materials List – “NICE TO HAVE’S” but optional for embellishments

· Extra used book to “practice” experimenting with layout or colours or treatment of altered pages
· Acrylic gel medium that dries clear (Golden brand best or modge podge)
· Pearlized acrylic paint
· Polymer clay extruder with discs
· Mold forms
· Rubber stamps for impressing polymer clay and for stamping pages
· Stamping inks
· Collage papers
· Images for collaging or transfers
· TLS for image transfers in polymer
· Bone folder or equivalent (old credit card, back of spoon)
· Ephemera for embellishing book pages such as assorted polymer clay beads, glitter, marker pens, brads, eyelets & eyelet setter, found objects, ribbons, yarns, wire, bits of fabric, sewing needles, thread, coins, buttons
· Heat gun – to speed paint drying
· Adhesive tape – regular, double-sided, removable are all useful
· Hole punches
· Small (empty) match boxes if doing drawers

MPCG-10 Class description Georgia Ferrell

A TISKET A TASKET A POLYMER CLAY BASKET

In this class we will learn some clay recipes and techniques that will lead to a variety of projects. However, for this class I will demo the creation of a basket of polymer clay. For this basket we will mix a variety of clays so that you can have samples of the different blends used for weaving, macramé, braiding, knitting, crocheting, and some jewelry cording. Lots of fun here because there is lots you can do with the ‘yarn’, the ‘reeds’ and the ‘weavers’ you will make with polymer clay. You will be able to make a project or simply use the techniques to make some samples for future use. Baking tips will also be discussed, as this is an important part of using bake and bend clay.

Material List:

Basic Clay Kit
Super Glue or very quick setting glue
Bake ‘n’ Bend clay -- 2 oz. block or more if you wish to do more projects or large ones
Extruder with flat and single round discs, several sizes
Several pieces of heavy cardboard to bake on… corrugated is best about 9 x 9 inches
Several types of clay – studio, premo, fimo, kato etc perhaps 2 ounces of each plus your
regular clay stash.
A pair of gloves as you must touch the clay when it is hot. I use those one size fits all sort
Any yarn or ribbon you might want to use as finishing touches
A piece of Styrofoam and some bull dog clips, key rings, and some straight pins.

Please note: Bake and Bend clay only comes in packages of 8 -2 ounce blocks or 6 one ounce blocks. The colors are red, black, white, orange, beige, green, blue, yellow in the 2 ounce size. Please let me know if you want me to purchase this for you. I must know by April 15. I will bring the blocks to mpcg and it will be first come first served colorwise. You might want to get together in groups to purchase this for yourself.
All the colors mix pretty well to get nice new colors, and especially with mica shifting clay.


Looking forward to seeing you all at MPCG 2010.

Georgia

MPCG-10 Class description Gaby Orbach

GOING WILD AND FINE WITH SURFACE DESIGN

Let's play with all those pearlescent paints,alcohol-based inks,sponges and texture sheets to explore different surface designs. After experimenting with several decorated sheets,we will decorate a box with reassembled strips or pieces of the previously decorated sheets. Jewellery application of these techniques will also be an option.


MATERIAL LIST

-small box (if wooden - conditioned in 250 deg. oven for 15 min.,covered with modge podge where applying polymer)
-polymer clay - white,black, translucent,ecru,pearl and brown
-assortment of metallic and nonmetallic acrylic paints (include beige)
-alcohol inks ("pinata") - 3 or 4 colours
-"pearl ex" powders (and/or metallic embossing powder)
-fabric acrylic paints or inks(Dye Na Flow) - 1-3 colours
-acrylic floor finish
-small spoon,container to mix
-acrylic brayer
-felt applicator
-background or overall-pattern rubber stamp or texture sheets
-small rubber stamps (ex. star,leaf)
-1 plastic sheet protector (found in office supply stores)
-"Armorall"
-water spray bottle
-cosmetic and sea sponges
-sponge dauber
-thin and regular paint brushes
-alcohol
-cotton balls
-palette knife
-toothbrush
-credit card
-small cookie cutters ("aspic")
-20 g. wire and flat-nose plier
-cardboard

Gaby

MPCG-10 Class description-Fanny Achache

Inkjet transfers on Polymer clay

As a graphic designer I am passionate by image. I've been making
photos for years, and I love to make collage. So obviously I had to
find a way to add images to my polymer clay creations.
After looking into all possible ways to make transfers, I've finally
found my favourite. And after trying a lot of different papers to
find which one works best, and moreover works with my home inkjet
printer, I was finally able to find the one that works best. It's an
Epson inkjet photo paper with a matt finish. You won't have to bring
paper or images, I will provide them for you. I have lots of very
nice images to please everybody. But if you want to make sure you use
your favourite image the reference paper is 041070.
We will be creating tiles with image colour transfers that you will be
able to use for pendants or bracelets.
In the first part, I'll show you how to make the transfer on the back
of a translucent polymer clay sheet to protect your transfer.
On the second part, we will be making tiles.

Materials list

In addition to the usual clay kit you will need
liquid polymer clay
light coloured polymer clay
Black clay
Scrap clay
a bone folder or a spoon for burnishing
Bamboo skewer or fine knitting needle
Acrylic rod
Graduated ruler or grid paper if you have it but it's not
absolutely necessary
If you want to finish your jewellery:
Elastic cord for a bracelet
Buna cord or leather cord for a pendant
It could also be a brooch.

I am looking forward to sharing this with you all
See you soon
Thanks
Fanny

MPCG-10 Class description - Louise Gagné

Best Face Forward
Basic face cane or face cane 101
I will be showing how to do a simple face cane.
This cane will be used to do an ensemble work .
Think of a group photo after everyone has done their cane. If you would like to make your own group portrait look at the end to know what you will need.


Since simple is different for each of us I would suggest that you do a simple drawing of what you think your face looks like, that means a nose, two eyes and a mouth.
If you don’t know how to draw, Ed Emberly’s drawing books are for you. Simple line drawing that you will find in the children section of your library

You can see yourself as a monster, a man or any character you like.

You will learn how to make eyes , nose, mouth, cheeks ( mini canes) to assemble together to make your face cane.
I will show you also how to reduce using different techniques like toothpicks, Play Doh or any air dry clay or even using mac tack.

.


Materials list:

You will need: a simple drawing of a face ( the real you or how you see yourself) black and white is o.k.
The size of your drawing should be about 1 to 1½ inch. Bigger will give you a bigger cane and more cane to keep.

Clay:
I suggest using a firm clay : kato, premo, fimo classic. You could use other clays but you will have more problems when reducing. Use the same clay throughout the project.

I will be using premo so the measures are for premo clay. The finished reduced face should be 2 inches long by 1 inch or so wide. I don’t like having too much cane left.

3 blocks (more, if you like working big) of your base colour.

Kato skin colour is pale and has trans already in it, I think, if you are using that clay.

Do not bring Super Sculpey, I will show you why.

The skin:
If you want to make real skin prepare your clay ahead, mixing your colour the way you want to make it. You need at least 3 blocks worth or more. Make more than less.

To help you, here are a few recipes:

Skin recipes taken from Polymer Clay Cyclopedia and Glass attic:

1.Mix white, brown and yellow clay until you get a colour that you like, making sure that you have enough of it.
2. To achieve a very natural porcelain-looking skintone, I add equal amounts of premo fleshtone, and sculpey translucent. I also put a dab of pink chalk, or blush to create blushed cheeks before baking.
3. For a light fleshtone I love using fimosoft flesh pink with an equal amount of fimosoft nightglow (the glow in the dark). It sounds strange, but it perks up the colour nicely, especially good for fair-skinned babies or faeries. I also use a 1:1 mix of fimosoft flesh pink and premo beige. The premo adds more translucence to the skin tone making it look more realistic.
4.From Glass attic, more recipes:
-equal parts of sculpey beige and premo beige,
-equal parts of sculpey tan and premo beige;
-1/4 block sculpey tan plus 1/4 block premo beige plus 1/16-1/8 raw sienna (nice cocoa colour);
-1/4 block sculpey tan plus 1/4 block premo beige plus a pinch of gold or copper.

I use ecru, beige or a mix of white and ecru for very pale skin. Ochre with white or pearl is good too. If you want a more translucent skin colour mix the base colour with trans ½ and ½ with your base colour.

You will also need:
¼ block white mixed with trans
½ block black
¼ block blue or green or brown depending the colour you will use for eyes.
½ block red
1 block contrasting colour to put round the face. I use a brownish beige mix.( burnt sienna, ecru and white)

Those colours are for a real face.
If you want to make a monster any colour goes. The total amount of clay you will need is about 6-8 blocks.

Tools

All your regular tools : be sure to have a good cutting blade, pasta machine, clay gun (optional)
If you want to try the reducing part you can bring Play-Doh or any other air dry clay or mac tack like product.
I will bring the toothpicks.


Group portrait:
A blank canvas found at the dollar store. 5 X 7inches
Crazy glue.
Be ready to give to each participant a piece of you (your face cane) to make the different group portraits.
Each participant should be able to go away with their group portrait on the last day.

Other projects
If you want to do a pin, bring a pinback.
Want to make a bottle of hope, remember to bring a bottle.

Reducing a cane with Play-Doh, go here. See Oct 2ND 2009.

Louise

MPCG-10 The basic clayers kit

Soon we will be putting up everyone's class description with their materials list. For starters here is the basic kit:

Clay of your choice,
pasta machine (no motor),
work surface,
tissue blade,
knife or scraper,
roller,
wet/dry sand paper,
note taking and drawing materials,
index cards,
paper towels,
texturing materials,
modeling tools such as knitting needles or what you like to use,
piercing tools,
x-acto knife,
mould release,
glue,
smile.

MPCG 10

Here we go....
The Morrisburg Polymer Clay Gathering is getting on track once again!
And we always start with this announcement. If you are interested in giving a class please read on....

Hello there,
This is the official call for class proposals for Morrisburg 2010. If you have something interesting you want to teach/share with everyone, now is the time to do it. This is also a great venue to try your hand at teaching : maybe you are a natural and don't know it ... yet! If you already taught at one of the guilds, make sure you will not be teaching the same class for obvious reasons.
Morrisburg dates are Thursday April 29th to Sunday May 2nd.
As an added incentive, those who give a class get free room and board.
So get your wheels going and put something together for us.
At this point it doesn’t have to be precise: we just want to have a good idea on what you are planning to give (ex: we don’t need the supply list right now).
We would like to have your class proposals in by January 15, no later.
Think outside the box: we are open to new ideas.....
Start planning now; we are waiting!
Please send your plans to both of us. One of us could lose things!!! Yes it has happened before!
Margi and Violette

If you want to be on the mailing list please let us both know.



The first Morrisburg gathering in 2003. We were soooo young!!! sigh....
click on the picture to make it bigger.