Barbara showing us her “scratch a lump” technique

Lenora demonstrating Jones Tones foils

Our May workshop focused on surface techniques.  I demonstrated toner image transfers.  We were then treated to Jones Tones foil techniques, textures topped with mica powders, silk screening, how to use a Cuttlebug and Barbara’s awesome “scratch a lump” technique.  It was as busy as it sounds.  Thanks to Joyce, Lenora, Emily & Barbara for demos.   Our new members should be experts in no time.

NJPCG Members enjoying demonstrations by Ellen Marshall – Guest Artist (2008)

The New Jersey Polymer Clay Guild is pleased to announce that we will be hosting a 2 day workshop with Lindly Haunani. She is is the co-author with Maggie Maggio of Polymer Clay Color Inspirations which has become the reference manual for the polymer community and for artists in other media as well.

Join Lindly Haunani, a nationally recognized colorist, for a fun and illuminating two-day workshop. While you may know just what colors you like and exactly how to mix them, using them in harmonious combinations can be challenging. Learn how to add impact to your polymer clay work with increased color confidence. check here for more information.

Eye on Clay

Can you believe it is almost March? Actually by the weather, it feels more like April. either way it’s a new month tomorrow and this Sunday is our monthly workshop. It’s a chance to clay and to share with other clayers.

Be sure to bring your clay and bring something for our show and tell table, it’s always great to share your work and see what others have been doing.

Faux Stone Polymer Clay Bracelet

While the rest of the world is watching the Superbowl, there will be some diehard clayers in New Jersey working at their craft. The New Jersey Polymer Clay Guild will be having several faux techniques in polymer clay on February 5. Susan will demoing how to make faux river rocks, Cindy will show off how to do faux abalone and more more.

The workshop runs from 11 AM to 3PM in Thompson Park in Lyncroft. Check out our Facebook page for more details and invite to the workshop

Robin demoed skinner blends and some ways to her them. She showed a rolled and a new trick for me, rolling the blend lengthwise, then pushing in into a gradient plug, much each than the usual fold plug.

Susan, demoed Maggie Maggio’s polymer clay split rings. Joyce has had a lot of experience with them so she showed a slight variation on the shape that she came up with. The rings are closer to actual split rings. In fact the necklace show is made by Joyce using split rings. It is of course highly polished, just about anything Joyce does is.

check out the great items people brought to show off on Facebook. Our next workshop is June 5, I’m already forward to it!

For our March workshop this month, Susan Averello did a demo making filigree snowflakes. Using just an extruder and a template, these snowflakes are deceptively easy to do. They are delicate and lacy but the technique is simple.

Some suggestion were to tweak the template and use different colors to change the snowflakes into shamrocks and flowers. So much can be done with this technique.

The group is already revving up for the April 3 work shop. Robin will be doing a demo on mica shift techniques. Demos are a great jumping point for a new projects

Orchid Wrap Vessel

Today in our workshop, we all made Christi Friesen inspired wrap vessels. Everyone had a different take on this project. The vessel is made by wrapping a sheet of clay around a wet ball of toilet paper. After that anything goes! This vessel is just one example- there were vessels with fish, parrots , branches, everyone had a different idea of how to do this. Once you make the vessel, you can add beads, colors, powders, anything. Check out here for more pictures.

This year we now have a president, Robin Milne, and a co-president, Susan Averello, to be able to organize more activities. This month Susan will be demoing Christi Friesen’s new technique for making wrapped vessels. Everyone is welcome to join it. Clay and a pasta machine are needed but embellishments like beads and 28 gauge wire as well as the basic clay tools. Toilet paper will be supplied- you have to come to understand that one.