DIY: Polymer clay valentines and more

You have just two more days, if you want to make a gift for Valentine's Day.  Polymer clay, as compared to mineral clay (earthenware, stoneware, porcelain), has always looked to me like it would be fun to play with. Mineral clay pieces can be extremely lovely, but they have to be fired in an oven at temperatures from ~1300 degrees to ~2372 degrees F (depending on the type).  Polymer clay can be cured in your oven at home. 

There are a number of brands of polymer clay; seems to me Fimo is the best-known.  The Wikipedia article cites health concerns for polymer clays, so be aware.  A new brand called Pardo uses all-natural ingredients. Below is a pasta-making machine for conditioning polymer clay.  One can be purchased at Amazon for less than $20.00 (be sure to check the reviews).

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Dan Bollinger, "Polymer clay conditioning," Wikipedia

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Here are some ideas for projects from Polymer Clay Daily. 

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Mariana Bankova, Donna Kato, and TejaeFloyd, Polymer Clay Daily

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For projects rated by difficulty, try Polyform.  One of Polyform's projects in this Dichroic-Look Pendant.

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Dichroic-Look Pendant, Polyform

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And if you just want to see some expertly done polymer clay jewelry, take a look at Etsy.

-- Marge

DIY: Faux metal wall art

Want to make something with a different look, maybe metal, but don't want to get into welding, grinding, and all that grittiness?  Take a look at some of these projects.

Probably the most popular on the web is metal decorative squares made from toilet paper tubes.  Here's Suzy's story and the project.

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Faux metal wall art, Suzy's Artsy-Craftsy Sitcom

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Anna at her blog, Take the Side Street, shows how to make a distressed, rusty arrow
from plywood.

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Faux metal arrow (detail), Take The Side Street

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Emily at Newly Wifes (sic) shows how to put together a wall piece using washers (the kind that are used with screws).

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Washer art, NewlyWifes

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If you want something metalish for your wall, but don't have the time to make it, here's a selection from Etsy.  This work by Inspiring Art is outstanding.

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Inspiring Art, Etsy

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And here's a Japanese artist, Takahiro Yede, doing some interesting work.  Take a moment to read what he has to say about his work.

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Takahiro Yede, Seesaa.net

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-- Marge

DIY: give someone you love a thimble

For crafters and DIYers Christmas is fast approaching.   Consider a gift with a message that's a simple (and inexpensive) project from CountryLiving -- a thimble necklace.

An inexpensive score at flea markets and on Etsy—usually less than $5—a vintage thimble can become a playful pendant in no time. Just use a small hammer and a two-penny nail to punch a tiny hole in the center of the thimble's top. Insert a flat head pin through the hole from the inside, so the pin's head remains inside the thimble. Twist the pin's exposed wire into a closed loop with needle-nose pliers, then use the pliers to attach a 6-mm jump ring to the loop.

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Thimble Necklace, CountryLiving

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So, what are you saying when you're giving someone a thimble? It depends on what background story you have in mind (and perhaps you should relay that info to the recipient).  Some of the symbolic references are...

Peter Pan. When Wendy wanted to give Peter Pan a kiss he held out his hand, thinking he would receive a material thing. So she gave him the thimble she was wearing and called it a kiss.

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Universal Studios, Peter Pan, 2003

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Shakespeare.  According to an article by Stephanie Appleton in the Finding Shakespeare series, "Shakespeare’s World in 100 Objects,"

In his 1596 play, The Life and Death of King John, Shakespeare makes reference to the thimble as a symbol of female domesticity...

Colonial America.  In the article, "Engagement Ring Symbolism through the Ages," marc posts:

During the Colonial period in America, all forms of jewelry were prohibited due to Puritanical restrictions and the apparent moral degradation of such jewelry items.  Women were offered a thimble to symbolize the conjugal union, although it wasn’t uncommon for women to remove the top of the thimble to form a type of ring.

Dreams. (These references are a bit far-fetched, but interesting.)  A number of sites that offer dream interpretations show ones for dreaming about a thimble.  Every interpretation is different, so I'll just list the pages on the sites:  Dream Moods, Dream Symbols, experience project.

If you decide you'd rather buy a thimble necklace or charm, there's a fine selection at Etsy.

-- Marge

In his 1596 play, The Life and Death of King John, Shakespeare makes reference to the thimble as a symbol of female domesticity - See more at: http://findingshakespeare.co.uk/shakespeares-world-in-100-objects-number-21-a-thimble#sthash.bYs7o8Y1.dpuf

DIY to celebrate life

I thought about a tongue-in-check do-it-yourself post for Mother's Day, but it kept going dark on me.  The Huffington Post article, "Mother's Day vs. Stepmother's Day: Who Owns It?," explains some of the darkness.  Realities of mothers who, in one way or another, for one reason or another, chose not to be motherly add to the mix.  So, moving on...

Life is indeed a you-it-yourself project.  And sometimes we need to be reminded of how joyful life can be.  Here are a few ideas for reminding ourselves.

Hang something in or near a window where the light can catch it.  It could be a crystal, or a stained glass panel, a glass fishing float, or beads on a string.  Something to catch your eye when you walk by.  Etsy's blown_glass category has literally thousands of ideas.  Be sure that what you choose has an eyelet for hanging.

Make a mobile and hang it where the air currents in the room will make it shift and catch your eye.  For inspiration, try "50 Fabulous Mobiles To Make, Buy Or Hang In The Sky" at the site Apartment Therapy.  For instructions, try "How to Create a Calder'esque Mobile" by morgenlandfahrer at the instructables site.  Here's an Alexander Calder mobile:

Hang a wind-chime inside your house or apartment.  The lighter the material you use, the more easily it will be moved by air currents.  I've used brass rings in a variety of sizes and something to catch the air like paper.  A good collection of ideas for making them is at Squidoo.  If you really want to delve into the mechanics of windchime sounds, try Chuck's Chimes.

Another way to celebrate life is to put a mirror where you catch a glimpse of yourself from time to time.  If you're always frowning, it's time to lighten up and do something fun.

The Droste Effect shown in an image by Tiago Sozo Marcon, Flickr

--Marge