11 Easy Steps for Conditioning Clay

 

Hey look! It's a new experiment!
Since Glass Eternal is as much about cataloging my mistakes and learning from them as it is writing about inspiration and geeky things, I'm putting up what I learned this week about conditioning clay. I've even got pictures!
Things you'll need.

• Polymer clay that's all crumbly 
• Some type of cutting tool (I'm using one of my old X-acto blades) 
• freezer paper
• baby/mineral oil 
• tape 
• patience

I'm warning you now, it's MESSY. I suggest taking off all jewelry on your hands and wrists prior to working with the clay. Also, just to clear it up, I was using two packages of white clay. That's why the mountain is so huge.
1. Alrighty. First up, prep your work station by taping down a piece of freezer paper, slick side up.
         
2. Next, take your clay and chop it up. Chop Chop Chop!
         
Ohh, doesn't it look lovely? Not.               
3. Now, add a FEW drops all over. Seriously, I'm talking ten drops. Max.
         
4. Take a little bit and start squishing it together. Fair warning. IT"S MESSY!
Really, really, really messy ladies and gents.
         
5. If your clay is not sticking together add one drop at a time to it, until it does.
it;s going to be all bumpy and ugly at this point. It's ok.
Now, roll it together between your hands. Round and round and round.
         
Does it look all smooth and pretty? Yes? Don't be fooled.
6. Smoosh it between your hands, or your fingers, or roll one fist against your palm. Whatever it takes to make it flat, I just don't suggest a pasta machine or a rolling pin at this point.
         
7. Fold it in half,
         
8. and in half again.
         
9. Roll it up into a ball till the outside and smooth again.
10. Now after doing this once or twice, your ball should start to feel VERY sticky. It's alright. Don't freak, (I did at first XD) it's the plasticizer in the clay activating.
         
11. You'll keep squishing and rolling the clay until it looks like this
    
At this point you should be able to easily pull, twist and roll out the clay. If so, you're done!
    
Congrats! If not, keep folding and rolling a little bit longer.
Go back to step 4 and repeat for the rest of the clay.
It takes about a half hour to an hour, depending on how much clay you're working with, but it's messy and fun.

Count it All to Joy

At my church, there's a saying that we use a lot. "Count it all to joy."


This past week I bought three packages of polymer clay.  They were dry and crumbly, falling to bits in my hands after opening the packages. I wanted to get angry. I really, really wanted to.* When I was staring at my first ever batch of polymer, and seeing how dried out and crumbly it was, that phrase popped into my head.


I think this phrase could apply in daily life, regardless of personal philosoph. The good things and the bad things, if you try and find a way to look at them for their positive aspects.  So after stepping away from the desk and doing a bit of research on how to fix the problem (which I'll cover in our next post) I looked for the good things about it.


Sure, I couldn't immediately start making my pendants....But, I did get to get messy and really give my hands a work out. I got to learn something now, rather than down the road when I'm working on a deadline. I found that I kinda like reconditioning clay, and I might even like doing it with all of the clay I buy.


I couldn't have done that though if I hadn't chosen to look at it that way. I would've been angry and upset and grrrroar and I wouldn't have been laughing like a kid making a mess. So..I guess that's another step in learning and being a better crafter?

* (I won't say what brand, 'cause I don't really think it was the brand's fault.)

What about you? What could you to 'count to joy' and change your perspective?

Welcome Back!

When I had to take down the blog last year (wow that sounds odd) I had intended to have things back up and running, and posting regularly by the 15th of January. I even had this whole "Welcome Back" post full of snark and lovely goals.

Through various life things getting in the way though, that got tossed by the wayside, although I did make sure there would be a book review for ya'll.

This time, I'm back though, and even trying something new so that I can commit to bringing new content and ideas for ya'll, an editorial calendar. Full of jewelry, design, learning things, and the usual variety of geeky things as well.  I even have plans for a few regular posts, although the ATB will only be done every now and then ( was it just me or was it getting repetitive?) Instead, you can follow me over at my new twitter @GlassEternal where I'll post up thoughts and questions that pop up as I work. I'll also be posting up content two to three times a week, still with a healthy mix between jewelry and all things chic and geeky.

Last year was chaotic and an utter mess, this year will hopefully be better. Care to find out with me?