Silicone Mold (Part 1)

Since I don't really have the space set up to do normal clay work, I figured I'd finally break out the silicone mold for it's first test run. This was the stuff I from my long-awaited clay order. There is no brand on the containers, and only the simplest of instructions. I'm not sure if this is normal or not.

Between the plate and the pop tart, I went with the latter for my first test, though in hindsight I probably should've used the blank base I made expressly for this purpose. Oh well. I needed something that, on the off chance things went sideways, I wouldn't mind throwing out.

Note to self: stop using P&S camera. The silicone comes in two parts which set up when mixed together. The substance has an oddly oily texture, and no discernible scent. Reminds me of the goo jars I used to buy as a kid. I mixed the two together as instructed, but with 'oily' fingers, wasn't about to touch my camera.

I popped my object into the goo, and went off to work on this post.

Yay for iPhone camera! I probably should've used a bit more silicone, or not pushed down so hard since it wound up being a bit thin. :\

I think I'm gonna stop by the local Michaels and see what they have for molding material, just for comparison's sake, but my next blog post will be Part 2, where I actually use clay in the mold! GASP!

Moving

Like I mentioned in a previous post, I'm going to be moving in the next week or so. Since my clay stuff is already safely packed away for the drive to Vancouver, I'm afraid I'm going to have to put the blog on a two-week hiatus!

Updates will resume November 29th.

Order Get!

The much delayed order has arrived! New colors, my silicone mold material, a chunk of white and WAY too many translucent white! XD

I honestly don't recommend dealing with Polymer Clay Central in Damascus, MD. This order was placed September 29th. I didn't get any replies to the two emails I sent in early October, was told October 20th that my order would ship the same day (they had apparently been waiting on the Translucent White), and when I emailed them from my second account the other day.

They told me my order was shipped Oct 28th and gave me a tracking number that I doubt is for me, since it's most recent update was just the other day and it was in Jamaica, NY. Fortunately I'll be moving to Vancouver soon and will be able to get supplies much easier!

Fat Penguin

Sorry for the lack of updates last week. I kept hoping that package would arrive so I could make some molds of my poptarts but once again nothing! I emailed them yesterday and it turns out it was shipped on Oct 28th. At least now I have a tracking number for it.

But it looks like it won't arrive until after I move to Vancouver! Which I'll be doing in the next two weeks. I'm quite excited, for various reasons... but clay-related? I shouldn't need to order my clay from unreliable online stores! YAY!

I wanted to make something tonight but I didn't really feel like making any mini-food. I decided to make a little charm instead! I found yet another tutorial on DeviantArt. I seriously love penguins, so this was right up my alley. All of the following pictures are taken with my iPhone, which is less fussy than my Nikon in the low-light of my room!

I have two blue Fimo, Pacific Blue and Brilliant Blue. I chose the former, since it seemed a bit bolder.

I chopped off a fair-sized chunk, larger than I tend to work with for my miniatures.

And then shaped it as instructed. I thought about going WILD AND CRAZY, but that would mess with the Penguinuity (which is now a word) of it.

I don't recall my hand being this blue...

After a bit of scrubbing, my hand returned to it's normal, not Na'vi color. Translucent white.

You can see the little flecks of STUFF (probably blue Fimo.) in the white, unfortunately. That stuff is disturbingly difficult to keep clean. I swear that just looking at it funny makes it all speckley. This was before I gave him his beak, feet and eyes. I didn't have any black beads on hand so I had to improvise with a bit of black Fimo.

And just before the little man spent his time in the oven! I can see why they recommend beads.

I'll have to glaze him later since he's still a bit warm. But my fat little Penguin is complete!