Polymer Clay: Steampunk Critters

I finished the blue afghan today and it is now in use on my bed.

Here are two projects I finished today.  Steampunk elephant and dragonfly.  These projects came out of the new Christi Friesen book Steampunkery.

I bought a bag of watch parts,  searched the house high and low, and tore apart a watch I found to add parts to these two critters.

These projects were fun to make but the elephant had its difficulties.  I did not get the trunk, ears and eyes placement right.  But it looks ok.  I will have to try again.

keep claying

pv

Crochet: Blue Afghan

This is my current project.  An afghan of double crochet stitches.  The panels are 8 rows and the connection is chains.  This is a free pattern from lion brand.  The yarn is homespun Montanna sky from lion brand.  I have to attach two more strips to finish it.  I started the project last Friday.  So it is pretty fast to make.  I am using a size N hook.

This yarn is hard to work with.  It snags and splits constantly.

I am currently taking crochet classes from a local knitting shop.  We reviewed the basic stitches- single, double and treble, and she showed me shells and v's, ribs and popcorn stitches.  She said my tension was good and nothing to worry about.  Next week we are going to do granny squares.

Lion brand has a free pattern for a sampler afghan where it has squares of stitches.  Popcorn, v, shell, etc.  I think that would be a good one to attempt.

Keep crocheting

pv

Beading: Progress gray stone

This is the progress I made on the stone.  But the experiment is not working out.  It slips off.  I am going to try a wire backing to stabilize it.  I don't think row after row of beads is going to help capture the stone.  The beads against the stone are very slippery.  I picked out the beads on the internet by picture alone.  The pictures seem true color enough that I got what I wanted.  The beads look good next to the stone.

Keep trying
p

Cross Stitch: Progress Indian Totem Afghan

Here is the finished falcon.  I finally finsished the outlining and the flower.  I plan on starting the next square tomorrow which is the beaver.  I might have my stitching mojo back.

Keep stitching

p

Beading: Beaded gray stone

This is the start of the first stone to be surrounded with beads to make a cabachon.  This is one of the stones from my grandfather's rock and mineral collection.  The idea comes from Beadwork magazine Feb/Mar 2009, article Chained Elegance by Julie Walker.  If this one works I'll have a good idea on how to do the rest of the stones.

Keep beading

patty

Polymer Clay: Acrylic Ink sheet

Using acrylic inks I made a multi colored sheet with a sponge.  I circle cut using different sizes so I could get a center circle to bead.  The layers are very easy to see.  Maybe I should paint the sides black.

I used yellow, orange and chestnut colored ink.

patty

Polymer Clay: Inked Sheet pendant

Using the same inked sheet I made this pendant.  It was sanded and buffed.

Keep experimenting

patty

Cross Stitch: English Garden

I bought this design at a cross stitch festival years ago.  This design was fun to make.  There are many different types of stitches and motifs.  This design uses Madiera threads.  Which are nice to work with.

The design is by Liz Turner Diehl.  It is called 16th Century English Family Garden. Copyright 1996.

Keep sewing

patty

Polymer Clay: Ripped open

This pendant starts with a silver textured layer, then a decorated sheet.  The center is punched out so that bead strings can go through as a lariat type of necklace.  I saw this type of necklace on another blog.  She did a much better job at ripping out the center.  The silver textured sheet was acrylic black painted and wiped.  This could use some steampunking!

Don't forget how to play

patty

Polymer Clay: Ripped Layers

I saw a pendant on the internet somewhere with ripped layers.  So I took some sheets and tried it. First layer is inked, second layer is gold wood grain, third layer is rainbow striped, and fourth layer is the gold wood grain again.  I made a clay tube for the back.  I did not do a great job putting it together but it came out ok.

Keep experimenting
patty

Polymer Clay: Inked Translucent Pendant

This pendant is three layers of clay.  First layer is a gold and ecru striped sheet wood grain technique.  Second layer is black and third layer is ecru base with translucent alcohol inked on top.  The inked layer is thinned in the pasta machine to help thin the translucent.  There is a jump ring clayed to the back.  The inked layer is based on techniques from The Polymer Clay Art book.

Have fun

patty