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If caning be the food of love, clay on!

I've been claying since around 2012 and absolutely love it. Polymer clay is so versatile and I'm always trying to find new and fun ways to create designs. I find inspiration for my clay everywhere; in colours, shapes, patterns, nature and structures. Join me in my ramblings about my world with polymer clay.

Do something that scares you every day......tick

9/29/2019

11 Comments

 
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Well, I'm certainly adhering to that sentiment recently. I've made a video!!!!!!
Or to be precise, 8 videos. Annoying I can't tell you what it's about, I'm sworn to secrecy, but all will be unveiled on 20th October. It's all very exciting!
However, I now know how to video, but that wasn't the most difficult bit. I realised that I had to be in the video. Most of it is of my hands manipulating clay into the secret project, but I had to do an introduction, facing the camera. What a performance: I dyed my hair (my roots were about 6"), had my eyebrows dyed (the woman who did it said it knocked 10 years off me - was that meant to make me feel good? Just how old did she think I looked before?????), and put some lipstick on, which for me is very rare, saved for when I have meetings with scary people. Then poor Iain (long-suffering husband) had the unenviable job of taking the video. I did it in one take, knowing that it would only be worse if I had to re-take it, and it's actually passable. 

So, enough of this primping and preening. My daughter Emma asked me last week "do you think about clay all the time?" The answer is probably yes. She said that she could tell because I had a certain look on my face, a thinking look, and yes, she was right, I had seen something, a shape, a colour, that could be interesting in clay. It's wonderful having an interest that is so, well, interesting! We were in Edinburgh at the National Portrait gallery, and in the gift shop was a case of some kind, I just loved the colours, so Emma did the sneaky photography so I could have a record of the colours without having to buy something I had absolutely no need for. 

I would love to show you the stripey thing, but somehow I need to learn more about how to blog, as the picture has gone up to the top - TWICE!!!!! So, to see my inspiration from Edinburgh, look at the top of the blog - there will be two random pictures. Good job I bought a 'blogging made simple' book from Amazon yesterday, should arrive tomorrow, so hang in there, the technology will not beat me!

So, what are the things that inspire me? I have a lovely boss at work, and she has a diary cover which just begged to be photographed. I made a pendant similar to the diary cover, let's see if I can manage to add some pictures.


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I don't like to be smug...……………...……
But I've sorted it :)  Although it would be better a little higher, beggers can't be choosers.
This is the day after I posted this blog, and the book about blogging was absolutely no use at all, unless of course I want to become a multi millionaire from my blog, so I googled it - I now have the stripy picture removed from the blog header photo, and back where it belongs.

​Bring it on, I'm a techie!!!!!!!!!!

Now, back to my boss's diary cover...…...……
I did say that I was a beginner at this blogging didn't I?

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​Well, that worked! The picture below was the view from a toilet in Tuscany, Italy. Of course I had my camera with me, doesn't everyone!

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The four squares on the right were inspired by the wonderful pottery in San Giminiano, the olive and lemon trees, and of course the toilet tiles.
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People who know me, know that my animals are probably the most important thing to me, after family - and I'm sure the family feel that they are second in my affections! I had someone come and clay with me for a while, and she actually got very grumpy because George kept walking across the table - George is my half Siamese ginger cat, and no table is banned to him. My nephew Jack was far more tollerant, as you can see. He was making his A level course work, and was ably helped by George.
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Finally, I'll leave you with last night's inspiration. I had a few animal bodies (not something many people admit it I'm sure) on the coffee table. They were experiments of some clay animals I'm working on. My mother thought they were coasters as they were flat, and I thought 'Mmmm, fun coaster'. So, my next project will be to make some fun coasters of flat animals. I spend a few minutes making a snowman one, just to see if it would work, and it could do. Lovely, something to think about and plan on my drive to work tomorrow.
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I'm off to Ireland this weekend, spending time with the Irish polymer clay guild, who have been so supportive to me, and who are just the best people to spend time with claying. Although how much claying we'll get done is debatable, as there's a lot of chat and laughter as well. I'm teaching my patchwork bunny and chicken, and will post pictures of the weekend in my next blog. Listen to me, next blog!! I'll have the book by then, so lets hope I can learn how to remove the stripy pictures from the heading!
11 Comments
Lin Morton
9/29/2019 06:24:09 pm

All sounds very intriguing, and don't you look the bee's knees xx
( Always thought that was an odd saying, but it suits :) :) )

Reply
Alfonso
9/29/2019 06:28:11 pm

I love how you make every entry so personal! Makes me laugh, so exciting, especially when you explain all the story behind each piece of art!! You’ve got a gift to write blogs, and don’t worry about silly mistakes at the end of the day the content of each blog is what it matters, so go for it!!!

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Jules
9/29/2019 08:50:56 pm

Can’t wait to see the next blog.. Go Helen !!
Looking good.

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Candy Emerson
9/29/2019 10:49:03 pm

I would like to be notified of your Blog posts.
Thanks

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Donna
9/30/2019 12:20:51 am

Another triumph in blogging and clay inspiration! So wonderful to have a peek into that brilliant mind of yours! Inspiration abounds and you’ve shown us how to find it everywhere. Love the shot of Jack’s intense focus juxtaposed with George lounging on the true-to-life work table. Creativity is delightful, messy and always evolving. Looking forward to a post on your adventures with the Irish guild members and their patchwork chickens and bunnies! Well done Helen!

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Nicky Ellis
9/30/2019 01:24:25 am

Great fun to read! Well done Helen .

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Emma
9/30/2019 02:42:30 am

Brilliant blog so far mum. I'm becoming more familiar with your 'I've seen something that I could turn into clay' look now! You can see your eyes glaze over and see you falling backwards down the rabbit hole of possibilities and canes! Long may it continue

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Vivien
9/30/2019 03:16:58 am

Well done Helen it’s just as if your talking next to me. Another thing under your belt!

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Sharon
9/30/2019 02:56:08 pm

Love your blog! Especially the combination of inspirational pieces and your interpretation and expression thereof. Think George rules!

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Hazel Smith
10/3/2019 06:27:33 pm

I think I need a patchwork bunny! No, I definitely need a patchwork bunny - do you do a tutorial pdf or something!

Reply
Flooring Installation Washington link
3/5/2023 09:09:45 am

Thanks for this!

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    Helen Cruickshank

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