Where to start? There were so many possibilities, it was hard to decide which direction to take. I really thought I was going to make some hollow beads, but I lost interest quickly. Fortunately the translucent polymer clay needed to be conditioned and colored, and the mindless task of running it through the pasta machines opened our minds to using some copper wire as a form for the clay.
Holly worked with circles.
I went for leaf shapes.
Holly’s daughter, Maia, joined us and inspired us with some of her own ideas.
Neither of us knew that leaving an edge of clay around the wire was called a “shadow cut,” until Maia told us. Her design of the tiny beads inside the wire, with a shadow of clay around the outside, was my favorite of the day.
Of course the day ended too soon, even though we worked into the night. We’ve taken workshops together, but this is the first time Holly and I have been together, in one of our studios, just to bounce ideas off each other. We had a blast. We each ended up with some ideas about translucent polymer clay that we’ll continue to explore. Thank you my friend! I can’t wait to see what you make next. My own explorations will have to wait until after my visit with Susie in N.Y.
Barbara S Fernald Jewelry 