Little Bits of Art

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:24:00 +0000

Margi shared this brilliant little site for artists.... I can't seem to get the 30 second poses to work for me, maybe it was the timing *shrugs*

Other than that, I've lost my temp gage and I'm worried that I'm firing a little too high. My last two trays of pieces scorched and needed to be tossed. So I'm par-baking my pieces now at a lower temp and need to find or buy a new thermometer...

So what have I been making? Rings... What can't I photograph to save my life? Rings.

any advice?
I've tried inside, outside, different lighting, I'm guessing I'll need to build a photobox?

spooky bits!!

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:36:00 +0000

I realize I'm known for my florals and my butterflies but if you know me you'll know I've got a bit of a darker side, figured I'd share some recent pieces with you! (I tend to make these for myself and friends but I've recently put some up in my little Etsy shop.

Faux bone skull pile.

Crooked spine heart.

My always popular skull beads! Each one is hand detailed and antiqued.

Here fishy fishy fishy ?

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:42:00 +0000

I maked sushi.

Actually I had a bunch of scraps from the retreat so I played a bit. Yeah, I overcooked it. Don't blame me, blame the ghost who made the oven door push in so far it stuck when I know I left it unlatched.
that jerk

clickie for big

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:55:00 +0000

Posted the note below last night, I'm going to try and update more I promise. All the stresses of getting into school have been overwhelming me but the Morrisburg trip (with no studying!!) has refreshed me and the creative juices are flowing. I have a good stock so I'm tossing those bloody canes aside for awhile and going to play with textures and images. So there!!

Hopefully later today or tomorrow I'll have some pieces done and photographed (and video!) to show you all!

-------------------------------------------------

home alive and stuff.

*thud*
worst drive ever. many appy-polly-logies to mel who had to put up with my 90 minute panic attack on the highway.
Xipe did a ton while I was gone, I love him muchly but right now I'm gonna die so i'll update later.

Morrisburg or bust!

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:54:00 +0000

It's that time of year again! The MPCG notices start coming out :)

What is MPCG? The Morrisburg Polymer Clay Gathering. It's a Thursday-Sunday Polymer clay retreat held every year towards the end of April in charming Morrisburg Ontario. The days are filled with brilliant classes and demos, laughter, shopping trips and the occasional (or not so occasional) bottle of wine shared with a couple bags of chips, a bunch of artists sitting around casually giggling about nonsense. I look forward to these few days every year. Being able to work side by side with these incredible artists. Margi who is really the reason I got into polymer clay, after seeing her work on the internet. Violette's words echo in my ears everytime I start feeling sorry for myself about aging "they're not wrinkles, they're details"...Barbara making me laugh "give it some British!" And all the other incredible women I spend 4 days with every year. It's something not to be missed!

So now, I am terribly proud to say I'll be teaching again at this year's MPCG. Over the past couple of years I've been doing more masks. Not really to sell, although I have sold a few, but more to decorate my own home, my studio and to just express myself creatively without the stresses of making a 'for sale' product. The research I put into each piece has taught me so much! I'm pretty much an expert on Slavic mythology now *grin* I'm learning about the carnival masks of the Dominican Republic, one of my favorite places on earth and at the moment, spending lots of hours researching African art! So what's my class? "Inspired Masks" I'm going to ask people to choose a culture or country and collect little bits of things that remind them of it. So let's say I choose China. The class will NOT be about reproducing a Chinese opera mask or any such thing, instead we'll use the mask shape as a canvas. Imagine, if you will, a bright red mask, antiqued and impressed to look like cinnabar. The face shape is vaguely Chinese mask but the details are what make it. Black laquered chopsticks across the top of the mask suggest spiky hair. A large faux jade ring in the nose, chinese coins dangle from the ears. Do you see it yet? Nothing traditional here.

This is my African Zen Warrior mask, he was built over a buddha shaped face and ended up looking pretty chill, I think I'll call him Bobert.

this is how it has been...

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:23:00 +0000

I've been sick. Seriously. A two week flu that knocked me on my behind. Was feeling delicious for about a week (note: I love the word delicious...it's just...delicious) and then it hit my sinuses.

And stubborn like I am, upon hearing the clinic wait was 6 hours I decided to fix it myself. Anything to avoid two trips to a doctor in a month. It started with the purchase of a Neti Pot and it's brilliant. The only thing other than ridiculous amounts of painkillers that would take away the pain in my face. Three days later (along with my other witchy cure of peroxide in the ears) I'm cured. Yay.

Then there was the last minute rush to finish a piece for the V-day auctions. I decided to do one piece instead of a bunch of smaller ones, one I put more effort and thought into. I hate the photo, still trying to figure out this camera! but the piece itself is nice. Very delicate, not much of a "HEY LOOK VULVA" which was kinda my intent. Surprisingly difficult piece to figure out. I realize again, I go with the flow, I don't manage the custom work well. Still, I tried, and I'm pretty pleased with it.

Is there anybody out there?

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:13:00 +0000

I have to ask, is anyone reading this?
It's hard, you know, I have three separate blogs for different reasons. This is supposed to be a creativity blog and you know? I haven't been feeling all that creative lately.

The holidays have come and gone, I was spoiled and yet very little related to clay. I've been feeling off lately, like I can't keep up. I placed a large order of bleached trans to get working on some new canes and the whole order is garbage, it's too dark, too dry, I think it's partially cured. I can still use it to blend with other colours but it's not cane worthy, what's a girl to do? I still haven't received a refund and I've started using it out of desperation. Very disappointing.

/end rant

in good news, I'm going to work on some pieces for v-day and try and get myself healthy, it's been an icky, sickly few days.

I'm SO bad at this.

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:13:00 +0000

Christmas was fantastic.
New Years was goodtimes.

I'll be updating more I promise, there's a new camera, new inspiration and new goals. Lots of new.

wish me luck :)

Call to Artists - Appel aux artistes

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:20:00 +0000

(copied from elsewhere)
We are currently looking for artists to submit works that deal with vaginas (and/or women) to be auctioned at a benefit art show. If you are interested in donating a piece of art, please contact us at vdaymontreal@gmail.com!

Nous sommes recherche présentement des artistes qui aimerait nous donner des oeuvres autour de l'image du vagin (et/ou les femmes) pour vendre aux enchères à un vernissage-bénéfice. Si vous êtes intéressé à faire un don, veuillez nous contacter à vdaymontreal@gmail.com!

What is V-Day?
V-Day is an organized response against violence toward women.
V-Day is a vision: We see a world where women live safely and freely.
V-Day is a demand: Rape, incest, battery, genital mutilation and sexual slavery must end now.
V-Day is a spirit: We believe women should spend their lives creating and thriving rather than surviving or recovering from terrible atrocities.
V-Day is a catalyst: By raising money and consciousness, it will unify and strengthen existing anti-violence efforts. Triggering far-reaching awareness, it will lay the groundwork for new educational, protective, and legislative endeavors throughout the world.
V-Day is a process: We will work as long as it takes. We will not stop until the violence stops.
V-Day is a day. We proclaim Valentine's Day as V-Day, to celebrate women and end the violence.
V-Day is a fierce, wild, unstoppable movement and community

V-Day Montreal is currently looking for artists to submit works that deal with vaginas (and/or women) to be auctioned at a benefit art show for V-Day Montreal. If you are interested in donating a piece of art, please contact us at vdaymontreal@gmail.com!

Vist our website at: http://vdaymontreal.blogspot.com/

A passion

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:24:00 +0000

Passionflowers?. Passion" does not refer to love, but to the Passion of Christ on the cross. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries discovered this flower and adopted its unique physical structures as symbols of Crucifixion. For example: the 72 radial filaments (or corona) represent the Crown of Thorns. The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful apostles. The top 3 stigmata represent the 3 nails and the lower 5 anthers represent the 5 wounds.

The first time I saw one in person I cried. I'm not kidding either (I have little to no sense of humor) and I bought it right there. Over the next few years I carefully collected seeds from countries across the globe. Sneaking clippings from greenhouses and raising them carefully. The seeds can be a pain, requiring cold wet sand or intense lighting, but I carried on. Last count I was at 13 species and then a horrid early surprise frost killed off all my hard work, just like that.

I recently lost my last two plants and gave up. I don't have time for the seedlings anymore and buying a plant in the greenhouse can cost 40$+ I just couldn't justify it. Welllll...surprisingly, the other day at the market a woman had some sad looking, overgrown, starting to yellow passifloras. They were HUGE and I poked at them a bit...she came over to greet me.. "10$, all sizes, I need to get rid of them" had I an extra house I'd have picked them all up, but instead I carefully chose two, a red and a violet plant and I carried them home, refusing help, almost hugging the damned things.

Now, if you're familiar, you'll know in almost all cases a passionflower lasts ONE day. They're quite difficult to get to flower as it is and when they do, well yeah, one day per bud. Yesterday was a rather awful birthday, my eyes are still puffy and tender from crying and Iwas feeling pretty sorry for myself today as well. Still, I dusted myself off and listened to some Serj (of course) and worked a little. Just a moment ago I went upstairs to move my larger plant out of my father's way and sure enough, two red passionflowers open and spectacular. They came a day late but I'm still thrilled.

Those silly little flowers gave me a moment of "everything is right with the world" and a little hippyish "all we need is love" moment.

Well Well Well...

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:45:00 +0000

It's only 4 weeks to my show and I have some pieces that are really limited so I'm offering them up here first! Think Christmas shopping and super unique gifts for hard to buy peoplies. I feel these pieces are the most professional I've ever done and each one comes with a little card explaining the nature of the piece and it's one of a kind status to give along with the piece.

Email me with any questions or comments, these are ready to ship, shipping is 2$ I can fit quite a few pieces in a 2$ envelope! All prices are in Canadian dollars.

Please specify the piece you're interested in (the blue one, third from left) works perfectly! and feel free to ask for additional photos of a piece you're curious about!

Click for larger images:

Secret Compartment Keychains: 15$ each
3 inch keychains with secret compartments are perfect for medication,
toothpicks, an emergency 20 or anything else. Each piece is one one a kind.

Screwdriver Keychains: 20$ each
Contains four screwdriver bits in a 3 inch hollow tube. It's always there when
you need a screwdriver. Small and compact. Has Phillips, and regular bits and even an awl! Perfect for nerds :) Very limited amount of these one of a kind pieces.
(ladybug screwdriver sold)

Perfume Pens: 18$ each
Unique gift idea! Just unscrew and let the 4 inch pen absorb your favorite
oil or perfume for around a minute. Refillable and leakproof, a rubber gasket
prevents drying out. Lasts weeks to months, depends how often you use it!
much easier to carry around in your purse than a bottle!

24 k gold plated Letter Opener: 20$ each
Incredibly unique gift idea, each opener is one of a kind as always. 7 inches
long, very elegant, perfect "not sure what to get them" gift. Ladybug opener sold.

Mini scopes: 25$
Front surface mirrors, hand assembled with coordinating beads and crystals
in the chamber. Beautifully finished and always one of a kind. Very limited
amount of these 2 1/2 inch scopes.

Forgive me!

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:49:00 +0000

One more just finished. This is a screwdriver keychain. The bits are hidden inside, sweet eh? I made the surface heavily textured to give more grip.

Little bits of this and that...

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:36:00 +0000

http://feeds.feedburner.com/LittleBitsOfArt (feed for this blog)

People have asked. I will tell you.
I loved Across the Universe. I have a short attention span and frequently wish things would just FINISH already. I never wanted this to end, ever ever.

So scraping together my last pennies I placed an order for some blanks and an order for some silver wire...
I think the new products are pretty awesome. Above, pretty easy to tell, is a brass letter opener, below a perfume pen (it's got a wick inside to absorb and hold your perfume so you can carry it around with you)
Yes, I will be doing some more masculin patterns for some of the items :)
anyway, that's it, oh hey, and a shiny bead with my canes on it...

New photos and auction stuff...

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:52:00 +0000

My new flickr pro account!
From my very first pieces to the most recent, gonna try and keep this up to date :)

With craft shows coming up I've decided to hold my breath and put some canes back up for auction. We'll see how this week goes!

Foiled again!

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 12:03:00 +0000

I had big plans, big plans indeed.

It's been a good while since I've made a butterfly cane and I was figuring it was about time. I've got a fair amount of monarch (blue, orange and green) and a good hunk of morpho left so I figured I'd work on a Swallowtail sometime today....
very exciting right?

So last night as I'm preparing dinner (see below) I somehow, carelessly, drag my finger along the open can of pineapple, I feel searing pain and a grinding of (bone? nail?) along the can. Gross gross! so i'm bleeding all over and wow, the pain is just incredible, I'm used to hurting myself and never had a cut like this! Sat down trying not to cry like a little girl and held my dripping finger in papertowel 'till it settled down. It hurt all night and woke me up everytime it touched anything. Lame.

So whats this mean? no caning for Adria, not with a big old bandage and a whole finger too sore to even type with. *sighs*
but hey, dinner was delicious!

Adria's Polynesian-ish Chicken Brochettes

4 chicken breast halves, cubed for brochettes
mushrooms,peppers, onions (whatever you'd like for brochettes, chopped large enough so they wont burn)
1 can of pineapple *chunks* with juice reverved
Marinade:
3 T apricot jam
2 T soy sauce
2 T your favorite sweet bbq sauce
2 tsp grated ginger (or 1 t dry)
2 large cloves minced garlic

At least 3 hours before cooking combine all marinade ingredients (you can add oil but I don't feel it's necessary, I'd rather spray my grill if needed) and drop in your mushrooms and chicken, stir to coat, cover and set in fridge.

20 minutes before cooking stir in about half your reserved pineapple juice.

Assemble brochettes combining marinate chicken and mushroom pieces with pineapple and veggies, brush with leftover marinade.

Grill skewers 10-15 minutes or until juices run clear.

Optional and more delicious:
1 pound of bacon,slice bacon in half (width not length) and boil for a few minutes, let cool. Wrap each chicken cube in a piece of bacon before adding to your skewer, brush with marinade and grill as usual.

Assembling a cane

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:22:00 +0000

I put this tutorial of sorts together a few years ago to explain some basics of cane building, I believe it's since been lost so I'll post it here :) You're going to need to know some polymer clay basics to get this.

By this point the clay has been conditioned...I take a triangle of white and a triangle of blue, I begin to roll these through my machine folding and pulling it through again creating a gradient blend.

When I have a nice blend I turn it sideways and roll it out thinner and thinner...then I roll it all up (starting from the white creates a highlight effect)

I continue doing this for my other colours.

Here I've cut the yellow cane (the cane is the rod of clay) and inserted black sheets of clay for veining

I wrap all my canes in a thin sheet of black for contrast... here I have reduced and cut up the red cane (by squeezing and pulling, rolling just a bit to make it longer and thinner) and form the body of the dragonfly..

I reduce my other canes and start inserting them around the body, cutting them to fit, I want a nice round result (easiest to reduce later)

Now I pull and squeeze like I said, if done properly the pattern distorts very little...but a little distortion is normal and I think it's charming...

reduced cane, ready to slice...i can bring these down to a 3 mm diameter and lose no detail.

some slices taken too early so they're a bit distorted (the clay was warm) but you get the idea...if you cut thick slices you get cane slice beads, or you can slice extremely thin slices and layer these over a clay ball to get other shapes...which is what you see in the rest of my work...

hope this gives you all an idea, see, no paint :)

trips and falling behind

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:18:00 +0000

Well the family and I just got back from New Brunswick. It was a short trip but needed. We visited the cemetary in Bristol to lay flowers, did some 4-wheeling and family bonding, brought home a ton of veggies from the farm and I've been enjoying cooking em up. Tomorrow will be my gran's fantastic borscht with beets, beets I dug myself from the place she grew up, lovely isn't it?

What does all this have to do with polymer clay? not so much, except I'm a little behind on updating the store! I DO promise to have a bunch of new and delicious items up in the next couple days. And oh hey lookie, a new blog!

Site Update

noreply@blogger.com (Adria) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:03:00 +0000

Remember, the Claycave Shops are under Construction at the moment...

Update August 26th 2007

Thanks to all the folks who came out to Rendez-Vous 2007 at the Dorval Civic Center! It was great to see some new faces and meet some of our fellow artisans! Remember, we will be at the Dollard-des-Ormeaux Craft Fair in November. Just in time for the holidays!