Polymer Clay Flower Cane with Sparkle

Session Start Tue Sep 19 21:00:39 2000

<cak> Hi sparkle

<sparkle> hi

<Raven> hi sparkle

<Shannon> helloooo sparkle

<sparkle> please tell me this wasn't the Tuesday I was gonna teach?

<Shannon> we've been waiting for hours.

<Raven> didn't you say last week that it was this week???

<sparkle> no, I think I said last week I need to e-mail Janet and anno and find out when it is <g>

<Raven> (somebody said that...)

<cak> Don't ask me, I don't no nuffin;

<cak> (and I can't spell homonyms either)

<Janet> Uhhhh... let me look at the schedule. I know I put it down.

<Janet> homonyms r ruff

<sparkle> LOL

<sparkle> so r foniks

<Raven> homonymphs are ruffer

<cak> (but a lot more fun)

<Raven> LOL!!!!

<cak> sorry, couldn't resist--

<Shannon> i'm not even touchin that

<Janet> flower canes, chicko.

<sparkle> LOL..nor am I Shannon.

<sparkle> hmmm, ok.

<sparkle> flower canes

<sparkle> who wants to learn how to make a flower cane?

<sparkle> (this is a participation mandatory class)

<Raven> everyone...

<sparkle> (and I'll be able to tell)

<cak> I do, but I don't have any polyclay here at work

<sparkle> so get out your polymer clay.

<sparkle> oh, good story cak

<Raven> does this mean I have to condition my sculpey?

<sparkle> I'll let you off the hook.

<sparkle> yep.

<cak> thank you teacher

<sparkle> everyone condition for 10 minutes while I snag some pictures to go with my story.

Janet puts her sculpey between Shannon's thighs

<sparkle> Janet, Shannon

<sparkle> condition

<Shannon> i have a note from my mother that says i dont have to participate

<sparkle> sculpey shouldn't take long

sparkle doesn't take mother's notes

<sparkle> get out the clay

<Shannon> um. from my doctor, then.

<Janet> it's warm enough here our sculpey is already conditioned

<Shannon> our sculpey is already hardened.

<Janet> exactly

<Raven> uh, I got greasy popcorn butter fingers so can't do clay right now...

<Janet> Raven. SHARE.

<sparkle> LOL

Raven tosses popcorn into cyberspace

<sparkle> FIRST, LETS TALK ABOUT THE THREE MAJOR BRANDS OF POLYMER CLAY AND WHY SCULPEY IS A POOR CHOICE FOR CANING.

<Raven> okay... I'm listening...

<Shannon> you just told us to get out our sculpey???

<Janet> NOW you tell us.

<Shannon> and it's a bad choice?

<sparkle> WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE?

<sparkle> SCULPEY IS THE MOST EASILY, OVERWORKED CLAY.

<Shannon> well. no. not at the moment.

<Raven> but if you want me to condition my FIMO yer going to have to give me an hour

<Janet> i got that granite stuff

<sparkle> LOL

<sparkle> RAVEN, CHECK OUT THE FIMO SOFT.

<sparkle> ITS ALMOST AS EASY AS SCULPEY TO CONDITION...BUT DOESN'T TURN TO MUSH.

<Raven> That sounds good...

<Janet> be amazed, I even found the granite stuff

<sparkle> SCULPEY IS GREAT FOR THINGS THAT RS'ERS DO WITH CLAY, MAKING PINS AND PUSH MOLDS.

<sparkle> BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET WORKED A LOT

<sparkle> SO YOU DON'T NOTICE THE TENDENCY TO BECOME OVERWORKED AND TURN TO MUSH.

<Raven> it droops when I try to do figures with it tho

<Janet> i got pinks and purples and greens and stuff. what colors and how many?

<sparkle> YEP. IT DROOPS.

<sparkle> GRAB YOURSELF AS MANY COLORS AS YOU WANT IN YOUR FLOWER...

<sparkle> PETALS AND CENTER.

<sparkle> WE'LL DO LEAVES ANOTHER NIGHT.

<Shannon> what do we do with these canes once they're done? this is my big problem.

<sparkle> THAT'S NEXT WEEK SHANNON <g>

<Shannon> oh of course.

<Janet> okay. tell me how to condition if I'm not wearin underwear

<sparkle> PREMO AND THE NEW FIMO SOFT ARE THE MOST ALIKE AND EASY TO CONDITION, AS WELL AS STANDING UP TO THE WORKING AND REWORKING

<sparkle> THE EASIEST WAY TO CONDITION YOUR CLAY IS TO USE A PASTA MACHINE

<Janet> i have a problem with the pasta machine

<sparkle> STARTING WITH THE WIDEST SETTING...AND DECREASING THE SETTINGS UNTIL THE CLAY FOLDS EASILY WITHOUT BREAKING* Raven has been beggin for one on ArtsBazaar but so far no luck

<Janet> Howdy, Ibism!

<sparkle> IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PASTA MACHINE (CHECK ON EBAY UNDER NOODLE MAKER)

<Janet> (we're conditioning our polyclay)

<Shannon> i love my pasta machine

<sparkle> THEN YOU HAVE TO DO IT THE OLD FASHIONED WAY, BY HAND.

<Raven> Ebay ones are as much as in the store, I've noticed... plus big shipping...

<Janet> someone here saw it come in the house and (erroneously) thought it was for food

<Raven> but I'll spring for one soon...

<Shannon> cept when that damn handle falls out and lands on that nerve on the top of my foot.

<Janet> I gotta let him forget it's here before I use it for clay

<sparkle> PUT YOUR CLAY SOMEWHERE WARM UNTIL IT IS SOFT ENOUGH TO ROLL WITH YOUR HANDS.

<sparkle> i HATE THAT shANNON

<sparkle> I'M GOING TO GLUE MY HANDLE IN! OR GET A MOTOR.

<Shannon> or get a 9 year old who t hinks turning the handle is fun

<Janet> Howdy, PHil!

<sparkle> ONCE YOU CAN ROLL YOUR CLAY WITH YOUR HANDS...ROLL IT INTO A LONG THIN SNAKE

<Shannon> hi phil

<phil> hi everyone

<Raven> I'll need two.... DH looooves home made pasta and he'll be having fits

<sparkle> THEN TURN THE SNAKE BACK ON ITSELF AND REPEAT THE PROCESS UNTIL IT DOESN'T BREAK AT THE BENDS

<Janet> How much of it do I want, Sparkle? and is this the center color or the petal color?

<Raven> Hi Phil!

<sparkle> PICK YOUR CENTER FLOWER COLOR AND CONDITION ABOUT 1/4 A BLOCK.

<Janet> okay

Raven is making black eyed susans for Autumn...

<Janet> i'm making a snake with this?

<sparkle> ONLY TO CONDITION IT.

<sparkle> ONCE IT IS CONDITIONED, THEN MAKE A CYLINDER

<sparkle> ABOUT THE HEIGHT OF A BLOCK OF CLAY

<sparkle> WHAT COLORS DID YOU CHOOSE FOR YOUR CENTERS?

<Raven> brown

<Janet> silver

<Janet> (because it was out)

<Janet> uh, how fat is this cylinder supposed to be? mine is about quarter sized

<Raven> shoot... got a cat hair in it now I have to do it again...

<sparkle> THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT jANET.

<phil> did you shoot the cat?

<sparkle> AT THIS POINT, SIZE DOESN'T MATTER <g> BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE FINISHED CANE

<Raven> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<Janet> lol

<Janet> okay. I got that cylinder made

Shannon thinks sparkle has been lied to.

Raven makes a note... size DOESN'T matter

<sparkle> lol

<sparkle> AT THIS POINT <g>

<sparkle> OK, NOW, TAKE A CONTRASTING COLOR AND ROLL OUT A SMALL, THIN SHEET

<Raven> ah... we are only courtin' the clay right now

<sparkle> AND WRAP IT AROUND YOUR CYLINDER

<Janet> LOL

<sparkle> lol

<Janet> how thin?

<sparkle> ABOUT AS THIN AS A QUARTER

<Raven> This isn't my petal color yet, right? Just something to enhance my center?

<sparkle> RIGHT, THIS IS ENHANCING YOUR CENTER.

<Janet> ohtay

<Raven> ohkay

<sparkle> ROLL THE COVERED CYLINDER A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT THE CLAYS ATTACHED TO EACH OTHER...BUT DON'T SMUSH YOUR CANE SMALLER YET.

<sparkle> THIS IS A "BULLSEYE" CANE IF WE WERE GOING TO STOP HERE.

<Janet> but my middle is big like a quarter

<sparkle> YEP, IT IS.

<Janet> and my outer edge is real thin

<Janet> (and frankly it looks rude)

<sparkle> WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE IT TO ABOUT 1/2 ITS DIAMETER NOW.

<Raven> LOL!!!

<sparkle> lol..THAT MEANS YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT JANET

<sparkle> TO REDUCE YOUR CANE...

<sparkle> GRAB IT IN THE MIDDLE AND THROTTLE IT.

<sparkle> SO YOU HAVE AN HOURGLASS SHAPED DESIGN

<Raven> oh.... this is getting fun...

Janet has a mental image uhhhhh

<sparkle> lol

<sparkle> RIGHT

<sparkle> WRING ITS NECK

<Janet> it likes it!

<sparkle> lol

<Raven> it's so willing...

<sparkle> SO, YOU HAVE HOURGLASS SHAPED CANES NOW?

<Janet> actually looks like a dog bone right now

<Janet> and its like twice as long

<sparkle> OK, NOW WE'RE GOING TO EVEN IT OUT.

<sparkle> LAY THE CANE DOWN

<sparkle> AND PUT YOUR HANDS IN A "V" INDEX FINGERS AT THE BASE

<sparkle> (THIS IS EASIER TO SHOW THAN EXPLAIN)

<sparkle> YOU'RE GOING TO GENTLY SEPARATE YOUR HANDS, PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE CLAY AND MOVING IT OUTWARD

Raven s hands don't bend thatawy too good...

<sparkle> LOL

<sparkle> ONE HAND LIKE \ AND ONE LIKE /

<Shannon> my mind is wandering....

<sparkle> NO EXOTIC POSITIONS REQUIRED

<Janet> i don't get it

<sparkle> OK, LAY YOUR CANE DOWN

<sparkle> HORIZONTALLY

<Shannon> you're giving it a horizontal hand job, janet

<sparkle> AND PUT YOUR HANDS ON IT SO THAT YOUR THUMBS AND INDEX FINGERS MEET IN THE CENTER WHERE YOU THROTTLED IT.

<Janet> ohhhhhhhhhhhhh

<sparkle> (THANKS SHANNON)

<Shannon> lol

<sparkle> NOW, LIFT YOUR PINKIES...SO YOUR HANDS ARE ON THE CLAY LIKE \/

<Shannon> feel free to use that in your classes sparkle.

<sparkle> "GIVE YOUR CLAY A SHANNON"

<sparkle> i'LL DO THAT SHAN

<sparkle> YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO REDUCE THE CLAY TO ABOUT 1/2 OF THE DIAMETER OF YOUR ORIGINAL CANE

<sparkle> SO DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY IN THE MIDDLE.

<sparkle> WORK DOWN TO THE ENDS SO YOU HAVE ABOUT 2" OF CLAY THAT IS THE DIAMETER YOU WANT

<sparkle> CUT THE REST OFF AND SET IT OUT OF MIND

<Janet> i got air holes

<sparkle> SMOOTH THEM DOWN WITHOUT SMUSHING

<sparkle> YOU MIGHT HAVE TO CUT A HOLE IN THEM TO SMOOTH THEM DOWN

<sparkle> THAT'S CAUSED BY NOT GETTING TEH OUTSIDE WRAPPING ON IN FULL CONTACT WITH THE CENTER OF THE CAN

<sparkle> CANE

<Janet> i'm confused now. I have light eight inches of this now but it's all the same diameter

<sparkle> THEN YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT.

<sparkle> CUT OFF 2" OF IT TO WORK WITH NOW AND PUT THE REST IN A ZIPLOCK BAGGIE FOR ANOTHER PROJECT.

<sparkle> ORRR....

<Janet> okay just a sec gotta find my cutter

<sparkle> THE PETALS ARE GOING TO BE DONE THE SAME WAY.

<sparkle> MAKE THE BULLSEYE CANE...REDUCE IT DOWN TO THE DIAMETER OF THE CENTER...THEN PUT 5 OF THEM AROUND THE CENTER

<sparkle> SO, IF YOU WANT, YOU COULD PUT ANOTHER WRAPING ON THE EXCESS TO MAKE IT DIFFERENT FROM THE CENTER AND USE THAT FOR YOUR PETALS

<stampaholic> just got here are there pictures anywhere

<sparkle> UM, NO, 'CAUSE TEACHER WASN'T REALLY ON TOP OF THINGS...

<sparkle> BUT I'LL RETEACH THE CLASS THURSDAY NIGHT AFTER TRIVIA WITH PICTURES IF IT FITS IN THE SCHEDULE.

<Janet> kewl!!

<sparkle> (I TAKE IT THAT'S A YES?)

<stampaholic> good since I've missed the beginning

<Janet> so I'm doing the same exact thing for petals?

<Janet> that's a yes please

<sparkle> EXACT SAME THING FOR THE PETALS.

<sparkle> SO, YOU HAVE ONE CENTER CANE, AND 5 PETAL CANES AROUND IT, RIGHT?

<Janet> okay i'm working on this now

<sparkle> OK.

<Janet> no

<sparkle> HOLLER WHEN YOU'RE READY

<Janet> otay

<sparkle> RAVEN? HOW YOU DOING?

<Janet> petals should be smaller?

<sparkle> NO, MAKE THEM ABOUT THE SAME SIZE.

<sparkle> OR HOWEVER YOU WANT THEM ACTUALLY...ITS YOUR FLOWER <g>

<sparkle> YOU CAN NAME IT AND EVERYTHING

<sparkle> STAMPAHOLIC, REALLY ALL WE'VE DONE AT THIS POINT IS MADE A BULLSEYE CANE..

<sparkle> WHICH IS A SOLID COLOR (WELL, ANY COLOR REALLY) WRAPPED WITH A THINNER SHEET

<sparkle> AND DONE 5 ADDITIONAL PETAL CANES THE SAME WAY

<stampaholic> thinner sheet diff color?

<sparkle> YES, A DIFFERENT, CONTRASTING COLOR

<sparkle> EVEN FLOURESCENT CLAY LOOKS GOOD WRAPPED

<sparkle> BECAUSE YOU LOSE A LOT OF THE DETAIL WHEN YOU DO THE FINAL REDUCTION

<stampaholic> 'k. sounds easy enough

<sparkle> SO, YOU HAVE A FLOWER LOOKING TYPE THING...

<sparkle> BUT ITS NOT ROUND, RIGHT?

<sparkle> ITS KINDA LUMPY GOING AROUND THE PETAL CANES

<sparkle> TAKE ANOTHER COLOR OF CLAY, WHATEVER YOU WANT THE BACKGROUND OF THE CANE TO BE

<sparkle> AND ROLL OUT ABOUT 1/8 OF A BLOCK OF THAT INTO A LONG SNAKE

<sparkle> ABOUT THE DIAMETER OF JANET'S PINKIE

<sparkle> (i KNOW SHE HAS LITTLE FINGERS)

<Janet> lol

<sparkle> CUT 5 PIECES OF THE THIN SNAKE THE LENGHT OF THE FLOWER CANE YOU'RE WORKING ON...

<sparkle> AND PINCH THEM SO THEY ARE TRIANGULAR

<sparkle> THEN INSERT THEM BETWEEN THE PETALS

<sparkle> THIS IS HOW YOU'LL SUPPORT YOUR FLOWER AS YOU REDUCE THE CANE TO ITS FINAL SIZE.

<sparkle> RAVEN? HAVE I LOST YOU?

<Janet> i think my middle is too big

<sparkle> PULL IT OUT AND REDUCE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE IF YOU AREN'T HAPPY WITH IT JANET

<Janet> okay

<sparkle> THAT'S THE NICE THING ABOUT CLAY, YOU CAN ALWAYS CHANGE THE SIZES OF THINGS.

<eb5> sparkle you teaching??

<stampaholic> what if there is a space between a petal and the middle?

<sparkle> THE 5 PETAL CANES SHOULD BUTT UP AGAINS THE CENTER CANE

<sparkle> AND AGAINST EACH OTHER.

<sparkle> YOU MAY NEED TO ADD MORE PETAL CANES DEPENDING ON THE SIZES OF EVERYTHING

<Raven> I'm here!!! Just got an instant message and I'm trying to politely tell them to get lost! :-)

<sparkle> USE AS MANY PETAL CANES AS YOU NEED TO GO AROUND YOUR CENTER OR REDUCE YOUR CENTER CANE

<sparkle> LOL

<stampaholic> I just pressed it together harder.

<Janet> i'm smooshing my ends when I cut them

<sparkle> FLATTENING THEM?

<Janet> yes

<sparkle> THAT WORKS

<Janet> it does?

Raven made ten petals cuz her blackeyed susan needs lots of 'em

<sparkle> YEP.

<sparkle> i LIKE TO TRIM ALL MY ENDS AT EACH STEP SO ITS ALL TIDY

<sparkle> IT WASTES CLAY, BUT WHAT THE HECK, CLAY IS CHEAP...PEACE OF MIND ISN'T <g>

<Janet> spoken like someone who sells clay.<g>

<sparkle> LOL

sparkle PULLS CLAY OUT OF STOCK AND CALLS IT "TEACHING SUPPLIES"

<sparkle> OK, NOW MAKE THE TRIANGLES OUT OF THE BACKGROUND COLOR

<sparkle> (WHICH IS WHATEVER COLOR YOU WANT IT TO BE)

<sparkle> AND INSERT THEM BETWEEN THE PETALS SO THAT YOU HAVE AN ALMOST ROUND SHAPE.

<sparkle> AND WRAP A FINAL PIECE OF CLAY AROUND THE FLOWER CANE

<sparkle> WRAP IT GOOD AND SNUG BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DO THE FINAL REDUCTION NOW AND WORK OUT ALL THE SPACES

<sparkle> WITHOUT (HOPEFULLY) DISTORTING THE FLOWERS TOO MUCH

<phil> .

<Janet> i just got a mess

<sparkle> WHAT DOES YOUR MESS LOOK LIKE?

<Janet> like all my petals melted together

<Janet> i can't get my background triangle strips in there

<sparkle> JUST WORK 'EM APART WITH YOUR FINGERS SOME...

<sparkle> CLAY IS VERY FORGIVING

<Janet> okay let me try

<sparkle> THIS IS WHERE SCULPEY BECOMES A DRAWBACK, YOUR CLAY IS PROBABLY GETTING PRETTY SOFT AT THIS POINT

<Janet> no, it's melted

<Janet> can i just make a cut and put a triangle in there?

<sparkle> YEP, YOU CAN DO THAT.

<Janet> okay let me do that

<sparkle> OR TOSS IT IN THE FREEZER FOR 5 MINUTES OR SO <g>

<sparkle> LOTSA PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CHILLING CLAY THIS WEEK

<Janet> i think it's too far melted for that

<Raven> It's abround 50 degrees here and my hands are cold from typing so I'm chillin just fine!

<sparkle> TOO FAR METLED TO CUT?

<sparkle> TOSS IT IN THE FREEZER

<Janet> 88 here

<embossinbabe> enchy!!!!!

<Raven> yo.... ENCHY!

<Janet> no, I can cut it, just not get the petals apart

<enchy> hi

<Janet> enchy!

<sparkle> AH...

<sparkle> LET IT COOL IN THE FREEZER JANET

<enchy> what is sparkle making?

<sparkle> THEN YOU CAN WORK IT AGAIN

<sparkle> WE'RE MAKING FLOWER CANES ENCHY

<Raven> poly-posies

<embossinbabe> clay messes

<sparkle> BUT JANET'S CLAY IS MELTING

<enchy> okee

<embossinbabe> without me

<sparkle> 'CAUSE ITS ALMOST BAKING TEMPERATURE THERE OUTSIDE THE OVENS <g>

embossinbabe sobs

<enchy> well treat it like pie dough

<enchy> lol

<sparkle> EAT IT?

<sparkle> lol

<enchy> no - put it in the frig silly monkey

<sparkle> LOL

<sparkle> FREEZER IS FASTER <g>

<enchy> but i can't open the freezer without eating ice cream

<sparkle> OK, SO IF YOU HAD BEEN ABLE TO GET YOUR TRIANGLES IN

<sparkle> YOU WOULD HAVE WRAPPED IT WITH ANOTHER SHEET OF CLAY AND GONE THROUGH THE REDUCTION PROCESS AGAIN.

<sparkle> SLOWLY, TO WORK OUT ALL THE SPACES

<sparkle> NOT JUST ROLLING THE CLAY BACK AND FORTH, BUT PUTTING DOWNWARD AND OUTWARD PRESSURE ON IT TO COMPRESS AND STRETCH IT

<sparkle> AND BEFORE YOU GET TOO FAR...

<embossinbabe> ugh, need to reboot

<sparkle> STOP AND CUT A COUPLE INCHES OFF TEH END...

<sparkle> THEN CONTINUE COMPRESSING

<sparkle> CUT A FEW INCHES OFF

<sparkle> AND COMPRESS SOME MORE

<Raven> AH! so that's why the "throttle in the middle thing... it's all making sense now...

<sparkle> THIS WAY YOU'LL HAVE CANES OF VARYING DIAMETER

<sparkle> RAVEN HAD THE "AH HAH!" MOMENT!!!

<sparkle> WOOHOO!

Raven sees bright lights...

<sparkle> JANET, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REPOSSES THAT PASTA MAKER

<stampaholic> one petal is smooshed inside

<Janet> no kidding

<sparkle> WELL, YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES...<g>

<sparkle> YOU CAN A) USE YOUR FINGERS TO RESHAPE THINGS SO ITS WHERE YOU WANT IT

<sparkle> OR B) SAY "I MEANT TO DO THAT"

sparkle USUALLY CHOOSES B

<stampaholic> I meant to do that

<sparkle> LOL

<Janet> I figure this is gonna turn into sculpey that I cover completely with powdered pearls and UTEE.

<stampaholic> sob then LOL

<Janet> but come winter I'll try it again

<sparkle> TO AVOID THAT NEXT TIME...DO A LITTLE LESS ROLLING AND MORE EVEN COMPRESSING AND STRETCHING WHEN YOU REDUCE.

<sparkle> THAT'S WHAT SCULPEY IS GOOD FOR JANET

<phil> Janet, don't you have A/C?

<sparkle> THAT'S WHY I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE FIMO SOFT

<Janet> yeah. and it's probably 80 in here. but I got hot lil hands.<g>

<sparkle> :x

<Janet> LOL

<Janet> now before I go real wrong, the piecea round the outside is the same color as my triangles?

<phil> I run my A/C at about 65, so it is nice and cool here

<sparkle> RIGHT.

<Janet> and it's the thin sheet like the other thin sheets, right?

<sparkle> THEY'LL MELD TOGETHER TO FORM A SOLID BACKGROUND AROUND YOUR FLOWER.

<sparkle> YOU CAN MAKE THIS ONE A LITTLE BIT THICKER

<sparkle> SO IT SUPPORTS YOUR CANE AS YOU REDUCE IT.

<Janet> Phil, I can't afford that. 80 is what I can afford. It's cooler outside now, just mid 90s during the day, but still.

<stampaholic> That's where I messed up I guess, used diff. color

<sparkle> THAT'S OK LAURA, IT JUST MEANS YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND AND A BORDER...

<sparkle> AND ADVANCED FLOWER CANE <g>

<enchy> oh janet - just come here - it's 65 without AC

<stampaholic> cool

<phil> A/C is included with the rent here so I love it

<Janet> it was like that in DC. heavenly

<sparkle> SO, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR CANES?

<Janet> just a sec, let me finish it.

<Janet> (and yeah, what do I do with it after I finish it?)

<enchy> send it to me

<sparkle> AFTER YOU FINISH IT, YOU COME TO CLASS NEXT TUESDAY

<sparkle> WHERE I WILL BE FULL OF IDEAS FOR IT <g>

<Janet> enchy, this is NOT good

<sparkle> IN THE MEANTIME

<enchy> oh sparkle - you ruin all my fun

<sparkle> WRAP IT IN PLASTIC

<sparkle> AND PUT IT SOMEWHERE COOL

<enchy> janet - it will be okay

<sparkle> JANET, CUT IT IN HALF AND LOOK AT THE MIDDLE

<sparkle> OH

<sparkle> WAIT

<sparkle> DON'T CUT IT WHILE ITS IN LIQUID FORM <g>

<sparkle> CHILL IT

<sparkle> THEN CUT IT

<sparkle> HEY EVO

<Janet> okay

<Janet> EVO

<enchy> hi miss ellen

<evo> : )

<evo> I'm listening...

<stampaholic> what kind can we make now that we have this down?

<sparkle> NEXT WEEK...MAKING BEADS AND COVERING BOXES WITH YOUR CANES

<stampaholic> same time?

<sparkle> IF YOU HAVE THE BASIC TECHNIQUE OF REDUCING YOU CAN MAKE JELLYROLL CANES...

<stampaholic> huh?

<sparkle> 2 SHEETS ONE ON TOP THE OTHER AND ROLLED UP.

<stampaholic> makes a spiral?

<sparkle> YEP.

<sparkle> MAKES A SPIRAL

<stampaholic> what do I do with all of these yucky ends I cut off?

<sparkle> SAVE THEM IN A BAGGIE

<stampaholic> for?

<sparkle> THEY'LL BECOME THE CENTERS YOU CAN COVER WITH THE GOOD STUFF TO MAKE ROUND OR OVAL BEADS.

<Raven> Mooshem and make stamped embellishments

<sparkle> OR...

<stampaholic> 'k.

<sparkle> SAVE 'EM AND WHEN I TEACH NATASHA BEADS

<sparkle> YOU'LL WANT 'EM THEN

<stampaholic> when's that?

<Raven> natasha beads???

<sparkle> NOT SCHEDULED YET <g>

<Raven> sounds exotic!

<stampaholic> sounds good

<sparkle> ITS A GREAT WAY TO USE WASTE CLAY

<sparkle> AND THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL

<Janet> i got a ton of waste clay

enchy likes exotic

<sparkle> SO SAVE ALL YOUR WASTE CLAY

sparkle DOESN'T EVEN TOSS THAT OUT <g>

evo has waste clay still from 1994 ... : )

<sparkle> AND I HAVE 6 GARBAGE BAGS TO TAKE DOWN TO THE DUMPSTER

<enchy> lol

<enchy> 6 garbage bags?

<sparkle> YEP.

<enchy> ewwwwwwwwww

<enchy> of clay?

<sparkle> WELL, ITS PAPER GARBAGE...

<sparkle> NOT SMELLY STUFF

<enchy> oh ok

<Janet> whew

<enchy> that's good

<sparkle> LOL

<enchy> i was worried

<enchy> it's hot where you live

<sparkle> I HAVE 2 SHOEBOXES FULL OF FAILED CLAY EXPERIMENTS

<enchy> well those are still good for other things though

<sparkle> YEP.

<sparkle> THATS WHY THEY'VE NOT BEEN TOSSED YET.

<sparkle> I DID LEARN PACKRATTING FROM A MASTER <g>

<enchy> <gas> - sparkle has not thrown failed experiments away?

evo eyes evo's elegant hat

<enchy> your mother would be so proud

<sparkle> lol..enchy, they're sorted by clay type and color in their baggies though <g>

<Janet> I have a bad feeling this whole deal is waste clay

<enchy> oh geeeze

<sparkle> let it chill janet

<sparkle> then see what it looks like in the middle

<Janet> but just think how cool it will be. pink and purple and silver and black lumpy swirls

<sparkle> ohhhh

<sparkle> that's gonna be a gorgeous natasha bead <g>

<stampaholic> sounds cool

<Janet> i just cut this. it looks a bit funky.

<sparkle> scan it for me Janet

<Janet> okay. just a sec

<Raven> Shoot.. I'm getting memory errors AGAIN... don't know what's up with this but I guess i gotta reboot... AGAIN... so g'nite for now...

<enchy> nite raven

<Raven> Thanks for the fun flowers and the big AHA!!!!, Sparkle!

<cak> Night Raven

<evo> Nite, Raven!

<stampaholic> this was fun "see" you next week

<Janet> anyone else want to see this mess?

<cak> I do, I do

<evo> what mess?

<cak> thanks Jant

<Janet> it got mooshed and melted.

<Janet> what we made in class tonight.

<Janet> I made a mess.

<Janet> I made scrap clay

<Janet> it's called janetcane.jpg

<evo> hang on... going to look at janet's mess

<sparkle> janet, I think that's very cool

<phil> Janet, if you make that into jewlery you can charge high prices for it.

<phil> It is very neat

<Janet> oh yeah, I can make it into jewelry. earrings and such

<evo> lol, Janet.. it's an abortion

<Janet> or I can slice it real thin and put it on ink pens

<phil> the problem with not finding the file is that mirc is not on my c drive

<Janet> lol

<evo> but, a neat abortion! :>

<Janet> you can almost hear it scream.<g>

<evo> lol, yep...

<evo> I think it's a salmon abortion, though...

<Janet> lol

<evo> pink and all...

<Janet> we can just call it cavier

<evo> ROFL!

<evo> yes...

<sparkle> you could cover a pen with slices

<sparkle> I think its very cool

<Janet> actually that could look cool. funky flowers on top of like black clay

<evo> well, it is, sparkle, but... still

<sparkle> yep

sparkle shushes evo

<evo> a salmon abortion lol

<Janet> LOL nice try but I can see this isn't what I was aiming for.

<Janet> but I think I could make equally funky flowers skipping all the steps and just cutting spaces for my triangles

<sparkle> LOL..it may not be what you were aiming for, but its cool

<cak> Yeah, but no one else knows that Janet

evo knows that, cak

<Janet> I think my main problem here was that I was using too soft sculpey in a too hot house

<cak> (you wouldn't *tell*, would you?)

<evo> lol

<sparkle> probably Jaent.

<Janet> that and shannon's encouragement got my hands all hot

<sparkle> a clay that held up better to working would hold its shape better

<cak> would frequent refridgerator breaks help?

<sparkle> yep, it would help

<Janet> oh and you know? I bet I could have controlled things better if I'd put the triangles in right away instead of putting all five petals on then making triangles

<sparkle> oh, alternating 'em so you didn't have so many pieces to hold at once.

<sparkle> that'd work

<Janet> yeah

<Janet> but now I think I'll freeze this and then make pens and earrings and stuff out of it

<sparkle> and send me a hunk

<Janet> okay

<evo> or caviar...

<sparkle> lol

<Janet> lol

<evo> I gotta go... morning comes early tomorrow morning and leaving for SC

<cak> Night evo

<Janet> you have a good time, girl. Want me to send you the URL in mail, eh?

<Janet> this was fun, Sparkle. Now I want to try it again.

<Janet> hey. I think I'll make black centers with pink outsides and then black background again

<Janet> that would be cool.

<sparkle> that would be

<Janet> besides, I got all those colors already out and open

<sparkle> lol

<Janet> I got a question, though.

<sparkle> Yes?

<Janet> Like if I wanted to do this with paper clay, or another kind of clay? it would work wouldn't it?

<sparkle> probably not.

<sparkle> the plastic in the polymer is what makes it workable

<Janet> think it would moosh into each other too much?

<sparkle> it'd probably distort into moosh Janet

<Janet> (like this didn't??)

<sparkle> loll..more moosh

<sparkle> Janet, thank you for working along and asking questions...it helps a lot

<Janet> It really does help when someone is REALLY going along. Otherwise you're not sure of the timing.

<sparkle> and I'm not sure what needs more clarification...

<sparkle> 'cause its all clear in my head <g>

<phil> That is always the problem with teaching a class

<Janet> Well and I figure every goofy question I ask, there's gotta be at least someone else with the same one and not wanting to look stupid by asking it.

<Janet> I have no problem with looking stupid.<g>

<sparkle> LOL

<sparkle> Having pictures will help.

<Janet> So now I'm going to go play with my clay.

<sparkle> LOL...

<sparkle> is it cool yet?

<phil> Pictures always seem to help

<Janet> You can put mine up with a "kids, don't do this"

<sparkle> LOL...I like yours

<sparkle> So, Janet, class supplies.

<sparkle> clay, brayer/pasta maker/rolling pin, sharp blade for cutting

<sparkle> anything else?

<Janet> Three (or more) colors of clay.

sparkle is making a post.

<cak> work surface?

<Janet> and I didn't use a rolling pin either, just my fingers

<Janet> (this probably accounts for a bit of the funkiness)

<cak> (or wax paper for work surface?)

<sparkle> I just work on a piece of newsprint

<Janet> i used a piece of box on my lap

<sparkle> LOL."Lapdesk"

<cak> sounds good to me

<Janet> charlotte, next time you gotta make it too

<Janet> Phil, you too. Or get Marlene in here, she'd like this.

<MomCat> Night, all. Take care.

<sparkle> YEp...'cause you'll need a cane to make beads or cover a tin with

<Janet> take care, Diane.

<cak> if I'm home (and I can find the machete to get *to* the clay)

<sparkle> LOL

<sparkle> charlotte, just order some <g>

<Janet> Gee, Charlotte, only one answer to that... BUY MORE

<sparkle> LOL

<cak> lol--good answer!

<phil> what should the cost of a package of clay be?

<cak> (man, just what I need--another reactivated addiction)

<sparkle> I've seen it as high at $3.00 a block Phil...which is way high.

<Janet> I think I"m going to go try this clay thing again. This time putting pieces as I do them into the freezer in between steps.

<Janet> Yama!

<yamamama> hi janet

<Janet> Yama, you missed the clay lesson.

<Janet> I made a big pile of scrap clay.

<cak> thanks sparkle. I'll try to be better prepared next time.

<cak> (good class)

yamamama is off to rest,,,,,,, see you all tomorrow

sparkle flies by the seat of her pants well though, dontcha think?

<cak> Yep!

Session Close Tue Sep 19 23:48:58 2000