Al-Andalus Creations's Blog

Something new from some things old

alandaluscreations — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 06:41:42 +0000

I’ve been having fun trying out a new technique which uses up old canes and left overs. The results are quite striking and look a bit like stained glass. Thanks to Alice Stroppel for the idea.

Large pendant and earrings

Small pendant and two pairs of earrings

A different twist

alandaluscreations — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 06:29:07 +0000

Back to the extrusions again. But this necklace was made a bit differently. Four colours were mixed in the same proportion. Once the coils had been ‘baked’, the beads were sanded down heavily to reveal the detail underneath. I like the way the colours merge together in a subtle way. It was almost worth the loss of a finger tip or two. Apparantly they grow back. Eventually.

Sanded and extruded necklace

Old, dry and crumbly but still good.

alandaluscreations — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 06:31:52 +0000

Here’s an idea to use up those old bits of dry and crumbly clay that you may have hanging around. Don’t bin it. Stick it in an extruder with fresh clay and then push it out. It takes a bit of effort but the results are worth it. The dry clay pushes through the fresh to create interesting textures and effects. This necklace was made with a dry cream clay that has forced itself through the fresh blue.

Extruded dry into fresh

Last of the summer

alandaluscreations — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:38:08 +0000

The wind is battering the window frames and telling me that summer is definitely over. Not that we’ve had much of a summer in London this year. Again. It’s time to start thinking of warm autumnal colours. And maybe hibernation. Here’s a batch of colourful earrings that I made while the sun was shining.

summer earrings

mokume gane pendant

More canework

alandaluscreations — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 06:46:15 +0000

I’ve been finding different ways to use up the canes I made recently. I had a first attempt at making a bangle and I’m quite pleased with the way it turned out. But the amount of sanding needed to get a nice finish is a disincentive to making many more I fear.

kaleidoscope cane bangle

A more traditional style of necklace for a change . And another way of using up this particular cane.

The joy of caning

alandaluscreations — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:39:55 +0000

I’ve re-discovered the pleasures of canework – the construction of polymer clay canes that is. I’ve spent so much time playing around with ’new ’ ideas and techniques that its good to get back to the simple kaleidoscope cane. It’s simple to make but difficult to predict how it will turn out. After it’s been made and chilled in the fridge for an hour, it’s always intriguing to make the first slice into the cane to see exactly what it looks like. And it’s very versatile because the cane slices can be arranged in different patterns.

one cane, three patterns

kaleidoscope cane

Different is good

alandaluscreations — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 06:48:01 +0000

I’ve been trying out some techniques that Julie Picarello uses when she makes her mokume gane pendants. I thought this technique was all about random but she shows how you can plan different effects. Well sort of, in my case. She’s got some interesting ideas on colour mixing as well. It’s given me the chance to try some colour palettes that I wouldn’t normally use.

Red and black

alandaluscreations — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 07:01:21 +0000

I’ve always liked the combination of red and black. Two strong colours that react against each other. Black is the colour of authority (think priests), submission and also the colour of villains. Red is the colour of revolution and love . In these two pieces I’ve separated black and red with a thin layer of white acrylic paint. Authority and revolution separated only by a smidgin of purity and innocence. So much for psychology.

red n black necklace

red n black discs

Pushing it out there

alandaluscreations — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 06:02:59 +0000

I’m still messing around with the extruder. The force required to push the clay through the tube creates different blends and potential patterns. This necklace ended up resembling geological strata after a lot of sanding. Including some of my finger tip. I like muted tones and the subtlety of the ‘veins’ of colour that run through it.

Geological necklace

Extrusion in green

More extrusions

alandaluscreations — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:11:07 +0000

Using an extruder is always interesting. The way it blends colour , particularly if you extrude the same batch twice, is never predictable. This necklace turned out quite a different base colour than I expected. But I like the kind of rustic, almost terracotta feel to it.

'terracotta' necklace and earrings

domed extruded pendant