Today In My Garden – July 26
I’m enjoying my weekly forays into the garden. It sharpens my photography skills. It also simply gets me out there, something I am pretty loathe to do at the peak of summer!
Maureen
Maureen Thomas Designs
Polymer Clay and Other Art-Related Things
Maureen
Maureen Thomas Designs
I posted a collage of my new ONION SLICE pendants which includes the onion slice that inspired me to create them. I tried to come up with all sorts of clever names for the series, but they all seemed to be copyrighted business names so I left them alone….ONION SLICE pendants it is until I have a better brainstorm.
I just posted a few on Etsy. Love that I can put some of my vast vintage button collection to work so I think I’ll be making more.
I am learning more and more to keep my eyes open for interesting shapes, patterns, and colors to use in my work. Mother Nature usually provides me with inspiration, but you never know what you’ll find….
The Sacramento summer heat has arrived, making the garden look a bit tired. So, some closeup and macro views to focus on the things that still have some life left in them.
Today is an overcast, drizzly day…perfect for garden photography. We are in a “Mediterranean” climate and are fortunate to be able to grow many Mediterranean plants as well as plants from Australia and New Zealand. There are many beautiful natives to the Sierra Nevadas as well. As in gardens everywhere, there is always something blooming in the springtime…
I likely wouldn’t have made these pendants had it not been for the challenge (and the deadline). Lesson learned: if feeling creatively stuck, bored, or stifled try challenging yourself or your guild. The challenge can be very specific or as broad as a shape or color. Hopefully, you’ll strain your brain a bit and explore a technique you’ve been meaning to try or perhaps you’ll come up with something totally new!
Thanks, Clayville!!!
It’s supposed to be a lovely Mother’s Day weekend in the Sacramento area. If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend (May 8-9, 2010), check out the El Dorado Hills Art & Wine Affaire at the El Dorado Hills Town Center. A chance to check out the creations of 200 local artists, listen to some live music, and taste wine from 20+ El Dorado County wineries!
I’ll be at booth 81 so stop by and say hello!
This week I’m in production mode for the Foothill Quilters Guild show. Mary Fassler and I have a vendor booth and I’m determined to beef up my polymer button inventory. I’ve been wanting to get some buttons made for a long time and this is the kick in the pants I’ve been needing. Hope you’ll stop by to say HI if you’re in Auburn this weekend!
Every project seems to have at least one technical problem to work out and this one was no exception. I wanted the polymer flowers to look casually piled up in the basket, which required them to be attached to one another at barely-touching points with tiny dabs of epoxy…a definite test of patience as they flexed and slid around!
I’m happy with my Flower Basket, but I was blown away by a number of the other entries of which I caught a glimpse today. Can’t wait for the show to open and my fingers are crossed that all the submissions bring high auction bids. The arts are taking a beating these days and PlacerArts needs all the support we can give.
OUTSIDE THE BOX show: April 8-May 22, 2010
OUTSIDE THE BOX live auction: May 22, 2010
PlacerArts – Auburn, CA

I wanted to tone down the wood of my “Outside the Box” box. The finished piece may be prone to scratching so I didn’t want to fuss with paint. I found a great solution on an internet site called Extreme Restoration about the restoration of old clocks. Here’s an earth-friendly recipe suggested for “aging” new wood:
Start with clean wood and try not to handle the wood with other than clean hands throughout the staining process. I ended up with a few visible fingerprints on my piece; however, they are in an area that ultimately won’t be visible so not earth-shattering. A test piece would be a great idea to help you know how many vinegar layers to lay down to get the effect you want.
Pull apart some 0000 steel wool, place the pieces in a lidded glass jar, and add enough white vinegar to cover, plus an inch or so. Set aside to react for 24-48 hours. I expected the vinegar to change to a rusty color, but it didn’t.
Brew some strong tea to get as dark a brew as possible and allow to cool. Paint the wood with the tea (I used a sponge brush) and allow to dry. My plywood/MDF didn’t change color much from the tea, but the point is to get a layer of tannic acid on the surface of the wood.
Once dry, paint the wood with the vinegar solution. Try not to handle the wood while wet as fingerprints may be left. Now, wait for the magic to happen! Overlapping the vinegar can result in darker areas so refer to your test piece. If the result is darker than you’d like you can try sanding lightly.
My project turned a beautiful blue/gray/green. Different woods will obviously react differently. I’m very pleased with my “aged” wood and I will definitely keep this technique in my bag of tricks!