Polymer Clay on Sale

If you've always wanted to try Polymer clay, now is the time. It's on sale at Michaels Crafts. Premo, sculpey and I believe, fimo are all on sale for $1.00 a package. Premo normally runs around $2.59 or more, so this is the time to stock up. I used to go to a wholesaler and buy $200.00 worth at a time, but in the last few years Michaels has been running these incredible sales. Sometimes the clay is $.99, sometimes, $.89. I personally will load up on as much as I can afford right now.

In 1982, I was at a craft show and saw someone who made things from white polymer clay. I was very interested in it and she was wonderful to tell me the name of it. I then did some research, got a sales tax number and sent away for a big box of clay. I think I got 8 each of 12 colors. I don't think I moved away from the table for days (just enough to take care of the family) . Later on, in 1987, I opened a small shop and sold crafts and packages of clay. My customers used to wait for the UPS man to deliver it. Then they would wipe out the order in minutes. The availability of polymer clay sure has come a long way since then.

While you are buying some for yourself, I suggest getting some for the kids in your family. They can make Halloween and Christmas ornaments, their own designer beads, clay tiles to use in mosaics, book markers, jewelry and more. They can even make game pieces (every house in America probably has a game with pieces missing). (You would think that I'm a spokeswoman for the clay industry....I'm not, I just love it so much!)

Happy Claying!

Incentive

I don't know if I'm crazy or bored or jealous, but I just printed out ebay feedback for two polymer clay artists. I added up the amount of sales they had to inspire myself. One girl's sales figure was $2600 for the month of July (and it's not even over yet.) The other's was around $700 for one account and $1600 for another. This is pretty inspiring to me and I think to myself, if they can do it, so can I.

Sometimes I think I waste time looking at other people's work, and that I should just be focusing on my own art. But I can't help it. I want to know what other artists are creating and what the public is buying. I wonder, if you are an artist, are you checking up on your competition?

It's not about copying. I wouldn't do that, at least not intentionally. I have so many of my own ideas, I don't need to copy. But, I wonder if my ideas are any good. I try to keep up with trends, as I think most people do.

It's funny because I really admire a fellow class mate's talent. Her name is Jill and she makes graphics and sells buttons. (Here's her blog...http://jnhkgraphicdesign.blogspot.com/).
I was telling my friend, Mary Ann, about Jill's work and how her designs are so "today". Jill really seems to have a style that is unique, yet current. My style is very whimsical and silly and I wonder if it is old and out of fashion. Mary Ann told me to stay true to myself (in the midst of my re-inventing). Later on, after Jill visited my website, she mentioned to me how cute my clay is. She showed my site to her co-workers and they loved my pigs and monkeys. Sometimes when we doubt ourselves, it's nice to be complemented by our peers.

What's new?

I've been listening to motivational tapes and time management tapes daily as I create my clay babies. I decided to "kick it up" a notch and add more details and whimsy to my designs.

Right now I'm working on an art doll witch along with little minis and lots of Halloween.

I'm still working on making a decent video tutorial. I do have a tripod as someone suggested so I think I'll try again Sunday.

Thanks for visiting!

New Topper

I recently made this polymer clay wedding cake topper. It is a bride and groom sitting in a bathtub toasting with champagne. This was fun to make; however, I had to order a complete bathroom set in order to get the tub, so now I have a toilet and a sink. Maybe I can sell them on Ebay.

I finally got my video camera and am in the process of trying to learn how to video tape myself making clay, so that I can do tutorials. It's a trial and error process and I'm not doing too well. In the meantime, I've been making lots of clay figurines and toppers, so I need to figure it out because I could be video taping all this work I've been doing.

One final thought, I sold this crazy looking witch on ebay. My buyer is from
Australia. It's very exciting to ship my clay babies around the world.
I just sent a topper to Denmark! Hooray for the internet.