inspirational arts and crafts people

Air-Dry-Clays Anyone?

Hi again everyone and Diane!

Do any of you work with air dry clay? Either the kind from the store or homemade? I love using it. Each kind has different qualities and result in different textures. Some are more sturdy and others are fragile. I found out it all depends on how you make it and of course the ingredients.

I've listed 2 websites that a lady I communicate with has. She is an artist, teacher plus more. She works in cold porcelain paste clay and her work is gorgeous. If you go to the yahoo air dry clay group site, you will find pictures of her beautiful flowers and many other artists. i believe you will like the group. The lady's name is Sangeeta Shah. You can tell her I sent you. There are also clay recipes listed in the files. Let me know what you think.

http://www.creativehands.bravehost.com
http://www.geocities.com/creativehands2002

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Air-Dry-Clay/

Mary

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Diane Stafford on March 26, 2008 at 1:43pm: Hi Mary, Sangeeta is also a member here, was that your doing :>) if so many thanks. Now, can we can coax her to add some of her great information here to share with other members too. Her work is beautiful :>)
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Permalink Reply by Diane Stafford on March 26, 2008 at 2:24pm: Hi Mary, as requested, i have opened the Air Dry Clay Group so that members who specialize and are interested in air dry clays, can learn more, please do add to the group. thanks for your support, appreciated. regards Di; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by mary on March 26, 2008 at 6:33pm: Thanks, Diane for starting the air-dry-clay group.

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Permalink Reply by mary on March 26, 2008 at 6:52pm: Hi again Diane, I did write to Sangeeta to tell her about your website. I'm so glad she joined. Isn't her artwork beautiful? Did you see her photos on the ADC yahoo group? She is so excellent, I wish I could attend her classes. I know we anyone interested in cold porcelain clay will benefit greatly from her expertise.

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Permalink Reply by Sangeeta Shah on March 26, 2008 at 11:17pm: Hi Mary,
Thank you for introducing me to this group. I am just seeing how it works. I really don't know how to go around and what we all do here but I guess I'll learn. Did you start the roses according the instructions I sent? Take some pictures and send them to me & I can tell help you if you need any help. I am teaching a class of roses where the ladies are working a hogarth curve rose spray right now.
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Permalink Reply by mary on March 27, 2008 at 2:05am: Hi Sangeeta,

I'm still using the clay that I made from the recipe you have on the ADC group. I think I have to talk to you about the instructions. Some of them I don't understand and the supplies. I am more a visual learner than being able to follow written directions. As soon as I get a camera, I will send pics. I want to see if Peter will join this group. I'm still learning how to go about this site. Diane will explain anything to you, how the site works. I like it and I think it wil become a big site for artists. I wish I was in your rose class.

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Permalink Reply by mary on March 27, 2008 at 9:06pm: Hi Mary56!!! I'm glad you joined our group! Isn't cold porcelain so easy to work with? One batch I made, I think I cooked way too long and it was almost like a glob of rubber. It was nasty. It's kind of hard for me to judge how long to cook it. I like the properties of this clay. All I've made so far is roses and I have no camera yet to show them. I'd like to see your cocker spaniel. There is much to learn.

"Mary in Paris"; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by mary on March 27, 2008 at 9:39pm: Hi Mary36, (is it mary 56 or 36?)

Let's suggest your idea to Diane when she gets back. You are correct, there are many, many types of air dry clays. I think a cold porcelain group would be great. I've heard paper pulp can be added to air dry clay, like what we use, but I've not seen it. Supposedly there is an air dry polymer clay. I really like cold porcelain. Have you seen Sangeeta's photos here? Aren't they gorgeous! Such talent. Will you post photos of your art?

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Permalink Reply by Diane Stafford on March 30, 2008 at 1:46am: Hi Mary & Mary56, I have added a cold porcelain group now, great suggestion both :>) Di; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sangeeta Shah on March 27, 2008 at 9:43pm: Hi Mary,
Welcome aboard. Nice to have you. You are right, this group should be re-named as cold porcelain for more focus. I am glad you all tried the clay and is working well for you. My students were so happy with their rose creations as we went through the different stages.
I would love to see your creations in cp Mary56.

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Permalink Reply by Ron Gutman on May 12, 2008 at 1:32am: Hi Mary,
I have been playing with the soft air dry clays making flowers. Love working with it after so many years using only ceramic clay. I have been using DecoArt clay from Hawaii. Delight clay is about the same. Also would like to try Luna and Pando and the Thai clay.Bought some cold porcelain by Amaco...works similar (but shrinks more) but the soft velvety surface of the deco clay is so realistic for florals. I posted my first attempts on the Photo page. Thanks for the tip on the Yahoo group...I will check that out.
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Permalink Reply by mary on May 13, 2008 at 1:32am: Hi Ron,
I'm glad you are trying cold porcelain clay. Sangeeta has great recipes for the clay. Diane posted some recipes on this site and also her results. Isn't this a great site? You will also find recipes on the Yahoo ADC Group. I'll look at your photos. I have used only homemade cold porcelain and I love it!!! What do you finish your projects with?
Mary; ▶ Reply to This