February 2012 – Central Oklahoma Polymer Clay Guild

COPCG February 11, 2012 Meeting

by Cheryl
February 26, 2012

**Welcome/Show & Tell**
Shirley welcomed us and opened the meeting with show and tell.
Penni Jo brought items of “Lessons Learned”. She brought dream catcher items using the wood grain that LeeAnn taught at the last meeting.
She was trying out Pardo brown and transferring an image. She tried pearl and translucent clay. The image had a tendency to disappear using the Pardo translucent. She also learned you should preheat your oven and use a tile to bake. She gave us all a copy of the interior of the dream catcher transfer. It’s nice to know that the learning process continues even after years of working with polymer!
Angel brought two pendants that she had experimented with using alcohol inks, thick embossing powder, and liquid polymer.
Very pretty!
Tom brought a neat little jar with a lid of hearts and roses. Little conversation heart candies peeked out of the heart cut outs on the sides. Tom lined the cut outs with Angelina film.
Lessons learned seemed to be a theme of show and tell this month, as Tom had tried super glue to attach the film on one side. He discovered that the glue clouds the film. However, the lesson did not detract from the sweet container.
Shirley showed several items and their progression for the lesson that she will be teaching this month, Mokume Gane with a Twist. They are very attractive pieces that she sanded with increasing grits and then buffed. She learned that sweat shirt material will do a nice job of buffing a piece.
**Makume Gane with a Twist**
Shirley started her lesson by giving each of us a bag of items to use for texturing and other effects. Fun stuff!! She taught the makume gane technique, including an easy way to slice the clay evenly.
Awesome little tricks. The results were many terrific creations with wonderful colors and textures.

**Valentine Themed Swap**
Our bimonthly swap had a Valentine theme this time. LeeAnn got Jane’s polymer covered ink pen; Jane got Alex’s little bottle filled with hearts; and Alex got LeeAnn’s heart pendant.
**Next Meeting**
The next meeting will be Saturday, March 10, 2012 from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the Hobby Lobby in Moore.
If you’d like to see more photos of our group meetings, check out our [Mokume Gane album](http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.360935700603938.86485.258680690829440&type=3) on Facebook!

February 2012 Meeting: Mokume Gane with a Twist

by Shirley
February 8, 2012

This month we will be exploring a really fun new twist on an old technique. Some of you have been experimenting with it already. It’s a lot of fun, but there are several preliminary steps, so you’ll be better off bringing your clay already conditioned and rolled to the right thickness, if possible.
**Shirley Conaway** will be teaching this fun **Mokume Gane with a Twist** pattern.
Our meeting will be held **Saturday, February 11th, 2012, from 1:30-4:30**, at the Hobby Lobby on I-35 and South 19th in Moore (2650 Service Road, Moore, OK 73160).
**Supplies you will need to bring:**
**Clay**:
– 4 half-blocks (1 oz. each) of four contrasting colors, 2 lighter and 2 darker, rolled to strips about 2″ x 4″ on thickest setting of pasta machine
– ½ block of a color to use as a base (will show through holes).
– ½ block of a backing color – rolled on thickest setting
– Scrap clay equal to about 2 blocks worth
**Tools and Equipment**:
– Pasta machine
– Brayer or clay roller
– Clay blade, very sharp for horizontal slicing
– Needle tool
– Shaped clay cutters, various sizes, if you have them
– Tile for baking
– Work surface that clay will stick to and not move if pressed down. Your baking tile may work. Glass and acrylic work well.)
– Spray bottle for spritzing
– 4 new 3×3″ square sticky note pads (optional, but they make horizontal slicing easier)
– Waxed paper, paper towels, alcohol wipes
**Optional**:
– Household implements to make shaped punctures in clay: I will bring some to share and some for you to take home, but if you have small items you think make interesting holes or impressions in clay, bring them. Examples are tubes or clay cutters that make various size holes; cake-decorating tips; embroidery thread spools; crochet needle; hardware items; seashells that make spiral cuts or wavy lines.