Sunday, September 9, 2012

More Cobalty Blue Goodness... And Showing Out



These were made with the last of my good batch of Pardo.  I am now desperate for more.  As I am finding out, getting more is not an easy thing.  It's like looking for a golden Easter egg, or that proverbial needle in the haystack.

I received part of the shipment of Pardo yesterday from Amazon.com.  Amazon.com?   Yes, it was the only place I could find Pardo Professional Art Clay in 2.1 oz. bricks.  I bought 6 bricks.   They weren't supposed to arrive until next week, so I was so excited when I opened the package and saw them.   Excitement quickly turned to frustration, and my famous temper surfaced.   I ranted, I raved.   My Momma calls it "showing out."   Well, I showed out, big time.   Why?   After having worked with nice, pliable, lovely, flexible Pardo, every brick of this stuff was so hard, it crumbled to dust when I tried to roll it through the pasta machine.   A scientist can't work her experiments without the main ingredient with which to work!   

I didn't want to add another brand of liquid polymer clay to soften the Pardo, which would defeat the purpose of my pure Pardo experiments; but that may be the only recourse.  I tried softening it by putting a brick in a sealed plastic bag and leaving it in a bowl under the spigot of hot water for 10 minutes.  Nothing.  I tried using a hair dryer on it, and even holding the heat back 2' resulted in the clay yellowing and looking like melted, HARD candle wax.   I tried holding it in my hand for a long time.  I tried wrapping it in a towel and setting the iron on it (iron set on low.)  None of these worked.   

I went to Viva Decor's website.  It was no help.  Lots of pretty pictures, but nothing to help.  I emailed Viva, but haven't heard back yet.  I don't know how to speak or write in German, so I am hoping they have someone there who can read my pitifully plaintive English email.  I googled how to make Pardo soft again.  No help.  While I was looking for a cure, I began to wonder why the translucent bricks aren't being offered anywhere.   Have they been discontinued?   I did find 3 bricks on the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby last week.  Is that significant?  Does that mean Hobby Lobby isn't going to carry Pardo any longer?   All the Pardo was on the clearance aisle, come to think of, even the colored balls.   

It is the stuff of nightmares, I tell you.  Now that I have discovered Pardo's translucent qualities, I don't want to give it up.  I hope someone somewhere out there has an answer.   In the mean time, I guess I'll have to add some liquid Kato and see what happens.   The mad scientist in me is still showing out, only inwardly.  

Hmmm, wonder if any of the ladies who helped develop Pardo can help out a sister in need.  Surely they can spare a few bricks... I bet they got a lifetime supply of free Pardo... 


22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Try these folks:

www.polyclayplay.com/Cart/categories/Polymer-Clay/Pardo-Professional-Art-Clay/

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Out of stock and currently unavailable. That was the first site I checked, as mentioned in the post. :)

John(SC) said...

Hey Lynda,
You too, huh. I have some that is crumbly, but not as bad as yours. I put Sculpey clay softner on it, rubbed it in, then left it for a while wrapped in plastic. I had to do this three times before I got the clay to hold together enough to put through the machine with out completely breaking apart. I rolled it with the acrylic roller first. It took some work, but I finally got it to stay together and become workable.
Now a question for you. I finally got a nice cobalt color, but after I baked it, there was white stuff in the crevices. I think it was wax, because when I put a heat gun on it, most of it went away. I baked it at 275 for one hour, then reread your post. Tried again,same item, at 325 for 30 min, but there was still some left until heat gun. I sanded it under water 360,600,800,1000,1200,2000, but color still looks dull after polishing. Very shiney, but dull color. Have you had any of the white residue?
John(SC)

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

John, I would love to see a photo of what you're talking about with the white stuff, but I don't think I've gotten that... not sure what would still be white after baking, unless it is the liquid clay residue?

For the dull color, I would start over again with the lowest grit and work your way up, and if you have any 2500, 3000 and 3500, I would use them, too. I spent the most time with the 400 grit and 3000 grits.

I will try your suggestion for the crumblies, too, although I am really tempted to chuck them all.

Thanks!

Lupe Meter said...

So sorry for your frustrations, Lynda. I hope that you can find some good quality Pardo so you can continue with your experiments. I am really loving those cobalt blue beads...yum!

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Thank you, Lupe!

John, I just saw in your post that you baked at 275. I didn't see the real glasslike clarity until I hit 300. You might try rebaking at 300 for 30 minutes and then sanding, see how you like the effect.

Ginger Davis Allman said...

Your day echoed mine. I checked the same outlets, got the same result. Emma Ralph in the UK carries Pardo but she's out of trans, too. My only brick of trans came from Hobby Lobby...on clearance. Have heard others echo the same thing. Sad face.

As for the crumbly stuff, that's the state all my old Kato is in and I do what John suggested. I use a food chopper to get it all crumbly and then add clay softener and let it sit overnight to let it all sink in. So disappointing, especially when you paid so much for it. Ugh.

John, when I baked the pardo that I have, it did have beads of something on the surface after baking, I am assuming wax. My piece was flat so it came off with sanding but I can see where you might need to attack it with a brush and perhaps soap to get it all out. On the other hand, the white from Lynda's baking soda bead looked really effective, so maybe that works for you too?

So you're not alone, Lynda. The stuff seems to be just plain gone. Maybe people will start selling their stash...you might want to start an ebay search so they'll email you if any gets listed. I already checked...there's none there currently. And the jars of jewelry clay balls are outrageous. Maybe they know something we don't? That would be sad news indeed.

Now you're a scientist working with rare materials!

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Ginger, I'm beginning to think Pardo Translucent in the brick format is being discontinued. I've sent another email to Viva Decor, I'll let you know what I find out. I asked straight out if it was, though.

Claire Maunsell said...

Linda, if it helps, the polyclayplay stock seems to come and go. She was out of stock a little while ago and then it came back in and I ordered a bunch - it's nice and pliable, too!
I think they are tweaking the formula, and I believe they did this before about 2 years ago - think they are trying to enhance the translucence after baking. In Canada, too,, they have had some deals screw up with their wholesalers, so then the supply chain gets interrupted. I believe this about the formula because the older blocks of Pardo act a little differently.
Of course I could be comletely wrong. When I enquired for a wholesaler in Canada from Viva decor, I got a rely from Christine telling me they almost had a deal in place to sell the clay in Canada, but until that happened, I was welcome to order directly from Viva Decor in Germany. But if they don't have it.....well...hopeless!

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Thanks, Claire. I sure hope it is a matter of demand being more than supply. If you hear anything else from your Canadian supplier, would you post it here, or email me?

Thanks again,
Lynda

John, DON'T bake a blend of Pardo and Premo at 300 degrees. I just tried it and it burned, badly. I guess we wait until we can get pure Pardo again.

John(SC) said...

Thanks Lynda and Ginger,
I did rebake at 325/30 min, but not much changed. It might have if I had baked 1hr, but was afraid of burning. Seems like the longer I baked, the darker it got, but still blue, didn't burn.The white was only in the fine lines of the design I did with a needle tool, etc. I'm sure it was wax. Most cleared with heat gun. I resanded and rubbed some blue acrylic in the lines,heatset then buffed. Looked fine.
Lynda, I use clay softener, not liquid clay.Viva will replace your clay, they did for me.I think it might be discontinued. Don't throw away those Pardo crumbs. They make great inclusions. Put in coffee grinder, pour out and mix with alcohol ink,any color. While grinding,pulse the grinder to get different size pieces, unless you want dust.
John(SC)

John(SC) said...

Lynda, I didn't see your post about Pardo /Premo until I had already mixed it. I wanted to get a lighter color. I took a chance and baked it 1hr/300 and it didn't burn. I have an oven thermo too.I only put a small amount of Premo. About 1/3 ratio. I mixed it into the previous batch that I had white stuff problems with. This time, no white stuff. It was the 275 temp that caused that.Bead sanded and polished up beautifully.Still very dark, but beautiful. Like midnight blue.What ratio did you usewith the P/P. I might try a 1/1 to see if I can stretch what little Pardo I have.

Just wanted to say Hi to Claire. Your style work is similar to what I strive for.Rustic,earthy,ethnic,etc.Love it.
John(SC)

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Good to know, John, thanks! I think the ratio was about half and half, so there was probably too much Premo in the mix. Aren't these experiments fun? :)

And there are more than one of us in the Claire Maunsell fan club! She rocks!

Laurel said...

Wow - how very frustrating. Have you tried to contact Lisa Pavelka? Any word?

Christine said...

Your work is beautiful! I love the colours and the shine is brilliant.
I read you frustrations with the availability with Pardo Translucent.
I done a quick search and came up with this link I hope it will be of some help to you.

http://viva-decor.us/

I noticed that they are based in Philadelphia. Good luck any way!

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Thanks, everyone. Going to email the US site and see what they have to say.

Polyanya said...

Lynda - what about trying to get some from the UK? Might cost a bit in more in postage but at least you'll get all the colours! Penny at Clayaround has some, cos I just bought a load from her!

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Thanks, Polyana. I will check out her site!

ChasinRainbows2 said...

Is it possible the batch you got is partially cured? I got some (not Pardo) and it came partially cured, could not be conditioned at all. I just found your blog and am enjoying your experiments. Smiles

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Thank you, ChasinRainbows. Welcome!

DawnGaye said...

I heard from Trish @ polyclay play about a month ago. She said "Unfortunately, it may be a month or so before I get the translucent back in stock. There has been a turnover in the company I order from that has caused the delay. It will have to ship from Germany which takes much longer than I would like." She told me to check again in late October. Hope this info helps!

Carrie Evert said...

I love love love Pardo...any of it..translucent, art clay, professional and the mica metallic clays. But you have to know how to condition it. Here's what I've learned. You cut very thin slices, warm it a bit in your hand, then go thru the thinnest setting on your pasta machine. I know this is going to sound funny, but I warm up all my slices in my bra. In a plastic bag, of course. At Polyplayclay.com, they have a video of a wonderful tutor in the U.S. named KalyanaDesignTutorials.com and she is an expert on Pardo! Her name is Day. Her video is called how to condition Pardo (polymer) clay. It's true, it's got beeswax in the formula. But I think that's what makes this clay great for making flowers, jewelry and canes. Good Luck, all!!