Monday, September 10, 2012

My Pardo Fix - Update

I have such wonderful friends!   One of you lovely folks very kindly offered to send me some Pardo to tide me over until I can find a stash.   Thank you so much, and thank you to everyone who has offered suggestions about where to find more.   

At the urging of Beth Wheeling, a new Facebook friend, I contacted Trish at PolyPlayClay in Lubbock, Texas.  She emailed me right back and said she would save me some bricks of the Professional Art Clay when she gets her next shipment.  If any of you want some, you might want to give her a shout.   You can contact her from her website.   

Trish also relayed that a reliable source has suggested you can bring the clay back to softness by adding Sculpey Clay Softener and/or Sculpey Mold Make, but that the Mold Maker would affect the level of translucency.  She also said it has been suggested to her that when you want to soften already baked clay slightly, to reheat it, but that it will never get back to the soft, pliable state.   Sigh.   I guess I am going to have to be patient and wait, so the Pardo experiments are on hold for now.  That's the bad news.  The good news is I met several new friends as a result of the search for Pardo!  

Thanks again, everyone.   

I said I would post a few pieces I created with the scraps of the cobalt and amethyst experiments, which I marbled with some Premo scraps.   These were all cured at 275 degrees F as recommended for Premo.   No heroics with these.  





Next up for me is my 2012 Holiday collection, and then I promise to finish at least two new tutorials.  I decided this year the theme for the collection will be "Winter Wonderland" and will feature lots of Winter White, crystal, antique brass findings, and Vintage Victorian Angels.   Here is a sneak peak:




13 comments:

Ele said...

Your 'marbled premo scrap' earrings are absolutely beautiful! They instantly make me think of holidays to Cornwall with my family! x

John(SC) said...

Those are great Lynda. The Sculpey Clay Softner was what I used on my Pardo also.. But remember, a little goes a very looooooooong way. Glad you found some Pardo. Also, I tried the half/half Premo/Pardo at 350/1hr, didn't burn.Didn't get much darker like the 3/1 ratio did. However,I was using red this time.What kind of ink did you use on the four-sided bead?
John(SC)

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Thank you, Ele!

Thanks, John. I used the inks from the faux jade tutorial for the Burma (medium green) shade. Unbelievable, right? The color shift was tremendous. :)

Courtney Breul said...

Your earrings are stunning! The top pair takes my breath away.

Diva Designs Jewelry said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Thank you so much< Courtney!

CraftyHope said...

Wow! Those earrings are absolutely gorgeous! Simply beautiful.

Polyanya said...

Oh my your pardo and premo scrap earrings are to die for! Can I be cheeky and ask if you put any acrylic on top? I love them. Tutorial please, please, please!

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Thank you, Hope and Polyana!

Poly, there is no acrylic, resin, glaze or any other sealer on these. I sand my pieces with 8 grits of wet-dry sandpaper, then buff them with a Dremel outfitted with a 2" stack of 300 count, 100% cotton discs. :)

Polyanya said...

Sorry Lynda I meant as a colour - white or cream acrylic paint rubbed into crevices, wiped off and rebaked? The pieces have a lovely whitewashed quality about them, which is why I wondered :)

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

So sorry! :) I added an eggshell colored acrylic paint before baking to highlight the "distress marks."

Thanks, Poly!

Polyanya said...

Thanks Lynda - I've never applied paint before baking, just after. Presumably the excess is sanded off?
I think these earrings are my current favourites - but then I think that everytime you post a new pic :))

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Thank you so much! Yes, all the excess paint is sanded off after baking. It's not the way most people do it, but it works for me. :)