Patina and some... design ideas

I sooo like to play with patina. I wish they would sell in small quantities so I could try all of them. But for now just three (verdigris, russet red and peacock blue). mix metal: copper, bronze and I think even brass with copper, can't remember right now, because pieces were laying for long time and every time I will push them aside not exactly knowing what to do. Long time ago I had made folded bracelet and liked the feeling on the hand, but my friend liked it too, so....:o))) And just a few days ago my eyes stopped on patina bottles, then moved to laying folded pieces... and Voilà!

Another irritated thought was bothering me some time - felted  booties with some specific design. Just was lacking eyelets in my supplies (so I had reason, why not to try:o)) But recently I was passing by Michael's and there were no excuses why not to enter. So I'd bought eyelets and enough for my design:o)

Finished!

It looked like it took forever, but I finished my locket. It was bumpy road, full of surprises. But as they say "negative experience is also experience" :o))) You live and learn. So first failure was - soldered hardware (see post below), second - using Testors enamel/paint on small pointed details without using smart people advice and experience (stupid of me). But when I tried to buff all piece the paint just came off:o( THEN I remembered Sue McNenly post about Testors paint and resin duet:o)  And here the result:

 

Meanwhile ... playing with felted forms and colors and waiting more wool to be delivered. Too much fun:o)

Now.. here is the question. Are these slippers for woman or man? My son's iron logic - they look like on fire,  fire=fireman=man:o))))

Custom made rubber stamps, anyone?

To work with metal clay usually I use my own designed/carved texture plates. Depending on design it could be from polymer clay, 2 parts molding silicone or simple eraser piece. Polymer clay and silicone you can put on some natural or made texture, also polymer can be carved, so can be carved eraser. Plus of polymer - you can dry metal clay "in situ" on warmer, eraser - no no. Believe me I know, I tried:o) that means, I simple forgot that plate was on and I was dealing with rubber. Rubber melted, texture plate was ruined. One little problem with carving is that you need to draw by hand on the plate (or I thought so). 

Recently I was looking for rubber stamp for my wool slippers, for the size and idea that I wanted, prices were astronomical or maybe  I looked at the wrong places?! Then I remembered about lino cutting during university times and decided to try on big rubber eraser (I was too lazy to go out to look for linoleum). One problem though - the picture transfer. Mighty  google did find the solution here . I found piece of parchment and followed step by step instructions. It worked perfect. One adjustment though, after first long "play" with Irfanview I decided to go easy way-just printed draft mode, and had perfect results. One problem with rubber eraser - it's too soft ,  hard to carve small fonts. But here are my attempts, almost readable:o) 

Next will try the linoleum, but foresee the problem- lack of rubber's flexibility if you want the stamp right on the carton box. Will see....

Hands full

So I have tested my new mangle board - it's perfect!! If you do heavy-duty felting, don't even think, make it or buy it. It really helps to shorten the process and helps a lot to get that sturdy felt texture/consistency.

I also tried a few new things. Well ... never thought I would get into girly stuff as flower's or ball's felting:o) it just not me:o) but sometimes the

structure or let's say form of the slipper ask for something like that ,so you do what you need to do:o) also tried to make and glue -out soles. Not sure if I'll do more, don't see exactly the reason... but I needed to try.

Plus still "fighting" my threaded construction mix with hardware locket. But at least I can see "the  light at the end of the tunnel". And that is encouraging:o) That is my positive thinking part:o)

Meanwhile "doggie tip" ... today I have been reminded, that my pup is still a pup and not all commands are "must do" from his point of view. And erased another myth - the pups after neutering became calm and more obedient. Ha..... today  at the dog park Archie stole a  glove from one of the dog owners and no way he was ready to give it back ( no treats worked to lure the glove from him) even more, he decided it was good to eat, so.. he ate it:o(  I was soooooo mad when at the end I've caught him I even wasn't scared about possible bad/expensive consequences of this. Took him home right away as a punishment - "no more play time", but on my way home my head apparently worked right direction,  thinking what  should I do?! Actually there were two possibilities: olive oil (a lot of it) or salt water with peroxide. It sounds strange but these are two ways to get the glove out of the dog (forwards or backwards:o))) dog people will understand me:o) To tell the truth I didn't have big expectations with salt water and peroxide, but to my surprise after a half cup of that mixture (poured into unhappy Archie's throat) and a few minutes late, Archie's gag reflex worked wonders and glove came out (forwards :o) Happy ending!!