Clay storage is a problem for anybody who works with polymer clay, particularly when 80% of clayers are working in an area the scale of a closet. One of many hardest issues about having a small studio is having ample house to retailer issues in, particularly blocks, extra blocks, and kilos of clay. That is particularly arduous for me, who might have a number of manufacturers of clay, customized blends, inclusions, and so forth. At this time I’m going to share with you the way I retailer my opened packs of polymer clay, the clay that’s consistently getting used.
My present studio consists of a desk, espresso hotter, and lights. Why? After I started claying over 16 years in the past, I by no means dreamed I’d fall in love with polymer clay as I did. I by no means thought I’d open an Etsy retailer, and I by no means thought that I’d create a personality based mostly solely on my creativeness after which delivered to life, educate lots of of individuals around the globe, and have my designs adopted into so many houses. So, as I outgrew my studio time and time once more. And as we moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio I discovered that my wants modified alongside the way in which.
With the financial system being in a downward pattern, I’ve discovered dozens of how to avoid wasting, reuse, repurpose, and maintain what I’ve going for years on finish, even utilizing classic and preloved items for a lot of of my issues. I’ve gone from a desk in a nook, a customized studio, to a brand new dwelling with a devoted workplace house and studio (see the submit right here.)
[Editors Note: This is now my 3rd studio space.]
Floss Field Turned Into Clay Storage Field:
There are some issues nonetheless that by no means change, no matter what studio you’re in. Once you go to the craft shops, of their storage options part, you can find numerous bins, drawers, devices, & gizmos. Right here’s the fundamental factor to bear in mind. You want to retailer clay in smooth plastic containers…not inflexible plastic containers because the clay will really eat by means of them.
My Clay Storage Field:
After you have your clay storage field, you should use it for absolutely anything that you want to. Right here’s my clay storage field. I even have three (sure, I do know that’s quite a bit) clay storage methods, however this one is the one which will get probably the most use! On this plastic floss field, I retailer all my clay. It’s the completely good system for me and it’s labored for over 16 years. I mix my very own clay to make new, by no means earlier than seen colours utilizing all kinds of base colours. Even my normal yellow Parker is a customized blended shade, he’s not a “straight from the package deal” shade.
Any clay that goes into this field is straight from the package deal, it’s nonetheless in its “block” type from the producer. It’s fairly apparent on this picture. Which means it has not been blended in any manner. This lets me know that they’re unique colours. If I’ve blended the clay, it will get rolled right into a ball, or a flattened strip, no matter suits into the little house in my floss field (you’ll be able to see that within the image too). For me, it’s not essential for me to separate “manufacturers” of clay. simply combine all of it collectively. Ultimately, it’s a system that works for me. There are various that may by no means try this, however for me that is simply how my artwork works and get completed. This being mentioned, the bars of clay look totally different and their consistency is totally different sufficient that I can at all times inform them aside.
[Editors Note: After almost 16 years of claying, I’m still using the SAME floss box and the same system. It works for me.]
Different Clayer’s Floss Packing containers:
Listed here are a number of photos of different polymer clay artists’ floss field storage methods from Flickr. Click on on the images to go on to that consumer’s Flickr web site.
From lifeartdesigns
From Jen and Tony Bot
Thanks for being part of the Kater’s Acres Household, Sculpting Blessings,
