What
is Polymer Clay?
Polymer clay is a pliable, easy-to-blend polymer compound
for artists and crafters. It's not truly clay, but
rather fine particles of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) suspended
in plasticizer that’s extremely versatile.
One
of the nice things about
working with polymer clay
is that it doesn’t dry out so we can sculpt and
form it without worrying about time. Firing it in an
oven fuses the particles into a solid, and then it
can be finished in a variety of ways.
How
do you paint the really
small items?
Actually, we don’t.
Polymer clay comes in dozens
of colors, and we can blend
clays together like paints
to make our own colors. Since
the color is inherent in
the particles, we can also
work two or more colors together
without blending them for
special effects such as cane
working and marbling. Nearly
90% of the colors that we
use are custom mixed, which
means that every time we
create a design it looks
a bit different than the
last one.
How
long does it take to create
a single design?
Each design is different
and so is the time that it
takes to bring it to life.
The complexity of the design,
as well as how many colors
are in it can effect how
long it will take us. Some
designs can be made into
a cane in just 2 to 3 days,
while others like the School
House can take up to 3 weeks.
Do
you offer jewelry with
14 karat gold posts or
clasps?
The Quilted in Clay jewelry
collection is available in
14 karat gold, but you must
special order these items.
To do so, please call us
by phone at 218-965-4621
to place your order and allow
up to 3 weeks for delivery.
What
is gold filled ?
"Gold Filled" (also called "Gold Overlay" or "Rolled
Gold") is a process whereby high heat and pressure
are used to bond a thick layer of gold to a base metal
(Sterling Silver or Jeweler's Brass).
Our Gold findings,
clasps, etc. are made of "14/20
Gold Fill" - meaning 14K Gold is bonded to the
base metal such that 1/20th of the resulting piece
(5%), by weight, consists of real Gold.
Why
use gold filled?
First, Gold Fill
is less expensive than pure
Gold - making our jewelry
more affordable. Second,
of the alternatives (Gold
Plate or Gold Vermeil), Gold
Fill will not tarnish, turn
green, or wear off and can
be worn as "every-day" jewelry.
What is a Mobius bead?
Mobius
beads are made using slices of the designs and bending
them into a shape that reminds us of a Mobius strip*.
Taught to me by another artist who named them mobius
beads because they have the same inside-out quality.
Beads are approximately ¾” tall.
*A Mobius
strip is
a surface with only one side,
usually made by connecting
the two ends of a rectangular
strip of paper after putting
a half-twist (180 degrees
relative to the opposite
side) in the strip.
Is
the Jewelry Collection
on your web site everything
you have to offer?
Not at all! To view our entire
collection, visit us at one
of the upcoming shows listed
on the web site Calendar.
If you have a specific quilt
block design in mind, you
may also contact us by phone
at 218-965-4621 or via email
at info@quiltedinclay.com to
check availability. |