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Friday, October 19, 2018

We're All Ears :: October Reveal :: Mad About Plaid

I am not one to wear a lot of pattern, so I don't really think that there is a plaid shirt in my closet. But I do love the pattern of plaid. I like the criss-crossing patterns and the soft lived-in comfort. There is something quintessentially fall about plaid flannels, no matter what color they may be. But in looking for plaid inspiration, I found quite a bit more than just the well-worn vintage work shirts. Like scarves and pants and skirts and tights - oh my!

I decided that I would try to make some plaid components in polymer clay. Easier said than done! I first looked for a tutorial for some plaid canes in polymer clay. Most of them seemed a bit out of reach for me, or just too darn fussy and not all that precise. So I just grabbed some color of clay and started making stripes. Eventually, I flattened and stretched them enough, but they were still stripes. That is when I hit upon cutting the pieces up and layering them for that warp-weft fabric look. The look was starting to take shape!


I had wanted to learn from a tutorial I had found some time ago from Helen Breil. She is a master polymer clay artist. I am quite smitten with her folded beads, so I thought that this would be the perfect veneer for that. I made quite a lot of them with my plaid veneer, so many that I am dreaming of a statement necklace. But I found two pair that would work for the earrings.

Both outfits pictured here are found on FreePeople: dress; overalls.

I kept them simple by creating a wire hanger and dangling them from small small lengths of chain that I picked up from Vintaj this summer. The metal is copper, I would guess, that has been flame patina-ed, so they have this wonderful mix of blue, purple and red.

So now it is your turn! Show us what you made for your ode to Plaidurday!



7 comments:

  1. Love the earrings. Great polymer beads :) You keep coming up with new ideas, so clever.

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  2. I can just barely fathom how you would make plaid in polymer clay. It's like magic! I especially dig the color palette you chose. Dreamy!! Thank you SO MUCH for this month's inspiration. I have to admit that I felt a little lackluster about it at first, but once I let my mind go and get started on it, I had a hard time stopping and was working up until yesterday afternoon to complete my designs. And, I really love the designs I made. Thank you!

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  3. I thought about using polymer clay for a fleeting moment. I admire your plaid polymer clay beads and earring design. Very in style now too. Thanks for the challenge!

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  4. This theme doesn't give me inspiration, so I skip this month's challenge. But I am very curieus to see what others made of it!

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  5. This really was a tough one! I really like what you did with your polymer pieces... and I can't wait to see that statement necklace come to life!!

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  6. You continue to blow my mind in so many ways! Plaid pc beads!!! The beads ware perfect for the design. Amazing! ❤️

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