Linda's Magic Workshop - Linda Britt Design

Lots happening in my life this week so I’m taking a break from the tortoise project while I participate in a couple of holiday sales.    Tuesday was the Hassayampa Holiday Sale at the Hassayampa Golf Club. (Dec. 6).   The second holiday sale is this Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Hidden Valley Association Clubhouse.   1615 Coyote Road, Prescott AZ.   Time 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.     If anyone is in the area, please stop by and see the ornaments and 10 artists’ creations!   There will be lots of pre-Christmas shopping just waiting for you.   Bring a can of food for the underprivileged Prescott families. (Saint Vincent de Paul donations).  This Thursday (Dec. 8) my friend, Willie, and I are going to Phoenix to have High Tea at the Arizona Biltmore.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_Biltmore_Hotel http://www.etsy.com/listing/57237052/on-sale-vintage-brown-hat-with-tri-color It’s taking some thinking on my part to decide how to dress for this social event!   There is snow on the ground

A recap!   I carved a tortoise from red polymer clay in my previous post.    The turtle needed a little more detailing with a carving tool to make the design on the underside more visible.   Now it’s time for the next step – Making the Mold from the red tortoise model.        The two part mold compound in this case is Part A white and Part B purple.   When part A and B are mixed I have about 10-15 minutes of working time before the mixture sets.   A small amount of this mold making compound went with me to Tanzania where I made a mold of a beetle.   It amazed the guide and I gave him some to take home to his kids.   I always wondered what they did with it. Part A and B were mixed by pressing and folding them into each other.   Then I wrapped it around the red tortoise pressing so that the designs on the model would show in the mold.   To give a separation for the top and bottom of the turtle, I took an x-acto knife and cut the mold in half without removing the turtle.   The mold

After my last post on the Reptile Show, I have decided to make a tortoise out of silver clay.   Thank goodness I have artistic license!   My vision (goal – hope) is to make a small recognizable tortoise that could be duplicated and used as a ring, a pendant, earrings, or beads.   Not having done any of this before, I decided to share the experience with any of you who might be interested!   First I need to decide on which kind of tortoise….so I Googled ‘tortoise’ and got some amazing pictures.   What a variety!   After looking and thinking, I selected the Star Radiated Tortoise.    It has a very pronounced star pattern and will be a challenge.      My plan is to carve a small tortoise out of polymer clay, a medium that is easy to work with and manipulate.   I chose red because I like red!   I put my new Craftoptic glasses on and start conditioning, moving and carving  referring to the pictures.   As I work with the polymer clay, it gets warm and a little squishy so that my finger pri