Linda's Magic Workshop - Linda Britt Design

Stepping into a fabric store is a little like Alice going into Wonderland.  There are so many colors and patterns, textures and tools!  I used to sew and that was my excuse to investigate any fabric store in any town I visited.  Now I usually go with a friend who quilts and just look.  But every once in a while I find a piece that I just have to have – just to look at.  Inspiration fabric is what I call it.  This piece brought back memories of many kitchens and baths and furniture I designed for clients using Mexican tile on the walls, floors, counter tops and accents……NO not all at once! It reminded me of Cinco de Mayo and Tucson with Mariachi bands and colorful flowers. I bought a ¼ yard, set it by my desk and looked at it often.  This week I decided to make some polymer canes and see what I could do using the fabric as the inspiration.  First the colors are selected and mixed.  Then I started m...

One of the techniques I learned at Hadar's Tucson workshop used flat floral ribbon to make the shapes for clay.  The floral ribbon is flexible and can be cut with scissors.  Once it is bent into a shape, clay is cut and dried against the ribbon.  It is removed after the clay dries and one can proceed assembling the pieces.  At the class,we worked making jewelry but I wanted to experiment a little more and decided to make contemporary lizard for fun.  I used Goldie Roman Bronze clay as one of my goals this spring is to use all my various metal clays from several companies and then decide which I really like.  This turned out to be my largest piece I've made and just fit in a rectangular pan I had. Something I had to consider when I designed Turq.  His finished size is 3"x 5". My basic design with the floral ribbon Placing the dried clay pieces on a background Decisions:  do I want a bronze lizard that covers the skeleton o...

It became obvious when I was in Hadar’s metal clay class in Tucson recently that there are so many new directions I can take my designs.  I think the fact that I have always wanted to learn new techniques makes it difficult to focus on making a cohesive ‘line of jewelry’.  And here I am again learning new ways to experiment.  Eventually it may become important to focus but right now I’m having a great time playing! I love the patina on this one! The class was fun because of the easy flow between students and Hadar (the teacher), Lyle Rayfield’s great studio and patio area in the beautiful Tucson mountains, Barb’s terrific meals and all the new ideas.  Even with me getting up and down often, exercising often and icing my knee through lunch, I managed to produce several pieces that I am sharing with you. We used Hadar’s Friendly Brilliant Bronze clay and her special inlay powders. One of my largest pieces did not get fired in class ...