Class: Tiny Compositions in Polymer Clay
Instructor: Meisha Barbee
Items to bring with you:
Note to Students: I’m happy for the opportunity to present a week long workshop to explore Polymer Clay.
Often, workshops are only 2 days; just enough time to teach the process with little time to really create finished
compositions. But, that’s when the fun really begins; so I’m thrilled that I’ll have more time to work with
individuals at their own level, and further their design concepts and help students with creative solutions.
Polymer Clay Student Supply List:
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Pasta Machine or clay conditioning machine (same thing….different name)
Sharp cutting blades, Rigid blade, thin flexible blade, and optional (ripple blade)
Rolling apparatus, such as an acrylic rod (I use a double pointed knitting needle) a metal rod works well
too.
Clay Extruder - Makins brand professional ultimate extruder is a good one.
Work Surface - choose a smooth surface, such as a thick sheet of glass or large smooth tile.
Shape cutters, 1 1/4“ to 2 1/2” circles, rectangles, and squares for finished shapes, and smaller Kemper
cutters for design elements (I generally use circles and squares)
Texture sheets and stamps. (bring your favorites or I’ll have a variety you can use)
Deli Paper sheets (for storing clay sheets)
Standard printer paper (for leaching clay)
Shallow plastic storage boxes (to transport finished clay canes and works in progress)
Sanding Blocks – Corse/Medium and fine from the hardware store
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Polymer Clay: I use Premo brand, but if you prefer another, that is fine.
-
You’ll need several 2oz blocks of clay:
Pearl (3 or more) Metallic Gold (2 or more) Black (3 or more) White (2 or more).
And some basic primaries for mixing - Fushia, Cobalt Blue, Yellow (cadmium, zinc or both)
Bring other colors you like, and we can mix a variety of colors for a great color palette.
Optional:
Misc. Jewelry findings, such as bails, pin backs, ear wires, eye pins, jump rings and cords. Oven safe
molding forms…I use light bulbs (various shapes and sizes)
Shape templates can also be
useful, but not required
Your favorite 2 part epoxy (I use J-B Weld for gluing findings to clay - from Home Depot)
Cyanoacrylate Gel (for gluing clay to clay or rubber to clay) “it’s Super Glue”
Suppliers Lists:
Polymer Clay Express (online) polymerclayexpress.com
They have a good array of polymer clay supplies and tools – Premo clay, cutters, blades, rollers, etc.
Michael’s Craft Store – They have Premo brand clay, pasta machines (for clay), some
texture sheets, acrylic rollers, glue and the Makins professional ultimate extruder
blades,
* LOOK FOR CLAY ON SALE (often 4 packs for $5.00) a great price!
Amazon.com – Go to the site, type in Polymer clay supplies, and prepare to be amazed! What can I
say…they have just about everything! You can purchase the Clay conditioning machine or pasta machine
and the Makins Ultimate Extruder. You can purchase a Studio by Sculpey set of Blades which includes
(rigid, flexible and ripple). They sell Acrylic rollers, Cutters, texture sheets, etc. Actually a great place to
purchase supplies. They also sell Premo clay (expect to pay about $1.99 per 2 oz package). This is a
good price….unless you can get it on sale at Michael’s.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Touchstone at: 724 329 1370