A new passion

 NetGalley were offering a review copy of  Making Clay Earrings and I said yes please so fast I think I sprained my mouse finger! I read the book and realised that I don't really wear earrings, but I am obsessed with buttons. I actually made some buttons in 2011, but they were not very good because I didn't understand about finishing techniques, or that you can drill the clay after it is baked - and a few other issues besides. This book is clear and inspiring and fun.

I went looking for supplies and discovered that the art shop just up the road from my place sells both Fimo and Sculpy. There was still the question of tools. It helps to have good tools, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money on something I really wanted to do for an afternoon.

Meanwhile at knit night I mentioned that I was about to embark on a little Fimo journey, Sonia said we was getting rid of some equipment and then presented me with this amazing bounty.

I knew I didn't really want to make earrings. I want to make buttons and stitch-markers and broaches. So, I had gathered my materials, I had read a lot of instructions, including the very useful earring book, but I was stuck. What if I am bad at it? What if I ruin the clay - it's not like knitting, where you can rip and begin again. Fortuitously I was listening to Cast On with Brenda Dayne and she interviewed  Kim Werker, who basically says don't even try for pretty in your first attempts, just make it. So I began.

I started with a cane in Richmond Knitters colours - I have future plans for this.

 Then I made teeny tiny yarn ball stitch markers. I want to make them in all the colours!

Then I went back to the earring book and made a couple of toadstools:

And then I found out that the white polymer clay I bought glows in the dark!

 I'm officially obsessed. I've got so many plans, and I feel so enthusiastic and inspired.

Thanks NetGalley for this book. It really was very helpful and a great introduction to this craft!