IMO… Not all Polymer Clay Beads Are Meant To Be Perfect
What’s Your Opinion? Let Me Know Below:
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Looking over some archived photos, I came across this close-up of a ghost cane bead that I had used in a chunky handmade jewelry bracelet, which also included some unique flower petal beads.
What I wanted to show about this bead in particular, is how it is NOT perfectly round. Also, the size if the bead does not exactly match all of the other beads in the bracelet. This is because they were all lovingly created by hand. Each one has a unique organic feel that makes them truly one-of-a-kind.
This handmade aspect is why I rarely use a bead roller. Beads that come from those bead rolling devices end up looking too perfect for most of my jewelry making projects.
I think some imperfection adds appeal to handmade polymer clay beads, as compared to commercially manufactured beads.
When you include handmade beads in your jewelry projects, especially if you make them yourself, you are saying to your customers that each piece is unique. A part of you. A true piece of art.
Imperfection… what could be more perfect than that? Do you agree? Or perhaps you have a different opinion.
You should realize by now that it’s OK to (nicely) disagree here at my blog. Every one has their own opinion, and I’m happy to hear yours. Since we can’t all chat with each other in person, it’s fun to at least be able to yak back and forth in the comments section below.
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Hi Jocelyn. I’m so glad you have polyclay in your life. It is pure joy. From my end, I feel like the more I learn, the less I know. But it sure is fun.
Amen Cindy. Now home disabled, polymer clay is the joy in my day. As are you, your family, and all the wonderful folks here.
Cassie and Joceyln: I just wanted to let you both know how much I appreciate your comments here.
Creating art of any kind, has such therapeutic value, that many people just do not understand. There is something about being able to create something for the sheer pleasure of it, that makes us different than the other animals in the kingdom.
The PROCESS of creating is the real thing of beauty rather than the THING created. You guys clearly understand that. It is a great thing for the world, that you are/were able to share that with others as Therapists!
@Jocelyn. I don’t doubt that at all. Brains are amazing. with the right input incredible things can happen.
Sometimes, especially with the hearing impaired kids, they learned more actual language and tense when engaged thoroughly in an activity they enjoyed.
@Jocelyn. LOL!!! You can run but you can’t hide from life as a therapist. I love Speech Therapists, especially the ones who use crafts.
@Jocelyn. lol, multisensory? That sounds familiar. Are you an Occupational Therapist too?
That is very true. It’s also possible to tailor it to most levels. So almost anybody can do something successful in polycaly.
And it’s so much fun.
@Cassie C: “Outed” LOL! Trained to be a speech pathologist and worked with the 0-14 year population in a private school for severe to profoundly communicatively challenged kids. I was fearless with crafts…..spilling was allowed.
Thanks for your kind words Jocelyn. I bet your mother loved those ashtrays!! Polymer clay does seem to offer something to a large variety of people.
@Cassie C: Probably because it’s a multi-sensory experience.
Hi. I revived this old thread because of it’s title. Also because of the amazing information it contains.
But the title interested me most because I work with this concept every day. I have worked with special needs kids for the last 30 years.
Many of these kiddos are quite physically challenged. My job is to help make things easier, get them stronger etc.. I frequently use polyclay as part of their therapy.
One of the hardest parts of recovery for these children is the need to make everything look “perfect”. They have 1 picture in their mind, but their body creates something else. It can be very hard for them. In this age of perfection, where everything is smooth and symmetrical, it can be so challenging for them to accept and love what they have created.
And believe me, what they have made is AWESOME! Because their bodies and minds are learning to work differently, more efficiently. And because this little bead that they have make is a part of that child.
Beauty and art is truly in the eyes, and hands of the beholder. Cassie
@Cassie C: Bless you Cassie for your long and dedicated work with a population desperately in need of the “feel good” that they get when they create something themselves.
My Mom was a smoker for part of my childhood, and boy do I remember some of the “ashtrays” we made her, too funny.
Gifted children often have “running mind” syndrome, and need to quiet and chill, and found polymer clay to be a wonderful relaxant with them. Those challenged with non verbal disorders also need the ability to create, as it gives them a way to express their feelings.
Hi Cheryl – Just wanted to let you know there is an active discussion happening in another thread that will provide you with some helpful info about how to use the Amaco rollers. The link by my name will take you there. If you have additional follow up questions, it would be good to post them over at the other thread, since there are currently a lot of members watching and participating in that newer thread.
I want to make some large oval beads. I have the Amaco roller for smaller sizes but would like to be able to make large beads and roll them by hand.
Melanie, thank you so much for asking that question about the bead maker. This spiraling happened to me, and just put it away thinking production bead making was not in my future, lol. Thanks to the great advice here, I think I see the problem, and am going to dig mine out and try again.
Cindy, one more reason why your site is invaluable to folks that work with polymer clay….the feedback and great advice.
So appreciated.
@Ken: Great tips!
@kaite: Hi! Thank you so much for leaving a comment. It is really nice to have you here! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. :-)
i love your site. i go on it so much for clay tips and ideas.
Melanie @
Oh also, sometimes if there is too much clay the bead won’t come together into any shape at all., I’ve had that happen.
Melanie @
No I don’t,but like Cindy said about the long tab on the one side, give it a good press to see if it’s seated all the way down. I check this part on all my rollers before I use them just in case they’ve worked loose a little bit. The first roller I brought I had to insert this part myself, all the other ones seem to have had this part assembled already and sometimes it wasn’t in very well.
Melanie, those little sticking out swirls usually happen when there is too much clay in the roller and the clay squishes out the ends. Also if you have a roller with the raised edge on one half that goes into the notch on the other half, check to make sure that raised edge is pushed all the way in so the two halves are meeting properly. If there is any gap between the two halves, clay can sneak out of there too.
Good idea. They seem to be responsive to me. I sent them a somewhat aggressive complaint about their pasta roller and they seem to be handling my complaints quite well. :-)
Did you see my statement about little swirls on polar opposites of the 4 mm bead? Do you get the same thing?
Melanie @
Try this, use the clay snake to make an impressions of all the grooves, compare them together, and if it is as you say defective bake the evidence, ask AMACO to replace it, if they refuse send them samples of the evidence as proof.
A drinking straw. I bought an entire pack for a dollar at Wal-mart.
I have yet to come out with a perfect sphere. I think my roller is defective. The profile of the 4 mm section looks more like a bowl with a flat bottom rather than half a circle.
The only 4mm I’ve tried is with some scraps of my jade clay, so they’re one color, no swirls, nothing, they’re just VERY tiny spheres that are right now, impossible to drill a hole through.
Melanie @
What kind of straw? Drinking, or the little coffee stirrers (ones i’m thinking of are red) or something else