What happened to the Clockwork Ankh?
I’ve been asked that a *few* times over the past month or so..
Maybe a few more than a few times ;P

Basically, there was a combination of things, I was sick, combine with the fact that I fudged the feathers a few times (they did not pass my perfectionistness requirements) The first set was just carved on, the second as well (ok, and fourth and fifth, I did alot of re-dos, there may have been seven tries to get it right, but I stopped counting after three) the last ok set (before the total redo) was made of the last ok set, but with a cut between each feather, to give it a more feathered look, but it still wasn’t good enough. It just didn’t have the look I wanted.

TL. Still Attached
TR. One of the earlier Re-Dos
BL. Another Earlier Re-Do
BR. Last Poopy Re-Do

So, I had to do a re-do times 2 (plus some) and realizing that trying to do all the feathers at once wasn’t working, I ended up doing the feathers individually (which may have been re-do 2 times three, or four) and that worked. And voila!

1. the basic building blocks of feathers; 2. pre-cure
3. making sure they don’t move around; 4. ready to assemble


Now, I that I had all the pieces done, everything was ready to go…. and the person I’m making it for didn’t know what color/s they wanted. *head desk*
Soooooo.. I started working on mini sized color samples in the same style as the large piece. The little rectangles are about 4″x3″ and I think they’re so cute, I’m looking for shadow boxes they’ll fit, cause I think they’d make great little pieces of wall art ;D

Left- White/Pewter/Gold Samples; Right- Closeup of Gold Sample

then I also decided that I might as well have some other styles, cause the little ones could do alot more, one example, different styled wings

about one inch by one and a half inches

Right now, I’m still working on more color samples, along with more of the little sample sizes with the new style wings and in other configurations.. I’ll have more as I get them done. I swear, I’ll try to make sure it’s not another month plus between posts!

We had company, which required me to make cookies and homemade potato chips (cause I rock) then I actually caught a few hours sleep. I’m very close to done, if it wasn’t for that pesky sleep and visits from friends (♥) I’d still probably not be done. I took a small tantrum on the bottom left section of wings. It kept irritating me and I’m still not 100% happy with it, but it’s about as close as possible without taking another year ;)

↓In my tantrum(s) at the feathers not looking right, I took them out, and put them back in, about 7 times, not easy, as I had to slice under to get them off, then hope I didn’t tear anything on it’s way out, and hope I didn’t fudge the amount under the top layer of feathers on the way back in.

↓ Proof I did actually get it all together, and looking good. this is just the wings

↓ It took a bit of doing, trying to figure out the best way to do the teeth for the cogs for the top gear, I finally went strips of evenly rolled clay, cut to the same size little squares, and stacked them so they were as even as possible without measuring too much.

↓ I ran out of the special mix and & black clay while workin on the top part, so I grabbed some chunks of scrap out of one of my three (yes three) shoeboxes full of scraps. The scraps, when I rolled them out, had some bits of canes left on them. The face you see in the right sheet is from an old ‘goth girl’ cane from, um, over 5 years ago, possibly 6 or 7. I’ll have to find some of my old canes, I know I have a box somewere of some I’ve worked on over the years.. Anyways, back to the ahnk

↓ I guess you could call this the final draft. the wings are done, the cogs cut and ready to place. I just need to squish the top teeth in, smooth everything out, and give the bottom cogs some height, so they’re more even with the others. I’m thinking of using one of three ideas for the background. One, a generic texture, something that isn’t too buzy and won’t clash with the feathers. Two, painting something to go with the clockwork ankh. Three, using some of my scrap mokume gane from an old project. It’s pretty sweet, gold leaf and translucent, so it’s quite the shinny. The background will all depend on what the finished piece is going to look like, and that hasn’t been decided yet.

Tomorrow will be dedicated to finishing the piece, then working out how to bake it. I’m not 100% it’ll fit in our oven!

So, obviously, just what the subject says, a continuation. This one with a little dialog on what I’m doing. First off, I’m using polymer clay, a mix of types. Since I covered the sketch with clay, I took one of the previous photos, snipped out the sketch, straighted it, and printed it up as a visual reference. Once I had a base layer of clay on, I sketched & cut out some gear templates, just cause it’s easier to make it all match like that, then try to free hand all of them, and still make it all even.

↓base layer of clay on, checking layout with a few clay pieces & one of the paper templates

↓another layout check, this time with most of the clay bits, all laid out

↓took all the gears off, and got a thicker even layer for the wings, using wax paper to try to keep it as even as possible

↓wing segments drawn in, along with detail started on top left feathers

↓most of the top left feathers done

↓all the feathers done (except for the top two)

↓ showing the detail in the feathers

↓with the gear pieces to check how it’s all pulling together, make sure it’s correct & all

That was all done between about 3ish am and 9am (I say 3ish, as I didn’t check a clock on my way back out)
Going back out to the studio now to work on the bottom layer of feathers, then to tackle the top gear segment & see how it pulls together, then there’s the thinking on what to do about the background.

Really, real posts coming, I’ve got hundred projects in progress, but this is what I’ve been working on today, more photos later.

Really I am.. I’ll have some up soon, for really real this time.

I’m still sick, sale’s over, and the leftovers will be posted to chaoticsupplies.etsy.com very soon!

I’m currently writing up a good blog post. Yah know, one with content? :)
Till then, I’m just making a quick post about a sale. Sale? again? yeah.
ZKitten needs a digital controller for her kiln!.. So, SALE!

SALE IS OVER!

I didn’t mean it to be!
Things kept happening, I kept being sick (think I’m finally better) and just lots of crap.

So, me making it to the Maker Fair isn’t happening. In trade, my other half helped chip in for a studio!
Yes, a real studio just for me!

Originally, we were looking around, but not sure what to get, then, finally figured out what I wanted, and what would fit. Then it was a matter of pricing. Lowe’s and another local place wanted decent credit, and well, my credit, though in repair, and getting better, is not good enough for a building. So, we went another route.
There’s a local place here in Athens, TN, the Athens Barn Center. They rent to own, with no credit check! So, after looking around their lot a few times, I knew what I wanted, but they didn’t have one the size I wanted. No fear! They also build custom! Hell yah!
So, I had a custom Side Lofted Barn built, with a single door and two windows. It would have been here a week ago if not more sooner, but the weather has disagreed with me.
I’ve been totally impatient, waiting, but it finally got here today! I got a slight sunburn helping direct the driver in with it. Due to trees, it wasn’t put in the spot I wanted, but close enough!

This weekend, we’ll be going to Home Depot (Lowe’s turned me down) to get insulation, and the wiring needed to wire it up for electricity! (yay!)
Here’s some photos of what it looks like, and I’ll be posting more as it gets finished!

Which will cost a little bit of money, more than my usual sales can come up with. So, I’m running random sales, now through the end of April!

I’m also offering some major bonuses in my Etsy stores! (ZKitten and Chaotic Supplies)

ALL Orders
over $25 get free FC shipping!
over $50 get free priority shipping!
ALL orders
under $20 get a small bonus gift!
over $20 get a medium bonus gift!
over $50 get a medium/large bonus gift!
over $75 get a large bonus gift!
over $100 get multiple large bonus gifts!
ALL orders
over $20 get a certificate for 10% off their next order!
over $50 get a certificate for 20% off their next order!
over $100 get a certificate for $25 off their next order!

If I can work up enough money where I know I’ll be able to make it (about $500 by late April) I’ll also be the organizer for, and bringing items from various SteamTeam members from all over the world!

it’s a really bad thing, and it happens when it shouldn’t.
it’s one of those things that should be able to be prevented. but it’s not.
at least, not enough.

i just found out one of my friends, one of the few people i would trust with just about anything, committed suicide.

i’ll be donating 50% of what I make at this v-day bash on saturday to samaritansri.org

i’ll also be donating 50% of what I make for the next two weeks from either of my etsy stores.

if you aren’t interested in buying something from me, i’d really like it if you could make a donation to them yourself.

http://www.samaritansri.org