Embellished
Eggs
Here's a look at a new batch of eggs--when we
talk about baking up a pan-full here at the Polyclay Gallery, its
not usually about breakfast! There are so many ways to decorate
eggs with polymer clay, creating delicate and yet durable art
collectables.
Here are two eggs with geometric canes inspired by Sandra
McCaw's polymer clay style and also by fabric quilts. Seminole style patchwork trim on
traditional clothing is done with colorful strips of fabric, and
these patterns are formed with colorful stripes of polymer
clay--manipulated carefully.
The egg at right is done in this style using
matte clays, and the one on the left uses colors that contain mica
for a lot of glimmer and glow. There are metallic and pearlized
colors available, and others can be mixed--red and gold, or black
and gold; these make wonderful color mixes. Try mixing gold and
silver for a lovely color that goes with both. Eggs can be buffed
to a smooth sheen, or glossed with Varathane to really show the brilliance and
depth of the mica bearing clays.
Premo and Kato clays both have rich colors and mica bearing
metallic or pearlized clays. Each lends itself well to many styles
of caning and impressed techniques. Mixing and matching adds to the
fun. The style shown below is done with pieces of clay placed over
prepared eggshells and baked.
Then some of the exposed areas are beaded with glass and
metallic balls, or glitters. I particularly like The Art Institute
Glitter for its wide range of colors that withstand baking.
Here's how they look when they've
been completed.
Glass bits and metal, stone and some plastics can safely be
baked at the temperatures used with polymer clays.
Those decorative items that can't take baking can be added
afterwards. The varying textures of the surfaces catch the light in
interesting ways, especially when hung on a Christmas Tree---or an
Easter Branch---with decorative lights.
Another style of egg decoration involves cutting polymer clay
pieces to place over the egg shell in a style that mimics filigree.
This can be done over clay covered eggs as seen in the basket
below.
The newest versions leave some egg shell exposed, as seen
here.
Click here to see read the
Bead Bugle article "Embellished Eggs--Not Just For
Easter"
These are holiday eggs (formed over REAL
eggshells) that are pierced and emptied.
These have golden wire hangers as well. They make beautiful tree
ornaments, or year round displays--eggs are a sacred symbol to a
great many cultures.
Eggs like this are very time-consuming to make, as they require
a lot of painstaking placement and several finishing steps...
That's AFTER blowing out all the eggs and making quiche or
baking cookies!
Holiday baking can be a good time to blow out lots of eggs, and
there are ways to do it more effectively and with no ear-popping
results. Saving up blown and dried eggs throughout the year is the
easiest way to do a large number.
These delicate yet
sturdy eggs can be ordered individually, or by the dozen.
All of these seen on this page are chicken eggs, but there are
other sizes available as well--goose eggs and ostrich or emu eggs
are substantially larger.
Also, larger eggs can be opened and meticulously lined and
hinged to make treasure boxes in the style of Faberge.
Use them as an addition to an egg collection, to decorate a
whole tree or just a branch!
These also look fabulous with an added silk tassel, and can be
used to great effect as a drapery tie-back. This is particularly
effective with velvets and Victorian motifs.
Another way to decorate eggs is by
using slices of polymer clay canes applied to eggshells and rolled
smooth, so that the egg is encased, then baked.
Varathane makes an ideal finish for
a glassy shine, or a wonderful polished sheen can be buffed
onto the egg. Buffing is particularly effective after sanding and
when using translucent clays.
These can be made to match your choice in fabrics, and other
decorative elements are also available--electrical switch plate and
outlet covers, boxes, vessels, lamps, clocks,and much more!
"Celebrations With Polymer Clay", now
available from Krause Publications has How-To information for
making both types of eggs.
Step-by-step pictures and directions make it possible to make
these gorgeous and collectable eggs!
