Hello from Northampton, Northants

[Chatters]

Thanks all!

Barbara that rose is brilliant! I did not think it could be done, now I know and I shall give it a bash! I am making a half flame lilly at the moment but have come unstuck, fired the petals then tried to paste them altogether but it has not worked. Am resorting to solder (which I am waiting for - it is in the post). Possibly will try again and fire it all at the same time.

Obviously you dont make the PMC as thin as the sugarpaste - do you? Also what I found difficult to achieve is the 'ruffling' or 'feathering' of the petals, the PMC seems too soft, am I doing something wrong.

My next one I want to try is the arum lilly - we shall see how that turns out - will try and put a picture on.

I have only lived in Northampton for 8 years, I was in Zimbabwe for 30 odd years (hence all the home industries I do), was born in up North and went to school there - some random info!

Angie

[Solunar Silver Studio]

Hi Angie - I haven't really played that much with the flowers and pmc so far...I can't afford the mistakes yet!! The roses I make are only tiny - the one in the picture is about 1.5cm across. The problem with working bigger is the stability. My most successful roses have been built around a 6mm ceramic bead (on which I paint a layer of pmc slip) to give the central bulk and a cocktail stick through the hole gives a stem to hold onto while constructing (and the bead survives firing temperatures in the kiln). For the petals I squidge a little ball into a disc between finger and thumb then keep thinning it out as I rotate it to keep the shape and then concentrate on the top edge and keep thinning it out between thumb and finger to try to get a bit of 'flop' to it. (I don't think it is possible to frill it in the sugarpaste manner - although I am sorely tempted to add a bit of CMC (Tylo) to give it more elasticity!!) I put the petals onto the bead with a bit of pmc slip then turn the edge a bit and give a central pinch. I build about 3 petals - almost a complete circuit - and then let it dry before adding a second batch using slip to attach....and so on. I fire it nestled in a bed of vermiculite in a terracotta dish.

Although I've not tried any 'big' stuff yet I have had the ol' brain cells clicking...and think I would probably build things like lily petals using a central fine silver wire...to make it as similar to sugarpaste as possible. I would also think about firing it in a container with vermiculite poured round and into the flower to give total support to the petals while the silver sinters. But I think I would always be concerned about the wearability of such a piece as the petals would be very vulnerable to bending.

Now I'm writing about doing it I really want to have a go! I'm just too busy and too broke at the moment!!

Keep us posted as to how things go!!

[Solunar Silver Studio]

barbara that rose is brilliant! Can't wait to see the cows

Don't get too excited now Di....I never said I was making cows!!... I said cow markings!!...as a design feature! I'm working towards a cartoon cow on the cake but I think I would have turned down the commission if they had specified I include a whole cow!! No - I am using the black markings to co-ordinate the pendant and the cake!

[Solunar Silver Studio]

I am making a half flame lilly at the moment but have come unstuck, fired the petals then tried to paste them altogether but it has not worked. Am resorting to solder (which I am waiting for - it is in the post). Possibly will try again and fire it all at the same time.

Angie

I was just thinking...if you are not going for botanical accuracy too much...I know lilies don't have calyxes but it might be an idea to do a thin calyx to give some stability to where the petals join...add a good thick gloop of slip...dry it all supported by a former...then bung it in the kiln for a good long hot session...while you cross your fingers and have a glass of medicinal.......

Soldering that lot together would be my idea of hell!!

[Chatters]

Morning Barbara, thanks for all the tips. I shall certainly try the calyx idea. The petals on the flame lilly is only about 1.5cm long and very fiddly! I shall let you know how I get on. Good luck with today and icing the cakes - hope all goes well.
Angie

[Solunar Silver Studio]

Thanks Angie...I'm just waiting for everyone to wake up so I can start beating up some butter icing and get started!!

You could really do with picking Nic's (Murano Silver) brains for all problems pmc...she might (sorry - wrong word - she will) have advice for rescuing fired pmc pieces!! I think she is on line now.....

[bustagasket]

Don't get too excited now Di....I never said I was making cows!!... I said cow markings!!...as a design feature! I'm working towards a cartoon cow on the cake but I think I would have turned down the commission if they had specified I include a whole cow!! No - I am using the black markings to co-ordinate the pendant and the cake!

omg cow markings!!!! does that mean cow pat pendants??

[Di Sandland]

I am sorely disappointed, Barbara, I was looking forward to a full-sized, mooing, pat-leaving Friesian (or whatever brand of cow it is you're doing)

[lorraineflee]

Hi Angie,
I'm not in Northampton but only 12 or so miles away in North Beds, village called Felmersham, so we're nearly neighbours!
Lorraine

[EmmaRose]

Hi Angie
I am just down the road in Milton Keynes and use metal clay too!
Emma