What is a Yart Sale?

What is a Yart Sale you ask? Well, in brief, it is Art + Yard Sale = Yart Sale.

I would personally like to thank ESST (Etsy Supply Street Team) on Etsy.com for sponsoring the 2nd annual Yart Sale. It takes place from June 10th to June 14th, and there are tons of shops on Etsy that are participating this year.

Many shops are offering special discounts, putting things on sale, and some are even offering free shipping!

For myself, I am offering 25% off everything in stock! For even better deals, check out my Yart sale section since the 25% off will be on top of those already reduced listings. Click here to visit my shop if you like.

Here is just a taste of some wonderful things I found when I did a search on Etsy for Yart Sale.

Turtle Magnet by AardvarkCreations

Ancient Stone necklace Pictographic letter by AlmostARTifacts

Organic Chive Spice Herb Jar by OrganicOdysseys

Earthy Polymer clay stamped pendant necklace by Chicki

I will show you some more tomorrow!

Making Canes with Polymer Clay

(Polymer Clay Artists of Etsy) PCAGOE's February's Challenge is Canes.

Now, I have been making some pretty simple canes lately for my buttons, and really did not feel that I have been doing it long enough to enter into this particular montly challenge. However, I have really enjoyed learning the different things a person can do to create a cane. So, I have decided to share my journey with you, into the World of Making Canes.

Since I roll the clay out with my rolling pin, I always clean the rolling pin after each colour. As it is a wooden one it tends to have colours stay on the pin and then end up transfering onto the next colour if I did not clean it well after each use. I clean rolling pin with cleansing wipes, and then rub it dry with a white cloth (helps to show if any more colour is still on the pin). I then rub the rolling pin with mineral oil (after it is dry) to help keep the next colour from leaching into the wood. This also helps keep the clay from sticking to the pin.

I tried to do a Skinner Blend, but using only a rolling pin and my hands does not quite work very well for me. I think that if I decide to continue making canes, that I will invest in one of those pasta machines the other artists use.

I also tried my hand at making a little flower. It is a forget-me-not and I have to tell you, it is not easy to make a flower look like a real flower. The artists on Etsy who make flowers are extremely talented! Perhaps after years of practicing I might become half as good. I am not giving up though!

Here are some basic ones, little "window boxes" and other abstract shapes. I think for right now, those are the easiest for me.

These, I am very partial to. There are so many choices as to how I want to cut these when I am ready to use them. I just love the colour shifts!

Today, I tried caning a little glass spice jar. I used these canes in it, and I think it turned out quite well! I still have to sand it through 6 grades of sandpaper (250, 400, 600, 1000, 1500 and 2000) and then varnish it.

So, what do you think? Should I enter it into the PCAGOE Monthly Challenge for February? And, what do you suggest I call it?