Chuck Taylor Fever

My latest project! Baby in Safari theme with chuck taylor shoe commissioned by Maan from Australia.. She specifically asked for a ref magnet with khaki safari hat, green grass and navy blue chuck taylor shoe.. After showing her my sample sketch, she didn't hesitate and gave me the green to get started..

 

 

 

 

 

 

in orange background

60 pcs ref magnet

For the godparents, she wanted a shoe keychain and embossed nameplate

I hope I gave justice to the design!

Visit R2J Creationz for other cuties!

Define Handmade!

Whoa!!! in my attempt to come up with something unique and special for my brother's wedding, I forcefully asked the couple if I can make their wedding invitation. And since my brother was also desperate to save money, he didn't have any choice but to say yes! Wahahahahha! Here's what I created for them... NOT BAD RIGHT???

 

Customized cut and stamp details for the envelopes

Clay accent for the couples' initial (I used my first ever DIY stamp)

I'm looking forward to do more of this! eheheheheh!

We heart COCO's

Ever since my husband and I discovered COCO's we immediately fell in love with this vintage-Italian inspired restaurant located in Adliya, Bahrain. 

They serve a wide variety of menus from appetizer, main course and desert. 

photo from www.timeoutbahrain.com

Overall food review

Cleanliness: 8/10
Location: 8.5/10
Ambiance: indoor 8/10, outdoor 7/10 (you really don't want to stay outside during Bahrain's summer and winter season)
Speed: 8/10
Customer Service: 8.5/10
Price: 9/10 (you want to eat real food then be ready to pay the price)
Overall Food Experience: 9/10

Must try menu:I strongly recommend their salads and pastas
Price range per course: 2BD-7BD?

My personal favorite: salads, ravioli and pepper steak with mushroom sauce
Hubby's favorite: ALL (but is now officially addicted to nutella- banana with ice cream crepe)


Likeness to return: Definitely YES!!!

New Look

So I guess this is one of the best working "JOB" day that I finally find the time to check my personal-artistic stuff including my social network accounts. Anyway, due to my very boring schedules I decided to give my blog site a different look. And of course it's a no brainer that I am so in love almost addicted to the color PURPLE! Purple text, purple background, purple border! TADAHHH!! A purple blog site!.

My new shop's logo... Courtesy of no other than my equally artistic - talented friend.. Bedz! Thanks DUDE!

Visit R2J Creationz and check out some of my stuff!!!

Cutie Little Thing!

It’s been a while since I wrote something here. Anyway, I just want to share the last project I did before I went back to work… Yes you heard it right, I’m back to work!

These baptismal souvenirs were commissioned by a good friend of ours.

My own version of baby bottle ref magnet and baby themed key chains.

I hope I can still make more of these!!!

All about P3

This past couple of weeks the Polymer Clay People Philippines a.k.a P3 had some handful of activities and event. 

Challenge #1 – Bead Swap

Mechanics: Create a beads for all 17 participants using black and white clay ONLY

It was my first attempt to create beads and try this type of technique. I had this idea of creating a Japanese inspired cane, doodle this and that but I end up with the simplest design. I guess I used the wrong brand of clay for this project because it was very hard to shape the clay when it is too soft. My geisha turned out to be a distorted chinky- faced cane. LoL.. Good thing that my P3 friends were so kind enough to appreciate my work.

My humble creationz

I think I’m the luckiest participant, why??? Check out the stuff I got from them, AMAZING!!! I’ll just make it up next time. Thank you guys!!!! I love all the pieces and will definitely keep and frame them.

17 pieces black and white bead creations from P3

 

P3 Guild Council Members – Nomination and Election

First and foremost, I would like to congratulate our well deserve guild council members.

Last week, P3 held the nomination and election of our guild council members. We all agreed to have 14 members of the council divided into 7 committees enumerated as follows.    

•  3 Program Planning Committee Heads
• 3 Membership Screening Committee Head
• 3 Ethics Committee Heads
• 1 Publicity Committee Head
• 2 Events Committee Heads
• 1 Documentation Committee Head
• 1 Admin Support Team Leader

After tallying all our votes here are the official guild council members.

For PROGRAM PLANNING Committee
Angeli (Beadlady) 
Jen (Purpleluggage)
Gin (Aquamaze)  

For MEMBERSHIP SCREENING Committee
Mel (Purplenook)  
Gin (Aquamaze)  
Joyce (Pinay Crafter)  

For ETHICS Committee
Mel F (Purplenook)
Mel M (Crafting Time)
Pennylyn Ilagan  

For PUBLICITY Committee
Jill (Beadlady) 

For EVENTS Committee
Joyce (Pinay Crafter)
Donna (Crazy Notions)

For DOCUMENTATION Committee
Che Flaviano

For ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT GROUP
Jen (Purpleluggage)


Thank you for accepting the positions and dedicating all needed time and effort for the guild. In return, you guys can expect all the support and participation from me. 


Support all our local polymer clay artists. Like us on facebook!

Image Transfer: 1st attempt

I just want to share my first attempt in doing image transfer technique using heat transfer paper (commonly use for shirt printing)

WARNING: the following images are explicit and may be deemed offensive. Reader discretion is advised.

This project was commissioned by my brother's friend whose getting married next month. I suggested a personalized chibi of her guests with their name stamped on the *tooot*.
After finishing all 20 pieces I had some second thought and decided to toss this out. Why??? Conservative ang lola mo! LoL… Kidding aside, I felt responsible for those guests that will be offended seeing their names on a *tooot*. With my client’s permission, I made some changes on our initial plan.

Initial plan : XXX

I browse the net trying to look for a caricature or cartoonish image of the *toot*. Lucky enough I found this image of it wearing a night gown which is really perfect for this theme. Since I have hundreds of heat transfer paper I use on my digital press business, I decided to do image transfer on my clay. NOTE: I learned this technique from youtube and from my fellow clay friends (KUDOS!!!)

Here’s the quick step for this technique

1.      Print the MIRROR image on the transfer paper

Mirror Image Sample

2.      Cut the image as desired

3.      Prepare your clay and cut it accordingly (don’t forget to condition your clay and put a hole if needed)

4.      Apply a thin and even layer of TLS on top of the clay   

5.      Place the paper on top with the printed side facing the clay with TLS (press the paper carefully to remove air trapped in between

6.      Bake as instructed

 

 

 DONE!!! Since this is my first time to try this technique, your suggestion or comment is highly appreciated..

DIY: Alpha Stamps

I wanted a specific font style on my next souvenir project and so I decided to make my own stamp. Here are the basic materials and tools I used for this project.

 

* I chose Nendo for this project because of the rubber like finish of the clay when you properly cure it *

• Cut the printed letters with your desired font and size
• Bake a thin slice of clay until the instructed curing time and temperature or until the desired end result is achieve (preheat the oven until you reach 130deg. since this specific brand of clay tends to form some bubbles on high temperature especially on thin cut)
• Paste the precut letter on top of the clay and carefully cut or slice the clay following the exact pattern
• When your satisfied with the edges, attach the letter to a flat base (on my case I used a thicker clay as a stamp base)

Here is the finished product

I realized that making your own alpha stamp is not that easy but I'm really happy with the finished product. Not to mention the amount of money saved when you buy the complete expensive set of alphabet stamps available in the market.

Oven Thermometer: Must Have!!!

I never realized that I had to purchase an oven thermometer after some months of claying. I bought this cheap electric oven with built in thermostat hoping it serves the purpose and will save me time and money. Well I guess I was wrong. I thought my pieces were OK until I bought a CP charm from a clayist friend (claythinz). Her chibi is very durable considering the cute little size of it. I dropped it several times but no body parts fell off. That’s when I realized that HEY I think I’m doing something wrong here. I seek advices from fellow clayist and decided to buy an oven thermometer. I tried looking in the supermarket and nearby malls (stingy of me trying to save a bit and find something cheap) but oooppsss no luck. I searched online and found Genty’s clay haven. The oven thermometer cost me Php390 and also bought some other stuff (maximizing the shipping fee cost hehehehe). 

 My new best buddy!

I tried it first without anything inside just to compare the temperature reading of the thermostat versus the thermometer. My oven is 30 deg celsius off than the actual reading. Now I know why most of my pieces were either under baked or over baked. 

Sample project without using oven thermometer. Thermostat reading: 130 deg and baked for 30 mins. See how the hair fell off. Such a waste!

After several attempts and 20 pcs burnt chibi heads, I finally got the settings right.. Preheating the oven for 5 mins then kept the temperature reading between 120-135 deg within 20mins. The result is perfect (well at least for me!).

My first successful project after using the thermometer

NOTE: if your oven is pretty accurate then it must be the conditioning process. Check which one works on you.

Polymer Clay Art

When I was pregnant with my 2^nd born son, I discovered polymer clay art from a friend. It started as a hobby to ease my boredom and ends up as an addiction. I continuously search and discover new techniques and so far loving every details of it. Recently I joined groups of polymer clay artist on facebook —>  Clayfriends and Polymer Clay People Philippines.  I never imagined you can meet real and sincere friends online that are willing to help and share their God given talents. We all share common interest in art particularly polymer clay. We wanted to create a friendly environment for all fellow polymer clay artists, showcase their amazing art pieces and promote polymer clay art in the Philippines. Last week Polymer Clay People Philippines (P3) asked all the members to submit 3 photos of their works. Here are the photos I submitted for the guild.

My first ever souvenir order from Bahrain. Princess theme birthday souvenir. Crown shaped key chain and magic wand key chain —> all engraved with the celebrant’s name

Noah’s ark theme (baptismal souvenir). One of the most challenging project for me since the client wants a specific photo as an inspiration to her son’s baptismal favor. 12 pcs assorted animal key chain with name plate, photo holder with Godparents’ name and cake topper.

These were my son’s baptismal souvenir. Baby inside the bottle with hand shaped nameplate for the guests and miniature baby with the Godparents’ name plate.

Visit my online shop to view some of my featured creations 
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/r2j.onlineshoppe
Multiply: http://r2jcreationz2010.multiply.com


Support our local artist

Like us on facebook  : Philippine Polymer Clay Guild
Visit our website : Clayfriends

Success!

And finally... After my second attempt, I now officially start my 1st blog... Yippeee!!!

 I decided to start blogging to somehow share just about anything that I find nice and interesting. Arts and craft #1, FOOD #2 (yum! yum!), Travel #3 and finally Mi' Familia. Let me first introduce myself. I’m Joann Austria-Obando, wife and mother of two cuties (Erus and Eryl). I am working as a site engineer on one US dredging company base in Bahrain. I’m also the owner and artist behind R2J Creationz which officially started this year.

Join me on this journey (",)... HAPPY READING!!!!

Hubby

baby Eryl

 

 

Kuya Erus

Men @ work