Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
[in a nutshell version]
[in a nutshell version]
Play-withclay is now AiClay, and the site has moved to http://aiclay.blogspot.com/, so edit your favourite folders now! :) I will be updating there instead!
Why the change in site name? Well, AiClay is more personally relevant than Play-withclay (which I have always felt was pretty generic) as Ai is part of my chinese name, and it means 'love' in Mandarin too, which is really quite apt in describing how I feel towards my creations. :)
My Etsy shop is now up and running, under the name AiClay too. I am really excited about this! For the less informed, Etsy is a WONDERFUL marketplace filled with lovely handcrafted items, and teeming with talented and inspirational artists.
HOP OVER THERE NOW! :)
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[the long version]
Firstly, I know I haven't been updating with any creations at all, but I have been busy busy busy sculpting though! Custom orders have been pouring in (somehow they always arrive together! :)), and I am trying to sculpt as efficiently as I can, rushing after the many deadlines!
Here are some of the custom orders that I had have time to photograph. :)
Secondly and MOST IMPORTANTLY! I have just set up my own shop at http://www.etsy.com/. If you don't know about this site yet, you should head there NOW (okay after the end of my post would be better heehee.). Etsy is a marketplace of QUALITY handmade items showcasing a wonderful variety of mediums (fabric, clay, metal, paintings etc etc!).
My shop is at http://www.aiclay.etsy.com/, or just search AiClay under Sellers in the Search bar at the top of the Etsy site.
This brings me to the FINAL point of this entry!
Which is to announce that Play-withclay is now officially AiClay! I've been scratching my head about whether I should change the name as I know fully well all the repercussions it can bring (change in store banner/packaging/email template, domain change, confusion for customers ETC). However, I have honestly never really felt connected with Play-withclay as my store name.
AiClay is alot more apt since Ai is part of my Chinese name, and I love that the name has that bit of me in it. Of course, it also means 'love' ( 爱 as a noun and verb) in Mandarin. How appropriate since I am wholly in love with the process of sculpting and the clay medium. :)
THUS the store is now renamed to AiClay! And this calls for the change in blog address, to http://aiclay.blogspot.com/!
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[important links!]
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rainbow blobs of clay. 3:43 AM.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Oran-ge O-range
It's been a while hasn't it? The latest post of waffles received a rush of compliments from strangers and friends, and even got me featured on a miniature blog! :)
I have been busy with doing commissions (also called customisations!) for a loyal customer (hi jane! :)), and thus the lack in updates. But I squeezed in some time to allow my creative juices to flow, and when I opened up my treasure chest of clays, the orange slab stood out.
and HERE you go! ORANGES! :)
some of that dimply orange peel will be removed so that the juicy flesh can be used in pastries. :)
and to show the scale! a tiny bowl of orange slices perched on my finger.
A tart filled with the zest of orange and the richness of dark chocolate. A small swirly chocolate biscuit stick peeks out from a dollop of fresh cream.
to show the scale, perched on the same finger! hahah.
hand me a miniature spoon! i wanna dig into all of this orange goodness! :)
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Some shop policy issues!
LOYALTY DISCOUNT VOUCHER (LDV)
Note: Edited as of 25th September 2009
As my customer base builds up, I would love to give something back to my loyal customers who have shown such wonderful support for my shop and products! :) Therefore, I have decided to create a loyalty programme! LDV will be a permanent fixture in my shop, until further notice.
If you have purchased at least $150 worth (not inclusive of shipping or packaging costs) from my shop, do redeem your LDV by quoting "LDV" in your email subject title, and it entitles you to 20% discount off your next purchase. If you accumulate another $150 worth (not inclusive of the cost of item which LDV was used, and of shipping/packaging costs), you can then claim another LDV. :)
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Alright, that's all folks! Hope everyone's doing fine! :)
Mini hugs!
It's been a while hasn't it? The latest post of waffles received a rush of compliments from strangers and friends, and even got me featured on a miniature blog! :)
I have been busy with doing commissions (also called customisations!) for a loyal customer (hi jane! :)), and thus the lack in updates. But I squeezed in some time to allow my creative juices to flow, and when I opened up my treasure chest of clays, the orange slab stood out.
and HERE you go! ORANGES! :)
some of that dimply orange peel will be removed so that the juicy flesh can be used in pastries. :)
and to show the scale! a tiny bowl of orange slices perched on my finger.
A tart filled with the zest of orange and the richness of dark chocolate. A small swirly chocolate biscuit stick peeks out from a dollop of fresh cream.
to show the scale, perched on the same finger! hahah.
hand me a miniature spoon! i wanna dig into all of this orange goodness! :)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some shop policy issues!
LOYALTY DISCOUNT VOUCHER (LDV)
Note: Edited as of 25th September 2009
As my customer base builds up, I would love to give something back to my loyal customers who have shown such wonderful support for my shop and products! :) Therefore, I have decided to create a loyalty programme! LDV will be a permanent fixture in my shop, until further notice.
If you have purchased at least $150 worth (not inclusive of shipping or packaging costs) from my shop, do redeem your LDV by quoting "LDV" in your email subject title, and it entitles you to 20% discount off your next purchase. If you accumulate another $150 worth (not inclusive of the cost of item which LDV was used, and of shipping/packaging costs), you can then claim another LDV. :)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alright, that's all folks! Hope everyone's doing fine! :)
Mini hugs!
rainbow blobs of clay. 3:19 PM.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
waffles and ice cream cones
At every ice cream parlour, they often offer you a choice of either having the ice cream in a paper cup, or in a cone. and i make sure i ALWAYS pick the latter.
without a moment of hesitation too. :P
well there's a number of reasons why i do that.
firstly, both choices are the same price, so why would i pick something that i can't eat as opposed to the cone? secondly, after licking up all that gooey sweet messy ice cream, its a real treat to crunch down on a well-toasted, delicious-smelling biscuit. :)
i've got to say, the man/woman who first paired ice cream with biscuits, and came up with the ingenious conical edible container that ice cream cones are, i applaud you! :)
plain ice cream cones, made with polymer clay by me. measuring at 1.3cm long and 0.5cm wide.
but i could pop a zillion of these 12th scale ones, and i'll never even taste the goodness in them! :P
next up, a more costly sidekick of ice cream, waffles!
since i've already waxed lyrical about ice cream cones, let's be fair to waffles too eh. haha.
i've always been kinda proud about my way of eating ice cream with waffles (i think it's not very innovative though).
i used to feel that it was a messy affair to balance ice cream on top of the piping waffles, and it was just awkward eating ice cream with a knife and fork (which is how the waffle cafes in singapore serve the dish with).
well that was UNTIL..
i discovered there's a much easier (and very delicious) way to eat ice cream with waffles.
for uninterested readers, you may ignore the chunk of paragraph below!
step 1: use knife and slide between ice cream and waffle, and place ice cream on plate away from waffle. this is to prevent the ice cream from melting due to the warm waffles.
step 2: use fork to break a tiny part of ice cream away.
step 3: put ice cream in one of the many craters of the waffle. smooth it over with fork/knife.
step 4: cut off that portion of the waffle. and DEVOUR! :)
plain waffles of various sizes and shapes, in 12th scale entirely made with polymer clay by me.
clover-shaped waffles, measuring at 1.4cm from end to end.
cut up round waffles, measuring at 0.5cm long and 0.8cm wide.
tissue-thin wafer biscuits, measuring at approximately 0.7cm long.
heart-shaped wafer, measuring at 1.3cm long and 1.4cm across.
alright, that's enough ranting about food for now. it isn't very healthy to blog about this in the late hours at night, and many complaints have come my way for causing rumbling stomachs when the sun has long set. :P
P.S. the waffles and ice creams will soon lose their stark naked glory, and be adorned with delish scoops of ice cream, frothy whipped cream, chocolate sauce.. okay that's another post for next time!
:)
At every ice cream parlour, they often offer you a choice of either having the ice cream in a paper cup, or in a cone. and i make sure i ALWAYS pick the latter.
without a moment of hesitation too. :P
well there's a number of reasons why i do that.
firstly, both choices are the same price, so why would i pick something that i can't eat as opposed to the cone? secondly, after licking up all that gooey sweet messy ice cream, its a real treat to crunch down on a well-toasted, delicious-smelling biscuit. :)
i've got to say, the man/woman who first paired ice cream with biscuits, and came up with the ingenious conical edible container that ice cream cones are, i applaud you! :)
plain ice cream cones, made with polymer clay by me. measuring at 1.3cm long and 0.5cm wide.
but i could pop a zillion of these 12th scale ones, and i'll never even taste the goodness in them! :P
next up, a more costly sidekick of ice cream, waffles!
since i've already waxed lyrical about ice cream cones, let's be fair to waffles too eh. haha.
i've always been kinda proud about my way of eating ice cream with waffles (i think it's not very innovative though).
i used to feel that it was a messy affair to balance ice cream on top of the piping waffles, and it was just awkward eating ice cream with a knife and fork (which is how the waffle cafes in singapore serve the dish with).
well that was UNTIL..
i discovered there's a much easier (and very delicious) way to eat ice cream with waffles.
for uninterested readers, you may ignore the chunk of paragraph below!
step 1: use knife and slide between ice cream and waffle, and place ice cream on plate away from waffle. this is to prevent the ice cream from melting due to the warm waffles.
step 2: use fork to break a tiny part of ice cream away.
step 3: put ice cream in one of the many craters of the waffle. smooth it over with fork/knife.
step 4: cut off that portion of the waffle. and DEVOUR! :)
plain waffles of various sizes and shapes, in 12th scale entirely made with polymer clay by me.
clover-shaped waffles, measuring at 1.4cm from end to end.
cut up round waffles, measuring at 0.5cm long and 0.8cm wide.
tissue-thin wafer biscuits, measuring at approximately 0.7cm long.
heart-shaped wafer, measuring at 1.3cm long and 1.4cm across.
alright, that's enough ranting about food for now. it isn't very healthy to blog about this in the late hours at night, and many complaints have come my way for causing rumbling stomachs when the sun has long set. :P
P.S. the waffles and ice creams will soon lose their stark naked glory, and be adorned with delish scoops of ice cream, frothy whipped cream, chocolate sauce.. okay that's another post for next time!
:)
rainbow blobs of clay. 10:30 PM.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Cupboard-ful of goodies!
Let me apologise for the photo diarrhoea ahead first. :P
This is a showcase of some of my works, all arranged together in a miniature cupboard!
Miniature cupcake cases! Handmade by yours truly, with real baking sheets! :)
Hopefully some of you lovely frequent readers recognise the tarts, breads and cakes! :)
Some plates and bowls stacked away for future baking sessions! :)
And for a better idea of scale.
The cupboard measures at 12cm tall and 7cm wide.
Don't you wish you had a pastry cupboard like that too? I know I do! :P
Let me apologise for the photo diarrhoea ahead first. :P
This is a showcase of some of my works, all arranged together in a miniature cupboard!
Miniature cupcake cases! Handmade by yours truly, with real baking sheets! :)
Hopefully some of you lovely frequent readers recognise the tarts, breads and cakes! :)
Some plates and bowls stacked away for future baking sessions! :)
And for a better idea of scale.
The cupboard measures at 12cm tall and 7cm wide.
Don't you wish you had a pastry cupboard like that too? I know I do! :P
rainbow blobs of clay. 1:07 PM.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Nigiri and Onigiri!
As promised for the Japanese food lovers, here are some basics of Japanese fare.
Salmon nigiri is a must for most when dining at sushi bars!
They measure at 0.5cm long.
Pictured here with three fat onigiris! A little fun fact, the Japanese often bring these out in their lunchboxes, as the salty filling is able to prevent the rice from spoiling even after it has cooled. :)
They measure at 1cm long! :)
Hopefully that will satiate some of you with Japanese food cravings now! :)
Do be patient for the arrival of my food jewellery collection which I am currently still hard at work at making. They would be for all of you who would love to wear miniature food (12 times smaller than your actual food!) around with you, and I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't. :P Also, they would make unique gifts for friends and family, and I welcome anyone who wants a particular food item made into jewellery (rings, earrings, necklace/bracelet charms).
For dollhouse enthusiasts or collectors, do feel free to email me for quotes on pieces of any food item shown here on my blogshop, that you're interested in. :)
As promised for the Japanese food lovers, here are some basics of Japanese fare.
Salmon nigiri is a must for most when dining at sushi bars!
They measure at 0.5cm long.
Pictured here with three fat onigiris! A little fun fact, the Japanese often bring these out in their lunchboxes, as the salty filling is able to prevent the rice from spoiling even after it has cooled. :)
They measure at 1cm long! :)
Hopefully that will satiate some of you with Japanese food cravings now! :)
Do be patient for the arrival of my food jewellery collection which I am currently still hard at work at making. They would be for all of you who would love to wear miniature food (12 times smaller than your actual food!) around with you, and I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't. :P Also, they would make unique gifts for friends and family, and I welcome anyone who wants a particular food item made into jewellery (rings, earrings, necklace/bracelet charms).
For dollhouse enthusiasts or collectors, do feel free to email me for quotes on pieces of any food item shown here on my blogshop, that you're interested in. :)
rainbow blobs of clay. 1:21 PM.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Marbled Chocolate Tart
A drizzle of white chocolate over a rich base pour of dark chocolate, topped with a plump raspberry. They're pictured here with my previous creations - choc-cheese-crumbs. :)
Measuring at 1cm in diameter.
Something non-food for a change! :) Here are some handpainted jugs, made in 1:12 scale. The sunny floral ones measure 2cm in height and darker shade ones with golden lining measure 2.5cm in height.
i have to thank Marlie's wonderful instructions on making these jugs. :)
Anyone into sushi and japanese food? You don't wanna miss on the next post!! :P
-love.
A drizzle of white chocolate over a rich base pour of dark chocolate, topped with a plump raspberry. They're pictured here with my previous creations - choc-cheese-crumbs. :)
Measuring at 1cm in diameter.
Something non-food for a change! :) Here are some handpainted jugs, made in 1:12 scale. The sunny floral ones measure 2cm in height and darker shade ones with golden lining measure 2.5cm in height.
i have to thank Marlie's wonderful instructions on making these jugs. :)
Anyone into sushi and japanese food? You don't wanna miss on the next post!! :P
-love.
rainbow blobs of clay. 12:37 AM.
