Let’s Have a Clay-Date! Part 2

Welcome to part two of my guide to starting out with polymer clay. If you missed part one, be sure to check it out here as it outlines the necessary gear that should be in your sculpting kit. Now that you’ve got your kit, it’s time to move on to the actual sculpting.

STEP 2: Learn the technique(s).

First things first, you’re going to need a little help learning the right ways to work with your clay. There are thousands of tutorial books out there that you can find fairly easily on ebay (D.I.Y.polymer clay jewelry was super popular during the late 80s and early 90s, so the books are pretty cheap nowadays). However, if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably prefer real-time tutorials. And the very best place for that, as we all know, is YouTube.

Just searching “polymer clay tutorials” will bring up mind-boggling numbers of videos for you to check out. However, if you find that a little daunting, check out two of my favorite sculpting vloggers: Toni Ellison and Hollycopter. Toni’s tutorials center mainly around creating miniature life-like foods, while Hollycopter’s creations have a wider subject matter variety. The nerdier part of me would just like to point out that both users feature a line of D.I.Y. Harry Potter themed sculpting tutorials. You can watch Hollycopter make Harry’s birthday cake here.

STEP 3: Inspire yourself.

Don’t be afraid to Google what other people have made. After all, Picasso once said “good artists copy, great artists steal.” Now I’m not saying you should be a jerk and replicate somebody’s original design in order to take credit for the idea, but I am saying that it’s okay for you to copy a design to teach yourself a technique or to let somebody else’s work give you your own idea.

Polymer Clay on Pinterest

The obvious place to search is, as I said above, Google, but don’t underestimate the power of Pinterest. Not only does Pinterest allow you the ah-mazing ability to re-pin images in one place so you can come back to them, but it’s also full of D.I.Y. users like yourself. Which means that there are hundreds, if not thousands of users avidly searching for, and then sharing exactly the kinds of images and tutorials that you’ve been looking for. Of course, there are still other places for you to search if Pinterest just isn’t your thing. Try Etsy or DeviantArt for ideas. Again though, have the common courtesy to not take credit for someone else’s idea. Especially if you’re inspired by something on Etsy. As fellow members of the D.I.Y. community, the last thing we want to do is take the bread and butter out of our fellow crafter’s mouths.

STEP 4: Try, try again!

As much as we hate to hear it, practice does indeed make perfect. My earliest creations were sad little lumps that barely resembled the Disney characters I had modeled them after and they broke very easily. Don’t let yourself be discouraged and keep at it.

The Toothless figure on the left was sculpted four years after the one on the right. See the difference a little practice can make? Visit the artist here.

Whether you’re a complete newbie or someone whose sculpted before, I hope this two-part mini-series was of some help to you. Please feel free to send me any pictures of your own designs and sculptures; I’d love to feature them!

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Let’s Have a Clay-Date! Part 1

Last semester, I blogged a tutorial on how to make Despicable Me Minions out of polymer clay (you can see that tutorial here). To date, that was one of my most popular posts and the one that the most of you have expressed interest in. One of the most frequently asked questions I get about my clay charms is the classic “How do you do that?” Well, the easy answer is that I taught myself. The better answer is comprised of two blog posts; this one, and Part Two. If you’ve ever wanted to design and create your own jewelry, sculptures or other doodads; or if you’re just curious how the rest of us do it, then these are the posts for you.

STEP 1: Build yourself a kit.

Unfortunately, sculpting with polymer clay isn’t one of those rainy day crafts that only require construction paper and innovation, you actually need supplies. Now you can opt to go all out and assemble a master kit, or you can opt for a simpler version. Below, I provide the details on what I consider the “essentials” for doing the kind of work I do.

Fimo Clay Display

1. Clay

In order to sculpt polymer clay jewelry, you’re going to need polymer clay. Go figure right? The two biggest brands on the market right now are Fimo and Sculpey. Personally, I like to use Sculpey. It’s essentially the same thing except that Sculpey bakes at a lower temperature and is cheaper. (That last part appealed to the penniless college student in me.) You can find either brand at most craft stores like Michaels or JoAnns. You can also usually find it in art stores like Uncle Elis, but be prepared to face a smaller selection and pay more.

Assortment of Sculpting Tools

2. Sculpting Tools

The range here is ridiculous. Honestly, you can use just about anything that rolls, makes an imprint, cuts or pokes to work your clay. In my own experience there are 3 tools you can’t live without: something that cuts (X-acto knife or an old fashioned razor blade), something that rolls (either a clay rolling pin or even the handle of a sharpie), and something that pokes (a toothpick works just fine). If you’re considering assembling a more thorough kit, I highly recommend investing in a set of dental tools. The wide range of shapes and sizes allows you a lot of creative wiggle room.

E6000 Glue

3. Glazes/Glues

Have you ever found yourself in the glue aisle at Lowes or Home Depot? It’s overwhelming to say the least. But have no fear, there are a maximum of two glues/glazes that you need, and both of them are actually optional.

Firstly, you need a sealant to use on your finished pieces to protect them from dings, dents and other bits of wear and tear. I suggest Sculpey Clay Glossy Glaze.

Next, consider investing in a tube of E6000 glue. I have yet to find a glue stronger than this one and it’s absolutely perfect for attaching pieces of baked clay to one another.

Jewelry Findings

4. Hook-ups

Last, but not least, be sure to get yourself a wide variety of jewelry hook-ups such as chain, clasps, earring hook-ups and the like. If you’re only interested in sculpture, you can skip this part. WalMart has a great starter kit available here.

Well that’s enough to get you started. Continue on to Part 2 to learn a little about the technical aspects of sculpting polymer clay.

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Title IX: Behind the Times

See anything unusual about the photo above? No? Well neither do I. But you might when I tell you that the girl in Pink, Katie Hill, was actually born a boy named Luke, and that her boyfriend, Arin Andrews, was born a girl named Emerald. Both teens are transgender and have each successfully completed their transitions to the opposite sex.  Transgenderism, or gender identity disorder, is defined as “strong, persistent feelings of identification with the opposite gender and discomfort with one’s own assigned sex” and often a strong desire to live out their lives as members of the opposite sex.  Katie and Luke met when each of them was in the process of transitioning; you can read more of their story here.

See anything unusual now? Well I still don’t, but many of our nations schools disagree with me. In fact, many refuse protection for transgender students on the grounds that Title IX, the law that declares that protects students from sex-based discrimination, does not specifically include terms such as “transgender” or “gender identity”. In it’s current form, Title IX declares that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Since many schools feel that the law does not protect transgender students, many find themselves the victims of discrimination. The acts of discrimination vary from minor acts of prejudice to extreme acts of violence that can be classified as hate crimes. Four of the more common discriminatory acts that are specific to transgender cases include:

  1. Denial to appropriate gendered areas (such as locker rooms, bathrooms, etc.) that correspond with the student’s identified gender as opposed to their physical gender
  2. Denial of freedom of expression in the form of clothing choice and other aspects of physical appearance that correspond with the student’s identified gender as opposed to their physical gender (including uniform and prom attire)
  3. Improper use of pronouns and names by choosing to use the student’s birth name and corresponding gender pronoun instead of the identified name and gender pronoun
  4. Breech of the student’s right to privacy in which the school makes known the student’s birth gender instead of allowing the student discloses their birth gender at their own discretion

 

Josie Romero, born a boy named Joey, believes she was born in the wrong body.

This Dateline NBC documentary outlines the story of 11 year old Josie, then 9, and her own struggles with discrimination at her various schools as she undergoes the transition stage from male to female.

It’s important to note that unlike many other prejudices, discriminatory acts against pupils with gender-identity disorder are often unintentional and stem from misunderstanding rather than malice.  That being said, there are many documented cases of malevolence and violence directed at transgender individuals including derogatory slurs and sexual comments, cyber-bullying, threats and physical assault.

It is not only the absence of such discrimination that is required to protect the student’s welfare, but also the corporation of the school and its employees in attending to and complying with the prescribed treatment requirements for gender identity disorder as dictated by a psychologist.  Such treatment requirements include remedying the abovementioned discrimination via equal and considerate treatment as the members of the gender they identify with.  If the student is not given the proper prescribed treatment, they may experience severe anxiety, identity crisis and depression.  According to the Youth Suicide Protection Program, approximately 50% of transgender youth will have had at least one suicide attempt by their 20th birthday and many credit the trauma and prejudice faced within the educational system as the initial cause.

As a continuation of psychological developments such as identity crisis and depression, in extreme cases a transgender student may even attempt severe self-mutilation.  In such cases, the student endeavors to physically alter the physical attributes of their own bodies in an attempt to align with the gender they identify with.  Such attempts include attempting to amputate sexual organs such as the breasts or penis without medical professionals and in many cases using household objects such as nail clippers or scissors. Needless to say, the results of such self-surgery are often devastating and include irreparable bodily damage and in many cases death due to blood loss. Clearly, the lives of young individuals, in many cases children, are on the line.

It can not be expected that Title IX should be remedied immediately, or even quickly. Anyone familiar with equal rights movements is aware that unfortunately these movements take a great deal of time to achieve legislative progress. However, it is the responsibility of schools and teachers to protect their students by creating a safe environment either by instituting local policies or by merely increasing awareness and remedying their own detrimental behavior. Title IX may be behind the times, but that doesn’t mean that America’s schools need to follow suit.

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From the Source: Students Weigh in and Cash in on Biggest Problems Facing Schools

Limited funding, outdated teaching methods, overcrowded student populations; these are just a few of the many problems facing modern schools. It’s common to flip on the 6 o’clock news today and hear politicians and policy-makers bandying terms like “educational reform” and “increasing state educational budgets”, but what good are they actually doing? According to teachers and taxpayers, quite a lot. But according to students…not so much.

In October of 2013, PBS Newshour set out to interview  students about what they considered the real problems facing America’s schools (you can watch the full video below), and the answers were somewhat surprising.

Instead of the problems commonly listed by adults, such as limited technology, too many standardized tests and a lack of discipline in the STEM subjects, student responses hit a little closer to home. They, unlike their elders, see the problems with education stemming from themselves and not their environment. Namely, the number one response given as to the biggest problems facing schools today: a lack of motivation on the student’s behalf.

So how are educational systems supposed to motivate students? Isn’t the chance to go to college and get a good job enough incentive for them to work hard in high school? The obvious adult answer is yes, of course. But for those of us who either are currently students or have recently left the academic world of high school, I’m sure we remember differently.

In the clip above student Malachi Segers elaborates, “The biggest problem in education is motivation for students. They feel like they’re only going to school because they have to. If you say, ‘hey youre gonna go to college and get a good job’, that’s nice to hear, but they don’t really know that. You know, it’s in the future. It’s not something they can really grab on to. It’s not a tangible thing.”

Segers isn’t the only one realizing that students are looking for a reward for their efforts in the here and now rather than in the far-off future. In 2008, Chicago middle and high schools instigated a program called Green for Grades. As of 2008 approximately half of Chicago’s entering freshmen wound up leaving without a diploma. That translates to about 200,000 Chicagoans living without a complete high school education.

The Chicago program is in effect only through the freshman and sophomore years and students earn $50 for As, $35 for Bs and $20 for each C. A straight-A student could earn up to $4,000 through the program; money that parents with children in the program suggest be spent on college costs. Some argue that sums that large are too much for 14-16 year old students, but the school district has thought up a solution. Students only receive half of their money up front each marking period, and only get the second half after graduation, providing yet more incentive to complete high school. As of 2013, the Chicago graduation rate has increased from 50% in 2008 to almost 65.4%, a record high for the city. Though it isn’t certain that the only factor at play was the Green for Grades program, school officials maintain that the cash incentive played a huge role in the increased graduation rate. Following Chicago’s example, school districts across several states have either adopted a similar plan or are planning on adopting such a plan:

For every supporter of cash-reward educational programs, there is at least one nay-sayer. Many believe that education is a reward in and of itself, and that monetary rewards cheapen the value of education. “The idea that poor kids can only be bribed with money rather than authentically engaged with meaningful learning tasks is insulting and in some cases borders on racist,” said Alfie Kohn, author of Punished by Rewards. There are yet others who believe that exchanging good grades for money is perfectly acceptable, but that it is the role of the parents to such rewards.

Once again, a student in the PBS clip points out the problem with parent-provided rewards; “Whenever they [students] see that their parents don’t respect the fact that it is necessary to have an education in today’s society, they don’t place importance on it and they don’t reach their full potential.” What’s more, parents in the slums of Chicago (or any other poverty stricken area) wouldn’t have money to spare for rewards even if they do place importance on education.

Though there are certainly other ways to motivate kids to both stay in school and perform well academically, the cash incentive of a “right now” reward seems to be proving effective. It seems an adequate and tested method to put in effect, if only until a new or more effective system can be devised and put into place. The point is not to quabble over the right and wrong of the method of motivating students to excel in school, but rather to start today’s students on the path to graduation so that they do not miss crucial opportunities for lack of education.

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Kicking It

Well I don’t know about glass slippers, but I do know that I always feel cooler after I’ve donned a new pair of shoes. Now, I know that most of the guys out there are rolling their eyes and thinking stereotypical “here we go again”s with the female shoe craze, but I’m not all that interested in Jimmy Choo’s or  whatever the heck is in Vogue these days. No, I’m more of a sneakers girl and (like many many things residing in my wardrobe) I love it when my shoes have a nerdy spin on them. And, as usual, I usually do it myself. So for any of you wanting to show off your geek chic feet, hold onto your socks, because you’re sure to find at least one project that you’ll want to run away with 😉

star trek sharpie

Trekkie Sharpie Canvas Shoes

Sharpie

This is by far the easiest way to deck out (or should I say Trek out?) your shoes. All it takes is a pack of sharpies in whatever colors you desire, white canvas shoes, and a little dedication to sit and draw/color your design. I will stress that you need canvas shoes. Think along the lines of Vans, Chucks or Toms. Wal*Mart sells the same type of shoe for a lot less than any of the name brands. Take your time with your design. Start lightly in pencil and then color using strong solid strokes. If you just scribble the color will fade faster and your shoes will look sloppy. When you’re finished you can either wear them as is (Sharpie is fade and water resistant) or if you know they’ll be seeing a lot of wear, I recommend giving them a quick spray with water-proof boot protector. You can find it in the camping section of Wal*Mart or at just about any shoe store.

Zelda Sharpie

Legend of Zelda Vans for Legend of Zelda Fans

If you’re a little on the artistically challenged side, never fear, there are less elaborate ways to level up those boring canvas shoes of yours. For these Legend of Zelda Vans, try printing off a picture of the Tri-Force symbol and making it into a stencil. Again, start in pencil and then go back over your design, this time using a metallic sharpie.

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Comic Book Heels Pack a Real Kick

Comic Book Heels Pack a Real Kick

Decoupage

This is a great method for those of you who have more confidence in the artwork of others than in your own. I myself have made a pair of comic book flats in the past, and they’re a great conversation piece. You don’t have to make heels or flats though, this technique works just as well on canvas shoes. Start out by cutting out the paper pieces you’d like to add to your shoe (comic strips, candy wrappers, pieces of old books, sheet music, etc., etc…), lay down an even layer of Mod-Podge, carefully place your pieces, andseal with several coats of Mod-Podge to waterproof your new kicks. You can watch a more thorough tutorial video below:

♫ We're Off To See The Wizard ♪

♫ We’re Off To See The Wizard ♪

Glitter

Last, though certainly not least, is the potential of glitter. Again, this is a super easy way to customize shoes. Just apply fabric glue or Mod-Podge, shake a coat of glitter over it and then let it dry. When you’ve done as many layers of glitter as you want, just seal your shoes with a couple of coats of Mod-Podge and you’re ready to go.

R2D2 Glitter Flats

R2D2 Glitter Flats

If you’re looking for something a little more on the unique side, try adding some detail work in different colors of glitter to depict your fandom of choice. Click here for a tutorial on incorporating designs into your glitter work.

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Food & Fitness Regulations: War on Obesity or Infringement of Student’s Rights?

Are government fitness programs helping or hurting America’s youth?

A few weeks ago I managed to find time to make a trip home to see my family. Instead of the traditional “hi” or “how’ve you been?”, my little brother opted for a more unique greeting; “Michelle Obama won’t let us have salt!”

…What? After several minutes of trying to decode my brother’s impassioned babble, I realized that he was talking about one of the newly added provisions to the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Drafted by the Obamas and signed into effect 4 years ago, this act decreed new standards and regulations applying to the quality and quantity of food served in U.S. schools. Among other changes to the system, it granted the United States Department of Agriculture “the authority to set nutritional standards for all foods regularly sold in schools during the school day, including vending machines, the “a la carte” lunch lines, and school stores”. Which, yes, includes limiting the salt intake of American kids by eliminating their access to it during school meals.

lets moveThe Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, along with Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! organization and the Presidential Fitness Challenge were created to fight growing childhood obesity rates in America. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of obese children aged 6–19 years in the United States increased on average from 6% in 1980 to nearly 19.5% in 2012. Of course this isn’t new news, American obesity rates have been on the rise in general over the past 20 years.

But even taking that into account, where is the line between encouraging healthful living and infringing on the rights of student’s to determine their own means of living, or even the rights of their parents to decide their means of living? When does government controlled “healthy” eating become unhealthy?

Originally the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act commanded that each student meal consist of 750-850 calories, even though active adolescents need between 2000-5000 calories a day. Meaning that the school-provided lunches were approximately 800 or more calories short of what a teenager needs, particularly when that teen may be growing faster than their peers (thereby needing more food to sustain energy) or is actively involved in physical activities. Not surprisingly, many students and parents are upset by these regulations, feeling that children were being forcefully put on a government-regulated diet without consideration of each individual’s nutritional needs. In response to the act, Wallace County High School teachers and students banded together to create a music video entitles “We Are Hungry” set to the tune of “We Are Young” by Fun. The video (shown below) features images of students falling asleep in class from lack of energy, being unable to sustain extended physical activity in sports and gorging themselves on junk food brought from home in order to appease the hunger brought on by reduced lunch sizes.

So many public displays of protest forced the White House to amend aspects of the program in 2012 to increase the number of calories provided per lunch, though other changes (like the elimination of salt) have been put into place to compensate for the added calories.

A passionate debate still wages on about whose responsibility it is to determine what and how much a student eats, and many say that it is the duty of the school (particularly in cases of poor students, whose one large meal a day may come at school) to provide not only a nutritious meal, but a substantial one as well. On the other side of the debate are those who feel that regardless of the situation at home, it is the parent’s duty to ensure that the students get enough to eat and the school’s responsibility to ensure that they get nutritious food to eat. Amie Hamlin, executive director of NY Coalition for Healthy School Food released a statement to The Daily Beast, “If you have a 225 lb. high school student who should really weigh 150 lbs., and they’re 75 lbs. overweight, it does take more calories to maintain that weight. Yeah, they’re hungry. But do they need those extra calories in the school lunches? Is it the taxpayers’ job to pay for more calories so that they can maintain that weight?”

Not getting enough to eat can cause students to lose energy as the day goes on.

Kathleen Sebelius, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, states that the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act is meant to give kids “access to healthy, balanced, nutritious school lunches.” That sounds all well and good in theory, but the programs currently in place are doing more harm than good by forcing students to turn to less healthy eating habits to compensate for the lack of food they receive in schools. What’s more, the government seems to be underestimating student’s abilities to determine nutritious meals based on the individual rather than on the average student. Though well-intended and potentially great, the current programs in place are doing more harm than good.

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These Frozen D.I.Y. Projects Are Just Too Cool

1380596_601704239887863_1207634075_nWarm weather is finally returning to Happy Valley!! And although it feels like Spring is here For The First Time in Forever, I’m still holding tight to Disney’s Frozen and all the D.I.Y. splendor that it has inspired. I’m just not ready to Let It Go 😉 

I know that the film debuted months ago, but I have to say that the internet surprised me with the speed with which it responded to Disney’s newest hit. I mean, I expected Tumblr to go crazy (when doesn’t it?) but I wasn’t expecting the massive avalanche of D.I.Y. projects that surfaced. Lucky for artsy kids like me, there’s no shortage of Frozen themed crafts out there.

olaf treatsI’m a bit of an ice-cream enthusiast in general, but especially so when the weather gets hot. Nerdy Nummies has pulled through for us yet again with an adorable Olaf sundae tutorial. If you don’t find these little guys cute then I’d day you have a Frozen Heart. This is definitely an easy-level project that even beginning bakers could easily tackle. It’s really just as simple as a decorated cookie and some scoops of ice cream. But you’ve got to admit that these treats are almost too cool to eat. You can watch the full tutorial below:

 

disneyboundingI’m not normally a “trendy” person as it were, but there’s a new fad sweeping the internet that I am just flipping over. It’s called Disneybounding, and the general premise is that using everyday clothes you might have in your wardrobe, you emulate your favorite Disney character’s costumes. Frozen is definitely a great source of inspiration as the costumes received a lot of detailed attention. For an Anna Disneybound look, all you need is a pair of dark tights, boots, a black tee-shirt, a blue skirt and a purple or pink cardigan. Just add some braided pigtails and ouila! You’re channeling your inner heroine. Elsa is even simpler; a white or light blue top paired with a flowy blue scarf and a single fishtail braid. You could even ditch the tights and make this a perfect look for In Summer. Guys aren’t to be left out of the Disneybounding craze, though I will say that I haven’t seen a lot of creativity in the male Frozen Disneybounds. The suggested Hans outfit is definitely a Fixer Upper.

 

I don’t know about you guys, but by the time Spring semester rolled around, I was getting pretty sick of the same old decorations hanging around my dorm room. Loving Disney as I do I did a quick Google search and found this lovely tutorial to make glowing terrariums. And the best part? You can find most of this stuff at the Dollar Store. A great (and spill proof) alternative to these are Frozen themed snow globes. Just like in kindergarten, you just glue a small toy to the lid of a jar, fill the jar with water and glitter and then glue the lid on. It’s a great way to have the gorgeous view of winter without all of the crappy weather and suffering cold.

 

banner Another great addition to decorate the dorm is this free printable Arindale banner. It represents the film in an understated way (for those of you who aren’t keen on plastering your walls with cartoons) and hosts a great color scheme. Plus, what’s easier and more budget friendly than printing out some paper?

***I apologize for all of my puns in this particular post. There was just snow way I could resist them.***

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2000 Degrees: A Review

Although I mentioned it in a previous post, I had never had the opportunity to visit 2000 Degrees. That is until last Friday and I have to say that I give the experience it five out of five stars. 

2000 Degrees is located at 202 W. College Ave at the corner of Fraser St. and College Ave.

For those of you who don’t recall 2000 Degrees or have never heard of it, let me give you a quick run-down. Located on College Avenue in downtown State College, 2000 Degrees is a D.I.Y. pottery  studio where you are able to purchase pre-made pottery pieces and glaze them yourself. The studio will then fire your pieces and you can pick them up a few days later. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and extremely helpful. All-in-all the experience was a great one, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a creative date or just a way to relax and get your creative juices flowing. In case you aren’t sold on the idea, let me walk you through the process and offer some tips that I picked up on during my own time at the studio.

An assistant guides this young artist through the steps of glazing.

The Introduction

When you first arrive, you will be greeted by a member of the staff inquiring as to whether or not you’ve been there before. If you answer no, then you’re in for a full tour of the materials and processes. The assistant will show you where all of the brushes and glazes are located as well as giving you some advice on using the glazes. They’ll also show you examples of the different techniques so that you have a good idea of what to do.

TIP: Pay attention during this part. You’re always free to ask the associates questions and they’re more than happy to help you, but there are some key things you need to remember. For example, ALWAYS glaze 3 separate times and blow dry your piece before proceeding to the next layer. If you don’t do multiple layers, your piece’s glaze will be see-through and streaky.

The Pottery Wall

Picking Out Your Pottery

Next, you’ll be directed to the wall of pottery that lines one half of the store. All of the pieces have the price written on the bottom in pencil. The cost of the basic pottery pieces varies from $3-$49, but most are under $20. Studio time is $6 an hour for adults, but they stop charging after an hour and a half. Also, they offer half off studio time on Mondays if you bring a friend. It might sound a little pricey, but all of your glazes are included in your studio fee and you can use as many colors as you want. And trust me, it’s a lot cheaper than it would be to make and glaze your own pottery from scratch.

Glazing

This is the fun part. Using the techniques you were taught earlier, you get to decorate your piece to your liking. There are completed pieces on display around the studio to serve as inspiration. Just be sure to blow-dry each layer of glaze before starting on the next one. There are several hairdryers located around the room for this purpose.

TIP #1: Give yourself plenty of time to work!! I thought that the  2 hours between classes would be plenty of time for me and I wound up rushing myself at the end. This is definitely something you will get wrapped up in.

TIP #2: Bring resource material. Think about the kinds of things you might want to paint on your piece. I brought some images from Google to assist me. Just do a little browsing before you start working to give yourself some ideas.


Picking Up

When you finish your pieces, you’ll leave your number with the assistant and in 3 days they’ll call to let you know your pieces are ready to be picked up.

TIP: Bring a sturdy bag to carry your finished pieces home in. They’re more than happy to wrap them in newspaper, but you’ll still want to make sure you’re gentle. They are ceramic after all.


Using

All of their pieces are microwave and dishwasher safe, so you can use them like you would any other dishes. So stop making excuses and give 2000 Degrees a try! Just a note, you don’t have to make a reservation to paint. There’s plenty of room for walk-ins. 🙂

 

This is the mug I painted during my visit. Of course I just HAD to rep my geek girl pride and do a Harry Potter one :) "Don't let the muggles get you down. - Ron Weasley"

This is the mug I painted during my visit. Of course I just HAD to rep my geek girl pride and do a Harry Potter one 🙂
“Don’t let the muggles get you down. – Ron Weasley”

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D.I.Y. Denim

This is a Marvel jacket I customized for my boyfriend.

I know, I know, denim is so 1970-something. But I’ve got to say, I like it. And maybe that’s just my down-home country roots, but I honestly think the appeal lies in the fact that A. it’s highly customizable, and B. it’s hard-wearing. So your lovely alterations will last a long time, as opposed to cotton, which has a fairly short life-span in the world of fabrics.

You can really do just about anything you want to a denim article of clothing, but for this post I’m just going to focus on the three things I do most often and that I think will be of the most interest; fabric panels, embellishment, and distressing.

Fabric Panels
back panel detailAs you can see in the pictures above and to the right, fabric panels bring a lot to a jacket. Especially when you consider all of the custom (*coughnerdycough*) fabrics available now. Joann’s has a splendorous selection of character fabrics available here. Though it looks intimidating, I can promise you it’s not that daunting of a task. There are actually two method of adding fabric panels; one that involves basic sewing skills, and one that involves no sewing at all.

Marvel Shorts

For the Marvel jacket, I used the sewing method. Unfortunately, I only took before/after pictures and have none of the process. However, I was fortunate enough to find a tutorial similar to what I did in case you need visual images to walk you through. Basically, first you purchase enough fabric to cover the panel you want to cover (any of you familiar with denim jackets will recognize they’re are already divided by the seams). Then you’ll want to lay your jacket out flat, and starting in one corner of the panel and working your way around, gently fold the fabric under and line it up against the edge of your panel. Pin it in place. When you’re done, sew a seam following the edges of the panel about a 1/4 of an inch from the edge of your decorative fabric. Be sure that the seam catches the folded under part of your fabric. See? Easy. You really only require the most basic knowledge of a sewing machine. You can also adapt this method for any kind of denim-wear such as vests or shorts like the ones pictured above.

The no-sew version is a great alternative if you don’t have access to a sewing machine, but I will forewarn you that your panel may come off if you wear the jacket heavily. Also, the double-faced interfacing used in the video tutorial below may make the garment hard to wash. All-in-all I recommend the sewing version, but this is a good alternative if you’re looking to complete this craft in college or if you know you won’t be wearing your garment too heavily.

 

Embellishment

The sky is truly the limit when it comes to embellishing your denim. One of the more obvious ways to add some flair is with patches. If you’re looking for some geeky ones I highly recommend Etsy. In particular the shop MyHoard has some AMAZING custom Disney patches. Personally, I’m in love with the Kevin (from UP) patch. You can add these to a piece of clothing either by iron-on transfers or by hand-sewing them on. Again, the sewing option adds more support for your patch and decreases the likelihood that it’ll fall off.

Pearl Vest2You can also take a more feminine approach by simply sewing pearls and different beads in strategic places. You can take it a step further by sewing your doo-dads on in a shape. Also, there’s also the option of embellishing your denim with the (surprisingly) still popular BeDazzler wand. Wal*Mart sells the mini version for just $9.95.

 

Distressing

To close, I’d just like to briefly touch on distressing denim. I could write a really convoluted paragraph detailing various ways to abuse your fabric for the sake of fashion, but in all honesty I learned by watching other people do it, so I’m going to refer you to the video below for some different techniques. Be cautious when distressing denim, or you’re likely to do real damage to the fabric beyond the point of decoration.

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Turn On or Turn Off? Should Technology Play a Major Role in Education?

To many, memories of the classroom include desks, chalkboards and books. Lots of books. In fact, a book for almost every subject. But books may be a thing of the past for students of the future, and they’re not the only traditional teaching tool on the way out. Chalkboards too are quickly finding themselves on the endangered list, and even pens and pencils are more and more often being dubbed “optional”.

Tools in the form of laptops, tablets, promethean boards and even smart-phones are making their way into the public school system. Many parents and educators argue that adding technology to the classroom can only be damaging to their students. They cite the common belief that children’s use of the internet, texting and other technologies decrease literacy. While this theory is widely believed in, new findings are suggesting that this isn’t so.

In the video below, David Crystal, one of the world’s leading linguists, discusses the myths and realities of literacy/language and its relationship to technology. Supported by research done at Coventry University, Crystal states that “the more you text, the better your literacy scores…the earlier you get your mobile phone, the better your literacy scores” because at the most fundamental level, texting is still writing and reading. The same results occur over any field of technology that requires assimilating information and responding to it in a mobile or online format. “Here is a technology that’s come along…which is giving young people more motivation to write and read.”In short, modern students have more opportunity than their parents to read and write because the online world is primarily one of the written word, and as a result of this their literacy levels are higher than the generation before them.

While literacy levels may be improved by online communication, the online nature of it is having negative effects of its own. Supporters of traditional learning methods argue that technology is taking the people out of the equation and that today’s students are unable to communicate in real life because of their exposure to it. In a national survey of American employers, 93% of those asked said that they preferred employees who were proficient in in-person communication. In 2012, Forbes published an article outlining the dangers technology poses to communication. It highlights the fact that a mere 7% of communication is based on the written or verbal word while 93% is based on nonverbal body language. When students are focused on the technology at hand during their formative years, they aren’t learning the physical skills they need in order to communicate in-person, and they aren’t being adequately prepared for the work force.

The Evolution of Education

Still there are other educators who argue that implementing more technology in the classroom is simply the next stage of education. David Warlick, well known educator, author and programmer, has been arguing for the integration of technology in American schools for nearly 30 years. He feels that educators need to maintain the same level of technology in schools as is present in the “real world” since that is the environment that students will be encountering. Warlick states that “we need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher’s hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we experience much of our world.”

It’s certainly true that many (if not most) of us view our world through the lens of social media. Yet most schools block social media websites on school servers and write them off as mere “distractions.” If technology is to be utilized in today’s classrooms, why not start with the technology that is most directly related to our day-to-day lives? Time and time again social media has proven itself to be a marketing and information-sharing asset when used properly. Following a University of Minnesota study on the use of social media in schools, researcher Christine Greenhow”by understanding how students may be positively using these networking technologies in their daily lives and where the as-yet-unrecognized educational opportunities are, we can help make schools even more relevant, connected, and meaningful to kids.” You can listen to an interview with Greenhow below.

Unlike many issues facing modern education, the role of technology in the classroom is far from black and white. It is almost inevitable that classrooms will implement various forms of it in the future. The real questions are how many of the old methods are going to remain and when will the final shift occur?

On that note, I’d like to end with a quote from the Superintendent of Lake Orion Community Schools and educational blogger, Marion Ginopolis: “It is not about the technology; it’s about sharing knowledge and information, communicating efficiently, building learning communities and creating a culture of professionalism in schools. These are the key responsibilities of all educational leaders.”

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