So, I mixed a few colors of polymer clay to resemble the natural
tones of a live mushroom, and rolled the clay around a wire, topped with
a clay mushroom cap carefully shaped with a manicure-tool, and with the
point of a pin, applied clay polka dots to the cap. Likewise, I
created mini succulent plants with the green tones of the clay, rolling
out and slicing tendrils and pressing them together to form a miniature
aloe/agave.
I began with a variety of miniature glass vessels. In went the
elements of our full-size terraria; colorful sands and bits of fragrant
reindeer moss. I wanted to add something extra-cool; living mushrooms
can’t really be cultivated in a terrarium (or at least, to my knowledge)
though I’d love to give it a go, but I thought of a way to incorporate
adorable little mushrooms into the necklace version, by creating them
out of polymer clay.
I love terrariums; the idea of an entire ecosystem existing under
glass, green things growing and thriving, bits of nature you can keep
close-by on a table or desk. We make contemporary terrariums at
Hieropice, but only sell them at shows, due to the risk of damage during
shipping. I wanted to make a version of our terrariums available to
customers who can’t make it to shows in New England; a small, portable
version of them that could be worn.
Someone inquired recently about our
Lost World Mini Terrarium Necklaces,
and how they are made. The short answer is, very carefully! Joking
aside, they’re the product of a lot of intricate work, and I appreciate
the question. For artists who handmake work for sale, the process is
often ignored in favor of the appearance of the finished product. If
you’ve ever hand-made anything, you know that the process, the work,
materials, skill, and effort that went into it is 80% of the finished
product’s significance. And those of us who hand-make for a living
really love it when someone appreciates the work we do! So here’s a bit
on the process of making these pieces.
I trimmed the wires and the pieces went into the oven, and
afterwards, I strategically placed them in the vessels with a narrow
pair of tweezers. Adding additional Spanish moss or sand, and sealing
with waterproof adhesive and a decorative stopper finishes them off, and
they’re hung on meticulously-selected chain. Each one is unique,
incorporating some elements and not others, created with color,
contrast, and balance in mind. That’s the process, in a nut-shell, and
thanks to the fan who inquired!
