Review on Modena Clay

Yay, I got an update! I hope you are as excited when reading this post as I am writing it. :)
And I have been promising to do this review for a long long time, but I haven't really got the time to do it. I really hate to say it but yeah... work has been increasing ever since I changed job and my health is also not helping at all. T∆T;

Anyway let's get on with the modena review... or maybe I should say with my opinion while working with it :) I will still suggest you to try it yourself (if you like to) to know how to work with it.
My modena packs are still the old packaging; I bought them at the end of 2011 if I'm not wrong. Always wanted to try them out, but had to delay the plan since I was busy writing my tutorial book. Didn't include them in the book either, because at that time I got zero experience with it.


When I first open the package, modena feels more or less as soft as Grace; and not as sticky. I tried to make plates, cups, and bowls using it and totally fell in love with the result. It "falls" in to the mold very easily, even to the smallest impression. And when I missed a few, just add more clay to the gap and it was also easy to smoothen it out.

the shrinkage

and it's very flexible

I am pretty much loving the result. Although another challenge might proves it otherwise. When I was making the 1:4 scaled baby octopus for my osechi, I thought the elasticity of Modena could help "curl" its tentacles. You can see below is the comparison, left side is 50% Grace +50% Modena while the right side is pure Grace.

If you see closely, the one with the Modena mix breaks apart and not smooth. It was not because the clay is too dry when I was shaping it. Usually I don't mind because I can leave it to dry and fix it with wet clay later on. Then on this part where I got frustated while working on it. Modena easily absorb any water and makes some part "breaks" apart; even more than Grace. I tried using less water, but it didn't work for me. And that was why I gave up and made another batch of the baby octopus using Grace only.

But I am still hoping I can find a good use for Modena :)

Out of topic; earlier this week I've managed to find my books at Kinokuniya! Copies are available in all the 3 branches of Kinokuniya Singapore in the English Craft Section. For other Asian countries, you can contact Kinokuniya to make a special order through them! :)

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Online Shop finally opened!

You can see the tabs above or click through here.

Let me know if you find any trouble clicking through the website since this is my first time editing HTML. *fingers cross that everything will go well.

I will post the STGCC 2012 report soonish :)

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Fun with Resin ^^

So I have finally succeeded in molding the trays which I previously draw and carve it out of wood (please see my previous post here). I used silicone pour RTV 585 (which is a pain to make X( ) Have to redo it twice before I can be satisfied. The biggest problem is the air bubbles which make the mold impossible to use. Snowfern taught me that you can use the washing machine to shake those irritating bubble out. But how can you use a washing machine in the middle of the night? (Hahaha, I always work in the night time XD). Soooo, my solution is my old dusty fan! XD (No dirty thoughts please Xd)

My initial idea is to color it opaque, but I think I failed. XD Because it is hard to paint on resin, and the brush won't let me color it evenly :(

So the second one I left it transparent, which match the glasses quite well :)

I will give these (tray + glass) to the next six customer (with at least $30 amount purchased, excluding shipping). The first one will get to choose which tray they want (the next one can also choose, provided that it is still available).

These below are my final decision of the trays. XD

I can probably have it in different colors, but these are what I am satisfied with. I put some cakes, just for fun. :)

I molded some glasses too, and filled it up with milk (which matches the color of the milk cartons) and purple juice. XD I made jams and jellies too, but they haven't finished, so these drinks are left-over resin I have.

The one below is my first listing of the month. None are glued, so it can be arranged as you like. More photos on my flickr / etsy. :)

Strawberry Set

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Fruits and Puff Pastries

These are new oranges (1:4 and 1:12) made out of sukerukun + watercolour.

I believe they are not completely dry (?) yet, as sukerukun can take 3-4 days to completely shows its transparency. In few more days (I hope that I don't forget) I'll show you how the end result.

The one below are 1:4 raspberries. And I've tried to mold it out using Alley Goop. Well, the 2 parts mold was actually an accident but it turns out great! I actually forgot that actually half of it was sukerukun, so they shrank more than what I have expected.

This strawberry cane was made with air dry clay! ^^

Due to my curiosity, I found a way to make it like Angie Scarr's method. I will not recommend anyone to make this though, you have to be very patient and must know how to "condition" it. Not that I say I "know-it-all"; I still made mistakes (more mistakes rather than a good one). I end up with a batch of pink left-over which I hope I can make something out of it!

Last but not least, here are puff pastries or you may call it danishes?

They are too small for 1:12, with only 7 mm length each. -And- they are not dry yet! I am being impatient I know XD. Some parts are assembled half-dry, and I expect some fruits will turn darker (as it looks a bit too pale right now).

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Onsen Panda and some great tools!

These were the reason why I have been quiet last week - as Snowfern said "got too serious" or as I said "too much fun". XD

Haha, if I were to explain how my mind goes when I was making it, it will turn into a very boring essay. But you can expect that they are going to show up in some of the food i will make!

I also got some cool tools last week. These 3 molds and an extruder! Hahaha, now I can skip searching and buying and waiting for the correct utensils for the foods!

Nyann have introduced the original maker of these mold, Bruce Models. For all of you who don't understand chinese (or the memory has been wiped out like me XP), you can run through the site with google translator.

I played around with sukerukun again. It took about 3-4 days for it to dry and reach that transparency like above. I believe that it can be better if you gloss it with the special varnish, but I don't have it right now. But I can conclude that pure sukerukun are rubbery and shrink 15-20%.

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I start to sell my molds ^^

I am very bad at promoting my etsy XP. I am not a sweet talker, I always just say straight to the point. You can guess I always got lousy score at my essay tests. I am trying though ^^.

I bet it sounds strange when I am a writer. I guess because as a writer, I can go on as wild while I can't really do it in my whole entire life.

I am starting to sell my own handmade molds. They can be used for air dry clay and polymer clay, as it can be baked and stand up to 400ºF. They are flexible, so actually you can pop them out very easily without any releasing agent.

I won't be selling too expensively, because I always think myself as a buyer too.

I am so proud of my heart-cream-shape. And decided to try to make the mold so I can work faster, because I am not very good at piping creams. And maybe (I think) some people would have the same feeling as me! XD

But maybe I should put the price higher since I am saving up to buy my own dolls (which are increasing in number, thanks to someone >,<;) LoL

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I'm in love *v*

*for my parents and friends, do not be alarmed by the title nor get to excited. LoL

As some of you who might know me, yes this is still me. I'm in love with everything else rather than you first might have thought. ^0^

I'm just in love with Watermelon Kakigori which I stumbled onto the store with grumbling tummy. I ordered much more than what I usually eat, but I did not regret it!

On the downside, my friend, please remind me not to eat ice on rainy days!

I bought the 2-part of silicone mold last week. It works great! Although it cures rather too fast (around 30 seconds?) I'm starting to blame my hot hands *.*;

Because I have to work very quick, I began to panick. And that is why they are not line up well enough. >,<;

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