Polymer Clay: Flower Inclusions

     So it looks like I'm getting a second chance to add a little nature to my clay work. Since my mother has been receiving flowers ever since her knee surgery and the first bouquet is finally starting to die off, I've been collecting the dried flowers for another attempt at making beads with flower inclusions. Learning from my last disaster, I won't be creating more tupperware of death. I'm leaving the flowers out to dry in the open air, the slow way. I might try to put some petals in the microwave, just because I'm impatient. We'll see. Anyway, for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about when I say "flower inclusions" I decided to put up some pictures of successful inclusions from artist Marie Segal. All of the following photos are her work.

Larkspur

Amaranth

Chili Peppers

Lemon Verbena

     So basically, you take crushed flowers and mix it up with translucent clay to create unique beads. Ta da! Hopefully I'll be making pretty stuff soon. So far I have yellow roses and red carnations. We'll see how it goes.