Doll Series I'm Moving right along

I think one of the biggest frustration when using polymer clay is DIRT.. Not specks but the dingy grey.. For many of you have fallen into the category along with me just know this your not alone.  When I first took up polymer clay I could not figure out how others kept there clay so clean.  To only find out years and years later they have the same problem too.  There are ways and I mean many ways to clean your clay.  And the reason for this is because there is always someone trying something to keep it clean.  I have worked with polymer clay for a very long time and I have developed my own way of understanding it and when its starting to attack my clay.  Let me reassure any of you that the longer you work with polymer clay the more you will understand how it works with you.  When you can start seeing patterns your on the way to working with the clay and not letting the clay work against.  It was made to have fun and not get frustrated.  Its truly not the clay thats the problem.  The clay is teaching us to understand how we work with just ourselves.
Here I'm sharing some methods I use to clean my clay.  Oh yes and I have many more LOL.. Hope you enjoy..  Please feel free to share with your friends and bring the brightness back into your clay.

Baking polymer clay is important but each individual must experiment with there ovens.

Baking Soda and Freezer I feel has been misused. Watch and see what I found

I really wanted to make this one as my next video because I feel this information is very important.  When using baking soda to cook your polymer clay in has always worked for me and everyone of my students as well.  What I found is that it got misused by leaving the raw clay on top of the baking soda and not cooking it till later. Polymer clay has oil and we don't want to loose all the oils if so you will have major problems.  Cornstarch can do the same anything that absorbs.  When I cook it I only use the soda to absorb moisture thats it.  Polymer clay doesn't like moisture and I feel some brands have more moisture then others.  If you should sculpt on a day that is humid or damp  I found you sculpt it into the clay. Now about the taking clay out of hot oven and putting in cold.  I have found by having a controlled temperature you have a much better chance of it not cracking.  I explain that in the video. I do not believe the cold makes the clay stronger.  Hope you enjoy!