Photography & Editing Tutorials

Hello my sweet honey bunnies :)

I am happy to announce that my two very important photography and editing tutorials are ready and are available from links below:

PHOTOGRAPHY TUTORIAL for BEGINNERS

PHOTO EDITING TUTORIAL

Thank you very much for watching and I hope these tutorials will help improve the quality of your photographs. Your artworks are amazing and I just hope I can help you out with presenting them in a easy and possible way!

Thanks for reading,

Chinese Dragon (Totoku) - New Journal

Recently I received a custom order for a wedding journal. It was a special wedding journal in festive, bold and rich colors - reds, purples and pinks with a lot of gold shimmer. Client specifically requested to have a Chinese dragon on it and butterflies. I worked for few days and finally came up with this wonderful journal which I can't help but admire myself (sorry).

I am always happy to tell you a new story and this time it is a story of a little Chinese festive dragon named Totoku. He is a happy little joyful dragon and he loves butterflies. But there is one butterfly in his life that he cherishes the most. This butterfly is a love of his life. She is the most beautiful for him and he loves playing with her and spending all the time together. They can't talk but he knows that butterfly truly and deeply loves him, too. They spirits are connected in this happy and colorful dance and they both know that their connection was blessed by God and will last forever. Dragon protects his butterfly and butterfly always blesses him with her beauty.
I hope you like it and enjoyed the story. Please let me know in this blog comments your precious thoughts! :)
SEE MORE PICTURES HERE:

Night Out Necklace ( Youtube tutorial)

I am glad that my Youtube channel started to attract more beautiful people and I am receiving some lovely pictures of artworks inspired by me or pictures of people trying and succeeding in making something from my tutorials. This is very inspiring and it makes me want to work even more. I want to give back as much as I can.

So today  am happy to announce that new tutorial is out. 

This tutorial will teach you how to make a feather effect necklace and will give you a great possibility to practice working on feather textures. It also involves playing with MICA Powders which I am finding super fun! So please enjoy and tell me what you think about it in comments bellow.

Thanks a lot,

Competitive Spirit ^^

Hello my sweet honey bunnies :)

Today I want to show you my newest creation - Heaven Jellyfish.

This one was made last night from 10PM till 3AM :) So I wasn't sleeping this night quite well :)

We have a competition going on in MY CLAY FANTASY GROUP on Facebook and I was so excited to see amazing entries that it automatically set me into a competitive spirit and I decided to try something I never tried before. I had a bit of green and blue translucent clay left from my previous project and so I started.

I used a bulb as a base and I applied a really thin layer of translucent blue Fimo. I had to warm up my working surface ( tile) in the oven to make sure I can condition clay properly. It is very hard to condition translucent clay on a cold tile. It gets so brittle! With warm tile I found it easier. 

After that was done - I places my clay on the bulb and started to play with textures. I decided to make lots of little ornamental holes since jellyfishes have amazing patterns on their domes sometimes.

The hardest and the most scariest part was cracking the bulb with a sharp pin and a hammer. It cracked perfectly though and I was able to extract all glass parts with my tweezers.  

After that I jumped straight into making thin layers of blue clay and texturising them so much, that they started to shine through and look organic. Then I used some Mica powders ( Aqua, Dark Sky and Pearl) to make my jellyfish shiny, perlescent and to add some more dimension. I also made some mini spirals from green clay to add up some colour and texture to my creation.

When everything got baked - I connected everything together with pins and jump rings ( it was hard..).

After that I jumped straight into photography. I only had a black glossy screen of my monitor, my table lamp, some clasps and a wooden stick. This is all I used :) And I also tried to dim the light with a piece of kitchen towel... Couldn't find anything better at 3AM!
So here are the main results and you can see more great pictures here.

Thank you for reading my jellyfish story,

Signs of appreciation

Recently I received a custom order from a customer from Tasmania. I loved the idea so much and jumped into work straight away!
A lovely girl named Paige wanted me to create an A4 sketchbook for her boyfriend's 20th Birthday. He is a tattoo artist and also an owner of a beautiful Lion tattoo designed by himself. She sent me some pictures of this lion:

 I worked hard on this journal and it took me 3 days to figure out how to transform a plain picture to a 3D clay sculpture. I worked a lot with cut out layers but I also had to sculpt some parts in 3D, like nose and eyes. I also worked a lot with textures and to show off my textures in the best way I tried for the first time some MICA POWDERS on this journal.

 Here is the final result and you can also GO HERE to see more progress pictures, ready product and read my client's words of appreciation.

This is so lovely when you know how dear your journal are for other people. This is what keeps me going.

Thank you for reading

MAKE A STATEMENT!

Here I am again! 

I couldn't wait till tomorrow and I decided to post this blog post now! :)

I am glad to announce that I've happily finished my STATEMENT NECKLACE from Polymer Clay tutorial and I am eager to share it with you so you can get all colourful for this spring and summer!

Please let me know your thoughts about my tutorial new style, text font and this statement piece itself!

Also enjoy some beautiful photographs made by my fiancé who is making a bold statement that he hates taking pictures :) (He is damn good, right?)

New Tutorials coming soon

Hello my sweet honey bunnies!

This weekend I am working on my new tutorials. They both are filmed already and I am editing ^^
I am excited to announce that both of these tutorials are with polymer clay and both feature great and simple, but very effective and colorful techniques. Tutorial will be available soon on Mymandarinducky and you can enjoy your stay there and watch some other lovely tutorials while you waiting ❤
Here are work in progress pictures:

The Hive - Alien Inspired Journal

Hello my dark honey bunnies :)

I would like to present my newest A5 polymer Clay Journal called  "The Hive" in a way no one ever presented polymer clay yet!

100% handcrafted from polymer clay using only professional sculpting tools, no moulds, no stamps. For more pictures and information please visit:

JOURNAL GALLERY

WATCH VIDEO

Gallery:

Pearls and Inks

Few days ago I posted a post in soem FB groups and I asked for suggestion on one of my journals. I made a mistake when covered it in silver and black acrylics.

Many beautiful artists suggested me so much different stuff that I couldn't resist to go and buy some beautiful pearls, Inks and pastes :) Some of them are still in shipping and some of them are on my table :) This is my very first post to show what I got at the moment :) I will keep you updated on projects I will use these finishes for. Have a lovely glittery day!

Owls and Dragons

Hello my sweet honey bunnies!

These days I am being busy with working on some custom orders and I created 3 journals so far.
One of my customers ordered whole two Owl Journals and they were supposed to be quite similar but not identical. One is for her and another for her friend :) So I tried to make my owls look like sisters.

The other piece was designed for my many time return customer who loves my dragons :)
So she ordered two more honey dragons from me. I finished one of them few days ago and here is the picture.

Thank you so much,
Aniko xxx

Easter Bunny Pin

As Easter is approaching rapidly I have this little gift for everyone to enjoy. If you are getting ready for Easter and working with polymer clay - I have a cute suggestion on decorating a back of your brooches. (Just in case if you make some egg, bunny or chicken brooches or pins :) )
Here are two tutorials for you to enjoy!
Please let me know what you think and if this tutorial is any useful :)
And here are the links!

PDF for Bunny Pin Tutorial

PDF for Ducky Pin Tutorial

The Azure Dreamer

Hello my sweet honey bunnies!

Days are getting warmer and warmer and even if it is still cold - there is much more sun in the sky and it makes everything a little bit more colorful. I decided to go colorful this season as well in art and life.
I received few custom orders for dragon journals and my customers wanted one to look like night sky and another like sunset. At the moment I am working on A5 night sky dragon journal and I called it the Azure Dreamer.
Here are some process pictures and you can see more on Facebook. Please let me know what you think here in comments or on Facebook.

"Butterfly Forest" Journal

Here comes another journal... Yes yes, I know! They are so many in such a short time :) But I was away from computer for a month, remember? So now have it all! :)
This journal was made quite quickly and here I was experimenting with textures, shapes and acrylic paints :)
Story:
Imagine a very very dry place. Like a desert or forest after weeks of finally stopped fire. On our planet is is always so - when death comes - there new life begins. Sunset has painted the sky in all sorts of rainbow gradients and little night butterflies, those that were born only this morning, are rising up for their first flight. Golden rays of the sun are blessing their wings.
Do you like old trees and butterflies? And how about Sunset?

Lots of love,
Aniko xxx

"An Owl with Golden Eyes" journal

Journals journals journals! This is all I do these days and I even forgot when I made some jewelry last time :) Shell I be sad or shell I accept it as a fact? I am not jewelry maker anymore? Hmmm....
I think I will stop on journals and will occasionally create some pieces when I am inspired. No rush, no force, no obligations :) Maybe I just need to take a break from jewelry :) Or maybe I need to make jewelry tutorials? Ugh...
While I am thinking - please enjoy one of my latest creations dedicated to one of my friend's biggest love - OWLS! Yes, she was posting up owl pictures on Facebook so much that I even got inspired!
So here it is. Please let me know what you think, inspire me with new ideas or perhaps suggest me something, criticise or some other stuff.... ^^
By the way! More pictures [about 10!] are available in my lovely Facebook galleries! So make sure you follow me or add me to friends! ---->
Tonight this journal will be available for sale in my ETSY shop! Make sure you are first! :)
www.amandarinduck.etsy.com

Lots of love,
Aniko xxx

"Blossoming Tree" Journal

Hello my sweet honey bunnies!
This is my first ever blog post in 2013! yay!
Finally I sorted out problems with my computer and now slowly but surely I am gaining my spins to get back to normal rhythm [to a workaholic one. ha-ha!]
At the moment I am sorting out all my stuff, everything I made [old and new] and also some supplies and materials :)
Before Christmas I created few journals that looked like wood. One was a gift and another one will be soon available for sale. It is very simple but I like how it worked out , especially because it was my very first attempt to make old, drift wood effect. Judge it for yourself and please let me know down below in comments what you think!

Lots of love,
Aniko xxx

Honey-berry Plant [Mejuri Entry]

HONEY-BERRY PLANT:
This is my third Entry to Mejuri competition :) This time it's an OPEN CALL entry which means that there is no deadline. Design just needs to get some good votes, some lovely comments and a good mark in jeneral. If you guys and Mejuri team will love it - it will be made :) 
So please vote, comment and even in general tell me what you think of it?
I am very interested in an honest oppinion, so don't feel like you need to praise me if you don't want to :) I need to be progressing in my designs, so if I am doing something wrong - I definitely need to know about it :) Thank you :)http://mejuri.com/designs/98-honeyberry-plant

Glass Eyes Tutorial

Nothing can be better for a tired workaholic than a lovely Sunday where you can decide if you want to go for a walk or you want to practice on some new skills.
I mean - this is the situation where you don't have to choose between your full time or part time job :D You just do something on a side, for yourself :)

Today I am practicing on making glass eyes for my journals! Seems like it's easy and it works. I invented this technique myself by just looking at animal's eyes. Seems like I will make a tutorial on it soon :)

I think this is obvious that making your own eyes for polymer clay creations is so much easier and you can make what ever you like, right? You just need some descent materials and paints. And it will save you so much money! ^^

In my new tutorial I will show you guys how I make my glass eyes for my frogs, dragons and all the other clay journal citizens :) Stay tuned :) 

DIY Room Light Decor Project

Hello my sweet honey bunnies!

Today I would like to treat you with a little DIY project. It's super easy and most of your time will take shopping for items. Actual making process takes about 10 minutes.

You will need:

• One garland of Christmas lights [preferably diod lights with battery]
• about 10-20 artificial flowers [I used sweet peas in pink, purple and wine colours]
• Bottle [transparent bottles are the best]
• Little butterflies [get from Ebay or local craft shops]
• hot gun or super glue [I used super glue]
• Pixy dust [glitters]
• Shiny beads

1)So basically put all your little flowers inside the bottle. When buying flowers make sure they are soft and small sized. Huge roses or lilies won't work ^^

2) Put some shiny beads next.

3) Squeeze your Christmas lights in the bottle and shake everything what you have in there properly

4) Take some glitters and place it in the bottle. You can use brushes [dip them in glitters and then place in bottle and shake it so glitters drop down and cover flowers.]

5) Glue your butterflies one by one on the bottle.

Voila! You are done!

MEJURI Competition Update

My dear Sweet Honey Bunnies!

Today is very very important and life changing moment in my life.
Remember few weeks ago I was posting everywhere and asking you to vote for me in MEJURI competition?
So there you go, we made it! It worked for me! I won the competition!

I am extremely grateful to all those who participated in voting and for all those kind comments from my friends and other creative individuals.
When you win in a competition like this - it gives you strength. I feel invincible now. Not like I am being bigheaded. It is more a feeling that makes you feel strong, powerful, even more inspired and once again - universe smiled to me.

The money price I won will be invested in my education and some technological equipment for creating even better movies and tutorials.

Very soon our designs are gonna get manufactured and this means that anybody will be able to purchase one of my creations on mejuri.com website. I know some of you already asked when they will be available :) I am not sure yet, but as soon as I know the answer - you will know it as well :)

I received a call from MEJURI team today at 20:00 by London Time and Lara from Mejuri team had a nice conversation with me. You not gonna believe it but it was my first call from Canada.

Here is the link to website:
http://mejuri.com/

Thanks a lot my dear friends, followers and subscribers for everything you do to me.
Every little vote, message, post, like is so much appreciated ^^
I love you all so much guys xxxxxxxxx

British Bead Award

Hello my sweet honey bunnies.

You probably noticed on Facebook that I was mentioning my competition Entry for British Bead Awards. 

This year I was suggested by my dearest friend Jeannie Havel to participate in British Bead Award competition. I never participated in any competitions with my clay artworks before. Not in the serious ones anyway. So I listened to her and created this piece. I was thinking hard on naming it and came up with the "Blades of Power" name.

I was happy to know that I got into final which means I was 1st, 2nd or 3rd, but it was still quite worrying and exciting to wait for final results. So there it was, the 20th of October, precisely one month till my 27th Birthday! 

I got up early, prepared myself properly and even wore some high heel shoes and an elegant black dress and arrived to the destination. I wasn't really late but I guess they decided to start the award ceremony a bit earlier.

I was wearing my leather jacket and because I thought I was late, I forgot take it off :) All my attention was on jury cause they were already announcing some winners for seed bead categories, chainmaille, metal clay e.c.t

Third place went to "Sunshine flower" by Michael Mitchel.

Second to "Treasure Keeper" by Lesley Messam  and the first one to me ^^

I also managed to take a picture with Chloe Menage - Bead Magazine Editor. She is so sweet and kind and I received some lovely comments about my art.

I also created a little composition from everything I won today ^^

I even took my 1st place tag with me for memories :)

There you go honey bunnies :) I am happy now. A happy bunny :)

xxx

Aniko