We're All Ears :: October Reveal :: Mad About Plaid

I am not one to wear a lot of pattern, so I don't really think that there is a plaid shirt in my closet. But I do love the pattern of plaid. I like the criss-crossing patterns and the soft lived-in comfort. There is something quintessentially fall about plaid flannels, no matter what color they may be. But in looking for plaid inspiration, I found quite a bit more than just the well-worn vintage work shirts. Like scarves and pants and skirts and tights - oh my!

I decided that I would try to make some plaid components in polymer clay. Easier said than done! I first looked for a tutorial for some plaid canes in polymer clay. Most of them seemed a bit out of reach for me, or just too darn fussy and not all that precise. So I just grabbed some color of clay and started making stripes. Eventually, I flattened and stretched them enough, but they were still stripes. That is when I hit upon cutting the pieces up and layering them for that warp-weft fabric look. The look was starting to take shape!


I had wanted to learn from a tutorial I had found some time ago from Helen Breil. She is a master polymer clay artist. I am quite smitten with her folded beads, so I thought that this would be the perfect veneer for that. I made quite a lot of them with my plaid veneer, so many that I am dreaming of a statement necklace. But I found two pair that would work for the earrings.

Both outfits pictured here are found on FreePeople: dress; overalls.

I kept them simple by creating a wire hanger and dangling them from small small lengths of chain that I picked up from Vintaj this summer. The metal is copper, I would guess, that has been flame patina-ed, so they have this wonderful mix of blue, purple and red.

So now it is your turn! Show us what you made for your ode to Plaidurday!