Technique: Quick journal charm using a Skinner blend
Win: Yes
Challenge:
• To use leftover scraps to create two feather-shaped journal charms.
• To create Skinner blends for colour variation within the feathers
Lessons Learned:
• Creating Skinner blends with very small amounts of clay is tricky. The blend needs repeated folding up and down, along with folding the side edges inward, to prevent the piece from becoming too long and thin
• The red and yellow blend worked better than the black and white. The very small pieces of black and white made the blend harder to control and more difficult to work with
• Creating texture on both sides of a piece is surprisingly challenging. Turning the piece over to texture the second side risks flattening the first. Very gentle pressure is needed, just enough to form the pattern without losing the texture underneath
Confidence Level: 9/10
Notes:
• I like how the feathers turned out, but drilling holes in the feather “stalk” may be difficult. The area is thin and may not be structurally strong enough to support a jump ring
Material Mastery:
• Small Skinner blends require careful folding to control length and maintain workable proportions
• Colour blends behave differently depending on clay quantity and contrast
• Double-sided texture requires light pressure and deliberate handling to preserve detail
Growth Reflection:
This was a study in control at a smaller scale. Working with limited clay and delicate shapes highlighted the importance of gentle handling, thoughtful blending, and structural planning before finishing
