Pastry Time at the Mansion

[playmovictorian]

Hello Playmofriends  

Many Members have asked me about the delicious cakes and chocolates enjoyed by my happy little Victorians and here is where it all starts...in the Kitchen, of course and you are all invited  !

Pastry Time at the Mansion

Only a few hours left until our Victorian Guests start to arrive and there is still so much to do in the Kitchen. While the Cook is taking a freshly baked cake out of the oven, a Maid is preparing Chocolate Cookies and another one is making Cherry Bakewells, not to forget the young Helper who beats the eggs !!!

A large Tray of Delicate Pastries and a Heart Shaped Orange & Chocolate Cake are ready to be taken away to the Drawing Room for the delight of our Guests  !

Karim

[playmo1989]

technickly you make them with plasticine???

[playmovictorian]

Hello Playmo1989 

Polymer Clay or Fimo Paste 

Karim

[playmo1989]

what are these ?

[playmovictorian]

Hello Playmo1989 

Here is a little introduction to Polymer Clay...

Material

Polymer clays all contain a basis of PVC and one or more of several kinds of liquid plasticizer. Pigments may be added to the translucent base to create a variety of colors, along with small amounts of kaolin or white china clay or other opaquing agents where opacity is desired. Mica may be added to simulate pearlescent and metallic

History

Bakelite, an early plastic used in both practical and decorative applications, was extremely popular with designers and had an early form of polymer clay available in kits, but the phenol base of uncured Bakelite was flammable and these were discontinued. Modern polymer clays are based on a plastic modeling compound brought to the attention of German doll maker Kathe Kruse in the late 1930s as a possible replacement for plastics that had become difficult to obtain during the early days of World War II. It was not suitable for use in her doll factory, so Kruse turned it over to her daughter Maureen, who was known in the family as "Fifi". The formulation was later sold to Eberhardt Faber and marketed under the name "FIMO" (FIfi's MOdeling Compound) in honor of Maureen.

Meanwhile, in the early 1940s, Zenith Products Company was founded in Schiller Park, IL. Zenith began as a company that manufactured coatings for the fastener industry: waxes, hot melt compounds, and electrical insulating varnishes. The product "Sculpey" was originally formulated for potential use as a thermal transfer compound - to conduct heat away from the cores of electrical transformers. However, this formulation was not successful for that purpose, so the compound was temporarily shelved. A visitor to the manufacturing plant was "doodling" with a lump of the clay-like substance and created a small figure. It was then baked in a lab testing oven - and Sculpey was "discovered" as a sculpture medium. This happened in the mid 1960's. By 1967, it was being manufactured and sold on a small scale in the United States.

The history of polymer clay as an art medium is only decades long, unlike many media that have been around for centuries and have long traditions. This newness means that there is a great deal of innovation by users of polymer clay. Often, ideas are born by borrowing from the traditions of some other materials, such as metalworking (mokume-gane), ceramics, glass (millefiori, lampwork), paper, etc.

Properties

Original formulations of polymer clay remain soft until cured at relatively low temperatures, but air-dry polymer clays have recently been added to the market. Traditional polymer clay hardens by curing at temperatures created in a typical home oven, generally at 265 to 275 °F (129 to 135 °C), for 15 minutes per 1/4" (6 mm) of thickness, and does not shrink or change texture during the process. When properly conditioned and cured, most clays create items that will not break if dropped or normally stressed. Cured pieces may have additional layers or enhancements added and be re-cured with no ill effect. As long as the maximum curing temperature is not exceeded, there is no limit to the number of times a piece can be re-cured. After it has cured, the clay surface can be left as is, sanded and buffed, or finished with a water-based varnish.

Major Brands

Polyform

Sculpey
Sculpey III
Super Sculpey (Original and Firm)
Premo! Sculpey
Studio by Sculpey
Granitex
Translucent Liquid Sculpey
Sculpey Super Flex
Sculpey UltraLight
Sculpey Clay Softener
Studio by Sculpey
Bake Shop for Kids

Eberhard-Faber

Fimi Soft
Fimo Classic
Doll (Puppen) Fimo
Fimo Liquid (Deko Gel)
Fimo Lacquer
Fimo Effects
Fimo Mix Quick
Donna Kato

Kato Polyclay
Kato Liquid Polyclay

Prosculpt

Prosculpt Clay
Prosculpt Smoothing Oil

Example of Sculpey



Sculpey "Pasta Machine"



Sculpey Tools



Fimo Paste



Fimo Colour Scheme



Now, enough of the theory  and what about a few little fun tutorials 

How to make an exotic fruit cane cake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbCxwJ8bw4s

How to make Chocolate Chip Cookies

http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePolymerClayShop#p/u/3/ChhL4rFGLkw

How to make Lasagna

http://www.youtube.com/user/GentlemanBunny#p/a/u/2/5mcQkPM87MA

And finally what we all aspire to but an excellence we will succeed in achieving "in our dreams" 

The absolute has a name and it is Betsy Niederer    :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzS-1jFDPJ0&feature=related

Karim

[playmo1989]

intresting  i woulden't have the patience to do it. great job as always karim 

[skypurr]

Thank you for the links Karim
That is really fascinating - I want to have a go!
Junior used up all my Fimo so I'll have to get some next time we go to town - I'll let you know how I get on

Elaine

[WarriorOfToys]

Great photos PlaymoVictorian!
I really like your kitchen setup.

[playmovictorian]

Thank you Elaine, Playmo1989 and Warrior 

It is worth having a go at it as just look at what Emma Jane is creating too 

Karim

[Gepetto]

I can never get too many pictures of the kitchen, thank you Karim! Thanks also for all the links and references!