About this Product
One made to order giraffe, I call her Ruby. Ruby will be approximately 8" tall on a wooden 1" x 5" x 5" base with total height 9". Pose will be the bent neck. Colors will be purple for background, red for the spots and pink for the outlines. Ruby the Giraffe will be constructed using resilient Cosclay and painted using acrylics. There will be 3 coats of CrystaLac clear gloss polyurethane varnish. Twirled wires for eyelashes, head knots, mane and tail, all to be glued in place. Legs will have armature wires that countersink into the wooden base and are permanently glued in place using epoxy.
Turnaround time is approximately 4 weeks. Updates will be provided regularly with progress and will include photographs.
******** THESE ARE NOT MEANT TO BE TOYS FOR SMALL CHILDREN.
******** NOT FOR OUTDOOR DISPLAY. PLEASE ENJOY YOUR GIRAFFE INDOORS PROTECTED FROM THE WEATHER.
Judy B Freeman
Meet the Maker
Like a lot of artists and crafters, I've been making things from a young age. My family moved around a lot because my dad was in the service, so I was the "new kid" more than just once. I discovered that art and craft projects helped to keep me busy if we moved to a new town during the Summer months. During college I discovered 3-D art and got hooked first on sculpting and then on ceramic art. I graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts and, as many can relate, I got a regular job or 3 or 5 and my art projects were relegated to hobby status. After a life of not making art my first priority, I was able to switch gears. First I concentrated on being a ceramic artist and potter, creating functional ware as well as whimsical sculptural pieces. Then as the 50 pound boxes of clay got heavier and heavier, I decided that I needed a plan to help save my back. So I started doing research and started working with polymer clay. I retired my potters wheel and traded 50 pound boxes of clay for 8 pound boxes of clay. I made the total migration several years ago. Then in 2020 a new product in the polymer category was released, called Cosclay. It's a hybrid plastic - rubber clay and like polymer bakes in the oven, but Cosclay is quite resilient. Cosclay can stand up to the rigors of shipping across country and I've even dropped pieces without any breakage. I continue my artistic journey and have had fun selling on other marketplaces like Etsy and wholesale to galleries and shops across the country through the IndieMe website. Now the Goimagine website calls to my desire to help make a difference with my art. To be part of a truly handmade marketplace and reconnect with humans across the country.
I have a couple of "claims to fame". In 2007 a filming crew came to my home studio and filmed a 7 minute segment for an HGTV show called That's Clever! I demonstrated from start to finish how I made a ceramic cat bank. It took 2 years for the show to finally air and what an experience that was. My next claim to fame was also when I was still working in ceramic clay. I loved to make fish teapots. Three of my fish teapots were purchased by the Kamm Foundation Teapot Collection, the world's largest collection of teapots. I've had pieces, both ceramic as well as polymer in a variety of group exhibitions and have been fortunate enough to meet a lot of really great people in the process. My motto: keep learning, keep making.
Thanks for visiting - any questions, please don't hesitate to send me a message.
How it’s Made
Using resilient Cosclay I start out with a one pound block and slice and run through a food processor, then conditioned using a clay machine that's similar to a pasta machine. Once I have the clay slabbed, I go to work with foil, making the body shape for the giraffe. I cover the foil form first with foil tape then with the slabbed clay. I use tools and my fingers to smooth the clay and then start adding the legs. Then it goes in for a first bake. I hand form the head by adding clay, ears, eyes, mane and hooves, then another bake. Next is painting, I add 3 coats of a wonderful clear gloss polyurethane varnish. I paint and varnish the base. Then I go to work cutting and twirling wires for the eyelashes, ossicones, mane, and tail. All get super glued in place. The giraffe gets permanently attached to the base using epoxy glue And voila a whimsical colorful giraffe.
Shop Policies
REFUNDS/EXCHANGES: It's important to me that you are 100% pleased with your purchase. If after receipt and inspection, for any reason, you are not happy with your order, please contact me within 14 days. We can make arrangements to either exchange or refund. Return shipment costs will be paid by the customer. And the amount refunded will be the total cost of goods purchased, not to include the initial shipping charges. CANCELLATIONS: Orders may be cancelled at any time prior to the order being shipped, and full refund will be processed. Exception to this policy would be if the items are customized especially for the customer, and work has begun.
GIFTS: Special conditions regarding items purchased as a gift. If the giftee (person receiving the gift) requests to return the item(s) I will direct the giftee to contact the giftor. I will await instructions from the customer that purchased the gift. Same Conditions apply as shown above in Refunds/Exchanges Section.
DAMAGED IN TRANSIT: NOTIFY ME WITHIN 3 DAYS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF THE PURCHASE OF ANY DAMAGE. KEEP ALL BOXES AND PACKING MATERIALS SO THAT A CLAIM CAN BE FILED
*At this time I only ship within the United States
**All images are the property of Judith B. Freeman, LLC and may not be copied without written permission.
