As part of my Automata Online course with Puppets in Prague, I worked on a Christmas Carousel. It’s still a work in progress with more refinement and decoration needed but the elements are all working. Cara Jane Hayman Christmas Carousel Work In Progress Automaton

I’ve been interested in automata for a long time. I used to visit Cabaret Mechanical Theatre when I passed through London in the late 80s and early 90s (it’s now based in Hastings). More recently, I visited the MAD museum in Stratford-upon-Avon, which reawakened my interest. I got the book ‘Making Simple Automata by Robert Race’ and whilst I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, all seemed a bit complicated; the materials used (although I...

Puffin brooches! As you may have noticed, I love puffins! I always like to have some puffins with me, and I’ve collected some lovely brooches from other artists. Making my Easter puffin made me realise I could make my own brooches – it was the first time I’d made a flat puffin, as previously I had only made 3d sculpted puffins. I used the puffin eye and beak canes I’ve made to use with my puffin sculptures, which is why...

I’ve added a quick tutorial onto my tutorials page showing you how to make a bail from polymer clay for a pendant. I love this way of finishing the back of a pendant as it means I don’t have to add any additional findings. I use a 6mm knitting needle to form my bail which means I can thread most things through it so I can change the cord I hang my pendant on easily. You can find the tutorial here