How to blacken a Myxie in 3 hrs or less...

It wasn’t my intention to make the clay faerie into charcoal, but that’s what happens when you don’t set a timer and then you leave.

Myxies are cute little faerie-like creatures that I have created. They are small with big pointed ears and large black eyes.

I was so very excited when I found a new clay to make my sculpting easier. I’ve always used self-hardening clay but it’s not as good for small details. The new clay would have to be baked, 30 minutes per inch thick. Myxies are only about a 3^rd of an inch thick so they would only take about 20 minutes. I finished a few Myxies, and was pleased with how cute they had turned out. Now time to bake them.

Placing them in the oven, I set the knob to 275 degrees, and then sat down to watch a movie while I waited.

Then I forgot them... which is not uncommon with me. I have to leave post-it notes all over my house to remind me of things I need to do, but I figured it was only 20 minutes, who could forget in that short of time.

After the movie was over I was hungry, so off I go to Kystals for some little burgers. When I came back home I smelt burning. Then I remembered! I rushed over to the oven and jerked open the door. My little clay Myxies were now little burn victims. The 20 minutes I was to cook them had turned into 3 hrs, and the consequences were graphic. The larger Myxies had crumbled under the weight of their charred limbs. Only one, the smallest, had stayed intact. An even black covered her entire body and I thought “I might be able to use her still”.

As I mourned for the Myxies that were lost I got to work on the survivor, making her silver wings and giving her hair. Even though, In the end the black Myxie turned out very dark yet cute, now I always set a timer while baking my sculptures, and I don’t leave the house.