From the monthly archives:

February 2006

It’s Come to This

by Cynthia Tinapple on February 28, 2006 · 9 comments

Call it spring fever. Call it desperation. I’ve got nothing but myself to write about today so here’s the latest inlaid bowl that my husband turned and I inlaid with polymer.

After years of making polymer jewelry, I moved over to the housewares department. It was great fun to add knobs, switchplates and lights in our little Marrakech bathroom. The sink is a walnut bowl inlaid with matching polymer, naturally. And the tub surround is roofing copper. Add candles and bathsalts and a bath becomes a very exotic experience.

So there you have it. Now all I have to do is find something for tomorrow!

Worth the Wait

by Cynthia Tinapple on February 27, 2006 · 0 comments

Hmmm…here’s a treat for your Monday morning. A new site from Deborah Banyas and her husband, T.P. Speer.

It’s a yummy site and I especially like the studio shots (scroll down to see them). Don’t we all want to live in a place like hers with a wild and colorful garden? And I feel compelled to remind you that she’s from Ohio.

This should start your week off right.

Multiple Palettes

by Cynthia Tinapple on February 24, 2006 · 1 comment

This exhibit from last fall at the White Lotus Gallery in Eugene, Oregon, caught my eye. Multiple Palettes/Varied Visions: 30 Jewelers Explore Color covers a variety of media and their emphasis on color is instructive even though only a few (MaryandLouAnn and FordForlano) are polymer artists.

You’ll find lots of inspiration here. Be sure to visit the site of metalsmiths Barbara Minor and Christopher Hentz, Lulu Smith, Ellen Wieske, Deb Karash and others for the complete color experience.

Dittmar’s Guys

by Cynthia Tinapple on February 23, 2006 · 2 comments

Portland, Oregon's Meredith Dittmar first started sculpting while trying to avoid getting her computer science degree. After graduating she worked as an interactive designer/programmer and her digital works have been shown in international film festivals, exhibits and magazines.

For the past ten years, she's put the digital realm on the backburner to pursue her three-dimensional passion. The first "guys" were made in 1994 when she discovered polymer clay.

Ever since that day, a steady flow has continued. Thousands have been created and no two were alike until the recent "clones" series. "Guys" are made out of premo and flexible sculpey.

They're quirky, colorful and fresh. And you can put them on your phone or watch a Converse Video (scroll through until you hit "Polymer Playground") of these creatures.

Pongo Olympics

by Cynthia Tinapple on February 22, 2006 · 5 comments

I don’t know much about this artist…Howard from Como, Italy…but thought we should tip our hats toward the Olympic hosts this week. This one’s called "Pocketbook".

Pongo is apparently the Italian version of polymer clay and Howard sculpts all kinds of delightful things. You can buy his images on cups and shirts in addition to his pongo pieces.

The comments on his site are hilarious…."I can’t believe you did a pongo of my pre-operative uterus Howard. How sweet." Only the Italians could bring us this art! We should all learn to be so playful.