Daily tips about polymer clay art and artists from Cynthia Tinapple
Canada’s Gera Scott Chandler is getting ready for her holiday shows with a bevy of new polymer clay beauties. You can follow along and pick up some great tips (check out her unusual vessel price tag design). 
She’s about to unveil the redesign of her booth.
For a closer look at Gera’s work, visit her Flickr site. It’s filled with the west coast seaside muses that inspire her.
It’s turning cold. Nearly time for snowflakes. As a kid I loved folding and cutting paper to reveal an endless variety of snowflake patterns.
Sandy from Canada is having a grand time doing the same thing in polymer clay with a simple cane pattern she’s developed. She calls it "cookie cutter caning." I found this post on her site in August.
After a class with Marla Frankenburg in September, Sandy started creating her flakes in translucent clay. This almost makes winter look like fun.
Another move away from canes and colors. Here’s a polymer clay, waxed linen and acrylic paint basket by California’s Victoria James, her entry in the Great Basin Basketmakers show at the Nevada State Museum this month.
Pawing through Victoria’s site, I found the new website of the Clayville (yes, it’s a real place) guild and had fun looking at their members’ works and sites. A little Tuesday dalliance.
Need a break from creating canes and mixing colors? Take a look at the regal bezels and Roman settings that London’s Kotomi Yamamura fashions from gold polymer clay. Her fall line of antique replicas includes a Tudor and a Roman series that retain the chunky, mystical appeal of ancient jewelry.
Though there’s not much information on her technique in English, Yamamura’s sketches give you a good idea of how she works.
Every once in a while I thumb through my copy of "Creating Your Own Antique Jewelry
We’ve featured two men this week so how about a bit of polymer clay man jewelry?
Leslie Blackford made these pendants which incorporate an ancient arrowhead and a spear point that she found in her area in Kentucky. My husband eagerly added her “modern relics” to his collection of manly polymer bling. See more on her deviant site and take a look at her booth pictures from the recent MakerFaire in Austin.
Wendy Malinow’s husband and boys love to wear her rough exotic pieces. Her brother sometimes wears one of her polymer clay antler cuffs on his bicep for a primitive effect. Very cave man.
Have we spotted a new trend? What polymer pieces are your male customers and the men in your life drawn to?
Susan Lomuto found this terrific link to a "Pins for Men" show at Facere Gallery! What a coincidence! And primitive isn’t the only look, as our commenters point out.
If you like the art of Salvador Dali, check out the work of Israeli polymer clay artist Reuven Eliazar. At the same time, his coiling technique brings quilling to mind.
Be ready for odd combinations and jarring juxtapositions. He takes a surreal approach to the clay. His plants and butterflies reflect another world. Sometimes it’s good not to be too comfortable.
If you’re a more pragmatic sort, hop on over to Lindly Haunani’s blog. She’s working through a list of her top 100 polymer clay tips. It’s invaluable information. And there’s still time to submit photos to her next book!
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