Polymer Clay Daily

Snow’s Timbuctooties and Longoland’s Monsters

I’m captivated by these polymer clay “timbuctooties and didgeridollies” by Washington’s Donna Snow. Her fiber and polymer dolls are dressed in hand worked fabrics and embellished with odds and ends.

Each of them has amazing character and they look like they’re bursting with exciting stories from their mysterious pasts. This one’s called “Wiggy the Skateboarder.” Donna gives classes throughout the year in her Port Townsend home studio.

The link was sent in by Michelle Davis Petelinz. Her boxes, frames and masks will entice you to spend some time there.

Monster Skin Rug
I couldn’t resist adding just one more thing to end this silly week. Here’s a little cashmere and polymer clay monster skin rug by Joshua Ben Long whose Longoland is a multidisciplinary funhouse including a line of twisted stuffed animals.

My sweet son picked up the link from BoingBoing. Start your weekend with a chuckle and a smile.

England’s Carlton

Popcorn and chocolates for dinner and another evening on the computer. This poor nutrition and night owl schedule can’t continue. I’m beginning to miss my husband and my normal life. I did bump into an artist who’s new to me.

England’s Debbie Carlton shows some lovely metal/polymer clay work on her Flickr site and on her own business site. She started in metals and has recently added the polymer touches for color and interest. Her work has a light, playful touch that I find appealing. I see I missed her article in the November issue of Art Jewelry magazine.

Anderson’s FimoCreations

Arizona’s Jon Anderson reappeared on my radar. His forms are densely covered with exceptionally intricate polymer clay cane work in muted colors.

Judy Dunn spotted Anderson’s Fimo Creations on a Wisconsin gallery’s site. Anderson’s own site shows the whole spring 2007 collection, a bonanza for animal sculpture enthusiasts.

A PCDaily viewer was worried that she hadn’t received any response back to her emails to the company. It would appear that they’re alive and well but perhaps not very communicative.

From Mion’s Collection

Busted! My husband’s out of town so I turned up the furnace, ordered Chinese food and played on the computer all evening. Livin’ large!

I’ve been reminiscing and thumbing through the pictures of the polymer clay jewels that Hollie Mion has collected. The creator of the Zephyr pin at the left was Linda Siner.

If you look at the detail, you’ll understand why the artist soon abandoned this Toops-like micromosaic style. Lovely but, oh, so time-consuming. I think of all the techniques I’ve tried on for size.

If you’re new to the craft, you may not recognize the earrings at right. They’re from Kathleen Dustin (oops…not Kathy Amt). Hollie has a nice selection of Dustin’s and Amt’s work during the early years. The remarkable Mona Lisa bead (by Cheri Pyle?) was created in pre-Skinner blend days. Hollie’s entire collection will be on display at Synergy in Baltimore.

Dustin and Hughes jumpstart your week

Jumpstart your week with a look at spectacular new polymer clay works from names you know (or will learn). To the left is Victoria Hughes who’s got a vibrant new web site that showcases her new work as well as her signature pieces.

Don’t miss the deal in her “Books and Videos” section (here’s the complete list of her tapes). She’s transferring all her videos to disc format and is clearing out her VHS tapes. These are remarkable tapes at bargain prices.

You won’t want to miss the buzz over Kathleen Dustin’s Tuesday post about her new stunning blowing grass purse. Reading about her inspiration and her process will make you stop and think…and look around more intently.

You can thank Judy Dunn and Susan Lomuto for starting this week’s buzz.

Wallace’s Fabric Influences

Ohio’s Amy Wallace mixes polymer clay and fabrics too (check Dayle Doroshow’s work from yesterday). Amy’s signature piece is her “stacker” bead which combines coils of patterned polymer strips.

Heavily influenced by fabrics, Amy’s focuses much of her work on buttons and she does them well.

If you’ve ever been tempted to try a coiled fabric basket, check out Amy’s recent HGTV segment. She makes it look so simple!

Yes, of course she’s got an Etsy site and some Flickr fun stuff. For more fabulous fabric treats, spend some time looking at Marimekko’s spring collection. Have a fun weekend.

Doroshow’s New Site

California’s Dayle Doroshow has a knack for showing polymer clay artists how to nurture their own creative sparks. She’s just unveiled a new web site that showcases her work and her schedule of wide-ranging classes.

Dayle teaches an approach to art that is a wonderful combination of free-spirited adventure, focus and discipline. She brings out the artist in me and I’ve helped her nurture her inner-nerd by assisting with her new site.

I’m loving the fabric/polymer combinations Dayle’s been working on lately like the flower pins shown above. Her portfolio is full of fabulous works (check out this polymer clay postcard/invitation).

Crowley’s Rolling Stones

Chicago polymer clay artist Dan Crowley loves characters. His favorites are his “Lady” characters which are loosely based on his aunts. Each face is made up of at least 18 pieces of clay.

Inspired by puppeteers like Jim Henson and Bill Baird, Dan began sculpting heads and finger puppets in 1992. His creations have grown in scale and complexity. His Christmas windows for Tiffany & CO won awards and his sculpted “Character Shoes” for Stuart Weitzman shoe stores have been a hit from Madison Avenue to Rodeo Drive.

I love the idea of sculpting heads onto small wood mannequins as Dan has done here with the Rolling Stones. There’s wonderful work on his site. Don’t miss his shoes, his puppets, and his characters. Some of his links aren’t working but it’s worth the wandering around.

Many thanks to another character expert, Maureen Carlson, for sending the link.

Spring Classes

These springy polymer clay Jack In the Pulpit pins by Loretta Lam get me thinking ahead. Time to make some travel plans.

Of course there’s Synergy in February in Baltimore. I see that the Milwaukee Bead and Button Show class schedule is up…that’s in June.

And I just happened upon a great roster of classes at the Bead House in Bristol, Rhode Island. Victoria Hughes (that’s her exotic piece at right), Kathleen Dustin, Sarah Shriver, Robert Dancik and an equally stellar list of seed beaders and metal workers are teaching there. Just looking at the work on their web sites is educational. It looks like a fine year for learning.