East meets west pendant

Janet Bouey's pendant contains echoes of the coasts on PolymerClayDaily.com

Asian shapes meet polymer stones and colors of Vancouver’s beaches in Janet Bouey’s newest pendant.

Janet took some of the surface treatments she learned in a Claire Maunsell class and made the veneers integral to this new design that picks up the colors of the shore.

She doesn’t say much about herself but you’ll want to keep track of Janet on Instagram and Flickr.

Clipped wings, new outlets

Jana Roberts Benzon moves to online sales with new designs on PolymerClayDaily.com

Utah’s Jana Roberts Benzon’s latest new pins/pendants show off her wing-like dimensional, veneer-covered collages.

She’s about to offer her work on Etsy in a few weeks after years of resisting online sales. She’also promises to beef up her Instagram. It may be the grandbabies who are compelling her to stick closer to home.

While we wait for Etsy to launch her, enjoy Jana’s works on Facebook and her website.

Monday bouquet

Floren Jewelry sends you a mini Monday bouquet on PolymerClayDaily.com

Nothing like a dozen red roses for your Monday. This small pendant was created by Belarus’ Floren (JewelryFloren).

The pendant measures 1.6″ x 1.4″ and is made from an air-dry polymer. You can imagine how lovingly this delicate bouquet was assembled on its metal backing.

While Floren doesn’t reveal much about herself online, she’s surely a romantic.

Parade of hearts

Anarina Anar draws and shades her hearts in surprising colors on PolymerClayDaily

It’s nearly February and time for the valentine parade to begin. Greece’s Anarina Anar leads us off with a new necklace.

Her hearts are assembled from several shapes, made of light clay shaded with pencils or inks. A black backing also serves to outline her bright colors. A bit of texture and some teardrop elements make hers an unusual treatment.

The hand-drawn colors and changing shapes keep your eye skittering around this gathering of hearts. You’ll find them on Etsy and Instagram.

Need a little more polymer love? Head over to StudioMojo for a taste of the wider world – lots of tidbits that we couldn’t cram into PCD. This week we hunt down the experimenters, track the exhibitionists and find new ways to keep your muse happy and your mojo working.

Shaggy dog story

Joseph Barbaccia paints with extruded strings on PolymerClayDaily.com

Zoom in on this polymer dog portrait to see how Delaware illustrator, Joseph Barbaccia paints with extruded strings of polymer.

His polymer brushstrokes are layered over each other. It looks like he works from corner to corner. Joseph’s subjects are usually people. This fuzzy, furry pet provided a welcome departure from humans.

Joseph Barbaccia paints with extruded strings on PolymerClayDaily.com

His in-progress shots are from Instagram while his finished work appears on Facebook.

Feathers float you through the week

Debbie Crothers combines patterns for upcoming feather classes in the US on PolymerClayDaily

These patterned feathers on Instagram from Australia’s Debbie Crothers will take you right over the mid-week hump.

Debbie loves her veneers and surface treatments so I’m betting that she’s made herself a stash of veneers for source materials.

Assembling them in perfect balance like this is no quick project but they’re worth the effort. The occasional splice on the edge and bend in the shape gives each one distinct look.

On Facebook, Debbie says she’s refining her methods and these are prototypes for her sessions at Clay Out West from September 30 to October 3 in Albuquerque. Registration opens February 1.

Debbie offers a few clever hints about her methods in her blog post today.

Deb Groover’s poolside polymer

Deb Groover adds some warm sun to her polymer paintings on PolymerClayDaily

It seemed as though Florida’s Deb Groover (Debortina) was taunting us with this swimming pool painting that showed up on Instagram.

It turns out that she and Tina themselves are stuck in snow in Virginia.

Deb is working a little differently here with more small polymer elements in her works. The composition has a David Hockney feel to it.

Deb works on wooden panels and adds the background as the last element in her large paintings. If you need some bright sun, visit her on Instagram. See her work in person by checking her schedule for an event near you.

Handy polymer accessory

In my neck of the woods, it’s mighty cold. This woman-covered flask/bracelet from Alice Stroppel looks like a handy accessory for those who dare to brave the weather.

But wait a minute, Alice lives in Florida! A beach accessory for staying hydrated perhaps.

Start your week with a smile!

The yin and yang of polymer

Kate Lee Foley big tube bead necklaces on PolymerClayDaily.com

Australia’s Kate Lee Foley makes big freeform single tube bead necklaces as a relaxing interlude to making tight, complex canes.

On Instagram you can see how she dances between chaos and control, enjoying both impulses.

Kate Lee Foley big tube bead necklaces on PolymerClayDaily.com

This Saturday on StudioMojo we’ll look at others who like to nourish both sides of their brains. Some artists wrestle with their vision with a singular focus.

What does it take to keep your muse happy and your mojo working? Come on over and find out.