by Cynthia Tinapple on May 17, 2013
Ron Lehocky boosted his tally of polymer hearts past the 23,000 mark this week, creating popular designs from scrap canes destashed from other artists’ studios as well as his own creations. At $10 per heart, you can calculate how much Ron has raised for the Kids Center in Louisville Kentucky. Click on the picture for a closer look.
Ron talks about how the consistent size of the heart-sized canvas has allowed him to focus on technique and explore design within the limits of the brooches’ scale. After beveling 23,000 hearts, he can undercut an edge with remarkable speed and precision. His finishing techniques are superb.
Ron’s putting together a class on Ronnie Gane, a variation he’s developed that reveals spirals and geometric shapes. He plans to teach his method when his schedule allows.
In this StudioMojo video Ron talks about how the heart project began and why creating something tangible has been so important to him. See previous posts on his progress here.
by Cynthia Tinapple on February 14, 2013
On Valentines Day hop on over to Liz Hall’s shop to see her whole series of hearts inlaid with irridescent polymer and surrounded by silver. Since most have sold, you may have to look at them on Flickr and Facebook.
She integrates ball chain into her designs embedding it in polymer and repeating the theme throughout the pieces. Liz works with what she loves which is why one of her new series incorporates horsehair into her jewelry designs. She tells that story on her farm site.
Add your name
We’ve taken Ron Lehocky’s money and he is very happy. He agreed to match your donations up to $2000. We sailed right past that number and we’ll keep going.
Add your name to the list of more than 75 artists and patrons who have sent their support. It’s a great way to feel the love on Valentines Day!
We love PCDaily readers! Happy day!
by Cynthia Tinapple on February 11, 2013
Fakir (Bed of Nails) and Finn from Jana Roberts Benzon may tax your Monday brain. Huh? How’d she do that?
Jana’s been improvising on her lazercut technique and has taken her 3D textures to a whole new level. Keep your eyes peeled for her classes on this (I couldn’t find them and let me know when you do). Here she is on Facebook.
Namaste
The Orkney Springs 2012 group sent a heartfelt “Namaste” to the ladies of Samunnat. Last spring the Virginia retreat raised a generous donation which enabled the Nepali ladies to grow the project.
Before Samunnat, the women had to stay in abusive situations because their parents couldn’t afford to allow them to return to their homes and living alone wasn’t financially possible. Recently several women offered a “day-in-the-life” glimpse of their typical day (once they were removed from harm) which generally includes early rising for farming and cleaning chores before their work at the rented Samunnat office.
You raised over $1000 on Friday and Ron Lehocky is matching each dollar. That is fabulous! CLICK NOW to connect with other artists who are helping Samunnat take the next step and build their work facility. Your donation begins a small miracle that enriches lives.
by Cynthia Tinapple on February 8, 2013
Your chance to send some valentine joy is waiting at the top of the right column. Your donation, no matter how big or small, will help the women of the Samunnat women’s project in eastern Nepal build a home.
Ron Lehocky will double the love by matching your gifts up to $2000.
PCDaily will bring you regular reports about the project. I’ll tell you about all the wonderful ways polymer artists have already helped their sisters thrive. Go on and CLICK to add your love.
The backstory
Ron Lehocky is no stranger to fundraising projects. He has made and sold over 20,000 polymer hearts to support the Kids Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The ones pictured here are part of his 2013 Valentines Day collection.
Australia’s Wendy Moore contacted Ron to purchase some hearts to take to Nepal. She thought the women in the Samunnat project would be inspired by the work of an American doctor who developed a small polymer project that became remarkably successful at helping children.
As they corresponded, Ron and Wendy shared stories. Wendy told him about the abuse and discrimination that the Samunnat women had endured and how the polymer skills that they learned had transformed their lives and made them agents of change.
She described how the group had moved its offices four times in the last six years because of arbitrary and frequent rent increases. Their first facility, shown here, was little more than an open storefront on a busy highway.
A gift of a small parcel of land and growing success in marketing their beads abroad allowed Samunnat to consider building a facility. For under $10,000 they could construct their own building that would give them the room they need to continue and grow.
To Ron, the building sounded like a small step with a big payoff. He thought it over. To kickstart a construction fund, Ron offered to match donations up to $2000. Isn’t that fantastic?
More to this story on Monday. Why wait? CLICK now.
