Screaming cookies

Anakay's biscuits scream on PolymerClayDaily.com

In the hands of France’s Anakay (anakay_fimo) during this spooky season, popular BN cookies take on a more sinister tone. Her polymer versions turn into earrings on her Instagram.

It’s Friday so we’ll slip into the weekend with some spooky sweets. Even the cookies are screaming these days.

In this Saturday’s StudioMojo we’ll bring the screaming down a notch. No hustles, no pushing. You probably have your own little inkling of something new you want to try. Come see the bright ideas you may have missed.

Unbroken circle of friends

Keeping in touch Kentucky style on PolymerClayDaily.com

I like the bags of “inchies” swapped and then squirreled away in ziplocks in the back of the bottom drawer. They make me nostalgic and bring a smile. But much better to do what the Kentucky group did this year and create arty trinkets that you can wear or drape from shelves.

Swappers received short lengths of ball chain onto which they add their beads. Members amassed their trades and snapped the lengths together. One look and longtime friends know whose work is whose.

It’s a way of touching base, waving hello, saying something comforting or sassy or silly.

We’re still here and with any luck, we’ll be together again.

Joan Tayler shared this swap idea some years back. The Kentucky guild whose members are sprawled across the midwest decided to use it in a year when this is this is the closest we can get. Ron Lehocky heads up the group while Mary Clyde Sparks and Francie Owens (and others I’m sure) made it all work.

High voltage color

We’ve gotten ho-hum about slabs. Make a base, add some bits, press in, cut out. Yeh, yeh.

With high voltage colors and neatly stacked bits in a controlled composition, Australia’s Linzy (graciefaceau) makes us look again. Her site isn’t ready yet and her shop opens this weekend. Now she’s got our attention!

Further exploration shows that the slab is a collaboration. The slab is from Linzy and the colors are from Katherine at Hellorobbo. Recipes for her latest palette go on sale this weekend.

A nip in the woods

Chris Owens creates a flask for the woods on PolymerClayDaily.com

Kentucky’s Chris Owens (chris325o) uses layers of Cernit metallic clays with a touch of Sculpey Souffle white to achieve this tree bark look. She’s made a big mokume gane veneer that wraps all around the Blue Bark Flask.

Chris makes luscious mid-century modern patterns collide with woodsy colors. Usually, you hide a flask but I’d want to set this right on the table for all to admire.

Aren’t you curious to know what she used for those patterns? She’s Retrovenue on Facebook.

Dive into Monday

I find myself gravitating to bigger and bigger earrings. Seems it’s the upside of these strange times. “Why not?” I ask myself.

These lovelies are from Dallas’ SmallTalkHandmade. The Dive line is her take on a modern-day tassel made entirely of clay. Hard and soft, light, and heavy. The extruded strings hanging from a cutout square call to me. You too?

Stinky polymer cheese monsters

You may be pretty used to monsters during October, but I’m betting that cheese monsters like these from Spain’s Carlos Medinilla Castro (carcreatures) didn’t just pop into your head.

His polymer creations are part of the toy and art doll exhibition in Barcelona. Carlos’ art pays homage to the gastronomic and stinky universe of cheese with a zombie touch. You can sniff him out on Etsy too. Deliciously creepy.

And check out the hamburger workshop here.

I forgot how I get lost online. Whew, I gotta pace myself.

If you’re looking for the offbeat, cheese cutting edge of polymer news, come hang with us over at StudioMojo this Saturday.

Polymer pumpkins

Kobotamatsukuri celebrates the pumpkin shape on PolymerClayDaily.com

PCD is back just in time for pumpkin season. It will take some time for me to get my grab-and-go skills back. I’m rusty.

This polymer pumpkin is from Kobotamatsukuri who is a research scientist in Japan. Pumpkins are sprinkled throughout her Instagram so obviously, they’re important and intriguing. But how and why? She doesn’t explain.

We’re all missing being able to travel so I brought you something exotic and mysterious. You’ll have to search for clues about this artist. Let me know what you find. It’s good to be back.

Women in power

Art at its best is a conversation between the artist and the viewer. For instance, take a look at the polymer figure in this glass and polymer mosaic called, She Persists – Women in Power by Debbie Maier Jacknin of Pittsburgh.

What is she saying? What is her story? What more can we learn by looking at all of the elements?

On her blog, Debbie tells of her interest in the history of Pittsburgh and of Native Americans, including that of the 18th-century leader, Queen Aliquippa.

T. Chalke wrote in 1706 that Aliquippa “…was an empress; and they gave much heed to what she said among them.”

Debbie says, “Let this sink in. While European women were not able to vote or own property, the Native woman was often the leader in her community and held in high esteem!”

Art can be much more than a pretty picture. Thank you, Debbie, for the timely conversation.

Blog post by Debbie Jacknin and Maureen Carlson

Focusing on the surface

Stunning surfaces on polymer from Ellen Marshall on PolymerClayDaily.com

When I discovered polymer clay in 1992, I was driven to learn everything I could. But my attention/intention changed when I attended Making History, the 2008 National Guild’s conference that was the brainchild of Steven Ford and that focused on applying techniques and approaches from other media to work with polymer clay.

At that conference that I found Tim Andrew’s book on raku and became fascinated with surface design. A few years later, at Donna Kato’s urging, I followed an article I’d written on my testing of inks and paints on polymer clay with my book on surface design techniques.

I still do surface design work, but now it’s in the service of many other fascinations.

Posted by Ellen Marshall, former president of the National Polymer Clay Guild

Polymer that snarls for you

Heather Tinkham's mixed media sister snarls when you can't on PolymerClayDaily

Bazhie, of the Support Squad, is one of 15 mixed-media figures created by Minneapolis artist Heather Tinkham for a grouping that she calls the Sister Posse.

Take a look, and then a second, deeper look, at Bazhie’s expressive, mysterious face. Yes, it’s polymer, as are the accent pieces that adorn her head and serve as her feet. At 20 inches (50.8 cm) tall, she is an imposing figure.

Heather also creates jewelry, but her interest in art-making as a force for introspection and healing is especially evident in her figurative work.

Each of the Sister Posse members has a story that represents one of the amazing gifts we bring to each other, from the strength to stand firm to the need to grieve and heal from the storms of life. Bazhie’s story is about the Gnarly Snarls of Shoulds, which is a tricky job at the best of times. Heather says “Not to worry, Bazhie’s got this Gnarly Snarl for you. Go back to doing what you can. Things will be fine.”

Heather has wisely taken advantage of the photogenic quality of the Sister Posse and offers them as inspiration cards for journaling, reflection, greeting card enclosures, or as reminders of intention. Smart move, Heather! Posted by Maureen Carlson

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