McCaw’s falling polymer leaves

Sandra McCaw‘s new stunning falling leaves series hasn’t been posted on her web site yet and I couldn’t wait to share this lovely work. Her slideshow on the Crafthaus site includes Sandra’s new polymer clay pieces exquisitely photographed by Hap Sakwa.

The balance and symmetry perfectly mimic leaves floating on a breeze. Sandra pairs the tight geometric canes for which she’s known with shibori-like washes of color.

Judy Dunn gave me a shout out about the new pictures.

Williamson’s cool polymer

Pennsylvania’s Genevieve Williamson (Jibby and Juna) loves gray and muted colors for her polymer clay designs. Her cool, organic designs have a very modern sensibility and you’ll want to soak up the ambience at her blog and on her etsy gallery.

I’m soaking up the ambience of this coffee shop, my wifi oasis in Florida. My in-laws long ago opted out of technology and are baffled by my need to drive off to get a daily hit of caffeine and electrons. I’m writing fast and trying to remember that I’m on vacation.

Today’s link comes from Eugena Topina’s PolymerClayChameleon site. I’m headed for the dock to watch the porpoises.

Polymer tool holders

My Kemper polymer clay cutters were always running away from me. When I saw someone at a conference with theirs neatly corralled, I decided to do the same.

I never thought of showing this efficient helper off. I’ve seen other artists’ beautifully crafted tools (see this early shot of Celie Fago’s) and this one is no beauty. Recent visitors to my studio thought readers might find beauty in its efficiency.

I’ve since devised similar helpers for other tools (pictured here) that try to elude me. Roll up some scrap clay, press your must-have-handy tool into it, remove the tool and bake. Voila! A studio assistant!

Name that sculpture and win!

ToyCyte interviewed polymer clay illustrator Jessica Fortner this week. They’re offering one of her newest furry sculptures to the person who can name the new series. Catch a good read and a chance to win.

Sobrepena’s covered locket

These days it’s especially good to find reuse/recycle ideas for polymer clay when covered Altoids tins and tea lights have become cliche.

Embellishing old lockets never occured to me until I saw Angeli Sobrepena’s (beadladyangeli) tutorial. She updates her locket with a trendy cupcake image but of course many designs would work.

Angeli suggests gluing the clay onto the locket after baking. A thin layer of liquid polymer applied to the locket before adding the clay might be easier and should bond securely.

I’m pulling out my bag of old jewelry with a renewed sense of the possiblities among my castoffs.

Another thing…

If you’re wondering how crafts and the DIY crowd are faring in this economy, check out Rob Walker’s “Happy Medium” column in the New York Times.

A World of Inspiration

Registration for the July 11-14 International Polymer Clay Guild Retreat in Chicago is now open. Read all about it here and register here (you must join to register).

Gaedechens glows, Udell collages

Germany’s Caroline Gaedechens (on Etsy as NuitBlanche) is an illustrator who mostly creates 2D illustrations and soft sculptures.

She has a penchant for glow-in-the-dark polymer clay, however, and her monsters and magnets (scroll sideways) are somehow a perfect blend of scarey and reassuring.

As I was exploring the web’s nooks and crannies, I also discovered that Luann Udell has an Etsy site.

Her jewelry and fiber collages are inspired by the Lascaux cave in France. This ancient cave, long considered the birthplace of human art, is filled with paintings of prehistoric animals.