Polymer hoops

Angie Wiggins winds up her polymer for weekend fun on PolymerClayDaily.com

This earring design from Virginia’s Angie Wiggins is inspired!

She loops a strip of polymer that’s decorated on both sides, anchoring the spiral with seed beads in companion colors.

The ear wires will be added but you get the gist. They’re arty additions almost ready for a weekend of fun.

Did someone say “Weekend of fun?”  Studio Mojo will bring you pictures from a great retreat and links to new tools, clothes, and makeup. Events aren’t just for learning about polymer, you know. Come party with us!

Da to metallics

Natalya Pakhomova coaxes the luster from Cernit Metallics on PolymerClayDaily.com

The translation from the Instagram of Moscow’s Natalya Pakhomova makes little sense but her beads may speak your language.

We know they’re made from Cernit metallics using what they’re calling a snakeskin texture plate to achieve this loose mokume gane pattern.

With just the right coaxing, Cernit metallics can create a soft luster that says yes (that’s “da” in Russian). Here they are as earrings.

Me and Matisse

Cynthia Tinapple's Matisse and me earrings on PolymerClayDaily.com

In a last-day flurry of activity at the retreat in Virginia, I churned out a bunch of earrings.

I rarely work quickly to produce a bunch. As I looked around the workroom, it appeared that everyone was enjoying a last-minute burst of creativity. I’m calling these my Me and Matisse earrings.

The drive to “get her done” is often one of the best motivators and a good reason to join your own gathering of artists.

Hitched in polymer

Bonnie Bishoff coordinates the wedding party with this tie on PolymerClayDaily.com

Rub the sleep from your Monday eyes and look closely.

This snapshot of Bonnie Bishoff and her son Jaime holds a surprise you may have missed.

At the Nuptials exhibit at Maine Craft Portland, more than 20 artists created one-of-a-kind ceremonial adornment, accessories, and jewelry for those looking to get hitched in style.

Bonnie created a collection of delicate flowery polymer and wire pieces for the 2-month long exhibit. Her son sports a Nuptials tie in this photo. Envision a wedding party completely coordinated with polymer art.

See more of Bonnie’s collection on Instagram and Facebook.

High speed earrings

Bonnie Gilmore layers her Friday earrings at high speed on PolymerClayDaily.com

Australia’s Bonnie Gilmore (HatchingSparrows) launches us into the weekend with a frenetic Instagram video that will kick your Friday into high gear.

She cuts, positions, layers, textures, smooths and readjusts at high speed. The resulting earrings carry that energy and brightness with them. Here she is on Etsy.

If you’re looking for energy and brightness but not so much the frenetic part, hop on over to StudioMojo. We slow the pace down and take a more leisurely Saturday morning look at the week’s developments in our polymer universe. Kind of a spa treatment for your over-stimulated creative brain. Relax with us. 

Statement earrings

Bettina Welker airs her Patchwork earrings this spring on PolymerClayDaily.com

These arty, carefree collaged earrings from Germany’s Bettina Welker feel playful with their contrast and deep texturing.

Bettina offers a whole collection of these springy Patchwork accessories on Flickr.

I’m having a hard time deciding which spring creations from Clayathon to include in this Saturday’s StudioMojo. There was so much going on and people were so willing to share that I’m having a grand time sorting out the ideas that were blooming all over the workroom. I may have to spread them out over the next two issues so that we can savor them properly. Come on over to discover what’s new. 

Art deco spring

Eried's earring blooms will make you believe in spring again on PolymerClayDaily

Greece’s Eri Dimitriadi (Eried) restores our faith in spring with these ocean blue earring dangles. She calls them art deco. You may see them as spring blooms.

 

Eri is a full-time architect and part-time polymer artist. She has a delicate touch and a spare, architectural sensibility. If these grab you, you’ll want to see more on her Instagram.

Zazu zips through a geometric collection


Zazu zips through cutting and arranging layers to create a collection on PolymerClayDaily

The rhythm of cutting and replacing pieces of clay, especially at high speed, makes this process look simple and satisfying.

Watch Spain’s Zazu cut and swap layers of stripes and solids.

Using only a blade and some geometric cutters she reassembles pieces of striped canes and solids into an entire collection of jewelry.

There are days that whiz by when things go as swimmingly as this. Let’s hope today is one of them.

Which came first?

Christi Uliczny layers lavish colors and leaves clues on her Instagram on PolymerClayDaily.com

Don’t you love the mysteries you encounter as you deconstruct a polymer piece like this one from Michigan’s Christi Uliczny (cabinefeverclay)?

“Which came first?” we ask ourselves. Interestingly light colored polymer textured ovals with baked in metal eyes were first. Then what? Color? When did the crackle go on? And then more layers of colors?

It’s dizzying to walk it backward when there are so many layers interacting with each other. You need skill and serendipity to create faux ceramics like Christi’s. She offers more clues to her favorite tools on her Instagram.

Warm up with mosaic

Syndee Holt uses pan pastels for her try out of Kim Korringa's free video on PolymerClayDaily.com

California’s Syndee Holt bypassed using scrap polymer for her mosaic jewelry based on Kim Korringa’s video. See them on Instagram.

Syndee pulled out her pan pastels and created a colorful abstract for her top layer of polymer.

This may sound confusing but it’s all explained in Kim’s video of her simple and quick way to play with a bit of clay. It makes a good warm-up exercise in case you’re in a post-holiday rut.