Every once in a while a polymer artist like Vasso Tizma (ClaylandStudio) from Greece makes us think that we can all be polymer clay sculptors.
You’d think we’d learn that “making it look easy” is a trap. I’m trying to resist rolling out some red and green clay and giving it a go. Is there time to become an expert before the holidays? Hope springs eternal.
Plan B is her Etsy shop.
I’m stuck on the sculpture and holiday ornaments that I could, should, might be creating. Full disclosure: I have a lovely poinsettia plant on the hearth. That’s it in the decorating department.
Today’s ornaments that fall into the “I could try that” category are from New York’s Rosanna Cappellno.
She transforms old ornaments into jesters, Humpty Dumpty, pigs….you name it. Dead lightbulbs become elves! They’re quirky, whimsical, and recycled. Perfect for the tree. Oh wait, no tree.
Just because I’m not making ornaments doesn’t mean that I’m not enjoying, remembering, savoring them. I have made a few new pretties just in case the grandchildren can get vaccinated in time for a visit.
In the meantime, I’m taking vicarious pleasure in Rosanna’s site. Sumptuous!
Australia’s Dani Rapinett (daniartandjewellery) puts memories, pets, and other mementos on the tree. These days it’s easy to snag special effects to layer onto a photo.
Print out your creation and transfer it to polymer. (YouTube is full of videos to assist.) A cut-out, a ribbon, voila! Handmade, heartfelt…what could be better?
When Black Friday beckons, defy the system and redirect your muse to making memorable hangups for your family.
I was worried the StudioMojo would be difficult in this week of distractions but not so. Take a gander at what’s for sale in the online shows, see super trendy polymer high fashion photos. Thumb through lists of classes to propel you into the new year, and always a few new products that promise to solve all your problems. Join us!
This darling tree made from a stack of polymer clay circles is a reminder to me courtesy of the Whimsical Bead in Australia.
Every year I tell myself to make some ornaments and every year time gets away from me. Something about these is so simple and light-hearted and yes, easy. And dots are very in.
I count 27 circles in 4 colors. Yikes…but only half of them require painted dots or stripes. And some circles are the same size.
Ok, I’m getting my Tuesday night girls together in the studio for a session. String circles onto a wire, slap a star on the top and we’re done. My friends swear they’re not artists but for an evening, I’ll persuade them otherwise.
Check out the other color palette Dani offers in her kits.
It’s not surprising that Maine’s Linda Leach has sold out her puffin ornaments at CraftBoston. Who could resist the mix of canes and wire with a dash of color on their bills? Dangle them from the tree or stand them on the mantle.
Her flamingos have flown the coop too. She may still have a few loons left but you’ll have to move fast to catch them.
Why limit your holiday art to the usual candy canes and red/green palette? Linda shows us that all sorts of fanciful designs bring joy to the holidays.
It’s Monday and I really didn’t feel much like trolling through Instagram and Facebook. Maine’s Diane Manzi must have sensed my overload.
She emailed me photos of her reverse mosaic ornaments and switchplates which set off a series of alarm bells that chimed gaily, “We have a winner!” Her ornaments and switchplates have a woven, scrappy, graphic, contemporary look.
What in the world is “reverse mosaic” and will she share her magic? She claims to be a doodler. Tell us more!
Photos of the ornaments and switchplates show off her style much better than the little photos on her website. She’s an art educator. Lucky kids to have such a teacher. I’m jealous.
Bravo for Diane bravely sending her work to PCD. Now we want more, more from her. Here she is on Facebook. Let’s coax her out of her shell.
My head knows that if you put light to dark next to dark to light you’ll get the sensation of curving dimensional color.
So why does the trick surprise me every time?
Lynn Yuhr shows us how it’s done with her ornaments. Flipped alternating Skinner blends produce the magic.
German artist, Philip Wiegard takes this concept even further and his free tutorials will wow you.
Too much for your brain on a Monday? So sorry. Pour yourself another cuppa.
Soulth Carolina’s Kathy Koontz (FlowertownOriginals) thanks the pandemic for one of her best sellers this season. Yes, Covid slowed the manufacture and shipping of clay but she didn’t let that stop her as she saw her supplies running low.
Kathy got creative with her scraps. “Whether it’s old canes being reimagined or unsuccessful veneers that I somehow knew to keep, they both found a place in these Christmas sweater ornaments. So thanks corona virus!” There are a few left on Etsy.
Portland’s Laurel Swetnam loves her deep reds and oranges. By this time of year, she’s left with lots of cane ends and leftover veneers.
Not a problem! The patterns and colors play nicely with each other as she pieces them into these charmingly angular fox ornaments. Simple shapes become stunning ornaments.
“Home is the memories we make on the inside. The outside is a symbol of those memories,” explains Nashville’s Lindsay Black (oddlyand company).
She specializes in polymer home portraits and she’ll even put up your decorations as she did here.
You can imagine why Lindsay limits her custom homes with their precise details to just a few. She’ll re-open her shop on Etsy in February for next year’s orders.
