Polymer Clay Daily

Craynor’s faux African beads

Utah’s Cody Craynor sent me a link to his meticulously constructed polymer clay faux African chevron beads. Cody is refreshingly clear that his interest is only in the beads, not in making jewelry. He claims that his passion for beads began when he was transfixed by the color and clatter of a bead curtain in his parents’ 1970s bathroom. Take a look at his new site and work.

The mention of African beads derailed my daily research as I remembered earlier faux ancients. Here’s where the wayback machine took me:

• Jamey Allen’s folded beads (as seen on the Polymer Art Archive)
• Desiree McCrory‘s faux chevrons
• Klew‘s folded beads

Play-Doh video

I didn’t quite get the concept of last week’s Play-Doh/shaped cane breakthrough. I missed the part about Play-Doh only being used for a barrier layer with filler polymer layered on top. This video from ArtbyYonat answered all my questions. All reports are that the technique works.

Surprises from Gourley and Katz

I was ready to check airfares to Vancouver when I looked at this beach photo of sand dollars from Rachel Gourley. I must find that beach!

Upon closer inspection (click the image), I was surprised to see that these are Rachel’s polymer clay sand dollar canes. Clever, colorful aliens. Rachel brings a delightful sense of humor and curiosity about the natural world to all her polymer clay work.

She’s not on the web yet but mark your calendar, Rachel’s been selected for a July-September 2010 exhibit at the Craft Council of British Columbia.

Play-doh surprise

There’s quite a buzz in the polymer community this week about using Play-Doh to wrap an irregularly shaped cane. Israel’s Idit Fischer Katz (Idit Zoota) developed the technique and it’s translated to English on Naama Zamit’s site. The theory is that once the wrapped cane is reduced, the Play-Doh can be peeled away and even washed off the polymer.

If you don’t have Play-Doh on hand or are allergic to the wheat in it, you can use this recipe according to Yonat Dascalu who sent the link.