Wiiremote and Schiller’s Fantasy

The first thing you have to know about these polymer clay "Wiiremote" earrings is that they’re replicas of a very popular video game controller. They are made by Thiakosia and sold on Etsy. These clever copies are a hit, appearing on every geek and gadget site on the internet…they’re geektastic.

The second thing you need to know about this post is that it was sent to me by my artist/geek son. Now isn’t that just too sweet? Of course, I’m going to feature it.

One more oddity for your Friday amusement is Dawn Schiller’s Seidh (pronounced "seed"). According to her, Seidh take up residence in empty pods on the forest floor.

Fantasy characters usually scare me but Schiller’s make me smile. Her website is populated with all sorts of happy/creepy creatures perfect for your fall weekend viewing.

Philadelphia Guild’s Pictures

Browsing the Philadelphia Polymer Clay Guild’s blog and Flickr sites is like attending a virtual meeting, this month with Donna Kato.

There’s a wealth of inspiration on the site…like these necklaces by Ellen Marshall (left) and Susan Gross (right). Jeff Dever will teach a sold out class next week.

Kudos to the guild for delivering such up-to-the-minute pictures and information and such dynamite classes.

Bonura’s Online Collaboration

When Texas artist Elizabeth Bonura couldn’t find a suitable sculpture for the top of her wedding cake, she created one for herself out of polymer clay and then started a business making them for others. She has been sculpting since 1994.

A recent project – life size and with a two-week deadline – had her struggling. "I was having trouble capturing a likeness of the bride so I contacted the members of the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy and the members of the Professional Doll Makers Art Guild for help," says Elizabeth. She documented her progress on her Flickr site. "I could not have finished this project without these wonderful art communities!" she says. That’s synergy.

Speaking of Synergy! The online registration for next February’s conference opens next Monday. Check your calendar. Early birds are offered some tasty worms.

Polymer Clay Reminders of Faith

Here are two examples of a branch of polymer art that we sometimes overlook – religious art. The Lord Shiva sculpture is by Spanish polymer clay artist, Maria Saiz, on Craftster and Flickr which was sent in by Lea Hernandez.

Iowa’s Patricia Kimle has published a second web site, PreciousText, for her new line of fine art jewelry that is a source of encouragement and a reminder of faith.

Made from a combination of polymer clay and precious metal clay, her verses and sayings are the newest facet of her career that includes 15 years creating and writing about polymer clay.

Marie Segal’s Site

I’m so pleased to discover that Marie Siegel has a new site which includes some of her recent polymer clay work. Who else can claim to have crocheted a polymer clay sweater or to have worked in the medium since 1971?

"At one point I had 18 employees and sold to Bullocks, Macy’s, Nordstrom’s, the Icing, and lots of other major stores. I remember being the busiest I have ever been, having more money than I have ever had, and having no time or inclination to do more art or anything else. My work was in show rooms in New York and Los Angeles and I produced product lines 5 times a year," Marie remembers.

Marie knows the vagaries of fashion and vows "to be all I can be for myself and my family and not for another company or person." She and Howard have operated the Clay Factory, Inc. since 1980. You’ll want to read all about her.

Thanks to Susan Rose for giving us this heads up.

Blogging Mecca and Tabakman Works

I’m in New York, mecca for art blogging. Last night I connected with other bloggers at an American Craft Council salon event to hear about what happens when craft traditions and craft new wave colide as they have on the internet. About 40 bloggers from Park Slope and Brooklyn listened as the owners of Rare Device and Greenjeans talked about their blogging experience.

Not only was the topic thought-provoking but the renewed energy of the ACC was palpable. The first issue of the all-new AMERICAN CRAFT (the Oct/Nov 2007 issue) is out with a new look and a new voice that reflects the current convergence of craft, architecture, art, design, and fashion, pushing these connections to the forefront of the cultural conversation.

Here’s a sampling of links that will place your finger directly on the pulse of crafts and DIY arts…and polymer clay, of course.

It feels all wrong to post without a polymer picture. Here’s some lovely new work from Pennsylvania’s Laura Tabakman (sent in by Barbara Forbes Lyons). You’ll have to talk amongst yourselves, I’m off to roam the city.

Diffendaffer Updates

Take a peek at Grant Diffendaffer’s updated site where his new polymer clay work and upcoming book are featured. His blog is called Many Parts – the definition of poly-mer, get it?

Grant’s Polymer Clay Beads book will be out from Lark Books in January and it boasts twenty different beadmaking techniques and thirteen pieces of jewelry. "Learn my latest techniques for lathe turned and textured beads, mica beads, recursive molded beads, mandrel formed beads, hollow form beads and more," he promises.

His extruded and lathe-turned bead technique is simply a wonder to behold. If you’re itching to learn something completely different and can’t wait for the book, he’s got a class coming up in San Antonio in October.

And speaking of classes, Dan Cormier still has a few seats left in his October 13 "Form and Finish" class at the ArtWay in Maryland. The rest of his east coast tour is sold out.

Bambi Necklace from Finland

Oh to be this playful and to be making a polymer clay Bambi necklace like this one by Emmuzka of Helsinki, Finland. Make no mistake Emmuzka is a clay novice, but a novice with a sense of style and whimsy. Emmuzka’s experiment in making fairy wings for Barbie dolls is very sweet too.

If I were holiday crazy, I’d consider Santa and his reindeer for a necklace design sure to get grins. A quick cruise through Emmuzka’s Flickr site may remind you of your own early efforts and first successes.

It’s a little diversion as I ponder the past and the future of our community of fellow artists around the world. Note that the necklace was made for a swap with an American artist.

Art and Soul Doll

Washington’s Jessica Acosta pushes the idea of the polymer clay doll by combining figurative forms with unusual elements such as landscapes and building architecture. "Simple emotions and the small pleasures taken from life, such as sitting in the sun, or the feel of sand on bare feet are the inspiration for my dolls," she says.

I ran across Jessica as I was poring over the list of Art and Soul classes this October in Portland. Their roster of artists and classes is very tempting. Jessica teaches "Layered Dolls" and "Time Busted."

Her site contains a veritable who’s who of polymer clay doll links.

Haunani and Maggio Warm Up for Their Color Book

Polymer clay’s most famous color girls, Lindly Haunani and Maggie Maggio, have moved into writing mode as the deadlines for their new book loom. They’ve been exercising their writing skills by posting to their blogs.

Lindly’s running down her "top 100 tips" list and Maggie’s examining how the color blind experience color along with some great links to see how your web pages look. We’re in for treats as they warm up for book writing. They’re also looking for photos to illustrate their concepts. Submissions are due to them by November 1.

Details for submission are on Lindly’s site.

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