Online photo galleries give us the added benefit of tracking how a polymer clay artist’s work is developing. I was startled by the changes in Austria’s Bettina Mertz’ work.

Her June class with Sarah Shriver must have struck a chord and her work became much more detailed and controlled. Next she shows crocheted beads where again she takes to the technique with ease.

Bettina’s combination of new skills are helping her find her voice that shines through her new pieces. Her "blackberry" beads are crocheted combinations of polymer and seed beads that look just like their name. Her polymer clay sand beads are shown here. Her earlier work is shown on her guild’s site here.