Thai flower arts

Tarapat van Gulik, from Thailand, and her husband Hans have just launched their website, ThaiflowerArt.com and I thought a burst of spring color could be rejuvenating – like the seed catalogs that arrive at this time of year.

The Guliks’ site showcases Tarapat’s realistic works which are produced in the Netherlands where the couple now live.

Most flower artists use Luna clay from Japan, an air-drying version similar to Lumina clay. The Guliks’ sell their own clay and their site contains pages and pages of techniques, tools and tutorials that apply to polymer clay as well.

While I have not often featured clay flowers, there’s a growing audience for this craft and you can see more at several additional sites like Suphattra and LilyCharter. Earlier I touched on Ravivan Petchprepa’s work as well. Have a warm weekend.

PCD’s mission and Friesen’s hearts

You’ve probably noticed that I’ve been crazy for hearts and steampunk lately. Christi Friesen has combined those two themes into one free tutorial on her site. I couldn’t resist bringing it to your attention.

I’ve spent the day watching the snow and fretting about Noblesse Oblige Award that Valerie Aharoni bestowed on me. Rather than be embarrassed and shy (my aw shucks mode), I’ll share with you what this blog is about and give you some tips for getting your work noticed online.

The Award

Over 15 years ago in a seminar, I off-handedly came up with my personal mission statement which is, “Find beauty, share beauty.” Since a mission statement is supposed to consist of seven words, someone suggested that I add, “and accessorize well.”

There you have it. My simple blog intent was composed on a whim before blogs were invented. All sorts of plans were set in motion with that mission statement. Finding and sharing beauty is my bottom line. Read more about the award…

Reid’s polymer clay minerals

New Jersey’s Kathryn Reid (aka PendulumStudios1) has bounded onto the Flickr and Etsy polymer clay scene with beads that beg to be touched. She’s attached names like mineral, earthen, lichen, and moons to her smooth pod-shaped creations.

Colorful translucent cane patterns are applied over glittering base beads as with the “Day and Night” beads shown here. See more of Kathryn’s work on her Etsy site.

Her secret? “I believe that my jewelry is inspired by the freedom that comes from not thinking about what I’m trying to do.”

Aharoni’s hearts toggle

This polymer clay heart toggle clasp comes from Valerie Aharoni. Her blog and flickr site are full of new concepts and experiments.

On her blog you can see the results of her tranfers made using ink jet prints on baking parchment paper. A bit of a buzz is growing about this process. The ink pooled when I tried it with my Epson but other printers seem to have had better luck.

Here are previous posts (1, 2, 3) we did about Valerie’s innovative designs.

Ticking polymer clay Hart heart

Kimberly Hart of MonsterKookies in Toronto gives an edgy twist to her polymer clay cookies and hearts. I’d been admiring her anatomically correct heart pendants and this realistic steampunk version (My Heart Doesn’t Beat, It Ticks) is inspired.

The piece sold as soon as it was posted on Etsy. There will be more to come. You can keep track of Kimberly on her deviant site, her web site, or on Etsy.

Attaboy/girl

Two weeks into the year and you all seem to be ticking items off your lists. Grant Diffendaffer has his Etsy shop up, Gera Scott Chandler has dusted off her blog, and Maggie and Lindly’s new color book is available for pre-order. You go, girls and boys.

Eash’s kitschy polymer

It must be the sound of my husband munching as he watches football in the living room that’s drawing me to these polymer clay earrings by Arkansas’ Wanda Eash.

Her sites (Etsy and Flickr) are a riot of jewelry that glorifies all kinds of Americana, kitschy food and vamping starlets.

Wanda’s art and articles have been published in the best craft magazines and her earrings are being sold in the Jell-O museum in New York. It doesn’t get better than that, does it? Very retro. Very hip. Have a hip weekend.

Hughes mobiles, new blog

Tory Hughes is working on polymer clay mobiles for the Sculpting Color in Your Hands show August 8 through November 22. The event will be organized by the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA and curated by Kathleen Dustin. This exhibition will include a variety of large scale forms, including sculpture, furniture, wall pieces, and installations by artists who are pushing the qualities of polymer clay.

Tory found mobile design a different and very compelling type of design challenge. “It involves things that move in space, things we see from below or across. Personally it is nice to have more reasons not to use my imitative techniques; I like the opportunity to develop a different esthetic given the design criteria,” Tory added.

Be sure to bookmark the new Log Notes section on Tory’s updated site. In her intro she explains that, “My job is to navigate the landscape of creative action and come back to discuss what I find. Check in regularly, because I’ll be telling you all the juicy and useful things I encounter.”

Jensen’s shabby chic polymer miniatures

My journey with polymer clay began when my daughter and I furnished her dollhouse nearly twenty years ago. I’d almost forgotten how enchanting making those little furnishings and food can be until I began clicking through the CDHM Miniature site. I was drawn in by their January featured artist, Cristel Jensen from Norway. (Scroll way down her page to see all the images.)

Cristel specializes in polymer clay food and small interiors. ” I prefer a ‘worn vintage’ look and like to give things a shabby feel as a finishing touch,” she said. The Ralph Lauren-inspired chair above is polymer.

Making 1/12″ size dioramas look real and inviting is no small feat.

Geoffrey’s chic pendants

Rebecca Geoffrey’s clean graphic look is hip and chic and she’s got a whole gallery of similar pieces on her IndiePublic site. She shows an incredible ability to control and exploit every mokume gane slice and cane pattern.

It looks as though Rebecca has narrowed her web choices to IndiePublic, there’s little on her other sites. Networking has become overwhelming and I imagine that we’ll all be narrowing our focus soon.

The Tucson bead show in February sounds warm, sunny and tempting at this time of year. Just look at the roster of classes at ToBeadTrueBlue and the list of vendors. Thanks to Barbara Sosna of the Tucson PC Guild for reminding us.

Polymer clay hands speak for themselves

We start the new year with a new idea. MoonlightAura has opened an Etsy shop with polymer clay sculptures that can spell your favorite color (“blue” pictured here) or word in American Sign Language. Brilliant!

The Buffalo artist works with children and finds signing helpful in teaching children, even those without hearing loss. It’s a great learning tool as well as an intriguing decoration. Susan Lomuto discovered the link and generously forwarded it for your Monday inspiration.

On TV

HGTV running the That’s Clever series again and Mags Bonham is scheduled to demonstrate her polymer clay work on January 9, episode number 404. The fast-paced craft show often makes its subjects look quite silly and Mags is quite sure that her episode won’t disappoint.

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