Polymer Clay Daily

Toops and one more Niche

This hinged bangle bracelet is a collaboration between polymer artist Cynthia Toops and jeweler Chuck Domitrovich. The photo shows the bracelet open and lying flat. See more views here. Cynthia’s site features some new works that may rock your Monday world.

The closeups of Cynthia’s polymer micromosaic and Chuck’s description of the intense process makes you appreciate the work’s beauty even more. The piece will appear in an upcoming museum show.

One more Niche

This polymer clock from Ann Kruglak was omitted from our coverage of 2011 Niche awards. It’s a finalist in the Home Furnishings/Clocks category. Thanks to the eagle eye of Marcia Morton for the catch.

More Niche names

The official list of 2011 Niche Awards finalists has been posted. PCDaily pieced together our own list here, here and here in November. Pictures of the finalists have been added to the Niche site though it takes persistence to see them all.

We missed Jeff Dever’s entry (center) in our earlier announcement. He’s a finalist in the Sculpture to Wear category. Pictures of Judy Summers’ sculpture (left) and Wiwat Kamolpornwijit’s works (right) weren’t available when we broke the news.

Thanks to Elise Winters who directed us to the Niche site and noted that polymer clay artists were named in three of the five spots in the Fashion Jewelry category.

Have a winning weekend. I’m back home on Monday.

Chalk magic

Israeli polymer artist Tania Poldoleanu has a way with chalks and acrylics. The soft washes of color paired with graphic patterns give her beads an ancient-meets-modern look. Her Flickr pages give you the most comprehensive look at her work.

Thanks to Lindly Haunani for the link. She’s posted some particularly colorful info lately.

My excuse

This vacation picture shows why I’ve backed away from the computer this week. Talk amongst yourselves.

You’d better watch out…

Look carefully and you’ll see molars sprinkled among the holiday candies on Wendy Malinow’s sparkly Too Much Candy polymer bracelet.

Look even more closely and you’ll note that the teeth have fillings in them. It’s Wendy’s wink and caution for this season of sweets.

Wendy adds her own brand of woodland spirit to the winter season on her Etsy site.

Slight detour

PCDaily doesn’t often stray off topic but Meg Hannan’s fabric jewels are too close to our way of thinking to ignore. Picture millefiori using fabric, beads and glue instead of polymer.

If you like to cane, your brain may overheat as you cruise through her beautiful photos and videos. And if you spend more time than you should on her site, you can blame Jana Roberts Benzon for sending us the link.

Vacation detour

I’m visiting my new grandson this week…the absolute best early holiday present. Expect short, sweet, sentimental posts. I begin with this little ornament from Lisa Haldeman. Here’s the original link.

Yikes!

How did I miss the sizzling colors of Suzanne Anderson? I bumped into her (here’s her blog) as I was browsing through Laura Balombini’s site yesterday. She and Laura are east coast neighbors. I found this recent interview and pictures of Suzanne’s studio in the Bangor Daily News. She gravitated to polymer after years as a beader and metalworker.

These earrings are from her Fiesta line. I enjoy the way she separates her online galleries by color. Suzanne chose her studio name because the word expresses the upbeat mood of her jewelry…Yikes!

Giveaway

Leave a comment on yesterday’s post to enter our first holiday giveaway of our hot-off-the-press Creative Sparks! Wow, loads of lovely comments have come in already. I’ll close entries at 5:00 Friday and choose a lucky winner.

Winner

The lucky Creatives Sparks winner was Crystal Gordine of Kingston, Ontario. You were all so enthusiastic that we’ll do another book giveaway soon!

Creative Sparks Giveaway

Dayle Doroshow and I created Creative Sparks, a little gem of a book, and it’s time to spread a little holiday cheer with a book giveaway.

To enter, respond to this post with your comment. We’ll choose a winner on Saturday. Did I mention that Sparks is filled with Dayle’s great tricks for keeping your spirits up in the studio?

Looking at so many of your lovely polymer creations makes it hard to hush my inner critic when I get my hands on clay. Dayle’s tips showed me ways to navigate around the obstacles that get in the way of creative joy. I include pictures and comments about my results.

2011 organizer

If you’re trying to organize for the new year, check out Laura Balombini’s polymer teapots calendar. She posted about it on Facebook. It’s $20 plus shipping. Write her to order yours.

Small world polymer

This polymer creche from Nepal’s Sammunat project shows us how connected we are. The characters are charmingly styled. Note that this Joseph carries a traditional khukuri knife and Mary wears a sari, bindi and beads. (This post on their blog tells another “small world” story.)

The power of the internet still astonishes me. Through it artists in the US, Australia, and Japan have developed friendships with the ladies in this project and helped their programs grow. Their fashion items become income, education for their children, food, medicine, and hope for a brighter future. I plan to visit there next November.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the polymer artist who has everything, a donation to the Sammunat project in his/her name would help artists a world away. Special Sammunat Christmas beads are available through Australia’s Over the Rainbow store.

Polymer rubble

Lynn Reno (aka Desert Rubble) is having an identity crisis. She’s looking for a name for her polymer style. Industrial? Steampunk? Surreal?

Her recipe calls for a hit of steampunk, a dash of industrial and a bit of cyborg. It adds up to a whole lotta fun.

Even holiday icons like this Santa and Gingerbread Man receive receive her special treatment. Check out the rest of her designs on Artfire and Flickr. Thanks to Janet Hoy for the link to Lynn.