Texture your trash

Dayle Doroshow’s oversized paper beads (these are each about 1 1/2″ wide) echo exotic, tribal themes.

Dayle admits they’re made from the tail ends of her polymer projects, simple tall triangles rolled onto a fat skewer and then flattened with stamps and textures. Paints and powders and whatever is handy add the final effect.

Since Dayle and I are playing together this week, we’ve decided to giveaway one of our Creative Sparks books signed by both of us. Dayle shares how she developed habits and tricks that tease her back into the studio when she’s stumped or stewing.

Leave us a comment and we’ll dash an autographed book off to the winner on Friday.

  • reply Lisa Mackin ,

    I too get stewed and stumped! I’d love a copy of Creative Sparks. Your site is part of my morning ritual. Thanks for all your hard work.

    • reply Jo Davis ,

      When I see beautiful beads like Dale’s I am tempted to call in sick to work so I can play! I can hardly wait until I get home from work tonight! Thanks for sharing.

      • reply R McIntosh ,

        Love your posts. I so look forward to them each day — I’m always disappointed when I realize it’s no-post weekend! Keep up the good work. 🙂

        • reply Irati ,

          hi!!! I’ve arrived here some days ago, and I love all the things you publish here, they’re really inspiring.
          I’d love a copy of the book!
          Congrats for this awesome page!

          • reply genevieve ,

            Love to see this “trashy” inspiration! What great beads! I’ve been getting into carving my trash lately.

            • reply AG ,

              I’d love a copy of your book! Your site is filled with so much inspiration… Thank you so much! 🙂

              • reply Deb Fortin ,

                These are not your Grandmothers beads. lol
                I love the tribal look to them . and here I’ve been throwing out my wee bits and pieces. So wrong!
                I’d love to win the book as my mojo sometimes takes a hike.

                • reply Dana Jones ,

                  I love the beads you are showing here. Think I will have to try some myself. Would love to win the Creative Sparks Book. Love reading your post everyday…

                  • reply Amy Brown ,

                    I would love some inspiration, when I’m in a rut my creative outlet feels too much like hard work.

                    • reply Becky M. ,

                      Gorgeous beads!!! This blog is a daily stop for me!!

                      • reply Marian Hertzog ,

                        I’d love a copy of Creative Sparks too! I like these beads!

                        • reply Trish Hait ,

                          You are so creative!! I’m just starting out with clay and believe me I need all the inspiration I can get!! Would love to win! Keep the great ideas coming, please!

                          • reply Sandy Davis ,

                            what a great way to use up the odds and ends that are left. Love these beads and thanks for the inspiration!

                            • reply Mary Kianava ,

                              I need all the help I can get. Polymer Clay Daily has been my main source of tips, ideas and inspiration. Thank you so much for providing such a wonderful collection of projects, techniques, tutorials and a gallery of amazing projects from all around the world. I really appreciate the time and effort you put in to giving us the only site that exposes us to a diverse collection of imaginations of these artists.

                              • reply Kelly ,

                                My favorites lately are, “what to do with all your scraps”. Love these “trashy” beads and would love to win a copy of Creative Sparks.

                                • reply Nancy Revoir Dezotell ,

                                  My morning wouldn’t be the same without PCD. Love the textures of these beads. Thanks ladies.

                                  • reply Sheila Willert ,

                                    I love great ideas for ‘leftovers’. Usually I just accumulate and make Natasha beads. These will be fun to make!

                                    • reply Denise ,

                                      These are wonderful!!! and so simply done!

                                      • reply dawn ,

                                        Looks like a great book 🙂 I am often stewed and stumped 🙂 Am I allowed to enter from the UK?
                                        Thanks for such a lovely blog anyway, it is a great inspiration. 😀

                                        • reply jacque ,

                                          I can always use a method to get me working again. Right now my studio is full of garage sale selections. Step one–get the stuff outa there.

                                          • reply Karen Tenny ,

                                            You do a wonderful thing with the daily inspiration of the site. I have many projects that have sprung from the inspiration your page provides…I would love a copy of the book…

                                            • reply Dakotah Flannery (dlakotaqh) ,

                                              Trying to go from full time nurse to full time polymer clay/mixed media artist is not the easiest thing I have ever tried. Lots of “now what?” days. A book with tips for getting the creative spark going again sounds like just what I need. BTW…thank you for your website & links. It is inspiring. dlakotaqh

                                              • reply Cindy Walcott ,

                                                Scraps result in the most amazing serendipitous results. Since it is “just scrap”, I think we free ourselves from expectations. (And yes, I would love the book!)

                                                • reply Roberta Warshaw ,

                                                  This looks like a great book. Count me in. I love your web site because I always get such inspiration. I am quite sure the book will be the same!

                                                  • reply Beth Ackley ,

                                                    As always, your site is one of the first things I look at every morning. Once again your topic is inspiring. I think it is time for me to check our Creative Sparks. Thanks.

                                                    • reply Georgia Morgan ,

                                                      I love playing with scraps–so much that I never have enough “mud”!

                                                      • reply Janice Sears ,

                                                        These beads look like ancient buried treasure! How inspiring! I love scrap clay and this is an entirely new direction that I had not even imagined! What a great idea!

                                                        • reply Linda ,

                                                          Love these trash beads…a great way to use up some end pieces! I’ve been in such a slump the past 3 or 4 years, I could really use the CREATIVE SPARKS!!!

                                                          • reply Betsy Fraser ,

                                                            I was lucky enough to take a class with Dayle a couple of years ago. She has a great imagination that comes thru in her work. She did such a good job at sharing her insights with us. There’s always a new way to look at an ordinary thing, and I try to keep that in mind — especially when I’m stalled.

                                                            • reply Priscilla ,

                                                              I work with gourds and when I saw your work with wood I heard angels sing in the background!! I love love love being inspired! Ive got Creative Sparks all over me now! Thanks

                                                              • reply Anniina ,

                                                                Beautiful beads indeed! This site is always a place of inspiration for me. Greetings from Finland!

                                                                • reply Ruth Cline ,

                                                                  As a person who is trying to develop her own style, new inspiration is extremely important. I definitely will try out this method and see what happens. Love the “tribal” look!

                                                                  • reply Kim Schlinke ,

                                                                    Who doesn’t need a kick in the creative pants once in a while. I would love a copy of y’all’s book. I already use PCD as one of my daily inspirations.

                                                                    • reply carolyn stearns ,

                                                                      Cynthia, you don’t know it but we have coffee together every morning! I am inspired daily, I share this site with all my students so thay will be inspired too!
                                                                      Thank you for sharing!

                                                                      • reply Mandy Houston ,

                                                                        I am learning so much from PCD, it’s part of my daily “wake up” ritual, thank you for sharing the inspiration. I checked out Crative Sparks, looks like it will be a great source of inspiration too.

                                                                        • reply Melanie J Pierce ,

                                                                          I have PCD set as my “Home Page”…This is my first stop in my morning ritual!…With my coffee at hand I anticipate just what will be todays inspiration… 🙂 I am never let down! I can’t think of a better gift than to receive a copy of “Creative Sparks” from you Cynthia and Dayle on my Birthday Friday! 🙂

                                                                          • reply Leslie Marquez ,

                                                                            I would love to get a copy of the book! Thanks

                                                                            • reply christine kozicke ,

                                                                              Love your site. Very inspirational and exciting. You are the first blog
                                                                              I go to each day. I am always amazed at how people can touch others
                                                                              in ways they probably aren’t even aware of. Keep up the great work.
                                                                              Would love to be the owner of your book Creative Sparks.

                                                                              Have a wonderful day.

                                                                              • reply Lenora ,

                                                                                Hi Cynthia, Hi Dale,
                                                                                Both of you are creative sparks! I just came across my notes from Dale’s class at Synergy last year. Cynthia, you hit the nail on the head when you wrote about playing with Dale. Playing is a great way to light those sparks. I’d be thrilled if I were chosen.

                                                                                • reply Bonnie Kreger ,

                                                                                  Those beads are intriguing. Now I have an idea what to with clay ends. Love PCD and I have all Dayle’s DVDs. I would love to win Creative Sparks, at my age I need all the sparks I can get. :0)

                                                                                  • reply Melinda Hayes ,

                                                                                    What a neat idea! Hmmm. Could even make them bigger and use as pendants on Kumihimo cords.

                                                                                    • reply Kathi Briefer-Gose ,

                                                                                      I love using my tail ends to make beads like this. Mine aren’t quite as big though

                                                                                      • reply Janine ,

                                                                                        Your site is great! These beads are a great way to do something with your cane ends. Cool idea!

                                                                                        • reply Norma Agron ,

                                                                                          Those beads are great. I love them. I was getting ready to comment and then I realized about the giveaway… Great.

                                                                                          • reply Mags Bonham ,

                                                                                            What a great use of scraps Dayle!! I’m so jealous that you two get to play together again! I’m sure something wonderful will come of it. Hope there are pictures… And yes I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win a copy of the book!

                                                                                            • reply Pauli ,

                                                                                              Checking PCD is in my daily routine, I’m always looking for inspiration and these beads really made my day! And the chance of winning this book makes them extra special!

                                                                                              • reply Freda K ,

                                                                                                Love figuring out things to do with the scraps. A book with ideas for that and also how to get me to my messy studio when I’m in a slump would be so great.

                                                                                                • reply Triche Osborne ,

                                                                                                  What a terrific idea! I’ve often found that some of my favorite pieces of clay were a melange of chopped up leftovers. I’d love a chance at winning a book with this sort of inspiration.

                                                                                                  • reply Julie ,

                                                                                                    Fantastic! Such a primitive feel! So “one-of-a-kind” and serendipitous. I have a dozen Chinese take-out cartons full of scrap clay just waiting for lightning to strike. What a great excuse to step out of my comfort zone. And, yes! I’d love to win your book too.

                                                                                                    • reply Patti ,

                                                                                                      My scrap is usually used as “bead guts”. A friend even once sent me about 3 lbs of scrap in the mail! would love to win the book!

                                                                                                      Leave a reply to Barb Alexander Cancel reply