Buggy polymer…and a giveaway

The problem is not your monitor, there really are bugs in the system and they’re polymer from Jana Lehmann. You can watch these beetle brooches escaping from their cute little boxes.

Jana’s work is consistently the most graphic and the tidiest I’ve encountered. There’s considerable sanding involved and lots of attention to detail.

Her polymer-covered pens always appeal to me with their shapely Skinner-blended bodies and their whimsical tops. Just for fun, I’m offering five of the wooden pen bases that Jana uses as a giveaway today. I ordered a bunch from the German supplier (Bettina Welker delivered them) and they’re fun to try.

Make a comment and you’re automatically entered. I’ll announce a winner tomorrow.

Colliding polymer trends

Big hole beads and flat disk beads are catching my eye. These red beauties are from Armenia on Silk from Armenia. I can’t tell you a thing about them except that they’re super textured and very cool. Good on you if you can figure out the site and tell us about them. (Check her info in the comments.)

Thanks to Maria Petkova here’s a link to Hasmik Soghomonyan’s Facebook page too!

Then Australia’s Wendy Moore shows up with these flat disks with decorated edges. She was inspired by Natalja Ivanková’s forget-me-not beads from last Tuesday’s post. Wendy made hers look like a version of Nepali Rai beads.

Hang on as we whirl from Russia to the US to Australia with a stop in Nepal. Put your own spin on this very wearable style.

You have helped the Samunnat ladies in Nepal raise $6,000 of the $10,000 they need for their building. Several guilds are holding fundraisers to keep the momentum going. Every bit helps and you can still donate any amount by clicking the donate button.

Your buddies from around the world will be at tonight’s free online tools party at Craftcast.

Picarello polymer

Julie Picarello sent out a spring newsletter filled with her updated palette of colors and mokume gane designs. Her book, Patterns in Polymer, is in its second printing and being translated into German. Customers swooped in to buy from her online shop so you’ll have to settle for just enjoying a look.

I found these soft soothing lovelies in her galleries here and here and a few more on Flickr here. Her tell-all video is a huge favorite.

Party tricks

Wednesday night at 8:00 stop in at another popular and free I love tools party over at Craftcast. Patrik Kusek, Robert Dancik, Barbara Becker Simon, Christi Friesen and Robert Diamante will perform tricks with their favorite tools. Did I mention the prizes and coupons? Sign up here.

Spiraling energy

Some happy polymer colors from Kimberly Arden to start your week. In the summer Kim and her husband work with boisterous energy and sell with enthusiasm at shows all over the midwest as they work their way down to their winter home in Florida. Let the energy of these simple spirals spill over you. More colors on Pinterest here.

Last call

Judy Belcher will scoop up the last bits of your data tonight. We want to paint an accurate picture of our community in a presentation at Synergy. Please stand up and be counted here.

Show time polymer

The Vancouver and Van Isle guilds have mounted an impressive month-long juried polymer show at Seymour Art Gallery. Even better, they’ve created a site for the show so that you can enjoy a virtual visit. Though the show is entitled Chameleon, referring to the versatility of polymer, the sea has a huge influence on the works of the artists in this coastal Canadian city.

The fish above (the largest is 11″ long) are from Joan Tayler and the site features the work of Olga Osnach, Veronica Jeong, Gera Scott Chandler, Carolyn Good, Rachel Gourley, Tina Holden (those are her red Earrings Beyond the Ordinary), Wanda Shum, and Diane Bruce. (Shoot me a comment if I missed anyone.)

Kudos to the guilds for pulling this together and for sharing it with PCDaily readers this weekend.

Otto-matic polymer

After several days in a hotel at a great polymer event I’m GPSing my 8-hour drive home. Otto-Matic, a 12″ polymer, wood, metal and resin sculpture from Virginia’s Jake Johnson makes perfect sense.

Jake’s on Etsy and Facebook but he doesn’t explain much about his art. Jake’s other characters have names like Freakshow Freddie, Klankenstein, Ape-Bot. You get the picture.

While you may not understand this horror genre, when you’re facing a long road trip Otto’s demeanor looks right.

Who do you think sent the link? Bet you didn’t guess Ronna Weltman!

Polymer and knits

Bonnie Bishoff, long known for large polymer inlays in the wood furniture she and her husband JM Syron produce, has been adding more jewelry and a line of shawl pins to her repertoire. The shawl pins were originally requested by Bonnie’s mother-in-law, fiber artist Barbara Jones. They’ve grown into a new line being sold in knitting stores across the U.S., Canada and the UK. The polymer is set into bezels that Bonnie designed with sturdy, clever closures.

Enjoy a browse through other recent additions like these Circle Brooches which she treats like small canvases that alude to life on the northeast coast. She’s also expanded to Facebook here.

Unforgettable polymer

Is it too early in the season for these forget-me-nots from Slovakia’s Natalja Ivanková? The clumps of colorful blooms seem to be woven together but it’s actually a more clever and simple construction.

Natalja has covered the edges of flat white polymer disk beads with tiny petaled flowers. The flat sides of the disks are stacked and strung to achieve the effect of a rope of flowers. Look carefully at her page and you’ll get the gist. The challenge will be to give the concept your own unforgettable style.

More spring possibilities

From Kopila Basnet, Samunnat program director – Since a very long time we have been working in Samunnat and thinking of a building but before it was always a dream. But when a local man said he was interested to give us land for our building, even then we thought it was impossible because it was too long for us to collect money for the building. But what we have learned now is that even when we thought it was impossible, EVERYTHING is possible because we are connected to you all.

Now we understand that Samunnat is not just in Birtamod but it is all over the world. It is in every people’s hearts. I’d love to thank everybody who has given us so much directly and indirectly to make Samunnat’s power grow and double. We will always feel you in our building. Contribute to the fund here.

Wild horses and polymer

Equine artist Stephanie Michaud bought Eugena Topina’s faux cloisonné tutorial online. Eugena was surprised when Stephanie sent her first results which sold the first day they were offered on Etsy. This plaque is 7″ tall made of polymer, mica powders, artistic wire and resin.

It’s marvelous when good teaching and a student’s passion for a subject collide.Wild horses can’t stop the magic. Proud teacher Eugena sent in the link.

Multi-national building

Samunnat’s building fund has received nearly $6,000 in donations from ten countries! Isn’t that remarkable? Yes, they are still accepting donations. Plant your flag on the list: US, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Cyprus and the UK.

Heartfelt polymer

Heather Millican’s pithy and positive polymer sayings bring Valentines week to a close.

Stamped and painted, the words she chooses nourish without too much sugar. They’re good for you. She distresses the background for a homey touch.

Data desires

You can fill the holes in the polymer community’s data by completing the demographic survey. Judy Belcher tells me that we need just a few final facts to perfect our Synergy presentation. With this quick (and last) survey you’ll check off which kind of odd duck you are or more precisely your age range, training, location, and a few other basics.

Judy loves charts and graphs and when hundreds of you respond, she’s in data heaven. Give that girl a thrill. Here’s the survey.

And speaking of thrills, don’t forget the ladies of Samunnat who are dreaming of the new home for their project. You’ve made real progress possible and we’re still accepting donations. CLICK to donate.

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