Polymer reruns

Vintage celluloid pieces are the starting point for California’s Laurel Steven’s New Old series of pendants and brooches. “In this series I’m combining molded pieces of vintage bits with more modern textures,” she explains.

She revives and refashions her extensive collection of celluloid by molding polymer versions of the originals and updating them with today’s colors then pairing them with trendy textured backgrounds.

Laurel plays with other techniques that you can see on Facebook, on Flickr, on Pinterest and in her Etsy shop. You can sense that she’s drawn to the old souls of the celluloid florals and enjoys giving these early plastics a second chance in polymer.

Nailed it

The bangle at the right could have been clipped out of a Paul Klee painting. France’s Agnes (Primatoide) calls it her Ancient Assyrian Ceramic Cuff which is made of polymer, inks and paint.

But I bet Paul Klee didn’t make nail art to match his paintings!

Agnes takes her nail art seriously and moves it to a whole new level. She was inspired by Claire Wallis’ caned nails. Now Agnes often creates companion polymer nail art for her jewelry.

Even if nail art doesn’t suit your fashion sense, you may find her methods and concepts fascinating. See more of her rough, ancient polymer on Flickr.

Dishing with polymer

Little dishes are all the rage as polymer artists venture beyond jewelry. Florida’s Sherri Kellberg (BeadazzleMe) shows us her fun footed 3.5″ bowl made using polymer, gold leaf and inks.

Sherri’s been experimenting with larger polymer bowls like this dramatic caned version as well as teapots.

She’s also developed several tutorials that mix polymer with resin to create glowing glassy effects. See her work on Etsy, Flickr, Pinterest, her blog and Facebook.

Spring leaf cane

Spring makes us look more closely at leaves and Israel’s Tami Shvat gives us a lovely interpretation in polymer to study.

She prepares a cane of variegated greens (sort of like camouflage) and then adds black veins that feel just right. Tami intends to mix these leaves with flowers for a larger millefiori cane but the leaf cane stands on its own.

Tami thinks like a caner (she has a cane brain) and brings her watercolor sensibility to polymer. Go see what she’s done on Etsy, Flickr and Facebook.

GPS in polymer

Looking for direction? Western Australia’s Debbie Crothers shows you which way to go with her new Affirmations Totems class on CraftArtEdu. She talks about these meaningful pieces and the techniques she uses in this brief free intro.

Debbie started making totems when she was looking for help with the letting go process as her children grew up and moved on. She guides students through identifying their own issues and affirmations. Then she shows how to create a personalized and symbolic polymer piece that inspires and encourages.

Debbie has come up with cool chalk, pastel and polymer processes as she’s taught and traveled the outback. Visit her on Facebook, her blog and check out all her classes as you head into the week.

Leather and polymer

Leather is all the rage and Russia’s Anna Bragina is all over mixing polymer with leather.

Seeing the photo of her bracelet layed flat makes it more understandable and the magnetic clasp is very au courant.

The slight flare of the four polymer squares help them hug the wearer’s arm. Go to Facebook, her sales site and Flickr to get the complete picture.

Friday follow-ups

Jot Wednesday evening down on your calendar for the Craftcast Organically Speaking class with Kelly Russell. It’s a polymer clay/metal clay media melange.

Check out Tammy Dye’s all-polymer version of the Anna’s bracelet. Tammy will be revealing her secrets at the L’Atelier Polymer Clay Workshop in Indiana June 14 to 16. Early bird prices are still in effect. Register here.

Vacation polymer

Because her camera battery had died, Angie Wiggins had to rely on her eyes and her memories to bring her vacation in Wyoming’s Red Desert back to life.

This mosaic bowl was inspired by sand dunes, petroglyphs, wild horses and antelopes topped off by a picnic lunch.

The textured square tiles on the inside of this wooden bowl are polymer. She’s decoupaged papers onto the outside and added polymer legs. Could you make your own version of this with inchies?

Angie mixes polymer with paper, felt, beads and whatever else strikes her fancy. She was taught to embroider at age five and has been a detail freak ever since. You can sample some of her details on her site, Facebook, Pinterest (love looking at her inspirations).

Spring upcycling with polymer

Polymer can spruce-up, fix-up forgotten treasures around your home as you tackle spring cleaning. Redecorate cheaply with upcycled finds.

Israel’s Hila Bushari provides a video of ideas to get you started. A bit of paint and flourishes of molded polymer turn this dull picture frame into a trendy accent.

Find out more about Hila’s tutorials and artwork on her blog, Etsy, and on Flickr. She offers more free videos here.

Rough polymer

Oregon’s Alison Sachs is still roughing up her polymer (PCD last checked in on her in 2012). She also creates some torch-fired enamel on copper pieces and it sometimes becomes difficult to tell which medium she’s dabbling in.

Alison calls her business BeadsByEarthTones and that pretty much sums up her approach. Earthy, scuffed, textured pieces.

One of her recent experiments is a faux porcelain line that will make you look twice. She gives Mother Earth’s colors some competition. You can find her latest works on her Facebook page.

Spring scenes in polymer

Ontario’s Karen Pasieka replaced a career in architecture with polymer. Both careers demanded attention to SubtleDetails, her business name since 2007. Bouquets, cake toppers, ornaments and framed sculptures suit her better, she decided.

She most recently began teaching how to create 31/2″ square polymer scenes like the ones above which she mounts in deep 10″ frames. “The potential for themes is endless,” she says and they can be rearranged into endlessly interesting groups. Some scenes like this alphabet, require a larger format.

Karen’s clear palette is fresh air for your Monday morning. Take a look on her blog, Instagram, Etsy and Facebook.

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