Stories on a string

There’s no time to browse for a post so I grabbed this favorite from the suitcase I was packing. Maggie Maggio’s circle necklace from several years ago is my must-have for the trip to France.

The thick blue/grays/green disks and slivers, all in her signature watercolor washes, are easy to wear. I love its sleek graphic quality. Each side is a different color and the effect is very architectural. Maggie was trained as an architect and it shows. She’s about to launch a whole new way of exploring color that you can sample on her site.

Maggie lives in Portland, Oregon but her parents live only a few miles from me so she comes to my town often and we’ve become close as we crossed paths over the years. She’s my roommate in Bordeaux.

Pondering my polymer jewels slowed my packing significantly as I picked favorites from the collection I’ve amassed. After a few years meeting online and traveling you’ll be surprised at the wonderful stories, characters and memories you’ll collect. That’s a big part of what polymer art is about.

Mystical polymer themes

Italy’s Serena Pannunzio (Eala Jewels) created this Golden Leaf on the Water pendant, as a commission based on her polymer series inspired by fantasy, celtic culture and mythology.

Drops and swirls of polymer gather next to each other to form what looks like a darkly clustered design.

Paints and metallic finishes give the pendant luster and echoes of an ancient story. She shares more of her own history on Deviant Art and Pinterest. You can see how she is drawn to mystical themes that she loves to revisit and rearrange.

Taste of France

I’m checking out the work of Toulouse’s Amarena to help me “get my French on” for my flight to Europe on Friday.

Digging through my scarf drawer and rooting through my earring collection as I pack for EuroSynergy2, Amarena’s vibe is guiding me.

She has an easy, self-assured way with clay and color that I’d like to pull off? Possible? I can try.

Get your first taste of France on Amarena’s Facebook, Flickr and Pinterest and stay tuned for reports from the upcoming conference.

Cut and run polymer

There’s nothing quite as nice as a free tutorial to put you in a studio mood. This YouTube video from Monica Resta (MoClay) should do the trick.

Cutting and folding polymer is becoming her specialty and she offers several variations on this theme on her YouTube channel. A few straight cuts and careful shaping turn a stack of clay into summery earrings in a hurry. Your head will reel with ideas for variations. Read more about Monica on Facebook.

Polymer grand finale

One last firework for the holiday weekend from Jael Thorp. Jael was practicing the spiral she learned from Lynda Gilcher’s class using scraps of clay for pattern.

You can see on Jael’s Flickr and Facebook pages that she loves bright patterns. Her eggs that I photographed at French Lick have been popular on my Instagram.

A polymer grand finale to blast you into July.

Patriotic polymer

Pull out your red, white and blue polymer clay and get busy on this weekend’s theme beads! Need inspiration?

Here Ron Lehocky piles his patriotic hearts to raise flag awareness and money for the Kids Center. Note the wavy blade stripes.

Barb Handy (BarbiesBest) creates themed beads for all occasions. Stars and stripes are one of her specialties. PCD has followed along for years as Barb widened and expanded her Etsy offerings.

If you’re a caner, you may prefer Carola Greiser’s (polymerclayshed) version of holiday fireworks found on Instagram. Have a star-spangled weekend.

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