Friday thimble terrors

Brooke Duckart's thimble terrors are ready for the weekend on PolymerClayDaily.com

These characters from Oregon’s Brooke Duckart jumped right out at me. Recognize those screwy grins and bulging googly eyes?

Yep, it’s Friday and somebody’s had too much screen time. We know just how Brooke’s finger puppets are feeling.

Brooke uses thimbles as the form for her thimble terrors.

StudioMojo now comes to members in a slick online format. And the best thing is that every Saturday we can bring you even more insider tips and breaking news that will help you take your work/fun to new places.

Sign up for a month and see for yourself.

Folkart polymer

Maryland’s Rachana Saurabh brings her heritage to all her artwork. She paints elegant, colorful Indian women. Her delicately embellished polymer earrings show an unmistakable folk art influence as well.

Rachana Saurabh's folkart in jewelry and painting on PolymerClayDaily.com

Now she merges painting and polymer this new Lotus Pond panel. Watch her add these blossoms on a background of swirled and spiraling extruded strings of blue.

This month all Rachana’s sales are being donated to the COVID 19 crisis in India.

Spring on steroids

Sherstin Schwartz makes gardens that climb the walls on PolymerClayDaily.com

Minnesota’s Sherstin Schwartz (lifeofapaintbrush) admits that she’s an alien.

She sculpts flowers, pods, mushrooms, and other vegetation in eye-popping colors and mounts them on square tiles.

Sherstin calls herself an alien floral designer and her exaggerated shapes and lush colors help you understand why.

The effect of her polymer gardens gathered on a wall will wake up your Monday.

Radical polymer

Sayra Lopez shows rebelliousness in her art on PolymerClayDaily.com

Switzerland’s Sayra Lopez (NinkaPop) takes the minimalist vibe that’s everywhere and turns it into Radical Fashion that stands out.

“It’s about being brave, standing up for what you believe in, and standing up for you,” she says. It’s for the rebellious ones, the misfits, the ones who make their own rules.

NinkaPop’s designs often mix media. Here they sandwich resin between high voltage color polymer. Their collections also include smooth clear shapes in acrylic. Experience their approach on Instagram.

Moose Jaw Monday

Jude Radwanski connects to other artists on PolymerClayDaily.com

Jude Radwanski (fireflyartjewellery) reached out to fellow Canadian Helen Breil in an attempt to meet other polymer artists. Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, doesn’t have much of a clay community.

After a 30-year career in interior design, Jude transitioned to polymer. The Saskatchewan Craft Council came up with a new “wearable craft” category to be able to include her in their shows.

Her scribed and textured and wonky pieces exude a fearlessness that’s just great for a Monday. Welcome aboard, Jude!

Serving up summer

Rikki McDermott's muse wanted to play so she did on PolymerClayDaily.com

Rikki McDermott’s brain (byrikki_handmade Jewellery) requested a break from planning and production in her workspace in Scotland.

Turns out, her resting brain is ready for summer. She repeated to herself, “Make something for fun.” as she slammed together her scrap cane ends – neons, pastels, monochrome, and a whole lotta random madness into one big happy cane.

It shows, doesn’t it? Be nice to your muse, your mojo. She won’t steer you wrong.

StudioMojo, the weekend edition of PCD, gives your resting brain the attention and newest info you crave. Join us.

Inch by inch

Just guessin’, but rough calculations suggest that there are about 1500 polymer inchies on this 30″x52″ wall piece that Leslie Blackfordand her husband assembled during quarantine.

It’s quite a collaborative piece that contains Leslie’s collection of 1″ mementos from conferences, classes, and events around the world. The silly squares almost became a nuisance to make as swapping them turned into a ritual at each meeting.

After 20+ years of encounters, the collection turns Leslie’s wall into a warm reflection on friends from around the world gathered in one cozy corner in Kentucky.

The community is growing by leaps and bounds. Lucky that we have a solid history of sharing and support to guide us forward.

Polymer with a twist

Indiana’s Riley (RiClayCollection) gets ready for Mothers Day with a twist.

She gives a narrow pale ribbon of polymer a slight twist and ends the earrings with a delicate matching ball. The effect is both contemporary and classic.

Riley is an arts fundraiser and finds herself surrounded by inspiration. She started with clay during quarantine.

Rebels in barbed wire

Maryam caters to the bold and rebellious on PolymerClayDaily.com

Do cowgirls (and cowboys) wear barbed wire earrings? Wait! Maryam (GraciousRebelDesigns) is from Philadelphia so she’s probably not aiming for ranching types.

In fact, Maryam says she makes earrings for the brave and the rebellious. She started during the pandemic.

These polymer barbs and hoops are much more comfortable than real wire. They look quite convincing.

Come on over to StudioMojo this weekend where we continue to focus on upcoming artists with fresh perspectives. Gracious rebels are just what our community needs. In-person classes are being scheduled and clay is appearing back on the shelves. We’ve got the scoop you’ll want.

Putting your own spin on swirls

Angie Wiggins rides the swirl and makes it hers on PolymerClayDaily.com

Virginia’s Angie Wiggins gets lost in the swirl of a bead. She puts blends and cane scraps on a base bead and does a bit of rock and roll to make a swirled bicone bead. It’s hard to explain but fun to master. (See a video here.)

Angie enjoys putting her own spin on this pendant. Tiny dots in companion colors track the swirls. She has a background in embroidery and loves to add her signature surface embellishments. Now it’s definitely her swirl.

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