Polymer Clay Daily

RAM treasure chests

Polymer finery was on display all weekend. Some of these were new works, some old favorites. Top left is Kathleen Dustin, Julie Eakes’ framed extravagence on the right with Jeff Dever’s new work in the center (on Hollie Mion). The lavish seascape on the bottom is Laura Timmins’. Bottom right is elegance from Sandra McCaw.

You can enter to win the event t-shirt (printed with a shimmering version of Elise Winters’ art) until midnight (ET) Tuesday! Thanks for all the comments.

Wednesday night’s online class at Craftcast features Patrik Kusek combining metal clay and polymer using “warm” connections.

Win the Terra Nova Tee

Something significant changes when an artwork is set on a pedestal and encased beneath a clear polished museum vitrine. The necklace that was once casually worn to a party is now handled with gloves and tagged with new meaning.

That shift in significance is what we’re all pondering after the opening of the Terra Nova exhibit at the Racine Art Museum. The weekend exceeded all my expectations and you’ll see more as soon as I unpack and catch my breath.

In the meanwhile, you can order the lovely book here. I brought back this souvenir black tee with irridescent artwork for some lucky reader.

Register to win the limited edition Terra Nova t-shirt by leaving a comment below before midnight Tuesday.

Wearing polymer finery

These long slinky ecru earrings from New Mexico’s Barb Fajardo would look good with the jacket I packed for the RAM show. I’m guessing that Barb used the sprigging or Sutton slice technique to place the delicate contrasting flower pattern on the black background. Take a look at the roll that Barb’s been on lately. Don’t miss her cut and replace teaser.

I wear others’ polymer work every day without fail. It dawned on me that I’ll have to wear my own work at the RAM show! Pier Voulkos once revealed that she too had a hard time wearing her own pieces. Do you wear your work comfortably and proudly?

I headed back to my studio to whip up something appropriately dramatic and sparkly. Look for photographs of RAM visitors in all their finery over the next few posts. I’m off on a roadtrip to Wisconsin!

Why Polymer? – from RAM director Bruce Pepich

Is polymer on the rise? Why did the Racine Art Museum decide it was time to “break boundaries” with this new collection? How are museum goers reacting? Bruce Pepich and Craftcast’s Alison Lee discuss this and more in a free podcast available online on Friday.

 

 

Polymer pumpkinseeds

Oregon’s Janell Berryman is the creator of Little Pumpkinseeds characters including these mummy and steampunkin originals. Her polymer Pumpkinseeds have grown and changed as she’s sculpted them over 15 years and some of her pieces have been commercially reproduced.

Mummy man is six inches tall and the punkin is about the size of an apple. Breeze through her Etsy site, website and Facebook page to get the full treatment.

Gypsy class tonight

Release your inner gypsy as you learn to make vintage textile replicas in polymer and turn them into colorful clanking bangles or exotic necklaces. My Craftcast online class starts at 8:00 ET with full recordings available afterward. Join us!

Pungent polymer

Prague’s Pavla Cepelikova calls this necklace her Spice Bazaar and its autumn colors made me stop for a longer look. Her Flickr gallery is full of exercises in caning and construction. She’s gravitated to setting stones in polymer in novel ways as in this Smokey Quartz.

Pavla is a quick study and she breezes through techniques (look at all the necklaces in her gallery) while giving them her own distinctive stamp of dense pattern and intense color. This Saffron Addict likes her spices pungent.

Halloween reminder

This polymer witch’s finger wagged at me, reminding me that Halloween’s coming and we haven’t paid much attention! While these fingers have appeared on several sites, YoungCreative Marie’s covered Bic pen version shown here is both creepy and utilitarian! Marie also offers finger jewelry.

You must read the stories that accompany Nicole Johnson’s Mealy Monsters. Her characters are mostly grumpy misfits with issues that have a certain charm about them. This lovely lavender fellow is Gilbert. How does she give them such personality?

Turkish polymer for fall

This polymer necklace from Istanbul’s Nihal Erpeden reminds us to enjoy the last bit of the fall season this weekend. The Turkish to English translation is pretty rough but the visuals tell you what you need to know.

Look closely to see how she integrates the copper wire for the bail into the veins of the polymer maple leaf which hangs from a braided leather cord.

Broadcast Craftcast

Alison reveals a bit more about my online class in her weekly video news. This is the debut of some new treats and I’m psyched. Go take a look and have a delightful fall weekend.

Birthstone polymer

October’s gemstone is opal, right? So why not continue our quest for a convincing fauxpal recipe? This one from Camille Young has me itching for a little exploration time in the studio. Her instructions are in the photo caption.

The number of Stroppel cane experiments appearing daily tells me that I’m not the only one who can’t resist trying a new technique.

If opals aren’t your thing, browse through Camille’s art folder. She’s one multi-talented sculptor, gamer and all-round artist.

Oversize polymer

This oversized wrapped bead pendant from Germany’s Veronique Hoffman really caught my eye. Its huge hole, subtle metallic coloring and straightforward construction add up to an appealing nonchalance. Nothing you’d expect and everything you need.

Errata

Speaking of nonchalance, I casually listed a link wrong yesterday. My bad. Please follow this link to the Samunnat project website.