End of the year polymer

Casey Omar Cross' warlord chick helps us usher out 2021 on PolymerClayDaily

Tired of treacly sweet holiday movies, I flipped on that new dystopian, end-of-the-world comedy (not a comedy) and this is what my eye gravitated to today. Holidays can wreak havoc on our psyches!

Florida’s Casey Omar Cross (DarkHeartKreations) captures one end-of-the-year viewpoint powerfully with his warlord chick in polymer.

Parts of 2021 were scary.  Let’s leave them behind, turn the page, clean the slate, change the channel.

Casey makes us take a good hard look.

Polymer Christmas reveal

Fiona Abel Smith sees holly in polymer on PolymerClayDaily.com

Who better than the UK’s Fiona Abel Smith to wrap up our Christmas? Click the link to see her big reveal.

When you look at a flower, a dog, a landscape does your fire up an algorithm that instantly boils the information down to colors and shapes and blends? That’s what we call a “cane brain.”

You say Christmas and this is what comes off Fiona’s fingertips. How exciting and wonderful.

This is the magic of polymer clay. Of course, there are many other ways of thinking and making but this one shouts “Merry Christmas” loud and clear.


StudioMojo drops a few more goodies under your tree. We sorted through our library and put a bow on the “best of” collection from our video library. Shopping late? No worries. This is a perfect time to gift yourself a month’s look at polymer’s finest and funkiest.

Holiday stress reliever

When you’re simply overwhelmed by holiday and all the hubbub, this little video tutorial from New York’s Cathryn (bluebassoonhandmade) may be just the thing to calm your jangled nerves.

Rolling little balls and then poking them with a dotting tool is the perfect stress reliever. Nothing more satisfying than mindlessly squishing dots.

Make a slab and you have your very own 2021 holiday collection! Cathryn specializes in grungeglam and farmpunk fashions.

Seeing things differently

See things differently with Galie Daniel and StudioMojo.org on PolymerClayDaily.com

Ok, enough with the trees and ornaments and such. I need a break. You too?

The sunglasses from Israel’s Gaila Daniel were just the thing. Edgy, bold, different.


Galia is a great lead-in to my plug for StudioMojo. We go deeper and head to wherever that leads us. This week we found links to several videos that lead you inside polymer factories and TED talks that explore the reasons behind the joy we find in polymer art.

It’s all fair game in our Saturday morning newsletter that gets you thinking. 

Upcycled ornaments

Rosanna Cappelino rescues ornaments and gives them new, whimsical life on PolymerClayDaily.com

I’m stuck on the sculpture and holiday ornaments that I could, should, might be creating. Full disclosure: I have a lovely poinsettia plant on the hearth. That’s it in the decorating department.

Today’s ornaments that fall into the “I could try that” category are from New York’s Rosanna Cappellno.

She transforms old ornaments into jesters, Humpty Dumpty, pigs….you name it. Dead lightbulbs become elves! They’re quirky, whimsical, and recycled. Perfect for the tree. Oh wait, no tree.

Just because I’m not making ornaments doesn’t mean that I’m not enjoying, remembering, savoring them. I have made a few new pretties just in case the grandchildren can get vaccinated in time for a visit.

In the meantime, I’m taking vicarious pleasure in Rosanna’s site. Sumptuous!

 

Hanging out with family

Lisa Clarke makes families that hang together on PolymerClayDaily.com

Lisa Clarke (PolkaDotCottage) brings families together on the Christmas tree. Her jaunty characters have big smiles and quirky clothes.

Catching kids and pets together for a picture might be tough but Lisa gathers them into one cheery, memorable ornament that will be treasured. She’s stopped taking orders for this year so it looks like you’ll have to take a stab at a family ornament yourself.

Check out her polymer crochet hooks, tutorials, and other goodies.

FRIDAYFOLLOW: Bre at Hosmer Co

Bree at Hosmer Co gives us a holiday on a hoop on PolymerClayDaily.com

Bre of North Carolina’s (shophosmerco) Hosmer Co. brings us her version of holiday earrings in these minimalist Christmas trees on hoops. Very sleek and trendy.

She’s most known for her more extravagantly spotted and complex moth designs but a girl’s gotta go with the seasonal vibe and stay fashion-forward.

Follow her to get up to speed on one important direction polymer is headed.


On StudioMojo we’ll be tracking everything from pop-up shops to galleries and shows to see artists who are trying new ways to build a following, a business, a life. 

Stories in polymer

Helena Bogosian pares holidays down to their essence on PolymerClayDaily

New Jersey’s Helena Bogosian celebrates Hanukkah in polymer and illustrates how families of all faiths gather for the holidays.

Simple flat circle heads with a dot for eyes and the slightest dashes for other features still read very powerfully and clearly. We know those curly beards and hair! We recognize those foods and the menorah. Helena pares everything down to its wonderful essence.