Polymer Clay Daily

Artists

More buttons

These button-like polymer pendants from Tel Aviv’s Hila Bushari were inspired by a glass artist. Multi-layered, multi-colored, multi-textured designs make for a sumptuous effect. And here’s Hila’s Etsy shop. Would some of her candle holders look good on your holiday table?

You may be waiting for a report on my Las Vegas experience but it’s taking me a while to digest all that I learned. This quiet midwestern girl is easily overwhelmed by the glitz and glamor of sin city. I didn’t lose a nickel in the slot machines but I managed to drop a significant sum in the Clay Carnival store. Polymer is a much safer bet for me.

Ornamental polymer

Slovenia’s Klavdija Kurent gets a head start on holiday ornaments with this domed and pierced layered polymer creation. Hitting the highlights with metallic paste gives it a rich, old world warmth.

Klavkija’s strong designs (and her articles in Unikat magazine) have brought her quite a following as you can see on her Facebook page.

This textured, monochromatic necklace, Klavdija claims, is from leftovers. Isn’t that the way? The leftovers often turn into your favorite pieces.

Beads or buttons

These subtly domed designs from Germany’s Vera Kleist could be either beads or buttons. Vera gives minimal techniques maximum impact with her fashionable color choices and stringing variations.

Browse her Flickr and Etsy sites to see where her smart design sense has led her. Thanks to Bettina Welker for the link.

What happens in Vegas…

…will not stay in Vegas if I have anything to say about it. This weekend’s clay carnival will be my first and I’ll be meeting new folks and catching up with old chums. Can’t wait to share what I find with you!

Polymer up a notch

Maggie Maggio made a conscious effort to step out of her comfort zone when she applied for the Society of North American Goldsmiths’ (SNAG) virtual exhibit, The Body Adorned.

“In the same way a landscaper trains a plant to take the desired form, this piece is designed to be shaped to the body of the wearer,” Maggie says of her exhibition pieces. Polymer tendrils sprout from the model who happens to be Maggie’s daughter Monica, herself an urban farmer.

On her updated website and blog Maggie explains how a polymer symposium at the Racine Art Museum exhibit prompted her to take her work up a notch.

Watch Maggie playing with a early version of these designs in this Studio Mojo video from last spring. Join with others who want to take their work up a notch by signing up for StudioMojo.

Pocket totems

These polymer pocket totems (all about 1.5 inches tall) from Danielle Pedersen are imbued with spirit. “This series is for the travelers, the kids-at-heart, and everyone who wants to take an animal wherever they go. Of course, you can always keep them on your desk or any place in your home that currently needs an animal,” she says.

Picking out the ones that best fit your personality or mood can be challenging. Danielle cleverly offers sets so that you can build your own zoo. They’re all hand sculpted and meticulously painted. Read more here.

 

Raking the polymer leaves

Prague’s Pavla Cepelikova captures the feeling of autumn with these graceful multi-layered polymer leaves. She calls the method Fimo Batik and is preparing to teach a workshop about the process.

Ease yourself into a new week with a browse through Pavla’s Flickr pages. You’ll rake in some new ideas.

Cosmic cats

Colorado’s Jane Priser has a thing for cats, Cosmic Cats in polymer. Swirling colors flow and vibrate around painted glass cabochon eyes on these 12″ tall sculptures. Jane calls her works visionary and fantasy art produced by letting her imagination take her wherever it wants.

“I like to work at night when everyone and everything is sleeping and dreaming, except for the nocturnal, like me. I love creating something that can enjoyed and hopefully touch a healing spark within,” she explains. See more of Jane’s aliens and spirits on her Etsy page and on Flickr.

Strong women in polymer

These Frida Kahlo and Zora Neale Hurston polymer portrait pendants come from Massachusetts artist Laura Curran. For years we’ve only been able to feature bits of Laura’s work because she had little exposure on the web. That’s changed and here’s Laura’s new website. High fives all around!

These photo transfers of historic women to polymer send a strong message. Read about the history of portrait jewelry on Laura’s research page.

Class act!

Thanks to the participants in my Craftcast class! Send me pix of your creations. Next up, a doll head sculpting workshop with Marlaine Verheist on Sunday. Take your sculpting to a more professional level with this award-winning artist.

Puns in polymer

Minnesota’s Jody Travous Nee has an affinity for puns in polymer. Her “ducks in a row” sculpture perfectly describes this Wednesday when most of us are making our lists for the rest of the week. Look for the pun in each of Jody’s small sculptures – from turnip trucks to brainwashing.

When Jody had a hard time making her works appear in the search engines, she decided to create a Kardashian sculpture. “That ought to do it,” she theorized. There’s lots of laughter in her work.

Now let’s line up our ducks:

  • Lori Wilkes has published a new Absolute Beginners Guide. Though they’re beginner projects, Lori shows you how to get started with style as she quickly moves you to more advanced concepts.
  • For those who are beyond beginner, check out Bettina Welker’s new bracelet book. Written in both English and German, Bettina leads you through four basic bracelet designs with ten exciting variations.
  • The Polymer Clay Master Class book can be pre-ordered (it’s due in December) and while you wait authors Judy Belcher and Tammy Honoman let you in on the backstory with the book’s new web site that introduces the artists and their works.
  • Did I mention that I’m teaching online tonight at Craftcast?
  • Yes, you can still fill out the first of our Synergy3 surveys to help us paint an accurate picture of our community.
  • Here’s hoping your ducks behave as well as ours.

 

Stacked polymer shards

These faux sea glass earrings are part of my live online Wednesday night Craftcast class. The soft and colorful alure of polymer shards pair nicely with the muted tones of my faux rocks. The pebbles and glass could have been scooped up off the beach.

Claire Maunsell’s glass butterflies from yesterday veer in another direction and show us that lots of artists are experimenting in this relatively new area. Of course, Kathrin Neumaier’s and others’ excellent works are spurring us on too.

Enthusiastic answers

Wow, your Synergy3 survey response has been terrific. We are so grateful for your help and will leave the forms up for the entire week in case you missed it. There’s still time.