The quaint snow scene on a moon-shaped polymer necklace from France’s Cebeka is luring me back from a vacation groove to holiday mode. Check out the matching earrings here.
Cebeka and her “Bo and Girls Show” friends are putting on a show that’s guaranteed to make you feel festive.
In case you need a little help to ease you into making a few seasonal pretties, check out this tutorial from Carolyn and Dave Good. I’m hoping these are the antidote to jet lag.
Nepalis don’t fear color. The unbaked canes and finished pieces in the Samunnat studio showed none of the muddiness that plagues many projects. Their natural color sense must be a cultural legacy from a country awash in color. (Of course it helps that these polymer artists have also studied Color Inspirations.)
On the second day of teaching, the students gravitated to a pair of Kim Korringa earrings that I had brought along and were hungry to learn about them. Via email Kim generously agreed that I could share her tricks.
This tray of earrings headed for the oven (powered by a bone-rattling, foul-smelling generator) looked like a lovely local garden and the colorful Korringa designs with their new Nepali flavor blended beautifully with the women’s brightly patterned kurta salwars. Sharmilla models her earrings here and there are more pictures here.
Traveling around the world has left me jet-lagged, pondering what I learned and happy to be home as I sip a cup of peppery Nepali tea in my Ohio kitchen.
Thanks to the guest posters for their help, to you readers for making my trip worry-free, to my daughter for handling the details, to our gracious hosts and guides, and to you generous donors who continue to brighten the lives of artists a world away.
Mira (Pinki) Krispil began working with polymer in 2005 after operations on her hands. She went on to not only rehabilitate her hands but also to head up the Israeli Polymer Clay Guild. It’s not surprising that her sculptures and vases are imbued with joy, optimism, mischieviousness and humor. Here’s her Etsy gallery.
 |
 |
 |
Which came first? The jewelry or the outfit?
This is a question I am often asked and the answer isn’t always the same. As my polymer designs have evolved over the past few years, color and shape have become more important and inspiring.
Of course, inspiration is everywhere, but for me as a costume designer, textiles have always been a huge source of inspiration. After falling in love with this beautiful silk jacket, I rushed to my studio to combine just the right colors in this fire rose pendant.
Sometimes the outfit comes after the jewelry, but either way, creating a complete ensemble is always a joy!
I am now wholesaling most of these designs in galleries across the US, you can see more colors and designs at www.wholesalecrafts.com/visitor. Artist #23846, guest password- jpclay. Or at my regular site, www.twocanclaydesigns.com.
guest post by Janet Pitcher
Layl McDill, the creator of the Silly Milly line of polymer clay canes, has found a very clever way to use all of those mountains of leftover trimmings and scrap.
She creates Story Scraps, wall sculptures which show animals and figures celebrating all aspects of life. The title of each piece is the doorway into the story, but a closer look at the whimsical and intricate details in each work soon draws one in until it isn’t long before the viewer’s own imagination starts to fill in the gaps.
If you’ve tried to title your work, you know how much time it takes to find just the right title, but what a difference it makes, as does taking the time to add just a bit of story.
Consider Layl’s Reader on the Stairs which tells her story of rushing up the stairs toward a goal, only to find herself being wise enough to pause along the way to read a book. And just why are those birds there? And the towers … and …
Layl’s site opens to a whole world of creativity, so consider settling yourself on the stairs as you take the time to read through it. You’ll be glad you did.
guest post by Maureen Carlson
Three years ago I moved to a smaller community with no polymer clay guild. I decided the next best thing was to join the local bead society. I knew nothing about peyote stitch or making wrapped loops but hoped I would learn some new techniques that would enhance my polymer pieces.
Conversely the beaders were unfamiliar with polymer and I felt like I was an ambassador for the medium.
In the past two years I’ve conducted several beginner workshops to the growing number of beaders and metal clayers interested in trying it out. I love how the exchange has worked both ways.
While those that know my work are aware I’ve had an interest in buttons and incorporate them in my work but now my stash of beads has grown exponentially. These two pieces from my Flickr site show the influence of my beading friends.
guest post by Helen Breil
The ladies of the Samunnat Nepal project graciously wrote me to ask if they could make more of what they call “Petal Mala” polymer necklaces to raise money for their studio and I happily agreed.
They were very sensitive about copying my design for profit. On one of the panel discussions at the RAM weekend, Pier Voulkos reminded us that she only taught a technique when she was finished with it, had moved on, and could let it go out into the universe without resentment.
My pinched petal lei was “released” when the step-by-step instructions were published in our Color Inspirations book. How gratifying it is to have shared this pattern and watch it travel around the globe to help others.
My Hawaiian-inspired design arrived in Nepal via Australia’s Wendy Moore. Cynthia Tinapple, PCD publisher, will continue this story about our “shrinking” polymer world when she returns in December.
guest post by Lindly Haunani
Watch Dawna Sharp experiment with polymer clay! She’s only been working with polymer clay a year and a half, but you can’t tell, can you?
She gave credit for her quick progress to the generosity of the online polymer clay community sharing tips and encouraging her to keep going.
She shares her works in progress on Facebook, friend her there to see what she’s up to next. Check out her Artfire studio as well.
Guest post from Tejae Floyde
.
What a difference a necklace stringing material can make. This focal bead was created long ago; the cane is even older. When I finished the pendant, my reaction pretty much was a big … Meh. Craftsmanship: A, Visual interest: B-
But after spending the last couple of years making customized cords to highlight and embellish my polymer clay jewelry, I decided to do something to liven up this bead. After weaving a Kumihimo cord with two different yarns to match it, the bead became only one part of a much more interesting piece of work. And it’s one that I now wear.
Here are a few of my blog posts, where you can see some of my adventures with Kumihimo, knotting and other fibers.
Guest post by Cassy Muronaka
Page McNall’s day job as a California dentist may pay the bills, but she has the soul of an artist. You can see proof of that on her Flickr pages where she shows her talent working with color, pattern and texture.
Page is another artist who makes great use of scrap clay. She also credits other artists such as Maggie Maggio, Bettina Welker and Rebecca Watkins as some of those who inspire her work.
If it’s cold and blustery outside, cuddle up with your computer and browse her 30-plus pages of polymer and metal clay creations. It always warms the heart to see where an artist has been and where she’s going.
guest post by Barb Fajardo
