Polymer Clay Daily

Artists

Polymer clay hands speak for themselves

We start the new year with a new idea. MoonlightAura has opened an Etsy shop with polymer clay sculptures that can spell your favorite color (“blue” pictured here) or word in American Sign Language. Brilliant!

The Buffalo artist works with children and finds signing helpful in teaching children, even those without hearing loss. It’s a great learning tool as well as an intriguing decoration. Susan Lomuto discovered the link and generously forwarded it for your Monday inspiration.

On TV

HGTV running the That’s Clever series again and Mags Bonham is scheduled to demonstrate her polymer clay work on January 9, episode number 404. The fast-paced craft show often makes its subjects look quite silly and Mags is quite sure that her episode won’t disappoint.

Eakes’ resolution, Filip’s hearts

North Carolina’s Julie Eakes can cross one resolution off her list. She launched her blog. Go give her a pat on the back.

Julie has become known for her elaborate polymer clay face canes like the one shown here. There are more samples on her Flickr site. Thanks to Jana Roberts Benzon for tipping us off. (Jana has some new lovelies on her site as well.)

Polymer hearts for the next holiday are already beginning to pop up on websites. My favorites are from Konstanze Filip (Madooli) from Berlin. She works in polymer, paper mache, and air drying clays, painting the surfaces with bright colors and drawing graphic patterns and icons.

Her newest pendants look like fossils or rocks from the lunar surface. The “in progress” pictures detail her unusual way of handling the clay.

Press reset, reboot your muse

Nobody does polymer clay party people better than Dinko Tilov. This one looks like the morning after to me. If you’d like to find some of the characters you partied with on New Years Eve, look here or here. Dinko has an entire gallery of “face dice” to roll.

If you’re done with partying and more interested in pressing the annual reset button for your life and rebooting your muse, today is a great day to visit polymer clay artists who enjoy helping you: Dayle Doroshow, Tory Hughes, Judy Dunn, Amy Crawley, Heather Powers. Let me know if you have names to add to the list (see the comments for some additional names). I suggest wandering over to ZenHabits for inspiration as well. I hope that 2009 brings you many happy moments and new adventures. Happy New Year.

Dembicer’s polymer reflections

Peggy Dembicer’s “Self Absorbed” polymer clay and seed bead piece is a perfect theme for today. What were the highlights of 2008 for you? What do you want to leave behind in 2008 so that you can start 2009 with a clean slate?

Change for handcrafts

The first round of voting for the Ideas for Change in America competition will end tonight (12/31/08) at midnight Pacific Time. The competition is a citizen-driven effort to identify the best ideas for how the new administration can turn the broad call for “change” into specific policies.

The idea that, “American-made souvenirs and handcrafts should be displayed and sold in our National Parks” needs more votes to qualify for the final round. The idea was proposed by arts advocate and American Style publisher, Wendy Rosen. You can help increase the chances of this proposal reaching the final round by voting here.

Niche finalists

The coming year has started off on the right foot for these 2009 NICHE Finalists in the Polymer Clay and Jewelry/Fashion categories. Happy New Year to you all!

Kuchansky’s web comic series

San Francisco’s Justina Kochansky is a polymer clay sculptor and a puppeteer. “I delight in little things and hope to provide others with delightful little things…most of which have a dark aspect for a bit of flavor,” she explains.

Justina currently produces a sculptural web comic, ArticulateMatter, which is updated every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Her daily diaoramas are then offered for sale on her Etsy site. “It started out with a story line, but quickly evolved into stream-of-consciousness vignettes.” Currently the cast includes polymer clay squids (including Squidmund Freud and Squid Claus), frogs, and various vacuum tube creatures. Her Christmas coral reeth tickled me too.

I needed a little delight as I ponder the end of one year and the start of another. This quirky link comes from Barbara Forbes-Lyons.

Polymer steampunk communication device

Chris (aka Chronomorphs or Nicrosin) created this great steampunk prop from sculpey, rubber, and a various pocket watch parts. It’s fully adjustable and flexible and lined with suede for comfort. Polymer clay helps Victorian meet Blu Tooth in this back-to-the-future piece.

Chris describes his simulated device, “This experimental prototype device, using theoretical Æther-phasing as the delivery system, is used for airship-to-airship private transmissions, hands-free battlefield communications, or real-time status updates of special operations agents.”

It’s actually a limited edition Victorian-style communication device, perfect as a prop or for enhancing a costume. Thanks to Susan Lomuto (via Watchismo) for the tip.

Atomic Mobiles in polymer clay

A note from Arizona’s Debra Ann, owner of Atomic Mobiles, introduced us to her polymer clay and stainless steel mobiles in a wide variety of colors and styles, including glow-in-the-dark.

Inspired by the hanging art mobiles of Alexander Calder, Debra Ann began constructing these moving art forms when it was the subject of a fifth grade class project. She’s been selling her art online since 1995.

“My goal is to create beautiful modern mobiles that are relaxing and give you pause to think, a relaxing way to stop the world and reflect,”says Debra Ann. See videos of her mobiles moving gently here.

8,000 Lehocky polymer clay hearts

Over the last three years, Ron Lehocky has made nearly 8,000 polymer clay hearts including 450 of this year’s Christmas-themed versions. He’s donated all proceeds to the Louisville Cerebral Palsy KIDS Center. In the first six months of this fiscal year his artwork raised more than $15,000 for the center.

What better way to celebrate Christmas than with this example of an artist who gives so generously? Read more about Ron here and catch his article, “Skinner Blending” My Passions, in the February issue of Polymer Cafe magazine. If you’d like to purchase a heart and support the center, contact Ron here. Merry Christmas!

Haldeman’s polymer babies

The one-inch polymer clay babies by Pennsylvania’s Lisa Haldeman (LovinClayDolls) make me want to try my hand at these little gems. The pacifiers add a note of color and humor and circumvent the problem of shaping a delicate mouth.

Lisa makes it look deceptively easy. She’s been practicing for years and has five little models running around her house. In school Lisa’s art teachers told her she worked too small. She’s been making tiny delights ever since. Look here and here.

Last minute studio shopping

I need four gifts for my ladies group and I decided to play with a new design. Last minute, new design? What was I thinking? I was trying to do something “special” and forgot that, to my friends, my work is special. I’m fighting my holiday gift angst. You too?

McCaw on Etsy

Sandra McCaw has joined the ranks of Etsy sellers! It’s such a treat to see her work and know that I can shop at any time. Many thanks to Susan Lomuto for alerting us.