Buna Bounty

I love it when humble materials are given new life and utility as they are in these new polymer clay pieces by Maggie Maggio. Maggie repurposes buna cord as earring bails and as stretchy ring bands…a bit of a twist on the technique devised by Donna Kato for her pendants and bracelets.

The rubber o-rings give the treatment uniformity and add to the finished look.

These are from Maggie's Terrazo series of new designs from resurrected 10-year-old canes.

I'm pondering the past year and the one ahead…hence my daliance and dabbling of the past few days. I expect to be hit with some outstanding predictions and revelations at any moment. Ponder these lovely designs as you await enlightenment.

Down Under

How do you get out of holiday mode? I'm still lounging and unmotivated and ready to shop online at the drop of a pixel.

In my quest to find old friend Michelle Fanner, Barbara Forbes-Lyons suggested that I join the Australian Polymer Clay Artists Group which I did. There's some over-the-top work down under such as these works by Lisa Henderson.

I've been following her links and exploring the world in my bathrobe. It doesn't get much better.

Lazy Holiday

I'm still in sleepy, overfed, holiday mode. I spent a good part of Christmas Day playing on the computer exploring new programs like Picassa, the Google picture site.

Since I was playing with photos of the polymer clay works of Grace Stokes and Pat Bolgar which I took at the recent Ohio Winterfair, I thought you might enjoy a look at my sample Picassa album too. I'm hoping I've labeled the pictures correctly.

I ran out of camera battery at Grace's booth or I would have caught more. Their works are lovely and inspiring.

Polymer Podcast

New York's Alison Lee interviewed me for her Craftcast.com podcast. The notion of a half-hour conversation panicked me. As a phone-phobic person I have never understood what chatty folks could possibly be talking about on their cell phones. But Alison is one of those chatters and she pulled me right along.

Give a listen and thanks to Alison.

If my name-dropping during the podcast sounds positively dramatic and snobbish, it's simply because I've met a lot of artists along the way. Here are some of the polymer luminaries that I mentioned:

Lindly Haunani, Maggie Maggio, Pier Voulkos (and here too), Elise Winters, Michelle Fanner, Carol Shelton, Hollie Mion, Jaqueline Lee, Leslie Blackford, Dayle Doroshow, Ford/Forlano, Maureen Carlson, Susan Rose

Michelle Fanner was a big influence on early polymer clay artists. She returned to Canberra, Australia years ago and we've not heard from her. Anyone know?

Holiday Tsunami

The name of this new piece by Judy Dunn, Tsunamiapple, made me smile. Until I happened upon it this morning, it could have been my nickname. I sensed a seasonal disorder rapidly approaching.

After strolling through Judy’s galleries of new works, I’m calmer and the holiday season feels right again. Here’s hoping that it has the same effect on you.

Academy in Japan

Perhaps our Japanese readers can help me out. This link to the "Polymer Clay Academy" shows some artists with style and promise. I particularly like the delicate works in this artist's gallery. And it looks like there's a whole course of study devoted to our art and craft.

The works run the gamut of jewelry to sculpture to illustration and the styles vary widely. Susan Rose sent the link along…she was challenged by having to translate as well.

Fairy Doors

When a neighbor ask my cabinetmaker husband to make her a fairy door, it was our first introduction to the concept. I had no idea that such things existed.

Kelfae (not sure of the artist's name) makes a polymer clay version of fairy doors. Her web site is a bit challenging but fun to browse in this season of elves and fairies. (In case you can't read the text, here's a bit of it. "Each door is individually sculpted and painted using sculpey and acrylic. Prices range from $25 AUD for a single-story, to $35 for a double story. Windows are also available. Doors are ONE PIECE, the doors do not open upon their frames.") And here's a bit of an explanation of the concept.

The link was sent in by Geraldine Newfry whose site is always a treat as well.

Transfers

You may already have seen this link to the January 2007 ArtJewelry Magazine photo transfer article (download the .pdf file) on PolymerClayNotes.com.

Be sure to visit the Minnesota author's web site (Jill Erickson…go to the Cheeky Monkey section) to see more of her work. She shows some of the most effective and easiest use of transfers that I've seen in a while.

While I note that Erickson uses a cosmetic astringent for her transfer medium, others use gin, transfer gels of all sorts, special transfer papers and plain old water. After watching the masters do this, I'm convinced that it's the quality of the print, the gentle rubbing and the patience that make all the difference in the success of the transfer to polymer.

Inspired by Grandma

Laura Peery's porcelain/polymer artworks were inspired by her grandmother's dress shop. (Yesterday's post got me thinking about grandmothers.) You'll find patterns and fabrics and sewing paraphernalia embellishing her teapots and sculptures.

Peery is from Chevy Chase, Maryland and shows in galleries in that area as well as in the Guild.com catalog. She's in the permanent collection at the Smithsonian.

Thanks to Maggie Maggio for the link. Have a fabulous weekend.

Characters

Annie Wahl may be the creator of yesterday's "snow baby" according to a tip from fellow Minnesotan Maureen Carlson. I couldn't stop chuckling as I cruised through Annie's site.

Annie says of her work, "Even when I have a specific plan in my mind, someone else inevitably shows up. I just welcome them in and in truth, these characters are most often the best company."

"I sculpt dolls for the pure joy of creating and having fun. In return they have taken me on this blissful journey meeting other doll artists, organizations, events and people whom I would not have had the opportunity to meet."

If you want to see Annie's step-by-step process, download this .pdf file, a reprint of a 4-page article in the National Institute of American Doll Artists magazine. What a treasure trove I've stumbled into. Thanks Maureen.

This just in from Babs Young in Michigan. She thinks my original baby may have been from Indiana's Kathryn Walmsley. Hey, take a look at her crayon sculptures! The mystery and the great links continue.

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