A French polymer clay site led me to California’s Laurie Mika. Her mosaic furniture, boxes and wall art may make you rethink your next project. The colors are bold and bright. Take a look.
While you’re on Laurie’s site, you may want to follow some of her links for inspiration. Be sure to check out the work of Irina Charny, Marie Gibbons and others.
In my stash of photos I found this one of a necklace by Donna Kato. It reminded me of Sue Smith’s earring holders I found on the New Zealand site yesterday.
Donna has developed a quick way of making these ikat-like canes. Her simplified version has very good pictures and clear instructions on the HGTV site. (The HGTV link no longer works. Try here.) Naturally there are many ways to achieve this effect but Donna’s is the easiest I’ve found.
Read the instructions carefully. It took my brain several readings before the concept registered. By putting a thin contrasting layer between the layers of Skinner blend (this isn’t shown in the tutorial), you’d achieve the striped cane effect.
I was charmed by the display stands for these Koru earrings. I bumped into them as I was cruising down under on a guild site which featured Sue Smith from Aukland, New Zealand.
Fronds are a theme throughout the guild’s site. Makes me want to go there to see the ferns.
There are lots of miniature fairies and sprites sprinkled in the members’ works too. Intriguing!
I found these in Marie Segal’s web gallery. They’re lovely crocheted polymer jackets! Marie and Syndee Holt have written an article on their techniques. Marie says she’s worn the jackets. They’re quite warm and weigh over five pounds each!
 |
 |
It’s been a pleasure to discover gems like those on Kathleen Dustin’s site as I begin to build a list of links to polymer artists. What treasures you’ll find online.
If you’re in need of inspiration, revisit the artists’ sites on the “links” page in the green bar at the top of this page.
I’m about to do some color work with Lindly Haunani (see her new color swirls at the left) and Maggie Maggio so I’m steeping myself in color. Here are some wonderful online resources if you’re feeling colorful. Warning – A couple of these sites are processor intensive…not for dial-up connections.
Perhaps the Queen won’t be in the class but Donna Kato, Leslie Blackford and Judy Belcher will be in Nottingham at Main Street Studios this month. Scroll down on the Studios web site to see their work.
Oh, the things they’ll teach and the things they’ll learn.
That’s what James Lehman of Akron, Ohio, calls his work in polymer. You’ll want to spend some time wandering through his site. The size of his works is inspiring…way beyond the teeny things we sometimes get caught up in. His work is also pictured in the 400 Polymer Clay Designs book.
 |
 |
Who better than Judith Skinner, mother of the Skinner Blend, to design this great necklace whose color gradually grows darker? She donated the item to the Pingree silent auction. Judith has a new website you might want to visit.
This triangle of Skinner blend folded over onto itself to form a bead is a pretty clever twist on her theme as well.
Looking for a diversion? Be sure to see the gallery of participants in Donna Kato’s Feat of Clay Polymer Clay Shoe Challenge at the Polymer Cafe Magazine site. It’s sure to inspire and delight.
