Polymer Clay Daily

Tips and Tricks

The nudge to improve

Stefano on PCDaily

These mokume gane polymer earrings from Massachusetts’ Liz Hinckley Stefano caught my eye. The colors and patterns come together for a gorgeous mix of retro and modern.

Liz is off to a stellar start making weekly earrings throughout 2017 for the PCClayChallenge organized by Katie Oskin.

It’s not too late to jump on board. Commit to make whatever shape or form strikes your fancy and create as often as you can handle.

Read Cate van Alphen’s post about how she finished 18 of 52 vessels she intended to complete in a 2016 group. She felt she succeeded on a variety of levels. See why.

You’ll find a few more links to Liz on Pinterest and her site. This isn’t the first time she has risen to a challenge! If group activities energize you and commitments nudge you to improve, join one.

Staying warm with polymer

Walker on PCDaily

The UK’s Karen Walker (clayground) pays close attention to to textures and patterns in her fashionably dressed winter characters.

The faces may not reveal much but the plaid scarf, thermal weave, pleated pants and polka dots speak volumes.

Karen markets Cernit clay and these small figures are her specialty. Look at all the lovelies on her Facebook and Instagram.

Her free Snowman tutorial on YouTube is fun for a last-minute gift.

POLYmerHEDRA

Blackburn on PCDaily

London’s Carol Blackburn just had a birthday and it must have set her creative juices in motion! Remember her wall art from November?

Her new POLYmerHEDRA are made of colorful Skinner-blended strips baked over a form (cotton or styrofoam balls perhaps). Carol had an earlier career in knitting so she’s very at home with woven, geometric shapes.

She doesn’t include the size. Are you seeing sleek contemporary ornaments? Earrings? Beads? Let the lovely possibilities shift your brain into gear and propel you into the studio.

Dashing through the snow

Lehocky/Dwyer on PCDaily

Jayne Dwyer and Ron Lehocky collaborated on these dashing reindeer. Jayne’s a caning whiz and Ron’s a talented scavenger who turns lowly scraps from other artists (Jayne’s cane ends in this example) into high art with a purpose.

So even if you’re dashing today, take a moment to appreciate the little things, small blessings and serendipitous collaborations.

Ron shared an animation on Facebook that says it all, “Have a heart, pass it on.” For Ron, making hearts has become meditative. Watch him do it here.

See more of Jayne’s canes here.

Closure in a bead is a snap

Kokareva on PCDaily

A good necklace closure is often the polymer artist’s holy grail.

If you’ve wrestled with hooks and clasps, you will appreciate the satisfying click of the Dots and Lines piece by Moscow’s Anna Kokareva (Annie Bimur).

Her magnetic clasp hides neatly within the big focal bead and snaps together easily. (I’m guessing the magnet has been attached with epoxy clay since magnets don’t like baking.)

Of course the interestingly beaded cord adds a lovely touch as well. There’s more on her Flickr site and on Facebook.

Polymer plaid

Enjoy the festive simplicity of a plaid cane from Katie Oskin (KatersAcres). The design may remind you of the holiday tablecloth waiting to be pulled out for upcoming celebrations and meals.

Katie used the cane to create accessories for a batch of her Merry Moose figures. You can see more of her work on Facebook and her site.

What could you whip up with four or five colors and this easy over/under design? Enjoy your weekend!

Dizzying patterns in polymer

Newberg on PCDaily

Sometimes we polymer artists just want to sit and admire the work that goes into a series of canes like this lovely black and white grouping from Meg Newberg. And she doesn’t extrude!

Meg has a brain made for caning. She knows how to break the process down into bite-sized pieces that she shares in monthly tutorials. Take a look on Etsy, Facebook and her site.

Breathe in and let your eyes dance around the patterns. Feel better?

Cranberries in polymer

Lloyd on PCDaily

Are you thinking cranberries? Even if you don’t like the taste you gotta love the color. The UK’s Clare Lloyd captures mouthwatering berry colors beautifully.

From deep pinks through reds, burgundies, and dark currants, each of Clare’s colors is luscious.

A look at her palettes on Folksy, Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook may prompt you to mix your own batch of winter reds.

Curio Curious?

Tinapple on PCDaily

Can you imagine cutting these polymer pieces by hand? Today’s die cutting machines make delicate cutting much easier. Join me for a Craftcast online class this Saturday to see how.

Stripes that sizzle

Blackburn on PCDaily

This striped free-form hollow bead necklace from London’s Carol Blackburn certainly brightens our week!

Carol has an absolutely magical and ingenious way of creating these patterns. She often cuts and reassembles simple stripes into more complex geometric forms (see her Chop and Change workshop) but the stripes also look gorgeous on their own.

See examples of her stripe manipulations on Flickr and catch up with her latest on Facebook.