Polymer Clay Daily

Tips and Tricks

Fine tooth combed polymer

See what Marina Rios does with a comb and an idea on PolymerClayDaily

Homemade tools are such a relief and a pleasure. No need to run out and splurge on the latest cutter or magic potion.

Chicago’s Marina Rios reaches into a drawer and shows us how she sacrifices a comb to make a spectacularly textured snake of clay that becomes a cool bead.

Her generosity and her cleverness remind me of the joy that polymer clay art brings to lots of us. Thank her for sharing.

Sure, StudioMojo looks at what’s trending but we’re really interested in art that requires heart and shows you something new and exciting that makes you slap your forehead with delight. Come take a look.

How do you like your mokume gane?

Julie Picarello reveals her mokume gane tricks online on PolymerClayDaily.com

California’s Julie Picarello is famous for her mokume gane in soothing mellow palettes. She haunts hardware stores for obscure metal tools and gizmos repurposed to make surprisingly pleasant abstract paintings in clay.

How do you like your mokume gane? Scratched, half-toned, custom cut, reversed, quilted, landscaped? 

The organizers of the August 7-8 weekend online event decided to take a deep dive into a single technique. From its Japanese roots in metal to today’s homegrown varieties.

Shaving slivers off a Mokume Gane block reveals layers of unpredictable and fascinating beauty and a world of endless possibility. How do they do that?

This is the last week to sign up for a look at Mokume Gane approaches from seven polymer experts. 

Squiggly tubes

Isis Blackstock makes modern squiggles in polymer on PolymerClayDaily.com

Isis Blackstock(littlepiecesjewelry) made me explore further.

It seems counter-intuitive that you can bend an extruded tube and still maintain the hole. The joys of polymer!

I’m remembering earlier variations on the idea from Lindly Haunani, Ford/Forlano, and Pier Voulkas. Oh, that takes me back.

Isis explores this concept, applying it to a wide range of bangles and necklaces.

She offers them in monochrome colors but what if you covered the tube with pattern? I’m talking to myself here. I really must try this.

Extrude and cane for the 4th

Tiffany of SmithAvenueClay waves the flag on PolymerClayDaily.com

Kansas’ Tiffany (SmithAvenueClay) waves the flag in her latest earrings on Instagram. Her designs are parade-worthy.

The fourth of July was made for extruder lovers and cane-making fans!

So squeeze out some stars and layer up some stripes!  It’s just around the corner!

FRIDAY FOLLOW – Grace Oliver

Grace Oliver ties polymer in knots on PolymerClayDaily.com

That’s what we’ll do with Friday! We’ll find somebody fresh and new and off the beaten path to keep our eye on.

This week follow the UK’s Grace Oliver (grace.oliver.designs). She’s only been in business since June 2020 and already she’s a standout with her extruded sculptural knots and decorative big letter garlands. Oh yeah, she’s got earrings with a twist too but she’s a free-range girl who tries lots of paths.

Need more new stuff to motivate your muse? Come on over to StudioMojo, the weekly closer look at what’s new and different.

Beach polymer

Ginnie Parish brings the beach to her studio on PolymerClayDaily.com

North Carolina’s Ginnie Randolph Parrish (parrishginnie) transports herself to the beach and upcycles a tin can.

Sandy colors, shell shapes, spirals, and stripes take your mind to the beach without the need for sunscreen. What a great way to avoid traffic and crowds in the cool comfort of your workspace on the holiday.

A lid and legs take Ginnie’s tin can way beyond its humble beginnings.

This week’s StudioMojo is filled with beach finds and summery colors and seasonal trends. And one tip about getting rid of bubbles that’s almost too good to be true…but it is. Sign up now for your Saturday shot in the arm.

Buds from the garden

Seana Bettencourt works out how to assemble buds on PolymerClayDaily.com
Seana Bettencourt works out how to assemble buds on PolymerClayDaily.com

It’s been a fruitful week for Ontario’s Seanna Bettencourt (thepolymergarden) as she launches into week 2 of a 33-week challenge. She devoted this week to improve the process. Seanna’s cane-slice petals gently cup the buds.

First came the design and petal making. Assembling was too fiddly and intensive for production. She refined and refined until, like Goldilocks, she got it just right. Here’s the finished product.

Thin glowing polymer

Sunny days may inspire you to dig out the translucent clay like UK’s Belinda Ashton did.

Light streaming through thin colorful polymer is a wonderful Monday project. Belinda has gone thinner and brighter with each of her experiments. These flower petal shapes glow.

Hello, Monday!

Ear buntings

Maryland’s Ali Bojanowski (bycamelliadesign) drapes red, white, and blue into patriotic earrings for Memorial Day.

Granted, it will take longer than the few seconds that Ali shows here.

But fast forward to the end of May, and you could be sporting these flag buntings on your ears in the town parade.

Folded, draped, and wrinkled polymer is quite fashionable this year.

Ali Bojanowski drapes ears in flags on PolymerClayDaily.com