Puzzling polymer

Julie Eakes puzzles through another collaboration on PolymerClayDaily.com

Julie Eakes loves to pixelate images. In many of her works, she divides an image into squares and reassembles the pieces into a whole again. That’s the way her brain works.

Thirty-six polymer artists were given 3″x3″ drawings to replicate in the polymer colors and techniques of their choosing. Follow the pattern that you are given. “I’ll screw it up,” each of us thought. It’s a daunting task. It will never work.

But it does.

All those hands, all those colors and textures pull together. It’s a 36″x36″ proof of what we can do.

This is Julie’s tenth group puzzle and they keep getting better.

Summer baskets

Basket weave polymer gives Phoebe's earrings a summery feel on PolymerClayDaily.com

Phoebe (Otie & Co) introduces breezy basketweaves into her swingy earrings.

The texture adds hints of lazy days, picnic baskets, and porch furniture.

Phoebe started making boho baby art when she first started. That quickly morphed into baby mama jewelry and art.

Visit her IG for a taste of summer.

Hidden secret

Donna Greenberg makes the back as interesting as the front on PolymerClayDaily.com

New Jersey’s Donna Greenberg adds a secret to her scrappy leaf earrings. On the front, she adds dots for interest.

Only the wearer knows that the back is as interesting as the front. Donna added an overlay of cutout clay. It’s like a private message from the artist.

Donna reminds us that the back is as important as the front.

Friday thimble terrors

Brooke Duckart's thimble terrors are ready for the weekend on PolymerClayDaily.com

These characters from Oregon’s Brooke Duckart jumped right out at me. Recognize those screwy grins and bulging googly eyes?

Yep, it’s Friday and somebody’s had too much screen time. We know just how Brooke’s finger puppets are feeling.

Brooke uses thimbles as the form for her thimble terrors.

StudioMojo now comes to members in a slick online format. And the best thing is that every Saturday we can bring you even more insider tips and breaking news that will help you take your work/fun to new places.

Sign up for a month and see for yourself.

Folkart polymer

Maryland’s Rachana Saurabh brings her heritage to all her artwork. She paints elegant, colorful Indian women. Her delicately embellished polymer earrings show an unmistakable folk art influence as well.

Rachana Saurabh's folkart in jewelry and painting on PolymerClayDaily.com

Now she merges painting and polymer this new Lotus Pond panel. Watch her add these blossoms on a background of swirled and spiraling extruded strings of blue.

This month all Rachana’s sales are being donated to the COVID 19 crisis in India.

Serving up summer

Rikki McDermott's muse wanted to play so she did on PolymerClayDaily.com

Rikki McDermott’s brain (byrikki_handmade Jewellery) requested a break from planning and production in her workspace in Scotland.

Turns out, her resting brain is ready for summer. She repeated to herself, “Make something for fun.” as she slammed together her scrap cane ends – neons, pastels, monochrome, and a whole lotta random madness into one big happy cane.

It shows, doesn’t it? Be nice to your muse, your mojo. She won’t steer you wrong.

StudioMojo, the weekend edition of PCD, gives your resting brain the attention and newest info you crave. Join us.

Rebels in barbed wire

Maryam caters to the bold and rebellious on PolymerClayDaily.com

Do cowgirls (and cowboys) wear barbed wire earrings? Wait! Maryam (GraciousRebelDesigns) is from Philadelphia so she’s probably not aiming for ranching types.

In fact, Maryam says she makes earrings for the brave and the rebellious. She started during the pandemic.

These polymer barbs and hoops are much more comfortable than real wire. They look quite convincing.

Come on over to StudioMojo this weekend where we continue to focus on upcoming artists with fresh perspectives. Gracious rebels are just what our community needs. In-person classes are being scheduled and clay is appearing back on the shelves. We’ve got the scoop you’ll want.

Putting your own spin on swirls

Angie Wiggins rides the swirl and makes it hers on PolymerClayDaily.com

Virginia’s Angie Wiggins gets lost in the swirl of a bead. She puts blends and cane scraps on a base bead and does a bit of rock and roll to make a swirled bicone bead. It’s hard to explain but fun to master. (See a video here.)

Angie enjoys putting her own spin on this pendant. Tiny dots in companion colors track the swirls. She has a background in embroidery and loves to add her signature surface embellishments. Now it’s definitely her swirl.

Hair blossoms

Chica3f puts delicate petals in your hair on PolymerClayDaily.com

Japan’s Chica3f gently offsets delicate translucent petals on a barrette finding to create a springlike hair accessory. She also offers them in spring tones. Like wearing cherry blossoms in your hair!

She lets us take a peek at the translucent curved bar on which she floats the petals.

StudioMojo will be full of surprising trends and introduce you to some of the new artists on the scene. Many new names have burst onto the scene with huge followings and busy stores. They seem to have secrets and savvy that you won’t want to miss. Sign up and come see.

Eggactly

Kathy Koontz uses her bargello veneer for holiday eggs on PolymerClayDaily.com

No messy dip-dying for South Carolina’s Kathy Koontz (flowertownoriginals).

Her Easter eggs are covered with polymer scraps turned into stripes and then taken a step farther.

Kathy offsets the stripes to make a bargello veneer. Her resulting zigzag pattern is hypnotically, obsessively detailed.

Now what? Veneers are fun to make but it’s not always clear how to use the results. Eggactly!

If making bargello is new to you, watch this YouTube tutorial from Australia’s Jessama.

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