Even the smallest bits that California’s Julie Picarello reveals on her way to Bead & Button whet our appetite for her signature colors whipped into lizard tail beads and mokume gane pendants.
There’s a little more on her Facebook page but you have to go to Milwaukee for the full effect. Julie and several other polymer teachers will be teaching and selling.
You picked right up on Friday’s telepathic post! Such finely tuned PCD readers! Glad we’re on the same wavelength.
One reader says that Victoria’s Gera Scott Chandler’s fish look like they need comment bubbles. Maybe you can figure out what Gera’s fish are saying while I finish a fun weekend. Here they are on Facebook.
Another way to stretch your skills is to enter a competition or exhibit.
That’s what Poland’s Nadia Elkina does with her Crystallizing Brooch, a polymer clay, enamel and silver entry in the Polymer Week Awards.
The small brooch measures 2.3″ x 1.5″ x 1″. Another view may give you a better idea of the dimension of this stunning piece.
If deadlines inspire you, perhaps the rapidly approaching June 12 due date for the IPCA Awards is just the push you need.
A group challenge pushed Wisconsin’s Erin Prais-Hintz out of her comfort zone and into these collaged beads and surface treatments.
Picasso’s Bowl of Fruit painting was the starting point. Erin decided not to stress over not being able to see any fruit and instead focused on the colors and bits of paper and writing that resonated with her.
She took the opportunity to apply some of the Debbie Crothers surface tricks to create raw and rusty veneers. Erin did it her way and yet the resulting beads have a Picasso feel. She nailed it! Read her story on Facebook.
What a great way to stretch and try something new. Do you have a favorite painting that you’d like to try in polymer?
Karen Pasieka (subtledetails) seems surprised that her little art tiles sell quickly. “Nothing overly unique about this design in terms of my own collection, but they have been very popular so it can’t hurt to have another one available to purchase!” she says.
This Hydrangeas is a work in progress. Its delicate petals jump over the edges of the softly gradated tile, bursting with delicacy and energy. No surprise to us that they’re popular. Here are more of them.
Are you sometimes surprised by what’s popular in your work? It pays to listen to your customers.
These breezy, summery earrings from Spain’s Elena Fernandez Guijarro are made from scrap clay pieces laid next to each other in an easy, casual way.
Sometimes we forget about easy and casual. Color carries Elena’s design forward.
Try going simple and let color carry your work along.
Let’s take Heather Millican’s (swoon_dimples) hair stick advice and be nice to ourselves this weekend.
Heather loves words and believes in their power so she stamps her favorites in polymer and distresses them for emphasis. Read more on Facebook and Etsy.
StudioMojo offers the polymer backstory plus links to the tools and clever developments spotted this week. Sign up today and you’ll get your weekend words (and lots of pictures) this Saturday morning.
Illinois’ Linda Webb (creeksidestudio) tells her story in mosaic code, this one a heartfelt condolence to Manchester, UK families.
Linda keeps her work surface covered with sheets of veneers that she crafts into images. This Instagram photo of her workspace explains it all.
Mosaics offer another use for the polymer, paint and ink veneers that have been growing in popularity.
Loretta Lam keeps me coasting on photos taken at last week’s conference. These lightweight sculpted leaves are not-quite-finished samples for an upcoming European class.
Even unsanded the shapes were silky smooth. Loretta lays thin fabric-like veneers over FIMOairlight bases.
Thank you for your comments on yesterday’s post that taught me another meaning of the word goolies. While the creatures in the Christi Friesen post are cute, some goolies are certainly better kept not so free!
