Stories on a string

There’s no time to browse for a post so I grabbed this favorite from the suitcase I was packing. Maggie Maggio’s circle necklace from several years ago is my must-have for the trip to France.

The thick blue/grays/green disks and slivers, all in her signature watercolor washes, are easy to wear. I love its sleek graphic quality. Each side is a different color and the effect is very architectural. Maggie was trained as an architect and it shows. She’s about to launch a whole new way of exploring color that you can sample on her site.

Maggie lives in Portland, Oregon but her parents live only a few miles from me so she comes to my town often and we’ve become close as we crossed paths over the years. She’s my roommate in Bordeaux.

Pondering my polymer jewels slowed my packing significantly as I picked favorites from the collection I’ve amassed. After a few years meeting online and traveling you’ll be surprised at the wonderful stories, characters and memories you’ll collect. That’s a big part of what polymer art is about.

Mystical polymer themes

Italy’s Serena Pannunzio (Eala Jewels) created this Golden Leaf on the Water pendant, as a commission based on her polymer series inspired by fantasy, celtic culture and mythology.

Drops and swirls of polymer gather next to each other to form what looks like a darkly clustered design.

Paints and metallic finishes give the pendant luster and echoes of an ancient story. She shares more of her own history on Deviant Art and Pinterest. You can see how she is drawn to mystical themes that she loves to revisit and rearrange.

Taste of France

I’m checking out the work of Toulouse’s Amarena to help me “get my French on” for my flight to Europe on Friday.

Digging through my scarf drawer and rooting through my earring collection as I pack for EuroSynergy2, Amarena’s vibe is guiding me.

She has an easy, self-assured way with clay and color that I’d like to pull off? Possible? I can try.

Get your first taste of France on Amarena’s Facebook, Flickr and Pinterest and stay tuned for reports from the upcoming conference.

Cut and run polymer

There’s nothing quite as nice as a free tutorial to put you in a studio mood. This YouTube video from Monica Resta (MoClay) should do the trick.

Cutting and folding polymer is becoming her specialty and she offers several variations on this theme on her YouTube channel. A few straight cuts and careful shaping turn a stack of clay into summery earrings in a hurry. Your head will reel with ideas for variations. Read more about Monica on Facebook.

Polymer grand finale

One last firework for the holiday weekend from Jael Thorp. Jael was practicing the spiral she learned from Lynda Gilcher’s class using scraps of clay for pattern.

You can see on Jael’s Flickr and Facebook pages that she loves bright patterns. Her eggs that I photographed at French Lick have been popular on my Instagram.

A polymer grand finale to blast you into July.

Patriotic polymer

Pull out your red, white and blue polymer clay and get busy on this weekend’s theme beads! Need inspiration?

Here Ron Lehocky piles his patriotic hearts to raise flag awareness and money for the Kids Center. Note the wavy blade stripes.

Barb Handy (BarbiesBest) creates themed beads for all occasions. Stars and stripes are one of her specialties. PCD has followed along for years as Barb widened and expanded her Etsy offerings.

If you’re a caner, you may prefer Carola Greiser’s (polymerclayshed) version of holiday fireworks found on Instagram. Have a star-spangled weekend.

Analog Dinkel polymer

As we searched for non-jewelry items this week we studied a polymer-covered flute and a wood-look flask. Who could have predicted that Germany’s Georg Dinkel would regale us with extravagant headgear?

Or as Georg calls his newest project, Horny Headwear No. 1

Georg usually celebrates an Apple technology in his beautifully composed and wondrously engineered pieces but this riveted piece looks very analog (unless there’s a headset hidden in his headset).

Layers of medallions cascade down under a horned crown. We’ll have to find out what prompted Georg’s extraordinary creation. Follow him on Facebook to find out more.

See-through polymer

Just look at those translucent patterns layered over each other by Susan Hyde as she played with Cernit. Susan sent her experiments to Marie Segal who posted them to tempt the rest of us.

Then Patti Bannister’s gradations of color upped the ante. Her lovely watery blues and greens melt into each other.

What is it about translucent that’s so seductive? Patti and Susan make it look easy. My first effort wasn’t as successful. Seems that thin, thin, thin layers are key. Are you as captivated by the possibilities as the rest of us?

Floating bullseyes

Black and white bullseye bubbles float in imitative wood polymer to create lightweight earrings that have a retro, vaguely scientific and quirky appeal.

They’re from Virginia’s Liz Hall (lizardsjewelry) whose gem-like mosaic and silver bangles and brooches are well known.

“My work combines precious metals, polymer clay, stones, plastics, glass or whatever shiny object catches my eye,” says Liz.

She ventures into non-jewelry items as well. Here’s a polymer-covered flask from her Etsy site. See all of her signature moves on Facebook and Pinterest. Don’t you love the way she embeds ball chain in polymer for an eye-catching detail?

Polymer soundwaves

Pennsylvania’s Beth Petricoin (CreateMyWorldDesigns) says that her lip is out of shape but she still enjoys playing her flute. For several years she’d been thinking decorating one of her instruments and an Etsy guild challenge was just what she needed to put her idea to the test.

She was too sentimental about her own instruments to use them so instead she found a deal on Ebay. A local music store disassembled the instrument and Beth was ready to roll.

The keys are topped with soundwave cane patterns and the body is covered with polymer finished to a high shine using Debbie Crothers’ liquid polymer method.

Yes, the flute is playable. Don’t you wonder if the big grin on Beth’s face hampers her playing? Read all about Beth’s adventure and ponder what you could cover with polymer.

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