Well-dressed grasshopper brooch

Debbie Jackson captures a grasshopper in a glorious brooch on PolymerClayDaily.com

Get up close and personal with this polymer grasshopper brooch from Ohio’s Debbie Jackson to appreciate the patterns and the colors. The piece was a commission.

Don’t get too close. The creature is based on a species from India (Poekilocerus Pictus) that spits a jet of liquid at those who come too near (Debbie didn’t include that feature).

Even if you’re squeamish about bugs, you’ve got to admit that these guys really know how to dress in stripes and dots. Debbie has captured him in all his glory. Here’s Debbie on Instagram.

Debbie Jackson assembles a grasshopper on PolymerClayDaily.com

Oh wait! The bug at the right is real! Debbie had posted her in-progress shots in a Facebook group and I missed them. Thanks to Debbie for the clarification.

Graphite for business attire

Natalya Volkova's designs visually stretch the neck on PolymerClayDaily.com

Russia’s Natalya Volkova relies on the shimmer of graphite clay to create these statement earrings which she says, “Visually stretch the neck, especially when worn with a shirt or dress with a deep triangular neckline.” Nice concept, right?

Natalya’s Instagram tantalizes us with her experiments and exercises but she doesn’t reveal much more online.

She looks all dressed up for the office on a Monday. Remember those days?

Fashion and polymer attract crowds

Dayle Doroshow's panels and polymer take flight in Florida on PolymerClayDaily.com

Florida’s Dayle Doroshow was surprised at the success of her solo show at the end of 2020.

The show was held at the library, during a pandemic, after a year of disappointments and too much Netflix.

Dayle doubted herself, felt uninspired, and grieved the loss of a summer in France.

But by December over twenty fabric panels up to 5′ long filled the library atrium. A wearable polymer element was integrated into each design. The birds on her Take Flight were big sellers in the jewelry cases.

In a chatty 10-minute StudioMojo video this Saturday, Dayle shares her motivators and the self-care she had to employ to get her works finished and sold. Ready for a good story with a happy ending? Subscribe and join us.

Stay home

Anna Dubinsky wears her safe place on her wrist on PolymerClayDaily.com

Israel’s Anna Dubinsky (AnnaBluestocking) sees home as a place of refuge during the pandemic. Her small houses perched on polymer rocks join together to form a bracelet that she titled Stay Home.

The tiny houses represent safe places “where you could hide and wait out the storm,” she says.

Rocks and minerals and rough fibers figure prominently in her work which you can see on Instagram.

Forced blooms

Nancy Nearing forces spring blooms on PolymerClayDaily.com

Rather than wait for real blooms in her Connecticut yard, Nancy Nearing grabbed a 36″ branch lying in the melting snow and created some polymer blooms.

She reinforced the stick with Apoxie sculpt and wired on caned leaves and delicate translucent blue blooms. Lights may be next. She has just the spot above a corner window in her studio for her touch of spring.

PCD is getting ready for spring too and will post only two or three times each week. I’m cutting back and clearing my schedule to make time for more art and adventure. If you need additional inspiration, please sign up for the weekly StudioMojo newsletter that arrives every Saturday full of tips, talks, tools, and other juicy bits.

Spring fever is contagious

Mary Anne Loveless spreads spring fever on PolymerClayDaily.com

Now that February is thawing in this hemisphere, we’re thumbing through garden catalogs and skewing our palettes to pinks, yellows, and greens.

Utah’s Mary Anne Loveless can’t wait. The green sprouts in her garden prompted her to heap flowers on these earrings in her spring collection. Let’s celebrate Spring Fever!

Over at StudioMojo, we’re still harvesting tips from this month’s online conferences and classes. If you’re in the mood tor the best homemade tools and the most clever new designs, hop over to the right column and sign up for Saturday’s newsletter.

It’s not about perfection

Michelle Sansonetti makes humble bottles and jars into art on PolymerClayDaily.com

When Melbourne’s Michelle Sansonetti (zedembee) picks up bits of old projects to cover humble glass jars and bottles, she unleashes her inner abstract painter. She gets loose, She shines!

There’s a common blue/green thread that runs through her palettes and when you put them together, there she is in all her glory. It’s not about perfection, it’s about being present.

BAE in NYC

Go big and swanky with this mother-daughter duo on PolymerClayDaily.com

You might want to take a page from the book of NYC mother/daughter duo Malisa and Imani Parke who started their Swanky Designs in 2019.

March 1 they launch with Macy’s and relaunch a new site.

Their mission is to create designs that encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and live a Swanky lifestyle with their big statement earrings (or BAE – big ass earrings as they call them…look it up, it’s a thing).

They’re here on Facebook.

Build-a-bug

Sometimes watching an artist’s hands is so instructive and calming.

That’s what Canada’s (BC) Wanda Shum does in this 3-minute bug-building video. She’s in control, she knows what she’s doing. Sigh! Relax and watch.

Wow, that bug’s got a lot of wings! Who knew?

Wanda uses the littlest bits of canes to build an extravagant creature. Lots of wild variations crawl around on her site.

Polymer meme

“In the end, Waldo found himself.”

Relax and breathe as we start the week. My husband spotted this polymer meme on Facebook. Blair has never sent me a link before so I’ll reward his effort with a post.

I hoped to locate the artist but memes spread like wildfire, The posting and reposting obscured the artist’s identity. The name is lost but the meme lives on. (Let me know if you have a clue.)

Polymer’s popularity has contributed to the current clay shortage. Young people are picking it up and it’s being woven into the culture. Looks like we’re finding ourselves.

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