Unforgettable polymer

Is it too early in the season for these forget-me-nots from Slovakia’s Natalja Ivanková? The clumps of colorful blooms seem to be woven together but it’s actually a more clever and simple construction.

Natalja has covered the edges of flat white polymer disk beads with tiny petaled flowers. The flat sides of the disks are stacked and strung to achieve the effect of a rope of flowers. Look carefully at her page and you’ll get the gist. The challenge will be to give the concept your own unforgettable style.

More spring possibilities

From Kopila Basnet, Samunnat program director – Since a very long time we have been working in Samunnat and thinking of a building but before it was always a dream. But when a local man said he was interested to give us land for our building, even then we thought it was impossible because it was too long for us to collect money for the building. But what we have learned now is that even when we thought it was impossible, EVERYTHING is possible because we are connected to you all.

Now we understand that Samunnat is not just in Birtamod but it is all over the world. It is in every people’s hearts. I’d love to thank everybody who has given us so much directly and indirectly to make Samunnat’s power grow and double. We will always feel you in our building. Contribute to the fund here.

Wild horses and polymer

Equine artist Stephanie Michaud bought Eugena Topina’s faux cloisonné tutorial online. Eugena was surprised when Stephanie sent her first results which sold the first day they were offered on Etsy. This plaque is 7″ tall made of polymer, mica powders, artistic wire and resin.

It’s marvelous when good teaching and a student’s passion for a subject collide.Wild horses can’t stop the magic. Proud teacher Eugena sent in the link.

Multi-national building

Samunnat’s building fund has received nearly $6,000 in donations from ten countries! Isn’t that remarkable? Yes, they are still accepting donations. Plant your flag on the list: US, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Cyprus and the UK.

Heartfelt polymer

Heather Millican’s pithy and positive polymer sayings bring Valentines week to a close.

Stamped and painted, the words she chooses nourish without too much sugar. They’re good for you. She distresses the background for a homey touch.

Data desires

You can fill the holes in the polymer community’s data by completing the demographic survey. Judy Belcher tells me that we need just a few final facts to perfect our Synergy presentation. With this quick (and last) survey you’ll check off which kind of odd duck you are or more precisely your age range, training, location, and a few other basics.

Judy loves charts and graphs and when hundreds of you respond, she’s in data heaven. Give that girl a thrill. Here’s the survey.

And speaking of thrills, don’t forget the ladies of Samunnat who are dreaming of the new home for their project. You’ve made real progress possible and we’re still accepting donations. CLICK to donate.

Hearts and horses – mixing media

On Valentines Day hop on over to Liz Hall’s shop to see her whole series of hearts inlaid with irridescent polymer and surrounded by silver. Since most have sold, you may have to look at them on Flickr and Facebook.

She integrates ball chain into her designs embedding it in polymer and repeating the theme throughout the pieces. Liz works with what she loves which is why one of her new series incorporates horsehair into her jewelry designs. She tells that story on her farm site.

Add your name

We’ve taken Ron Lehocky’s money and he is very happy. He agreed to match your donations up to $2000. We sailed right past that number and we’ll keep going.

Add your name to the list of more than 75 artists and patrons who have sent their support. It’s a great way to feel the love on Valentines Day!

We love PCDaily readers! Happy day!

Showing simple shapes

Can’t make it to the American Craft Council Show in Baltimore? Then prowl online to see what’s new. Kathleen Dustin showed one of her new necklaces on Facebook to tempt us. Strong shapes and simple design make a big impact.

Mary Filapek and Lou Ann Townsend make the most of color and simple shapes too. Googling around I found some of their most recent work that centers on circles floating on a solid color captured in silver bezels. Check here too.

There’s a surprising amount of polymer at the show but these busy artists aren’t very good at updating their web sites. You’re more likely to find their newest works on the photo sites.

Send your valentine

Thank you for your continuing donations to Samunnat. The ladies are dreaming of ceiling fans, reliable electricity and a flush toilet. We take so much for granted, don’t we? You can donate here or visit their newest bead sale site.

Polymer explained clearly

PCD readers have been clamoring for information about the mysteries of translucent clay. Missouri’s Ginger Davis Allman took the challenge and has written a crystal clear comparison of clays from different manufacturers, in varying thicknesses, and baked at different temperatures (go to the bottom of her page for that revelation).

She uncovers a few surprises and gives several helpful tips. It’s a must read and we’re indebted to Ginger for her research. Ginger’s entire site is a good read too – well written, pleasantly organized and a nice place to spend some time. A shout out to Christine Dumont who first passed the link along.

Valentines Day in Nepal

Valentines Day is becoming popular in Nepal and for the ladies in the Samunnat project, the holiday has taken on a special significance that Wendy explains in her post.

The ladies and the Board are daring to dream as the possibility of a facility for Samunnat becomes a reality – thanks to your donations. CLICK to donate.

Can they include a small shopfront to sell their pickles and incense? Could they make space for a little beauty parlour? It’s a big business in the area. Understand that are no botox treatments in Nepali salons! Only henna coloring and eyebrow threading. Here I am getting a lovely mustard oil massage in Kopila’s home! They slathered me in oil from head to toe and let me marinate until morning. The mustard is grown and processed locally.

“You have no idea what your donations mean to us,” says Kopila, “We realise that we are not doing this on our own; we are connected to people who love and care and encourage and support us, and we have new reserves of energy and courage to keep going. Dherai Dhanyabad!”

Lazercut polymer

Fakir (Bed of Nails) and Finn from Jana Roberts Benzon may tax your Monday brain. Huh? How’d she do that?

Jana’s been improvising on her lazercut technique and has taken her 3D textures to a whole new level. Keep your eyes peeled for her classes on this (I couldn’t find them and let me know when you do). Here she is on Facebook.

Namaste

The Orkney Springs 2012 group sent a heartfelt “Namaste” to the ladies of Samunnat. Last spring the Virginia retreat raised a generous donation which enabled the Nepali ladies to grow the project.

Before Samunnat, the women had to stay in abusive situations because their parents couldn’t afford to allow them to return to their homes and living alone wasn’t financially possible. Recently several women offered a “day-in-the-life” glimpse of their typical day (once they were removed from harm) which generally includes early rising for farming and cleaning chores before their work at the rented Samunnat office.

You raised over $1000 on Friday and Ron Lehocky is matching each dollar. That is fabulous! CLICK NOW to connect with other artists who are helping Samunnat take the next step and build their work facility. Your donation begins a small miracle that enriches lives.

Click to send your valentine

Your chance to send some valentine joy is waiting at the top of the right column. Your donation, no matter how big or small, will help the women of the Samunnat women’s project in eastern Nepal build a home.

Ron Lehocky will double the love by matching your gifts up to $2000.

PCDaily will bring you regular reports about the project. I’ll tell you about all the wonderful ways polymer artists have already helped their sisters thrive. Go on and CLICK to add your love.

The backstory

Ron Lehocky is no stranger to fundraising projects. He has made and sold over 20,000 polymer hearts to support the Kids Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The ones pictured here are part of his 2013 Valentines Day collection.

Australia’s Wendy Moore contacted Ron to purchase some hearts to take to Nepal. She thought the women in the Samunnat project would be inspired by the work of an American doctor who developed a small polymer project that became remarkably successful at helping children.

As they corresponded, Ron and Wendy shared stories. Wendy told him about the abuse and discrimination that the Samunnat women had endured and how the polymer skills that they learned had transformed their lives and made them agents of change.

She described how the group had moved its offices four times in the last six years because of arbitrary and frequent rent increases. Their first facility, shown here, was little more than an open storefront on a busy highway.

A gift of a small parcel of land and growing success in marketing their beads abroad allowed Samunnat to consider building a facility. For under $10,000 they could construct their own building that would give them the room they need to continue and grow.

To Ron, the building sounded like a small step with a big payoff. He thought it over. To kickstart a construction fund, Ron offered to match donations up to $2000. Isn’t that fantastic?

More to this story on Monday. Why wait? CLICK now.

Winsome polymer

Lucille, Hortense and Annie greet you with flirty smiles. Chifonie’s Les Trois Filles are 4″ long-necked brooches made using a combination of canes and delicate drawing. Their softly rouged cheeks, tilted heads and floral clothing give them a winsome appeal that’s very different from most faces in polymer.

See more of Chifonie’s distinctive style on her Etsy site and Flickr pages.

Tickling your cane brain

These two recent cane offerings may appeal to your cane brain – the part that enjoys figuring out how a pattern is assembled. Would you have guessed how Meg Newberg constructed a houndstooth cane before you saw her visual tutorial?

Wanda Shum covered a “Who’s da bomb?” form with tumbling block cane slices. She shows the hexagon canes she started with and her color palette on her blog. It takes some staring at the basic triangle and diamond shapes to get the gist of it.

This cane exploration and catching up online kept me entertained during long waits in airports yesterday. It’s good to be back home.

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