Polymer Clay Daily

Polymer by inches

Inchies, one-inch square polymer tiles, have become all the rage for swaps among artists.This set of fall leaves from Mama Tierra was part of the trading flurry at the EuroClay Carnival in Madrid. Repeat a technique 81 times and you’re bound to get good at it!

They look great in a grouping. Here are some more inchie pictures that caught my eye:

Maybe my muse wants me to start small this week.

Maggio sees red!

Maggie Maggio’s split ring design has been a great success. Here’s the video tutorial in case you missed it. Photos of the results have been coming in from artists around the world. The chain at the left is from Vancouver’s Barb Alexander.

What does Maggie want to see during her vacation in Italy? Red! Real Pompeian red, to be exact. It’s taken this consummate colorist a while to settle down, put polymer colors aside and just enjoy her month-long vacation with family. Check out Maggie’s site updates as she moves on to the Mediterranean blues.

Have a colorful weekend.

Loose Ends

Bids are flying in the second round of the auction to benefit Ponsawan Sila’s daughter. You have until noon Monday to get in on the action.

Nominations for IPCA board positions are due in by October 29. Read more here.

Locally grown polymer

Philadelphia’s Veruschka Stevens proudly buys local produce. This polymer commission was for something inspired by the beauty of living food and her farmers’ market became her inspiration. Avocados (“palta” in Quechuan) are featured prominently.

See her earlier polymer gardens on PCD here and here.

Miniatures aren’t just for doll houses, you know?

Small world polymer

The interview with UK polymer clay miniaturist Betsy Niederer on ClayLessons.com gives you a glimpse into the big passions that motivate a very small world.

Betsy got started when she thought her two sons would benefit from a Barbie house. The boys promptly lost or destroyed all the little plastic foods that came with the set and Betsy felt compelled to make more.

She discloses her four very helpful rules of thumb: use translucent, look closely, use chalk pastels, go easy on the gloss. You can get more miniature tips on the CDHM.org site.

The little video of Betsy’s work totally charmed me. Enjoy the interview and link thanks to Eni Oken.

Winter palettes

France’s MissTyc (Nathalie) prepares for winter with a seasonal palette of companion canes in reds, black and golds and in her signature crisp clean cane patterns and textures.

The necklace at the right was the result of Nathalie’s cleaning up her work space. Fed up with too much scrap clay, she gathered up the bits and forced them into a cheery necklace. It’s nice when that works.

Ruffled Monday

Are polymer ruffles too formal for a Monday? This new variation is from Ohio’s Cristelle Van Lingen who has twisted her earlier version of petals into a frilly bracelet.

Thin circles of polymer in muted and graduated colors have been folded in half and teased into wavy layers that nestle against each other. Amazing how a simple pinch or fold can turn polymer into a new organic shape. It’s a good thing to remember as we start the week.

Besedina’s vivid dreams

Toronto’s Tanya Besedina speaks of vivid dreams of her loved ones, the magic of color and the spirit of joy. She pours these feelings into polymer goddess sculptures and fanciful fairy jars.

“Only with love it is possible to see the mystical light and find a key to its door. Our imagination can come to life only if we are born with soul,” she says. The earnest expressions on her faces and the quaintness of her houses tell me that she has soul and make me want to believe.

Have a blissful weekend.
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Faux fillet

This Meat-Lace from OnchMovement is billed as 100% animal friendly! Polymer has been called many things, but humane is a first. Lady Gaga and her famous meat dress served as direct inspiration for this creation by LA’s Onch who specializes in kitschy, outrageous polymer accessories including a pretzel rosary.

Guaranteed never to spoil, adds flavor to your wardrobe. What more could you ask for?

While I’m not 100% sure what the necklace is made of, the site specializes in polymer jewelry and a closeup reveals what looks like pretty great use of translucent. I’m trying to keep you up to date…that’s all I’m sayin’. What do you think?

Polymer sweets

Karly West’s polymer clay sweets, like this toasted marshmallow, have anger management issues. During the day, Karly works as a cake decorator and at night she makes non-edible polymer versions. She suggests that the creatures’ bad attitudes may be the result of her eating too much cookie dough.

It’s easy to see how her techniques with fondant translate readily into clay.

The link came via the Cakery Fakery blog. Don’t you love the name? Who knew that cupfakes had their own genre?

Malinow’s skull and bones

It’s October and you can predict a month of polymer skulls, candy corn and pumpkin art. We’ll start with this new skull and bones necklace by Wendy Malinow. She’s loaded up her Etsy site with dark and quirky works that are on the cutting edge (including this poison cameo bracelet).

Wendy’s ability to stay edgy netted her first place in the 2010 Saul Bell Award competition in the metal clay category competition. It was her fourth year as a winner! The competition challenges jewelry designers to push the boundaries of creativity to come up with innovative pieces. Here’s her winning Song and Eggs necklace that includes metal clay, gemstones and polymer.