Finland’s Pörrö Sahlberg and Petteri Leppikallio collaborated on this 13″ polymer and wood cabinet that appears in the latest Lark book, 500 Cabinets. Their Trilobite Cabin is made of polymer, dye, sand and larch (wood).
I’m not sure if other polymer artists appear in the book but I’m happy to see this little gem make it. No polymer appeared in the 500 Plastic Jewelry book. How did that happen?
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This polymer brooch from Cecile isn’t new but it’s just what I needed for a fall Friday. Extrusions and a tree shape added over a Skinner blend form a seasonal abstract.
I’ll include these chrysanthemum rings from Genieve Williamson to my fall pastiche since her textured dark tones and rough surfaces are right for cooler weather. She pairs polymer with wood shanks for her wintery fashions.
Two Reminders
Get in on the bidding for some juicy polymer pieces on Ponsawan Sila’s site. Auction proceeds benefit Ponsawan’s daughter, Ada.
Elections are coming…IPCA elections, that is. The international guild for our craft is looking for enthusiastic board candidates who will help the organization thrive. October 29 is the deadline for nominations (and they encourage nominations from outside the US). Questions? Contact France’s Kylee Milner, the elections chair.
This picture of Mareike Scharmer’s bright polymer finials on a fence in Germany threw me completely off track. The time I should have spent researching and writing other projects was sucked away and replaced with hours of tracking down links, translating captions, joining groups, and laughing at her riotous designs. You’ve been warned.
Mareike is a designer who specializes in rooms and library spaces for children, complete with furniture and murals. Her own house makeover is simply stunning with a Wonderland/Dr. Seuss feel from top to bottom.
There’s a smattering of polymer in Mareike’s projects. I’m betting there will be more. It’s interesting that her favorite Flickr pictures are mostly from other polymer artists (which led me all over the globe). You’re on your own. I’m not responsible.
On our first crisp and gray fall day, this little basket of squashes mirrors the season. Linda Cummings makes perfect polymer Turks turbans, sweet dumplings and butternut squashes that nestle in a tiny basket. They look just like the ones at the Saturday morning farmers’ market.
If you need more fall reminders, go to Linda’s blog to see her baskets of bread and tables of pumpkins being carved. All 1/12th scale miniatures, of course.
Did you catch Bettina Welker’s new carved and textured series of polymer beads, brooches and bracelets?
Bettina’s experiments using Pardo clay, paints and carving resulted in a lively series this summer and evolved to this chunky new fall batch that’s rich with color and full of bead-within-bead movement.
I keep running into carved polymer pieces lately. Is texture the new frontier to explore this fall?
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Making realistic flowers from air dry polymer clay was originally popular in Thailand and Japan. That popularity has spread to Russia, the US and elsewhere. Thin and pliable air dry clay, often referred to as cold porcelain, is perfect for simulating petals.
I tracked down Daisy Clay (US and Thailand), Rowan Craft (Russia and UK), and Deco Clay (Hawaii) and new brands are popping up.
Take a look at some of what’s happening to this contingent of artists within the polymer community.
These graphic faux enamels from Fabi (fperezajates) have a hip new look. Fabi carves her own patterns into erasers and I’m guessing that she used metallic clay for the polymer base.
Inks and powders seem to be involved and she finishes the look with a layer of resin.
Like yesterday’s Natalia, Fabi is from Madrid where they’re obviously pouring it on for the EuroClay Carnival.
Fabi has also embellished some small crocheted purses with polymer buttons. Sweet!
Browse through her site and you’ll see what you’re missing while they frollick in Madrid. So much enthusiasm. Thanks to Eva Ménager for making us more jealous.
As she gears up for the EuroClay Carnival in Madrid on October 9-12, Natalia Garcia de Leaniz has unveiled this chunky, dimensional scooped-out bracelet.
It’s a companion to the folded beads that she’ll be teaching in Madrid.
Natalia’s Flickr pages are filled with snapshots of ideas and processes that she’s developed and played with. It’s like a workshop – but without the beauty of Madrid and the warmth of friends (sigh).
Since several people have inquired about extruded string beads lately, it must be time to feature them again.
As luck would have it, the link to Vera Kleist’s “rough cut” extruded bead necklace came to me today via Lindly Haunani.
And Annerose Doering had just emailed me the address for Dominique Franceschi’s tutorial (from 2006) for the technique.
Annerose prefers a smooth finish on hers. She says, “Before I smooth the clay around the scrap base bead, I let the beads rest for a few hours so that they are not too soft. This helps to get clearer lines. I let them rest again before I pierce them.”
The basic material for these colorful, chaotic beads is dry, old clay and most of us have that readily available.
ToutEnCouleur offers us one last blast of summer with her beach-colored beads on a hot September day in Ohio.
Polymer works on ToutEnCouleur’s Flickr page and Dawanda shop show an ease with color and a willingness to experiment…good practices to remember as I head back to the studio.
This French artist is new to PCD. Thanks to Lindly Haunani for the link.
