I’m seeing a rainbow of spots today. Arizona’s Anita Brandon (Melobeau) attaches glowing metallic orbs to a mesh backing to produce a festive balloon-like pendant.
Anita promised herself a web site this year and she just launched it. Welcome her to the neighborhood.
Germany’s Margit Bohmer pops shiny polymer clay dots on black lava beads and finishes off her necklace with some matching stacked discs.
When you look through Eva Ehmeier’s (Hoedlgut) photos, you’ll note that her most carefree and attention-grabbing designs are made from what she calls “scrap” polymer clay.
She carved and combined this series of pastel polymer circles into linked pendants that look perfect for spring.
It’s a good reminder that when we stop seeing the material as precious and the project as important, we often free ourselves to do our best work. Enjoy Eva’s “scraps.”
Etsy’s featured seller is Afsaneh Tajvidi, a polymer clay artist from Toronto. Her story is a good Monday read and I especially like that, like me, she keeps a huge collection of inspirational photos on her hard drive.
“Whatever catches my eye I save it in that folder. I go through my treasure folder once in a while to feed my mind with colors, forms, textures or even the materials that I can use…it really helps my creativity,” she says.
Her color palette full of spring colors and she uses words like “innocent” and “dreamy” to describe her designs. She’s recently added cake toppers to her Etsy shop.
Afsaneh will have a giveaway of her fanciful polymer crabs next Saturday. Just leave a comment on her site and you might win.
One more little heart to end the week. Ohio’s Michele Gesing (Gabriel Studios) nestles hearts in wearable polymer shrines and niches. Using her own molds she turns lushly textured and painted pieces into buttons, beads, and buckles (great idea).
Her work has ancient air and very personal point of view. “I’m an acquired taste,” Michele says of herself. Read her charming profile to learn more….and have a charming weekend.
This polymer and paper bracelet, a Synergy2 exhibit entry by Sharon MacLeod, has intrigued me for days as I put the show catalog together. Her over/under construction is clever and full of possibility.
Then I came across a new bangle by Gera Scott Chandler. More over/under and inside/outside treatments in fabulous colors. I must back away from the computer and head for the studio to try a few new things.
The catalog (here’s the updated entry list) is nearly done and looks delicious. The Synergy conference will make your head spin with ideas. There are still some open classes (here, here and here). Check it out and sign up.
Mary Mary lives in Cornwall by the seaside where she runs on the beach and makes jewelry, mostly hearts. Quirky romantic hearts with polka dots. Take a look at her lovely website, close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine.
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| Marcia Palmer | Iris Mishly | Tamara Shea |
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| Liz Hall | Sophie Dowse | Laurel Steven |
Polymer clay hearts abound…and not just your run-of-the-mill cookie cutter variety. You’ll find cosmic, ethnic and anatomically correct versions to get you in the mood. I’ll sprinkle a few of my favorites in over the next few weeks though I can’t possibly cover them all.
Sue Corrie’s latest polymer pieces with their edgy colors and layers of unexpected patterns are refreshing as they tweak our notions of what’s right.
Somehow, they work. Examining what works is a good way to start the week.
Sue lets her work speak for itself and doesn’t provide much information about herself on her Ghost Shift Flickr page. I think she’s part of the Euroclay gang.
Caroline Harvey sent the link along and Helen Cox mentioned Sue on her site too.
Elena Samsonova introduces us to polymer clay canes in hot colors on a day when I’m surrounded by cold white snow.
I warmed up with her Flickr photos and was thrilled to find her website which is bursting with more bright treats, tutorials and videos.
You’ll see how she transforms this big fish cane into beads of all shapes and sizes and then fashions them into many wearable pieces.
Elena assembles a similar big cane in a series of videos, muttering softly in Russian and English all the while. It’s great watching when you’re snowbound. Thanks to Randee Ketzel for the link and have a warm weekend.
The textiles from her day job in China have crept into French artist Cecilia Botton’s (Mabcrea) newest work. Cecilia’s obviously comfortable with crossing borders and mixing cultures.
The caption on this new monochromatic necklace says that she’s using a transfer technique and transfers catch my attention these days. She promises to create a tutorial soon.
Her Flickr pages are filled with experiments and exercises. She credits the work and artists who inspire her and lets us watch as she works out her versions. Cecilia also offers a bunch of fun step-by-step visual tutorials which are easy to understand in any language.
