Spiesser’s cane critters

Sabine Spiesser from Melbourne calls herself a digital artist and she has only two pictures of polymer clay work on her Flickr site. But even from this small sampling you can tell that she’s unleashed her inner polymer artist.

Created for an Australian guild competition, the caterpillar was composed of cane ends. She credits Vancouver’s Wanda Shum as her inspiration. I’m hoping that Sabine’s cheery bugs will bring a smile to your face this Labor Day Monday.

I’m off to shop an art show and enjoy the bonus day of summer’s last long weekend. Thanks to Lorrene Davis for the link.

Geoffrey’s cuttouts

Rebecca Geoffrey’s polymer clay pendants look just right for a Friday – fall colors, tidy layered construction, judicious texturing.

After a week of electronic catching up and restoring order, I crave Rebecca’s delightful control and restraint. She shows more in her Facebook photos and her small purses on Etsy are fun too.

Vacation wreaks havoc with keeping up online (Facebook fatigue is the official term). I’ve reserved today to play in the studio with some of the ideas that have been moldering in my brain all week. Have a playful weekend.

New life to old lights

Leslie Blackford gives new life to old lights in her polymer clay sculpture class at November’s Clay Carnival in Las Vegas.

Watching Leslie effortlessly grow a fanciful creature out of scrap clay and old lightbulbs is worth the price of admission. Here’s another new piece, Blackbird Waiting, that she sent along.

As you’re looking ahead and making fall and winter plans, be sure to include Synergy2 in your schedule. Seth Savarick has launched the web site and registration opens September 15 for the February 25-27 event in Baltimore. Check out the list of presenters.

Polymer/stone hybrid

This polymer clay embellished amethyst stone from Italy’s Daniela (Alkhymeia) is appealing. The “hybrid” 3D look is very trendy. Daniela is a wire expert as well and you’ll find tutorials among the galleries of work on her site, in her Flickr photos, on her Facebook page and even in her Deviant gallery.

Here are some older polymer/resin and polymer/glass combinations, similar but different, from Klew.

Thanks to Randee Ketzel for the link.

Campbell’s faux batik buzz

One of the techniques that built a buzz at the IPCA retreat in Chicago was the faux batik method that Heather Campbell demoed. Faux batik fits perfectly with Heather’s complex, gilded and textured style and looks in sync with the approaching fall colors. She’s uploaded some new samples to her blog.

I missed the Chicago event in July so I’ve spent the afternoon trying to research a bit more about the process. The closest I’ve come is Judy Belcher’s method in her Creative Traditions book.

I’m not sure that’s how Heather is achieving her effects, but either way my mind is reeling with ideas. Already variations on this theme are popping up on the web. Thanks to Lindly Haunani for pointing out what I missed.

Stacking and unpacking

I’m sending you off to France to discover that By IC is Isa Castellano. I’m liking the way she stacks graduated polymer clay disks into a focal bead. Isa combines beads and colors and media with energy and abandon.

The translation is garbled but the pictures tell a great story.

I’m unloading my suitcase, bringing my head back into the right timezone and readjusting to what passes for normal life. Enjoy IC’s site and her DaWanda gallery while I catch up.

New book and Saturday school

Polymer Clay Color Inspirations, the new book by Lindly Haunani and Maggie Maggio, has hit the bookstores just in time for the back-to-school season. This is the text you’ll need to advance in your polymer education. You can explore your color instincts and develop your own palettes through a series of projects.

Starting next Saturday, September 5, Maggie will be posting “Weekend Extras” on her blog to encourage you to go through each of the exercises in the book. You can send in your questions and comments as you work along.

Lindly and Maggie have long been friends of mine and I wrote the book’s forward (which is scintillating). I may be a bit biased but everyone agrees that they’re the best.

This week has taught me many things and made me appreciate what those of you with slow and unreliable connections have to endure. Thanks for your patience and your help. Have a spectacular weekend.

Prophater’s pop cans

Shapes cut from soda cans and covered with polymer clay are the trick behind this playful necklace from Laurie Prophater. The telephone wire used to secure the beads to rubber cord complete this reuse, recycle design.

A complete how-to of Laurie’s process appears in the autumn issue of Belle Armoire jewelry magazine. Laurie’s working on more variations using this technique that you can see on her Flickr site.

Vacation update

Thanks for your help. The network has been repaired. Here’s a picture of Maureen Carlson’s early morning introduction to a magnificent moose in our backyard.

Out of touch

Network connection is unreliable for the next few days. Road blocks are preventing repairs… something to do with an overturned hot asphalt truck in the Poudre River. I may not be able to post regularly until next week.

Back in business….thanks for all your kind words and to Loretta Lam for pinch-hitting with a great link to Pam Sanders! Looks like the truck’s out of the water and the electrons are flowing again.

Carlson faces teaching

Storyteller Maureen Carlson is preparing these polymer clay pendant samples (see more here, here and here) for her classes at Clay Carnival in November. She’ll be also be teaching at Cabin Fever next February.

These evocative pieces, all made with white clay, wear masks that reveal their alter egos…and make them doubly interesting.

In addition to her character face molds, Maureen’s developing a new line of smaller, less dimensional face molds designed specifically for jewelry use.

Find out more about Maureen, her center, and her classes here.

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