Polymer Clay Daily

From Mion’s Collection

Busted! My husband’s out of town so I turned up the furnace, ordered Chinese food and played on the computer all evening. Livin’ large!

I’ve been reminiscing and thumbing through the pictures of the polymer clay jewels that Hollie Mion has collected. The creator of the Zephyr pin at the left was Linda Siner.

If you look at the detail, you’ll understand why the artist soon abandoned this Toops-like micromosaic style. Lovely but, oh, so time-consuming. I think of all the techniques I’ve tried on for size.

If you’re new to the craft, you may not recognize the earrings at right. They’re from Kathleen Dustin (oops…not Kathy Amt). Hollie has a nice selection of Dustin’s and Amt’s work during the early years. The remarkable Mona Lisa bead (by Cheri Pyle?) was created in pre-Skinner blend days. Hollie’s entire collection will be on display at Synergy in Baltimore.

Dustin and Hughes jumpstart your week

Jumpstart your week with a look at spectacular new polymer clay works from names you know (or will learn). To the left is Victoria Hughes who’s got a vibrant new web site that showcases her new work as well as her signature pieces.

Don’t miss the deal in her “Books and Videos” section (here’s the complete list of her tapes). She’s transferring all her videos to disc format and is clearing out her VHS tapes. These are remarkable tapes at bargain prices.

You won’t want to miss the buzz over Kathleen Dustin’s Tuesday post about her new stunning blowing grass purse. Reading about her inspiration and her process will make you stop and think…and look around more intently.

You can thank Judy Dunn and Susan Lomuto for starting this week’s buzz.

Wallace’s Fabric Influences

Ohio’s Amy Wallace mixes polymer clay and fabrics too (check Dayle Doroshow’s work from yesterday). Amy’s signature piece is her “stacker” bead which combines coils of patterned polymer strips.

Heavily influenced by fabrics, Amy’s focuses much of her work on buttons and she does them well.

If you’ve ever been tempted to try a coiled fabric basket, check out Amy’s recent HGTV segment. She makes it look so simple!

Yes, of course she’s got an Etsy site and some Flickr fun stuff. For more fabulous fabric treats, spend some time looking at Marimekko’s spring collection. Have a fun weekend.

Doroshow’s New Site

California’s Dayle Doroshow has a knack for showing polymer clay artists how to nurture their own creative sparks. She’s just unveiled a new web site that showcases her work and her schedule of wide-ranging classes.

Dayle teaches an approach to art that is a wonderful combination of free-spirited adventure, focus and discipline. She brings out the artist in me and I’ve helped her nurture her inner-nerd by assisting with her new site.

I’m loving the fabric/polymer combinations Dayle’s been working on lately like the flower pins shown above. Her portfolio is full of fabulous works (check out this polymer clay postcard/invitation).

Crowley’s Rolling Stones

Chicago polymer clay artist Dan Crowley loves characters. His favorites are his “Lady” characters which are loosely based on his aunts. Each face is made up of at least 18 pieces of clay.

Inspired by puppeteers like Jim Henson and Bill Baird, Dan began sculpting heads and finger puppets in 1992. His creations have grown in scale and complexity. His Christmas windows for Tiffany & CO won awards and his sculpted “Character Shoes” for Stuart Weitzman shoe stores have been a hit from Madison Avenue to Rodeo Drive.

I love the idea of sculpting heads onto small wood mannequins as Dan has done here with the Rolling Stones. There’s wonderful work on his site. Don’t miss his shoes, his puppets, and his characters. Some of his links aren’t working but it’s worth the wandering around.

Many thanks to another character expert, Maureen Carlson, for sending the link.

Spring Classes

These springy polymer clay Jack In the Pulpit pins by Loretta Lam get me thinking ahead. Time to make some travel plans.

Of course there’s Synergy in February in Baltimore. I see that the Milwaukee Bead and Button Show class schedule is up…that’s in June.

And I just happened upon a great roster of classes at the Bead House in Bristol, Rhode Island. Victoria Hughes (that’s her exotic piece at right), Kathleen Dustin, Sarah Shriver, Robert Dancik and an equally stellar list of seed beaders and metal workers are teaching there. Just looking at the work on their web sites is educational. It looks like a fine year for learning.

Washington, the heart of “Clay Nation”

Maggie Maggio has renewed her blogging vows and started the year with a post on “white” which includes a terrific link to Minnesota architect/designer Martha McQuade’s Uniform Studio and her polymer clay experiments (here’s her Flickr link). You may want to savor that site this weekend.

The simple, minimalist designs feel so right. And speaking of simple designs, please revisit the work of Washington’s Ellen George. I have a completely visceral response to her work.

“Baby Doll” is a series of hand-formed polymer clay objects that look slightly naughty, almost edible…like lost belly buttons.

There’s a good article in the Portland Tribune about George, Maggio, Dittmar, Toops and other Washington artists who are part of the “Clay Nation.” Think of yourself as a citizen of that nation.

Five 2007 Favorites
Dittmar Young Bonura Simmons MacLeod

These five polymer clay artists and/or their techniques piqued my interest and stood out in 2007. You may agree…or not. If I missed your absolute favorite, let me know.

Carol Simmons – Simmons’ kaleidoscope system is the most logical and elegant mathematical system since the Skinner blend. Can’t wait for her to introduce it. Carol uses Kaleider software to test her color combinations.

Elizabeth Bonura – This had to take the cake, didn’t it? I love that Etsy friends chimed in to help her capture the bride’s likeness.

Camille Young – Her use of Lumina air dry polymer clay pushes us to think in other directions. Check out her new barbed wire.

Sharon MacLeod – You have to see her work to appreciate its detail. I can’t figure out how she wraps such fine patterns so perfectly on memory wire.

Meredith Dittmar – She’s prolific, she’s hot. Meredith’s art has been on cell phones, billboards, books, and in the coolest Portland galleries. This girl is talented and knows how to market. Last week my tivo found her on “Crafters Coast to Coast” – that frenetic program that I usually avoid. I wanted to yell, “Stop moving the camera,” so that I could see more of her work.

Banner Year for New Sites

2007 was a banner year for polymer clay artists unveiling new web sites. Familiar names like Hyde, McCaw, Stokes, and Bolgar threw their hats in the digital ring while others like Haunani and Dustin became bloggers. Of course there were thousands of newbies (more on them soon) who joined the chorus as well…a fabulous trend from my point of view.

Have you looked at the posts on the new Polymer Art Archive? Historical information (like these pictures of early Pier Voulkas beads) is certainly something we have needed to document and explain to artists new to the craft.