Polymer Clay Daily

Fragments

Since we’ve linked to winners Julie Picarello and Lynne Ann Schwarzenberg recently, let’s take a look at one of the third place Bead and Button “Bead Dream” winners, Janice Abarbanel from Massachusetts.

A self-taught polymer clay artist with a significant background in seed beed crochet work and metalsmithing, Janice developed her mosaic technique by experimenting. Her mixed media art pendant class merges all three interests.

Janice’s site is chock full of everything from seed beads to polymer to findings. You’ll want to browse a while.

First for the Second Time

Congrats to Lynne Ann Schwarzenberg for winning first place in the Bead Dreams contest/polymer clay division for the second year running! Can’t wait to see the list of other winners and entrants.

Barbara Young scoped out the Bead and Button show for us, combing through the acres of glass beads for the best of polymer clay. Barbara sent back these pictures of Heather Wynn’s new work. Just enough to whet your appetite on a Monday morning.

According to Bead and Button, the winners in the polymer clay category are 1st Place – Lynne Ann Schwarzenberg – Perfect Union: Floral and Faux; 2nd Place – Julie Picarello – Tulip Field; 3rd Place – Marlee Page – Ikebana hairstick and stand; 3rd Place tie – Janice Abarbanel – Fragments.

Organica

A Ford/Forlano exhibit, Organica, opens here this weekend. Steven and David Forlano have collaborated (now by long distance between Santa Fe and Philadelphia) for years. David’s strength is color, pattern, and surface while Steven’s is mechanics and structure.

I love to visit hushed, austere galleries and open their drawers of expensive polymer clay items. To handle these well designed, finely crafted items is to understand where this medium can go. Inspirational! (Don’t miss the gallery’s POMO polymer clay bracelets either.)

It’s art festival season. Have an arty, inspirational weekend.

As Seen on TV


Ugly Betty’s trademark "B" necklace is a polymer clay replica of Anne Boleyn’s and it’s from Massachusetts’ Jennifer Parrish, according to the April issue (UK edition) of InStyle magazine. "I think that painting was completed just before they cut off her head," Jennifer says.

Television characters from “Ugly Betty” to “According to Jim” have worn her necklaces onscreen, and in the upcoming movie “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” you’ll see one of her stained-glass pendants on—well, Parrish doesn’t know who yet. “Hopefully it will make it into the final edit,” she says.

Watch the inspirational CVC-TV piece about how Vancouver’s June Hunter quit her day job to develop her art which includes photo transfers to polymer clay jewelry. June’s tiles were used to decorate the set in one episode of the popular TV show "Men In Trees."

Happy birthday to my college roommate, best friend, and relentless editor, Jan!

Enough Already

One more Shrine Mont moment and then we’ll move on until next year.

This picture is from Ruth Ann Husted and shows the polymer clay mirror created for the silent auction. The group was instructed to contribute something found on the forest floor.

That so many styles, ideas and colors can be integrated into one piece amazes me. I’ve never worked on a committee that could accomplish such a task.

Here’s a gallery of Shrine Mont participants and their work. It was compiled with my photos and others from Hollie Mion, Barbara Sosna, Linda Weeks, Ruth Ann Husted, and Judy Belcher.

This piece is built on a 10×10 wood-framed mirror from Ikea. It’s best to bake the frame unadorned first to make sure the wood is stable.

One cane wonder

One translucent polymer clay cane is all that was used to make this spacey, retro earring by Marla Frankenberg. Reduced to several sizes and overlaid on a Skinner blend base, the cane gives the bead a spacey, retro look.

Many of Marla’s beads remind me of batik and other luscious fabrics. She’ll be teaching at Bead and Button this weekend. Here are some pictures from an earlier class and she’ll be teaching her marlafiori at Arrowmont in October. We’ve got scouts out taking pictures at Bead and Button and I hope they snag some treats.

Monday Baubles

Here are some lovely baubles to get your week off on the right foot. Be sure to look at the large image of this polymer clay necklace on Julie Picarello’s Flickr site to appreciate the details.

Her use of the mokume gane process is masterful, relying on vibrant color rather than metal leaf for its accent.

Julie’s web site has some new pieces for your Monday morning viewing pleasure including some great mokume gane examples in her bead gallery. Many thanks to Gin Martin who sent the link.

June


It’s June and I went in search of summer colors and sea creatures like this polymer clay anemone. A visit to Libby Mills sites gave me the jolt of color and design that I needed.

Her blog site is coming along nicely and she has some terrific insights on the artistic life. Be prepared to spend some time surfing her links.

Perhaps the most inspirational bit on Libby’s site was the tour of her studio and her tales of sharing it with friends for classes and meetings. Big, light, well organized…simply dreamy.

Babyish

They look like polymer clay rosebuds but on closer examination you’ll see that this is a tin covered with babies, a wish box, wanna-be-grandma’s hope chest that I created at Shrine Mont.

What it seems to be filled with these days is my babyish whining about where the time goes. I’m off schedule today. Enjoy this little treat (here’s where I bought the baby face/fairy molds) while I burp and soothe myself into a better humor.

To the Rescue

It’s late and I’m in a mad dash to bring you some mid-week polymer clay inspiration. Who can I count on? Indiana’s Ponsawan Sila!

If you want a bit of Thai culture and family history served with great quick photo tutorials, her site won’t disappoint. I’m loving the ice cream salt beads on this page. She does lovely, unusual things with texture plates and rubber stamps.

Ponsawan saves the day. Read her text and you’ll see the delightful personality that comes through in her art and her web site.