Gentle Spirits
New York's Elizabeth Cooper's polymer clay dolls have a gentle and endearing spirit and are perfect to look at when you're feeling stressed and overwhelmed by the pressures of the season. Susan Rose passed this link along.
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Small Business
No big production work on today's site! Liana Turnbull embellishes skulls from her Colorado ranch with polymer clay. Baking bones and polymer clay has made for some nasty smells and at least one ruined relationship.
Liana describes her process in detail. It's a fun read and will stretch your imagination. Take a break from your tame Christmas earrings and visit these exotic sculptures.
Big Business
I spotted Viva Beads in a local shop and had to explore further. Their beads are carried in a dizzying list of stores so I’m assuming we’ve got a big production going here. They carry a short list of patterns and their beads are all identically sized. Though the address is Northbrook, Illinois and the company was started by Lori Mottlowitz and Jill Manzara, I doubt they’re operating out of their kitchens.
I laud their success (nice color palette) and at the same time lament the fast food approach. Anybody know the story?
French Illustrations
Again we add to our growing list of illustrators. This illustration site may take you a while to navigate but it's great fun and has a wealth of polymer clay work by France's Géry Lebecq. Super sleuth Susan Rose uncovered the link.
Enjoy your weekend!
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Happy Thanksgiving
Another terrific polymer clay illustrator to add to our list! California's (LA) Amy Vangsgard has a site that will keep you entertained and in the holiday spirit. Read all about her and see how she works.
This link from felt artist Suzanne Urban, member of the Original Doll Artisans of Connecticut and Ehagg saved me today. Now I can go finish cooking and you can spend the afternoon exploring.
Family Time
I love this wall sculpture by Christi Friesen so very like our family gatherings this time of year. You may be able to identify some of your relatives in the shrunken heads section of Christi's site.
Remember to be charitable and tolerant of one and all and give thanks for those differences that make our world and our art so varied.
I recommend Christi's wonderful self-published books. They're inexpensive, well designed, instructional and a great read (good gifts).
Holiday Whimsy
We're all moving into high gear for the holiday. These earrings by Maryland's "Sooz" (she's traveling incognito) are in the spirit. Sometimes whimsy is just what's called for.
A smile for you as you go off to the grocery store.
Terrazzo
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When we left our vacationers, Maggie was resurrecting 20 pounds of Fimo which she had mixed into colorful blocks 10 years ago for a grand production plan that was interrupted by a household move and other of life's vagaries. It seemed a shame to waste all that clay which at one point was lost in the depths of a warm warehouse.
You'll be happy to know that the old crumbly "Terrazzo" canes were being turned into stunning pins and earrings. I'm only sorry that I didn't have time to take more pictures. Perhaps Maggie will send some. Yes, indeed, you can salvage very old polymer clay.
I'm back from the wild west and into the land of green grass, moist air and blessed broadband. Today it's also the land of laundry and voicemail and catching up at the office. I hope to be back in the swing tomorrow.
Go West
Switzerland's Nadja Fuenfsinn sent this link to Maine's Melanie West's new site. Long way around the barn, eh?
Not only is Melanie's jewelry fun to look at (nice use of those colored scrapbooking rivets) but she's got bracelet blanks and great print screens for sale.
Vacation time
Some nameless fellow vacationer mistook the timer for the oven thermometer resulting in this homage to Dali. Thanks for all your kind comments and link tips this week. The dialup connection is keeping me from exploring too far or responding quickly.
I did take a quick browse of the sushi clock link from Susan Rose and the "Studio Lockdown" (what a concept) site from Sam (Samantha) Parcels. They all make me smile and I thought you might enjoy them too.