Spring on Glass

Klew has come up with luscious spring colors in polymer clay cane slices that she applies over glass beads. She also adds polymer embellishments to resin base beads (like these). Check out the ideas in her photo gallery.

Ronna Sarvas Weltman sent me a huge list of links and I think that’s where I found both today’s post and yesterday’s. If I’ve attributed this to the wrong person, let me know. Those photo gallery sites are such huge reservoirs of work that I’d never find these gems without you viewers. Thanks.

You may need sunglasses…

…for the eyepopping colors on Ronit Golan’s site.

It must be bright in Haifa, Israel where Rita and her students are fanatic cane makers. I’m fascinated by the color palettes of various cultures and climes.

This week I’m ready for color and spring and Ronit’s site is nothing if it’s not colorful. It’s Monday! Wake up and smell the polymer clay.

The Humble Bic Updated

Another example of simple and appealing polymer work comes from Denmark. Eva Eriksen’s pens add some interesting twists to the humble Bic…great texture, well-designed tops.

Her attention to detail and attempt to go a bit farther with the design results in a very successful project. Here’s a whole gallery of pen pictures sent to me by Jackie Sieben from a Polymer Clay Central group called Discussions from the Claypen.

Buessler Revisited

Here’s lovely simple design from Mike Buessler. Elizabeth Campbell at has a few of Mike’s pieces pictured on her site.

Mike has shifted his focus to music and left polymer behind. Our loss. He is a master at synthesizing concepts and reducing elements down to simple processes.

Back to Basics

I’m still collecting great "simple" polymer art. Here’s Helen Breil’s brooch which combines good color, surprising texture and great shape. Simple and very effective.

Her site contains more examples.

Readers have prompted me to make some clarifications and upgrades. I’ll be modifying the navigation to make the new photo gallery more prominent (that’s new and I wasn’t sure it would work…but it does).

Pingree is a mystery to some viewers. It was my initial posting made at the request of the Rocky Mountain group and it’s password protected because they’re shy. I’ll move it to a less prominent spot but I have to thank them for launching me.

Howard, the Italian Pongo man, added a clarification. First, Pongo is plasticene and it doesn’t harden. Second, Howard is from New York! The site is a stitch…even if it isn’t polymer and he isn’t Italian.

Your comments and tips are very important to me. Thanks and keep ’em coming.

Think young

I’m a great fan of what young designers are doing with polymer. Florida’s Heather Wynn shows us some terrific examples. Her transfers and mokume gane show a different way of applying and using the media.

Heather’s ideas are showcased nicely by her web site. I’m fond of the way she photographs her work…soft, from many angles, with uncomplicated backgrounds, a bit mysterious. Usually I have a bias against "flash" web sites and this one loads slowly. It’s worth the wait. Her polymer works are in galleries 2, 3, and 4. And thanks to Jan Norwood for the tip!

Class List

I’ve added a "classes" page to the navigation bar at the top of this page. It may not be comprehensive and I won’t try to keep up with all the beginner classes and guild events…those are covered elsewhere.

This list gathers the best professional-level classes that might otherwise get overlooked (like the Nan Roche class at Arrowmont and the Dan Cormier & Tracy Holmes new workshops). If you know of other similar events, send them along.

Simple Stuff

I like these beads from Marie Segal’s April 15 workshop with the San Diego Guild. These beads illustrate my "keep it simple" rant of the last few days, They’re based on two or three canes which are reconfigured into a multitude of shapes.

A few years ago I watched Pier Voulkos take one simple cane slice and in the space of five minutes whip it into a dozen shapes. (I resurrected this link from a 2001 workshop.)

That cane manipulation took incredible dexterity of hand and imagination. It’s that freshness and vitality that I’ve been looking for this week. Thanks Pier, thanks Marie.

A Little Bird Told Me

These teeny birds on my shelf remind me that it’s nearly spring. And they tell me that everything needn’t be precious and exquisite. Sometimes simple and carefree is best.

I bought these polymer birds at the local art college sale. The young artist felt she was overcharging me when she priced them at $1 each. Such a deal! Each bird has character and exudes happiness.

After weeks of looking at wonderful skillfully-crafted works, I’m just a bit tired of the intensity. I think I’ll look for simple for the next few days. No polymer links today. You may want to see what the 20-somethings are doing with jewelry. Just for grins.

It’s Come to This

Call it spring fever. Call it desperation. I’ve got nothing but myself to write about today so here’s the latest inlaid bowl that my husband turned and I inlaid with polymer.

After years of making polymer jewelry, I moved over to the housewares department. It was great fun to add knobs, switchplates and lights in our little Marrakech bathroom. The sink is a walnut bowl inlaid with matching polymer, naturally. And the tub surround is roofing copper. Add candles and bathsalts and a bath becomes a very exotic experience.

So there you have it. Now all I have to do is find something for tomorrow!

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