Polymer Clay Daily

ACC Marvels

I’ll be rummaging through the American Craft Council site for the next week or so. There are two reasons for this. One, it’s full of the most mouth-watering, eye-popping new work you could want. And two, I’ll be out in Seattle playing with longtime polymer friends so I’ll need to dip into my reservoir of web tips and rely on my dear daughter to do the daily post.

Only touching polymer clay via Photoshop has left me with a bit of ennui. I know I’ll feel better when I get my hands dirty and act on some of the ideas generated by all this web surfing. Enjoying morning coffees in the hot tub with good friends will help immensely as well.

The work at left is from Deborah Banyas from the ACC show. There’s some more of her recent work here but it looks like her personal site is still under construction.

Wild Horses


Luann Udell writes about her photoshoot for the upcoming issue of American Style magazine. Her story is a fun read and her work is a treat to peruse.

Luann’s web site is dense with info and up-to-date (my bugaboo this week). The magazine will be on newsstands at the end of this month. Don’t miss it.

Nostalgic


My tidbit cupboard was looking mighty bare so I was thrilled I received a link to Z Kripke. I knew Z’s work from years ago and she’s a master caner.

How disappointed was I when I found the link dated 1999 and the email bounced back? Sigh. I don’t know what’s become of Z.

Z’s work is still fun to look at.

I encourage all of you to take down the old work, put up new. We need to keep this art fresh and keep those web sites dusted and up-to-date.

Heart melting

Just when I think I’ve plumbed the depths of the internet, when nothing looks particularly interesting to me. Just when I’ve become the most jaded, I get a tip from an artist (in this case Susan Lamb) who leads me to work that melts my heart.

Camille Allen has a masterful touch with babies. If you’ve ever tried to make miniatures, you’ll appreciate her delicate touch and her magnificent ability to capture a baby’s softness and expression. Oh my, what a treat.

Susan says there was an urban legend going around that these babies were made of marzipan. While they do look scrumptious, they are actually made of our own inedible polymer clay.

Pastel extrusions

It was a tip from Chel Micheline that led me to Tina Voyak. Tina’s simple designs in fresh colors are very appealing.

Taking a cue from our glass bead friends, polymer artists have been using extruded polymer in interesting ways…coiled and cut, sliced and applied…often reminiscent of lampworked beads.

Hornberger Hearts

I can’t think of hearts without remembering Jean Hornberger who made beads that radiated joy and happiness. These pictures date from the 1998 National Retreat.

Several embellishments on the heart have sought their freedom as Jean warned me they might do…a reminder that things change. I always feel like I’m wearing a party and it never fails to elicit fun comments.

Jean often crocheted coverings for her beads and was way ahead of her time which ended far too soon. She and Carl are fondly remembered and I am pleased to share these memories of them. Thanks to PolymerClayCentral for their gallery of her works.

Elves and fairies

It’s that time of year when we begin to believe in elves and fairies. Perhaps there are such creatures blooming in the early spring forests.

Katherine Dewey can make you a believer. Her fantastic archive of polymer sculptures is a pleasure to look at.

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