Polymer Clay Daily

The attraction of ease

Barbara Baatz brings spontaneity to her beads on PolymerClayDaily.com

These beads from New Jersey’s Barbara Baatz (baatzbeads) are unpretentious and relaxed. They’re full of heart and devil-may-care attitude. They match but they’re not matchy-matchy.

It’s sometimes wise to step back, ease up and let that inner wild thing have some fun. Maybe it was taking yesterday off that has me appreciating simplicity.

Perfection is overrated and aiming for it sometimes sucks the energy out of our work. Do you need more spontaneity? See more on Instagram.

Sideways stripes

Meike Lucia Friemel lines up bright stripes into a horizontal pendant on PolymerClayDaily
Meike Lucia Friemel lines up bright stripes into a horizontal pendant on PolymerClayDaily

Germany’s Meike Lucia Friemel (Lucia Lucia) was trained as a metalsmith who delights in “…the difference between “slow” metalwork and “fast” clay work and also the contrast when the piece of jewelry is finished.”

These yellow and orange stripes were created for a challenge among friends. The horizontal stripes curl around the cord while the center beads have surprising open backs. It’s as if Lucia was showing her friends a couple of metalsmith tricks in polymer.

Here she is on Flickr and Facebook

Mosaic eggs

Klio Tsaliki ends the holiday with a basket of color on PolymerClayDaily.com

This basket of Easter eggs can’t wait until next year. Let’s keep the holiday going one more day to show off the bright lovelies from Greece’s Klio Tsaliki.

She’s wrapped the egg shapes in strips of clay covered with mosaic-like bits of sunny colors. File this idea away for next year’s decorations.

Wackadoodle bunnies

Nicole Johnson's Wackadoodle bunnies hop right out of her shop on PolymerClayDaily.com

New York’s Nichol Johnson (mealymonster) creates Wackadoodle bunnies that have scampered right out of her online store. They’re so cute that they’re hard to catch!

How can you not fall for a purple big-eyed polka-dotted creature that looks quite scared?

Watch them dance on Nichol’s Instagram.

Hop right over to StudioMojo if you want to catch up with this week’s polymer news. There are two more tutorials from Clayathon plus lots of spring creations. It’s the perfect remedy for your spring fever. Join us!

Blossoming beads

Juliya Laukhina's beads blossom with color on PolymerClayDaily

Moscow’s Juliya Laukhina covers her dark round beads with dense delicate dots of pastel colors. Is she using mokume gane off-cuts? Or has she taken another path?

It doesn’t matter, of course. She mostly uses round beads of this size as her canvas and every time I check, she’s trying another method to decorate them.

Juliya must have a science background since she’s methodical in her experimenting, only changing one variable at a time. These tight dots look like spring blossoms. She’s on Instagram and Etsy.

Some assembly required polymer

Ivy Niles sells raw cactus canes...some assembly required on PolymerClayDaily

Nebraska’s Ivy Niles (Ikandyclay) rolls a mighty fine cactus cane that can be arranged in any number of ways. They can also be planted in cane slice containers decorated with matching designs.

Ivy Niles sells raw cactus canes...some assembly required on PolymerClayDaily

To create the cane gradations and the spiky needles requires a lot of head scratching. For those who prefer, she sells her canes ready-made and raw on Etsy. Her designs are marvelously complex. Some assembly required.

Braided metallics

Jana Honnerova's bracelets shine with metallic bits on PolymerClayDaily

Prague’s Jana Honnerova brings a smooth and seductive metallic sheen to her polymer clay coiled and braided bracelets. Bits of gold float on top of spring colors that blend seamlessly into each other.

Jana Honnerova's bracelets shine with metallic bits on PolymerClayDaily

Admire them on Instagram and take an even closer look in her Etsy shop.

Statement earrings

Bettina Welker airs her Patchwork earrings this spring on PolymerClayDaily.com

These arty, carefree collaged earrings from Germany’s Bettina Welker feel playful with their contrast and deep texturing.

Bettina offers a whole collection of these springy Patchwork accessories on Flickr.

I’m having a hard time deciding which spring creations from Clayathon to include in this Saturday’s StudioMojo. There was so much going on and people were so willing to share that I’m having a grand time sorting out the ideas that were blooming all over the workroom. I may have to spread them out over the next two issues so that we can savor them properly. Come on over to discover what’s new. 

Getting into shape

The shape that Vancouver’s Janet Bouey uses for her pendants is a pleasing and popular one.

Janet has synthesized what can be a complicated design to its simplest form with the use of a jump ring on either side on the top edge of the pendant.

It’s simple to construct and can still be elegant to wear. That’s a win-win in my book. Of course, it helps to have compelling veneers for your pendants too!