Polymer Clay Daily

Texas art machine in gear

Texas’ Susan D (suzicq) outfits her hearts with antlers, crowns, flowers, and flames. “My studio is constantly overflowing because everything is fodder for the art machine,” says Susan.

Her tastes run from Voodoo dolls to goblins and monsters so these slightly dark hearts continue her vibe which you can catch on Etsy.

Over at StudioMojo, we’ll look at our own art machines. What are we making these days and why? Plus, the 3D printed cutters of my own design arrived. Would custom designed cutters help your process? Join us for Saturday morning musing.

From valentines to easter eggs

Meg Newberg's cane takes us from Valentines to Easter eggs on PolymerClayDaily.com

Last week Meg Newberg (PolymerClayWorkshop) showed us her fun repeating hearts made from a bullseye. With a few additions and sleight of hand, she makes that cane work from Valentines Day to Easter!

If you look closely at the slices in the photo you’ll see hearts on the edges. By cutting the original cane slightly differently and shaping it into triangles, then hexagons, she covers a hollow egg with slices.

Don’t take my word for it, watch her give one of the quickest, cleverest classes ever. Her videos are on her Instagram.

Winter garden on the trail

Jen and Kristi leave art along the trail on PolymerClayDaily.com

Washington’s Jen and Kristi (GoInsideAndClay) couldn’t wait to leap into spring so they gave themselves a headstart with this polymer garden.

They are inspired by their time playing in nature among the trees and mountains and by the beauty of kindness. They call themselves “trail fairies” because they like to leave little pieces of art out in the world as a way to bring smiles and joy to others.

You smiled, right? It works.

Challenges – the more the better

The links, the beads, the dangles are all polymer in this necklace from Vermont’s Christine Damm.

Only a few spacers and jump rings are from other materials. Making all the components is a challenge and Christine’s not finished yet.

Christine Damm challenges herself to an all-polymer necklace and more on PolymerClayDaily.com

Every year about this time she also challenges herself to sketch some hearts fast and freehand. “I do these very rapidly, so my right brain gets to play without editing from the other side,” she explains. She makes new templates from these sketches and uses her stash of veneers to cut out new hearts.

How many hearts can you draw in two minutes?

Colors from another hemisphere

Heidi Helyard brings us warm vibes from down under on PolymerClayDaily.com

Enough with the cold weather already! For those of you in my frigid hemisphere, here’s something different from Australia’s Heidi Helyard. It’s summer there.

Heidi unleashes hot colors, streaking them across this textured bowl. I feel better already.

If you need more warmth and frivolity, go find her on Instagram and shop in her store.

And then if you still need something to keep you snuggly, join us over on StudioMojo. On Saturday morning we dish about what’s happening and dream up new designs while we warm up our clay and wake up our mojos. It’s fun! Come out and play. 

East meets west pendant

Janet Bouey's pendant contains echoes of the coasts on PolymerClayDaily.com

Asian shapes meet polymer stones and colors of Vancouver’s beaches in Janet Bouey’s newest pendant.

Janet took some of the surface treatments she learned in a Claire Maunsell class and made the veneers integral to this new design that picks up the colors of the shore.

She doesn’t say much about herself but you’ll want to keep track of Janet on Instagram and Flickr.

Clipped wings, new outlets

Jana Roberts Benzon moves to online sales with new designs on PolymerClayDaily.com

Utah’s Jana Roberts Benzon’s latest new pins/pendants show off her wing-like dimensional, veneer-covered collages.

She’s about to offer her work on Etsy in a few weeks after years of resisting online sales. She’also promises to beef up her Instagram. It may be the grandbabies who are compelling her to stick closer to home.

While we wait for Etsy to launch her, enjoy Jana’s works on Facebook and her website.

Monday bouquet

Floren Jewelry sends you a mini Monday bouquet on PolymerClayDaily.com

Nothing like a dozen red roses for your Monday. This small pendant was created by Belarus’ Floren (JewelryFloren).

The pendant measures 1.6″ x 1.4″ and is made from an air-dry polymer. You can imagine how lovingly this delicate bouquet was assembled on its metal backing.

While Floren doesn’t reveal much about herself online, she’s surely a romantic.