Last minute creations

Kathy Koontz' handy magnetic and easy vases for last-minute gifts on PolymerClayDaily.com

South Carolina’s Kathy Koontz (Flowertown_Originals) reminds us that there’s still time to make a gift or two like these small magnetic vases that would look so pretty on a fridge or a wall.

“The leaf imprint was done by pressing some leaves from my lantana bush into the clay before curing and then highlighting the design with white paint. Simple and minimalist,” she says.

Kathy offers polymer covered seam rippers, crochet hooks, and buttons among the items on her Etsy shop.

It’s faster (and more fun) to create something at home than it is to get caught up in the holiday shopping crowds.

Lighthearted horror

Nicole Johnson approaches the season with horror on PolymerClayDaily.com

New York’s Nicole Johnson takes a lighthearted approach to horror.

These grimacing big-eyed Christmas trees remind us that there are only eight days until Christmas. And at some point in the last minute frenzy, horror becomes a sensible way to cope.

We made Christmas trees at a young friend’s birthday party this weekend and It would seem that several of the young artists share Nicole’s vision. Their spontaneity tickles me.

See all Nicole’s quirky antics on Facebook and Instagram.

Swimming in polymer

Donna Greenberg dives into a 10' commission on PolymerClayDaily.com

Imagine making this 10′ x 28″ triptych commission! New Jersey’s Donna Greenberg takes viewers on a deep dive to an ocean floor filled with her fantasy biosystems.

Donna’s studio must have been swimming in undersea pieces and bio parts for months.

Shapes that look strange and foreign on their own, come together in a believable new landscape. Her last step is to adjust the painted surfaces slightly to lead the eye comfortably through the new 10′ wonderland she created. Immerse yourself in the close-ups and in-process shots on Facebook.

Over at StudioMojo, we explore everything polymer from simple to sumptuous. This week we’ll also link you to the best tools of the year. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, you’ll find something on the list that will tickle your fancy. You’re more than welcome to join our Saturday gathering.

Keeping it simple

Gosia Moiko keeps her earrings simple and silkscreened on PolymerClayDaily.com

I’m still stuck on the simple stuff.

Yesterday the theme was circles, today we take in squares from Poland’s Moiko that have been silk screened, cut out, and plopped on top of each other.

Moiko is owned by Malgorzata Wawrzynczak who offers a wide selection of silk screens that have been designed specifically for polymer clay.

She excels at simple geometric combinations that feel fresh and fashionable. Here she is on Instagram.

Success with circles

Shannon Tabor makes sophisticated post earrings on PolymerClayDaily.com

After a frustrating day in the studio, it’s a relief to me to see how something like these post earrings from South Carolina’s Shannon Tabor (Charleston_Clay_Jewelry) can be so straightforward and successful.

Sometimes we make things more difficult than they need to be.

Shannon cuts textured circles in several sizes then highlights the textures and stacks them falling downward.

Unusual, sophisticated and done! Posted on Instagram.

Polymer roots

Shelley Atwood puts her own spin on scrap mokume gane earrings on PolymerClayDaily.com

Think of polymer techniques as having a lineage when you look at these earrings from Texas’ Shelley Atwood.

Kathy Amt taught Dayle Doroshow who shared it with me who showed a whole bunch of folks this scrap technique on video. Who knows where it came from even earlier or where it will go next?

It’s circled back around to Shelley who’s put her own spin on it on Instagram. Shelley layered thin bits of scrap and then carved her design, which revealed colors underneath.

It’s invigorating when we see new life in our roots.

Snow stars

Enjoy the bright colors of these Snow Stars from France’s Celine Roumagnac. They’re a fresh way to start your week.

Celine takes the usual holiday red and green to new places as she combines pieces in fractal-like stacks of shapes.

See her seasonal polymer delights on Instagram.

A polymer bird in the hand

Ukraine’s Darya Podorozhna (sofoxyclay) gathers a flock of polymer birds on a delicate chain for bird lovers to wear and admire.

While these little beads don’t require much clay, they do demand a keen eye and attention to detail. Birders know their birds. You can catch them on Etsy and here she is on Instagram.

The first week after vacation has rushed by and already I could be back in the holiday frenzy. Over at StudioMojo, we’ll try to slow it down and move into the holidays with grace, a smile, and gifts from our hearts. Join us.

Building botanicals in polymer

Cecile Box brings botanicals to polymer on PolymerClayDaily.com

Paris’ Cecile Bos (11prunes) makes her delicate floral patterns look easy as the rest of us squint in amazement.

You have to think like a textile designer to understand her methods of matching repeats and working on a solid color background.

Cecile worked as a biology researcher so she’s comfortable finding patterns and working in minuscule. She turns these canes into the daintiest of jewelry that she sells on her site and shows her in-process on Instagram.

Holiday greeting scrap

Greeting cards from Christine Damm's scrap! on PolymerClayDaily.com

Vermont’s Christine Damm was inspired to play with her scrap veneers. No jewelry inspiration arose from the heap.

“A few screw-ups later, I decided to put them all on a backing and voila! now I have a new veneer that will become holiday cards called Merry Christmas, Baby! on Redbubble. All veneer scraps used were surface painted previously, FYI,” says Christine.

Send greetings to friends and customers that show off your art. Lots of online printers will make the photo of your work into cards and all sorts of items.

‹ 1 … 71 72 73 … 406 ›