Polymer Clay Daily

Welcoming the familiar

Cynthia Tinapple finds comfort in a bright striped inlaid bowl on PolymerClayDaily.com

I hesitate to feature my own work but when I run out of research time, it’s the best option. Here’s the 11″ diameter bowl I inlaid last week.

I was happy to get back to my easy stripes at the Virginia conference. Rather than fight against doing the “same old, same old” I welcomed the ease of the familiar. And I had Lindly Haunani nearby to give me color guidance.

I laid narrow strips of veneer into a shallow groove in the spalted maple bowl turned by my husband, Blair Davis. There’s something comforting in knowing that the bowl is made from the tree across the street. “Spalted” is a fancy word for rotted and the tree had to go. You can see a few in-process shots on my Instagram.

Now I can get to composing this week’s Saturday newsletter and gathering up the last tidbits that surfaced at the end of Shrine Mont. Just as we were packing up, people were sharing their “one-last-thing.” And there was a sudden spring crop of tutorials online this week. Join us over at StudioMojo for the scoop. 

Ke Garne

Samunnat angels won't be flying this year. Ke Garne! on PolymerClayDaily.com

Three Samunnat ladies were due to fly from Kathmandu to Detroit in October for a US tour. This week Ron Lehocky and I learned that the US denied their visa applications. There is no appeals process.

Bummer! Or as they say in Nepal “Ke Garne” That’s a resigned, “What can you do?”

We imagined angels Gita, Pramila, and Kopila with their bags all packed.

“We knew it was a possibility that they wouldn’t get the visas but I guess we let ourselves feel hopeful. It all comes down to convincing the interviewer that you have adequate ties in Nepal to make sure you return,” says founder and organizer Wendy Moore from Australia.

Thanks to all you polymer folks who so graciously offered your help and hospitality. The funds raised for travel will be redirected to other projects. Samunnat is now in its eleventh year. Please follow them on Instagram and on their blog to track their progress.

Our apologies to our would-be visitors. Let’s hope the world becomes more welcoming in the future. For now, “Ke Garne.”

Queen of it all

Alice Stroppel spotlights women in her work on PolymerClayDaily.com

Florida’s Alice Stroppel is cooking up some workshops that focus on women. “I wasn’t able to make the wedding, OK I wasn’t invited. But I do feel like the Queen of it All in my own mind. A new cane, more queenly women to come,” says Alice

Alice Stroppel spotlights women in her work on PolymerClayDaily.com

Look for black and white with echoes of Picasso. “Here comes a workshop or a series,” she predicts.

Women are standing out this year. How could you feature them in your work?

Find Alice on Instagram and her site.

Carefree and Seuss-like

Joey Barnes makes carefree a catching concept on PolymerClayDaily

This wonky, carefree vessel was built over a wooden form and has a bright red interior. The Dr. Seuss-like form is from Texas’ Joey Barnes and its carefree attitude made it a hit in the conference auction. Examine Joey’s whimsical piece on Instagram and Facebook.

After a long drive home I’m reinvigorated and back on schedule. A few days of playing and experimenting can wake you up and move you in surprising directions. PCD is back!

 

Purses for chips

Linda Pearl's purse chips make a fashion statement on PolymerClayDaily.com
Linda Pearl's purse chips make a fashion statement on PolymerClayDaily.com

Linda Pearl decided that this silicone purse fondant mold filled with polymer could make great poker chips!

Chips are hotly traded during the silly part of conferences and Linda’s were real winners. Of course, you’ll note how she’s upgraded her mini-purses with paints and custom handles.

See Linda’s more serious works on Instagram. Her dog earrings were also real crowd-pleasers.

More of the tips and tools we played with this week will be listed on StudioMojo. Unless the rains flood the wifi, it’ll all be covered in Saturday’s newsletter. Hope you’ll join us. 

 

Polymer surfaces

Karen Woods pushes gilds her inks on raw polymer on PolymerClayDaily

PCD will be on travel schedule this week since I’m catching up on the latest twists in polymer at the Virginia conference. I can’t sit still long enough to write so posts will appear from time to time.

Surface decoration is still all the rage and just when you thought you’d seen it all, Karen Woods demos some alcohol tricks (click at left) on unbaked clay or Anita Kennerly and Joey Barnes show off new pigment powders they found.

Tools for the road

Gail Garbe's PROslicer offers portable precision on PolymerClayDaily

PCD usually avoids talking about products since new polymer tools have been known to raise heart rates and lead to marital discord. I’m breaking my own rule to suggest you look at the PRO Slicer that has just gone into production.

Ontario’s Gail Garbe and her engineer husband Manfred travel the country in their RV for a good portion of the year. Gail sells her Nifty Stuff at art fairs and other stops along the way. Size is always an issue when you’re working on the road so Gail was looking for something smaller than the coveted and now scarce Simmons slicer.

The new PRO slicer that her husband designed has a 4″x4″x4″ work area and weighs 5.6lbs. See it in action on YouTube. This instrument will cut polymer paper-thin. The $650 price tag reflects the cost of its precision parts. The first small run sold out quickly and a second batch is due in July. Here are the specifications.

Gail says that the downside of the project is that filling orders may keep the couple at home.

If the PRO slicer whets your appetite but doesn’t suit your needs, there’s a free I LOVE TOOLS online party coming up on Craftcast on May 23. Alison Lee loves tools…and parties. See what she’s dug up for her 13th tools show.

Whip up a gift

NinaStudioCaracas stirs up a polymer tableware collection on PolymerClayDaily.com

An interesting sculpture? A grouping of succulents? Nope! This is a Mother’s Day bonanza of wooden utensils with polymer-covered handles. You know how moms love it when you gift something that’s both handmade and utilitarian.

NinaStudioCaracas stirs up a polymer tableware collection on PolymerClayDaily.com

Venezuela’s NinaStudioCaracas specializes in wooden cooking utensils and tableware embellished with polymer. Here they are on Instagram.

We’ve stirred up a delicious bunch of tips, tools, and trends for Saturday’s StudioMojo. And this week you’ll consider what your art has done for you lately. Fun stuff! Join us. 

Women’s stories in polymer

Elissa Farrow-Savos tells women's stories on PolymerClayDaily.com

This grouping of Village Women from Virginia’s Elissa Farrow Savos was destined for Gallery C in Raleigh, N.C. Elissa captured them on her new Instagram page before they left for the art gallery.

Their pensive expressions pull us in for a deeper look as we approach Mothers Day in the midst of #metoo. She hints at their stories here.

Ellisa says, “As I sculpt, I push the polymer clay past its intended size and boundaries, then incorporate found objects, and finally paint the baked clay with layers of oils.”

The overview of her women and all their stories on Artsy.com is fascinating. Learn more from this PolymerArtArchive post and see her in the Polymer Art: Recent Acquisitions show at the Racine Art Museum until June 24.