The way these polymer earrings and necklace by Rositsa Mohamed hang makes me think that she lives near vineyards in Bulgaria. They look like bunches of grapes that are full and ripe and ready to pick.
Small bits of canes appliqued on the surfaces add an ethnic flavor to simple colors and patterns. See more of Rositsa’s work on Flickr and Facebook.
Rositsa fooled us with flowers the last time she was featured on PCD.
When PCD first featured Eva Soehjar back in 2008, she mostly painted on polymer. Now she applies minuscule pieces of polymer to create illustrations on the surface of her pendants.
She tells stories, like this Red Riding Hood, by applying small clay shapes with a sharp needle onto solid colored clay bases.
“I want to make people happy when they see my jewelry,” she says. It’s hard not to smile when you look at her delicate appliqued illustrations and her softly colored florals. Visit her work on Etsy and Flickr and have a happy weekend.
Working in circles is how Utah’s MaryAnne Loveless describes the polymer collages she assembles on boxes and books and jewelry.
I’d already spotted her work because of its range of pleasing patterns and palettes. A note from MaryAnne’s son made me bring her to you today.
“My mother is an amazing polymer artist, all familial bias aside,” said Joe. He thought that recognition on PCD would surprise her and make her proud. A son’s thoughtfulness makes for a heartwarming Monday story.
Sometimes good things happen even when you feel like you’re working in circles.
This polymer pendant from Canada’s NoneOfTheAbove speaks of summer and sunflowers and, who are we kidding, tweezers. Do you suppose she plans her geometry or does it evolve as in nature?
Notice that the small dots of color are graduated in color and size. Each dot is textured. Her Etsy shop is full of examples in a range of colors and patterns. The almost mandala-like patterns have a meditative and soothing effect. Have a soothing weekend.
Can’t find the bead caps or findings to finish a piece? Make them from polymer like Galina Grebennikova does.
Galina adds faux metal appliques onto many of her beads for a rich, old effect. Read more in blog posts here and here. You may need to use the translator widget to read about how she cleverly makes her own cord using double stick tape, thread and tubing.
If translating is too much for you (she’s Russian and lives in Ireland), go to her Flickr site to browse through her experiments like this faux dichroic bead.
Germany’s Eva Soehjar’s polymer embroidered earrings bring a breath of spring to begin your May.
White pear shaped bases are appliqued with dainty flowers made of tiny pieces of clay which are layed on and shaped with a needle tool. Eva treats the polymer beads as canvases for painting on her Etsy site.
We last visited Eva a couple of years ago (here) with two other artists, Jennifer Morris and Italy’s Marina Lombardi who both work in similar techniques. See how all three have progressed.
Thanks to Marian Hertzog for reminding us to take a second look.
Our flower power week ends with fiesta polymer clay beads from Arizona’s Anita Brandon. They’re what she calls “faux Mexican pottery” and made of polymer over an ultralight base to keep them lightweight. Cane slice appliques give the beads extra dimension.
Anita wanted to capture the excitement of the Cinco de Mayo fiestas she remembered as a child. Have an exciting weekend.
Her monarch and morning glory necklace is not to be missed either.
The applique technique is picking up speed. Jennifer Morris, one of the first to popularize the style, gives solid colored polymer beads a distinctive look with sumptuous embellishment (front and back) and extravagent colors. Her finely crafted beads fly out of her New York based Etsy shop.
Germany’s Eva Soehjar gives her appliques a more contemporary twist with shaped bases and more graphic flowers. Eva began painting delicate scenes on polymer beads and has recently added this more dimensional line.
Rome’s Marina Lombardi (Ali di Libellula) enlivens simple polymer clay lentil swirl beads with romantic appliques of color-coordinated leaves, flowers, micro beads and crystals.
For these artists, the devil is in the details. Precisely placed teensy petals require patience and skill.
