Polymer Clay Daily

Morris, Lombardi, Soehjar applique

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.

soehjar_bird

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.

Voila! launches

To keep everyone up to date on the growing interest in polymer clay in Europe, the UK’s Christine Dumont has launched a new site called Voila! that gathers works and news from around the EU. You’ll want to sign up to get all the information. (Those are Christine’s own butterfly beads at the left.)

Reporting on the recent Euro Clay Carnival in France, the Voila site shows this pendant from Holland’s Saskia Veltnaar (Sassy & Co.) which tweaks Bettina Welker’s etching technique by undercutting, shaping and bending the layers.

Thanks to Marjon Donker for sending the link. My Minneapolis meeting was a success and I’m processing all that I learned. More on that later this week.

Polymer with a light touch

I’m feeling clumsy and in a rush. Polymer clay works that exude a light touch and a delicate sensibility inspire me and calm me down.

The bracelet is from Enkhene Tserenbadam from Switzerland. Offsetting the comfortable textured shapes makes them more touchable. The oversized jump rings on her new necklaces add an element of surprise.

The glowing hollow translucent bead is from France’s Céline Charuau (GrisBleu). She has a little tutorial on her site that shows you how she assembles beauties like these.

Austria’s Eva Ehmeier (Hoedlgut) shows her refined elegant Black Meadow Necklace on her Flickr site. Ok, breathe deeply. Back to the studio.

Kato toys with polymer

The posts were all international last week! Perhaps that’s because the heart of the action was moving to the Euro Clay Carnival in France this week. If you study their class descriptions and photos you can experience a bit of the thrill vicariously.

You’ll want to read the updated class descriptions for November’s Las Vegas Clay Carnival too. Lynne Ann Schwarzenberg debuts her Filigree/Foliage Fusion class.

Kim Cavender introduces her Pearl Burgers that mimic the look of dyed silk ribbon and pearls without any of the sewing.

Donna Kato has branched out into toys with her new polka dot spinner bracelet. The rings spin so that you can wear the piece and entertain yourself too.

Haskova’s introduction

Eva Haskova’s site (EH Multidesign) pops with young colors and designs, simple lively patterns that exude confidence and a love of the medium.

This Czech Republic artist graduated from fine arts school and got her introduction to clay at the first Euro Clay Carnival. She now sells online and through her own website.

When UK class host/organizer Helen Cox signed Eva up for more classes, she sent the link to introduce her to you.

Friday shout outs

It’s Friday so I’ll give a shout out to several artists on my desk and let you decide which path you’d like to follow today:

First there’s Sylvie Perrin, France’s QueenOfClay, who’s created a polymer clay illustration about our health care situation. If you haven’t looked at her site for a while, scroll through her blog and see her recent work (including the Bouche Chante here).

Second, there’s Camille Allen, the queen of polymer babies, and her latest newsletter. You’ll marvel at her realism and her worldwide following. Her Facebook fan page shows pictures of her at the Dubai Doll Festival in July and her most recent offerings. And no, they’re not marzipan.

Third, are you following Dee Wilder’s latest lathe-turned polymer beads? She’s trying all sorts of techniques and it’s fun to look over her shoulder via Flickr.

Last but not least, if you’re hankering for a class with a polymer clay legend, check out Sandra McCaw’s workshops in Normandy and Burgundy in late October and November. Have a lovely weekend.

Dummer and Nichols team for polymer donuts

It takes a steady hand and a keen eye to execute this micro-Natasha technique effectively. Kathy Dummer has both.

Kathy and Carissa Nichols (both local artists I’m proud to say) have written a two-part article in October’s PolymerCafe magazine on how to make a donut pendant that uses Kathy’s special transfer technique paired with Carissa’s wire skills.

You’ll find examples of the donut pendant on Kathy’s Flickr site. She’s just launched her Etsy site as well and you can catch more of Carissa’s work here.

FYI Note: I looked it up and the technique Kathy illustrates here is based on the Damascus Ladder by Jody Bishel and others. Valerie Wright reinterpreted the technique in Barbara McGuire’s Creative Canes book and Kathy has moved it another step forward.

Carlson’s story necklace

Maureen Carlson’s necklace tells a charming story and invites a dialogue…and isn’t that what we want our jewelry to do?

She tells of her winter trip to a family reunion in simple polymer clay beads. And she suggests several ways that you might use this technique to tell your stories.

I saw Maureen wearing this intriguing necklace and wanted to know more. Now I’m itching to make one of my own. Enjoy this little video of our conversation. Maureen’s new jewelry-sized face molds will make their debut in November.

Geoffrey’s cuttouts

Rebecca Geoffrey’s polymer clay pendants look just right for a Friday – fall colors, tidy layered construction, judicious texturing.

After a week of electronic catching up and restoring order, I crave Rebecca’s delightful control and restraint. She shows more in her Facebook photos and her small purses on Etsy are fun too.

Vacation wreaks havoc with keeping up online (Facebook fatigue is the official term). I’ve reserved today to play in the studio with some of the ideas that have been moldering in my brain all week. Have a playful weekend.

Wilder’s treasure chest

Dee Wilder’s treasure chest of beads startled me and started me thinking. Dee tries lots of techniques and has a knack for quickly inserting her own voice and style into the process. You can see hints of Grant Diffendaffer, Cynthia Toops, Jeff Dever and others in this box….but only hints.

She swears that even I might be able to loop waxed linen around a big bead like hers. Of course mine would be around a faux stone. Here’s more of Dee’s work.

It’s stormy and rainy in the mountains and the network keeps dropping out. But the wine is holding steady and the ideas are flowing.