Polymer Clay Daily

Christmas mystery solved

Cynthia discovers matching earrings from Karen McCorkle in her Christmas collection on PolymerClayDaily

As I layered up for the snow today, I figured out why I had these plain Jane earrings in my collection.

They’re the companions for this Karen McCorckle beautifully caned angel pin that I love. Oh, that goes back a couple of interesting decades!

Karen told us that she conditioned clay when she went to the movies with her family. In the darkened theatre, she could twist and knead the stiff version of polymer that we used back then. Her production schedule was so tight that she couldn’t waste any time.

Can anyone update us on Karen?

Where is your heart?

Chifonie wears her heart in her art on PolymerClayDaily.com

France’s Chifonie sprinkles tiny red hearts over all her animal friends.

Underneath their simple shapes and endearing expressions are layers of luscious colors, bits of cane, swirls of stripes, and shimmering crackled metallics.

It’s an endearing combination of fancy and plain, whimsical and serious.  Always dotted with a bright red indication of where Chifonie’s heart lies.

Where does your heart show up in your work? We’ll be examining that in Saturday’s edition of StudioMojo. Sign up today!

When someone gives you potatoes…

Barbara Nalepa mirrors how we feel the day before Thanksgiving on PolymerClayDaily.com

Barbara Nalepa (Barmisal) pretty much captures how we feel here in the US on the day before Thanksgiving.

How to shove working, shopping, and cooking into one short day?

A few scraps of black and white canes express our potato-mashing, turkey-basting, table-setting exasperation.

Eventually, we’ll take a breath, sit down and remember how thankful we are for this wild and crazy life. Happy Thanksgiving!

Winter cardinals on your shoulder

Illinois’ Linda Webb (Creekside Mosaic) captures both the male and female cardinals in her latest mosaic brooches.

Linda Webb puts cardinals on your shoulder on PolymerClayDaily.com

Both of these are plentiful on midwest feeders at this time of year. The bright red flashes are like natural holiday decorations.

They’re also fluttering on her Etsy page along with several smaller mosaic molds in case you’d like to try your hand at Linda’s brand of mosaics.

Well-dressed grasshopper brooch

Debbie Jackson captures a grasshopper in a glorious brooch on PolymerClayDaily.com

Get up close and personal with this polymer grasshopper brooch from Ohio’s Debbie Jackson to appreciate the patterns and the colors. The piece was a commission.

Don’t get too close. The creature is based on a species from India (Poekilocerus Pictus) that spits a jet of liquid at those who come too near (Debbie didn’t include that feature).

Even if you’re squeamish about bugs, you’ve got to admit that these guys really know how to dress in stripes and dots. Debbie has captured him in all his glory. Here’s Debbie on Instagram.

Debbie Jackson assembles a grasshopper on PolymerClayDaily.com

Oh wait! The bug at the right is real! Debbie had posted her in-progress shots in a Facebook group and I missed them. Thanks to Debbie for the clarification.

48,283 and 500

Ron Lehocky turns scrap in love on PolymerClayDaily.com
Ron Lehocky turns scrap in love on PolymerClayDaily.com

48,283 – That’s the number of hearts that Ron Lehocky has created for his Kids Project since 2005. Year by year he moved the goalposts and predicts he’ll crack 50,000 in 2021. Each heart raises $10.

When Ron put out the word, scraps from artists far and wide started arriving. He transforms scrap into heart brooches. This scrap is from Canada’s Susan Andrews. Ron rolled, twisted, and textured her cane end into all these variations.

Ron Lehocky turns scrap in love on PolymerClayDaily.com

“I certainly have enough “remnants” from generous and supportive fellow polymer artists to help me reach the goal,” Ron says. Happy Valentines Day to our King of Hearts.

“And the 500?” you ask? This Saturday’s StudioMojo is my 500th edition of the weekend insider’s newsletter. Hard to believe where one step after another will get you! I’m turning 500! Come celebrate with your StudioMojo friends.

Meme Monday


Chris Baird and Amy Hucks bring us Monday memes on PolymerClayDaily.com

Bright new versions of hearts, the sign of February’s celebration, from Minnesota’s Chris Baird. Her brooches are small, bursting with dots and stripes in a fireworks show of color and a dazzling quilt-like application of tiny bits.

Who knew Bernie’s mittens would spread like wildfire? This cheeky, cheery polymer version from Indiana’s Amy Hucks (SuperSculptor). “The man, the meme, the mittens,” says Amy.

 

A roof over her head

Nancy Nearing uses polymer to help her neighbors on PolymerClayDaily.com

Concerned about the devastating effects of the pandemic and with evictions looming, Connecticut’s Nancy Nearing turned to polymer as a way for her to help families. The banner that festoons the pins reminds us of the importance of home.

Each of Nancy’s $20 house pins (includes shipping) raises $15 for a GoFundMe campaign started by a local group that goes directly to families in her area.

“Money to big charities takes time to reach families who need it, This is quick and direct. It’s the best way I can think of to help my neediest neighbors,” says Nancy.

Could Nancy’s idea work for you? Consider using the polymer that’s right under your nose to help others. The details are on Nancy’s special Facebook page.

Retro reindeer

Nadia Elkina stylizes her reindeer for a retro holiday on PolymerClayDaily.com

Poland’s Nadia Elkina makes a retro reindeer brooch to give the holidays a mod look. Her strong image is enhanced with some simple texturing on the face and leafy antlers.

Silver is a nice change of pace after an overload of red and green. Star earrings and little leaves complete the set.