Challenges – the more the better

The links, the beads, the dangles are all polymer in this necklace from Vermont’s Christine Damm.

Only a few spacers and jump rings are from other materials. Making all the components is a challenge and Christine’s not finished yet.

Christine Damm challenges herself to an all-polymer necklace and more on PolymerClayDaily.com

Every year about this time she also challenges herself to sketch some hearts fast and freehand. “I do these very rapidly, so my right brain gets to play without editing from the other side,” she explains. She makes new templates from these sketches and uses her stash of veneers to cut out new hearts.

How many hearts can you draw in two minutes?

Picasso to polymer

Prais-Hintz collaged beads on PolymerClayDaily.com

A group challenge pushed Wisconsin’s Erin Prais-Hintz out of her comfort zone and into these collaged beads and surface treatments.

Picasso’s Bowl of Fruit painting was the starting point. Erin decided not to stress over not being able to see any fruit and instead focused on the colors and bits of paper and writing that resonated with her.

She took the opportunity to apply some of the Debbie Crothers surface tricks to create raw and rusty veneers. Erin did it her way and yet the resulting beads have a Picasso feel. She nailed it! Read her story on Facebook.

What a great way to stretch and try something new. Do you have a favorite painting that you’d like to try in polymer?

The nudge to improve

These mokume gane polymer earrings from Massachusetts’ Liz Hinckley Stefano caught my eye. The colors and patterns come together for a gorgeous mix of retro and modern.

Liz is off to a stellar start making weekly earrings throughout 2017 for the PCClayChallenge organized by Katie Oskin.

It’s not too late to jump on board. Commit to make whatever shape or form strikes your fancy and create as often as you can handle.

Read Cate van Alphen’s post about how she finished 18 of 52 vessels she intended to complete in a 2016 group. She felt she succeeded on a variety of levels. See why.

You’ll find a few more links to Liz on Pinterest and her site. This isn’t the first time she has risen to a challenge! If group activities energize you and commitments nudge you to improve, join one.