Texas art machine in gear

Texas’ Susan D (suzicq) outfits her hearts with antlers, crowns, flowers, and flames. “My studio is constantly overflowing because everything is fodder for the art machine,” says Susan.

Her tastes run from Voodoo dolls to goblins and monsters so these slightly dark hearts continue her vibe which you can catch on Etsy.

Over at StudioMojo, we’ll look at our own art machines. What are we making these days and why? Plus, the 3D printed cutters of my own design arrived. Would custom designed cutters help your process? Join us for Saturday morning musing.

From valentines to easter eggs

Meg Newberg's cane takes us from Valentines to Easter eggs on PolymerClayDaily.com

Last week Meg Newberg (PolymerClayWorkshop) showed us her fun repeating hearts made from a bullseye. With a few additions and sleight of hand, she makes that cane work from Valentines Day to Easter!

If you look closely at the slices in the photo you’ll see hearts on the edges. By cutting the original cane slightly differently and shaping it into triangles, then hexagons, she covers a hollow egg with slices.

Don’t take my word for it, watch her give one of the quickest, cleverest classes ever. Her videos are on her Instagram.

Parade of hearts

Anarina Anar draws and shades her hearts in surprising colors on PolymerClayDaily

It’s nearly February and time for the valentine parade to begin. Greece’s Anarina Anar leads us off with a new necklace.

Her hearts are assembled from several shapes, made of light clay shaded with pencils or inks. A black backing also serves to outline her bright colors. A bit of texture and some teardrop elements make hers an unusual treatment.

The hand-drawn colors and changing shapes keep your eye skittering around this gathering of hearts. You’ll find them on Etsy and Instagram.

Need a little more polymer love? Head over to StudioMojo for a taste of the wider world – lots of tidbits that we couldn’t cram into PCD. This week we hunt down the experimenters, track the exhibitionists and find new ways to keep your muse happy and your mojo working.

Every last scrap

The king of scrap and the queen of color collaborate with hearts on PolymerClayDaily

Of course, we couldn’t get through scrap week without Louisville’s Ron Lehocky who continues his march to 50,000 hearts for the Kids Center. Ron receives polymer scrap from around the world, turning tail ends and discarded projects into what will be a half million dollar benefit. See him on Instagram and Facebook.

Here you can see how Ron reconfigured Lindly Haunani’s blended cane ends (top left of photo) turning them into bargello-like veneers that he learned using exciting new methods from Lindly’s Sagacious Sumptuous Color class.

Lindly will help Sue Sutherland and Ellen Prophater at the grand opening of their new Creative Journey Studios in Milton, GA this weekend. Lindly will have a trunk show at the gallery’s opening. She’ll also be teaching the first class in the new facility. 

Ron’s hearts will also be available at the opening. You’re invited!

Pieced together

Cara Jane Hayman's faux wood heart on PolymerClayDaily

Undeterred by two canceled flights and a torrent of rain, I jumped in my car and headed to New Jersey’s Clayathon. With any luck, I’ll arrive in time to take a few pictures for this week’s StudioMojo.

From my pieced together road trip, I offer you one pieced together faux wooden heart from Cara Jane Hayman. Have a grand weekend!

Conversational polymer

Barb Handy's hearts are conversational on PolymerClayDaily.com

Nothing says Valentines Day to me more than old-fashioned conversation hearts. Arizona’s Barb Handy (barbiesbest) makes an exact copy in polymer that’s hard to resist.

They’re perfectly simulated from the chalky colors to the pink ink to the typeface. Her charms are made 1/4″ thick and drilled either vertically or horizontally. Barb has it down perfectly.

Happy Valentines Day!

Heartwarming hearts

Sizzling thank you hearts from Fabi Perez Ajates on PolymerClayDaily

These thin hearts in sizzling hot colors were thank you gifts from Spain’s Fabi Perez Ajates to students in her classes in the Czech Republic and France.

“I love happy colors, a song to happiness and love of life,” she says.

Look more closely at Fabi’s happy hearts on Flickr. Are your hearts ready for the holiday?

Holiday cheer

Elf Jane Dwyer and Santa Lehocky collaborate for the kids on PolymerClayDaily

Our polymer Santa/Dr. Lehocky is still in his workshop upcycling canes (like these poinsettia and snowman slices from Jane Dwyer) and turning discards from artists around the world into hearts that will benefit the Children’s Center in Louisville, KY.

Elf Jane Dwyer and Santa Lehocky collaborate for the kids on PolymerClayDaily

This heart story has been going on for 12 years and last night’s total topped 40,520. Each one this Santa has made raises $10 for the Center. Do the math! Yes, your art can make a difference.

If you need some holiday cheer, watch Ron demo his 3-step process in this popular video or follow the Kids Center Christmas festivities on his Facebook page.

Happy Holidays! Join us for virtual eggnog and more Saturday morning tidbits over at the weekend’s StudioMojo.

Spinning polymer

Anderson's yo-yo on PolymerClayDaily.com

Did you read Ron Lehocky’s story about Bali’s Jon Anderson in this summer edition of The Polymer Arts magazine? The two artists have developed a long-distance friendship. Jon regularly sends Ron canes to be made into hearts for the Kids Project.

Jon enjoys contributing to the project and seeing how Ron reinterprets his ideas into something very different.

The polymer yo-yo pictured here was tucked into this month’s box of goodies from Bali. Ron says it spins perfectly. Cool, eh?

Does Jon’s toy start your brain spinning? Google How to make a yo-yo and you’ll find lots of video tutorials that can be easily adapted to polymer.