UK’s Belinda Ashton appeals to the toddler in us with this necklace of multi-colored circles.
The tag should probably include a warning about not chewing on the luscious links. The big links are certainly something a wearer would twirl and play with.
What surprised me was how Belinda created this. My brain went directly to extruded clay. But I was wrong. Its construction was super simple.
In these complicated times, innocent, straightforward, cheery designs are important.
Virginia’s Wiwat Kamolpornwijit gives us some new twisted garlands for the holidays.
He was an environmental researcher in his former career. Repeating shapes with interlocking connections still dominate Wiwat’s work.
These new links are based on two-sided flat ribbons of polymer that twist themselves in opposite directions. His interconnected and wired designs are pleasant puzzles for the viewer’s eye.
Patterned links chase each other around in this necklace by the UK’s Caroline Casswell. Rainbow colors blend into each other.
This necklace is part of Caroline’s display at Wave 7 Gallery in Wadebridge Cornwall.
The links are sturdy and there’s something fun about this play of color and pattern. But of course, it takes planning and skill to make the blends flow so smoothly. See more in this series on her website.
These polymer dragonfly links from California’s Annie Laura buzz with intense colors that are true to the season and the insect.
The torn, rough edges make them seem spontaneously caught and fossilized.
Annie Laura makes her own imprint molds. There’s something compelling about art that captures what you love. You can see the finished piece on her Instagram.
What do you love? Does your art capture it?
Melanie West wore her new Bones necklace at Synergy4 in August. One night it was a long chain, the next she quickly reconfigured it as a choker and bracelet.
The genius of Melanie’s design is the way the links are connected with o-rings held in place by the bulbous ends of each snakey bead.
A more recent version of Melanie’s necklace shown at left includes curled sections, a play on vine-like necklaces by Maggie Maggio. In true Synergy spirit, Georg Dinkel joined in and suggested adding contrasting dots on the end of each link! And she’s not finished experimenting.
Has Melanie’s build-your-own bright idea started your wheels turning?
Join us over at StudioMojo where we mull over the new designs and keep the synergy going every Saturday morning.
This tag necklace from Baltimore’s Linda Loew is full of surprises. The dark gold polymer links are stamped, painted and textured in a dark and rough urban grunge style accented with red.
The pieces are thinner than you’d expect and slightly curved during curing. Each is individually shaped.
Linda heads for the fishing department for her findings that make the links twirl on connectors meant for lures. Here’s a second more colorful version.
The necklaces feel like they’re filled with stories…but Linda’s story is hard to find online. You can see a few more of her works on Pinterest.
We end the week with one more polymer experimenter. The ideas floating around at the French Lick Atelier must have shifted my brain into gear. I came home hungry to push polymer farther.
Nikolina Otrzan’s new Infinity necklace jumped out at me. Nik has been turning geometry on its head with her recent exploration of forms. Here she alternates closed and open rectangular links to create a sleek, chic necklace.
I’m sure you’re asking, “Are the links cut out or extruded? What kind of clay and construction tricks could she be using to give this design flexibility and strength?” I have no answers. All I know is that others’ innovations get our creative juices flowing. Thanks, Nik.
Here she is on Pinterest and CraftArtEdu.
Maggie Maggio will be in person and online Wednesday night at Craftcast teaching her split ring technique. PCD has featured her innovative technique and you’ll find people imitating her idea all over the polymer web. Maggie has expanded on her original idea and shares lots of new tips for construction and for successful color.
Maggie’s a great teacher and if you’ve ever wanted to meet her and ask her your questions, this is your chance. No matter where you are, you can login and join the group for a 90-minute workshop (and keep a copy of the recording for future reference). Sign up here. Check the rest of the Craftcast schedule (including my class on October 10).
