Polymer Clay Daily

Reid’s polymer clay minerals

New Jersey’s Kathryn Reid (aka PendulumStudios1) has bounded onto the Flickr and Etsy polymer clay scene with beads that beg to be touched. She’s attached names like mineral, earthen, lichen, and moons to her smooth pod-shaped creations.

Colorful translucent cane patterns are applied over glittering base beads as with the “Day and Night” beads shown here. See more of Kathryn’s work on her Etsy site.

Her secret? “I believe that my jewelry is inspired by the freedom that comes from not thinking about what I’m trying to do.”

Polymer clay balance

Many things have changed in our world this week which has drawn me to polymer clay designs that match my off-balance mood and introduce me to new concepts.

England’s Christine Dumont introduces her two collections (ossocopia and cellularia) which are strangely beautiful. I like the offset beads surrounding this pendant. There’s much more on her site. (Thanks to Loretta Lam for the heads up.)

And then from the Dutch “Girls Next Door” site comes this multi-strand necklace that combines large and small beads. Marjon and Saskia and their friends (the purple beads are from friend Jellina) have compiled projects that run the gamut from imaginative stringing ideas to a faux-Burberry cane and scarab bracelets.

Enjoy finding your balance this weekend.

Benzon’s gourds, Polymer Cafe article

Jana Roberts Benzon has transformed her polymer clay sea sculptures into fall harvest creations. Her organic shapes flow from one environment to the other nicely.

Here are the links that accompany my extrusions article in the December issue of Polymer Cafe. The magazine is full of tips and tricks and things you won’t want to miss.

I waded into a swamp of alligators when I posted about monkeys yesterday. I was unaware that in these heated political times an innocent monkey icon has been appropriated for mean political use. Absolutely no political comment was insinuated. Lighten up…and vote.

I’m still coding furiously behind the scenes and looking for a WordPress expert if anyone has one they can recommend.

Cavender’s polymer clay chips

West Virginia’s Kim Cavender was all set to debut these vibrant new polymer clay sea urchins at the Euro Clay Carnival in England. Family health matters took precedence at the last moment. Everything’s on the mend, read her blog for the whole story. Motherhood trumped art.

She played her cards right and sent the pile of sea urchin poker chips pictured here to England without her. Look at the new natural, woodsy and watery pieces she’s developed lately!

The good news is that she’s all prepared to teach her class at the Clay Carnival in Las Vegas in November. And speaking of being prepared…

You have 30 days to enter your work in the NPCG Progress and Possibilities international juried exhibition. The entry is online, no muss, no fuss, no excuses. Here are the exhibition guidelines, and here’s the entry link. This is a chance for the guild to demonstrate its vitality and for you to receive recognition for your work. Start planning now and have a great weekend.

French connections

In case you missed this link from yesterday’s globe-spanning comments, you’ll want to look at the glowing colors and distinctive wirework of France’s Celine (aka gRIS bLEu). She credits Melanie West for the inspiration for some of her organic, oceanic pieces.

Celine also experiments with simulating the heavily patterned lampworked beads of German artist, Melanie Moertel in polymer clay. (Moertel’s beads are reminiscent of Kathleen Dustin’s in some ways.) While both experiments are derivative, Celine’s own sensibilities make the work unmistakably hers.

If you’re like me, you’ll follow these links all over Europe thanks to yesterday’s comment from Eva.

New Nom: Susan Lomuto’s work, now under the more appropriate heading of DailyArtMuse.com, is unmistakable too. Susan’s wide ranging tastes and impeccable tastes will keep your muse in fine fettle.

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Frame’s organics

Colorado’s Jan Frame used to have a day job as a researcher and organizer so she makes the perfect tablemate at polymer clay workshops. This was her recent project as she ventured into organic, flowing shapes.

She’s methodical in her process and unafraid of questions along the way. Together we wandered into our unknown artistic territories, got lost, made mistakes, and found our way again. Here’s her result. I’ll show you mine next week. Have an adventurous weekend.

Benzon shifts to surfaces

Spring blooms have prompted a change in Jana Roberts Benzon’s polymer clay work.

She’s shifted her focus from canes to surfaces. Her crumpled brooch series has a luxurious fabric look and her new beads shaped from flat sheets have gone all organic.

I like to think she was working on a crane for Judy Dunn’s project and gave up in frustration only to discover a great new look. Perhaps she’ll let us in on how and why she was able to work in this new loose style. Thanks to Ronna Weltman for the link.

Haunani’s spring pod

One of my favorite polymer clay pieces for spring is this pod/sprout from Lindly Haunani. It’s quintessentially spring with natural colors and shape. The texture comes from sand mixed into the clay. You can read about Lindly’s inclusions here.

But even better than the pod itself is the memory of the Shrine Mont conference perhaps ten years ago when lots of us wore them in celebration of the season and for the fun of it. Wearing it today brings the celebration back again and makes me smile.