Weighty polymer

You may enjoy reading about the birth of this sculpture from Latvia’s Diana Sh. Palma.

Diana envisioned this as her first polymer purse and decorated it heavily with what she imagined as underwater blooms. But the result was so weighty that carrying it presented a problem..

She decided instead to consider the creation a keepsake box. But Plan B didn’t work because the top and bottom had baked themselves together (probably due to the weight again).

Please admire her lovely objet d’art!

You can see more of Diana’s polymer work (including tutorials) on Etsy and on Facebook. Browse her impressive collection of flowers on Flickr. She has a board devoted to art purses on Pinterest and she plans to make another attempt.

Traveling polymer

Kathleen Dustin posted six new World Traveler Purses on her Pinterest board over the weekend. “Based on my travels of the world and the ethnic art I’ve seen and collected, these are my modern tribal purses and their influences,” she says. Each one in this group is named after a city in Turkey.

On this Amasya Purse, large swaths of subtly blended polymer colors are densely textured by hand. Additional dimension is added with dots and other appliques. Washes of color enhance the details.

When a violin bow maker offered Kathleen some horsehair, she gladly accepted it. The horsehair is incorporated into several of these new works.

The top half slides up on thick buna cord which allows the wearer to open the purse.

Thanks to Kathleen for igniting our week with inspiration.

Polymer nerve tonic

Need a dose of Nerve Tonic to begin your week? Romania’s Claudia Chindea says her business name came from her grandmother who thought that color was a cure for the soul. Polymer artists would agree.

Claudia’s business that combines polymer, fiber and fabric is now based in Sweden.

Always a seamstress and then trained in graphics, Claudia says, “I learned to observe in a much closer way. To draw first, and then to move on to the material. My mind opened up. That’s how my collection of jewels, made out of fabric, with much color and texture, begins.”

You can read a little about her (use a translator) and see more of her fabric purses in interviews here and here and on Instagram. Helen Breil sent this new link along.

Free I Love Tools

The weekend rehearsal for Wednesday’s free I Love Tools webinar on Craftcast gave me a peek at really cool new tools and ideas. These artists are clever!

Plus Alison Lee is always able to dig up generous giveaways and tempting coupons. Whether you’re in the mood for heavy equipment, the latest little gizmo or just want to keep up with tool trends, you’ll want to join Wednesday’s online party. Sign up. No cost.

Polymer purse handles

Julie of Dixie103 combines men’s silk ties and polymer handles into this Indian Wedding Bag. This is her prototype.

Julie describes them, “The handles are quite a bit larger than a bracelet bangle and quite a bit thinner. I wanted them to easily slide over one’s arm. There’s a heavy wire going all the way through each handle and they’re double cured for strength. The seam, where the ends meet, is sewn together with many strands of heavy Nymo thread and covered with seed beads. These handles won’t break. I’ve tried.”

The design is her own after lots of research. Where do we sign up? See more pictures of the prototype on Flickr.

Weekend sightings

Why not start the week with the UFO bracelet hovering on Bettina Welker’s pages and a Fragment from Kathleen Dustin’s latest purses?

Bettina’s work didn’t start out as a spaceship but when she took a second look, the bangle begged for antennae (and that’s no April fool). Kathleen posted her addition in a new location, the gallery on her Pinterest page. Both works point toward freer designs and styles unfettered by old expectations. This is the look of today’s polymer art and there are many more exciting examples.

It’s spring and time to think about the new design seeds you’d like to plant in your work.

Polymer mwah

We end the week with a big juicy kiss from Kathleen Dustin. It’s one of her signature polymer evening bags, of course.

Two of Kathleen’s purses were donated for an exhibit at Amsterdam’s Museum of Bags and Purses and will be part of the museum’s permanent collection.

Technical Note

Did you know that the folks at Sculpey changed the name of Premo Frost to White Translucent? (I had it turned around earlier…oops.) Frost and White Translucent are the same.

Iris Weiss from Polyform clarifies the situation explaining that, “We had to rename the two ounce bars for the larger craft stores because consumers didn’t understand what Frost was.” Thanks to Ronna Sarvas Weltman for bringing the switch to our attention.

Back-to-school Heaser, Dyer, Skinner, Dustin

It must be the back-to-school frenzy that has prompted a slew of website updates this week.

Judith Skinner promises that she’ll update her website and she’s been thrilled with your comments on Tuesday’s video. She’s moved and is remodeling her new home in a larger town in Wyoming. You can find her at the Houston Quilt Festival in October.

Last year Sue Heaser sold the UK’s Polymer Clay Pit which she founded at her kitchen table in 1985. Now she tells us that she’s returning to her studio and bookwriting. She’s published nine books on polymer and has more up her sleeve. Here’s Sue’s new site .

I bumped into a new site for Susan Dyer (her brooch is pictured above) while I was looking at Eugena Topina’s site. Previously we caught Susan’s work only at ACC shows. Now Susan’s on Etsy and has her own site as well.

Guess I’m not the only one spending time on the computer on these late summer days. For one more reminder of this bountiful season, take a look at Kathleen Dustin’s rose purse. Just lovely.