Whipped into shape

Nancy Nearing brings veneers to life with dimension on PolymerClayDaily.com

What a difference dimension makes! Ohio’s Nancy Nearing has been on a roll since taking Lindly Haunani’s class.

The flat veneers below are very much Lindly-inspired but they are infused with Nancy’s aesthetic.

When Nancy ruffles and bends

and sculpts the flat collages, she takes them to a whole different place.

Nancy’s a neighbor so I caught this project mid-process. They’re not even on her Instagram yet! We will revisit them when she adds more flowery details and mounts them in shadow boxes.

Mix and match playful bangle

Valérie Bodino-Nazet builds a wonky, fun bangle on PolymerClayDaily.com

France’s Valérie Bodino-Nazet hits the spot with this mix-and-match segmented bangle to wrap up the week.

Black and white stripes are a no-fail pattern to break up the tiny flowered pattern, the black and white leaf-like section, and the graphic black and white piece with just a splash of florals. Here on Instagram.

It’s hard to tell if this is one solid bangle or if the bracelet is in three sections of tubes that stretch apart at the stripes. No matter, it’s a playful and slightly wobbly Friday treat.

If you’re in the mood for more treats, join us over at StudioMojo where the value of a playful approach to polymer art is one of the big keys to success. Come join us.

Polymer on demand

See how Christine Damm makes a successful design last and last on PolymerClayDaily.com

Vermont’s Christine Damm worked and re-worked strips of bright summery veneer with layers of paint and crackle and whatever media suited her fancy.

She liked the resulting sheet of designs so much that before she adhered the polymer to this brass cuff, she scanned the image into her computer so that she could print the successful design onto scarves, pillows or any number of other items.

Go to ShopVida.com to see how one veneer translates into many items on demand.

From veneer to bead

Dan Cormier shows how to turn veneers into finely finished pieces in his June-July online class

Here’s a first look at one of Dan Cormier’s newest beads from his initial Matrix Canes online canework master class. But what does one do with beautiful veneers?

The sequel to the story is lodged in his second online adventure, Building Better Beads which runs from June 14 to July 14.

In this next step, Dan shows you how to turn a flat veneer into a finely finished piece. Registration closes Wednesday, June 5. Hop on over to the class site to read up on the details and register.

A heart is born

You didn’t think PCD would get through Valentines Day without featuring Ron Lehocky, did you? Nope!

The problem was picking one. Ron has photos of his avid collecters bedecked in his pins. They make perfect gifts for any occasion.

This heart is just emerging from a great collaged sheet of veneer.

For those of you who don’t know Ron, he’s a Kentucky physician/teacher/author who has been creating heart pins for sale with all proceeds going to Louisville’s Kids Center since 2005. He’s aiming to hit 50,000 hearts in his fundraising effort. He’s the undisputed king of hearts and this is his day.

East meets west pendant

Janet Bouey's pendant contains echoes of the coasts on PolymerClayDaily.com

Asian shapes meet polymer stones and colors of Vancouver’s beaches in Janet Bouey’s newest pendant.

Janet took some of the surface treatments she learned in a Claire Maunsell class and made the veneers integral to this new design that picks up the colors of the shore.

She doesn’t say much about herself but you’ll want to keep track of Janet on Instagram and Flickr.

Feathers float you through the week

Debbie Crothers combines patterns for upcoming feather classes in the US on PolymerClayDaily

These patterned feathers on Instagram from Australia’s Debbie Crothers will take you right over the mid-week hump.

Debbie loves her veneers and surface treatments so I’m betting that she’s made herself a stash of veneers for source materials.

Assembling them in perfect balance like this is no quick project but they’re worth the effort. The occasional splice on the edge and bend in the shape gives each one distinct look.

On Facebook, Debbie says she’s refining her methods and these are prototypes for her sessions at Clay Out West from September 30 to October 3 in Albuquerque. Registration opens February 1.

Debbie offers a few clever hints about her methods in her blog post today.

The yin and yang of polymer

Kate Lee Foley big tube bead necklaces on PolymerClayDaily.com

Australia’s Kate Lee Foley makes big freeform single tube bead necklaces as a relaxing interlude to making tight, complex canes.

On Instagram you can see how she dances between chaos and control, enjoying both impulses.

This Saturday on StudioMojo we’ll look at others who like to nourish both sides of their brains. Some artists wrestle with their vision with a singular focus.

What does it take to keep your muse happy and your mojo working? Come on over and find out.

Holiday greeting scrap

Greeting cards from Christine Damm's scrap! on PolymerClayDaily.com

Vermont’s Christine Damm was inspired to play with her scrap veneers. No jewelry inspiration arose from the heap.

“A few screw-ups later, I decided to put them all on a backing and voila! now I have a new veneer that will become holiday cards called Merry Christmas, Baby! on Redbubble. All veneer scraps used were surface painted previously, FYI,” says Christine.

Send greetings to friends and customers that show off your art. Lots of online printers will make the photo of your work into cards and all sorts of items.

Finishing your homework

Elizabeth Hamilton's quilt bowls help her remember what she learned on PolymerClayDaily

North Carolina’s Elizabeth Hamilton turned her veneers from Lindly Haunani’s class into these charming square dishes.

This week PCD has featured homework of students from a variety of classes and tutorials. Finishing your homework and turning what you’ve learned into a finished product is often a struggle.

The benefits of persisting are worth it. Not only do you have a tangible memory of the event, but you also cement the process firmly in your fingers and your brain.

Hungry for more? Jump on over to StudioMojo and join the growing group of polymer fans who are figuring out how to put more of themselves in their art.

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