Hama Beads

Kate from Minieco (click HERE) has a beautiful peyote pattern for a votive cover and a tea light cover (above). She also has a link to a blank peyote graph so you can design your own. I had no patience for following a pattern; I just wanted to see how easy it would be to bead weave this together with elastic thread. And it was. The candlelight is so pretty shining through the Hama beads and just as festive when not lit. I bought this large jar of Hama beads at IKEA. The votive candle cover can also double as a napkin holder.

Sugarlicious

As you all know, I love Meaghan Mountford's blog, The Decorated Cookie (click HERE). I admire Meaghan's generosity, talent and humor and I'm inspired by her work as you can tell from the polymer clay Halloween "Zombie Marshmallows". Her new book Sugarlicious is coming out in March. You can read more about it HERE. She had a wonderful giveaway to celebrate her new book and guess who won all of the wonderful products in the top photo? Yay, lucky me. I have tips, tricks, recipes, tools, apron, oven mitt, spatula, pastry bags and tips and best of all, a preview of her new book, which is wonderful. Thank you Meaghan!

Polymer Papoose

A little polymer clay Papoose Pin I sculpted a while ago.

Radiating Love

"Whatever you do, do with kindness. Whatever you say, say with kindness. Wherever you go, radiate with kindness." --Jonathan Lockwood Huie A radiating design. Beautiful. I made a two part silicone mold of the colander and made the polymer clay heart yesterday. Today's pin was made by pressing polymer clay into the bottom of the colander. Since I used the colander to press the polymer clay into for the second pin, I will have to "dedicate" this old colander specifically for polymer clay. I will use a tin snips to cut it into sections.

Reflection

The world is a looking glass and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. William Makepeace Thackeray

Quilted In Clay

I spent a wonderful day at the Quilt Show with my friend and polymer clay artist Jodie Lawrosky. We went specifically to see Jennifer Patterson of Quilted in Clay (click HERE). The weather was beautiful, it wasn't too crowded and the show was great. Jennifer Patterson (left) and Jodie Lawrosky (middle). Jennifer's bright and cheery booth consists of louvered panels covered with the most spectacular polymer clay jewelry beautifully arranged. When we arrived at the show, we headed straight for Jennifer's booth only to find her busy creating more pieces for her new "Flower" line in her RV. She was gracious enough to take a break to come visit with us. Talk about an inspirational artist and business woman. Jennifer's website has an interesting page explaining her process in creating her polymer clay cane pieces. You can find it HERE. Enjoy.

Polymer Faux Leather Cuff

This was my third submission to IPCA's 2011 Progress and Possibilities (click HERE). I had researched armor and learned that most early armor ended at the elbow, so some type of wrist guard was necessary. I was inspired by this, and as a result, yesterday's post of the Contemporary Wrist Armor and today's piece "Modern Wrist Guard" were my polymer clay interpretations.

Contemporary Polymer Wrist Armor

A dramatically over-sized cuff was my second submission to IPCA's Progress and Possibilities (third, and last-tomorrow). My central theme for all three pieces was "Protection". The top photo was the piece submitted. When it didn't win, I played around with it a little more and added some crystals and a "brass" highlight. I think I still may add some lacing to the underside.

Polymer Chinese Fingernail Guards

This was one of my submissions to IPCA's Progress and Possibilities this year. In dynastic China, the upper class people grew long fingernails in order to distinguish themselves from the laborers. Manual labor was virtually impossible with excessively long fingernails, so long nails or just long pinky nails separated the working class from the aristocracy. This type of fingernail protector or guard ensured their nails would not get damaged. I loved how the fingernail guards came out, but they didn't photograph well. So I sculpted a strange looking textured hand to display them. A very unusual little sculpture indeed.

Polymer Fold-Over

Kind of like a "clip"; it has enough flex to open to fit over a beaded rope or large neck piece and then closes, securing it on the rope. Experimenting.