Polyform Products decides to keep zinc yellow and cobalt blue

After much disappointment and uproar amongst the polymer clay community, Polyform Products has issued a statement on their Facebook page (on page 5 of comments):

Polyform has reviewed all of your heartfelt comments in reference to Premo Cobalt Blue and Premo Zinc Yellow. In response to your needs we are going to find a way to keep these colors available for you. We will work with distributors and will post the information as soon as we finalize the details.

To answer some of your other concerns:
Frost has been renamed White Translucent in order to clarify it’s color to new users. The color has not changed.

Copper has changed, there will be a color recipe to create the older version of this color. The new Copper color is closer to the color of a new copper penny.

The fluorescent colors have been discontinued. Two new colors, Wasabi and Candy Pink, are quite bright and sure to make a “color pop” in your creations.

The recipes for discontinued colors, with the exception of the fluorescent colors, will be available. Many of the recipes use new colors so releasing the formulas now will not help you. We’ll release the formulas on January 3rd when the new colors are going to be available to ship.

We are really excited about our new line of Premo Accents, Premo and Sculpey III, as we’re sure you will be. Designers who have already used these colors are singing their praises. They’re on trend, as well as colors designers have requested.

Your comments were heard, your loyalty appreciated. 

Hooray for everyone who took a part in this issue.  It's great to know that collectively, we can make a difference!  A big thank you to Polyform for listening to the clayers!!

New and Discontinued Colors from Polyform

(Note: This blog post is meant to be informative on the issue at hand, and reflects the opinions of the blog mistress, not of the PPPCG)

Carol Simmons' pendants made with colors mixed with Zinc Yellow and Cobalt Blue. Thanks to Lindly Haunani for posting this on her site.

 

There has been a LOT of buzz on the internet regarding Polyform's decision to discontinue the primary colors of Zinc Yellow and Cobalt Blue.  According to Polyform, they will have recipes for many of the discontinued colors...but I think we will have to wait and see about that.  For those who have done color scales/mixing using books such as "Polymer Clay Color Inspirations," and incorporated these colors in their palette, this is a serious blow.


Here are some links with information and comments on the issue:

Carol Simmons Designs: Say It Isn't So

Polyform Products (Facebook Page): New Colors! (and note: discontinued ones!)

Lindly Haunani: Not So Colorful Changes

Crafty Goat's Notes: New (and Discontinued!) Premo Colors Announced

Tonja's Treasures: Polyform Follow Up: The Upset Continues

Polymer Clay Central Forums: Post Our Opinions on Premo Color Changes
Polymer Clay Central Forums: Premo Rant - Colors Discontinued in 2011

Polyform has descriptions of their new colors (and lists of discontinued ones) on the Facebook link above (the 2nd link).  Here is what they posted:

We are bursting with excitement – new colors with endless possibilities are just around the corner. It’s an unbelievable line-up with colors you requested. Have you ever imagined . . .
• Peacock Pearl –eye-catching in lustrous, confident extravagance
• Magenta Pearl – Glowing romance translated into art
• Sunshine – innocence as sweet as a day running through the sprinkler
• Navy – shades of royalty, commanding an audience
• Pomegranate – juicy, rich and irresistible on the tip of the tongue
• Denim – your favorite pair still fit, go ahead, try them on
• Bronze – statuesque brilliance glimmering in view
• Antique Gold – The classics are hard to ignore
• Bright Green Pearl – dew kissed spring grass glistening in the morning sun
These are only a few of the fabulous line-up of new premo! colors.

Watch for our 2011 New Line of premo! Accents
• Magenta Pearl • Purple Pearl
• Bright Green Pearl • Peacock Pearl
• Translucent Blue • Translucent Red
• Translucent Yellow • Translucent Yellow
• Translucent Green • Blue Glitter
• Red glitter • Frost White Glitter
• 18K Gold • Copper – updated color
• Antique Gold • Bronze
• Blue Granite • White Granite
• Gray Granite • White Translucent – replaces Frost

New 2011 premo! Colors
• Denim • Spanish Olive
• Navy Blue • Blush
• Wasabi • Pomegranate
• Candy Pink • Sunshine
• Rhino Gray

The following [Premo] colors are discontinued: Red Pearl, Green Pearl, Cobalt Blue, Sea Green, Copper, Zinc Yellow, Frost, Fluorescent Green, Fluorescent Yellow, Fluorescent Red and Glow-In-The-Dark – We’ll have recipes for most on our website.

Here’s the buzz about new Sculpey colors – fresh and trendy, always a crowd pleaser –

New for 2011 Sculpey III colors
• Pewter • Jewelry Gold
• Copper • Suede Brown
• Fuchsia Pearl • Glow-In-The-Dark
• Plum • Deep Red Pearl
• Candy Pink • Sky Blue
• Lemonade

The following [Sculpey] colors are discontinued: Lt. Pink Pearl, Vanilla Crème, Pale Pistachio, Sunshine, Pottery, Stonewash, Tomato Red, Sunset, Ivory, Atomic Orange and Lemon. We’ll have recipes for most on our website. 

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It will be interesting to see just how many recipes they actually have for those discontinued colors, and how close they are to those colors.  But as many have stated in forums and blog posts and comments, you cannot mix a primary, such as zinc yellow or cobalt blue, so don't get your hopes up on seeing recipes for those.  

I'm sure many are curious about the new colors coming out, and time will tell if those will be lasting or just another trend.   I can't imagine going into a craft store looking for that new color that looks like "innocence as sweet as a day running through the sprinkler."  Seriously? 

Gingerbread Cookie Ornaments by artbylilin

Gingerbread Cookies Ornaments, originally uploaded by artbylilin.

Need some holiday inspiration? Check out these crazy cute clay gingerbread ornaments from Flickr user, artbylilin. I just love the subtle texture on the "cookies" and how she makes extruded clay look like icing. She also shows how you can take a simple form (the gingerbread man) and create many different variations of it.

Start digging out those cookie cutters you never use in the kitchen and start utilizing them in your crafts!

Kokeshi Dolls by sämyii

kokeshi dolls, originally uploaded by ::sämyii::.

Here is another burst of color for you on this Friday!

Sämyii, from Macerata, Italy, makes some of the cutest things. These colorful kokeshi dolls with their somewhat rigid, polymer clay hair toppers just tickle me pink! I love them.

Made with a wooden base, she bakes on the clay "hair," wraps around fabric for the clothing, and paints on facial features. So simple, yet so fantastic! Who says polymer clay has to be difficult?

Check out her Flickr site for more pics and other handmade items, as well as her Etsy shop!

Tammy Durham - A color and texture wonderland

Tammy Durham Polymer clay art inspired by Gustav Klimt, originally uploaded by Tammy Durham.

One of the things I love about Tammy Durham's work is her bold use of color and texture. This Colorado based artist/illustrator and painter found polymer clay in recent years, and it is evident that she enjoys the medium. Her recent work, inspired by Gustav Klimt, is like looking into a candy store. I can't help but smile and want to savor every little piece!

Tammy has found traveling a source of inspiration and food for the creative soul. Among the many places she has visited are Spain, Madrid, Italy, Montreal, and Aruba, and she has even recently resided in the South of France! What a lucky woman.

If you would like to travel through Tammy's artwork, you may do so through her website, www.TammyDurham.com, or through Flickr.

Polymer clay tissue box - by Jen Dott

I love seeing new, unusual, and creative ways to use polymer clay.  This artist, Jen Dott, had me laughing! Who nose (excuse the pun) what she'll do next!!

Get ready for December's Guild Meeting!

Here are some of the happenings for December 12th:

1.  Ornament Swap:  If you are interested, please email Barb at flyinbarb (at) aol (dot) com.  This is the correct email address (no "g" in it).  Participants will make 11 ornaments, one of which will be donated to the guild's silent auction.  You will get back 10 different ornaments from other participants.

Ornaments should be made of polymer clay but can be embellished with anything you wish. Include a hook or some way of hanging the ornament and attach your name to the ornament.

Please contact Barb if you would like to participate but can't make it to the meeting. Arrangements can be made for you to mail your ornaments to her.

2.  Silent Auction:  Bring your old polymer clay, tools, supplies, books, and even polymer clay items to donate to the silent auction. All proceeds go back to the guild.

3.  POTLUCK:  We are having a bring-your-favorite-dish potluck.  I heard something, I think from Kaye, that there can never be too many desserts!  Please remember to bring serving utensils if your dish requires it.

See you then! 

November Demo by Peggy Davis - Spirit Doll Pins

At our November meeting, Peggy Davis showed us how to make Spirit Doll Pins.  She cuts out the shapes and imprints texture on them using texture plates or other textured items, and dusts them with various Pearl-ex colors.  Kato liquid polyclay is used sparingly to attach small pieces of clay to the main piece.  A few holes are added around the sides for embellishments post-baking.  Don't forget to add some seed beads for eyes! 

When the pieces are done baking and are cool, Peggy adds beads, charms, and different types of yarns (fun furs, eyelash yarns, etc.) for hair or to just give your Spirit Doll a really wild look!  The possibilities are endless.  You can easily make these into ornaments, gift tags, or whatever your heart desires.

Thank you, Peggy, for showing us this wonderful project!

Hello from your new Blog Mistress!

Hi everyone!

My name is Jainnie and I am your new Blog Mistress for PolyTalk.  I kind of love that title, "Blog Mistress."  It makes me think of pirates for some reason...like, "There's me olde blog mistress! Bloggin' about clay and other nonsense!"

I've done polymer clay for quite awhile.  Recently I found a piece that was dated "2002," so I think it's safe to say I've been working with clay off and on over 10 years.  I love making cute things, unusual things, textured things, and beautiful things.  There are still lots of techniques I'd love to learn.  Like a lot of crafters, I have a TON of craft supplies.

I'm hoping to feature guild members from time to time, and showcase their work.  If you have pics of your polymer clay items, please send them to me.  Or, you can bring them to a guild meeting and I will take pics of them with my nifty, handy digital SLR camera.

Please make sure to check out our PPPCG Facebook Group.  What's cool about that is it's a way for guild members to stay connected between meetings.  You can post comments, questions, links, and photos, and there is even a chat feature, if you like to do that.  I was telling those who haven't plunged into Facebook that you have the option of how involved you want to be, so really, it's not scary at all.  Technology can be a good thing! 

Here are some pics (not the best, most were taken quite awhile back!) of a small sampling of my work over the years:

Little Bear

Fan Pendant with stamped images and texture

Pendant, based upon Desiree McCrorey's Moss Agate Bead tutorial

Polymer Clay Hair Clips - The one in the middle is made with a rubber stamp and texture, the bottom one I made with my own texture plate made out of dried alphabet pasta

"Cloisonné" Pendant - stamped, then filled in with tinted liquid clay

Morning Glory Pendant with canework

Little Geisha girl pins

Ramen Noodle Bowl pins - it's tricky making the noodles.  You need a color that looks right and you also have to cut the noodles so they have straight sides.  If you just roll them out, they tend to look like spaghetti or worse yet, worms!

"Gecko-lele" - I loved geckos and anoles when I was in Hawaii.  They were everywhere.  I also learned to play the ukulele.  Thus, "Gecko-lele" was born.  He was a small guy and I was afraid he'd burn in the oven when firing, so he stayed in the raw state.  The ukulele is now partly broken off.  I guess there will be another one sometime!