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!

Lisa Pavelka in Colorado

Just found out she will be at Bead It in Englewood!
This weekend October 9th and 10th
Check out the details here:
Bead It