Signs of Spring

It is April outside and you cannot deny it. Yes, it may still be a bit cold in some countries but a few signs of spring are here! Nature knows better, and in spite of cold temperatures, in some places cherry blossoms are doing their job! Yes, blossoming they are! This made me think and got me inspired and I decided to take a look at what cherry blossom and Sakura inspirations the World Wide Web can offer :) And here it is! Pink and Fragrant!

Thank you very much for your attention!

Lots of love,

Aniko

Image Credits: (1) BeadsCraftz (2)Orly Fuchs Galchen (3) Kim Detmers (4) Jane Perala (5) BakeryDelights on Etsy (6) Tami Shvat (7) MollyDiBi (8) K.Hernandez (9) Sue Rout (MyWillies) (10) Afsaneh Tajvidi (JooJoo) (11) Sakurasnow (12) Alisa Maskaeva (13) Dorothy Taylor (14) Shuveih on Etsy (15) theshagbag on Etsy (16) Tooaquarius on Etsy (17) Lagoa Design Studio (18) Afsaneh Tajvidi (JooJoo). 

Possibilities Pop With Prints



Image Credit: OneKingsLane.com

[Posted by Jeannie Havel]

Combining prints can be tricky, so why fret? Look to catalogs and interior design websites to see what the professionals are doing. For example, the combination of green prints in this tableau from One Kings Lane is a textural vision just asking to be stylized in polymer clay. Change the colors and mix up patterns to discover a new range of visual interest.

Enchanted Flowers

Miss Moss Miniature Exotic Flower Terrariums are the transport to fairy forests and lands beyond an imaginary horizon. Each is a one-of-a-kind assemblage of air-dry clay skillfully hand-sculpted and arranged in repurposed glass. Preserved moss provides the bed while handmade mushrooms and miscellaneous flora supply the accents. 

What inspires you? We'd like to know. Send us a photo and tell us where you get your clay inspiration. You could be featured on our blog. inspiration@pcpolyzine.com

Image Credits: Miss Moss Miniature Exotic Flower Terrariums

[Posted by Jeannie Havel]

Inspired means imbued with the spirit to do something; influenced. Creativity is making it your own.

A pleasant scroll down the Facebook page of Steven Ford and David Forlano leads to a veritable garden of their signature O'Keeffe pins. Polymer clay, sterling silver, and a remarkable sense of color combine to make flowers that appear both delicate and strong. Using texture and depth, Ford and Forlano live up to their legend as masters of polymer clay art by drawing us deeper and deeper into the designs with the anticipation of a surprise in the center.

I couldn't help noticing the similarities when I strolled the images of Ranunculus on Pinterest. Yet, the differences strike me as a prime example of what it means to be inspired. Georgia O'Keeffe might have had Ranunculus in mind as her inspiration, and in turn, Steven and David were inspired by O'Keeffe's design. I would rather believe that Mother Nature had O'Keeffe, Ford and Forlano as her inspiration.

Photo Credits: Ford and Forlano O'Keefe pin - Michele Tuegel Contemporary. Pink Ranunculus - Painted Tulip Vermont.

[Posted by Jeannie Havel]

1000 Facebook Likes

Dear Fans and Followers -

Today we celebrate 1,000 Likes on our Facebook page and it is all because of you!! We appreciate each and every one of you for your loyalty and support over the past 13 years. We hope you will continue to visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Thanks from Jeannie, Aniko and the entire Team at pcPolyzine.

PS - We LIKE you, too!!!

The Intriguing Appeal of Kashmiri Beads

These genuine Kashmiri beads from India are formed from a unique type of polymer clay made of marble powder that is incorporated with resin
and a hardener.

The beads are then hand-decorated using a variety of accessories from tiny mirrors and chips of faceted glass to rhinestones, seed beads, and small metal components. By mixing and matching embellishments, each bead seems to take on individual characteristics according to the whim of the artist.

As I look through the bits and pieces of my broken jewelry collection, I allow myself to imagine transforming what was once scraps into newly exotic treasures. The range of possibilities seems almost endless. Then again, with so many designs available through online merchants, I could be inspired to spend a day bead shopping.

Photo credit: Kashmiri beads from Bead 'n Shop

[Posted by Jeannie Havel]

Easter Carouselle

Hello my sweet honey bunnies!

Yes, today I am allowed to call you this because it's EASTER! Yay! I decided to take a look at many polymer clay eggs online and best examples were collected into my lovely and cute Easter Egg Carousel!
Enjoy and make some eggs!
Aniko xxxx

Photo Credits: (Metallic) Christina A Kapono; (Rooster) Lilian Huang; (Swirly) Christina A Kapono; (Floral) Signiira; (Candy Cane) Liz Smith; (Dragon) Christina A Kapono; (Steampunk) Tim Holtz; (Organic) Kael Mijoy; (Baroque) Sarajane Helm; (Rainbow) by Creative Treasures; (Center) klio

Inspiration from the Achaemenid Empire (and Pottery Barn)

When I see these kilim covered footstools in the Pottery Barn catalog, I imagine a collection of tiny trinket boxes made from polymer clay. The examples you see here are authentic hand-woven kilims 40 to 100 years old. The boldly colored dynamic patterns are each uniquely created with no two being exactly alike. With polymer clay, we can imitate the colors and patterns as shown or put our own individual spin on the designs. Imagine a weekend of combining geometric lines of color into miniature works of Turkish art to give as gifts or use to store your personal treasures.

Authentic Turkish Kilim Covered Footstools
Photo Credit: Pottery Barn online March 2013

[Posted by Jeannie Havel]

Be My Clay Valentine!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Make sure you spend this day with those you love! No matter if it's a fiancé or your little hamster! Everyone deserves to love and to be loved :)

I would like to treat you with a little inspirational pudding of Polymer Clay Hearts. Yes, they do look like Marzipan cakes a bit, right?

CLICK TO ZOOM!
xxx

Photo Credits: (1) pcPolyzine.com (2) Sagit Bramly Levi (3) Wicked Gems (4) graphixoutpost  (5) Yana Mostizky (6) R. I. Axelrod (7) Ginger Easterling (8) Jeannie Dukic (9) Artsista Fotini (10) Lynn Reno (Desert Rubble)

Let's Go Fishing!

This week I am all crazy about my aquarium and I am looking and looking for fishes, information about taking care of them, dreaming of my summer holidays by the sea, and all this made me think of polymer clay again. Not like I don't think about it on a daily basis anyway, but today it was different. I went today to the online ocean of polymer clay fish on my make-believe boat and put my creative echolot into the waters of many clay artists :) Here is what I caught!

I also realised that I've never made a fish from clay! How weird is that knowing that my father is a fisherman!

Photo Credits: 1 - Liat R 2- Adrienne Lindsey 3- Clay figurine from Amazon.com 4 - Denise Graham 5 - Christina A Kapono 6 - Liat R 7 - Desert Rubble 8 - Susan Lomuto 9 - Liat R 10 - Pamela Carman 11 - Joanie Croyder 12 - FourWinds Jewelry 13 - Christina A Kapono 14 - Unknown artist  15 - Sue Corrie

Organic Spring

Let's go organic this Spring, shall we?
I am looking for all possible and impossible ways to make myself and all of you inspired! It is hard when all I see is grey. This is why I am so grateful to have the Internet and have access to all the places on the Planet with just a click of a button. Here are my little research results for organic coral shapes. Enjoy and stay inspired.. and perhaps make something ^^

Photo Credits: (1) HunkiiDorii - Dori Janki (2) Diane Lublinski (3) Anne Goldman (4) Cocoa Vintage (5) Mandarin Moon (6) Katsumata Chieko (7) Loeke Pam (8) JoAnn Crafts.com (9) Artist Unknown (10) unikatissima (11) Wendy Wallin Malinow (12) Marlene Brady (13) Barbara Stutman

Spring Emeralds

Hello everyone and welcome to Spring!
Yes, maybe it is still cold and some parts of our Planet are definitely covered in snow, but as artists we should never pay attention to appearance of surfaces when looking for deep spiritual inspiration.
So today I want to present you with one of the most beautiful and precious stones - Emerald.
It's color is definitely very unique and there are only a few other elements on this planet that are naturally the same color.
I did a little research and found these Spring Emerald creations from polymer clay by various artists.
Emerald is the Pantone Color of the Year so make sure you own at least one Emerald, be it crystal or clay.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INSPIRATION

Photo Credits: (1) DivaDesigns1 (2) Jennifer Slattery (3) Rozibuz (4) Katy Szczerbaty (5) Anna Ingegerd Fjellborg
(6) Makayla Jennings (7) Knightwork Studio (8) Georgia Turin (9) Joann K Barrack (10) Design Theory (11) Dawn Schiller (12)okajewelry (13) Mandarin Moon  (14) Fulgorine (15) Biesge (16) Luiza Dragonescu (17) SandrArt

Inspiration From Nature



This microscopic view of a Basswood Stem by National Geographic photographer Greg Dale inspires me to make colorful, organic clay canes, perhaps with alcohol inks.

[Posted by Jeannie Havel]



Cozy Woolies

Recently, I was browsing through some cool ideas for something I never tried before and I found out that you can knit from polymer clay! I know it could be nothing special for some of you advanced polymer clay knitters, but I got so surprised that I decided to share this amazing option with you. Hope it will inspire you a lot. I know, winter season is almost over, but in some countries it will be cold and snowy for another 2 months or more, so it's not too late to create some polymer clay cozies and to warm up your day with winter designs. And believe me, next winter is not as far away as it seems :) Time flies!

Photo Credits: (1) Claire Wallis (2) IrenkaR (3) Claire Wallis (4) Enchantress (5) Claire Wallis (6) Cofanetto (7) .Ines (8) Cynthia Tinapple (9) Claire Wallis

Pasta Machine Storage Solution

It's exciting to learn that Sterilite Corporation is still making two particular storage containers that seem specially designed for polyclayers. The small size ShowOffs™ container easily holds a pasta maker--including handle, clamp, and noodle attachment; and the next size up let's you add your motor, as well. Here are some photos from 2004 of the smaller container with one of my pasta makers resting in it quite comfortably. The newer model is a lovely green.

Best price we found is a 6-pk for $20.45 at www.plumbersurplus.com. 

Sterilite products are made in the USA.

[Posted by Jeannie Havel]

Yayoi Kusama Connects the Dots

Inspiration attaches itself to feelings of joy and exhilaration. Just as easily it finds dark passages to draw us in for whispers and secrets. Look down the rabbit hole of Yayoi Kusama and  you will find inspiration wrapped in an enigma. Does art deepen her suffering or does suffering embroider her art? Polka dots are the tip of her essence. Her soul is filled with caves, each hiding a magical facet created over eight decades. She is a suspense novel sure to stir your muse in mysterious ways.


[Posted by Jeannie Havel]

Polymer Clay Inspiration From Flea Market Finds

The fabulous Ann Tuominen collected crocheted pot holders from flea markets in her native Finland for a 2012 exhibit at the Nordic Watercolor Museum in Sweden. Can you see the polymer clay cane possibilities in her work? 

It's Saturday, treat yourself to more of Anu's art on her website: www.anutuominen.fi/.

[Posted by Jeannie Havel]

Looks as if Hellboy is Getting in on the Extruder Disk Craze

Just one more reason to love this guy!!

[Posted by Jeannie Havel]

Polymer Clay Inspiration from Ceramic Wall Pieces

The intricate designs on each element of Kelly Jean Ohl's ceramic wall pieces are individually handcarved and can be grouped to make stunning triptychs. Can you imagine similar designs made smaller in polymer clay?

[Posted by Jeannie Havel]

Mosaic Cane Nail Art

We are thrilled to see the Mosaic Cane as nail art. Unfortunately, we don't know whom to thank. Do you?


Watch Aniko's video tutorial on our YouTube channel and learn to make a Mosaic Cane. What will you cover with it?


[Posted by Jeannie Havel]