Inspiration of the Creepy-Crawly Kind

Dactylotum bicolor-New Mexico Grasshopper

Entomology (from Greek ἔντομος, entomos, "that which is cut in pieces or engraved/ segmented", hence "insect"; and -λογία, -logia) is the scientific study of insects. Polyclay-ology ("that which is cut in pieces or engraved/ segmented, molded, formed, sculpted, carved, shaped," hence "enjoyable"; and - activity) the enjoyment of working with a pliable modeling substance to create shapes of infinite variety.
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Bugs and polymer clay. It doesn't get much better than that. If you are not inherently gifted at making polymer clay insects such as those by Joyce Fritz Studio, let us suggest you take inspiration from nature's studio. Perhaps New Mexico Grasshoppers (pictured) will spark your creative entomological mojo to combine a colorful palette into something that bugs you...in a good way.

Note: Images from Joyce Fritz Studio are copyright protected and are not available for blog posting. Please be sure to visit Joyce Fritz Studio to see her remarkable "Yipes!" collection of polymer clay insects. Select the "Process" link on her website for insight into her method of manipulating clay that is not unlike that of most polyclayers. She brings the art to a new level.

P.S. Entomology definition officially from Merriam-Webster online. Polyclay-ology definition, not so much.

Tile Inspiration

If you are like me, when you look at these Mexican Talavera tiles, you see patterns for polymer clay canes.

While daunting because of the intricacy of the patterns, I find these tiles intriguing and would like to create similar patterns in polymer clay. Are you intrigued, too?

Send us photos of your experiments. We would love to see your work. 

Photo credit: Mexican-Tile.net

The Body as Canvas

While it is not suggested to cover your body (or anyone else's) with polymer clay, it would be difficult not to see the possibilities inspired by the Body Painting of Trina Merry. The color palette is evocative of flower canes by our own Marcia Tzigelnik, of Israel, trading on Etsy as marsdesign; and Ivy Niles of Omaha, Nebraska, known on Etsy as ikandiclay.

Body Art by Trina Merry. Polymer clay canes by Ivy Niles on Etsy as ikandiclay.

Body Art by Trina Merry. Polymer clay canes by Marcia Tzigelnik on Etsy as marsdesign.

(Photos are the property of their individual owners. No copyright infringement is intended.)

Really Easy DIY Color Matching System

Every day in my Inbox there is a lovely (and convenient) array of color chips from DesignSeeds.com. But what if I, say, want to make a special polymer clay gift for my sister to match her Laura Ashley Bramble comforter and bed linens? Ask Sherwin-Williams!! Their online "ChipIt" color matching tool lets me turn any image into a vibrant color palette. There are two palette options available for each image accessed by just pressing a button and I can re-order the ten color chips it gives me to create a truly personalized palette. Let me show you how it works.

First, I went to the Sherwin-Williams website http://letschipit.com. I watched the demo - and you should, too. There is a neat trick. Next, I scanned a Bramble pillow sham. Then, I followed the directions to upload the image, clicked on one button, and voila there was my beautiful color palette. Just by clicking the "Edit Colors" tab, five more selections popped up. I added them to the image below to show you, even though when you do it yourself, it will look slightly different because of how I save files on my computer.

OK, so it worked on a piece of scanned fabric. What about a regular photo? I tried it on one of the images Aniko sent from Malta. Same results. Perfect. Look!!

Is this cool or what? Now, aren't you glad it's the weekend so you can go and play?

(Bramble by Laura Ashley. Blue Lagoon by Aniko Kolesnikova)

Announcing Sculpey Soufflé

It's always exciting to announce new products and today it's Sculpey Soufflé from Polyform. This innovative new clay is reportedly lightweight with a beautiful suede finish when baked. According to Polyform, Sculpey Soufflé has the strength and ability to hold detail making it perfect for advanced techniques like Mokume Gane, bargello, and caning. The clay is strong and self supporting. This means you can make larger pieces without worrying about cracking. Sculpey Soufflé comes in 22 colors that are right on trend for all the jewelry and home décor projects you can imagine. Here is a handy color chart. Click on the image for a larger size.

Photo Credit: Polyform Products revised by pcPolyzine.com

Happy Belated National Scrapbooking Day!!

Photo Credit: Patti Stoll published July 2005 in pcPolyzine.com

Scrapbooking and polymer clay is a match made in craft heaven. Polymer clay's versatility allows us to make our own scrapbook elements to enhance the pages we create. We can achieve just the right colors and elements to match our photos and memories, giving us an unlimited range of creativity at a cost that doesn't break our crafting banks.

So, in honor of National Scrapbooking Day (May 3rd) I searched the pcPolyzine Archives for an article to celebrate. In addition to our resident Queen of Scrapbooking, Linda Hess, whose creative pages have appeared in past posts, this week we feature Embellishment's by Patti (Kutz Stoll) from July 2005. Although Patti's business has moved into a different phase and she no longer offers customized handmade scrapbooking elements, her approach provides enormous inspiration and highlights what we can do to make our own scrapbooks (and handmade cards, collages, and altered books) truly one of a kind. Patti customized scrapbook elements that included color-coordinated theme kits and sometimes used materials collected from famous places - red dirt from Sedona, Arizona, for example mixed into translucent clay - to add a natural element with imitative techniques, carving, and antiquing.

We hope reading about Patti's former business venture will inspire you to draw on your own polymer clay abilities to create distinctive scrapbook elements that demonstrate your personal polymer style.

Cosmic Inspiration

Photo Credit: Renzo Pastorelli

Modern visual artist Renzo Pastorelli says his visions of universal geometrical shapes show "historical evolution between civilizations and the beginning of the Cosmos." A native of Lima, Peru, Pastorelli's style could be created in polymer clay as well as the materials he uses in his relief paintings. His inspiration is enhanced by the power of crystals and the spiritual practice of Reiki. An accomplished website designer, Pastorelli exhibits his art through the Creative South America Network, an initiative of PUMACreative.

To our subscribers, friends, and followers: We love you!!

Spring Bling

Photo credit: Helen Hughes on pcPolyzine.com June 2001.

These adorable birdhouse earrings by Helen Hughes appeared in the June 2001 issue of pcPolyzine.com. The design is timeless and perfect for an easy project to brighten any Spring day. Slip a pair into a plastic egg and tuck in an Easter basket. Or add to a card in a Passover gift basket. But don't wait for a holiday to make a pair for yourself. Happy Spring!!

Breathtaking Inspiration From Nature

Photo credit: LaBioGuía

This beauty deserves to be immortalized in polymer clay. It is called a bog-star. 

According to the USDA website (and Wikipedia), it is officially the genus Parnassia, also known as Grass of Parnassus. The plants are in the family Celastraceae.

The image is from a post on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LaBioGuía. Click on it to get the most detail if you plan to make a cane.

Nature's inspiration is bountiful.  

Bangles & Bottles

Photo credit: Erin Lightfoot.

Banish the Ides of March by focusing on patterns as your inspiration for fresh clay projects. Check out Australian designer Erin Lightfoot's jazzy bangles and bottles inspired by Edwardian tile patterns. 

http://www.erinlightfoot.com

Balinese Filigree With A Twist

Photo credit: Jael Thorp.

Veteran polymer clay artist, Jael Thorp, takes the Balinese Filigree technique to a new and exotic direction with the addition of sculpted bits and flower canes. The colors are stunning and her assembly is masterfully combined. Visit Jael's blog for more mouthwatering designs: http://jaelsjewels.blogspot.com/.

Be Our Valentine

Photo credits: Elissa Powell, www.pcPolyzine.com

It just wouldn't be Valentine's Day without a tutorial from the pcPolyzine archives by our official "Queen of Hearts," Elissa Powell. From November 2001, here is Elissa's E-Z Hearts Lesson for clay heart-making without heart-breaking.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!

Busy Day at pcPolyzine World Headquarters

There are three new PDF files available on the pcPolyzine website:

• Polymer Clay Library: approximately 150 books with author's name. There are checkboxes so you can keep track of your own collection.
• pcPolyzine Tutorials Archive: alphabetized list of all pcPolyzine tutorials with author's name and links.
• pcPolyzine Tutorials Archive: alphabetized list of all pcPolyzine tutorials by author's first name.

I hope this helps you find our tutorials more easily. The PDF files may be printed and shared at guild meetings or with your friends.

Inspiration from the Rock Collection

Photo Credits: American Museum of Natural History, NY, USA

The group members over at Facebook - 52 Weekly Cane Projects - are busy making bullseye, lace, retro, and mosaic canes. I even saw a few Chrysanthemum canes which reminds me of this glorious image of Azurite and Malachite from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. I found it on the Flickr page of "listentoreason."

Again, nature provides endless examples of artistic beauty to delight and inspire us. 

What inspires you?

A Love/Hate Relationship With Nature

California Red-sided Garter Snake Photo by vabbly

Leave it to the natural world to challenge us, as artists and crafters, to deny the beauty of these snakes. Even if you have a morbid fear of them try to look past what scares you and see their beautiful colors and designs. Or perhaps you have no fear and see snakes as mysterious creatures, dazzling and exotic. The juxtaposition of something that inspires strong emotions with one whose body is rich with myriad shades of brilliant color invites us to look at things from a standpoint different from our norm.

This collection of images, many of which are pinned to Daniel Carniglia's Pinterest board, holds a surprising number of design possibilities. Gaze at the colors and shapes and translate the images into extruded elements to make polymer clay canes inspired by the natural world. 

Be brave! Look beyond emotion into the inspiration nature offers us, at no charge. While you're at it, explore the mystical beauty of Daniel's Midnight Hibiscus pillow beads on the Polyform website. They are dazzling and exotic, too.

Red-sided Garter Snakes and Green tree Python from vabbly, i.imgur.com, and gartersnake.co.uk.

Happy New Year 2014!!

Photo Credit: Twisted Papers Vintage Postcards

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year filled with peace, prosperity, and polymer clay.

We are excited to begin our 14th year! Thanks for supporting us and being the inspiration for all we do. 

With warmest regards from Aniko, Jeannie, and the entire Team at pcPolyzine.com

We love Design-Seeds.com!!

Photo Credit: Design-Seeds.com

Each day the color wizards at Design Seeds send us two palettes drawn from real life. One of today's palettes, Cacti Color, struck me with its mixture of bold yet mellow tones of the desert. If you enjoy art of the Southwest, drink in the beauty of this color array.


PS - You can sign up for free emails at www.design-seeds.com.

Aniko and Jeannie (and Milo) wish you a Merry Christmas!
Remember to leave milk and cookies for Santa and some carrots for the reindeer.

Photo Credits: Twisted Papers Vintage Christmas Collection.

Rob Driscoll, a clever magician also known as Robbie the Wizard, has been busy the past year making a unique balloon model each day. The Portsmouth, Hampshire visual artist also makes popular cartoon figures such as SpongeBob and Sonic the Hedgehog which he gives to children at his shows. Click the Christmas Elf link to view more of his balloon creations. 

A quick search on Etsy and Pinterest reveals a sizable community of polymer clay balloon art. Most popular is a dog. A red dog. A red dog used as a charm for phones, etc. I was able to find a rainbow group of dogs, a single purple dog, along with an imaginative balloon dragon. All made of polymer clay and most available on Etsy. Or, maybe you will be inspired to create your own fantastical balloon creatures.

Photo Credits: Christmas Elf, Rob Driscoll (CATERS); Balloon Animals, (1) laughingsquid.com (2) katkraftukon on Etsy (3) PaperPastels on YouTube (4) minniekitchen.com (5) upcyclepatch on Etsy