Letter from the Editor: February 2020

The Tallahassee Polymer Clay Art Guild's 2020 Chilly Clay Polymer Clay Retreat was the first weekend in February and pcPolyzine was there!

Little Koalas Make a Big Difference

This little boy is making a big difference— and he's useing polymer clay to do it!

Featured Artist: February 2020

Our next Featured Artist of 2020 is Florida-based artist Sophie Dufort!

Letter from the Editor: January 2020

As I reflect on 2019, I realize a lot happened for pcPolyzine.

Featured Artist: January 2020

The new year brings new Featured Artists to pcPolyzine. Our first Featured Artist of 2020 is the talented Ludmila Bakulina! 

Pantone 2020 Color of the Year

2020 has arrived which means it’s time to explore Pantone’s Color of the Year—Classic Blue! 

Letter from the Editor: Fall 2019

Since launching the re-designed site, things have been pretty busy. When I set out to accomplish the revitalization of pcPolyzine, I knew there would be some things that I just couldn’t get done in time for the July release date. So I’ve spent the past few months trying to reach goals to make pcPolyzine even better.

Featured Artist: Fall 2019

As pcPolyzine continues to revitalize, we wanted to pick up an article series that was an old favorite—the Featured Artist! For the Fall 2019 issue of pcPolyzine, we’re featuring Alabama artist, Lee Anne Jones.

Holiday Ornament Tutorial

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s never too early to start thinking about ways to decorate. These simple ornaments are both classy and easy to make. Whether you need a thoughtful gift for the office party or you're looking to create memories with the kids, these ornaments can accomplish any goal.

Letter from the Editor

When I was about six years old, my mother came back from a trip to the mid-west—what she was doing there, I don’t remember. However, while she was there, she visited a local craft store. There she was introduced to polymer clay in the form of beads. She brought some clay home for us to experiment. While we sat at the kitchen table, I listened to her talk about these amazing beads she saw and how they were made from the packs of clay that sat before me. Keep in mind, this was in the day before we had cell phones and easy ways to take pictures, so she had to explain them to me from memory. As she described all the beads she saw, I opened the packages of clay and began to knead some small pieces in my hands. I had no clue what I was doing and the only real experience I had with “clay” was Play-Doh at this point in my young life. Her stories continued to flow as I played with the clay. As the clay got softer, I would work with another color to the same consistency. By this point, she was telling me about these beautiful blue and pearl swirled beads that were separated by small gold spacer beads and were strung into a necklace. As she finished this part of her story, I remember holding up the clay I had been working on and said, “You mean like this?” She was astounded! I had been able to recreate those marbled beads she was memorized by in the store without even seeing them myself. I think it was probably that moment when her polymer clay obsession took flight.

Pantone 2019 Color of the Year

Pantone’s 2019 color of the year is Living Coral. This shade is inspired by many marine invertebrates living along the bottom of the sea and make up various reefs. Living coral is a mood-boosting color that is fresh and invigorating. 

Technique of the Month: Polymer Clay Lace

When we hear the word lace, we get a mental image of a delicate, white fabric. Many times, we find lace as an embellishment on a wedding dress or made into a doily that has been handed down from a distant relative. Traditionally, lace is made from thread or yarn, but has also been made from materials such as silk, gold, and even silver threads throughout history. Now we can add another material to that list – Polymer Clay! 

You Are Our Inspiration

Some of our best projects and tutorials come from our readers. That means you. For instance, check out this fabulous mandala tutorial from November 2001 Mandala Tutorial. Byrd Tetzlaff is the artist. She says the word "mandala" is Sanskrit for "wholeness"  or "healing circle." I, for one, could use a healing circle right about now.

Do you have a project you would like to share with our many readers and followers?

If you would like to be featured on our blog, send me a note: blog@pcPolyzine.com. 

Here's hoping we all can find wholeness and a healing circle.

Wild Life Inspiration

Photo Credits: Animal Adventure Park, Harpursville, NY.

Usually at this time of year, a certain bunny rabbit soaks up a big basket of publicity.  This year (Ha!), bunny had some fierce competition for the spotlight. One very special giraffe, April, gave birth to her new baby boy at Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, New York. If you've been following this most audacious pregnancy, the payoff came when the whole world (or at least a few million of us) watched on livestream as April delivered her Baby Boy Giraffe. It was spectacular. If you are interested in the details, Baby weighed in at 129 pounds and stood 5 feet 9 inches when he eventually found his wobbly little legs. Mother and Baby are doing well*. 

To celebrate the birth, I went to the pcPolyzine tutorial archives, and snagged our Wild Life Wine Cup Candle project. The tutorial, by Deirdre Woodward Sanders, originally appeared in the January 2002 issue. As always, the tutorial is free and you are encouraged to share the link with your clay pals.

Sorry, BunBun, better luck next year.

*Program note: Just before this blogpost was published, the official website for April the Giraffe was pulled due to April suffering a minor leg injury. According to zoo personnel and April's veterinarian, the twisted ankle is not out of the ordinary and she is expected to be just fine. In the meantime, you can watch the birth on April's YT channel YouTube video.

Happy New Year 2017

Wishing you a new year filled with peace, prosperity, and polymer clay.

Pantone 2017 Color of the Year

Greenery is a symbol of new beginnings. It's especially inspirational to me as I try, once again, to put some new life into pcPolyzine. While my physical health may not be as I would like it, I know my mental health can be a far worse malady. I am of the mind that both go hand-in-hand; what affects one affects the other, sometimes in minor tones, sometimes major.

Pantone color matching systems is always on the pulse of design in fashion, home accessories and color schemes, and jewelry. We polymer clay artists should be inspired to incorporate the color-of-the-year into our repertoire, especially if we intend to market our art. Look at it as new beginning.

Mea Culpa to the Last Drop

My sincerest apologies for posting an objection to a recent Maxwell House Coffee TV commercial. It seems I am alone in my position on the matter. A fair number of our blog followers unsubscribed. I did not mean to offend anyone - especially teachers. I do, however stand by my opinion that the commercial portrayed someone who was not monitoring the doings in the classroom, particularly a live turtle in a dump truck. And while I will agree that "people put dogs on skateboards" and such, a dog usually has the ability to jump off the board when he wants to. A turtle does not. So, back to posts about polymer clay and polymer clay only.

This post will be my last on the subject. Again, I am so sorry.

Sincerely,
Jeannie Havel

Pantone Color Trends for Spring 2016

It's time to decide which of the trending Pantone colors you will incorporate into your Spring 2016 polymer clay palette. Here are the Top 10 to get you started.

http://www.pantone.com

The Queen of Kitsch and Kitchen

Thinking back on my entire life, I cannot recall a time when I was rendered speechless. Go ahead, roll your eyes. It's just that today I stumbled upon someone who has forever changed my view of the world. I am seeing life through a lens of supersonic inspiration. It is taking my breath away. It is splendiferous.

You see, I've found a countess of cool. The queen of kitsch and kitchen. Her name is Christine McConnell. She bakes, she sews, she makes magic with Adobe® Photoshop® software, she creates objets d'art. She's half Elvira, half Stepford wife, half Dita Von Teese. One minute she's appears wholesome and the next minute wicked.

She's got a book due out next March called Deceptive Desserts: A Lady's Guide to Baking Bad!, but we will call it If She Makes it With Sugar, We Can Make it With Clay!. 

Here is a pumpkin pie she made in the style of Cinderella's carriage. Can you see it in polymer clay? Treat yourself to her website and Instagram. I believe you will find Miss Christine can be a nightmarish dream or dreamy nightmare.

Oh, and one more thing; in her spare time she dotes on her kitty cats and she makes (and models) her own underwear. Wow.

Photo credit: Christine H McConnell via Instagram.

Aromatic Inspiration From DeviantArt.com

With all the avenues one can traverse on the journey to unearth and take in massive amounts of polymer clay art, there is none quite like DeviantArt.com. Yes, there are traditional works. There are displays that are the same as those gracing the usual polyclay haunts (Etsy, Facebook, Pinterest, . . .) but many times at this social media mega site, there are surprises. Many times the display is part of the art. Take Monster Kookies for example. Here is an artist with a whimsical mind. I hope the tutorial inspires you to try scenting some of your clay creations, and the visual display tickles your fancy.

Photo Credit: Monster Kookies