Those special memories

I got a call from a family and they asked:
"We live abroad and we are coming in Hannuka for a special holiday in Israel, our daughter is celebrating her Bat-Mitzva and we are looking for an israeli handmade art work to give our guests as a souvenier, can you offer us something unique and original?"

After doing some thinking, both family and me decided on making each guest a personal customized polymer clay keychain, each will be in a different color, shape and the guest name will be embedded in the clay with a "glow in the dark" clay, this sure will make the keychain be special and unique.

I recieved each of the guest names and started working on the project, each keychain shaped as hamsa, right foot, butterfly, heart and many other shapes, in different vibrant colors and names on it. every keychain has it's own personal miniature cake or donut, to make it cheerfull and happy.

65 Keychains were made, each sweet and original.

I have many customers who are asking for a unique, handmade gift to give their friends, family, employers etc. One of my favorite customers asked for a special personalized gift for Rosh Hashana holiday dinner, she wanted to put a gift on the guests plate to let them know where they sit and also as a special gift from her - isn't that sweet?

In Israel it's a common custom to give a small gift to a guest in a big event such as wedding, Brit, Bat/Bar Mitzva, to Employees on holidays, pupils finishing their last year in school or even kindergarten kids which are one step away from the 1st grade.This small gift makes the difference and the guests feel like the host cares and appreciete their effort to come to his event, they know they can always look at that special handmade gift and remember that great celebration.

“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in giving creates love.”

Lao Tzu

Let's give our beloved.

Polymeri Online 16.12.09

Polymeri Online is today instead of tomorrow. Tomorrow i am taking a day off to hang out with family on Hannuka holiday, we are going to see the "Bodies" exhibition which is in Israel too. I've seen it in New-York but my kids didn't yet, i'm sure this will be a real experience for them.

Deco4bee (Rivka) from Israel always had her unique style of making polymer clay work. Look at her filigree dreidels and other designs.
http://picasaweb.google.com/deco4bee
http://picasaweb.google.com/deco4bee/Judaica#

Olga Petrova, my friend from polymer play days in England has posted some cool youtube movies for making her unique petals and flowers. so colorful! i also got a pin from her as a gift and i am enjoying every minute wearing it.
http://www.youtube.com/user/poccomaxa#p/u/3/K-gyQSz0GsU
http://gulogulo.livejournal.com/39458.html
http://poccomaxa.blogspot.com/

Tania Podoleanu, another dear friend from Israel has came up with a great idea for making bracelets beads with no holes - she simply glue her tile beads to felt and this way she gets a clean look, no stringing, no holes and the feeling of felt on her hand is nice too.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tania_dp/4183868257/
http://www.tapuz.co.il/tapuzforum/main/Viewmsg.asp?forum=1484&msgid=136618617

Nylad from France made a beautiful flowery necklace. it seems like polymer clay to me.
http://les-couleurs-de-nylad.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15118875@N05/3500359191/

Everybody's busy with christmass shopping? :) Enjoy it!

Get ready for Valentine

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Get ready for Valentine!! It's the perfect timing! there is still time to make your own, beautiful handmade heart beads...

My new tutorial demonstrates how to Create Polymer Clay Heart Pillow Beads, Pattern Sheet and Stripes Sheet, with clear and detailed instructions, 17 pages and about 50+ full-color pictures to guide you through.

This tutorial is a final project! Use your clay and canes and be your own designer by combining these beads in your own work.

Here is the table of content covered:
- Introduction
- Tools & materials
- Pattern Sheet how to
- The tricks for making the heart pillow bead
- Stripes sheet
- and more photos and ideas!

Last year - roses and chocolate for valentine,

This year - your own handmade art!

Press here to have the pillow beads tutorial!

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Polymeri Online 11.12.09

RFColorfulCreations made These mini wind chimes were made with polymer clay over a wood base. They are so sweet.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cookiescreations/2380349217/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/rfcolorfulcreations

Christina's Studio - Custom Pet Sculpture & Ornaments, Christina's ornaments are hand sculpted from polymer clay and painted with artist acrylics. They range from 2.5” – 3.0” in size. These little critters are super for the Christmas tree or just to sit in a windowsill or on your desk.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/christinastudio

Look at these carved pendants, they are inspired by Philip Baldwin and Monica Guggisberg who were featured in Dailyartmuse.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/enkhe/3447862256/

lizcréations made these cute figurines, that can be used in many ways, she dresses them in millefiori and they are ready to go dancing :)http://www.flickr.com/photos/38352017@N05/4174232218/

New Tutorials & a Raffle!

It's finally ready!

2 new PolyPediaOnline tutorials joined my other 2 tutorials at my etsy store:

the first one is - 7 Great Ways How to Create Polymer Clay Animal Skin Millefiori Canes - 22 pages Step-by-Step Instructions TUTORIAL

and the second is - 9 Great Ways How to Create Polymer Clay Fruit Millefiori Canes - 38 pages Step-by-Step Instructions TUTORIAL

That's a huge resource to all your fruit and animal skin canes!

the PolyPediaOnline(R) is about to grow and become a great resource for all you cane lovers!

But wait! there is more to come!
i am currently working on a new tutorial - How to create a pattern sheet and heart pillow beads -
The tutorial to my popular heart pillow beads!

Visit my Etsy store and get ready for the holidays with some new cool canes and art!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/irismishly?section_id=6202770

First 20 buyers will get into a raffle to win a free tutorial! you may get lucky! :)

Saturn is just around the corner

In my (little) spare time i had over the past few weeks, i was asked to submit some new photos to a new book.
I found myself working on some new ideas to some new designs, and i decided to use my discs. i have about 2000 of them by now and it's getting really crowded in my studio :) oh, i am not parting from them, i am contantly looking for new ideas of what to do with those discs - brooches, pendants and so many more.

I came up with this necklace and bracelet design, and when i attached the 2 halves of the beads of the bracelet they looked to me like "Planets", and especially Saturn with his big rings.

When i wore the set for the first time i got reponses of - "wow, you got courage to wear this big jewelry!" and i say, why not? if it attacts the eye, it means it's unique.

they look from outer space - don't they?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/irismishly/4157461067/

Polymeri Online 4.12.09

silverpepper23 is probably a russion artist (acording to her photo titles), her jewelry are elaborated and rich with beads, color and inspiration, some of them match shoes or fabric (photo)http://www.flickr.com/photos/36999389@N05/

Margit Böhmer from Germany, made this jewelry setcompletely from Polymer Clay, combined with glass beads. It is a "joint venture" between her and Tami Shvat, from Israel. Tami has made the face cane, according to her she doesn't have the patience and talent for cane work. The idea to make the necklace is inspired by Michael and Ruth Ann Grove
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rregenbogenland/4144504616/

Hannuka is almost here, i found new dreidels by sharon amir, aren't they cute?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharon_amir/4143491909/

Raquel Martin from Spain, at first i thought it was a Barrette with a name, but than i saw it's a name sign!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raquelmartinsarrate/4144492458/

PolymerPeg is making wavy polymer clay necklaces, just by looking at them makes me want to go and watch the sea.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/polymerpeg/sets/72157611179883778/