PolyPediaOnline News | FREE polymer clay “billowed-screened” tutorial & Greece 2015 classes

New FREE polymer clay tutorial - "Billowed-Screened" technique project! 
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Being a part of Polyforms' contributing designers group, I have been called for an exciting technique to be released on the net.
The only one request was: “Please work with Sculpey III clay.”

Being a newcomer with this particular brand of clay (never dealt with it prior to this project) I instantly began working with it, examining its qualities.

Silk screens are also fresh to me. From the time I received my test set from Polyform, my fingertips were tickling to check these out.
Soon after a couple of tries, a brand new project was created mixing the two - silk screens and Sculpey III clay -
An attractive kitchen utensil holder.

This particular project could be modified into countless additional purposes - different holders (studio equipment, cosmetics brushes) as well as big statement jewellery, for example bracelets!

The full tutorial is available on Sculpey website -
http://www.sculpey.com/project/sculpey-iii-billowing-technique-utensil-holders-2/



Save the date and get your bikini ready; “Meraki in Mani” retreat
Greece, October 5-9th, 2015
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Brocade Collection purses class,
Greece October 2015 workshops

I am pleased to announce that I will be teaching two half days courses in the polymer clay retreat “Meraki in Mani”, occurring in Stoupa, Greece, organized by Ms. Lee O’Connor.

The 5 day retreat will take place on October 5-9, 2015.

The purpose of this kind of retreat is friends working together making time for what we all enjoy, spreading knowledge, approaches and creativity and having new materials and tools to experience with along with time off to explore and enjoy the location.

I will be offering 2 half day classes on Tuesday- Wednesday, October 6-7th ,2015 - The “Cosmic Ceramic” faux ceramics technique and “The Brocade Collection” purses class.
Please follow this link for more information on the area, venue, prices and admin info
http://www.polypediaonlineexpress.com/polymer-clay-retreat-greece-october-2015-iris-mishly-workshops/

Brocade Collection purses class, Greece October 2015 workshops

Brocade Collection purses class, Greece October 2015

Cosmic Ceramic - Polymer Clay Faux Ceramic techniques
Greece October 2015 workshops

Please follow this link for more information on the area, venue, prices and admin info
http://www.polypediaonlineexpress.com/polymer-clay-retreat-greece-october-2015-iris-mishly-workshops/

Waiting to meet you there!

Polymeri Online 18.1.15 | Weaving Polymer Baskets, Lace and owls, Fisherman keychain, Atmosphere polymer clay, Playing with oil paint & Valentines day polymer clay free tutorials ideas

Polymer clay in basket weaving?

January was my month of crafts. 

I had an urge to try "ancient" crafts such as basket weaving.

Taking a pause from routines and looking sideways is always good for creativity.

So I started my weaving classes with a local artist (Tal Shemesh from Israel) using palm branches as the base for our baskets.

The branches are soaked in water for 24 hours prior to working and then they are pliable and flexible.

That being said, you cannot imagine my sore fingers after every single workshop. It's real hard work! 

Being a polymer clay artist, I had to give the basket my personal touch and first made rough beads, later replaced with "retro" beads. 

My teacher (never worked with polymer clay) was quite happy with the original piece ;)

The basket was supposed to be an umbrella container but after almost all our umbrellas broke (or got lost by the children) it's temporarily acting as a decorative vase :) 

Online inspiration? Let's see...

Anastasia's lacy designs

Anastasia Astafieva has a magical Instagram appearance. 

Her designs range from doll pendants, tiny embroidery clay pieces, lacy polymer, and many photos of her traveling adventures.

She is sharing some of her process photos in her blog and in her YouTube channel. 

If you're looking for clean, well photographed inspiration, follow her account.

http://instagram.com/handmadeblog

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrmD3bBvCsOKnXiHXmpACrQ

http://handmadeblog.ru

Fisherman's keychain

Another fun Instagram find is Lyubov Elovskaya's fish keychain and elephant necklace designs. 

Although her Instagram is still in it's starting point take a look and follow.

http://vk.com/lubovelov

http://instagram.com/chudesavteremke

Nevenue's jewelry

Nevenue's flickr gallery is all about texture, paints, atmosphere and rough surfaces.

Her name "Nevenue" stands for "a new avenue of her life".

She became passionate about polymer clay in 2011. It has been ever since an instrument of communicating her inner-self. (sale goes for many of us, I think)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nevenue/

http://www.nevenue.com

Christine's polymer and oil paints

Christine Kaczmarek worked in many mediums but her favorite is polymer clay. She has been working with ceramic clay but keep coming back to polymer. 

Her inspiration comes from all around ever since she started, back in the 80s.

She is playing with millefiori canning as well as oil paint on polymer.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/christinekaczmarek/

Valentine's day inspiration

Not polymer but wouldn't it be fun to create your own polymer clay Valentine's Day stones and paint them with markers? Round, heart shaped - everything goes! Great activity with children too!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/441423200948189417/

A reminder to some of the Valentine's day freebies you will find in my PolyPediaOnline polymer clay tutorials page - Crocheted photo frame & a speedy heart cane! 

You'll need to enter your email address to receive the access page by email.

http://www.polypediaonlineexpress.com/free-tutorials/

Have fun!

Free polymer clay valentines day tutorial
Crocheted photo frame

Free polymer clay valentines day tutorial
Speedy millefiori heart cane

Polymeri Online 4.1.15 | Animals on your fingers, Colorful ornaments, Drawing with polymer strings, How to save burnt clay & Yarn clay bowl

How did you start 2015? 

2015 started for me with new decisions. Mostly to myself.

2014 was creative, but in a different way.
I took a pause from the intensive race and filled my time with changes: New eating habits, sports habits, sleeping habits.
I started thinking of my second half of life.

Do we ever find time to take care of your health? Physical and mental.
Now is the time.

I've made a change building my new website from scratch, learned while making (a lot of) mistakes.
Making mistakes means we are doing new things, trying new things, learning, changing.

In my studio I am learning to work with new materials, new techniques while experimenting with my known favourite ones, expanding, researching.
Taking the time to enjoy creativity.

Let us welcome the new year with optimism and hope. :)

LINKS!

Jiro's perfect polymer clay animal rings

My recent actions to save animals drew my eyes to Jiro Miura's work.
This Japanese and self-taught artist made an impressive series of rings carefully sculpturing realistic looking animals.
The items are very popular and his rings are sold under his business name "Count Blue".  He is mentioned in various blogs and websites and his spectacular perfect work is to admire.
http://countblue.tumblr.com

Kay's polymer ornaments

MyJoyfulMoments store (Kay Miller) is currently on vacation because all her ornaments were sold out for 2014.
She is getting ready for 2015 and all is enjoy and look at her sold items - my heart sings!
Those colours!
Quilted, animals, butterflies, trees, mini houses, figurines, snow flakes and many more! Don't miss it.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyJoyfulMoments/sold

drawing with strings

SilverPepper23 Russian artist was featured here years ago. Back then she was creating tiny little flowers made into jewellery. She is still using beautiful flowers in her jewellery but I came across her string jewellery where she takes colourful thin clay strings and create a full scene out of colours. Beautiful.
She is a master with wire to wrap stones and jewels.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/36999389@N05/14833118682/

Leah saving burnt sculpture

Save burnt clay? Yes, Leah can do it.
Leah created her website (Magic by Leah) as a creative outlet and a means to document her sculpting journey. Crafting, especially in polymer clay allows her to bring her fantasy world to reality.
She is one adventurous lady and does a lot of different things in her life except crafting with polymer. You can read more about her story here - http://magicbyleah.com/about-leah/
In her recent creations her clay burnt so she figured creative solutions (paint) to save her work!
http://magicbyleah.com/salvaging-burned-polymer-clay-mushroom-with-paint/
https://www.facebook.com/MagicByLeah/

yarn bowl from polymer clay

Do you also wish your yarn ball wouldn't run around the house or get stuck under the sofa while you knit?
Here is a fun tutorial by Heather Painchaud to create your own yarn bowl for your yarn ball!
If we can't eat from polymer clay bowls, we can knit with it!
http://733blog.com/2014/03/diy-yarn-bowl/

Wishing you a blessed 2015 :)