Back from Cabin Fever Clay Festival 2013 - USA Trip

Name Tags I made for all my students

and I am back!
Cabin Fever Clay Festival 2013 is over, It was a wonderful gathering of ~80 great polymer clay minds, all together happy and smiling (polymer fumes?! ;) creating unforgettable moments.

Once again I feel that there is something magical about people sitting together, talking with such enthusiasm about their polymer clay joy, 24/7, chatting about what makes them happy and color their world, even for an hour or two a week. You don't have to be a pro to enjoy such an event.
I had the pleasure of meeting so many new people, from all over US and beyond, introducing them to my own personal polymer clay world.
My dear students did a wonderful job creating their little master pieces, enjoying their time learning a trick or two, and teaching me some of their own too!
5 Full days. I had so much fun.

Fireman on alert!

And some funny moments - Apparently some one lit a candle inside one of the rooms and the whole hotel was evacuated outside, waiting for the Fire department to come and check it out (guess where I was when the bell rang? Yes, in the shower ;)
Traveling all the way to Polymer Clay Express with Mira Pinki Krispil and Jana Roberts Benzon, what a fun drive we had;
Shopping with Linda Hess in "Michaels", "Hobby Lobby" and where not! How can we can't miss these when we're here!
Staedtler North America donated all the materials used in my Skyscraper and Brocade Purses classes - That was such an amazing gift! Thank you!

Polymer Clay Express

And Finally, few more days in NYC with Pinki for re-stocking and breathing cold (real cold!) air just before we take our plane back.

So thank you Kathryn Ottman for this wonderful event that ticks like a clock, perfectly every time! Seeing Christian in person was one of the highlights moments! :)
Thank you all my students who chose to "Skyscrap'in" and "Brocad'in" with me - I had a great time with you!

Thank you all the teachers who made this event even more colorful - especially the dear Marie Segal, Jana Benzon Roberts, Sarah Shriver and Christi Friesen, I had fun chatting with you!

Thank you Staedtler for your generous donation!

Next on my map is Liechtenstein workshops with Melanie Muir and Sabine Backer. Cannot wait.

I will be resting for a day or two, getting my studio back in order and hours back to regular and post a new PolymeriOnline soon, meanwhile you can peek into some of the photos taken by myself using my IPAD (Arrrr! that camera is awful) and more on my Facebook.
Take care!

Skyscraper Pendant 

Skyscraper Beads

Skyscraper Beads

Skyscraper Beads

Skyscraper Beads

Brocade Purses Class 

Staedtler Clay Donation

Brocade Purses Class 

Skyscraper Beads

Skyscraper Beads

Polymeri Online 10.2.13 | Tectonic bangles, Filigree patience, Polymer "Valen-Tins", Domed heart pendants and Illuminated smiley purses

Techtonic Polymer Clay

Have you seen Izabela Nowak's latest Tectonic bangles? I was open mouthed! So unique! Izabela is always keeping us intrigued by her beautiful designs and ooak innovations. Don't miss her "tectonic" pendants as well, it's "Earth-Quaking"...

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/izabelanowak/8398187997/in/photostream 

Filigree Polymer Clay Tutorial

Marusic said she promised a master class on making filigree and she is keeping her promises (yay!) tedious - yes, time consuming - yes, but not difficult. All you'll need for this project is clay in two colors, liquid clay, cutting tool (knife, blade, etc.), toothpicks, needle and metal powders (and lot's of spare time!)

http://polymerclayfimo.livejournal.com/1068524.html

Another similar design of this delicate, tiny art form was posted in Sage Bray's blog featuring Olga Shukova. Admirable.

http://www.thepolymerarts.com/blog/intricacy-is-in-the-details/

"Valen-Tins"

MaryAnne posted lovely tin covers especially for Valentines, she calls it "Valen-tins" :) Playing with textures and colors is common in her flickr gallery, Jewelry, journals, beads. don't miss her beautiful looking bracelet

and bangles.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28608662@N04/8444751528/

Valentine's Heart Pendant Tutorial

Here is a fun tutorial by Becky from "PoshPinkGiraffe" for heart pendants for Valentines, using the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic to create a domed effect. This material is definitely worth checking, I'll have to look for it when I am in USA next week.
http://poshpinkgiraffe.blogspot.co.il/2013/02/sweet-heart-polymer-clay-jewelry.html

4 days to my trip and I am finalizing my preparations with one final experiment, a glowing smiley purse (without glow in the dark clay) using translucent clays and tiny illumination. These can be so cool as atmosphere lights, hanging around the house, in case of loss of power (Beware Nemo Blizzard!) or even as Christmas tree ornaments!

Keep your fingers crossed for me that Nemo won't come back....

I am not sure posting in my blog will be possible while I am traveling, so you are welcome to follow me on FaceBook.

See you in another continent!

Polymer clay purses - Brocade Collection - Illuminated

Polymer clay purses - Brocade Collection - Illuminated

Polymer clay purses - Brocade Collection - Illuminated

Polymeri Online 14.1.13 | Clever polymer, Hypnotizing jewelry, Scented miniature, Clay-paper display and new projects samples for my CFCF classes

Polymer clay Jewelry by Victoria

Russian artist Victoria Mkhitarian's flickr gallery is a treat to the eye. Clever beads, original assembling and interesting patterns features her art work.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vim_hm/8273622213/in/photostream
Blog - http://vimhandmade.blogspot.com

Still waters by Cassy

A visit at Cynthia Tinnaple's pinterest gallery led me to find Cassy Muronaka's website and jewelry. Her Still waters pendants, deep, 3D, are hypnotizing. Cassy was a journalist for many years and decided to move from journalism to photojournalism. In the early 1990s, Cassy began working with polymer clay as a nighttime relief from the joys of motherhood and using it since.
http://www.cassymuronaka.com/jewelry/stillwater.html

Miniature polymer clay bobby pins

Candice Ware is the artist behind these cute bunny waffle bobby pins, she creates miniature food jewelry that's scented and also sell molds for your own DIY art. Want your jewelry scented as well? check out her fragrance bottles in her Etsy store.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CandiWareJewelry

Original toilet-polymer jewelry display

This is one original jewelry display made of.... toilet paper!
The crafter - WingsOfClay said she was looking for a reasonable priced display and when couldn't find any she used a paper towel roll, a toilet paper roll, and scrap clay. A full photo tutorial is included!
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=417073.new

Brocade collection bags

I was busy the past month preparing new project samples for my guest classes on Cabin Fever Clay Festival 2013 (CFCF), Maryland, USA, this event is going to be a great opportunity to polymer clay artists to share knowledge, exchange techniques and... have a good time! After all, a good university isn’t an institution, but a community of learning.
If you're considering having 1 week off from home duties, laundry and sleepless nights, and speak "polymerian" all day (and night!) check the last spots available -
http://www.polymerclayfests.wordpress.com

Brocade collection bags

Skyscraper pendants/beads

Skyscraper pendants/beads

Skyscraper pendants/beads

Skyscraper pendants/beads

Join my classes on CFCF Conference | Feb 2013, Maryland USA

One of my favorite ways to kick start my creativity is by meeting people. 

There’s nothing like the power and support of a group and fellow artists to enhance creativity, tips sharing, revealing new secrets and brain storming about polymer clay crafting.

Cabin Fever Clay Festival 2013 will be our special opportunity to meet.

I'm coming all the way from Israel to Maryland, on February 2013 to teach 2 special classes and share my knowledge with you.
I would love to meet you there!
We may have a chance to share a cup of coffee!

What is "Cabin Fever Clay Festival"?
Cabin Fever Clay Festival (in short, CFCF) is the most comprehensive hands on conference for polymer clay in the US east coast, takes place annually in Laurel, MD.
This is it's 6th year and the conference is one of the biggest seen!

CFCF 2013 will take place on Feb 15th - PreConference workshops and Feb 17th-20th Main Conference - This event hosts a great selection of polymer clay artists offering intriguing classes in many fields.

Following by the increasing demand for unique hands on technique classes, I am exited to offer CFCF students a fresh breeze of workshops with new, original, popular and exciting projects & designs - The Skyscraper Technique in a 8 hours master-class and The Brocade Hemisphere Purses in a 4 hours class.

These leading projects were featured at Staedtler's FIMO "CreativeWorld" trade show in Germany; on "ThePolymerArts" magazine cover and on various books and websites, based on my top sellers tutorials and brought especially to you for CFCF.

My workshops on CFCF 2013 will feature learning and implementation, knowledge and creation of a final product - Brocade Hemisphere purse, Skyscraper pendants and DiscChic earrings, a real treat and an amazing project to brag about once you return home!

So - Clean up your pasta machine, sharp your blades and get ready for 5 amazing days of learning, improving, enhancing, refining and elevating your polymer skills! 

In my classes, each student will receive a special BONUS CD as handsouts portraying these techniques, including PDF files and videos to watch again any time in the future.

So, what will you get when you come to CFCF 2013?
You'll ask your questions, directly;
You'll learn all the little (and big) secrets & details to create a professional piece;
You'll enhance your techniques & abilities;
You'll go through all the steps in a super detailed process;
You'll experiment with new materials you haven't used before;
You'll create mixed media designs;
You'll review alternative variations for each design;
You'll finish your workshop with a finalized project;
AND you'll be able to brag to your friends when you return home!

Enroll now!
Give yourself a gift of creativity, boost your polymer clay skills with innovative techniques to create endless variations, meet new friends and colleagues, discuss polymer clay 24/7 -

Join CFCF conference by clicking the following link -
http://polymerclayfests.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/cfcf-2013-planning-for-another-year-of-talent-and-fun/

Places are limited and filling up quickly!

=========================

My classes schedule on CFCF 2013

On Sunday, Feb 17th 8:00AM
Pre-conference 8 hour class - The Skyscraper technique and Flakes Technique;
Students will create a Skyscraper pendant and use my popular DiscChic blanks to create an earring set.


On Monday Feb 18th 1:00PM
or
On Wednesday Feb 20th 8:00AM
Conference 4 hour class - The Brocade Hemisphere purses;
Students will create a Brocade Hemisphere purse from start to finish.

=========================

All the details, registration forms, classes description and general information can be found at the event website - http://polymerclayfests.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/cfcf-2013-planning-for-another-year-of-talent-and-fun/
You can join the blog mailing list to be informed of our special announcements, gifts and prizes for the attendees.

Feel free to email me with any question, thought or comment to imishly{at}gmail.com

Hope to see you there!
Iris :)

Polymeri Online 11.3.10

It's been a while since i posted some links, i find myself doing so many things and in the same time not doing enough! i have so many plans and so many things i want to finish by the end of this month and i can't figure a way to do it... time management? i think i heard this expression some where... :)

In Synergy i saw Sophia Lenz’ polymer robots and i loved them! they were so handsome, i googled for some more polymer clay robots and found some cool robotic friends -

Robots by HerArt SheLoves - all kind of sweet robots such as bunnies, round and square ones, each have their own personality, they look like a toy with their springy arms and legs but they are certainly a piece of art to put on your shelf or table :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mheld/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/robotsareawesome

One more - sleepy robots by Lisa starchild Pinkston which makes adorable small robots, her mission is to spread the idea that clay figures can be just as detailed and collectable as vinyl designer toys, and they are handmade which make them the ultimate collectors item - she is so right!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepyrobot13/sets/72157623035044737/
http://www.wix.com/Sugaredwithspiteclothing/Sleepy-Robot-13-Main

Another robotic shop in Etsy is - http://www.etsy.com/shop/boltsandbots

bolts & bots (see photo on the right) is making celebrity robots! this is so cool, i found some LOST figures there, Mad Hatter, Mario, Care bear and so many others.

Just searching in Etsy for clay robots, i found tons! you may want to take a look.

And speaking of Synergy etc, I met Julie Eakes while she was holding a big big cane in her hands, when asking her what cane was it, she said it's a new cane she made for the event - CFCF (her cane was hidden inside leftovers so i couldn't peek), anyway, i was a good girl and waited patiently for the final result and ... OMG, that was an amazing face cane! she is the master! both me and Mira were lucky enough to get a piece of it, and i immediatly made myself a pair of beautiful earings out of them! browse her blog and you'll be amazed by her millefiori work.
http://julieeakes.blogspot.com/

Finally home!

Those were the best 2 weeks! i had so much fun! NYC, CFCF & Synergy!

Both Mira Krispil (the best partner ever) and myself flew to NYC on the 16th and had great 3 days of shopping, so many great stores in this city - cookie cutters, acrylic rollers, paints, beads & findings - that was fun! Metalliferous was the hightlight of the day, and our suitcases slowly gained weight and we were filing them with goodies :)

Then we took a flight and head to Baltimore airport and from there to CFCF - Cabin Fever Clay Festival held in Laurel Maryland. Kathryn Ottman greeted everyone and the event started with some Pre-Classes, we took classes by Lindly Haunani , Maggie Maggio and Jana Benzon. all of them were facinating and we made beautiful pieces.

After 2 days of Pre-Classes, the 4 hours CFCF seminars started and we had so much fun the best teachers - Jeffrey Lloyd Dever, Nan Roche, Cindy Silas, Tony Aquino, Maureen Carlson, Dayle Doroshow, Grant Diffendaffer, Louise Fischer Cozzi, Laurie Mika, Kathryn Jo Ottman, Lisa Pavelka, Sarah Shriver, and Ronna Sarvas Weltman. Demo's and Classes were facinating and we learned so much from all those experts.

The closing night celebration brought the presentation of the first Creative Pioneer and Innovator Award, presented to Nan Roche. Jeffrey Dever spoke of the knowledge and inspiration he gained from Nan in his early days playing with clay, I felt it was an exciting and emotional moment, everybody were cheering for Nan. The silent auction was great and i got one of Jana's pins :)

I was so honored when Nan asked to buy one of my disc necklaces! thank you so much Nan!
We found some new friends and angels who helped us (Barb - that's you!) hugging everybody, sorry we had to say goodbye so soon.

Then we headed to Synergy2 conference held in the tremont Plaza @ Baltimore, meeting new friends. Plan was so full of seminars, panel discussions, polymer shopping for supplies and artwork and jewelry, can we skip buying something?

We couldn't skip the ACC - American Craft Council show , The American Craft Council Show presents outstanding works by America's leading craftspeople for purchase by the public and to the trade, lot's of color, materials and inspiration, Mira and myself walked for 4 hours and still we didn't see all of it, it's huge! we met the nicest Wiwat with his breathtaking jewelry, Louise Fischer Cozzi (which we also took a class with her on CFCF), Karyn Kozak and her beautiful bugs (got us 2 of them!), Sue Fleischer, Karin Noyes and many more.

I also got a mention in Polymer Clay Daily! Sweet Cynthia Tinapple took a photo of one of my Necklaces and posted it in her blog. That was a perfect closure for our trip.

2 weeks of pure polymer clay, isn't that just the best thing ever?

Now, back to work! Passover holiday is coming soon and i should be getting ready :)