Where to shop for polymer clay accessories when in NYC?

Time to summarize some of the good shopping spots you can find in NYC and the West coast.These stores are wonderful mixed materials stores, carrying all kind of materials, tools, equipment of all kinds starting from cake decorating, beading, sewing, kitchen-ware and findings.

Here are places I love to go back to when I am visiting Manhattan and they are my personal preference of shopping :)

The first store, already mentioned in my blog several times is Metalliferous NYC, this store is a full-service supplier of metal, tools, and supplies to jewelers, craftist, hobbyists, metal workers, sculptors, and everyone interested in metal working and jewelry. If you are into silver findings you'll find anything there. You can also download their PDF catalogs and order online.The store is located on the 34 West 46th Street (next to the hotel I was staying at)

The 2nd place I love to visit is NY Cake store located at 56 West 22nd Street Between 5th & 6th Avenues.This store paradise, I can spend a day in there, checking closely every detail. They carry all the supplies you can think about for cake decorators and some of their tools, molds, cutters etc fits the polymer clay world as well. You can join their mailing list and get special announcements on special sales to your email and order online.

Blick Art Materials is also a paradise for any artist. Paints, chalks, pastels, pens, colored pencils, acrylics, glues, brushes, books and so much more! if it wasn't for the overweight (not mine! the suitcases! ;) I would buy so many things there! Located inside Bond st. in a great looking building.

A stroll along the 6th avenue is always a good idea when you are looking for beads, findings, jewelry parts and sewing materials.

M&J Trimming is another heaven. As a former fashion designer I was amazed when I first saw this store! Sawarovski rhinestones, buttons, ribbons, braids, beaded fringe, trim, jacquards, tassels, and embroideries - is this real?

Located in 1008 sixth Avenue (between 37th and 38th) this store has many items you can use with polymer clay - laces, appliques and fabric as textures, addition to your jewelry and designs, mix media findings and many more.

Another store I love to visit and not because it's any different then the others, but their service is always with a big smile :) It's a small finding shop selling silver and gold findings, gemstones, tools and jewelry supplies called BeadKraft located on Broadway 30th st.

Don't forget Staples and Wallmart which is a great resource for Bic and Papermate pens for polymer covering and for stickers, I love to stamp my own "thank you" stickers.

Did I mention Barnes and Noble for us "non USA" people who just die to have a 3 stories store full of books? a half floor just for art and crafts!

And last one is "Sur La Table" in the Los Angeles Farmers Market - a kitchen supplies store with lot's of goodies - 1$ cookie cutters! :)

So, dear shoppers, when you have the chance to pamper yourself with some "toys for the soul" - these are the places you may want to visit!

Until next time (in US) - Clay away!

Polymeri Online 3.7.08

First announcement - i've made my 100th sale on etsy yesterday! :)
The happy buyer is Toni from keepsakeeggs - http://www.keepsakeeggs.com/about/index.html and i am happy to send you your lovely hamsa + a bag of polymer clay goodies! enjoy and thank you so much!

just before i take my LONG flight to US tonight, here are some more links to our weekly polymeri online posts -

One of my friends and a member of the israeli forum - Natanei just posted about a lovely bug contest taking place in the LiveJournal community and i asked her to tell us more about it -
The Polymer clay community of LiveJournal - Polymerclayfimo was founded at 2005 by galka_vasina and was dedicated for Fimo creations. The community grown and extrapolate its interests to all types of polymer clay. Polymerclayfimo counts 1865 members – Russian speakers from around the world (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, USA, Canada, Israel, German, Austria, etc`). Now community has 3 moderators: galka_vasina (Moscow http://galka--vasina.livejournal.com/ ), shimshony (Elena Samsonova, New York, http://shim-shoni.livejournal.com/) and xanka (Oksana, Moscow, http://xanka.livejournal.com/). Clear and handy tag system help to new users to drill down to journal entries.
Lately community conducts two interesting contests:
Roses Contest
http://community.livejournal.com/polymerclayfimo/1051426.html
http://community.livejournal.com/polymerclayfimo/1058537.html - results
Bugs Contest
http://community.livejournal.com/polymerclayfimo/1122284.html http://community.livejournal.com/polymerclayfimo/1126688.html - results
It's great to see worldwide work!

A great bird cane photo by auntgriz -http://www.flickr.com/photos/auntgriz/2617333782/in/photostream/

Debbie Anne / Debbie Carlton
Designing and making jewellery is a passion for her. She works with silver, gold and like to incorporate colour into her work when ever she can. Inspirations come from the shapes ,textures and colours she sees all around from nature's quirkiness to industrial symmetry. (her photo on the right)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/debbiecarltonjewellery/

loopyboopy likes to sculpt dolls. she have so much fun creating characters. Sometimes they are in her head before she begins, other times they come into being as she makes them. she loves quircky, odd, whimsical, cute, creepy and eerie things. She is a self taught artist, working in sculpture for over 20 years, her work is really a collage of many medium, basically she uses whatever works, Papier Mache, Paperclay, pulp, sculpey... http://www.flickr.com/photos/loopyboopy/
http://www.wincrafty.typepad.com/

see you in another continent! :)
more updates on my trip will be posted!

After 3 Days in NYC, I'm heading to CFCF

Oh, those were heavenly 3 days in New-York City, although my NY flight was canceled due to the weather i did arrived one day late and after 8 years since my last visit, i enjoyed my return and visited all the places i wanted to, i must mention that every muscle in my body ackes from all the walking i did but that's nothing few days of claying won't heal...

Soooo, what have i done...I've been Downtown bought some goodies in Canal street, been in PEARL Paint but they almost had NO polymer clay! visited "Bodies" exhibition, walked all the way from there to 48th street, shopped for costumes for Purim in NewYork Costumes amazing store, wish we had one of those in Israel...made some shopping for the kids in the big ToysRUs store in Times Square, The beautiful Apple store, Central Park, Union Sqaure, F.A.O Shwartz unique toys store, Macy's, H&M and so many more i can't even remember...

I'm ready to go back to my working table and learn from all the talented artists and teachers in CFCF and Synergy. My flight leaves in few hours to Baltimore.

More to Come!