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

Polymer Clay Angry Birds - FREE How-To Video

Who doesn't like angry birds?
I just LOVE them :)

About 2 months ago I had a "special order" from my nieces to create small angry birds earrings.
I went straight to work and left the camera on while working (don't worry, I don't work so fast, the video is 300% faster then the original...;)
So just before I start packing my suitcases and fly to Maryland, here is a quick and easy tutorial for red angry birds and green pigs.
These were snatched up before I even got a change to take their final photo!

B.T.W - Did you know that "Rovio" people, who invented angry birds, are from Finland?
I didn't know that.
After emailing them and asking for their approval I noticed it!

Have fun!

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 3.2.13 | PatchWork polymer tutorial, Clay flowers, Birdie meets her real sister, Anything is possible magnet and my new Long Neck Karen necklaces

Polymer Clay PatchWork Tutorial

My dear friend klavdija posted a wonderful pictorial for her patchwork jewelry. This is a beautiful technique which will tickle your fingers to go ahead and try it. I know I will!
Thank you dear friend!
While you are looking at her delights, jump in her Facebook page for more goodies -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/klavdija-s_corner/sets/72157632511296156/with/8375335389/

Clay flowers

Natasha can not imagine her life without creativity and search (can't agree more). Her artistic love is devoted to flowers and stones, their incredible colors, shades and textures.
Her clay flowers are made of Japanese polymer clay which I think called Deco clay. Barrettes, rings and jewelry - looks so real, you can hardly believe it's clay.
www.etsy.com/shop/SilverSeagullArt

Polymer birdie meet her real sister

Mina Creations - Chieko Sasaki, living in Tokyo Japan, works with glass and well as polymer clay - miniatures, canes and sculpturing. I stumbled across her little birds photo on Facebook, polymer bird meets a real one - or is it the other way around? Anyway, she says she is glad that her real bird appreciates art and welcomed the new friend. :)
https://www.facebook.com/chitoMINA
http://minacreations.mo-blog.jp/

Anything is possible magnets

Joy Magnet Art is all dedicated to message magnets, each is like a miniature "collage in clay". Pieces of clay are torn into "fragments", and impressed with stamps and other objects for interesting designs. Most pieces have several layers of clay, with various inspirational words and positive sayings. Anything Is Possible :)
www.etsy.com/shop/JoyMagnetArt


Remember these?
Well, they turn into these.
After using metal rings between the beads, they look more like the Long Neck Karen women, don't you think?
I am almost ready for my trip next week.

Polymer clay beads | LifeSavers Necklace

Polymer clay beads | LifeSavers Necklace

Polymer clay beads | LifeSavers Necklace

Polymer clay beads | LifeSavers Necklace

Polymer clay beads | LifeSavers Necklace

Polymeri Online 27.1.13 | Beautiful canes remains necklace, Free scrap cane tutorial, DIY bracelet tower display, Cats everywhere and Life Savers beads samples

Helene's Canes Remains Necklace

Hélène from Les Ethiopiques took the remains of her colorful canes, one of them called "vermicelli" and created this beautiful and impressive neck piece. Such a wonderful game of colors. Her blog is full of her polymer clay experiments and delights.
http://lesethiopiques.over-blog.com/article-onanisme-de-l-ego-112040125.html

Free Scrap Cane Tutorial

Jeanette Kandray published a free tutorial on her website - Free scrap cane. She is using translucent cane ends and scrap.
http://jmkandray.com/tutorials.htm

DIY Bracelet Tower

Another original & stylish DIY display or storage stand for your bracelets was published in Miracle Spyer's blog, She is using an empty room mist fragrance bottle. The previous display was posted in this post

http://onceuponherdream.blogspot.co.il/2013/01/the-decorista-chronicles-diy-bracelet.html

Polymer Cats

Cats as pins, cats as brooches, cats cake toppers and cats families are Francesca's passion. She creates in her free time and loves animals. She is also a digital art lover and creates custom graphic designs and digital cross stitch patterns.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/threelittlecatsshop/

I am still playing, preparing my free demo for CFCF, the LifeSavers beads. Here are some of the photos, the beads are not finished yet, the embroidery stitch is still missing but they look cool like this as well!

Life Savers Beads

Life Savers Beads

Life Savers Beads

Polymeri Online 21.1.13 | "Brave" mix media, Gems and faceted polymer clay, Wild stone tutorial, Tom and the clock, More from my working table

Inspirational Jewelry

Janet olson - ChickieGirlCreations creates beautiful pendants using so many techniques and materials! polymer clay, acrylic paints, inks, pens, sealers, textures, distress and patterns. Her mix media jewelry are all about color, and texture. She mentions she is influenced by nature, and as a result lean toward rustic and distressed designs. She also enjoys art journalism and positive messages interwoven in her art.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChickieGirlCreations
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8823440@N07/

Faceted Polymer and Sterling

Marta Lugo design and creates contemporary jewels by transforming daily objects into jewelry pieces, her recent "Poliedra" collection is her interpretation of gems and faceted stones using sterling silver and polymer clay.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/martalugojewels

Wild Stone Beads Tutorial

"pink_lizzard" Julia is sharing with us her "wild stone" beads class. She says this effect was a happy accident. It all started as a watercolor technique project placed on a paper for a while, and after 2 weeks(!) on the paper she ended up with zero plasticizer and a very dry pile of clay. Then, turned it into beads.
It reminds me of those old Terrazzo floor tiles.
http://polymerclayfimo.livejournal.com/3609789.html

Tom's Clock Adventures

I came across "The Brooding Tom's" clock video on YouTube and dug inside a little more. The artist (tom?) is sharing his detailed experiments on sculpturing and creating large pieces, letting us know what worked and what went wrong in each project.
In the clock video series he is going through all the details for creating the piece until completion.
Fascinating work! Don't miss his recent alien videos.
https://www.facebook.com/PolymerClaySculpting
http://youtu.be/s_WPYMJ5gs0

I am continuing my CFCF samples - bags and beads this week, It is been a while since I did production work, and returning to that busy and meditating work (such as painting, shaping, gluing pins and zippers) is quite relaxing (and I am not including sanding into the "relaxing" category...)
Feels great to repeat the same project in different shapes, colors and designs, challenge to the mind and hands. I really enjoy it.

"Hamburger" Bag, I really liked it's shape!

Disc Chic Beads | Flakes Technique

Alien's bag? Can't decide on it's name

"Brocade Collection" Polymer clay purses - all zippered up