Unfortunately, most of the serious polymer clay artists don’t seem to be too impressed.  The price isn’t too much lower than the other name brands, but the main concern is that it’s extremely soft.  This may not be a problem for casual hobby work, but it’s not a good feature for those who like to do intricate work.

Both Cindy at the Polymer Clay Tutor and Angela at Crafty Goat felt that it was not the most amazing clay they’d ever worked with.  I’m being nice.  Angela feels that it’s a good clay for kids, and Cindy thought it was too brittle once cooked to be much use at all.

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***FREE STUFF ALERT***FREE STUFF ALERT***

Would you like to have this book?  Just leave me a comment below telling me what’s your favorite jewelry style: classic?  edgy?  cyberpunk?  elegant?   Whatever description best fits your faves.  Next Monday, I’ll be randomly selecting a winner!

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Polymer Clay Color Inspirations
by Lindly Haunani and Maggie Maggio

Now tell me that isn’t the most scrumptous cover you’ve seen in a long time.  I want to learn to do that!  Can this book deliver?  Well, according to the reviews so far, it can.   Lindly Haunani and Maggie Maggio focus on color, giving a studio exercise for each principle that they cover.  There are also profiles of polymer clay artists, and gorgeous gorgeous photographs to inspire you further.

I have not seen a copy of the book yet, but I believe that I need to, and soon!

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There is a video preview that you can watch on the website as well.

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Check out this amazing polymer clay pendant made by Laurel Steven!  And you can keep up with her class schedule by checking out her blog.
Rue’s Daftique blog
Rueschka by Laurel Steven

Laurel writes:
Here’s my favorite piece from this summer. It’s a hinged polymer clay locket, with a beaded and wireworked necklace. Some of the beads match the locket in polymer clay, and the others are marble beads from Firemountain Gems. I’ve also used Gun Metal wire from Artistic Wire. It’s one of a series of classes that I plan to be teaching at various events and stores in the near future!

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Originally, I had planned to make this a much more complicated necklace, but as I played with a few ideas, I finally realized that I really didn’t want to distract too much attention from the central medallion. So I settled on three knotted cords and a strand of ribbon yarn. I chose colors that would not only look good with the fish, but would also look vaguely like running water.

Step by step instructions

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Several months ago, we devoted ourselves to polymer clay artists.  Well, I didn’t quite get enough!  I started thinking about all the wonderful jewelry that we saw, but I realized that I just don’t want to personally work with clay, at least not enough to get really good at it!

So, turning our attention back to polymer clay for a brief moment, I want to share a necklace with you that I made using one of my friend Amy E Fraser’s polymer clay medallions for the centerpiece.   This piece commemorates one of my favorite summer pass-times…fishing!

Tomorrow, I’ll show you the steps, so in the meantime, you can think about what fun figural pendant you’d like to use for your necklace!

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Ronna’s style is primitive, organic, and full of joy.   If you’ve been looking for opportunities to shed the rules and just see what happens, this may be the perfect book for you.

Ancient Modern Polymer Clay and Wire Jewelry
by Ronna Sarvas Weltman

The style of this jewelry will not be for everyone, so if you don’t care for the piece on the cover, it is very indicative of the style throughout.  There’s lots of color inside, but it tends to be subdued and natural.   The finished pieces are not pretty, but they are boldly arresting and intriguing.

Check out The Bookshop for lots more links to books about jewelry-making in addition to this helpful guide!

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Here’s more from Krissy:

These are the perfect cupcakes for all you health nuts! And if you’re not a health nut (like me), even better — these cupcakes are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth! Each cupcake necklace is one of a kind, and I’m not just talking about its handmade nature. You will never see one with the exact same variation of colors, accents, and quirky style. For that reason, these cupcakes are numbered, and each number is pretty much its own bar code. They also come with a special photo ID card indicating what number it is in the collection.

=The Art of Cupcaking=

I really enjoy making these polymer cuties because each one I complete is totally different from the next – kind of like meeting a new person every hour (and yes, that’s how long it takes me to make one cupcake). Some cupcakes are outrageously wild, while others are sophisticated and chic. When I sell these at craft shows, I actually get to meet the people that these cupcakes are destined to be with. You can definitely see someone’s character shine through just by seeing what cupcake they purchase – because all my cupcakes have a distinct exclusiveness to it just as each person would have too!

=The Artist=

My dad once told me that it’s okay to color outside of the lines, heck, on the walls if I wanted to, and I haven’t stopped exploring my creativity since — thus, the reason why I just can’t seem to settle on one medium or style. It’s just too much fun trying to absorb anything and everything I can about what inspires and fascinates me. I also get “un-fascinated” pretty fast so my mind is constantly racing for new things to keep me from losing it. Screw compromising a vision to have a defined style – Art isn’t just a marketable business. I’m in it for the growth of my own soul. However, I’d love for you to be a part of it.

Source of inspiration: cute & creepy things, the awkward & obscure, hip hop, lowbrow art movement, and life.

Location: Now resides in San Diego, CA after moving from Guam four years ago

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