Guest Artist - Eugena 777

I first saw Eugena's magnificent flowers a while back. They amazed me with their life-like quality and beauty. She uses no molds or stamps and all her jewelry is sculpted by hand. In her shop at Etsy at Eugena777@etsy.com , you can also purchase tutorials to make these gorgeous flowers yourself.

She has a variety of tutorials including the directions for these steampunk hearts.

The tutorials are extremely detailed. They show and explain every step of the project. Following these tutorials, you will be able to re-create the item shown on the cover of each tutorial and apply these new techniques for your future creations. The lovely necklace below shows her talent and sense of style. To see more of her work, please visit her Etsy store at Eugena777@Etsy.com or her blog at http://www.polymerclaychameleon/.

My article is in the April Issue of Polymer Cafe!

A few months ago, I wrote an article on the generosity of polymer clay artists associated with Etsy. PCAGOE (Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy) has approximately 90 members. One of the goals of that group is to help various charities with their art. I received the April issue today and they have printed my article. Donations by PCAGOE members are sent to numerous charities some of which are Pendants for a Purpose, Bottles of Hope, and Polymer Clay for a Cause, please visit this wonderful store and purchase an item for a very worthy cause.(www.polymerclayforacause.etsy.com)

This past year, alphabet tiles were made by members and then reconstructed into a collage for a pediatric center. Several of these works of art now adorn several children's centers.

To read the entire article, pick up a copy of Polymer Cafe, April 2009 issue. And, thank you.

Featured Polymer Clay Artists

There will be a new section on my blog page beginning Friday, February 28th. I want to showcase some of the most talented polymer clay artists in the community. Some of the work you will see are from the hottest artists in Polymer Clay. Check back next week to see a collection of guests and their beautiful artwork.

No it's not painted.

Here's the completed pendant, resin finished with Aanraku bail.

Some people ask me if the flowers on my pendants are painted. They are not painted. They are tiny pieces of clay made into a "cane." A cane is a cylinder of clay with a design running through it very similar to those holiday cookies you buy to slice and bake. In the first photo, a skinner blend is prepared with slits to form the veins of the flower. Then the plug is reduced (or made longer and cut into six pieces. Then they are placed around a central stem (as in the second picture). The third picture shows the translucent clay placed between the petals and around the plug. The plug is then reduced again as in the fourth picture and extremely thin slices are taken from the cane and placed on the pendant as in the fifth picture.

Skinner blend plug with slits made for the veins of the flower.

After it has been reduced and cut into sections, placed around a central stem.

Then translucent clay is wedged between the petals to keep them apart. The cane is then reduced once more to elongate it and make different size flowers.

Here is the cane made into different size flowers.

Extremely thin slices are then taken from the cane and placed on the pendant before firing.

Spring Classes

I will be starting the spring classes for polymer clay I and II at the Adult Continuing Education at Hauppauge High School and Smithtown High School. The evening sessions for PC I at Hauppauge High School begins on Tuesday February 24th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 and run for four weeks. The PC II at Hauppauge start on Tuesday March 24th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 and runs also for four weeks. At Smithtown, the PC I classes begin on Thursday, March 5th from 9:00 am to 11:00 and run for eight weeks. The PC II classes at Smithtown begin also on Thursday, March 5th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm and run for four weeks. Contact me at NIKKIKEN20002000@yahoo.com if you would like more information.

Valentine's Day Hearts

Something a little different, mixing silver leafing on silver polymer clay, red flowers and a resin finish with Aanraku bail.

Our real Christmas presents

Kayla and little bro, Tyler, at Christmas 2008. Grandma and Grampa's real presents!