New Set on Ruby Lane

I just added a new set of polymer clay and resin earrings and a pendant on a chain with wire-wrapped Swarovski crystals to my shop at Ruby Lane. This is the set that I made as a result of some of my faux cloisonne focal beads back in January (see my post from January, 26).

Although I am pleased with the results, I do not think I will make another set like this, at least for now. It required as much work as the faux cloisonne things I make (since every line on it is formed with wire), but the same result could have been achieved with a rubber stamp. Of course, with a rubber stamp I could repeat the same design as many times as I please, while this piece cannot be duplicated. Is it important? I need a customer who really appreciates the uniqueness of this set to justify making more beads with the same technique.

Live Radio On-Line Show

Mona Hair form Jewelry Connection invited me to be her guest artist this Sunday, March 2. Time Slated for the show is 10am HST(Hawaii) 11am AKST(Alaska) 12pm PST, 1pm MST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST depending on your time zone.

Mona, a talented jewelry designer herself, does a weekly on-line show about works of contemporary jewelry artists. Here is what she says about the show: “The Jewelry Connection is a concept born of my love and appreciation of my fellow artisan jewelry designers. To create with the intention that the world will in some way be more beautiful for that effort is a noble endeavor, for what brings forth hope more succinctly or profoundly than beauty. Thousands of heretofore unknown or barely known artists are involved in this very effort every day. I want to know them, I want to record someplace that they were here and that what they have done was important enough to document. If you are not a designer, but an admirer of original wearable art, I commit myself to entertaining you with delightful Sunday afternoons, where you may enjoy the experience of meeting some super fine people and witness the audio/visual documentation of their efforts in designs of original wearable art!”

To join us at Jewelry Connect, go to http://www.nowlive.com/mona77401 and click on the black and gray button at the top left of the page that reads Start a Show. You may then listen to the show by simply turning your speakers on; no registration is necessary. If, however, you would like to be able to ask questions during the show ether over the phone or by typing them on the message board, you will need to register at www.nowlive.com first. The registration is free and takes less than a minute.

And here is the link to the slide presentation that Mona put together for me:
http://www.youtube.com/mona77401

Click on the video with my faux cloisonne orchid to start the slide show.

Hope to hear from you on Sunday!

Synergy: Moving Forward, Looking Back

I am back from the Synergy conference. I am exhausted and overwhelmed with thoughts and ideas. The conference spread over three and a half days, if I count the registration and gallery set-up on Wednesday. The seminars (three a day) were scheduled from 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM on Thursday and Friday and 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on Saturday, with a Gala Banquet and Closing Ceremony after that. In between the seminars, there were other events, such as panel discussions, teacher and vendor fairs, and other presentations. The information shared and discussed during the conference covered such topics as craftsmanship, business, design, new products, available classes and techniques, history of polymer clay, and many other. No wander, by the end of day 3 people were sleeping in hallways to catch some rest.

I attended two seminars on craftsmanship, three on business, and two on design. Every presentation was excellent – both in the amount and quality of the information shared and in the way it was presented. I was very impressed with the way these presentations were organized. For example, instead of having people crowded around the table to see the hands-on demonstration, it was projected on a big screen through a video camera, so that everybody could see what the instructor is doing from their chairs in the audience. Overall, the entire conference was organized extremely well at every step, which is a great accomplishment of Judy Belcher, the president of National Polymer Clay Guild, and the synergy teem volunteers.

My personal biggest impressions, however, were not from anything new I have learned at the conference (although I learned a lot), but from the people who attended the conference. It was very interesting to see not only the famous works I have seen only on the Internet and in books before, but the artists who created those works. There were lots of talented people, at various stages of their polymer clay career, but all with shared love for what they are doing. For me, it was very inspiring to see all these creative people with different personalities and styles of their polymer clay work. Many of them came to polymer clay from other backgrounds, and many are with scientific background, like myself...

The conference was a very rewarding and thought-provoking experience in many ways, and I hope to be able to participate in many more similar gatherings in the future.

Here is the picture from the conference with Carol Duvall and the conference attendees who appeared at her show. Carol was a guest speaker on Friday. It was amazing to see how many people responded when she asked to raise the hands all those who were introduced to polymer clay through her show...

Synergy Starts Today!

The National Polymer Clay Guild's conference starts today. I volunteered at the registration desk yesterday and was very excited to finally see in person some of the amazing works I have seen only on the Internet before. Gallery participants started to set up their "booths" yesterday (it is a 15" by 4' space, so you have to be creative to display in such a limited space). I wish I could show here a few set ups I really liked, but we are not allowed to take pictures in the Gallery room. Here is my set up (90% finished, photographed in my studio). I am off to the conference with a long day ahead of me (8:30 AM to 9:00 PM). Oh, it is going to be so much fun!

Synergy: Getting Ready

Here are two items I am planning to donate at the National Polymer Clay Guild's Synergy conference which starts in Baltimore next week (February 21).

The first one is a story-telling necklace with a faux cloisonne pendant and necklace ends, "Diana, the Hunting Goddess". The second one is a wall decoration with hand-sculpted orchids and fresh-water pearls.

My Customer's Creation

I just love it when people who buy my beads or pendant send me the pictures of their creations! Linda Faigen sent me the two pictures below. She used the sculpted polymer clay beads I made for her earlier this year to make these beautiful hair sticks. What a great idea! Looking at the hair sticks she sells in her Etsy shop I wish I had hair long enough to wear something as pretty as this...

Business Card Holder - Finished

I finished the plate that will serve as my business card holder at the Baltimore polymer clay conference.

Diameter: 8".
Materials: polymer clay, resin, wire, green fluorite, green aventurine, Russian amazonite, crystal quartz, and fresh-water pearls.

My Work Will Be Published in a Book!

I do not want to reveal all the details yet, but have to share my excitement. Pictures of two of my faux cloisonne necklaces were accepted for a publication in a book about polymer clay. The book is scheduled for release in Fall, 2008.