EMBOSSED

Yet another example of how nicely can the techniques for other media be applied to polymer clay, these pastel-colored pendants made by Shannon Le Vart combine polymer clay and embossing powders. What a beautiful interpretation of a traditional paper-stamping technique!

Find these and other pendants, earrings, and rings in missficklemedia.etsy.com.

INTERESTING

You will find many different designs in the shop of Rachelle Pryden, EllePdesigns.etsy.com, but the three below are my favorites. I wish she made more jewelry in this style – it looks so original and interesting!

CERAMIC

Yes, it is still polymer clay! So far, we've seen polymer clay items that looked as if they were made out of leather, wood, glass... Today's collection from BlossomArts.etsy.com successfully mimics the distinctive look of glazed ceramics.

ELEGANT

Elegant simplicity is the theme of Vicki Cockroft's jewelry. Vicki uses polymer clay to create just a touch of color and sets her hand-made beads in silver and silver-plated settings to create earrings, necklaces, and bracelets that may be found in her Etsy shop.

I love Vicki's description of her studio. She says: ”My workshop is situated in the Welsh countryside near Llanrhaeadr waterfall.” It must be a really beautiful place...

SPIRITED

These mysterious wooden spirits are emerging from a beautiful combination of polymer clay and driftwood from Bavarian lakes.

Find them in chopoli.etsy.com.

CANINE

Nancy Richardson, the artist behind nanjodogz.etsy.com, makes these original dog sculptures, pendants, and beads for a good cause. She sends percentage of her proceeds to her favorite animal charities, including HSUS, Anti-Cruelty Society, Illinois Doberman Rescue.

PECULIAR

I love the simplicity and clean designs found in this shop: PeculiarForest.etsy.com.

“Peculiar” has many meanings, but I think the one meant here is “exclusive, belonging only to a particular person, place, time, etc.”

Louise, a young artist from Essex, UK, is the author of these original designs. See more of her work in her photo album.

GLOSSY

The secret to the glass-like shine of Linda Riopel's pendants is resin – a medium that had recently started to gain popularity among polymer clay artists. Linda came across this material while looking for a better finish for her image transfer pendants, but now she uses it on many of her creations, including pictured here beautiful pendants with delicate millefiori flowers.

Introduced to polymer clay about seven years ago by a friend, Linda is now eager to share her passion and enthusiasm. Twice a year she teaches polymer clay at the Adult Education Department in Smithtown, New York.

Find these and other amazing works by Linda in NKDesigns.etsy.com.

LUXURIOS

These pens from creativewriting.etsy.com are a perfect example of the diverse nature of polymer clay. Keith, the artist who makes them, had to turn to polymer clay in search of the material that would give him more flexibility than woodworking. He says: “With polymer clay I am only limited by my own ingenuity and creativity.”

The results not only demonstrate both of these qualities, but also show a well-executed idea, which brings to mind such words as "quality" and "luxury".

FELINE

Here are some seriously funny cats from Alison Kurek's shop. I just love how each of them has his own personality.

Artist's message: ”Life is challenging and, on the whole, we are too stressed out. We often forget to look at the lighter side of things. We NEED to laugh! My work is aimed at just that.”

I think Alison's cats are somehow related to the feline guy in this cartoon: www.youtube.com/SimonsCat

MOLDED

Today I am inviting you to visit Rueschka, an eclectic jewelry store by Laurel Steven.

Laurel found an unusual way of using vintage jewelry – she makes molds for her polymer clay pieces out it. Her pendants built from strips of different textures created in such molds are very interesting. I also love her molded hearts, all formed in the same mold made out of a vintage pendant and made from polymer clay in various colors or resin.

More of Laurel's work may be found in her photo album.

RUFFLED

These beads are from shop Karooart.etsy.com. Christelle, the artist behind Karooart Designs, has many beautiful beads and pieces of finished jewelry in her shop, but these ruffled beads are my favorite. I think, unique shape and semi-transparent colors make these beads especially beautiful.

Find more of Christelle's work in her photo album.

FUNNY

These funny and full of character slugs crawled here from Martha's shop, MarthaLand.etsy.com. She has quite a selections of these guys. What amazes me here is how much can an artist express on such a limited canvas.

Each slug comes with his own short description. For example: “Lisa is a vegetarian and she's loves nothing more than a big plate of organic salad! She comes with her own colorful plate of veggies, yum!” Or how about this one: ”This crazy high school Global Studies teacher is a favorite among his students. They just voted him teacher of the year! He comes with two books and an apple from his best student!”

See more of Martha's works in her photo album.

BRIGHT

Today's collection is coming from France.

The colors... I do not have enough words to describe these fantastic colors! Cathy, who sells these pendants in her shop dumauvobleu.etsy.com, came up with a clever way of arranging relatively simple canes so that the results are simply breath-taking. I admire her sense of color. And look at these textures – again, simple techniques, but applied to strategic places in her compositions, they create a great visual impact. I think if I did not work with polymer clay already, I would have started after seeing these pendants.

See more of Cathy's works in her photo album, and be sure to check out her paintings as well. They have the same cosmic feeling and amazing vivd colors as her pendants.

SWEET

Just in time for Valentine's Day, I found these sweet hearts and other delicious polymer clay creations in a new Etsy shop, Poppy Penny. Samantha, a young artist behind this shop, is a pastry Arts major, and it shows in the polymer clay jewelry that she makes.

Have a sweet Valentine's Day!

FROUDIAN

Did you know that there is a whole froudian world out there, full of fairies, trolls, dragons, and other creatures? It sprouts out from an amazing web site, worldoffroud.com, featuring works of Brian and Wendy Froud, and uniting all kinds of artists fascinated by these creatures.

One of such froudians, Amber Matthies, runs a troll adoption center through her shop, Trollflings.etsy.com. Just look at her cute polymer clay creations! Can you resist those smiles?!

Again, a perfect example of how nicely polymer clay can be combined with other materials.

Find more of these little guys on Amber's web site trollfings.com.

CRACKLED

One of the best qualities of polymer clay is that it can be combined with so many other wonderful materials.

Janice Abarbanel from Boston, MA, uses this quality brilliantly. Her shop, Naftali.etsy.com, offers a variety of items made from polymer clay in combination with metal leaf, paints, and inks.