I’ll be hosting workshops at La Cascade in June (and will write about them then) and teaching my own three workshops in the month of July. Please do join me here on this page for what is going on in our beautiful French village and this charming, exquisite area of France. I’ll write weekly starting June 1 of our adventures.

My other transition was made possible by Barbara Forbes Lyons who transferred, updated, and made better (including FINALLY, my comments work!) my website from old non-working server (shall remain nameless) to hers. Thank you Lyons Digital Media - You helped me is so many ways- above and beyond.

Day One- we learned 10 different book structures based on easy folding techniques and captured between polymer clay covers.

Day Two- Messengers and Storytellers came into being in extraordinary ways. The art work these artists produced was powerful and each artist had a unique voice that shined through their work.

Day Three- Rattles and Rattle Beads- we had a great time designing art rattles and rattle jewelry- lots of time to play and design.

A big Thanks to Connie, Kathy, Beth, Karen, Cynde, Ruth, Donna, Caren,  Glo, Kate and especially Annie and her lovely man Ed.Thanks for all the fun, laughter, willingness to dive right in, and for sharing your talent and inspiration with me!

Thanks Annie and Ed for this beautiful picture  from last night and a great dinner!

I’ll be teaching two different workshops Friday and Saturday and will also have a booth of brand new artwork at the Friday night  sale. Please stop by my booth to say hello!

I’ll be showing my fabric collages /wall hangings that inspired all the new jewelry that I’ll have there too.

This is a new necklace made of polymer clay domed  disks. Each of the “rounds” can be worn separately as a single pendant or brooch.  And they can mixed and matched to make a dramatic “statement” necklace.

We had three days of classes spanning a wide array of techniques and projects. We started off with Messengers and Storytellers - such a variety of great interpretations of the techniques and very unusual pieces. Next day was Rattles and Rattle Beads- lots of color and unusual shapes. On Monday we made a powerful group of Unfolding Pyramids. Each Pyramid had a different theme and interpretation. These were really powerful.

Thanks to Barbara Forbes Lyons- organizer, artist and woman extraordinaire and to all the ladies- you were so fun to be with and talented and inspiring.  I learned so much from you all and had a most wonderful time.Thank you!

I have talked before about my “sideways” approach to Polymer Clay. I still adore the medium but now sometimes find my inspiration by coming at it from a mixed media angle.

I have a rather large personal collection of earrings from 30 years ago- most of which I don’t wear anymore.  So I decided to cut them up, take them apart and see what parts might go with polymer – “repurpose” those parts along with new polymer clay bits and baubs.  Now this was exciting to me.

I’ve made 20 new pairs of earrings- here’s a few for you to see.

My challenges are to make 3 new earring designs (haven’t done that yet) and to design something wearable using a  certain focal bead we both decided on (haven’t done that yet) and to start to work on a new idea for a piece that will take alot of time and thought  (haven’t started on that yet).

I guess you  get the picture of where I am on these “challenges” but hey! I have a bit more time to do them ( 5 days- for the first two) and I have been working on other things . Hopefully will check in again soon with the “challenge pieces”.

So here’s a peak of what I have been making.

My teaching year begins soon and I excited to share all I know. Come join me in Tallahassee for three days of workshops- new ideas, techniques and creative projects to add to your repertoire.  Please contact Barbara at president@polymerclayart.org for all the details.

I just finished a batch of new Les Fleurs brooches. These feature layered polymer clay blends with a vintage French Button gathered at the French flea markets during my summer workshops there. Come join the hunt!

My 2012 teaching schedule is now posted and I  would love to share a workshop with you.  I’ll be adding two on-line classes to the schedule soon and some other “in person” workshop dates too.

It’s a time of year for me to reflect on where I would like to go creatively in 2012. More studio time is high on my list. New ideas to develop for personal work and for new classes- its’ a balancing act I’m still struggling with.

Very high on my list also is to share the creative spirit with others.  My recent class at Maureen Carlson’s on Creative Sparks was a real joy and I hope to repeat it at her special retreat center in 2013.

I’m on the path to opening an ETSY shop with new work as soon after the holidays as possible. I’ve got the artwork done- now its just the learning curve (for me) of stocking the shop. I hope you’ll enjoy this new style and line of new artwork. Soon I promise!

For those of you I will be seeing in France- I can hardly wait for the summer to come! And I do have a spot open in the workshops- please email me for info and discount offer!

Happiest of Holidays to you and yours!

Artfest is held in the charming town on Port Townsend. You fly (or drive) to Seattle and then cross to the island on  a ferry- you can rent a car or there is a shuttle available from the Seattle airport. Once there, we have everything we need right at our fingertips for a fantastic gathering. Food, art-making, evening events, inspiring teachers, galleries and shops in the town. It’s a rich feast of inspiration and creativity.

I first met Teesha in 2001 at  the conference Beyond the Surface. I was already a subscriber to her zine The Studio and was so excited to not only meet her but to teach at the next Artfest. I taught workshops there for the next several years, and now after a break, I am so honored to be back teaching at this last Artfest.

If you want to learn from and create art with some of the finest teachers on the planet and have a great time with like- minded creative souls, take this opportunity to come to Artfest. The dates are March 28- April 1st, 2012. It is an event not to be missed! Hope to see you all there!!!

This workshop has been very exciting to me as it puts into practice what I have been exploring for the last couple years. How we get inspired and how our hands take the next step. And how our hearts, minds and hands work together to make art.

At Synergy (the International Polymer Clay Conferences- 2008 and 2010) I gave seminars on this subject- Creative Sparks and From Seed to Blossom.  Soooo…. this week has been very special to work with a group over several days and put into practice  some of these ideas. Thank you ladies!

We’ve been having fun making jewelry, books and art dolls. And deeply thinking about inspiration and influences, thinking about new ways of working, developing new ideas that might lead to a production line or exhibition piece.I’ve been in experimenting mode working on new flower designs.

I hope you will join me in a workshop in 2012 (schedule will be on this site SOON) and for your own taste of Creative Sparks, please look at my book ( by myself and Cynthia Tinapple ) at www.blurb.com- then type my name in the search box for a 15-page preview.