polymergence header
In This Issue
Inside the Box
Create Your Own Website
Online Resources
Calls for Entry
Upcoming Events
IPCA Membership Card
IPCA Elections
Guild Spotlight
Santa Barbara Guild
Retreat in Polymer Arts
Polymer in Print
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Think Inside the Box for Holiday Gifts

by Suzanne Ivester

This is the time of year when many of us are making jewelry and other small items, to sell or give as gifts to our friends and family.

Make your gift items even more special by creating handcrafted containers for them.

You may use the tutorials and templates linked below to make containers for your gifts, or to sell your work in. You just can't sell the containers themselves separately, or sell instructions to make them.

If you mention any of these containers on your own blogs or websites, please link back to the original sites.

Make a clever and decorative pillow box for small items out of used greeting cards.

Here's a collection of rectangular decorated boxes for every occasion.  Download them and print them on cardstock, then fold.

To get an early start on Valentine's Day, here's a printable heart-shaped box.

heart box

We found complete instructions on how to make your own festive bubble mailers for shipping your creations.

Here's a no-sew jewelry pouch, made from wire-edged ribbon. What a great idea!
jewelry pouch

Origami Boxes
If you're ambitious and have a little extra time, below are links to some video tutorials for making really impressive origami boxes.

A detailed demonstration of a hexagonal box; the lid is embellished with a star.

If you like odd numbers (and who doesn't?), here's a video demonstrating a pentagon box.

This video demonstrates how to make a box in the shape of a six-pointed star.



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Members-Only Resources
Have you ever wanted your own website, but have been unsure how to do it?  Were you afraid it would be outside your budget? 

In this first article of a 3-part series, Cat Therien shares how you can create a great looking website at no expense, without having to pay a web designer or know html.



boy at computer
       


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Online Resources

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Calls for Entry

 

Note: Many calls in the US are open to non-US residents!


Magazine Challenges

Art Jewelry Facebook Challenge, "Inspired by Architecture," deadline Nov. 20 

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Upcoming Events:

Classes and Workshops

Carol Blackburn, Tools of the Trade II, London, UK, Nov 20.   
Carol Blackburn, Extrusions Galore, London, UK, Nov. 20

Christi Friesen, "Winter Wonderland," and "A Day of Steampunk," Black Mountain, NC, Dec 3-4.

Sue Heaser,
London, UK, Dec. 4

Cabin Fever Clay Fest, Laurel Maryland,  Feb. 17-22,  2012. Offering 8 pre-conference workshops and 12 workshops.



Volume 4, Issue 11
November 2011
IPCA Membership Card Gets You Discounts
 
IPCA members can now download a personalized membership card. This card can be presented to some retail stores or other polymer clay guilds to receive discounts on merchandise or events. Discount policies vary, and we recommend you speak with a store manager or local guild officer. Some discount programs, such as the Joann VIP Program, require that you apply for a discount card online, then present your membership card at the store.  Sign into theipca.org and then click the image below.

 

Choosing IPCA Officers for 2012-14

 

It's time to cast your vote!   Candidates for three IPCA board positions have been nominated, and they have filled out their official questionnaires.  Members of the IPCA will vote online for the candidate of their choice, beginning Monday, November 21. Voting will stay open until December 2. 

 

Please log in  to the IPCA website, then go to the Members Only section to view the candidates' questionnaires. If you are a member, but do not have an account on the IPCA website (or cannot remember your login/password), please contact the webmaster.

 

 The candidates are:  

 

Member at Large, Virginia:   Mechelle J. Fox

 

Vice President, Membership: 

Corliss Rose 

 

Web Content Editor:

Alaina Ackley 

 

A description of these offices and duties (as well as all board positions) can be found on the website as well. 

 

Polymer Art at the Crossroads:
A True Watershed Event

by Beth Ackley, IPCA President  

 

I visited the Racine Art Museum on Saturday, October 29, 2011, to see Terra Nova: Polymer Art at the Crossroads. I was there with three members of the Metro Milwaukee Polymer Clay Guild. The exhibit is breathtaking! To see polymer clay art displayed in a formal setting of a museum was amazing.

 

There are over 200 exhibit pieces in the second-floor gallery. Many of the pieces are a gift to the museum and will go in their permanent archives. Others are on loan from artists, collectors, and galleries. Thirty-four artists were featured, but the spotlight was on eight Boundary Breakers: Bonnie Bishoff and J.M. Syron, Jeffrey Lloyd Dever, Kathleen Dustin, Steven Ford and David Forlano, Tory Hughes, Cynthia Toops, Pier Voulkos, and Elise Winters. Other artists were also featured: Jamey Allen, Kathleen Amt, Rachel Carren, Dan Cormier, Debra DeWolff, Gwen Gibson, Linda Goff, Michael Grove, Ruth Anne Grove, Lindly Haunani, Carl Hornberger, Donna Kato, Ronnie Kirsch, Judy Kuskin, Maggie Maggio, Wendy Wallin Malinow, Sandra McCaw, Linda Pedersen, Nan Roche, Sarah Shriver, Carol Simmons, Barbara Sperling, Melanie West, and Amy Zinman.

More 

 

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Haunani sushi platter
Lindly Haunani, Sushi Platter, 1992

Guild Spotlight

Queen City Clayers, Charlotte, NC


by Maggie Westall

A small group of us started having clay play days after we met in a class given by Barbara McGuire at Expressive Impressions (a great bead store and learning place, which sadly is not open anymore).  Most of us are also members of the Blue Ridge Polymer Clay Guild (BRPCG) in Asheville, North Carolina. But Asheville is 120 miles from Charlotte, and we wanted to be able to get together with clay friends closer to home. So the Queen City Clayers Polymer Clay Guild was officially established on August 23, 2008.  

For those of you not familiar with Charlotte, its nickname is the Queen City.   A friend at the BRPCG suggested it as a guild name, and it was too funny not to use.

Eakes pointsettia cane
Pointsettia cane by Julie Eakes,
an early QCC demo
We're a fun-loving group polymer clay enthusiasts. Currently we meet in the classroom of a business in Charlotte, NC, on or about the fourth Saturday of each month, from 12:00 to 4:00.    We have 9 members so far.  The most famous member, whom some of you might know, is Julie Eakes (queen of face canes IMHO). 

Our meetings usually consist of a tiny bit of guild business followed by a  demonstration.  We have such a talented group--interested in all aspects of polymer clay--so we have had demos on just about every technique imaginable!  One of the most unusual ones was lathe-turnin
g of polymer clay by the very talented Kathy Hood.  We were also lucky enough to have Julie volunteer to teach a two-day workshop on her amazing face canes.  We're currently working on a sculpting demonstration (a two-parter) of making an elf/Santa. 

Always lots of laughing and learning! If you're in the Charlotte area and interested, chec
k out our blog.  

lathed pens QCPC
Lathe-turned pens and keychain
 from demo by Kathy Hood 
 

 

New Guild Forming in Santa Barbara, CA

Ellen Gerardis is beginning to form a new polymer clay guild in Santa Barbara, California. She recently moved there from Costa Mesa, where she was a member of the Orange County Polymer Clay Guild and loved it. If you live in the Santa Barbara area and would like to participate in the fun and learning, contact Ellen at [email protected].
Review of IPCA Retreat 2011
in The Polymer Arts

 

The Polymer Arts' issue no. 2, due out November 15th, will include a piece by IPCA member Sue O'Neill recapping the IPCA Retreat 2011. The article presents an overview with an eye to what attendees get out of these kinds of events. This issue's theme is "Education and Instruction," so discussing a big event that was educative but a little different from the norm is an ideal fit.  

 

 

Those of us who attended the Retreat and got to know Sue were all affected by her energy and enthusiasm.  She ask
Sue O'Neill at retreat
Sue O'Neill at the Retreat

s, "So, as this issue of The Polymer Arts relates to education, was there an educational benefit from the Retreat format, or is it more about networking and camaraderie? I'd have to say - it was all the above. An attendee could realistically NOT bring their own supplies to this event and still reap mega benefits. I personally accomplished very little in terms of actual art production. I managed a pendant and pair of earrings which needed to be finished later, but I soaked up just tons of information and inspiration."

Pre-orders and subscriptions to The Polymer Arts are being taken now.


Polymer in Print: What's New

 

New Books

Books Coming Soon  

  • Nagumo, Rie. Enlightened Polymer Clay: Artisan Jewelry Designs Inspired by Nature, March 26, 2012  
  • Schiller, Dawn. FaeMaker: Making Fantasy Characters with Polymer Clay, Aug. 9, 2012 

 Magazines  

  • Polymer Cafe, December 2011: "Lisa Pavelka: Entrepreneur with an Enormous E," Trina Williams; "Crystal Blossom Necklace," Lisa Pavelka;   "Topaz Cathedral Jewelry Set," Shirley Rufener; "Angel Art Doll," Linda Hess; "Basic Principles of Design," Jan Geisen; "Home Decor Challenge Winners"; "Elf Place Card Push Puppet," Kellie Mowat. 
  • The Polymer Arts, November 2011: Readers' round robin with your stories about the great teachers in your life; Christi Friesen talks about creativity; Barbara McGuire on the role of learning and teaching in our growth as artists; "How to Create and Teach a Polymer Clay Workshop"; "Share your Passion for Fun and Profit"; Technique Tutorials: "Making Finely Detailed Textures and Stampings with Wax," and "Elabordorite: A  Many-Layered Faux Semi-precious Stone"
  • American Craft, Oct/Nov 2011, "How Polymer Hit the Bigtime," Monica Moses 
  • Art Doll Quarterly, Winter 2011, "Little Blessings," Gloria Rone  
  • From Polymer to Art, The next issue will be Purple, available now for preorder.
  • Belle Armoire Jewelry, Winter 2011, "Polymer Clay Basics," featured artist Sherilyn Miller.  
  • Bead Design Studio, December 2011, "Bridle Necklace," Christi Friesen