Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy

Ever wondered what a PCAGOE Member looked like? Well here is your chance to get a sneak peak at a few of our members and be entered to win a prize! Here are the entries for the June Self-Portrait Challenge. This month’s challenge was to create a self portrait using polymer clay. There were no other rules, so participants could interpret the theme as they saw fit. All of the entries are incredibly different and soooo creative this month. Thanks to all that participated!

We are excited to announce that this challenge is sponsored by a wonderful new polymer clay site, Polymerclayproductions.com which was started by our guild founders Ilysa Bierer and Kira Slye. The site features weekly polymer clay podcasts and video casts which offer great polymer clay information and tutorials. They also offer ready made kits that go along with the video casts that contain all the tools you would need to create the items in the tutorials. Both the podcasts and video casts can be downloaded to your computer or iPod. The site also features a forum where you can network with other PC artists, show off your work and get answers to questions about creating with polymer clay. If you have ever thought about getting into polymer clay, or want to increase your knowledge and skills using polymer clay, PolymerClayProductions.com is a great resource. The ladies of PolymerClayProductions.com have offered one of their first kits as a prize to both the voter winner and the PCAGOE member winner. Each kit contains an acrylic roller (you can choose from 4 colors), 6 shadetex texture sheets, 4 blocks of Sculpey Premo polymer clay, a tissue blade with case, a bamboo skewer and some magnets.

VOTE and WIN a PolymerClayProductions.com Basic Polymer Clay Kit (as pictured above)!!!

All you have to do is vote for the winner and you will be entered into a drawing to win the kit pictured above. Take a look at all of the entries for the June Self-Portrait Challenge. Keep in mind the challenge of creating a self-portrait and how well the piece meets this challenge. We have also included photos of the artists to help with this challenge. Once you have chosen your favorite, please complete the form at the bottom of this post and submit it. One winner will be randomly chosen from all of the voters. You can vote once between noon on June 26th and noon on June 30th. The winners will be announced on July 1st.

To view the entries close-up as a slide show, please click on the first photo and use the arrows at the bottom of the picture to navigate through all of the entries. The number of the entry as well as the title and it’s creator are listed at the bottom of each photo. There is also a reference list below the gallery which includes this same information as well as a direct link to each shop so that you view some of their other creations!

#1. “What Can You Tell About Me?” Polyclarific.etsy.com

#2. “Everyday is a Happy Day if You Just Keep the Smile On” artbylilin.etsy.com

#3. “Bewildered” maureenthomasdesigns.etsy.com

#4. The More I Know The Less Black and White I See. gabriel.etsy.com

#5. “Barista Faery” BreezyDawnDesigns.etsy.com

#6. “Alissa: Big and Loud, Assymetrical but Balanced” divadea.etsy.com

#7. “Sarah the Rocker Chick” sarahmonster.etsy.com

#8. “Versatile Self-Portrait” madeinlowell.etsy.com

#9. “Self-Portrait” HardflowerStudios.etsy.com

#10. “365 Days Self-Portrait Bracelet” missdanceypants.etsy.com

#11. “I Create Therefore I Am” blockpartypress.etsy.com

#12. “Love Me, Love My Cat” artsyclay.etsy.com

#13. “Reveal Myself” thecolorofdreams.etsy.com

#14. “Delicious Kiss Kiss Necklace” sohobeads.etsy.com

#15. Whatever You Choose to do Always Put Your Heart into It” marciapalmer.etsy.com

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Recently we (PCAGOE members) completed a collaborative project for the Etsy headquarters and lab. We created a wall hanging with Etsy’s slogan. We decided to create it in the same style as our PCAGOE banner with different members each creating a letter or two and then one member , Dawn of HardflowerStudios.etsy.com, creating the background and assembling the final piece. This was no small undertaking and it took us a couple of months to complete. We recently sent the gift to the Etsy Labs along with some polymer clay and a pasta machine. We felt that in order for the labs to be complete, they had to have some polymer clay for artists to come in and use. Plus, we are all about promoting polymer clay as an art medium, so this was a way for us to hopefully do our part to introduce it to some artists who have never used it before (few as they may be)!

The wall hanging was happily received by the Labs and they even wrote about it on the Etsy blog. If you ever visit the Etsy Labs, please keep an eye out for the wall hanging and please take a closer look. The detailing really can’t be captured with a camera! Some of the techniques used: mokume gane, caning, sculpture, texturing, coloring with pigment powders, metal leaf, stamping and painting.

I think the best part of the project was how different each letter was, but how great they all looked together!

PCAGOE members who contributed to this project:
Ilysaart, StudioBijou, MarciaPalmer, ScottGarrette, MaureenThomasDesigns, HardflowerStudios, MamaStaub, BlueLadyStudios, BenCanDance, IttyBittiesForYou, MadeinLowell, Faffcreations, TheColorofDreams, DeerCrossDesigns, BreezyDawnDesigns, NatureStudio, LadyRayCello, ColorFunky, NothinLikeIt, Peggers, BlockPartyPress, Treasurefield, Nanjodogz, Polyclarific, BlueDogBeads, MithrilDreams, and Cutesis. The letter board was compiled by HardflowerStudios.

We had a great challenge this month!  We had over 150 votes from 12 different countries!  The voters have spoken and Holly from Pollyhyper.etsy.com is the winner for her Rose Matchbox Pendant! Congratulations to Holly! She will receive $20 and a pack of supplies donated by members of the guild worth over $25.

There was so much talent this month, that we also wanted mention which artists came in 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention.

2nd Place - Mardi Gras by Cutesis.etsy.com

3rd Place - Polymer and Felted Bead necklace and Earring set by madeinlowell.etsy.com

Honorable mention - A tie between Kaleido Box by ilysaart.etsy.com & Deep Blue Dream Lantern Pendant by HardflowerStudios.etsy.com

The winner’s of the Polymer Clay Prize Packs are Marylou from Time2cre8.etsy.com and Beth Bridygham!!! Congratulations to all our winners. We’ll see you again next month!!!!!!