Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy

For this month’s challenge we wanted to showcase a very popular polymer clay technique, Mokume Gane, that just about anyone can do. All participating members worked hard to create some amazing mokume gane pieces. This month there was a runaway winner and I’m not surprised, because her mokume gane creations have been amazing us since she joined the guild. The winner is Rebecca of RGCreations for her incredible Half Moon Pendant made with metallic silver, black and white clay using a layered and stamped mokume gane. Congratulations Rebecca! She will receive $20 as well as the premier issue of Make it Mine and the book, Polymer Pizazz, both courtesy of Polymer Clay Productions and Kalmbach Publishing Co.

Second Place went to Amy of ovenfriedbeads.etsy for her Earthmother Mokume GanePendant. Here is her description of the pendant and it’s inspiration: this pendant is a truly one-of-a-kind piece of art! Earthy reds, browns and greens mixed with cloudy whites are speckled with little stars, resembling (at least to me), the cosmos in motion. So Earthmother is not a picture of Earth. It is what made and continues to surround her. We’re not surprised that this pendant has already been sold!

Third Place went to Divadea.etsy.com for her very cool Mokume gane frame and switch cover set .

And finally, honorable mention went to Janice of Naftali.etsy.com for her incredible Shattered Mokume beads.

Great work everyone! Let’s not forget our voter winner. Milliedogdesigns.etsy.com was randomly picked from all the voters to receive our prize pack worth over $150 and the premier issue of Make it Mine Magazine. Congratulations to all the winners!! We’ll see you again next month!! In the mean time, have a Happy Holiday season and we all hope Santa puts lots of polymer clay under your tree and in your stocking!!

Here are the entries for the PCAGOE November Mokume Gane Challenge. The challenge this month was to create a polymer clay item using the mokume gane technique. Mokume gane is originally a Japanese metalworking technique that was adapted as a polymer clay technique. Mokume gane is created by layering very thin sheets of polymer clay and then distorting the stack with any number of tools and then shaving off thin slices to show off the colors, layers and patterns created within the stack. You can also add inclusions such as metal leaf and inks to create further variations or use stamps and texture plates to create interesting imagery. Here is a mokume gane tutorial created by one of our members, papernclay.etsy.com. This technique offers up a ton of possibilities, and our members have done a great job in showcasing the many different variations mokume gane has to offer. Many members had never tried this technique , so amazingly some of these are first time efforts. Thanks to all that participated!

VOTE and WIN the incredible Polymer Clay Prize Pack (created by PCAGOE members) listed below and valued at over $150 !!!! This month’s prize includes earrings, necklaces, a bracelet, loose beads and pendants, brooches, a pen and holder, a magnetic refrigerator vase and a cell phone charm, as well as a copy of the Winter 2007 Premier issue of Make it Mine which includes lots of great craft projects courtesy of Polymer Clay Productions and Kalmbach Publishing Co. The PCAGOE Member who wins the challenge this month will win $20 and as well as the Make it Mine Magazine and the book, The Best of Bead&Button Magazine Polymer Pizazz, also from Kalmbach Publishing Co.

All you have to do is vote for the winner and you will be entered into a drawing for a fabulous polymer clay prize pack created by the talented members of the PCAGOE. Take a look at all of the entries for the November Mokume Gane Challenge. Keep in mind the theme of using the mokume gane technique and how well the piece interprets the theme. Once you have chosen your favorite, please complete the form at the bottom of this post and submit it (please note that e-mail addresses will be used to contact the winners only and will not be used for any other purpose) . Two winners will be randomly chosen from all of the voters. You can vote once between 12noon on November 26th and midnight (Eastern Standard Time)on November 28th . The winners will be announced on November 29th.

To view the entries close-up and to read the descriptions of the items, please click on the title links below the entry photos. To purchase any of the items, or to see what else the artists have to offer, click on the shop names listed below the entry photos.

Thank you and good luck!!

1. Mokume Gane Frame and Switchplate Cover by divadea.etsy.com
2. Butterfly Necklace by polyclarific.etsy.com
3. Red-and-Gold by TejaesArt.etsy.com
4. Christmas ornament 2007 by gingerbellsgifts.etsy.com
5. Mokume Gane Pendant by janzio.etsy.com
6. Retro Swirlz by breezydawndesigns.etsy.com
7. Pink MG Pendant by glassclayhouse.etsy.com
8. Mokume Gane Earrings by huntersdesigns.etsy.com
9. Mokume Gane Necklace by NKDesigns.etsy.com
10. Mokume Vase Brooch by beetreebyme.etsy.com
11. Earthmother Mokume Gane Pendant by ovenfriedbeads.etsy.com
12. Gift Box by juliespace.etsy.com
13. Mokume Gane Bead Set by thecolorofdreams.etsy.com
14. Teardrop Mokume’ Gane Beads by clayangel.etsy.com
15. Half Moon Pendant by RGcreations.etsy.com
16. Cuff Bracelet by marciapalmer.etsy.com
17. Plum Wine-Mokume Gane Mirror - gabriel.etsy.com
18. Mokume Gane Pendant by kabidesigns.etsy.com
19. Mokume Gane Egg Ornament by madeinlowell.etsy.com
20. Mokume Gane beads by Karooart.etsy.com
21. Shattered Mokume by naftali.etsy.com
22. Mokume Gane Vase by amyandwhalen.etsy.com
23. Cherry Blossom Perfume Atomizer & Mirror Compact by pollyhyper.etsy.com
24. Holiday Pins by papernclay.etsy.com
25. ACEO LOVE by elizabethbonura.etsy.com
26. Under the Microscope Brooch by blockpartypress.etsy.com

VOTE HERE!!!

www.irismishly.etsy.com

Who inspires you?

I am most inspired by millefiori art and artists, my favorite millefiori artists are Karen Hennessey from “ZECCA” and the people from “Silly Millies” canes, both were featured in my polymerionline blog. I love making flower millefiori canes and I admire other artists making more complex and unique canes.

What inspires you?

I am a former makeup artist and studied fashion design so I am looking at fashion magazines and try to be updated on trends, colors and seasonal information. Most of the time I can look at an item unrelated to craft and see my future design in it, I enjoy taking a walk at home decor &   accessories stores, looking at any item/fabric/pattern/color and think of my own handmade piece of art inspired by that theme.
Playing with color is a major part of my clay work,  Since I was a little girl I loved color crafting and that is the reason I called my business name ARCOIRIS – in Spanish “rainbow” which match my name too, I love the basic colors and use them a lot in my beads, hamsas, jewelry and accessories.

Where do you create?

At the moment I have my own small room for creating, I am currently adding an additional gallery floor in my home so I’ll have a big space to work and teach, and it’s going to look amazing :)

How long have you been working with polymer clay?

I’ve been working with polymer clay since 2004.   3 years ago, one of my friends invited me to a short art lesson in a local school to learn what polymer clay is (for the first time of my life) and I was caught by the polymeric virus (b.t.w my friend didn’t like the clay at all but she is getting gifts from me ;)

www.elizabethbonura.etsy.com

Who inspires you?

The people I share my life with, specifically my husband. He was the reason I began sculpting professionally. When we were getting married, I wanted something special to capture how happy the two of us were and his appearance, including his curly hair and goatee. He inspired me to create my first portrait wedding sculpture, which, in turn, led to me starting my own website for other brides looking for custom cake toppers (http://www.weddingsculptures.com).   My husband and son were also the inspiration for the “Polymer Clay Portrait Sculpture” project I demonstrated while on HGTV’s That’s Clever!” (http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_clay_figures/article/0,,HGTV_3237_4206336,00.html).

What inspires you?

Life inspires me!  I love to capture special moments in clay. When creating my custom wedding cake toppers, inspiration comes from the photos shared by customers. Often they send me multiple images in order to create a specific moment or look. For example, many send pictures of their faces with the expression they want sculpted, or a pose they want or their hair, etc. I use this collection of pictures to put the individual details together to create an accurate portrait before their wedding day. It’s not always easy, but it is without question hugely rewarding to be part of someone’s vision of their special day.

Where do you create?
I create in my home studio - which I share with my son(an almost 3yrs old).  One of my favorite things is to be creating a sculpture while my son paints next to me!

 How long have you been working with polymer clay?
I have been working with polymer clay since 1994 after discovering the book,”The New Clay”.  I loved the color pallet of polymer clay and how it could be cured in a home oven - no kiln needed!  I sold my first custom wedding cake topper in 2000 after my husband gave me the url “weddingsculpture.com” for Valentine’s Day.  I created my first art doll in 2003 and  in 2007, I opened my etsy shop http://ElizabethBonura.etsy.com:)