Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy

www.clayangel.etsy.com

Who inspires you?

Me! I have been a crafter all of my life. I just feel like I have to make things. It all started when I was a child and my aunt bought us the World Book Encyclopedia with the Childcraft books. My favorite was the one on crafts, I was so enthralled with all the things I could make from virtually nothing! I made almost everything in that book! We were poor and I wanted the Barbie Townhouse. I got the Barbies, but I made the house out of cardboard boxes. Later mom and I made a Kiddie size Kitchen set for me out of cardboard boxes. We didn’t just draw on them we glued on fabrics sewed on buttons for knobs etc…

My husbands first gift to me was a 1:12 scale dollhouse kit with the promise that he would help build it, but he broke the first piece he touched so I finished that and made most of the furniture in it. THEN I discovered Poly Clay!!! So now I am inspired by all the generous clayers that share their instructions and lovely polymer pieces.

What inspires you?

I love nature, textures and colors! Anything can inspire me from t-shirts I see people wear to graffiti on a train and everything in between. When my mother was alive just the way she said to me “That’s absolutely Beautiful” would inspire me to do more. I couldn’t wait to decorate her Christmas tree and get those same 3 words from her! I love to watch the reaction on peoples faces when they like a piece of my work! That inspires me to make more. I guess I really crave the praise!

Where do you create?

I now have a craft room, with a table, shelves and tons of those plastic drawers. My TV is in there and I like to listen to the news while I create. I have a DVD player in there and my goal this year is to buy as many clay instruction DVD’s as I can. I asked for a Sirius satellite radio dock to listen to in there too. The only drawback is sometimes I get lonely in there so I want to put in a loveseat for my hubby to come in and watch sports with me.

How long have you been working with polymer clay?

About 3 years now.

www.janzio@etsy.com

Who inspires you?

Not to sound schmaltzy, but my husband inspires me. He is a jazz drummer (after work), and he makes time to practice nearly every day and is involved in several projects. It used to bother me that he spent so much time on his drums, until I decided to seriously pursue my crafts. Never in my adult life had I given myself “permission” to spend the time or money on creating anything in a serious or sustained manner. But seeing my husband do what he needs to do, and feeling more than a little jealous, gave me a big push in the right direction. Since I have made time every week to work on my crafts or Etsy shop, I have been very happy and feel like the part of my life that was missing – the act of creating – has been filled.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by all of the great work that is on Etsy and on other artisan sites I have discovered, as well as all the polymer clay techniques I have not yet attempted. I love collage, mixed media and sculpture, and it is very exciting to see what artists are doing with precious metal clay – unfortunately for my scattered little brain, I want to try ALL of these techniques/mediums.

Where do you create?

Formerly spread over three rooms, my work is now contained in a fairly well organized little room attached to my son’s room. Sometimes he plays his video games while I do my crafts. The great thing about this room is that three of the walls are filled with windows. Now that I have a dedicated and organized work space, I work more efficiently, and I am so happy to work there. It makes me want to quit my day job and spend all day in my craft room. It is like a little studio I have always dreamed of having.

How long have you been working with polymer clay?

Only a year. I took a few ceramic classes several years ago, and had visions of becoming a potter, but it was not practical to set up a ceramic studio in my home. I started on Etsy with beaded jewelry (doesn’t everyone?), and I came across several artists who were doing wonderful things with polymer clay. I bought a great book by Dotty McMillan and a few other books and realized what an amazing art medium polymer clay is. I get a little philosophical when I think about all the things that can be done with polymer clay – the “great imposter”. Artists can make it look like stone, metal, glass, bone. I have done a lot of thinking about what the clay does best – what is it most suited for. My goal is to discover what it does best for me.

www.juliespace.etsy.com

Who inspires you?

I am constantly inspired by all the wonderful artists I see online. I love to go cruising through their websites. Laurie Mika is a name that stands out as someone that gave me a renewed interest in polymer clay. I had primarily been working with stained glass mosaics and a bit of jewelry making. Her polymer clay mosaics really got me to think about different applications for polymer clay.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by nature, color and textures. I admire how art nouveau styles use natural forms and features and builds on them. I am influenced by folk artists. I like the patinas, the sometimes rough unfussy textures. I love antiques. I recently found some inspiration in some of my son’s cartoons. Who new that “Tak and the power of JuJu” could be inspirational. You never know when inspiration may hit, so I keep a ratty old notebook handy to write or doodle it down - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

 Where do you create?

We have a laundry room that I have pretty much taken over. The washer and dryer are still there fighting for space, but I am winning! It is a pretty nice space to work in when it is tidy, but that is a problem for me. I am a bit of a clutter bug.

How long have you been working with polymer clay?

I played around with it a few years ago, but did not spend enough time on it to have much success. I started back up again about 2 years ago with some books this time. I really began to fall in love with it and its many possibilities. I am still learning all the time and thoroughly enjoying it!

www.gabriel.etsy.com

Who inspires you?
My family and friends are always full of advice and ideas. I hear “You know what you
should do?” about twenty times a week! I am more than willing to let them do the dishes
while I try to bring their ideas to fruition. Seriously though, I love to hear their vision, because it gives me a fresh perspective.

What inspires you?
Nature, texture, color, inspiration is everywhere! I love cityscapes and the woods behind my house, smooth river rocks and concrete, literature and music. Oh, dreams too, and that little space when you’re not quite asleep. I have notebooks stashed everywhere so I can do a sketch or make a note. Now, if I could have more hours in the day.

Where do you create?
I have a little studio, just big enough for my table and storage but I tend to overflow to all areas of the house. Since my whole family creates, we are thinking about turning the dining room into a communal studio. But that was this week, last week the dining room was going to be the library.

How long have you been using polymer clay?
Off and on for about 17 years, is that possible!?! Yikes! I purchased The New Clay in 1991, I think. I had purchased some polymer clay before that because I was making jewelry and couldn’t always find the beads I had in mind, so I thought I’d make what I needed.