Chicki on Etsy!

Browsing Etsy the other day, I ran across a very talented polymer clay artist. She makes the most amazing focal pendants!

So, I asked her if I could feature her on my blog, and she said "Yes!" (Click on the pictures to see the actual listings)

Chicki ( http://chicki.etsy.com/ ) is also a member of the Etsy Street team I belong to, PCAGOE (Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy). You can check out their blog at http://www.pcagoe.com/

When did you start to work with clay?

I first bought some clay probably 5 years or so ago and made some very simple beads with it. Since then I took a couple breaks from clay when I had my children. I guess I have been seriously working with it for almost 2 years now and have had it in my etsy shop for just over a year.

What had inspired you to start?

I am always up for a challenge and thought clay would be fun to try. Well, I bought some clay and was hooked. It is such a great medium to work with.

What do you love most about working with clay?

I love the versatility clay has. It can mimic anything you want it to be and it can be used in so many ways...its great! I love the colours and textures that clay can be made into as well. There are so many great artists out there using it in so many ways...that is fantastic!

What is your most favorite creation?

Ok so my biased opinion is all of them! I do love all of my work but have a few that I just cannot part with so I keep them for myself or give them to close family members. Right now though, I really like creating necklaces from my own beads and enhancing them with sterling silver findings and glass beads or crystals.

Do you have any advice for people who are considering working with polymer clays?

There is a wealth of information out there to learn from. My advice to a newbie would be to read and experiment. There are lots of great books out there. Develop your own style and go from there....you never know what you will end up creating. And have fun!

Thanks Julie!

February Challenge for the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy (PCAGOE) : ACEO's

It is time again for the PCAGOE to hold it's monthly Challenge. This month's theme is ACEO's. Personally, I have made very few of these and found it to be an exciting adventure! I never really considered the fact that I could make these intriguing little trading cards out of polymer clay!

For those who would like to know, an ACEO stands for Art Card Editions and Originals. Another name you may be familiar with is ATC (or Art Trading Card) which normally is made out of paper. These are fairly inexpensive ways for an artist to be able to provide art work for collectors at less expensive prices, and definitely easier to ship all over the world at reasonable rates. They have become extremely popular over the last few years. If you would like to see some examples, please visit http://www.etsy.com and do a search for ACEO or ATC and you will see some amazing ART! You can also do a search on Wikipedia and read the history if these wonderful collector pieces!

My fellow guild members of PCAGOE have put together a wonderful collection for you to browse and if you would like, please vote for your favourite. You can go to http://www.pcagoe.com to view the entries, and you may also view the prizes available to be won. There will be prizes for the most voted for entries, but best of all, as a voter, you will also be eligible to win a prize! The winners for voting will be randomly drawn and announced on the main website. Voting will be held from February 1st to February 7th.

Here is my entry for the challenge!

And here is a picture of all of the entries!

1. Coffee Lover by PuppyKissPortraits

2. Eros by Polyclarific

3. Altered Art by mistymountainrain

4. An Evening at the Farm by sswoss

5. The Dog Ate My Homework by beetreebyme

6. Color My World by polymerclaycreations

7. Composite by jangeisen

8. Spring Love by divadea

9. Valentine Memories by SCDiva

10. Dreams of Summer Gone By by jewelzodonnell

11. Industrial Dream by zoeowyn

12. Express Yourself by juliespace

13. Twilight Elf by Amantecatl

14. Hand Foot… hmmm by Vaharoni

15. Inspirational Message by thecolorofdreams

16. Unfurl Your Heart to Me by OrganicOdysseys

17. Little Bird on a Tree by peggers

18. Valentine by tejaesart

My New Banner!

Thank you so much to Tejae, a fellow member of the PCAGOE (Polymer Clay Artist Guild of Etsy) for my wonderful new banner! I love it, it is perfect! Tejae has been ever so helpful to me as I have only recently joined the PCAGOE and is always there with thoughtful advice and support. I know many of us are very glad that she is so generous of her time.

When I mentioned that I wanted to have a nice banner for my new blog, she created this one for me :)

Tejae is an extremely talented polymer clay artist, and has a shop on Etsy. You should check out her shop! http://www.tejaesart.etsy.com/ I think my favourite right now is this one,

It is called, "Key to my Heart"

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19906557