Another tutorial from Eskimimi, a great one on how to make a scarf pin.

Some of the neat and unusual polymer clay work I’ve found lately:

1. dandelion clock, 2. Collana Puzzle piccola POP FROG per Miriam, 3. Three magii brooch, 4. ancient symbols in turquoise 4

Upcoming events and classes I’d love to take:

• Sarah Shriver teaches in Pittsburgh June 1-3. This would be one of the classes I’d take if she taught anywhere near me!
• Christi Friesen will be teaching a class near me (sort of) that I AM attending. This is in Alberta, Canada so check it out at Red Deer College

The Midnight Orange – D. Antonia Truesdale – is known for her mother and child sculpts. The style is simple but symbolic and emotional and many of the sculpts are memorials to help remember and celebrate the events in a family’s life. Perfect for Mother’s Day.

Random trivia: chevrons are a crazy popular trend right now. I could totally see this method used for all sorts of other decorating with clay if fish aren’t your thing.

And this one isn’t May flowers – you know, April showers brings May flowers – in miniature. I particularly love the tiny little cookies.

1. Australian Shepherd mini sculpture, 2. Aldo, 3. Bread, Pies…, 4. Biscuit love ?!!

Going on out there in polymer clay land:

• The PCAGOE invites you to vote (quick! ends tomorrow, May 7th) in their monthly challenge
• The Art Bead Scene’s monthly challenge, as always, presents a good chance for polymer clayers who also make jewellery
• Iris mentions one of her teaching inspirations: letters from students. This is one I agree about. Everytime I get a student or customer letting me know something I worked on helped them… instant high.
• Paula introduces us to her and her daughter’s latest obsession: making polymer clay charms

Tamara of IrrysistableJewels makes lovely sculpted pieces – jewellery and small figures. You can view more of her work in her Etsy shop or on her website.

Here’s an adorable project for a Mother’s Day gift, made of clay. You could customize your basket to your Mom’s favourites and add the little details in to make it extra special. In my Mom’s case, I’d probably tuck a teeny tiny little spider in there… or hearts, tucked under a leaf.

Here’s a tutorial for a simple Mother’s Day card at RedTedArt. As they note in the tutorial, it would work for many other occasions as well and the simple flower motif is great for even small kiddos.

A collection of sweet Mother’s Day tributes, all made by talented polymer clay artists:

1. I Love Mom Basset Hound Dog clay sculpture, 2. Finished Mother and Calf, 3. Mouse Family, 4. The Slingshot

• PCC reminds you to have a vote in the monthly challenge and to consider participating in the next one
• The PCAGOE invites you to take a peek at their monthly challenge pieces in progress
• Amy of ThisHeartofMine shares how she added a lot of bling to letters for her friends
• Sweet Willow Designs talks a little about her experiment with coloured pencils and white clay

The bead above is one I made that I buffed to a nice moderate shine with a combination of sanding, more sanding and a lot of rubbing on jeans. I later went on and used a dremel to bring it up to a high shine.

Finishing techniques for clay work are some of the most frequently asked clay questions I get so I went and looked to see what the awesome Desiree McCrorey had written on the subject and it turns out she has TONS of material. I’m linking to her pages specifically on machine buffing since it gets you the most eye popping wow without varnishes.

I have a little bench grinder very similar to the one in her tutorial – it’s a no name brand from a discount tool store – and it was approximately $40. It works like a dream. I usually sit on the carpeted floor and buff there so that the flung objects don’t go far but if you mount yours to a table, do follow the safety advice she gives… you WILL fling objects and sometimes I fling small bowls and vessels.