Going along with the garden theme but on a bit of a tangent is inclusions. You can mix the neatest things right into the clay – particularly into translucent clay – and it makes wonderful speckled pieces. Some excellent inclusions are the dried flowers and herbs from your gardening efforts. A little crushed oregano is a lovely addition to a faux jade and dried poppy petals make wonderful additions to beads. Anna of SilverleafShinyStuff has a collection of inclusion beads here as well as many more in her photo album.

A friend, Cat Therien, took the idea a step further and started a line of beads that used the dried flowers from events – weddings and funerals – for her customers. Here’s one lovely piece. You can check the album it’s in for a stack more.

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Kawaii Cat Pancakes Polymer Clay Tutorial

POP! – Perspectives on Polymer

Contemporary Craft is thrilled to be hosting POP! – Perspectives on Polymer June 25-29, 2022. A five-day celebration of contemporary work in polymer, the event will have something for everyone who loves polymer clay. POP! will feature four workshops along with virtual talks by some of the best polymer artists in the country, an exhibition of small works in polymer, and a curated feature in the Store. The opening reception will be held on Saturday, June 25, 6-8 PM, and will be free and open to the public.

POP!’s focus on workshops and the materiality of polymer makes this boutique event more than just a conference. Each participating artist was selected for their unique perspectives on polymer and the exciting ways they are moving the medium forward. The featured instructor for the event is Jeffrey Lloyd Dever, whose pioneering techniques in polymer have made him one of the most respected artists in the field. His jewelry and sculptural objects have been shown in many national invitational exhibitions, and his works are represented in numerous private collections, galleries and museums.

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POP! – Perspectives on Polymer