http://polymerclaydaily.com/2011/06/27/playing-with-shapes

If you’ve been meaning to try some projects combining metal clay and polymer clay, this gorgeous book, Perfectly Paired, by Patricia Kimle, will get you motivated to do it.

Projects go far beyond the obvious “make a metal clay frame for some polymer.” The construction methods are sophisticated and polished. Doing these projects may get you to stretch, and do a technique you haven’t done yet.

The pictures are clear and helpful, and labeled with letters that refer specifically to spots in the text. I appreciate that, so that I can quickly find exactly the information I need.

Who can use this book? There’s something here for everyone, even beginners will find something to do, but intermediate and advanced artisans will find a challenge as well.

Another benefit to this book is that you might find it very helpful as hands-on how to design lessons. Doing these projects could help you get out of a rut, if you’re in one, or just help you think in a new way about how to construct a project.

If you’re not an advanced poly clay artisan, that’s okay too, there are some simple poly clay projects to make.

http://polymerclaydaily.com

Cyndi’s post Beaded Jewelry as Decorations reminded me of Ornament Thursday, a blog carnival I participated in back in 2007.

Here are the links to the ornaments I posted then:

Polymer Clay Ornament

and

Memory Wire Ornament

Read it here: http://blog.craftygoat.com

For a link to instructions on polymer clay candy corn earrings, click here:

http://www.cutoutandkeep.net (via CRAFT)

And here’s a link to a how-to on a nice looking adjustable length knotted cord choker by Emma Ralph: http://www.ejrbeads.co.uk

For links to El Dia de los Muertos exhibits in Chicago and Indianapolis, scroll down to the recent posts below.

It’s that time of year, fall is here and time to think about the coming of El Dia de los Muertos. I’m already in that mode, since I just finished a shrine for my grandfather, which will be in the show at the Indianapolis Art Center.

This book, Day of the Dead Crafts, includes a number of jewelry projects, many of them polymer clay, so it’s relevant here!

The book starts with a history of El Dia de los Muertos, which is great, since you want to understand the meaning behind the day before making anything.

The chapters include: Offrendas (alters), Calaveras (skeletons with personality), Masks and Skulls, Jewelry and Home Decor.

Some of the jewelry projects are a little folksy, which is entirely appropriate, since it’s a folk-type holiday, but it’s hard to see a jewelry person doing them without sophisticat-ing things up a bit.

For me, I find the rest of the book more helpful and inspiring, and I’m more likely to do the other projects. If I did do the jewelry projects, I would take them as inspiration and do them a bit differently.

I do think the step by step instructions for the polymer clay projects are clear and helpful. They include forming a skull and forming a skeleton.

Overall I give the book a thumbs up. If you’re interested in doing something with Day of the Dead, but aren’t sure where to start, this book is perfect for you.

The chapters on printmaking and papel picado are also very good. The projects on papel picado show you how to cut them using an Exacto knife. If you’re looking for projects that can be done with scissors, the book, Mexican Papercutting: Simple Techniques for Creating Colorful Cut-Paper Projects has that covered.

If you’re in the Chicago area, be sure to visit the National Museum of Mexican Art’s Largest Annual Day of the Dead Exhibition in the Nation, details here: http://www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org.

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see Day of the Dead in metal clay!