All Entries in the "What-If" Category
diy paper transformer toy
Last December I posted a video demonstrating how to make a paper toy by taping together several folded units of paper. Here’s another video of a similar toy but I think this one is more interesting.
Imagine this as a piece of jewelry – paper, polymer, metal, fabric – pick your medium. Why not?
Paper Toy Transformer – Transformer De Papel – More free videos are here
what about this?
As soon as I saw these Heidi Saul rings I realized that the horn, granite and glass beads could be replaced with polymer clay beads. Don’t you agree? The gold rings remind me of the change a bead findings that have been popular for the last few years. Simple design with a knockout effect. She knows how to have fun too.
the spooner
Always on the lookout for recycled goods and interesting coverables for clay, when I saw this recycled spoon bottle opener I thought it had polymer possibilities. Right? Right?
Go to it! I want to see results – nifty polymer clay-covered handles. Mokume Ganed. Caned. Inked and Stamped. Transferred. pretty please?
felt slippers tutorial
Felting continues to fascinate me. I am toying with the idea of combining felted wool with my polymer clay work. Take a look as Caroline walks us through the how-to process for a pair of felt slippers. You might see slippers, but I see a vessel form begging for polymer clay embellishments.
The tutorial is spread out over four blog posts:
Get Ready (What you need to get started)
Get Set (Let’s set it up right)
Go! (The wet and wonderful part)
Finish Line (Wasn’t that fun? Now for the finishing touches)
Felting is in my future – when I start playing I’ll let you know.
bloxes
What if we started thinking like the guy who created Bloxes?
Bloxes are building blocks made of interlocking pieces of corrugated cardboard, folded together. Bloxes can connect with each other on all six sides, so you can use them to build walls, benches, tables, tunnels — whatever you can think of.
Aza Raskin’s cardboard product is meant to furnish your office – from walls to furniture, but what about using the ‘blox’ concept for art installations?
Why not cover the interlocking pieces with polymer clay? Or paint? Or decorative paper? Or felted wool? Mmmmmm…felted wool. That might be a job for Betz White. She’s a whiz with felted wool – and she’s already got Martha Stewart hooked on her recycled-sweater-felt-teacups. I bet Betz could figure out a way to make a cozy felted bloxes table to hold those adorable teacups that would make Martha swoon.
C’mon people – time to think outside the blox! Have an idea for covering the way-cool Bloxes? Tell us about it.
Read more about this brand-new product here.
Many thanks to Lili Fox Velez for finding the links and sending them along.
felted bowls
I love these felted nesting bowls. Design*Sponge has a quick how-to that should help you get started.
What If…you embellished felted bowls with polymer clay cane slices? Or polymer clay beads? And added polymer clay feet?
What If…
gogo borgerding cuffs
Gogo Borderding creates bold, colorful cuffs made of anodized aluminum with a sterling silver overlay. The artist cuts simple shapes from the silver sheet, creating windows for the colorful aluminum to ‘pop’ through. I love all of them: large, medium, small, extra small and ‘corsage cuffs’.
I think this is a job for Libby, don’t you?
schimmel’s junk mail portraits
Using mosaic tiles made from recycled junk mail, S.A. Schimmel Gold ‘paints’ vivid portraits that are alive, awake and vibrant.
Reading her artist’s statement you get the sense that the artist is as colorful as her art. “I take fascinating and colorful expeditions down rabbit holes. My art reflects the conclusion of these voyages utilizing an ability to see images in tiny bits, in a color scheme that may only exist in my mind. The how, the process, is not important – the finished creation is the sum of the parts and the end of the journey. Now, it is up to you to enjoy.”
Each portrait is made up of advertising ephemera, junk mail and greeting cards. They are created on recycled canvas and her subjects range from unknown people to celebrities to you – all done with an amazing amount of detail and brilliant color. Let’s do as the artist says and EnJoY!
(Might be an interesting way to re-use old polymer clay works…right? Cut into 1″ squares, organize by color, sketch out a picture, lay out the design onto a sheet of raw clay, bake and backfill with grout…)
There has been quite a bit of buzz lately about whether or not it makes sense to donate your artwork to non profits that tap you for an auction fundraiser contribution. Schimmel has a fine solution with a ‘non profit donation policy’. Nicely done. Check it out here.
abbott and ellwood
Mike Abbott and Kim Ellwood have put a whimsical spin on turning jewelry into free standing sculpture. Their hand painted figurative metal brooches are undeniably playful…and to keep you smiling even after you’ve taken the pin off for the evening, they include a hand painted rubber stand.
Fun, fun, fun.
Another ‘what if’ moment for all of us. Can it be done? Sure thing! I’m adding a “What If” category to the blog for posts that make you ask “What if I tried this with polymer clay”? Do you have a favorite post from PCN that belongs in the “What If” category? Please leave a comment – your feedback will help me get this new category up and running much more quickly than if I do it alone!
Link via kstyle
greetje van tiem makes the news
Greetje van Tiem used old newspapers to make yarn for a design school project. You read that right. van Tiem developed a process to spin the paper into fine guage yarn for weaving rugs, curtains and upholstery.
1 newspaper page = 20 yards of yarn. When the newspaper gets wet it might be messy, yes? So I’m thinking...what would happen if you mix the paper pulp with polymer clay and maybe instead of extruding clay, you spin it like yarn and then bake it. Could it work? Would it make a fine guage yarn that is more durable than newspaper? Do you even need the paper? Has anyone tried to spin the clay alone or with another fiber? I know it sounds crazy, but what if it worked?
When you look closely you can see letters, a part of the date and colour schemes appear from a photo. You are not able to read the newspaper anymore, but the memory will be kept alive.
Read the article at de zeen
Link via Craftzine
