I began working with polymer clay about ten years ago. Ok, the first time I picked it up was more like fourteen years ago, but that was for a single project and the bug didn’t bite me then like it did later. What really got me into polymer was spinning. You know, making yarn and thread from loose fibers. I was a member of a Yahoo group called Spindlers where we all work with hand spindles instead of spinning wheels. There was a “made by me” spindle exchange where we had to craft a spindle to exchange with our partner. I found several blocks of polymer clay at a thrift store (I lucked out and they were good) and a few days later while at a craft store, I saw a book on stamping on polymer clay (Stamping Polymer Clay & Wire published by Can Do Crafts). One thing led to another and I made my first spindle from a circle of polymer clay with an intricate design impressed into the surface and the raised areas painted with acrylic paints. I was hooked from then on. My focus has shifted from spindles, where the concerns over weight and balance were getting tiresome, to jewelry and sculptural work where I feel I have more freedom. I still love detail though. I have a hard time doing simple work. I keep adding little embellishments even when I tell myself that this time I am doing something simple.

I am currently in the process of trying to start a polymer clay guild in my area. I got tired of not having a group near enough to get together, so I decided to start my own.