January Challenge Illuminated

For our January challenge we are featuring illuminated designs. Vote for your favorites. Three lucky voters will be chosen in a drawing to win a gift certificate from one of our sponsor shops.

To see larger images visit:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1089891@N25/

1. Red Riding Hood Votive by Marie Young of YoungCreative
For this piece, "Red meets Granny," I covered a recycled blue glass jar with a thin layer of translucent clay. Cut outs show off the bright blue underneath. Over this "sky," I recreated the moment when Red Riding Hood and her "Grandmother" come face-to-face for the first time. Read more: http://marieyoungcreative.com/red-riding-hood-votive/


2. Faux Stained Glass Votive Holder by Angela of polymerclaycreations 
This was made by "drawing" the solder lines with silver clay and then filling in with tinted liquid clay. It took forever to make because each panel had to be made and baked before I could do the next one.

3. Lighted Dome by Jill of JKollmann
Up-cycled glass element fits into a polymer base with a bezel to secure a battery operated 'candle', then topped with sculpted floral elements. The shape of the glass is rather egg-like.....hmmmm!

4. Tinsel Tree Light by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns
Christmas tree themed light created with polymer on a wire base with magnetic removable star topper. The dichroic surface effect of this piece was created using The Blue Bottle Tree's Holo effect tutorial, by Ginger Allman. To read more about the process of creating this piece, please visit my blog post: http://createmyworlddesigns.blogspot.com/2014/12/happy-shiny-christmas-tree.html

5. Illuminated Ocean by Lisa of HiGirls
This small votive uses tinted translucent clay highlighting rough edges and a bit of carving. Molded seashells form the base.

6. Organic Light Pod by Line of PlaySculptLive
Read more here: http://playsculptlive.blogspot.ca/2014/12/let-there-be-light.html

7. Sunflower Garden Votive by Arlene of Ashpaints
The sunflower is my daughter's favorite flower so I chose it to use in this challenge. The design begins with a square glass votive. The "frosted window" on two sides is a unique combination of white and translucent and I've added a cross-hatched design to give it a more pane-like look. The sunflowers petals are from a petal cane that I made and each is individually shaped and placed. Vines and leaves plus ball feet to lift it just a tad add that finishing touch. 

8. Candle Holders by Berit of ClayImages

Another use for my Stroppel 2 cane. These are lovely like stained glass when lit. 
  
9. Global Warming - Polar Bear sitting on a Hudson Bay blanket by Betsy of PolyClayCafe

I knew I wanted to do a globe shaped nightlight for the January PCAGOE challenge theme illumination. I recently finished taking Leslie Blackford's class at Creative Journey Studios in Buford, GA on nightlights - an awesome experience.

Global warming is of great concern to me and I worry about our future generations both two and four legged when it comes to the changes it is causing in our environment. I decided to do a polar bear on a shrinking sheet of ice to signify what is happening. The Hudson Bay blanket takes me back to my childhood when there were no such worries.

The nightlight globe is made from an inverted round glass vase covered with ink dyed Pardo translucent polymer clay. To see more views including a turned-on view and to learn a little about the process visit my blog post: http://polyclaycafe.blogspot.com/2014/12/global-warming-polar-bear-sitting-on.html

10. Red and Black with Translucent Earrings No. 175 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet

Light-diffusing chopped translucent polymer is the bottom element for these polymer earrings, with red and black polished focals and a ruby Swarovski crystal.

Read the expanded rules here.

Full Name (required for voter prize notification):
Email Address (Required for voter prize notification, you will not be sent other e-mails unless you sign up for our e-mail list):
For current Dues-Paying PCAGOE Members: What is Your Etsy Shop Name?
Please select your 1st choice: (2nd & 3rd choice must be different from your 1st.)	1. Red Riding Hood Votive by Marie Young of YoungCreative 2. Faux Stained Glass Votive Holder by Angela of polymerclaycreations 3. Lighted Dome by Jill of JKollmann 4. Tinsel Tree Light by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns 5. Illuminated Ocean by Lisa of HiGirls 6. Organic Light Pod by Line of PlaySculptLive 7. Sunflower Garden Votive by Arlene of Ashpaints 8. Candle Holders by Berit of ClayImages 9. Global Warming - Polar Bear sitting on a Hudson Bay blanket by Betsy of PolyClayCafe 10. Red and Black with Translucent Earrings No. 175 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet
Please select your 2nd choice: (2nd choice must be different from your 1st and 3rd.)	1. Red Riding Hood Votive by Marie Young of YoungCreative 2. Faux Stained Glass Votive Holder by Angela of polymerclaycreations 3. Lighted Dome by Jill of JKollmann 4. Tinsel Tree Light by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns 5. Illuminated Ocean by Lisa of HiGirls 6. Organic Light Pod by Line of PlaySculptLive 7. Sunflower Garden Votive by Arlene of Ashpaints 8. Candle Holders by Berit of ClayImages 9. Global Warming - Polar Bear sitting on a Hudson Bay blanket by Betsy of PolyClayCafe 10. Red and Black with Translucent Earrings No. 175 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet
Please select your 3rd choice: (3rd choice must be different from your 1st and 2nd.)	1. Red Riding Hood Votive by Marie Young of YoungCreative 2. Faux Stained Glass Votive Holder by Angela of polymerclaycreations 3. Lighted Dome by Jill of JKollmann 4. Tinsel Tree Light by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns 5. Illuminated Ocean by Lisa of HiGirls 6. Organic Light Pod by Line of PlaySculptLive 7. Sunflower Garden Votive by Arlene of Ashpaints 8. Candle Holders by Berit of ClayImages 9. Global Warming - Polar Bear sitting on a Hudson Bay blanket by Betsy of PolyClayCafe 10. Red and Black with Translucent Earrings No. 175 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet
How did you hear about the PCAGOE challenge?	Please choose one - thanks! I am a PCAGOE member PCAGOE newsletter Etsy A Blog (Please tell us whose blog in the comments) PCAGOE.com website Polymer Clay Central CraftGossip Facebook (Please tell us whose in the comments) Flickr Word of mouth from a PCAGOE member Other (Please tell us where in the comments)
Would you like to join our email list? (former Newsletter subscribers already included!) monthly reminder to VOTE in our Challenges, along with important Guild announcements. Please add pcagoe@gmail.com and pcagoe.news@gmail.com to your approved senders.	I already signed up yes no
Our members love comments! Please comment here on the entries and/or the challenge in general.

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Featured Artist Elizabeth Schydlower

Meet Elizabeth Schydlower of Artisan Knob Shop

Featured artist for the weeks of December 29th through January 11th

Please go check out her highlighted works on the PCAGOE Facebook page!

Elizabeth resides in El Paso, TX. I asked Elizabeth to write a little bit about herself for this feature, here's what she shared:

“I am a wife, mother of three and grandmother of seven all of whom are the light of my life. I am retired now, but professionally worked as a Marriage and Family Therapist.

My intro to pc occurred one morning when I happened onto the Carol Duvall Show. Donna Kato was a guest and did her magic with a beautiful pendant. I was hooked and remain so to this day. 

I must admit that I've been all over the place with my pc projects. I started with beads, moved to jewelry and finally landed on home decor projects, more specifically, drawer and cabinet knobs. My favorite efforts in this area are the custom orders that I receive, which allow me to become an integral part of a client's custom design. 

I humbly acknowledge that any growth I achieve in this wonderful medium is a credit to the Masters, so many of whom so generously share and teach so others may learn.”

Find Elizabeth’s work at these online locations:
www.artisanknobshop.etsy.com and
https://www.facebook.com/artisanknobsbyelizabeth

Featured Artist Anita Buckowing

Meet Anita Buckowing of Waterborn Productions

PCAGOE featured artist for the weeks of December 15th through December 28th 

Please go check out her highlighted works on the PCAGOE Facebook page!

Anita lives in Shelbyville, MI. She describes herself as a wife, artist, mother, daughter, sister, friend, business professional, volunteer and survivor of cancer, who strives to make the world better each day. In her own words, Anita writes about her creative drive: “I am inspired by the natural world around us. I'm constantly amazed at the beauty that is part of all facets of our lives. I create to share my "vision" of this beauty.”

Find Anita’s etsy shop here: www.waterbornproductions.etsy.com

Featured Artist Jenny Sheppard

Meet Jenny Sheppard of Vievespolys

PCAGOE featured artist for the weeks of December 1 through 14. 

Please go check out her highlighted works on the PCAGOE Facebook page!

 

Jenny lives in Mesa Arizona and her polymer specialty is creating one of a kind trinket boxes. Jenny says this about her polymer journey: “After discovering how fun it is to work (play) with polymer clay, I started to decorate small keepsake boxes to store those special keepsakes that we all cherish.”
Find Jenny’s shop here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/vievespolys

December Challenge Winners

The winners in the PCAGOE December Challenge "Carving" are:

Public Vote

Top entries selected by the public:

1. Long Tall Santa Ornament by Arlene of Ashpaints

2. Chocolate and Vanilla Kitchen Switchplate Cover by Marie Young of YoungCreative

3. Tropical Donut Pendant by Lorraine of Wired Orchid

Member Vote

Top entries selected by the public:

1. Tropical Donut Pendant by Lorraine of Wired Orchid

 

2. Chocolate and Vanilla Kitchen Switchplate Cover by Marie Young of YoungCreative

3. Peace Bird by Line of PlaySculptLive

 View all of the entries:
http://polymerclayartists.blogspot.com/2014/11/december-carving-challenge.html

Congratulations to the drawing winners. They get to pick a prize from one of our lovely participating sponsor shop owners.

Karen Leeman
Tammy Claxton
Joan Cain

Comments from the voters:

Buenos trabajos-desafíos, difícil elección.Saludos cordiales, which means: Good jobs - challenges, difficult choice. Best Regards.

 

I would like challenges Hairclips, Jewelry, fantasy, Window hangings, wearable art, wine glasses, Ornaments.

 

Keep playing with clay, it lights up your life.

 

The Santa ornament is spectacular. The use of deep carving in the beard and the antiquing is perfect. I also love the reasons for the making of the tropical donut and the up cycled crop circles.

 

All great work.

 

Fabulous carving!!

 

You have all carved out a unique look!

 

I am now inspired to try carving as a technique...thanks!

 

I always look forward to the monthly challenge and how each artist interprets the theme.

 

Fun pieces, all of them!

 

Love all the colours

December Carving Challenge

For our December challenge we are featuring carved designs. Vote for your favorites. Three lucky voters will be chosen in a drawing to win a gift certificate from one of our sponsor shops.

To see larger images visit:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1089891@N25/

1. Carved Turquoise and Copper Brooch No. 136 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet

Carving through layered polymer reveals the underlying colors. Some trenches were left plain, others filled with polymer and yet others with liquid polymer and resin for a bit of shine. Three holes were drilled and tiny coordinating polymer balls were embedded. Metallic paint and mica powder add BLING!

2. Long Tall Santa Ornament by Arlene of Ashpaints

This is one of my favorite Christmas tree ornaments that I've made this year. Each one is hand sculpted starting with the face. Then tiny black beads are added for the eyes. Next comes the beard, then the mustache and eyebrows. Then the final touch – as on any traditional Santa – his red hat! Texture sheets or stamps are used to give his hat more interest. The detail in his beard and mustache are deeply incised then an antiquing glaze is used to bring out all the details.

3. Barrette #7 "Charlotte" by Berit of ClayImages

I am entering Charlotte into the December Challenge "carving". This is the only piece I have ever made that has some carving in it! Enjoy!

4. Tropical Donut Pendant by Lorraine of Wired Orchid

''Don't Worry, Be Happy'' tropical pendant. Must be worn while drinking a Mai Tai. :) Green, turquoise, lime and black polymer clay is the donut pendant base with carved areas highlighted in acrylic paint.

5. Chocolate and Vanilla Kitchen Switchplate Cover by Marie Young of YoungCreative

Polymer clay switchplate cover to match my new "Chocolate Pear" kitchen cabinets. I carved the diamond "tile" pattern into raw cay and added a deep brown frame using a flat stamp that I gave dimension through a combination of carving and sculpting. The finished product looks like antiqued leather.

6. Peace Bird by Line of PlaySculptLive
Read more: http://playsculptlive.blogspot.ca/2014/11/carving-myself-little-peace.html

7. Upcycled Crop Circles by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns
For this sculpture, I upcycled lots of cured bits of polymer from previous failed projects. The finished polymer piece was then carved with spiral circle designs. To read more about the working process of this piece, please visit my blog: http://createmyworlddesigns.blogspot.com/2014/11/carving-up-more-than-thanksgiving-turkey.html

 

Read the expanded rules here.

Full Name (required for voter prize notification):
Email Address (Required for voter prize notification, you will not be sent other e-mails unless you sign up for our e-mail list):
For current Dues-Paying PCAGOE Members: What is Your Etsy Shop Name?
Please select your 1st choice: (2nd & 3rd choice must be different from your 1st.)	1. Carved Turquoise and Copper Brooch No. 136 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet 2. Long Tall Santa Ornament by Arlene of Ashpaints 3. Barrette #7 "Charlotte" by Berit of ClayImages 4. Tropical Donut Pendant by Lorraine of Wired Orchid 5. Chocolate and Vanilla Kitchen Switchplate Cover by Marie Young of YoungCreative 6. Peace Bird by Line of PlaySculptLive 7. Upcycled Crop Circles by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns
Please select your 2nd choice: (2nd choice must be different from your 1st and 3rd.)	1. Carved Turquoise and Copper Brooch No. 136 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet 2. Long Tall Santa Ornament by Arlene of Ashpaints 3. Barrette #7 "Charlotte" by Berit of ClayImages 4. Tropical Donut Pendant by Lorraine of Wired Orchid 5. Chocolate and Vanilla Kitchen Switchplate Cover by Marie Young of YoungCreative 6. Peace Bird by Line of PlaySculptLive 7. Upcycled Crop Circles by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns
Please select your 3rd choice: (3rd choice must be different from your 1st and 2nd.)	1. Carved Turquoise and Copper Brooch No. 136 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet 2. Long Tall Santa Ornament by Arlene of Ashpaints 3. Barrette #7 "Charlotte" by Berit of ClayImages 4. Tropical Donut Pendant by Lorraine of Wired Orchid 5. Chocolate and Vanilla Kitchen Switchplate Cover by Marie Young of YoungCreative 6. Peace Bird by Line of PlaySculptLive 7. Upcycled Crop Circles by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns
How did you hear about the PCAGOE challenge?	Please choose one - thanks! I am a PCAGOE member PCAGOE newsletter Etsy A Blog (Please tell us whose blog in the comments) PCAGOE.com website Polymer Clay Central CraftGossip Facebook (Please tell us whose in the comments) Flickr Word of mouth from a PCAGOE member Other (Please tell us where in the comments)
Would you like to join our email list? (former Newsletter subscribers already included!) monthly reminder to VOTE in our Challenges, along with important Guild announcements. Please add pcagoe@gmail.com and pcagoe.news@gmail.com to your approved senders.	I already signed up yes no
Our members love comments! Please comment here on the entries and/or the challenge in general.

Form provided by Freedback.

Featured artist Yonat Dascalu

 

 Meet Yonat Dascalu

PCAGOE featured artist for the weeks of November 17 through 30. 

Please go check out her highlighted works on the PCAGOE Facebook page!

 

Yonat has been working with polymer clay since 2007 and lives in Raanana, Israel. She is also a member of Israel’s polymer clay guild (ILPCG). Yonat’s work ranges from Judaica art, beautiful canes, image transfers and tutorials. She recently authored a book entitled “Polymer Clay: All the basic and advanced techniques you need to create with polymer clay (Volume 1)", which is available at Amazon.

Find more of Yonat’s work at these online locations:
www.yonatdascalu.etsy.com and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yonat-dascalu/ and
www.ArtbyYonat.com

Mandala Challenge Winners

The winners in the PCAGOE November Challenge "Mandalas" are:

Public Vote

Top entries selected by the public:

1. Geometry Class Redux by Jill of JKollmann

2. Colors of Thailand Mandala by Betsy of PolyClayCafe

3. Woodland Mandala by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns

Member Vote

Top entries selected by the public:

1. Geometry Class Redux by Jill of JKollmann

 

2. Woodland Mandala by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns

3. Colors of Thailand Mandala by Betsy of PolyClayCafe

 View all of the entries:
http://polymerclayartists.blogspot.com/2014/10/november-challenge-mandalas.html

Congratulations to the drawing winners. They get to pick a prize from one of our lovely participating sponsor shop owners.

Cheryl Holland
Sharon Robinson

Patty Barnes 

Comments from the voters:

So pretty and colorful!

Love all the colours

Actually love them all!

So pretty!

Este desafío es muy colorido y me encantan los trabajos realizados, pero el de Create My World Designs es espectacular y muy cuidadoso. (here is translation: This challenge is very colorful and I love the work, but to Create My World Designs is spectacular and very careful)

All of these are lovely. I chose the more "traditional" mandalas because I thought they were very well done and they seem to celebrate polymer clay as a media.

Great work ladies.

I follow your page on Facebook and came to know these wonderful things. Since I am just starting I do not understand which work is more complex than other. Still way to learn. Happy to vote. I loved colors are awesome to uplift any mood and make every season bright and shiny.

I love mandalas. It was so hard to choose, they are all so pretty. Beautiful work!

I think they were all beautiful entries for this challenge. It was hard to select but since I really liked the repetitive pattern and colors on number six, I had to go with that as my choice.

Oh my goodness. What great pieces. Hard to make a choice.

Love the colors and rich texture of all the creations. I love to paint mandalas and now I'll try to make a polymer clay one. They could be a nice Christmas ornament.

The colors are pretty.

A great assortment of mandalas! Difficult to choose since all are beautiful!

What an incredibly hard challenge to even decide upon! I'm sure it was an even harder challenge to do! Thanks to everyone who submitted!

Unusually hard to choose this month, all are truly awesome, but #9 spoke to me!!!!!! You all deserve major kudos for your work. All of the above are awesome.

I am always so impressed by the skill shown here! Nice job folks!

Love all the entries.

Wonderful!!

Beautiful submissions. I could go into a trance staring at the colors, shapes and patterns. Well done, everyone.

Beautiful work ladies !

Gorgeous work this month!

Such talent! Love all the happy colors! Color me happy!

Beautiful mandalas!

Really great job

cool theme!

Beautiful work all!

Beautiful interpretations- I am especially struck by the variety of color choices. So much variety!

Wonderful! love the bright colors and the fun designs.

really interesting theme this time--I need to do some mandalas!

Beautiful, intricate work.

These are truly remarkable in their design and use of color. Showing off polymer clay for its endless versatility!

You all made it so difficult to choose this month, stellar work everyone! :)

They're all beautiful, it was hard to choose.

November Challenge Mandalas

For our November challenge we are featuring mandala designs. Vote for your favorites. Three lucky voters will be chosen in a drawing to win a gift certificate from one of our sponsor shops.

To see larger images visit:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1089891@N25/

1. Mandala Bowl by Berit of ClayImages
A little fall/holiday spirit. Made with my polymer clay canes, this bowl is about 5 inches in diameter.

2. Good or Evil Cat Figurine by Marie Young of YoungCreative
This kitty has a lot to contemplate with an angel mouse whispering in one ear and a devil mouse whispering in the other. She is seated on a mandala made of polymer mosaic tiles sealed with a glassy liquid polymer finish.Approximately 3 1/2 inches tall.

3. Mandala Wall Plaque by Lisa of HiGirls
This wall plaque is created completely of polymer and is 7 inches diameter.
Cut outs were placed on a flat background, fired, then back filled with tinted liquid polymer. The entire thing was sanded and buffed for a great shine.

4. Geometry Class Redux by Jill of JKollmann
Challenge piece is totally pieced! Took me back to geometry classes, to get (and maintain) 12 sections throughout. This was a fun challenge. 

5. Snowflake Mandala Christmas Ornament by Angela of polymerclaycreations 
The theme for the month is "Mandalas". I chose to do an ornament because of the upcoming season. I love the timeless simplicity of blue and white together. This was made with scraps cut from cane ends and put on a background of pearl clay.

6. Mandala Challenge Ornaments by Arlene of Ashpaints
I was pretty much stumped on this challenge until someone mentioned repeating elements and someone else sent a link with many pictures. My mind immediately hit upon using a kaleidoscope cane to create the central element and repeat single elements from that. It may not be a traditional mandala but it makes me smile!

7. Woodland Mandala by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns
Layers, leaf and flower motifs and the colors of autumn create this fall season inspired polymer mandala. To read more about my creative process for this piece, please visit my blog:  http://createmyworlddesigns.blogspot.com/2014/10/meditative-repetition.html

8.  Colors of Thailand Mandala by Betsy of PolyClayCafe
When I first started thinking of what to create for PCAGOE's Mandala challenge, I thought of the colors of the mandalas I saw in the temples of Thailand. Often you could see stunning stain glass mandalas behind statues of Buddhas. In addition to the beautiful patterns, I was struck by all the bright colors. I decided I wanted to use bright colors; those that reminded me of Thailand. Orange for the monks was a given, teal for the lush jungle vegetation, yellow for the marigold wreaths you see everywhere, purple for the color of Saturday, wasabi for the cuisine and just a touch of silver. Read more on my blog: http://polyclaycafe.blogspot.com/2014/10/mandala-inspired-by-colors-of-thailand.html

9. Chakra Mandala by Line of PlaySculptLive
Read more: http://playsculptlive.blogspot.ca/2014/10/mandalas-are-fun.html

Read the expanded rules here.

Full Name (required for voter prize notification):
Email Address (Required for voter prize notification, you will not be sent other e-mails unless you sign up for our e-mail list):
For current Dues-Paying PCAGOE Members: What is Your Etsy Shop Name?
Please select your 1st choice: (2nd & 3rd choice must be different from your 1st.)	1. Mandala Bowl by Berit of ClayImages 2. Good or Evil Cat Figurine by Marie Young of YoungCreative 3. Mandala Wall Plaque by Lisa of HiGirls 4. Geometry Class Redux by Jill of JKollmann 5. Snowflake Mandala Christmas Ornament by Angela of polymerclaycreations 6. Mandala Challenge Ornaments by Arlene of Ashpaints 7. Woodland Mandala by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns 8. Colors of Thailand Mandala by Betsy of PolyClayCafe 9. Chakra Mandala by Line of PlaySculptLive
Please select your 2nd choice: (2nd choice must be different from your 1st and 3rd.)	1. Mandala Bowl by Berit of ClayImages 2. Good or Evil Cat Figurine by Marie Young of YoungCreative 3. Mandala Wall Plaque by Lisa of HiGirls 4. Geometry Class Redux by Jill of JKollmann 5. Snowflake Mandala Christmas Ornament by Angela of polymerclaycreations 6. Mandala Challenge Ornaments by Arlene of Ashpaints 7. Woodland Mandala by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns 8. Colors of Thailand Mandala by Betsy of PolyClayCafe 9. Chakra Mandala by Line of PlaySculptLive
Please select your 3rd choice: (3rd choice must be different from your 1st and 2nd.)	1. Mandala Bowl by Berit of ClayImages 2. Good or Evil Cat Figurine by Marie Young of YoungCreative 3. Mandala Wall Plaque by Lisa of HiGirls 4. Geometry Class Redux by Jill of JKollmann 5. Snowflake Mandala Christmas Ornament by Angela of polymerclaycreations 6. Mandala Challenge Ornaments by Arlene of Ashpaints 7. Woodland Mandala by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns 8. Colors of Thailand Mandala by Betsy of PolyClayCafe 9. Chakra Mandala by Line of PlaySculptLive
How did you hear about the PCAGOE challenge?	Please choose one - thanks! I am a PCAGOE member PCAGOE newsletter Etsy A Blog (Please tell us whose blog in the comments) PCAGOE.com website Polymer Clay Central CraftGossip Facebook (Please tell us whose in the comments) Flickr Word of mouth from a PCAGOE member Other (Please tell us where in the comments)
Would you like to join our email list? (former Newsletter subscribers already included!) monthly reminder to VOTE in our Challenges, along with important Guild announcements. Please add pcagoe@gmail.com and pcagoe.news@gmail.com to your approved senders.	I already signed up yes no
Our members love comments! Please comment here on the entries and/or the challenge in general.

This HTML form was created by Freedback.

Featured Artist Randee Ketzel

 Meet Randee Ketzel

PCAGOE featured artist for the weeks of October 13th through October 26th. 

Please go check out her highlighted works on the PCAGOE Facebook page!

Randee works as both polymer artist and teacher in Austin, the capital city of Texas. She has been featured on both Polymer Clay Daily and The Daily Polymer Arts blog. Her work has been published in several magazines and featured in museum shops. Randee is also a member of the International Polymer Clay Guild and the Austin and Houston Polymer Clay Guilds. Randee has co-authored (with Kim Schlinke) a wonderful book entitled Polymer Clay Gemstones and the Art of Deception.

Randee says this about her journey to polymer: "I always suspected that art would be my life--and luckily, I was right. I studied Byzantine Art and Archaeology in Florida before being irresistibly drawn into the world of metalwork as one of the youngest women jewelers in the Southeast during the early eighties. Eventually, impending motherhood demanded that I bid metals goodbye, and I experimented with a variety of less-toxic media before discovering--and being discovered by--polymer clay. This incredible stuff has become muse and mantra, and I eagerly await each new day's adventure in it."

Find more of Randee's work at these online locations:

www.RMKDesign.etsy.com and
www.polymerartsupplies.etsy.com and
www.flickr.com/photos/8989180@N02

Southwestern Challenge Winners

The winners in the PCAGOE October Challenge "Southwestern" are:

Public Vote

Top entries selected by the public:

1. Southwestern Skull Wall Art by Lisa of HiGirls

2. Southwest Native American Kokopelli Faux Stained Glass Suncatcher by Angela of polymerclaycreations

3. Turquoise and Orange Celestial Sun Business Card Case by Marie Young of YoungCreative

Member Vote

Top entries selected by the public:

1. Southwest Native American Kokopelli Faux Stained Glass Suncatcher by Angela of polymerclaycreations

 

2. Southwestern Skull Wall Art by Lisa of HiGirls

3. TIE 
Ancient Drinking Bowl by Line of PlaySculptLive
4 Directions Dreamcatcher by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns 

 View all of the entries:
http://polymerclayartists.blogspot.com/2014/09/october-southwestern-challenge.html

Congratulations to the drawing winners. They get to pick a prize from one of our lovely participating sponsor shop owners.

Maite Mora Ferrer
Susan Rankin

Gretchen Tara

Comments from the voters:

Fabulous WORK this month!

What a high standard of entries. It was very difficult to choose. I always seem to manage to take some form of inspiration from these challenges. Thank you.

Lovely work!

Wow, these entries are fabulous, all of them!! You guys are getting better and better.

Ladies I had a very hard time having to select a 1-2-3 this month. All works were so outstanding. I read about the history of the drinking vessel. What a great idea. Dream catcher - faux leather, faux wood faux feather that look like the real thing. The "skull" is so colorful, detailed and unique. SW colors stained glass, covered tins and case, tiles and mosaic and earrings. WOW! I feel like I have taken a trip out West this morning. Congrats to all for the great works! Very enjoyable to see.

They are all very nice and it is always hard to choose. Everyone has such creative talent.

Lovely

I really like at least 6 of them; too difficult to choose just 3.

I'm part native American and loved looking at all the items made. I think they are all great.

Well done!

For the three entries I voted for: beautiful earrings, inspiring Kokopelli image, and truly amazing looking covered tin. Such wonderful work for all of them, I hope one of them wins this challenge.

Great entries, I live in the Southwest 28 years and these creations are fantastic. Good luck to all.

All beautiful items.

Wonderful job this month!!!

Nice variety of color and creativity chosen for this month's challenge!!

Hard choices but the earring are so clean and elegant I had to make it the top choice. Reminds me of a lot of piedra dura work I saw in Santa FE.

Interesting pieces.

Love seeing new and exciting clayers.

Once again, beautiful art creations! I love southwestern style

#9 for originality and execution. #4 for design and execution, kudos for your patience. In my mind, #3, #5 and #7 were tied. I went for #5 due to my personal bias for celestial motifs.

Love to see the different takes on each challenge

So very hard to choose just three, they are all remarkable.

All are really wonderful representations of southwest art. Love them all.

Cool theme!

As a native of the southwest, this has to be my favorite challenge theme so far. And what a difficult choice to select my top three.