March Challenge Nature

For our March challenge our theme is nature. 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. Scarlet Macaw by Linda of Claymation3d

Macaw, leaves and green blends background are all made from of polymer clay and feathers are carefully detailed. Macaw is perched on a piece of a real tree branch.


2. Forest Floor Teapot by Lisa of HiGirls

Inspired by the ferny, mossy forest floor. Polymer clay over ceramic teapot. Lots of details including pebbles, moss, bark, flowers, leaves, ferns and a mushroom lid. A couple of beetles snuck in too!

3. Red Riding Hood and Her Wolf by Marie of MarieYoungCreative

Free-form polymer sculpture over a hollow duck egg

4. Flower Petal Tea Pot by Berit of ClayImages

A mini tea pot covered with my flower petal canes, sanded, smoothed and varnished. Spring is coming!

5. Turquoise Whale Fluke Box No. 147 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet

This polymer-covered box features an original liquid-polymer photo transfer from my birthday in '07 - whale watching near San Francisco. Wire accent. 3 5/8" sq x 1 3/8" h.

6. Tropical Spice Switchplate by Arlene of Ashpaints

I made this switchplate to solve a problem in my home. I had a double switch that got changed to a single, yet I still had this extra switch that I kept trying to flip! So I had my electrician remove the second switch and covered the switchplate in a copper tone clay that was complimentary to my wallpaper. This first layer was heavily textured, then I added tropical leaves and a flower that I am sure exists only in my imagination! So much fun and what a great solution!

7. Ode to Spring by Angela of polymerclaycreations 

Even though it technically is still winter, here in the Pacific Northwest Mother Nature thinks Spring has already started. Everywhere you see new growth. Beautiful purple Crocus and bright yellow and orange Daffodils. New leaves everywhere and the fruit trees are blooming.
This is my Ode to Spring. A bright pink, orange and yellow millefiori floral covered chicken egg on a nest of leaves.

8. Black and White Pendant by Jill of JKollmann
For this piece I took a marquis-shaped based and formed it over a half-dome, then built the floral elements on top of that. It's on a beaded Kumihimo cord and finished with a polymer clasp (not shown).

9. Owl by Freda of FredaK
Owl among the leaves 
  
10. Flight of the Bumble Bee Tin by Betsy of PolyClayCafe  
just recently took a virtual class titled "Cane Mutiny" - on how to join, twist, turn and pucker your canes. Lots of fun. Thanks to Teresa Pandora Salgado and the Polymer Clay Adventure (craftylink.ning.com/get-involved/polymer-clay-adventure). The tin is 4" in diameter by 4"high (including the sculpture). See more views on my blog: http://polyclaycafe.blogspot.com/2015/02/flilght-of-bumble-bee-tin.html
 
11. Fruit Pins by Line of PlaySculptLive
Read more: http://playsculptlive.blogspot.ca/2015/02/the-many-wonders-of-nature.html 

12. Once Upon a Time by by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns
Paperback copy of Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver is converted into a hardcover via polymer clay, incorporating the Fibonacci sequence ratio. To learn about the conception and design of this piece, please read the blog post: http://createmyworlddesigns.blogspot.com/2015/02/once-upon-time.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. Scarlet Macaw by Linda of Claymation3d 2. Forest Floor Teapot by Lisa of HiGirls 3. Red Riding Hood and Her Wolf by Marie of MarieYoungCreative 4. Flower Petal Tea Pot by Berit of ClayImages 5. Turquoise Whale Fluke Box No. 147 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet 6. Tropical Spice Switchplate by Arlene of Ashpaints 7. Ode to Spring by Angela of polymerclaycreations 8. Black and White Pendant by Jill of JKollmann 9. Owl by Freda of FredaK 10. Flight of the Bumble Bee Tin by Betsy of PolyClayCafe 11. Fruit Pins by Line of PlaySculptLive 12. Once Upon a Time by by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns
Please select your 2nd choice: (2nd choice must be different from your 1st and 3rd.)	1. Scarlet Macaw by Linda of Claymation3d 2. Forest Floor Teapot by Lisa of HiGirls 3. Red Riding Hood and Her Wolf by Marie of MarieYoungCreative 4. Flower Petal Tea Pot by Berit of ClayImages 5. Turquoise Whale Fluke Box No. 147 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet 6. Tropical Spice Switchplate by Arlene of Ashpaints 7. Ode to Spring by Angela of polymerclaycreations 8. Black and White Pendant by Jill of JKollmann 9. Owl by Freda of FredaK 10. Flight of the Bumble Bee Tin by Betsy of PolyClayCafe 11. Fruit Pins by Line of PlaySculptLive 12. Once Upon a Time by by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns
Please select your 3rd choice: (3rd choice must be different from your 1st and 2nd.)	1. Scarlet Macaw by Linda of Claymation3d 2. Forest Floor Teapot by Lisa of HiGirls 3. Red Riding Hood and Her Wolf by Marie of MarieYoungCreative 4. Flower Petal Tea Pot by Berit of ClayImages 5. Turquoise Whale Fluke Box No. 147 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet 6. Tropical Spice Switchplate by Arlene of Ashpaints 7. Ode to Spring by Angela of polymerclaycreations 8. Black and White Pendant by Jill of JKollmann 9. Owl by Freda of FredaK 10. Flight of the Bumble Bee Tin by Betsy of PolyClayCafe 11. Fruit Pins by Line of PlaySculptLive 12. Once Upon a Time by 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.

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Featured Artist Natalia Pisarev

Meet Natalia Pisarev of NataPi (Natalia Pisarev Polymer Clay Carnival)

PCAGOE featured artist for the weeks of February 23rd through March 8th

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

Natalia was born in the Ukraine and has lived in Israel since 1977. She is a retiree, a mother and grandmother.

Natalia has this to say about her Polymer journey: “I was always creative – sewing, knitting and sketching. I designed and renovated my apartment by myself. I also write poetry and stories in Russian. A few years ago I saw Polymer Clay jewelry in the internet and several Clay lessons and I just fell in love with the process. Creating Polymer Clay jewelry makes me happy and relaxed like a meditation. I make my creations with love and I hope you'll feel it.”

To see more of Natalia’s work, visit these online locations:
www.natapi.etsy.com and
https://www.flickr.com/photos/34700900@N02/

Featured Artist Betsy Strebe

Meet Betsy Strebe of PolyClayCafe

PCAGOE’s featured artist for the weeks of February 9th through February 22nd

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

Betsy lives in Ashland, OR. She has been working in polymer in recent years, but has enjoyed creating in various media throughout her lifetime. Betsy has this to say about her creative journey and life:

“I have been producing art since I was a small child. I was fortunate to have a nurturing art teacher who early on encouraged me and taught me about color combinations, perspective, and most importantly encouraged me to go with my ideas.

I am retired from the technology world. Although I love painting and handcrafting I chose to make computer science my profession. Throughout my decades of working, however, I always managed to be involved in at least one artistic endeavor.”

Find More of Betsy’s work at these online locations:
www.polyclaycafe.etsy.com and
http://polyclaycafe.blogspot.com/ and
http://www.pinterest.com/BetsyStrebe/ and
https://www.flickr.com/photos/polyclaycafe/ and
https://plus.google.com/+BetsyStrebe44/posts and
https://www.facebook.com/PolyClayCafe

Masks Challenge Winners

The winners in the PCAGOE February Challenge: Masks are:

Top entries selected by the public

1. Balinese inspired mask by Lisa of HiGirls  

2. Ms. Violet on Her Mask by Betsy of PolyClayCafe  

3. Purple Passion Millifiori Mask Plant Stake by Arlene of Ashpaints

 

Top entries selected by members

1. Funny Bone Mask by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns 

2. TIE
Teal and Purple Fiber Mask Brooch no. 139 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet

Masked Mardi Gras Fox by Marie Young of YoungCreative

3. Balinese inspired mask by Lisa of HiGirls      

View all of the entries:
http://polymerclayartists.blogspot.com/2015/01/february-challenge-masks.html

Congratulations to the drawing winners:

Elizabeth Sanders
Joan Cain
Sue Urich

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

Comments from the voters:

-I ran across your group while searching for Polymer clay crafts on the internet. I love having the opportunity to look at such great creations and picking my favorites. I look forward to starting my own ETSY shop and joining your group!

-I love the colors and the simplicity of this Mask by Angela, and the black/white combination that Line uses is always a winner.

-They're all awesome, lots of inspiration here!

-Love the beauty and creativity!!!

-All masks were fabulous!

-Such diverse ideas! The artistry is amazing.

-Loved the fox with the mask.

-Las máscaras son fantásticas, muy difícil la elección. Pero la #7 es "impresionante". Felicitaciones a todas las artistas. (which translated says): The masks are fantastic, very difficult choice. But the #7 is "impressive". Congratulations to all the artists.

-Too bad I could not view these masks from closer up... i.e. could not enlarge the picture.

-Beautifully creative pieces!

-Beautiful work.

-As usual, very hard to pick! You are all so talented!

-Love the creativity and colors.

-They are all so beautiful and so much talent here. It was hard to choose.

-LOVED the colors of # 8; beautiful flowers.

-#5 spoke to my textile background and loved the sparkle and sheen on this one.

-Truly Amazing! Each mask is so different and was approached with a different idea and concept. I had a hard time choosing - once again!

-The funny bone mask shows talent and creativity and scores high points, but is just too creepy for me to vote for.

-You guys just keep getting better and better!

-I wait to see lovely creations each month and I must say I am always surprised to see so talented people around and awesome creation we get to look at :)

-Hard choice this month.

-Wow the 4th one is just over the top amazing in detail!

-So cool--I love masks!

-Clever, gorgeous, awesome, beautiful, etc etc etc.... thanx again for sharing your art.

-Let the good times roll!! It is Mardi Gras time here in Mississippi so this was a wonderful theme for me. It was very hard to pick three winners as they are all awesome. Incredible talent ladies! Love them all!

-I love silly and weird and fell in love with Beth's funny bone mask. The creativity is inspirational.

-I am very impressed with all these entries. Masks creep me out, that's why I didn't participate, but I sure loved to see what you all did with them!

-So much thought and effort went into every entry. I am in awe! Very difficult to choose favorites this time.

-Wonderful work everyone!

-All of the entries are incredibly designed! Best wishes.

-Love the idea of masks for a challenge. I collect masks, so one of these would be very welcome to my collection. Good luck to all the participants and it was hard to pick a best out of all of them.