Author: Barbara Forbes-Lyons

Exploring the notion of transition, these simple moth brooches were designed in response to my changing heart and spirit as my mother succumbed to Alzheimer’s Disease. 

To be honest, I also just love insects and my garden and wanted to explore that as a different approach to much of what I do (which is typically design based and technique focused).

Polymer clay has unique capabilities for both surface and form that can be utilized to make distinctive double-walled vessels with volume and personality. Vessels have endless sculptural possibilities while offering an approachable possibility of function.

How to recognize, choose, and prepare different natural materials found in your house, in your garden or in the nature.

How to protect them and make them stronger and more durable thanks to the properties of polymer clay.

How to integrate and attach them to your polymer clay creations according to their shape and strength

In this lesson, I will share my unique, signature techniques for transforming polymer clay into wearable art, a necklace that evokes the essence of a sea. As I guide you through creating the individual elements of the necklace, I will showcase the versatility and benefits of different types of Cernit polymer clay.

I will cover the process I use for design, construction, and use of large complex polymer clay canes. This will include tips on getting details into canes, and I will show how I go from an idea to an image and then how I go about building it in polymer clay.