Polymer Clay Enthusiasts Team Member--Trina's Clay Creations

On etsy I am a member of the Polymer Clay Enthusiasts Team.  The goal of our team is to share our love of crafting with polymer clay, and to support and promote each other's shops.  There are nearly 500 members on this team, so as you can expect, there is a lot of talent and diversity.  Today I'm going to share with you one of my favorite shops, Trina's Clay Creations.

Trina Prenzi is a wonderful polymer clay artist.  Her attention to detail is very impressive.  I can relate to the time and effort she puts into her miniature works of art because when I was doing only miniature figurines I tried to do as much tiny detail as I could on each piece.  You have to really really really love tedious work to be able to manipulate polymer clay in this way.  And Trina is a master.

She makes lots of wonderful characters.  Seasonal and holiday pieces.  Professions and hobbies.  Animals and children.  There is something for everyone in her shop.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Little Pirate with Parrot

Mermaid

Love My Garden

Don't you agree that Trina has a real knack for detail?  Absolutely!  Her work is quite wonderful. 

If you are impressed by these first three pieces, wait until you see her wedding cake toppers!  I think of all her work, these are really her showcase pieces.  She customizes these adorable cake toppers to your specifications, and she does a really fabulous job!  What better way to commemorate your special day than with a personalized wedding couple---a keepsake to cherish forever! 

Bride and Groom with date plaque

She will even add your dogs!

 

And for something a little less traditional, Two Lions

I hope you will take a minute to go check out Trina's Clay Creations.  I think you will be very impressed!

Off to work now!

Lisa

PS--If you would like to know more about Trina and her work, visit her blog trinastrinkets.blogspot.com

Summertime Angel

Over the years I have made countless angels.  I started with Christmas angels, and from there it sort of snowballed into angels for all seasons and any occasion.

To appeal to the many angel collectors, and to the collectors of my miniature figurines, I kept the style of each angel the same.  They all wear the same lacy white dress, have the same short curly blond hair, and the same bronze metallic wings.  Each one holds something that makes her unique---anything from a Christmas wreath, to a string of Valentine hearts, to an Easter basket. 

But what says 'summer' better than a big ol' slice of watermelon?  (And perhaps a sunflower?)  How about both? 

Here is Summertime Angel.

Angel has just taken a big bite of her favorite summertime treat, when a little bird dropped by to see if she would share the seeds. 

I hope you all are enjoying your summer.  I can't believe it's July already!  We've been in the midst of the awful heat wave that has socked the middle of the country, so many of my days have been spent tucked inside enjoying the wonderful air conditioning and avoiding Omaha's oppressive humidity.  Hopefully the heat will let up a bit so I can do something outdoors soon.  What's the point of summer if you're stuck inside all the time?

Stay cool!

Lisa

Happy 4th of July!

I just want to wish you all a very safe and happy Independence Day!  Remember to fly your flag today, and be grateful that we live in a such a great nation and enjoy so many liberties. 

Little Patriot Boy

available in my etsy shop

(Don't you just love his sneakers?)

Long may she wave!

Lisa

God Bless America

I enjoy making patriotic pieces.  It all began back in the fall of 2001.

Of course, we all remember that fateful day, September 11, when terrorists struck us on our own land. No one will ever forget that day.  Or what they were doing that morning.  I was knee-deep in preparing for my very busy upcoming craft show season.  But for a while, time stood still. 

After several hours, I had to pull myself away from the tragedy unfolding on TV.  I had to get back to work.  It wasn't out of disrespect for what had happened, but more of a self-preservation thing.  I just couldn't watch anymore.  It was far too heartbreaking.  I had to move forward. 

At the time I was selling my work at a local craft boutique, not far from my home.  By Friday of that week, I had a call from the owner, asking if I had any patriotic pins, or anything else patriotic that I could bring in.  She said the requests were non-stop.  People wanted to show their support for our grieving nation.  (This is also a big military area, with Offut Air Force Base just down the road.)  So I rummaged through my inventory and found a dozen or so flag pins, much like the ones shown here.  I grabbed a few other patriotic things I had left over from July and took them in. 

Two days later, I got another call.  Everything I had taken in was gone.  When could I bring in some more?  So began a cycle for the season.  Every two or three days, I needed to restock the store. 

While many crafters say they saw a slump in sales that fall, I did not.  I was working long hours every day, mostly creating things in red, white and blue.  Normally, this is a one woman operation.  Anything that must be done in this business, I do myself. Well, that year, there was no keeping up on my own.  I had to enlist some help, so I called on my niece. 

As a college student, she was always eager to make a few extra bucks.  I handed over the busy work to her.  She glued jewelry findings on pins and earrings.  She put the jewelry on cards for display.  She priced everything I made.  She packed boxes of inventory.  She even carried things over to the craft shop and filled my booth for me.  She was a Godsend that year.  I don't know how I would have survived without her. 

My patriotic work extended beyond flag pins and star earrings. I made Christmas ornaments and figurines as well.  One of my more popular miniature figurines was this adorable little Angel:

God Bless America Angel

She is still one of my favorite patriotic pieces. 

God Bless America!

Lisa

Harry Potter

I love Harry Potter.  So much so that my husband says I'm obsessed.  And my niece (who incidentally introduced me to Harry and his friends) thinks I'm a dork.  Perhaps they are both right. 

I've read the books five or six times, maybe more.  I was THRILLED earlier this year when J.K. Rowling finally released them on e-book, and I immediately downloaded them to my kindle.  Now I can carry Harry with me wherever I go!

I watch the movies at least twice a month.  You see, I don't have cable TV in my studio, so my television options are very limited.  I tend to put movies in my DVD player while I work.  I get more accomplished if they are movies I have seen before.  I've seen all the Harry Potter movies so many times that I don't need to watch them anymore---I only need to listen.  I practically have them memorized!  I know, it's a sickness.  I can't help it. 

Those of you who have read the books probably understand what I'm talking about.  They are so wonderfully written and the characters so well developed that you truly do get lost in that wonderful (and dangerous) world of magic.  Each time I read them I'm amazed that I discover something new I hadn't noticed before.  The messages of these stories are very powerful--friendship, loyalty, bravery, sacrifice and love. 

And while the movies are not exactly like the books, I think they have been done really well.  I shudder to think what they would have been had J.K. Rowling not insisted on British actors!  Can you imagine some spoiled, overindulged American actor being Harry Potter?  NEVER!  The beauty of the movies is their continuity, how they were able to entice the same cast to keep returning. 

As I've been reading the stories again the last several days, I've been wondering if I should create some Harry Potter characters to add to my collection.  I searched around on etsy to see how other artists have been inspired, and I thought I would share a few of the things I found.



This tiny little trio of polymer clay pieces is available from PapercraneFlint.



I think these little paintings are very whimsical.  They would make great kids' room decor.  You can find them here.



I love this illustration from The Order of the Phoenix.  It's available at HallieLuYa.

Do you share my love of Harry Potter?  Which is your favorite book?  Who is your favorite character?

"Happiness can be found in the darkest of places, if one only remembers to turn on the light."--Albus Dumbledore

Always....
Lisa

Friday Favorite #2--Karen Hansen, Polka Dot Clay Studio

I adore polka dots.  Always have.  I don't know why, but I do.  Some of my favorite dresses over the years have been polka dotted.  I think they are fun and whimsical, and they always make me happy.

 

Imagine how delighted I was when I came across a shop on etsy called Polka Dot Clay Studio!  How could a girl not love that?  And when you look at this wonderfully whimsical pottery you will understand exactly what I mean.

 

Karen Hansen, the artist behind Polka Dot Clay Studio, makes really imaginative ceramic vessels.  These are NOT your grandma's flower vase, for sure!  Each piece is a really unique piece of art.  I love the out-of-the-ordinary shapes she chooses, and of course, the polka dots reel me in, big time.  She has a really terrific sense of color as well.

 

I have not yet purchased a piece from Karen, but I have my eye on a few, and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them showed up on my doorstep in the future.

 

Here is a sampling of Karen's work.  Be sure to go to her shop and check out her complete collection.  You will not be sorry!

Tall Purple Polka Dot Vase

White Canister

Jaunty Lavender Vase

Teal Spiral Canister

Red Dotted Container

(THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE!  I think it's the daisy that makes me swoon!)

I really love all of Karen's work.  I hope you will take a minute to browse her shop.  It will certainly bring a smile to your day!

If you have a favorite artist on etsy, I would love to know about it.  I'm always on the hunt for unique talent!

Have a great day!

Lisa



Lady Bug So Small and Red

"Ladybug so small and red, creeping through the flower bed."

I have that cute little phrase painted on a stepping stone in my garden.  Two of my favorite things to find in a garden are ladybugs and daisies.  Those two things inspired this adorable creature.



This sweet little love bug is hand sculpted from black clay over a wire and foil armature.  Her red wings are dotted with tiny circles of black clay.  I feel the personality of any piece is in the details--the curly wire antennae, the darling satin bow on her head, the crepe paper collar, the sweet little fabric daisies---all these things make her the precious little darling that she is. 

My clay figurines are each lovingly handmade, and while I might repeat an idea or a design, no two are ever exactly alike.  What's the fun in that? 

I hope this sweet little bug brings a smile to you day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa



Raggedy Ann and Andy

About a year and a half ago I decided to make bigger figurines with the polymer clay.  I was inspired by papier mache folk art and vintage holiday pieces, but wanted to interpret them in my own whimsical way, in the medium that I love---polymer clay, of course!  I also wanted to go beyond just holiday decorations, and started compiling a list of suitable subjects.  One of the first things that came to mind was Raggedy Ann and Andy. 

These classic American rag dolls have been reinvented thousands of times, by thousands of artists.  Some rework the traditional form of the rag doll, while others, like me, take them in a new direction by sculpting them from clay.  I have done different versions of Raggedy Ann and Andy in my miniature style, but this newest incarnation of the dolls is my favorite.

I love polymer clay.  But I also have a severe addiction to paper and ribbon, and I enjoy adding some of these items to the dolls.  It's sort of like doing a 3-D mixed media project.  For these pieces, I made Raggedy Ann's skirt from blue gingham paper.  It was a real trick getting it to pleat just right and to fit around her chubby middle, but after several attempts, I finally got it to work.  The red gingham ribbon was the perfect finishing touch for her skirt.  I used the same paper to fold into a cute little sailor hat for Andy. 



Many of my pieces feature crepe paper collars. I like how it fancies them up a bit.  I love the little details in everything, and attaching Swarovski crystals to Ann's buttons added the perfect bit of sparkle.  A little satin bow on her head was the final touch.

These cute little dolls are probably one of my most viewed items in my etsy shop. I was also very pleased when they were featured on this blog last winter as part of a birthday party plan. I had never really thought of using them as cake toppers before, but why not? 

I am very inspired by storybook characters, and have plans in the works to bring lots of my favorites to life in polymer clay.  Who is your favorite character?  Who would you like to see me make?

Have a cheery day!

Lisa

Off to See the Wizard

I started making miniature figurines in 1990.  I've made HUNDREDS of figurines.  I've covered all sorts of themes from professions and sports figurines, hobbies like quilting and fishing, angels of all sorts, and pieces for every major holiday.  You name it, I've likely made it.  But some pieces stick out to me as my favorites, and this is definitely one of them. 

Everyone has seen the movie, of course.  Lots of people have read the book.  And even if you haven't, you can certainly pick the characters out of a line-up. They are quite possibly the most iconic fictional characters there are.  And they are a source of inspiration for a lot of artists, me included. 

I first made this particular figurine as a birthday gift for a very good college friend.  Her whole family loved the movie and each year they would make a big celebration out of watching it together on TV. (This was back in the day before video and DVDs and it was only on TV once a year.) They never missed it, and they sometimes watched dressed as their favorite character. She was thrilled with the gift, and I knew there were others out there that loved the movie as much as she did.  So I decided to add this piece to my collection. 

Off to See the Wizard is available in my etsy shop.

Making Off to See the Wizard is very labor intensive, so it has never been my hottest selling item, because the price prohibited that. But it is what I consider to be one of my 'show stoppers'....a piece that attracts a lot of attention and comments.  And having people appreciate your labors of love is about as good as it gets.  It was actually a bittersweet moment the time I first sold one.  I was THRILLED that someone loved it and wanted it and was willing to pay for it, but I had worked so hard on that figurine and loved it so much I almost hated to see it go!  (I tend to have attachment issues with some of my work....something I've had to overcome.)

I've made many of these figurines over the years, but it still continues to be one of my favorites, and it still attracts many admirers.  And I'm always happy when someone wants to take it home.

 

Do you love the Wizard of Oz?  Who is your favorite of the four main characters?  Or do you prefer one of the others?  Glinda the Good Witch?  The Wicked Witch?  Did the Flying Monkeys scare you to pieces like they did me?  I would love to hear your thoughts!

"There's no place like home....."
Lisa