Where to shop for polymer clay accessories when in NYC?

Time to summarize some of the good shopping spots you can find in NYC and the West coast.These stores are wonderful mixed materials stores, carrying all kind of materials, tools, equipment of all kinds starting from cake decorating, beading, sewing, kitchen-ware and findings.

Here are places I love to go back to when I am visiting Manhattan and they are my personal preference of shopping :)

The first store, already mentioned in my blog several times is Metalliferous NYC, this store is a full-service supplier of metal, tools, and supplies to jewelers, craftist, hobbyists, metal workers, sculptors, and everyone interested in metal working and jewelry. If you are into silver findings you'll find anything there. You can also download their PDF catalogs and order online.The store is located on the 34 West 46th Street (next to the hotel I was staying at)

The 2nd place I love to visit is NY Cake store located at 56 West 22nd Street Between 5th & 6th Avenues.This store paradise, I can spend a day in there, checking closely every detail. They carry all the supplies you can think about for cake decorators and some of their tools, molds, cutters etc fits the polymer clay world as well. You can join their mailing list and get special announcements on special sales to your email and order online.

Blick Art Materials is also a paradise for any artist. Paints, chalks, pastels, pens, colored pencils, acrylics, glues, brushes, books and so much more! if it wasn't for the overweight (not mine! the suitcases! ;) I would buy so many things there! Located inside Bond st. in a great looking building.

A stroll along the 6th avenue is always a good idea when you are looking for beads, findings, jewelry parts and sewing materials.

M&J Trimming is another heaven. As a former fashion designer I was amazed when I first saw this store! Sawarovski rhinestones, buttons, ribbons, braids, beaded fringe, trim, jacquards, tassels, and embroideries - is this real?

Located in 1008 sixth Avenue (between 37th and 38th) this store has many items you can use with polymer clay - laces, appliques and fabric as textures, addition to your jewelry and designs, mix media findings and many more.

Another store I love to visit and not because it's any different then the others, but their service is always with a big smile :) It's a small finding shop selling silver and gold findings, gemstones, tools and jewelry supplies called BeadKraft located on Broadway 30th st.

Don't forget Staples and Wallmart which is a great resource for Bic and Papermate pens for polymer covering and for stickers, I love to stamp my own "thank you" stickers.

Did I mention Barnes and Noble for us "non USA" people who just die to have a 3 stories store full of books? a half floor just for art and crafts!

And last one is "Sur La Table" in the Los Angeles Farmers Market - a kitchen supplies store with lot's of goodies - 1$ cookie cutters! :)

So, dear shoppers, when you have the chance to pamper yourself with some "toys for the soul" - these are the places you may want to visit!

Until next time (in US) - Clay away!

Polymeri Online 20.6.10

Sorry for the delay posting, i was a bit sick with a flu, feeling much better today!

I found Mellisa Hanmer beaded necklace with a polymer clay pendant and underlying thread inlay. she consider creating her form of meditation (i couldn't agree more) and after working in seed beads she started with polymer clay too.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37873936@N05/

You can see more of her work in her Etsy store

http://www.etsy.com/shop/melsartbuffet

Italian artist Miriam is inspired by all form of creating - knitting, crocheting, sewing, decoupage and many more. She mostly make cake toppers according to her flickr but you can find other cuties as well - especially this heart!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mirietta77/4699514298/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mirietta77/

Looking for creative ideas for your next jewelry display?

This one by wegart from Czech Republic, is made from a box wrapped in cross stitch fabric, red rope, wooden pegs and grill scewers. Additional sign "hand made" is cross-stitched and framed. great to hang your earings and necklaces!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wegart/3596188162/in/set-72157605825457061/

and you can find some polymer clay art in her Etsy too -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/weggart

and last - Here is a simple tutorial for making a quick cookie cutter from a can, just bend the sides and you can have a flower, i don't know how easy it is to remove the clay from the "cutter" but it may be useful to you

http://www.instructables.com/id/Quick-And-Simple-FlowerClover-Cookie-Cutter-From-/

or another tutorial from a Soda can

http://www.instructables.com/id/Dog-Biscuit-cookie-Cutter-from-soda-can/

New PolyPediaOnlineTV youtube videos

passover holiday was great! and i had time to play with my new camera, and made 2 short videos -

the 1st one is about warming & softening your clay and canes, i have some real old and stiff polymer clay canes and packages in my stock, some of them since 2007 and older, they are HARD!

I heard about all kind of methods to soften the clay - dipping in warm water, covering with liquid clay, warming your canes in the oven to soften them (yes! i heard that one too!), sitting on clay (not canes :) ) and decided to try my herbal microwave pillow as a "warming facility". I warmed the pillow and placed an old cane inside, and - voila! it was warm and soft!

It's really a great way to prepare your clay to work - instead of making your arms and palms do the job - let the warm pillow do it. I warm my pillow for 2 minutes in the microwave and place some packs inside it, wait for few minutes (while i am keeping an eye on what's inside not to heat it too much) and checking to see it they are soft. usually i don't need more than 5 minutes to soften your clay.

If you put raw clay, i would recommend wrapping it with a plastic bag, so the herbal pillow won't get stains, we can't wash in washing machine it if it's dirty. give it a try! it's great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t24vmLQ5WnA

The 2nd video is about making polymer clay letters as decorations to a door or a book. i wanted to decorate my daughters' "heritage" book cover project with her name. Every child in Israel when arrives to the age of 13 has to do some invastigating about his heritage and family, the project is quite big and require some nice decoration to the wood book cover.

This project shows you how to make simple letters using cookie cutters, slices of canes and stripes sheet as a background. I know that the sound is a little bit low, sorry about that, but you can see from what i am doing what are the steps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1NIsetkp3U&feature=related

You can join my Youtube channel for updates on new video's coming up, it's so much fun!

The videos are available in polypediaonline.com site too - http://polypediaonline.com/133688/PolyPediaOnline-TV

Polymeri Online 25.3.10 and a Survey

When i saw Beadpassion cupcakes i couldn't believe they were clay, her cupcakes looks 100% real! she lives in the Philippines, started working with pc in 2008 and is a full time mom as long as her toddler is awake :) When he's asleep, thats when she enjoyes her quality time in creating.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/beadpassion
http://www.flickr.com/photos/accetera/

Beautiful movie on a wire making it's own sculpturing :) so cute! thank you pnina for sending the link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ejiw5e-fOs&feature=related

Tristizzle makes cute figures such as clay army of bunnies and other animals
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tristizzle/4406581277/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Tristizzle

Rubber stamp mosaic - stunning use of materials to create a mosaic-type portrait. Artist, Reena Saini Kallat, uses rubber stamps to create these works of art.
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/03/rubber_stamp_portraits.html

Make your own cookie cutters - a useful guide to make your own cutters!
http://rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com/2010/03/cookie-cutter-101.html

Last, i am doing a small survey on your tutorial requests and wishlist :)

what are the 2 things in polymer clay you wanted to know how to make and didn't know who to ask? a technique? final product? basic how-to? anything you can think of!

Please fill out this 2 questions survey and who knows, i may do a tutorial from your request!http://www.polypediaonline.com/133688/tutorialssurvey

thank you for your time!

found some cool hamsa cutters in 4 sizes

while i was wondering and finding suppliers for hamsa shape cutters, i found some cool hamsa cutters in 4 sizes, a different shape i had before.

If you need some to make wall decor or a small cool keychain - check them out :)

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5100854&section_id=5133646

Hamsa cutters - back in stock

Hamsa cutters are back again! i re-stocked and you can get them from my etsy store - 11 cm (4.3 inch) size, or 4 cm (1.2 inch).
great for pessach projects and lovely wall decoration/key chains gifts!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22548994

and if you need only a small one or only a big one - email me and i will list one for you :)

Hamsa Cookie Cutters are back in stock!

It took a while but the Hamsa Cookie Cutters are back in stock!

If you need great hamsa cutters, the sizes available are :

* 11 cm (4.3 inch) - price is 12$

* 4 cm (1.6 inch) - price is 10$

shipping to USA is 6$.

payment through paypal.

if you are interested please email me to imishly@gmail.com and i will be in touch with your about further actions nessecary.

Thank you very much :)

Hamsa cookie cutters are back in stock!

High standard quality Hamsa cookie cutters are back in stock!- perfect for polymer clay, cookies and sugerpaste!

The Hamsa/Chamsa hand (Arabic) or hamesh hand (Hebrew) is an old and popular potropaic amulet for magical protection from the envious or evil eye. The words hamsa and hamesh mean "five" and refer to the digits on the hand. An alternative Jewish name for it is the Hand of Miriam, in reference to the sister of Moses and Aaron.

The 2 sizes are shown in the photo attached, they can be sold in sets or individually.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/92896804/hamsa-hand-cookie-cutter-set-2-stainless?ref=shop_home_active

Large hamsa (11 cm)- 12$

Small hamsa - (4 cm) 10$

Shipping fee - 6$ (The shipping charge includes a tracking number and insurance)

You can take a look at my flickr Hamsa gallery for more Ideas -http://www.flickr.com/photos/irismishly/sets/72157594494143674/

Contact me at imishly@gmail.com for more details, thank you :)

Hamsa Cookie Cutters Anyone?

30 days and counting...
Soon, 13th of February and i am in NYC :)

I was contacted by several artists regarding Hamsa Cookie Cutters which are hard to find in the US.

In case you are wondering, the Hamsa figure is an old and popular amulet for magical protection from the envious or evil eye. (here are some of mine -http://www.flickr.com/photos/irismishly/sets/72157594494143674/)

Let me know if you are interested, email me to imishly@gmail.com for details and prices.