The polymer clay world had been talking about this for a while now. But it is official, Polyform, the company behind Sculpey, has teamed up with Donna Dewberry to market a polymer clay program similar to “One-Stroke Painting”. This has put to polymer clay world on edge.
The feelings range from “this is a deal with the devil” that will make it hard on the polymer clay artist to it will bring more creative people into the art form and more clay supplies available.
I personally feel that it is more of a positive move for the artists then not. It will bring more crafters and hobbyist in to polymer clay as well as hopefully increase the supply. I have seen the sections in the local craft stores that have the one-stroke painting stuff grow larger over time. I have also seen them shrink. In al depends on the area and the store.
For polymer teachers, since Polyform is doing ceritfication, it will mean that they may not be able to teach at stores that supply their products. I don’t think that that in itself will hurt them. Many of them do not teach there already.
We will have to wait and see.
I think this is a really bad idea. We have so many talented artists currently teaching wonderful classes. This will make people think they need to complete the program before they can start to create. The child in each of us just needs the time to play. Polymer clay as a medium is so vast, anything is possible. The web is a great source for beginners to learn what they now will be paying a lot of money to learn.
Comment by Patti McElhiney — May 13, 2007 @ 2:08 pm
I bought an etch ‘n pearl set of piercing tools from AC Moore and was very excited to try them out.
Unfortunately, they bent (right out of the package) and I cannot get them straightened out. I believe they are aluminum. I’m sorry I wasted my money. My current brass tubing and piercing rods are stronger and were less expensive.
Comment by Nancy C. — March 14, 2008 @ 2:18 pm