You may be aware that I try to get to one polymer clay workshop a year. Sometimes you want company of other clayers. One way to find other polymer clay artists in your area is to first check the British Polymer Clay Guild website which is run voluntarily by polymer clay obsessed people ! I run the Scottish group, who meet in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

I recently visited my clay mate Debby of Debby Wakely Jewellery. We have known each other a number of years now and have attended Polymania together. Believe it or now we met on Facebook through the 52 weekly cane group. It is great to have a claymate like Deb as we can bounce ideas off each other and create something different. I have posted a few pics below of my makes and the lovely pendant Debbie made me, which I still have string. Love this Debby, thank you!

 Something new for me is this pretty orange flower pindant, which is a really versatile piece of jewellery. You can wear it as a brooch/pin or pendant as shown

I have lots more to show you, so keep your eyes peeled over the next few days

I am very lucky to belong to a supportive Facebook group which is for polymer clay people based in Scotland. The Scottish branch of the BPCG meets in Edinburgh every 3 months and also in Glasgow. We run a monthly challenge and the new challenge for July is colour.

We have a lady who is a great help at our clay days,Bella Green, who is an artist and also enjoys creating with  polymer clay. Bella holds classes for budding and experienced artists and so is an expert with colour.

My main colours in this piece were blue and yellow and have mixed colours together to create this necklace. The blue and yellow made this lovely forrest green, yellow and a bit of red made the orange, green and yellow made the brighter green and yellow and white made the lemon.

All of these were threaded together on yellow waxed cotton cord and the necklace fastens with a button, also made of these colours of polymer clay.

The wonderful thing about using clay is you ALWAYS have some left. So while I had these delicious colours on my work table, I created some more handmade buttons and a new seam ripper

I am inspired by a lot of polymer clay teachers and it is very difficult to name only one. I was first inspired by Melanie Muir who also lives in Scotland and makes the most beautiful jewellery inspired by Scotland's landscape. I have undertaken workshops by various artists and have been absorbed by their work. One lady, who is very inspiring, by both her work and her wonderful generous teaching is Donna Kato.

So when our Scottish Clay Group on Facebook came upwith a challenge to make something inspired by a teacher, I had a go. I made this mustard and turquoise veneer to start with, using a cane inspired by Donna's work

I made two necklaces, which were very different in style for me but I really enjoyed making them. I am my own worst critic and one of the necklaces, I ended up keeping for myself as I could find a few small faults with it. I think the mustard and blue veneer is very fresh though and I am quite happy with it

This is the necklace I kept for myself on the right and the new mustard and blue necklace on the left is the one now on the website. I love the contemporary look of this necklace, do you? Thanks Donna for the inspiration!