At the earliest polymer clay retreats, Lindly Haunani requested a bead from each participant. The “Bead Strand” became a long, clear record of how polymer art developed.

The exhibit at the Mingei Museum in San Diego showcased polymer pioneers and gave me the opportunity to stroll through the galleries. These works brought back a flood of memories of exciting creative experiences with artists who became dear friends.

Pieces from the collections of Elise Winters, Nan Roche and others rounded out this terrific look at our past. I hope you take as much pride in this as I do. There’s a complete list of artists at the end of the video.

You may identify with New Mexico polymer artist Barb Fajardo as she talks about facing what’s next with her art. While the prospect of travel and teaching offer exciting possibilities, those changes also include some fear and sadness.

If you’ve watched your nest empty and your studio grow, you’ll understand the sometimes conflicting feelings that change brings with it.

This warm conversation with Colorado’s Tejae Floyde brings us back to the heart of the matter. Tejae smiles broadly as she talks about using polymer for memory and giving and shared secrets. Her own heart shines through her art.

In this 3-minute video with Madrid’s Natalia Garcia de Leaniz she talks about Spain’s young and growing guild which she helped found. She touches briefly on her approach to polymer and how she feels compelled to express her happiness through color. Natalia’s had significant health challenges which have contributed to a remarkable resolve to communicate her joy.

If you look closely during the video and on Natalia’s Flickr site you can see some of the texturing she has developed using rough air filter foam materials and other special techniques.

She has a down-and-dirty way with mokume gane that uses just a few thin layers of color impressed with two tools. Her vibrant colors are the real trick.

Colorist Kaffe Fassett (pronounced to rhyme with “safe asset”) traces his history and says he finds work deeply healing and meditative. He talks eloquently about expressing your inner color. (Thanks Maggie for sharing the link!)

In this week’s chat with Utah’s Jana Roberts Benzon, she looks back in amazement at where her art has taken her. Her trajectory is not what she could have predicted and she’s pleased as she looks ahead.

We caught up with Debra DeWolff as she jumps back into retailing after a few years of other work. She says of her new space, “ Since I moved into this apartment I’d been using the space strictly for storage because I hadn’t really thought that I’d be getting back into my business again.” She explains her new path on her blog post called theLearning Curve.

Maggie Maggio’s trajectory changed slightly as she moved her studio out of the basement and into an upstairs bedroom. The cozy nook, the rich red walls, the organization of the space, her attention to recycling – all hint at how Maggie works and where she’s heading.

Where are you headed? Have slight adjustments in the way you work or think changed your direction?

This Maggie Maggio video is the first of several exciting sessions I taped during my Oregon vacation. It was an education to sit next to Maggie as she explored “sculptural color” and the next variations in split rings.

She was undeterred by failures and dead ends. The results have great possibility. The versatility and strength of her pieces is phenomenal. The bracelet I brought home takes daily abuse with no ill effects. Maggie allowed me to show the “slinky” bracelet on Polymer Clay Daily but the Ndebele-inspired necklace video we saved just for you.