Nicoleta Cornea 

Love at Second Sight   –   The Magic of Polymer Clay

My first encounter with polymer clay was around 1997, when I learned enough about it to teach my children how to make Pokemon figurines.  I made a few simple canes and beads at that time, and then I forgot about it until… September 2009. That’s when I rediscovered the old Fimo packages, still usable, and the few canes and beads of the first adventure.  As a second start, I used those canes to make a bracelet:

This time, I quickly envisioned the potential of creativity hidden in those 2 oz. packages of clay. I became a child myself, spending every hour outside of my day job learning how to play with this new favorite toy. I was avidly studying everything available on the Internet – and there were lots of tips, tutorials, video clips – truly an inexhaustible treasure chest! Maggie Maggio and Lindly Haunani’s book "Polymer Clay Color Inspirations: Techniques and Jewelry Projects for Creating Successful Palettes" introduced me to the inspiring works of Kathleen Dustin, Dan Cormier, Jeffrey Lloyd Dever, Laura Tabakman, and those of many other magicians of the polymer clay world.  Little by little, I learned the basic techniques, and then more advanced ones.

Joining the Polymer Clay Guild of Minnesota (PCGMN)

In April 2010, I joined the Polymer Clay Guild of Minnesota – a turning point in my life. The guild received me very warmly and encouragingly. I started to learn even more and even faster, and I was excited to journey deeper into the universe of polymer clay creations, the infinite variations of colors, shapes, personal interpretations and results of the myriad of techniques and themes. Even in a small group such as our guild, I was impressed with the diversity of styles and creative ideas. It has been a constant inspiration and source of energy, and the collaborative projects have pushed me farther on the path to becoming – hopefully – an emerging artist in polymer clay.

Cornelia Radu-Antonescu

Cornelia is my sister (Lica for short). She lives in Romania with her husband and their two children. In 2010 I started sharing with Lica my knowledge and passion for the polymer clay, and ever since she has found just as much pleasure and joy as I do in creating polymer clay jewelry.

Lica's Creations gallery will show you some of her beautiful productions.