Wearable Art: Marquetry Jewelry with Polymer Clay

Monday-Wednesday, June 10-12, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Build your own pin or pendant (or both) based on inspirations from the flowers and foliage in the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. From observational drawing or photography, develop a simple flower or leaf design based on a color palette of your choosing. Employing Bonnie’s signature marquetry techniques for surface design, and construct your pendant before making a pin back or pendant bale using wire and clay for a beautiful and fun finish. 

Basic polymer skills will be helpful but not required. Suitable for teens 14+.

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Materials:

 Supplies the instructor will bring to share for free:

 Polymer clay – usually provided by Polyform Tool

 Pliers for forming wire

 Wire cutter

 Hammers

 File bench blocks and anvil 

 Foil drawing paper

 Scissors

 Pencils 

 Rubbing alcohol 

 Dishes

 Q tips 

 Small brayers and rollers

 Small and large shape cutters 

 Burnishing tools 

 Supplies the instructor will provide at an additional cost:

 Wax paper – $3

 Masking tape – $4 

 Stainless steel sprung wire for pins – $5 

 Neck cords for necklaces – $2 

 Nickel silver round wire-18 gauge – $13

 Translucent liquid Sculpey – $10 

 Beading wire and crimps – $10, $47, $4/per student for these supplies 

 Supplies students should provide on their own:

 Pasta machine with crank ($30-$100, Imperia or Mercato) 

 #11 Exacto blade-precision knife with #11 blades ($10, Amazon)

 Drawing paper or sketchbook

 Pencil

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Artist Biography: 

Bonnie Bishoff has been collaborating since 1987 with her partner and husband, J.M. Syron, designing and making furniture, sculptural objects, jewelry, and wearable art. Initially, they explored using polymer as a decorative surface on furniture. Continuing to experiment over 30 years, their use of the medium has included sculptural elements, lighting, and large marquetry-like veneers. Bonnie’s focus has now become jewelry and wearable art, as well as sculptural wall pieces. Their work has been exhibited in galleries, craft shows, and museums across the United States and abroad, including the Smithsonian Craft Show, the Baltimore Craft Show, the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, and SOFA-Chicago. They have furniture in the permanent collection of the Racine Art Museum.