Well, I am going to Nepal and Cynthia Tinapple is going global!

Cynthia has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things polymer.  (And of many other fascinating things by the way.) This means she is the ideal person to write a book about global perspectives in polymer clay. In Polymer Clay Daily, she explores polymer art internationally and has created the basis for a fabulously supportive network of people. Her next post will be her 2000th!!  Congratulations Cynthia.  And thank you!  Cynthia visited the ladies of Samunnat in 2011 and taught them to make one of their best selling designs.

I am very excited about Cynthia’s book. Primarily because it features some really interesting people-artists I’m getting to know better, to my great delight. Artists like Genevieve Williamson who made a favourite necklace.  Her art has a wonderfully organic quality. Her quote to accompany this necklace is a great one: Never grow a wishbone daughter, where your backbone ought to be by Clementine Paddleford.  She is about to head off to St. Helena’s island, a British Overseas Territory you reach only by sea after a long boat trip. She’s got backbone!  We have shared our expat living experiences and her blog is one I love to read.

Rebecca Watkins is another artist featured in the book who makes gorgeous beads with a sense of playfulness and celebration.  Then there’s Claire Maunsell whose work is so subtle and organic, Fabi with her fabulous sense of colour, Natalia Garcia de Leaniz joyful, spirited art and so many others.  Thirteen artists have each contributed a project to the book and Cynthia showcases the work of over 150 other artists.

I’m also there and just between you and me I kept half expecting a kindly worded email from Cynthia telling me that she’d decided to only include proper artists. It turns out others were sharing that thrilled but am I good enough? feeling!  I am excited that the story of the Samunnat ladies is being told in the book.  For all sorts of reasons I encourage you to bloody well buy it.  (I think Australians can use this phrase in a totally non- pressuring, friendly way!)

On Sunday I ran in one of the hardest fun runs I have ever completed-the Living Desert Dash-not so much fun as a sense of acheivement. I felt like the number on my chest was my core body temperature on completion of the event. In Celsius of course.  And, against the odds, I have uploaded the photos for my April FlickR 12 Projects 2013 entry.  Driven? Moi? Must stop. Getting into the car now.