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This section is going to be about some of the materials and techniques used in my work. It's not going to be comprehensive, because a lot of further information can be found on the web once you have a starting place, and because life is short and nobody ever has enough time. I'll likely add to this page over time.

Polymer Clay

This is PVC (polyvinyl chloride, AKA vinyl) which hasn't been taken through the forming and curing parts of the manufacturing process, so that it can be shaped and then "baked" at home. It isn't as brittle as ceramic clays, so it won't shatter if dropped, but the surface is softer, so it can be scratched if it isn't handled gently.

Care of polymer clay items: If it's exposed to a lot of direct sunlight, the colors can eventually fade, so that should be avoided. Some chemicals can also damage the clay. It isn't as brittle as ceramic clays, so it won't shatter the way ceramics do if dropped, but the surface is softer. the surface, and especially delicate surface elements (tentacles on jellyfish, for example) or surface treatments (glazes) shouldn't be scratched or picked at, as they can be damaged. As with so many things, how long the pieces lasts is primarily related to how they're cared for.

Also, like most plastics PVC is not a food-grade plastic. While it's rated as safe for its appropriate use as an art material, there are components of vinyl that are toxic if consumed. That means that polymer clay jewelry shouldn't end up in the mouths of children or pets. (And children too young to keep their hands out of their mouths shouldn't be playing with the clay, either.) In addition, if the substance burns it will release toxic fumes, so that should be avoided.

Techniques: Cane-working is the best-known polymer clay technique, which is similar to the "millefiori" technique in glass-working. For those who aren't familiar with the concept, canes are built in a way similar to how sushi rolls are built, and hold a pattern when cut in cross-section across the roll in the same way.

Polymer clay can also be sculpted like organic clays, except that the clay already comes in colors and can be mixed in more colors, so there's no need to apply surface color, and there's no need for a kiln since the clay cures at a much lower temperature than organic clays.

The clay can also be folded, draped like fabric, run through pasta machines with a variety of effects, subjected to treatments and techniques used in wood-working, molded, woven in strips, and quite a lot more. There may be more ways to use this art material than any other. You can find a lot more info on the web, and there are also some great books on the subject. The book "The New Clay," by Nan Roche, came out way back  in 1991 but it's still the ultimate book on polymer clay techniques.