Polymer clay: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Polymer clay is a modeling clay based on synthetic polymer (polyvinyl chloride ) instead of true clay. It hardens at temperatures that can be obtained in a typical home oven instead of the high temperatures of special kilns and furnaces needed for true clay. As with true clay it can be shaped by hand. Since the early 1990s polymer clay has been used to craft jewelry and other items mostly of interest to the counter culture. Leading brands include FIMO (Eberhard Faber), Sculpey, Promat, Cernit, Friendly Clay, Formello and Modello.

Unlike true clay, polymer clay does not dry out, and it is available in a wide range of colors which can be blended like paints, or worked separately. Most importantly, polymer clay does not shrink when it is hardened, unlike true clay.

Enthusiasts of polymer clay craft use techniques known to pastry chefs, glass blowers and pasta makers to achieve their effects.

Books

• Celebrations With Polymer Clay, Sarajane Helm, Publisher Krause Pubns Inc, January 2003, ISBN 0873495217
• Create a polymer clay impression / Sarajane Helm. ISBN 087341988X (pbk.)
• Creating with polymer clay : designs, techniques, & projects / Steven Ford and Leslie Dierks. ISBN 093727495X (pbk.)
• Creating your own antique jewelry : taking inspiration from great museums around the world / Chris Dupouy ISBN 0810990512 (pbk.)
• Creative Stamping in Polymer Clay / Barbara A. McGuire, North Light Books, 2002, ISBN 1581801556
• Creative stamping in polymer clay / Barbara McGuire. ISBN 1581801556 (pbk.)
• Foundations in Polymer Clay Design by Barbara McGuire, ISBN: 087341800X
• Liquid Polymer Clay: Fabulous New Techniques for Making Jewelry and Home Accents ISBN 0873495632
• Making animal characters in polymer clay / Sherian Frey. ISBN 158180041X (pbk.)
• Making gifts in polymer clay / Stacey Morgan. ISBN 1581801041
• Making miniature villages in polymer clay / Gail Ritchey. ISBN 0891349561 (pbk.)
• Making polymer clay jewellery / text and illustrations by Sue Heaser. ISBN 0304346055.
• Modellare con nuova pasta sintetica (Polymer clay basics) / Monica Resta. ISBN 0806971363
• Polymer clay : 20 weekend projects using new and exciting techniques / Irene Semanchuk Dean. ISBN 1579901689 (pbk.)
• Polymer clay : creating functional and decorative objects / Jacqueline Gikow. ISBN 0873419529 (pbk.)
• Polymer clay extravaganza / Lisa Pavelka, ISBN 1581801882 (pbk.)
• Polymer clay for the first time / Syndee Holt. ISBN 0806968273 : 19.95.
• Polymer Clay: Exploring New Techniques and New Materials (Includes Precious Metal Clay) / Georgia Sargeant , Celie Fago , Livia McRee, 2002, ISBN 1564968693
• Polymer: The Chameleon Clay / Victoria Hughes ISBN 0873493737
• The Art of Polymer Clay / Donna Kato, ISBN 0823002780, 1997, Watson-Guptill Publications
• The Polymer Clay Techniques Book / Sue Heaser, ISBN 1581800088
• The polymer clay techniques book / Sue Heaser. ISBN 1581800088 (pbk.)

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