Our most popular brand of polymer clay in the UK, Fimo, has been a crafting staple in hobby shops for many years. A favourite with parents during long school holidays, it keeps the children amused for hours and can be cured in an ordinary household oven. No special equipment required.

Then put it in the hands of imaginative, artistic adults, and it is elevated to whole new level! I stumbled upon this creative artform while looking for ways to make a ‘cloisonne’ style pendant. The internet must take the blame for the rest.

I have always been a crafter, so it wasn’t such a long journey before I could make quite passable items of jewellery, and sell them at local craft fairs. But it’s never enough, there is aways something new enticing me to advance my polymer clay skills, and add to my mountain of clay. Who knew there were so many brands out there, each with its own strengths and weaknesses? But you have to try them all in order to test their qualities… of course you do!

The internet is full of guidance, inspiration and advice on polymer clay, it only takes a few searches to find something really helpful, then away you go. To help you do that I recommend that you visit the sites of polymer clay artists Fiona Abel-Smith, Ange Smith, Helen Cruickshank, Donna Kato and Ludmila Bakulina.

and Clay