Inspired Beader: Sheryl Westleigh

From Western Maine, Sheryl Westleigh creates a stunning array of polymer clay sculpture and jewelry. Most notably, her collection of unique cuttlefish jewelry captures a real essence of the sea.

These marine inspirations are just the tip of the iceberg in a collection that includes woodland creatures, fantasy figures and mythical beasts.

Surrounded by a real life menagerie of over 20 pets, Sheryl (aka Noadi) creates an amazing variety of inspired artwork, from pendants and earrings, to sketches and Perma-Pets.

Inspirational Beading had a chat with this talented designer about her inspirations and innovations. Here’s what Sheryl had to say:

Inspirational Beading: How did you first discover polymer clay?

Sheryl Westleigh: When I was in college I was wandering through a local art supply store and spotted some Sculpey 3 on sale, and I thought it would be fun to make some little miniatures for the Dungeons and Dragons campaign I was in. I never ended up making them but instead sculpted little heads and critters.

IB: What is your favorite style or technique?

SW: I started with polymer clay as a sculptor and that's still what I enjoy most. That's why even my jewelry is primarily sculpted and things like faux materials or caning techniques are secondary to the pieces, if they are included at all.

IB: Where do you find the most inspiration?

SW: Definitely in nature. I think anyone who looks at my work probably immediately notices my obsession with cephalopods (cuttlefish, squid, octopus, etc). I also enjoy a lot of mythology and folklore and that often appears in my larger sculptures.

IB: What is your favorite resource for ideas or techniques?

SW: Glass Attic is an amazing online encyclopedia of polymer clay techniques and it's my first stop if I'm looking up a technique. Katherine Dewey is an amazing sculptor with a pair of really good books, she also has a forum where she answers questions about working with polymer clay. For really amazing and often creepy sculptures the Shiflett Brothers are a team of sculptors also with a great forum.

IB: Who do you hope to inspire with your work?

SW: You know I haven't really thought about that before. I don't think of myself generally as someone who does inspire others. [I’m more of] a teacher and I try hard to help other artists and crafters as much as I can. My mom is a teacher and I think that has rubbed off on me, which is one reason I recently started up a new blog about what I've learned running a handmade business.

To learn more about Noadi’s Art, you can visit her gallery and shop at Noadi.net, or check in with her Adventures in Sculpting blog. In addition to photos and updates on her latest works, she also offers tips and tutorials on sculpture, design and handmade business practices.

To purchase your very own Noadi originals, and learn about how to request custom orders, visit her shop on Etsy.

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I think this economy kind of sucks.

But I'm not really sure.

I have a confession to make: I am having a difficult time gauging the suckiness of the current economy. I live in a fairly well-off area of the world, where high gas prices don't stop people from driving their Hummers and women have rocks on their wedding bands the size of small chihuahuas. I live in a place where the most commonly listed profession is DOCTOR/LAWYER/STAY AT HOME MOM! and a house built back in 1995 is considered old.

It's a hard life, really.

I feel like what I have seen in the media lately has, strangely enough, conflicted with what's been happening in this charming little town of mine. Sure, rumors have started to swirl about so-and-so's husband being laid off, spoken in the same hushed whispers one uses to speak of leprosy. I've never actually heard someone speak of leprosy, but you know- it's the same voice that I imagine they would use if they did. Two parts sympathy, one part slight disgust.

But honestly, for the most part, it's business as usual. Friends are already asking us to buy tickets to expensive holiday concerts; co-workers are talking about the new iPod/iPhone/iWhatever they're buying their kids for Christmas.

So I've decided that I have a new way of monitoring the current state of the economy.

Is it the stock market? Nah. Is it the newscasters on TV screaming about foreclosures? Nope. Is it the stories of gloom and doom in the newspapers? Nuh uh.

It's plastic surgery. Yes, good old plastic surgery. I have been monitoring the current activity amongst my peers and their plastic surgeons. It is a time of economic crisis, right? We are supposed to be looking for ways to be frugal and save money, right?

Like, you know- maybe we should cut back on the Botox to save some money. I mean...food on the table or Restylane injections: it's a very tough choice.

But apparently it is a tough choice. Someone I know managed to say (in the very same breath) that she was, "cutting back like everyone else and trying to work more to help with child care costs" but she also had an appointment for a boob job next week and she was so excited.

Hooray! Things must be fine if we can still afford new boobs.

Right?

Right.

So whew. I was beginning to worry there for a moment. Not anymore. You can suck it, Mr. Bernanke- something must still be right in this world. We can still afford new boobs.

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A Ring a Day - Ten

The self-inflicted June Ring a Day challenge is one third complete! Only 20 more rings to go. I believe by then I will be able to make them in my sleep! After 10 days, I have already learned a few new things about making jewelry. The most valuable lesson has been: quality before variety. In other words, it’s okay to make the same variations over and over, instead of trying to force new ideas that turn out poorly. I’m going to stick to what works!

Ring #10 - Sea Breeze

Therefore, today’s ring is a very simple herringbone design - one of my favorites. I think more often than not, it’s the use of color and accents that make a piece special, not the elaborate use of techniques. For this piece, I combined some very pretty blue, white and clear seed beads with a lovely smoky blue shell coin. The result is a breezy ring, perfect for summer, and a much calmer me.

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and The Sage's Cupboard

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Follow up to burning out

Amazing things can happen when you put yourself out there. One thing I wanted to do, was pretty desperate for actually, when I restarted my blog was to connect with people. I wanted to do that for a number of reasons: to not feel so alone, since working from home is pretty solitary; to connect with like minds; to share my experiences; and to help those artistic and creative souls who need someone to be there.

Yesterday's post has inspired a lot of incredible feedback, some public, some not. But what that says to me is that I have been connecting with people, and I want to stop and thank you all for that. One thing I miss about college is the sense of an art community, and it seems I've found one here. So, thanks for being a part of my art community, and for reaching out and encouraging a dialog.

If you need someone to listen, I'm here if you need a friendly ear. Sometimes just the act of typing out how you're feeling can be pretty cathartic. Blog comments are always welcome, but you can email me privately, too.

My regular post will continue later on today. I just wanted to stop and say thanks.

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