Design Squad

Creative, inspiring, innovative, experienced
and a whole lot more!

 

Introducing the 2012-2013 Sculpey Design Squad

 

Syndee Holt - Patti Kimle - Sarah Berman
Shirley Rufener - Niki Meiners - Kari McKnight-Holbrook

 

Read their blog and enjoy their projects, tips, techniques and creative uses of clays, tools and accessories. Their varied specialties and work styles will educate and inspire you.

Syndee Holt
Syndee Holt
Does Sculpey look interesting, but you tell yourself you just don't have time?

Well, syndee holt will prove you wrong. She has worked as an independent polymer clay artist, photographer, and author for over 18 years while maintaining a full time career (21 years at UC San Diego) and raising her two sons herself, even caring for her terminally ill father for several years. She wrote her book, Polymer Clay for the First Time, with 4 little boys playing Nintendo behind her and in between laundry and cooking duties. Her bibliography now lists over 100 polymer clay articles in magazines published throughout the world as well as over 35 television appearances. Still don't think you have time for crafts?
Patti Kimle
Patti Kimle

Patricia Kimle has always been involved in art, from childhood on.  Her early interests focused on apparel design and later, jewelry.  Patricia holds a Ph.D. in Textiles and Clothing and taught apparel design at the college level for seven years. 


She has been exploring polymer clay for nearly 20 years.  About 5 years ago, she added metal clay to the mixture to create mixed media jewelry.   Patricia sells her jewelry to galleries and gift shops across the country.  She has two lines; a fashion line which combines silver and polymer with a strong nature theme, and an inspirational line which incorporates scripture verses and prayers in the silver.  She uses all original drawings, carved designs, and molds of foliage collected in...

Shirley Rufener
Shirley Rufener

Shirley started working (playing) with polymer clay in 1985. Since her first 1" seasonal/holiday bear collection that she sold through a shop in Old Sacramento, CA, she was hooked! Now she has many years of experience teaching her original techniques through her book, "Polymer Clay Mixed Media Jewelry", at retreats, teaching workshops and doing demonstrations. After appearing on a few episodes of The Carol Duvall show, The Creative Life (on PBS) and HSN, she has had the opportunity to become the AM Northwest TV morning show's "craft expert", demonstrating a different craft every month for 12 years. She demonstrates art and craft techniques with a variety of mixed media materials, although she admits that polymer clay is her passion.


Shirley has a website at...

Niki Meiners
Niki Meiners
Growing up in a small mid-western town, Niki Meiners was surrounded by a modest, resourceful and very entrepreneurial family. Her simple upbringing spurred her “Can Do” attitude and gave her the confidence to try any challenge placed before her. She knew there was more out there that just her small town and set off after high school to explore the world. It was through these travels that she discovered her love of art and her desire to make the world a prettier place. It was not until she suffered a paralyzing illness that she realized she wanted to reconsider her corporate career as a Chief Paper Pusher, and her thoughts immediately turned to her first passion, art. In 2003 she began an odyssey that would take her prom product design to publication and everywhere in between. She is known...
Kari McKnight-Holbrook
Kari McKnight-Holbrook
Award winning Photographer/Artist/Instructor, Kari McKnight-Holbrook’s art is regularly featured in magazines, trade publication, hanging in galleries and private collections around the world. Recent work can be found in Art Journaling, Cloth, Paper Scissors, CPS Studios, AJ Art Calendar and in Faber Castells Art Journaling and ATC Kit instructions manuals.

Kari has taught for years at venues both large and small, locally around Columbus, Ohio and nationally. Kari delights in sharing art and encouraging students to bloom in their personal artistic journeys. Her engaging classes are delighted with student’s pleasure and success in mind, efficiently and energetically guiding techniques while allowing for artistic self discovery and individualization.

As a young...
Gretchen Amberg
Gretchen Amberg
Gretchen Amberg has traveled the winding path of media, starting with glass fusing, then metal clay, and on to several other types of media. She was first introduced to polymer clay in 2007, and it was love at first sight. Gretchen grew up in a household with two creative parents (although her father would argue that point where he is concerned). Going through her early school days with energetic and inspiring art teachers certainly helped her find her creative spirit. Her mom worked many years as a florist and was a serious quilter and basket weaver. Being around her mom definitely contributed to her love of color and interest in structure. Her dad and grandpa were model railroaders, so her association with that hobby contributed to her interest in mechanics. She sees herself as more...