Hi there and welcome to my polymer clay website.I hope you enjoy looking at the many creations that I truly have fun making. But first, let me tell you a little about myself.
My name is Darleen Bellan and I am originally from the Boston area, but now reside in Southern New Hampshire with my husband, son and daughter. I have been into polymer clay for approximately 30 years now, beginning with my first sculpture of a boxer dog to add to a collection I had. I put PC on the back burner for a time while dabbling in other areas of arts and crafts, but became more serious with it around 20 years ago. I joined a local guild and made some pieces that I was fortunate enough to sell and thus became a self admitted " Clay-A-Holic". I like all the possibilities and techniques that PC can mimic and re-create, so you will see a wide variety of styles in my work.
I have also had the oppertunities to take workshops with a few of the many great polymer clay artists out there, some of which include Donna Kato, Kim Cavender, Lindley Hunanai, Kim Cavender, Christi Friesen and more. I like to take a little of what I learn in each of these workshops and put my own twist on it, or add some of those ideas into what I have developed on my own. As they say in the craft world, "something is originated every day, somewhere in the world" , so even though many of us think we develope something, chances are, if we can do it, somewhere out there, someone else can , and probably has too! Please take the time to enjoy looking at my work and feel free to contact me at darbella@charter.net with any questions you may have.
Recently, I have been commissioned to do what i have been calling Pet portrait beads. These can be seen here on my website under the Beasties category and also on my blog, www.darbelladesigns.blogspot.com . I have also had requests to make these into small framed pieces that a lot of people have been giving as gifts! After all, Us pet owners love our fur babies!
Update: I was recently contacted by the folks at HGTV and asked if I wanted to be a part of the show. Of course I said YES! So in June, the camera and sound crew arrived and we filmed 2 segments that are scheduled to air in early 2009. It was the experience of a lifetime and I am looking foreward to the day of the show. Keep watching here for the actual date and time to be posted.
My works can be seen at Andrea's Treasures in Newton Center, Mass, Twice as Nice Consignment in Amherst, New Hampshire, Gallery One in Nashua, New Hampshire as well as at local shows in the southern NH area.