Scallop Shell Pendant Jewelry by Polymer Clay Artist Tina Holden

Beach jewelry and seashell designs meticulously sculpted from blocks of fimo clay. Introducing a Tofino based artisan who calls herself the Beadcomber:

Although this beads-and-beading blog caters more to the beginner polymer clay artist, there are a few 'seasoned' veterans who pop by now and again to leave a comment and share their insights.

Tina Holden of Beadcomber Fame is one of those amazing jewelery artisans and I thought it would be nice to give her some recognition today.

Tina lives in one of the most beautiful and rugged beach communities in the world… Tofino, British Columbia. It's a small town on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, where the winds blow, the surf pounds and it pours rain a lot!

I know Tofino very well because my Father is a commercial salmon fisherman who often docks his boat there. As a teenager I worked with my Dad as a deckhand out on the open water. We and would come into Tofino regularly to sell fish and to seek shelter from a storm.

Even though I have not yet had the opportunity to meet Tina personally, I already feel connected to her because of her love for polymer clay and because of where she lives.

As a child, me and my family lived on Vancouver Island too (in Nanaimo), and we spent many hours beach combing. Looking for pebbles, sea shells and beach glass. Anything that may have washed up on shore.

I think Tina must spend a lot of time beach combing as well. Her company name is Beadcomber (clever isn't it) and her work has the spirit of the sea. Like the Scallop Shell Pendant in the photo above, she also creates polymer clay pebbles, sea urchin beads, starfish pendants and fish necklaces. She also creates some large and intricate beaded jewelry pieces. Much of her work is sold on Etsy.

Tina Holden describes herself as being fortunate to have a bead making job that she absolutely loves. "What else are you going to do in a place that gets as much rain as a rain-forest should!"

Even though Tina lives in a fairly isolated community, she is not hidden from the polymer clay world by any means. Starting back in her teens she has gone from making her first bead to having a full-time career as a polymer clay artist.

Her work has been showcased in Canada, the US, UK and in Germany. And she has written articles and tutorials for several magazines including PolymerCAFE. In fact, one of her tutorials was just recently published in the April 2008 issue with another one coming soon. Way to go Tina! You are very much appreciated. And thank you for your comments on this blog. Hope to keep 'seeing you around'!

A few weeks back I started this meet-the-artist series, starting with Irish Mishly [Polymeri Online] and then Lisa Clarke [Polka Dot Cottage]. If you enjoyed those articles along with this story about Tina Holden and her beautiful Scallop Shell Pendant Jewelry, then please let me know in the comments section below. Your feedback is very important to me.