{"id":7133,"date":"2009-12-11T03:15:08","date_gmt":"2009-12-11T11:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/?p=7133"},"modified":"2014-02-21T18:15:14","modified_gmt":"2014-02-22T02:15:14","slug":"polymer-clay-coping-with-disability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/polymer-clay-coping-with-disability\/7133\/","title":{"rendered":"Polymer Clay Happy Distraction – Coping with Disability"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PolymerSpotlight:<\/span> “When I’m working with polymer clay I can forget for a while about the pain…” ~Alexa-K<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Today’s spotlight feature is about a very special woman, with an inspiring story.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alexa Kazashinskaya is originally from Russia, and now lives in Belgium where she receives medical care for a rare and painful condition known as Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is remarkable about Alexa’s story is, even though there are many obstacles that could keep her from working with polymer clay (lack of supplies, no other clayers around, a very painful disability), she continues on with her art. Learning new techniques. Improving all the time.<\/span><\/p>\n

I am extremely impressed with her, as I know you will be too, when you read what she has to say.<\/span><\/p>\n

Related links for today’s Spotlight: 1) <\/strong>Variegated Rose Beads<\/a>; and
\n2) <\/strong>Torn Paper Watercolor Technique<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Since English is a second language for Alexa, she said it would be easier for her if I sent a list of questions that she could respond to. So, here is the result of our fun little Internet Interview…<\/span><\/p>\n

CINDY: <\/strong><\/span>The Web does a wonderful job of connecting polymer clay artists from all around the world. Please share a little about yourself and where you are from.<\/span><\/p>\n

ALEXA: <\/strong><\/span>I’m from Russia but live in Belgium now. I have a disease called Dystrophic EB. I live in Antwerp but I was born in Uzbekistan in Tashkent city. I came to Belgium for my disease. Here is much better for my care.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CINDY: <\/strong><\/span><\/span>Do you have polymer clay friends in Belgium and Russia that you communicate with or meet with on a regular basis?<\/span><\/p>\n

ALEXA: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>I have a home nurse and she is also working with polymer clay. And sometimes she comes to me to do something together. I do not know anyone else who does polymer clay.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CINDY: <\/strong><\/span><\/span>What challenges do you experience in obtaining the polymer clay tools and supplies you need for you projects?<\/span><\/p>\n

ALEXA: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Polymer clay in Belgium is not popular. That’s why it is very difficulty to find different types of clay or tools here. In a normal store can you only get Fimo and no other brands. Otherwise you must order from another country.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CINDY: <\/strong><\/span><\/span>What got you started working with polymer clay?<\/span><\/p>\n

ALEXA: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>I’ve seen Polymer clay work on the internet and I wanted to try.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CINDY: <\/strong><\/span><\/span>What inspires you the most about polymer clay?<\/span><\/p>\n

ALEXA: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>You can do anything with polymer clay. And certainly jewelry.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CINDY: <\/strong><\/span><\/span>Have the video tutorials at the members library and the articles at the community blog been helpful for you in learning about new polymer clay techniques?<\/span><\/p>\n

ALEXA: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Yes of course. I’ve learned a lot from your videos. Thank you so much for that. I appreciate what you doing!! You give people the chance to learn and be creative with polymer clay! I can read a book, but it is not the same. Your videos are very instructive and inspired for me. I’ve made a few roses from Volume 013. And I love them. They are so beautiful. I send you some pictures of them and of my other projects. The photos are not so well. And the color of the roses is not the same as in real life.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CINDY: <\/strong><\/span><\/span>What mistakes have you made and how did you learn from them?<\/span><\/p>\n

ALEXA: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>I’ve made many mistakes and I still make them. I am now almost one years working with polymer clay and I’m still learning. I have not made much jewelry. Because sometimes I do not feel well and can last for months.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CINDY: <\/strong><\/span><\/span>You have told me that you have a disability which is called Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa. I had not heard of it before. If you could share a bit of information about this medical condition, that would help to raise some awareness in a positive way.<\/span><\/p>\n

ALEXA: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Yes I have Dystrophic EB. Here is some information. Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic disease characterized by the presence of extremely fragile skin and recurrent blister formation, resulting from minor mechanical friction or trauma. This condition is not contagious. An estimated 1 out of every 50,000 live births are affected with some type of EB. The disorder occurs in every racial and ethnic group throughout the world and affects both sexes equally. All forms of EB are hereditary and most types of EB we now know the gene responsible for the ‘wrong’. This genetic “error” means that the skin cells layer or layers of the epidermis is not sufficient to attach together. This skin is extremely vulnerable weakened, and may in the slightest pressure or friction loosening, with continuous blistering as a result, the typical feature of EB. Pain is always present in EB, but varies depending on the type of EB. Everyone knows about the pain caused by a blister, eg with new shoes. Imagine that you discover each day a new blister, the whole body, just by the pressure of clothing, or a related shift. EB-patients often also suffer from chronic itching in places of healing wounds.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CINDY: <\/strong><\/span><\/span>How has your disability affected the way you work with polymer clay?<\/span><\/p>\n

ALEXA: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>I can not open bottles or do a Clay Extruder use because I get painful blisters on my hands. But there is so much stuff that I can do. And of course everything takes me much longer to do something than to other people.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CINDY: <\/strong><\/span><\/span>Polymer Clay has been used by many others as a form of art therapy in helping to cope with various disabilities. Has this been the case for you too?<\/span><\/p>\n

ALEXA: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>When I’m working with polymer clay I can forget for a while about the pain and itching. But sometimes by the violent pain I can’t working with polymer clay it is very frustrating.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CINDY: <\/strong><\/span><\/span>What are your future plans for working with polymer clay? Do you feel it is something that you will work with long term?<\/span><\/p>\n

ALEXA: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>I don’t know. As long as I can and enjoy it, I certainly go work with polymer clay. But I don’t now my future.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"Polymer<\/td>\n\"Polymer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Polymer<\/td>\n\"Polymer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Polymer<\/td>\n\"Polymer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Isn’t Alexa’s work just beautiful! I love how she did the watercolor technique with the translucent and gold leaf in the top layer. Very stunning effect!<\/span><\/p>\n

Alexa I am very proud of you! I would be happy to be your Tutor for as long as you want to keep learning. You are truly an inspiration to us all!<\/span><\/p>\n

As well as giving Alexa some feedback about her beads, if anyone else has stories about how polymer clay has played a role in helping to deal with other types of adversities or disabilities, please do post your thoughts in the comments section below. You may just end up sharing an idea, or words of encouragement, that could touch someone in a very positive and profound way.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

**<\/strong><\/span> If you have been inspired by my teachings and would like to be featured in an upcoming Spotlight Article<\/span><\/strong>, then please do write up something creative and email it to me along with a selection of your project pics. Make sure to send me high resolution photos that I’ll be able to zoom in on to show the details of your work. If you don’t already have my email address, simply leave a comment below and I will get it to you right away<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cindy\"Polymer<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Spotlight: “When I’m working with polymer clay I can forget for a while about the pain…” ~Alexa-K<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[2592,2623,2721],"class_list":["post-7133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-feature-guests","tag-health-wellness-polymer-clay","tag-member-project-photos","tag-polymer-clay-flowers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7133"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7133\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}