Incredible Inedibles: Mini Polymer Clay Food
There's a new trend in jewelry that's pure eye candy--almost literally. Foods of all sorts are being replicated in miniature using polymer clay.
Popular in the UK, with tie-ins to the Kawaii culture in Japan, miniature food as jewelry has caught on in other parts of the world.
The word kawaii means "cute" in Japanese, and the tiny treats being cooked up are certainly that. For reasons unknown even to ourselves, humankind seems to automatically find anything small adorable. And if those minuscule objects happen to be realistically rendered, even more so. There are some amazing mini foods out there that mimic the real deal so convincingly ... well, you might say they're so cute, you could eat them up (please don't, though).
"Why mini food as jewelry?" you may ask.
Why, indeed? Perhaps it's humans' innate fascination with anything in miniature form. Mini food might remind sentimental adults of the dollhouse they played with as children--or the one they always dreamed of having--complete with tiny meals.
Make a tribute to your favorite person's favorite food. Miniature pizza with the perfect toppings delivers a personalized gift. Donut lovers will surely find sprinkled and jelly-filled earrings delectable--and not at all fattening!
And the design possibilities aren't limited to food, either. Enjoy a cup of joe with those tiny donuts atop your badge holder, or attach an itty-bitty boba tea to your keyring.
Have these designs whetted your creative appetite? Grab some polymer clay and check out the helpful resources below to start you on your way to baking up some tiny wearable treats!
Christi Friesen is here to cover all the polymer clay basics you could want, including how to condition clay, color blending, jewelry clay tools, clay baking tips, how to add beads to your polymer clay and more.
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