Amanda Gwynne-Farrish has been working in polymer clay – the kind of clay that “bakes” at low temperatures in a standard oven, without the need for a kiln - “since I was in Grade 7, but it was mostly little, teeny animal jewellery.”
Her creativity has now "morphed" into Pook Designz – not only jewellery but also collectible sculptures, 3-D polymer clay pictures, even cake-toppers.
Gwynne-Farrish also provides polymer clay workshops, for retirement residences like The Elden of Bradford; long-term care centres, birthday parties, schools, and clubs. The workshops have also been offered as part of the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury's Leisure Services programming.
Each workshop offers a specific project or “critter” – all of them designed by Gwynne-Farrish, who also does all of the preparation.
She provides the clay and the instruction – helping participants put together the bodies of creatures that range from Thanksgiving turkeys (“Every holiday, there’s a themed workshop,” Gwynne-Farrish said), to Droogles, Pooks and DoodleSnorts, while she prepares the detailed pieces, “the eyes and the flowers.”
The workshops have become so popular, that some kids have come back, year after year. “Parents have actually built curio cabinets” to house the collections, she said.
Wait - Droogles? DoodleSnorts? Pooks?
They are imaginary creatures, the products of Gwynne-Farrish’s imagination. It all began in grade eight, when a teacher called some of the students after the seven dwarfs.
“I was just known as ‘Pookie.’ That’s not a dwarf, but it stuck,” Gwynne-Farrish said, and inspired ‘Pooks’ - her first tiny creatures, with big eyes and a fluff of feathers on top - and the Pooks inspired the name, Pook Designz.
“What do they do? They don’t serve any purpose,” she remembers a friend asking. Her answer: “People are happy when they make them.”
Gwynne-Farrish has been urged to mass-produce her critters, but has chosen to keep Pook Designz an artisanal, hands-on enterprise. Sharing her creativity with others is a big part of who she is, what she does, and what gives her a sense of satisfaction.
It’s what happens at retirement residences and nursing homes. “When I show the residents what they’re going to make, they laugh,” she said. Often, they don’t believe that they can actually make the craft.
It’s “the joy” when they finish, that keeps Gwynne-Farrish engaged. “The inner feeling of accomplishment. You can do it!” she said. “And if you don’t like it, you have the option of changing it.” Clay can always be reworked.
“I definitely enjoy the teaching,” Gwynne-Farrish said. And her toadstools, ‘Wormies,’ bears with hearts and rainbows, dragons “have become a staple. People recognize them.”
Gwynne-Farrish still works, but hopes to dedicate more of her time to Pook Designz, and teaching. “It’s a vision, a goal,” she said, adding, “It’s too much fun. I just want to create these characters.”
Gwynne-Farrish is available for workshops and birthday parties, and is a supplier of Sculpey polymer clay. Check out Welcome to Bradford and other social media sites, or visit her website.
She’ll be part of this year’s BWG PASSION MADE artisans’ tour, Sept 21 and 22, with her Droogles, DoodleSnorts and other critters, and a range of affordable hand-made creations.
“This is my contribution. It’s quirky, and it’s fun,” she said. “'They make me smile' - I always hear people tell me that.”
