11# Donna Kato | Polymer Week Podcast

There is no one who has not heard of her or her brand of clay. Donna Kato has been working with polymer clay for decades and as an icon, she has inspired people from all over the world to work with this material as well, starting on television, teaching classes in many different countries, and sharing knowledge online.
Enjoy listening to the Polymer Week Podcast where Lucy talks with Donna about her beginnings, developing a new brand of polymer clay, and her latest projects.
Listen to the Podcast on:
Spotify: bit.ly/PolymerWeekPodcast1
Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/PolymerWeekPodcast
Google Podcasts: bit.ly/3dNFvCJ
Donna's Instagram: / dkato9876
Donna's KZbin channel: ‪@DonnaKatoArt‬
Lucy's Instagram: / lucystruncova
Lucy's website: www.lucystruncova.com

[@joyceengland8781]

This was lovely! I’ve always wanted to hear Donnas story. However, I missed her humming and singing. How wonderful that you always have a song in your heart.

[@PolymerClayTutor]

What a great interview you two! Donna, there were so many parts of your story that resonated with me. About the beginning growth stage, the fear of losing your place once you started to become known, and the realization as you matured that there's a place for all of us and there's no need for the competition. It was also fun to hear about you coming into the industry and looking up to the ones that came before you. In fact, you were the one that inspired my love of polymer clay... I had made some large and pretty terribly ugly earrings in the 80s and moved on to other crafts, but in the late 90s when I saw you on the Carol Duvall Show making canes with clay, I said, "I didn't know you could make THAT with polymer clay!?" I promptly dug around my place for some decades old blocks of clay and started to make canes and beads. It was a few years after that, in 2008 that my husband and I went full time online with our adventure into the polymer clay business, and haven't looked back since. Thank you! And thank you, to you, Lucie! You have brought a wonderful, youthful, collaborative professionalism to this industry like no other. I, too, am very grateful to be past the 'dog-eat-dog' competitive days of polymer clay some ten years ago. It's a much friendlier place to be, a lot because of lovely people like you. And man, you make the most gorgeous polymer clay magazines I have ever seen! ~ Cindy ❤❤❤

[@chinaoiler9572]

This is such a lovely podcast

[@barbkeith2697]

This has been wonderful. I have been a Donna fan for as long as I can remember. I’m pretty sure I met her at a class in a bead store (The Beadhive) in Geneva Illinois. That started my polymer clay adventure. I have her book “The Art Of Polymer Clay” published in 1997, I have Kemper tools and I LOVE Kato Polyclay! I always look forward to a new video on KZbin by her. Thank you for this interview. ❤

[@ceegee6417]

such a fantastic interview and great to hear Donna's story. Thank you Lucy for making this happen and thank you Donna for your your warmth, honesty, humour and fantastic teaching technique - I love your tutorials and learn so much from every one you put up on your channel

[@TracyMillerStudioGallery]

You are such an inspiration! I remember when I was President of the PPPCG and how you taught a class at one of our meetings! I have kept slices of that feather cane ever since!❤

[@cynthiakammann7368]

Such a wonderful discussion that applies not only to Donna or polymer clay, but is too rarely acknowledged. Thank you both!

[@IrisMishly]

Beautiful two ladies discussing real life experiences in such a sincere and authentic way, thank you for a lovely conversation and for reminding me how much I appreciate our community ❤

[@cynthiakammann7368]

What a beautiful interview. Thank you.

[@RosasUtopia]

Love Donna❤

[@passerineblue]

Thank you SO MUCH for presenting this interview by one of the giants of the polymer clay community.

[@melanieennis91]

Thank you I’m so glad I stumbled on this. It’s so lovely to put a face to the voice I have been listening to watching Donna’s amazing videos. I love her style and Donna is so easy to watch. Interesting to learn the history of the craft. I remember being a little girl watching my mum use Fimo in the 80’s. I remember it being sooooo hard that it was not like my play dough! She shared some great advice. Let it go and don’t compare. Thanks for sharing.

[@joyceparkes2678]

Beautiful honest interview thanks so much for sharing Donna 🙏🏽

[@nikahcosta]

Thank you, Lucy and Donna, for this delightful and inspiring conversation. I learn so much from both of you... Your podcasts are always a gift to us, Lucy🥰

[@andreaherrerooliveira7322]

Simplesmente amei conhecer um pouco da história dessa artista incrível, inspiradora, maravilhosa e que admiro tanto. Donna Kato é uma grande referência para esse mundo tão cheio de possibilidades que é o polymer clay. A Lucy também é uma grande artista e inspiração ❤❤❤❤

[@user-zn4dh4ms5e]

So loved watching and listening to this podcast. I've watched Donna since the Carol Duvall days and so much she said resonated with me. I agree with what Cindy L said in her comments. Thanks so much for sharing!