Have You Registered? Chilly Clay Retreat 2026

ByBarbara Forbes-Lyons

Chilly Clay Retreat

Registration for Chilly Clay Retreat is live. Be sure to login as a member to get the 100% discount. If your membership expires on or before February 1, you will need to select the new/renewing member option and update your dues.

  • When: February 7 & 8, 2026
  • Where: Making Awesome, the local Makerspace AND Zoom
  • Lunch entreé is provided both days and there is a signup for everything else.

NEW! Sunday Challenge

On Sunday afternoon, we’re going to host a challenge for all attendees.

Everyone will pick a word or phrase out of a bowl and have two hours to make something that is your interpretation of the word or phrase. Online folks can participate too – we’ll have someone pull the ideas out of the hat for you.

Natasha Hearts with Nancy

Natasha Flechsig* is best known for inventing the “Natasha bead” technique in the 1990s. This method transforms leftover or scrap polymer clay from cane ends or mixed colors into striking, symmetrical beads with abstract patterns.  *Grok AI tool

Nancy will lead us through making Natasha Beads, Natasha Veneers, and shaping/perfecting heart shapes for jewelry or table decor. A PDF with complete instructions will be provided.

Supplies

  • Clay scraps, and some solid colored clays
  • Tissue blade, and wavy blade (optional)
  • Deli waxed paper, and deli film sheet
  • Hart cutter, and roller
  • Alcohol and Resin, Let’s Resin (optional) 
  • Renaissance Wax (optional) 

Blade Books with Barbara

Tired of your small blades getting away from you in your kit? Worry no more- we’ll make a magnetic blade book that’s just the right size for single edged razor blades and small microtome blades. It also works great for extruder disks. You design your book cover however you want – I’ll show you a couple versions to get your creative ideas flowing.

Supplies

  • 2 Business card sized magnets (the adhesive ones)
    • I will have some for those on-site
  • Glue – PVA or Liquid Fusion type. Not cyanoacrylate (super glue)
  • Hole maker of some sort – punch, crop-a-dile, drill bit, etc.
    • 1/16” drill bit (2.25mm) is what I use in my demo
  • 2 Jump Rings – big ‘uns, like 12-15 mm OD
  • Basic clay kit including a ruler and craft blade
  • Veneers for covers, 3rd thickest setting on your pasta machine (Approximately 3.4mm in thickness, any thicker and you will need larger jump rings for the hinge.)
    • Canes, texture stamps, etc. for the cover (Optional)
  • Cover template (see next page) or use the ruler
  • Flat tile or tray for baking

Upcoming Meetings

We need hosts to run the May and June meetings. Please contact Barb if you can help. You can host remotely, too.

Note: if members do not offer a program idea, on-site members will meet for an open Clay Day. Zoom will not be offered.

  • February 7 & 8: Chilly Clay Retreat REGISTRATION OPEN
    • Nancy: Natasha Hearts
    • Barbara: Blade Books
  • March 7: Program Needed
  • April 4: Program Needed
  • May 2: Program and Host Needed: Barbara, Cindy, and Ellen are unavailable that day.
  • June 6: Program and Host needed: Barbara is unavailable that day.
  • August 1: Program Needed
  • September 5-6: Clay-bor Day Retreat

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