August Meeting and Guest Teacher Opportunity
Go Organic at the August Meeting
Our next meeting will be on Sunday, August 5 at 1 PM at Michaels Arts & Crafts. We’ll meet in the classroom of Michaels at 1 PM. Bring a cold drink, as none are available on-site. The theme for the meeting is Going Organic. We’re going to spend some time working with techniques inspired by Ronna Sarvas Weltman. Pods, chips, and other shapes inspired by nature will be our guide.
We added Ronna’s latest DVD, How to Make Polymer Clay Beads to our library last month, and Barbara will bring her copy of Ronna’s book, Ancient Modern: Polymer Clay And Wire Jewelry. You can also preview some of the projects on Ronna’s YouTube channel.
What to bring: basic clay kit, texture tools or sheets, a small burned out light bulb (if you have one) or a metal paint palette to use as a curved mold. If you are new to clay and don’t have a pasta machine, please let Barbara know and she can bring one for you to use.
Guest Teach Opportunities for March 2013
In advance of the IPCA Synergy3 Conference in Atlanta, we have an opportunity to bring a guest teacher to Tallahassee. Both Loretta Lam and Jana Roberts Benzon have expressed an interest in teaching either a 2-day, or two 1-day classes over the weekend of March 9 and 10.
Both teachers have proposed a number of classes. We need to make a decision on Sunday so that we can begin planning and publicity for the class(es). We will have copies of the workshop descriptions and costs involved at Sunday’s meeting. You can also download or read the descriptions below. Email Barbara with your choice if you can’t attend the meeting.
From Jana Roberts Benzon (http://www.janarobertsbenzon.com)
(all 2-day workshops):
- Arabesque Caning and Floral Eruption Pendant Workshop: Arabesque caning-pendant workshop description
- “Organics” Workshop: Organics Workshop Description
- New Age Bargello Workshop: New Age Bargello Workshop Description
- “Laser Cut” Technique and Pendant Workshop: Laser Cut Technique and Pendant Workshop Description
From Loretta Lam (http://lorettalam.com/) All classes 1-day unless noted otherwise.
Making it Big! 2-day
How do you make high-end art-to-wear jewelry that is lightweight, comfortable as well as beautiful? Join Niche-award winning artist Loretta Lam as she teaches hollow forming, armatures, polymer clay craftsmanship and construction techniques for the creation of big, beautiful beads. Learn to use Sculpey Ultralight and aluminum foil to create core beads which you will cover with canes and blends and using Super Sculpey to make hollow beads. Plus great information about jewelry design, color and finishing that will help you create more unique and personal work.
Design Rewind
Do you have great polymer ideas and mad skills but struggle to put it all together? Do you long to break out of your comfort zone but are having trouble finding your voice? Common problems with one simple solution! Design. This exciting workshop goes back to basics. Revisiting jewelry design concepts and principles will help refocus your intention and result in yummier, stronger, more personal jewelry. There are unexpected hands-on experiments and surprising tips and tricks to help resolve sticky design situations. We will rework problem pieces and spend time learning to analyze and critique our work in a safe, supportive way. Whether you are new to making things or a seasoned design professional, this workshop will help move your art to the next level.
Inspired Color
Do you wonder why some colors sing while others fall flat? There are no good or bad colors. The quality of any color is totally dependent on its neighbors! This class will help you break through to richer, lovelier, more successful color. Free your mind from color rules, break through fear and resistance and create a more personal, inspired palette. Explore color relationships, dynamics and harmonies. Examine your color “comfort zone” to make it more powerful and personal! Expand your ability to mix the colors you desire. When your palette is consciously created, whatever you make with it will be more successful, more luscious!
Wearable Vessels in Polymer Clay/Inros 2-day
Small wearable containers have been created throughout history to hold personal tokens or talisman. Come explore the world of Inros and secret keepers and learn to create hollow forms in polymer clay. Experiment with different base forms from found objects to manmade. Learn various connection techniques plus cording and embellishing possibilities. Add your favorite canes or mokume for the finished project to create a truly personal piece.
The New Faux Techniques
Polymer clay is known for its ability to mimic natural materials. But you shouldn’t be limited to making faux lapis or jade! Customers often ask if my beads are wood, with no faux wood grain in sight! This class takes the ivory, turquoise, wood, lapis and jade techniques in new and exciting directions. Instead of choosing the colors that mimic nature, we will play with “alternative” colors and palettes to uncover exciting new possibilities for these fabulous techniques. Have fun with caning that’s more organic. Oh – and you’ll get to make linoleum!! When you take something tried and true and look at it with fresh eyes the results are surprising and fun.
