Any Clayamies on the West Coast in January?

Market Square -Tourism Victoria

The Vancouver Island Polymer Clay Artists Guild is hosting CLAY DAZE

in balmy Victoria from January 22-24. What better way to spend a winter weekend?

Here's Wanda Shum demonstrating milifiori techniques at "Sojourn", our last Clay event.

Ornamental Favourites and Winterfest

Wishing all Clayamies could have participated in the ornament swap.  Such a selection of goodies!  Just as tasty as being in a cookie swap, at least for the eyes.  And these were calorie free!

Sadly, due to other commitments I wasn't able to participate in Winterfest this year...it's the first one I've missed.  It is so much fun and so I hope that if it's still on next year my book club won't have its Christmas Party on the same night.  I'm sure that everyone had a great time thanks to Gera's organization.

If I had been able to participate, my gift would have probably been something along this line, as that is the type of gift I gave last year and I  have been making quite a few of these recently as commissioned gifts and for galleries.  Personalizing it would have been possible by imprinting the person's name on the beads, or by incorporating the letters of the name into the embellishments on the front or inside cover.  Of course I don't always know in advance who's going to get the books, so I only personalize them if I know the intended recipient.

This one is filled with high grade artists watercolor paper and has made its way to San Francisco as a gift from a lady I see at the Brandon Gala of Gifts each year.  I hope she liked it!

Hoping clayamies and all who read this have a very joyful Christmas. 

Winterfest - Someone knows my Colours!

I was surprised to get a trove of treasures from Amy Beeney aka Amy Eyelashes (visit her blog to figure out the nickname ;). I couldn't figure out who my Secret Santa would be, but ooh was it fun 'trying' to guess.
Amy sent me not just something I can wear, but things I can use to incorporate into my own work. Amy how did you know my kinda colours?? lol Well, these are some of my favorite colours: blue, green, purple and bronzes (and black, but thats a contrast). Holiday ensemble, Ultrasuede cord, Glitters, buttons, and filigree pieces... Thanks Amy!

Secret Santa Gift from Liz

Here is the beautiful pendant Liz made. At first I thought the image was a transfer but when I saw Liz over the weekend she told me it's something else all together. Liz printed the image from an old poster from Seville she figures the image is from around the 1920s. The image is printed on shrink plastic. Thanks so much Liz. I love participating in the Secret Santa it really helps get me in the spirit of the season.

From My Secret Santa

Georgia here, posting photos of my lovely gifts from Tina, my secret santa.

Many thanks to Gera for getting us all together and hosting this wonderful annual event.

It was a super event and I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did... and I even managed to stay awake for a very long part of it!!!

hugs to all

Winterfest Gift- Shhhhhh... I am being amused!

Winterfest gift to Gera from Vesta!

Winterfest 2009

Last night, we held our yearly Winterfest. All this, because of Gera's initiative and organization. Thank you Gera! There was an exchange of gifts among the participants, usually something related to polymer clay. We receive those in advance by snail mail, and open them online. We don't know who our "secret santa" is until we open our gift. It makes for a lot of fun and laughter: an online party.
My secret santa who remained secret for a long time was Georgia and this is what I got (I was spoiled): I will use the papers in a book, the little mould and cabochons, flattened wire, glass curlie cues will also be put to good use. I also got a pendant with silver wire. Thank you very much Georgia.


See you all next year!!
Vio

My prezzie from Gera! Happy Winterfest! - Vesta

The Ornaments are coming....

Just a quick report on the arrival at Beeks Lane Godfrey post office of a number of parcels...

and the knowledge that several more are on their way...

i don't know whose these are, as i haven't had a chance to go out to the post office as i am working this week at the gallery... however, i will go very soon and post a list...

are you reading this????? by now all swappers should have their ornaments in the post, or certainly ready to put them there tomorrow!!!!!

i shall get out the whip on friday if i haven't received them all... lol

cheers and happy holidays to all..

georgia who will be walking thru Westport on Saturday in the Santa Claus Parade!!!

ORNAMENT SWAP 2009

Just a reminder that you have one week to sign up for the 2009 ornament swap!!!

Join the 20 who are now on the list... Georgia, Vesta, Moyra, Barb A., Tina, NancyQ,
Gail P., Lawrence, Gen, Iris, Wanda, Carolyn B., Sharon H., Heather, Cynthia, Vanessa,
Sandy W., Jem, Marie R.

If you have signed up and don't see your name. please let me know...

thanks and yours in lovely new ornaments!!!
iggy

A mini Tutorial and maybe a Ring

I just published a tutorial on how to make this on my blog. Hope you like it...

Speaking of Ornaments.....

ORNAMENT SWAP 2009

Fellow swappers and all clayamies...

Here are some photos from former swaps to intrigue you to joining us this year for the Clayamies Ornament Swap 2009

These are just some of the delightful ornaments made for last year's swap....

So, come on you all and join us for some wonderfully crafted ornaments for your 2009 tree.

So far our swappers are, and please let me know if i have missed anyone...
Vesta, Amy, Moyra, Barb A., Tina, Nancy Q., Gail P.,
Lawrence, Gen, Iris, Wanda, Carolyn B., Sharon H., Heather, Cynthia
Vanessa

UPDATE: Sandy W., Jem, Marie have joined our swap.
Along with myself that makes 20!!!!!
Are there any more of you out there? Remember deadline for signing up is November 6. At the moment,
five is the minimum number of ornaments you must make, but of course, you can make one for each swapper if you so desire.












Email me with your snail mail address when you sign up.
















Here are the details:

1. sign up by November 6
ABSOLUTELY NO LATER

2. your ornaments will be due to
me by November 20!!!

3. i will give you the number of
swappers on November 7.

Please see clayamies yahoo post for September 11, although PLEASE note that ornaments are now due Nov. 20!!!

Inspiration

Visit the PCAGOE Blog and vote on your favourite polymer creation inspired by the art of some of the greats! I found it very hard to choose this month. The Scream really caught me, but then that is one of my favourite works. Lady in Waiting is exquisite, and Meditation Miniature exudes peace.

I sure admire the folks who have the discipline, talent, and organizational ability to do these challenges. One of these days....but I better get on those Christmas ornaments first!

Moyra

Ancient? Vintage? Modern?

Really had fun with rings today. Creating these big Polymer Clay rings made me think of old as well as modern. While something can't be called Ancient unless its hundreds of years old, and Vintage needs to be at least 30 years old, then these rings have at least an ancient and vintage flair about them.

I made some polymer clay resin cabochons, used some milifiori and some glass...

I have some of the commercial glue on re-sizable rings, but didn't like their look, so made re-sizable shanks with wire inserts. I know that in the photo it looks like just a ring being held in place with a clay strip, but the shanks actually have prongs that are embedded solidly within the clay. The rings are then baked and after cooling I apply further embellishment on the back, so the wire inserts aren't visible. One size fits all.

What do you think?

Monday Night Clayamies Chat

I would like to extend a invitation to all to join a real time chat held each Monday evening using MSN messenger. In order to join the chat you need to get hold of a member and they will add you to their contact list. In case you aren't running messenger here is a link to the download.
http://download.live.com/?sku=messenger .The chat beings between 5-6pm PST and around 8pm EST. The group of chatters is diverse and interesting from across Canada. We chat about clay and our every day lives. It is a lot of fun if not a little confusing the first couple times you join in. It helps when everyone types in a different text colour and when you are clearly identified by your name.

Come and join us and have some giggles!

A Maple Leaf on a Saltspring Shore...

I took a photo of a little red maple leaf on the shore at Vesuvius on Saltspring Island last October. This week I did a little digital tinkering and snipping with scissors to come up with this little 4x4 canvas. It's heading out to Artemsia Gallery in Westport Ontario to show a little of the west coast's fall colours.

Good morning clayers,

How is everyone doing this very cool fall morning?

I have some pictures to share with you and hopefully I will be able to upload them. So please be patient with me as I am not a computer techie. The one picture is of some jewellery display ladies that I bought in the Dollorama, I am going to try them out and see how well they display my jewellery, they were only $2.00. I thought perhaps some of you might be interested in them.

The other pictures are of my little ladies that I made for the show in The Art Gallery in Lindsay.

Have a great day!!!

Amy

Hi from Carolyn

Hi all!  This blog is a really great way to keep in better touch with all our members.  Thanks Tina for getting things going!

Since Dave and I moved to the interior of B.C. (from the coast), we've had a very full and exciting summer. We were busy with building our deck and yard work with some time out to enjoy the wonderful lakes and parks nearby. The weather was extremely hot the whole summer with over 3 weeks straight of +40 C temperatures and so was impossible to work with any clay during those days. We finally managed to have our air conditioning installed which brought great relief! Besides the heat we were surrounded with 3 major forest fires for over 3 weeks which was a little nerve wracking and difficult to breath with all the smoke.

On the brighter side, I had the opportunity to be in my first juried art show. It is a large one that has been going for 26 years. With so many talented artists in the area I felt it was a real honor to not only have all 4 pieces accepted but to receive an award for one of the entries -- a coffee table I tiled with polymer clay.  You can read about it on our blog by clicking on the photo:

There are 2 members of the clayamies that inspired me to do this table. One person is Nancy who some time ago showed our Vancouver guild how to make stamped mosaic tiles. I loved the concept of mosaic tiling with polymer clay and thought of all sorts of projects to work on with this technique, one of which was an antique coffee table I purchased that was in need of refinishing. Then someone told me about Krista Wells and her book, Polymer Clay Mosaics, which was full of inspiration and ideas. 

Since I was the first and only polymer clay artist to enter this show, I was asked to give a demonstration for one afternoon.  I showed how I made my canes and had quite a crowd of people who were all wide eyed and excited as they had never seen anything like it before.  It was such a good experience, I'm already looking forward to next year. 

I've since been busy with creating a wide range of buttons, beads and jewelry pieces specializing more into animal prints.

Clay?? What's that?

I haven't done much clay this summer because I've been away from home a lot. Visits with my mother in Pennsylvania, an emergency trip to Arizona to help out my dad, a great vacation in Newfoundland, and now I have an adorable, time-consuming puppy!! You can see impossibly cute pictures of the baby plus a post about the Newfoundland trip on my blog.

I did get to take an interesting clay workshop with Ronna Sarvas Weltman at Polymer Clay Express in Maryland and I taught my guild members how to make my "fancy hat" Bottles of Hope at our August meeting.

Why We Make Art

A couple of years ago someone forwarded me an email with a link to a site called Daily Good. They send out a daily newsletter highlighting good things that are happening in the world. Wow! What a concept! At the time I was really in need of some good news, having been bombarded with all the sad things we see and read daily. I signed up for the newsletter and have enjoyed a little pick me up every day since!

One of the latest issues highlighted an interview with 7 artists who were asked why they make art. Here is the link: Daily Good

I hope you enjoy the varied perspectives and get yourselves hooked on the Good News too!

On the clay front, here is one of my latest pieces. I had a blog review my work and host a giveaway draw for one of my Mandala necklaces. The orange/yellow one is the sample I made for myself. The blue/green one is the winner's. She sent me 7 words describing sentiments that are important in her life and chose a color scheme for me to make her personal Mandala. It was a fun and rewarding experience.

Hi to Clayamies

Just got twigged on to this blog...thanks Tina and everyone who set it up and is looking after it!

I'ts been rather cool here in the Peg and we just started having 'summer' about two weeks ago, now that fall is less than two weeks away.

I've been busy on Saturdays at the Waterfront Market in the smaller town of Selkirk about fifteen minutes from our home and it's been fun. The market is in its first year of operation and had some initial start up issues, but it's going smoothly now. Of course one of the reasons why it had issues was that the first six weeks were either too wet or too windy to set up the tents properly, and some folks who didn't have proper anchoring for their tents had things blowing all over.

This neckpiece I made this week is a fun thing I kinda made up on the spur of the moment. I simply created one focal thing and two of everything else and strung it on some buna with a funky closure on the back making its length adjustable. It goes with everything, and I am thinking of all the new 'fall' colors of aubergine, pomegranite and what was that other one...mustard? Who knows. But this will match 'em all.

I've also been making lots of journals. I am also doing some art journaling (painting and calligraphy) when I have time. It's a bit messier than clay in some ways. The other day I got together with some of my former teaching buddies and of course my fingers were all stained. They laughed and said they wouldn't recognize me if I didn't have paint or ink all over my hands. Some things never change.

Anyway, it's great to have this blog set up and I hope to be able to keep up with posting on a fairly regular basis.

Hi from Tina! and a giveaway...

It's been quite a busy summer around here, and a lot of projects on the go and not enough time to get pictures of everything. Tourism has taken a bit of a tumble all over Canada, I've noticed it because haven't had a problem finding parking spots in town, lol.

About tumbling, one of my interests are beach rocks and with excellent beachcombing around here collected amassed a large amount of beach pebbles that I use for inspiration for making my own out of polymer clay. Currently I'm doing a guessing game and giveaway on my blog (just scroll down the last few entries there for details). Here is one that could be the one for the Giveaway, on one of my new cards. Also a tray of pebbles in progress. I need more colours.

Summer of PC

Hi everyone..
Well I have to admit, I have been pretty dormant when it came to working with PC. To many things happening in my life, aka daughter, work.. you know the usual procrastinations. Finally decided that I needed to get the creative juicies flowing, and thinking I could just jump back in... everything I touched was a TOTAL flop... feeling very discourage, Vanessa paid me a visit, and VOILA.. back in the game. She truely got me inspired again, heart racing, the anticipation, and praying to the oven gods not to let your work burn.
So what have I come up with.. well have been making what I call tattoo pendents... for those who don't know me, I personally have 11 tattoos on my body, but many people out there think tattoos are cool, but don't want to have one permanently.. so this was my solution:


The only issue I have is , I can't keep them... I show them to people and all I have left to show is $$ in hand and a pretty picture .. how horrible I know! LOL

Besides the pendents, I have once again started making my Santas.. it has been a long journey to make these little guys again, but they make me smile again. Those pics to follow..

I've also started creating vessels (inspiration brought on by Vanessa) and adding a miniature scenery on the lids. Currently a work in progress...

And that folks has been my summer with PC...It's great to be back. Oh I should add that as I have been creating, my little one is a pc lover in the making... She's a hoot to watch when she is in her uhm 'creative process'

Hi from Vanessa

Hello there! I'm thrilled to be here participating in this wonderful group blog. I'm looking forward to all of the posts that everyone will be contributing. I think we are off to a great start. I had a quiet relaxing summer spent mostly at home. I did make a road trip to Tofino to visit with Tina for a couple days in early July. We had a great time visiting, claying, and exploring some of the gorgeous west coast beaches and old growth forest. I also drove the other direction and visited with Gen over a couple different weekends. I was able to spend large amounts of time working in my studio and thoroughly enjoyed it. I took a couple breaks from creating during the heat wave we had here. Here are a couple pictures of some of my recent creations, many more pictures on my blog. I have spent the last several months experimenting with different vessel, shapes, sizes and construction. There will be more vessels on the way after a short break to adjust to working again. Ahh summer was wonderful, no schedule to keep and as much clay time as I wanted!

Keep on creating!