Philly's got talent!

They also have a fantastic polymer clay guild, a great website, a blog, a Flickr site just for guild photos, an online newsletter, and 70 over-achieving members to keep it all running smoothly.

This beautiful hollow pendant was created by Martha Aleo, one of the guild's most active members, a very talented mixed media jewelry artist, and a fellow blogger.

Update: This striking jewelry set was made by Patty Pickup.

They have some wonderful show and tell photos from past meetings posted on their website. Unfortunately, I don't have a name to go with this lovely image or for the two below. If you're a member of the Philadelphia guild and/or the artist that created these, please leave a comment so I can fill in the blanks and you can be recognized for your artwork.

Update: The red tile box was created by Dr. Sarah Fisher, who also photographed these three items.

In addition to the Polydelphia Retreat that they host every year, the guild also sponsors several workshops with visiting instructors. I'm thrilled to be heading their way for a workshop the weekend of September 20-21, 2008. We'll have an actual class on Saturday and then on Sunday, I'll be their official "guest artist" and share lots of tips and techniques for creating rocks and beach stones. If you're a member of the guild (I really wish I lived closer!) or considering becoming a member, the price for a whole weekend of polymer clay fun and learning is shockingly reasonable and I'm hoping to see a lot of you there. For more information on joining the Philadelphia polymer clay guild or for registration details on my upcoming workshop, just go to the guild's website and follow the links.



Update: Gwen Agard is the talent behind this striking piece.

Don't forget, I need some names to go with these beautiful images. This one reminds me of aqua terra jasper, a stone that embodies the colors of water and sand. I may just have to claim it as my own if no one comes forward!

Shameless Self-Promotion

This is a "pigment of your imagination" and this is the class I'm teaching this coming Saturday for the Orlando Polymer Clay Guild. I'm actually combining business with pleasure this time and the wonderful members of the Orlando guild have set up an inexpensive, one-day class for me during my break from playing chaperon for my son's band trip. I just learned there were a couple of cancellations so, if you're in the area and would be interested in attending, get in touch with me right away and I'll give you more details. I recently taught this class in Las Vegas and it was so rewarding to see all of the beautiful pieces that everyone created with this extremely EASY, yet effective technique. This will be my last post until next week sometime but I just wanted to tell you that I have some fun things in the works, including a peek inside Jana Benzon's wonderful new DVD, Arabesque Caning. To see what else I've been working on recently, check out my Flickr site. I'm off to pack! Be fierce and creative!

A Pigment of My Imagination

Another Clay Carnival has come and gone. As always, there's much anticipation and work leading up to it and so much to do when we arrive in Las Vegas. But then, seeing all the familiar faces and a few new ones, as well, and reconnecting with all of these wonderful ladies that I feel such a closeness to, made the long hours seem like nothing at all. The weekend just flew by and I wish I could find a way to bottle the enthusiasm, the excitement, and the wonderful attitudes that they bring to the Clay Carnival every year. Each and every one of them mean so very much to me!

My class was called "A Pigment of Your Imagination" and the photo above is one of my favorite pieces that I've made with this technique. All of the students in my classes made wonderful pendants and beads and I was so impressed with their beautiful work. I always feel like I come away from these classes so enriched with new ideas and enthusiasm. It's truly an honor to spend time in a classroom with so many kind, funny, generous and talented individuals.

I also came away from Las Vegas with a nasty flu bug that I'm still trying to recover from. Hopefully, I'll be back to normal soon and blogging on a more regular basis. Until then, peace to all!

Going Dotty!

One of the best classes I've ever taken was a workshop with the marvelous Marla Frankenberg. When I first saw her dotty canes a few years ago during a demo at Shrinemont, I just loved them. And now, she's doing much more with them. They've become her trademark and she's incorporated them into most of her newest work. They create such wonderful movement and flow through all of her jewelry.

I'm excited to hear that one of her newest workshop offerings is based on caning with dots. The possibilities for this technique seem endless to me.

Marla will be teaching a week-long workshop at Arrowmont October 21- 27. For more info on what you'll learn, go to http://www.arrowmont.org/

You can email Marla for upcoming class information

and see more of her wonderful work here.

Woven in Clay Workshop

I'm heading to Raleigh, NC this coming weekend to teach Woven in Clay, one of my favorite workshops, for the Capital Area Polymer Clay Guild. I'll be at Artist's Oasis on Saturday, October 6 and I'll also be doing a free Friday night caning demo for the guild. The cost of the workshop is $90 for guild members and $95 for non-members. For more info and to register, please contact Marilyn Dobris. To read a review of this class by a previous student and to see the great canes she made, check out http://sharonsolly.blogspot.com/