December 2010 meeting

Hi Y'all,

Saturday is our December meeting. We are having another play day. Bring projects (Christmas presents) you need to finish. Great time to get help with things you are stuck on! And as always there will be lots of laughs and good company.

12:00, Blythe location.

Hi Y'all,

We will be meeting Saturday, 12:00, the Blythe location. Since the "Season" is upon us and so many of us are busier than ever we thought it would be good not have a structured demo. Bring any project you want to work on and join us. There will be the usual show and tell and good conversation. It's also a good time to come if you are stuck on something and want advice and encouragement.

Hope to see you Saturday.

November 20 meeting

Maggie, you are awesome! Thanks for your willingness to do your best at hurding this group of polymer clay cats! Kind of like trying to hold a handful of jello! Count me in for the bead swap whether on Decmeber 11 or after the first of the year. I will be in Dallas, Texas during the November meeting. I will miss you guys! The fall is my busy travel time, but when I get home on the 21st I am done for the year!!! Yeah! - Laurie

November date change, Sept, Oct meeting notes

Hi Y'all,

I have been so slack about posting. I should be fired! Oh well.

Please take not that we had to change the date for this months meeting to November 20th.
More info later on what we will be doing.

At our October meeting we worked on beads for our guild bead exchange bracelets. Cheryl, Laurie and Maggie all got started on making the 6 or 7 beads formed around grommets. Cheryl's working on a type using liquid PC that look just like lampwork, Maggie is trying to perfect a tiny dragon on a tube type bead and Laurie is making a classic looking black and white patterned one. Laurie also brought her great big gorgeous cane covered lizard. It was amazing!

Our September meeting (I failed to comment on) was bunches of fun too. Cheryl brought and shared her Lisa Pavelka magic glos. The results were so cool that we all ran out to buy our own.
Thanks for sharing Cheryl! Cheryl made glass looking cabochons. Kathy made really cool glass looking pieces for hair clips. Julie made several interesting layered pieces.

Our December meeting will be on the 2nd Saturday since the BRPCG doesn't have a December meeting and our regular Saturday falls on Christmas. We were going to have a party and exchange of our beads. We also discussed postponing the exchange and party until January because everyone seems to be extremely busy with plans for the holidays. It would be a kick off the new year party! Members-let us know what you think.

More info for meeting supplies

Cheryl posted to our e-mail group that to make our beads for our bead swap bracelets "everyone will need to pick up their own Steel(silver color) grommets/eyelets at the local craft store. The Size is 5/32" or 3.97mm.I bought mine in the Sewing section at Hobby Lobby call Eyelet Kit by Dritz for $2.89 for 25 pieces. You will also need some gel super glue if you want to glue the two eyelets together, otherwise, it really depends on how you are going to make your beads. Either way they need to have a 5/32" center. Then you'll need your basic PC tool kit." and "We will also be putting together the details for our Christmas party and changing our meeting date for November.Ok, I think that is about it. Look forward to seeing you all on Saturday."

Meeting this Saturday

Hi Y'all,

Wow! A month sure goes by fast. We should fire that secretary/president for not reporting.
We are going to have our meeting this Saturday at the Blythe location. We will be working on beads our add a bead type guild bracelet bead swap.

Supplies will be the grommets (size to follow) in silver tone
Whatever clay you need to make your special black and white beads.

Sorry I've been so slack about posting.

More details later.

See you there.
Maggie

Hi Y'all,

At our last meeting we experimented with cheesecloth, gauze, alcohol inks and liquid polymer clay to make some wild bracelets. It was lots of fun. Some of us left with a new fashion statement of dyed fingertips as a bonus!

Hope you all can come to tomorrows meeting. It's going to be fun. Cheryl is going to demo the Lisa Pavelka Magic gloss. 12:00 Blythe location.

Hi Y'all,

Due to a communication error regarding the meeting place the July meeting was cancelled last minute. That's the bad news.
The good news is that the August 28th meeting is to be held at the Blythe location 12:00. And we are going to do the gauze bracelet demo. Cheryl might have a bonus demo for us involving a resin technique too.

For the bracelets bring:
Your standard clay kit (work surface, blade, acrylic rod, pasta machine...)
Clay
liquid polymer clay
Cotton gauze
alcohol inks
gloves
Jewelry wire
Parchment paper
brass bracelet forms

If you have them:

Pearl ex, embossing powder, glitter
beads, cabochons or crystals for embellishments

QCC Meeting July 24

Hi y'all,
Our meeting Saturday I am going to be experimenting with the gauze and liquid polymer clay bracelet. Note the experimenting part. I have enough gauze to wrap the building and liquid pc to share if anyone wants to play along. If you have something else you want to bring and work on that's great too.
In addition to my regular clay kit (pasta machine, work surface, blades, acrylic rod, hand wipes)
these are the supplies I will be bringing:
Kato Liquid PC - regular and colors
Pearl-ex
Cotton gauze
pre-made pc cabochons

Brass bracelet forms

wire
Clay in colors to match the bracelets
Alcohol inks
a couple of small containers to dip and drip in.

See you there,
Maggie

Hi Y'all,

Since our wonderful VEEP and demo coordinator is recovering from knee surgery and can't come to this Saturdays meeting I told her I would throw a line out to see what everyone wanted to do. I have a couple of suggestions. Back in February Polymer Clay Daily featured a alcohol ink dyed, liquid polymer clay soaked gauze bracelet by Susan O’Neill (11BoldStreet). I was fascinated and wanted to try it. Or we could do the watercolor technique we did before using alcohol inks, rubber stamps, cutters and cloth for texture. I love that one because it's different every time. Any other suggestions from those attending? Or we could just play. Any ideas? Either way we will be meeting at 12:00 at Expressive Impressions in Pineville.

Maggie

Our Queen City Clayers June meeting was held on the 26th at the Blythe location. Kathy brought her lathe and taught us how to turn polymer clay (literally) like you turn wood spindles. TOO COOL. I was intimidated by the fast spinning contraption at first. Kathy is such a good, calm teacher we got through it. Soon clay was flying and the graceful shapes of turned pens were emerging. After baking we put them back on the lathe for the fastest sanding you have ever seen. We left with finished pens and key chains we are proud of. Thank you Kathy for bravely sharing your tools and talent. A very exciting and different demo. I think I have a new piece of equipment to want.
For those that missed it Kathy might be talked into demoing again some time if we ask real nice.
Many thanks go Cheryl's hubby for carrying the very heavy lathe in and out too.
Our next meeting will be on July 24th at Expressive Impressions.
More details later.

Submitted by Maggie

Saturday Meeting

Our next meeting is this Saturday. She will be Demo-ing PC on a lathe.She has been doing this for a few years now and I for one can't wait to see how its done. I'll post pics for all to see after the meeting.
List from Kathy:
We will be turning pens on a lathe. Please bring canes and sheets of polymer clay that coordinate. You can also bring skinner blends and sheets of polymer clay where the pattern goes all the way through the sheet. Bring more than you think you will use.

Prices of the pen kits are as follows:

Gold - $6.35
Platinum - $8.95

I should also have some keychain kits available. They are:

Gold - $2.20
Chrome - $1.80

Hope to see you there.

Kathy

Hi all,
Our last meeting was held at the Blythe Ave. location. We had a great time making inro boxes of all sorts. Julie offered to teach a 2 day face cane class open to paid members of the qcc and BRPCG. That will be in July.
We are going to have a meeting at Expressive Impressions Saturday. A clay play day of sorts. Bring what you want to work on or need help with. And show and tell. It's always fun to see what everyone has worked on. So, those of you who can't make it won't miss out too much except our delightful company. Hopefully we can re-schedule the lathe demonstration for another meeting.



I plan to be there about 12:00.
This is the new address and information for Expressive Impressions. Our next meeting will be back at the Blythe location.

Expressive Impressions, Inc. email: kim@kimstjean.com or
10615 Industrial Drive
Suite 100
Pineville, NC 28134
704-962-3496
Open to the public: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm
Monday 10:00am-3pm WHOLESALE ONLY. If you want to come after 3pm, make sure you call ahead of time.

Can't believe it's already time for our next meeting. Our last one was so much fun. We learned how to make silk screens and do Kumihimo weaving all thanks to Brenda. We also collected dues for the first time. We had enough to buy our own guild oven, timer and some paper towels! I think we might have enough left over for a thermometer too. Yeah!

This time I'm taking lead on making inro pendants.

Bring the following:
Decorated sheet of clay. Anything you like. Textured Skinner blend works well.
Sheet of plain paper
cording and beads to coordinate with your clay

Your regular clay kit (work surface, pasta machine, blades, roller, clean up wipes etc.)
If you have but don't run out and buy: tall cutters, Kato repel gel
That's all I can think of right now.

Anyone else want to add anything?

See you all Saturday, 12:00 Blythe location.

Hi Y'all,

Just a quick reminder. QCC meeting Saturday the 24th at the new location. We will be doing inro pendants. Supply list as soon as I can get together. 12:00. Right Cheryl?
We also have a meeting scheduled at Expressive Impressions for May 22th. More later.

Maggie

Silk screens and Japanese weaving

We may get around to the plans for January's meeting in March! Here is a re-posting of the materials.

"...will be a bit of an Asian affair - we'll be making our own silk screen and learning a Japanese weaving technique on the Kumihimo Loom.

We'll start off with our silk screen using PhotoEZ, a green, photo-sensitive, water-dissoluble plastic film with an embedded fine mesh. (You can buy it at Circuit Bridge but I have enough for everyone to do a demo.)

We'll expose the film to strong light which will change the film from a water dissoluble material to a water resistant one. Using a black & white print of choice, we will use it to block the light of our design areas, then soak the film in water, and the part of the film that isn't exposed to light will dissolve away, leaving only the mesh while the parts of the film exposed to light remain. Voila! our silk screen!

Any black & white image you can printout from a computer can be used for making your silk screened image! You can draw your own or you can scan in images from books. Shoot for an image no larger than 2x2 for our demo. I'll have some Gwen Gibson silk screens that will be fun to use to overlap for a neat effect.

Making a silk screen is very easy! Bring with you:

2 pieces of glass, approx. 3x5, 4x5 - I use glass from cheap picture frames
1 2x2 black & white image that you want to use to make a silk screen - I have some pictures you can choose from but if you want to do your own thing, bring it.
1 plastic container to soak your silk screen in as it develops


I'll have everything else.

Once we have our silk screen, we'll use it to paint a design on clay and then create a pendant. Here is where you need to make some decisions; what color for the clay pendant, what colors do you want to paint on your pendant - of course, your choice in the image for the silk screen will help you determine colors.

Now to use the silk screen - bring with you:
*Basic clay tools: tissue blade, pasta machine, tile, roller, cookie cutter shapes,etc.
*Clay to make a pendant - conditioned, your choice of color
*Acrylic paint - the best is Golden Paints (I have silver, red, and a gold - you're welcome to use them if they suit, if not Michael's has a great selection but you will not need much so don't spend a fortune here)
*An old credit/gift card to use as a squeegee or hey! a real squeegee!

We'll make our pendant and while it bakes - I'll have an oven - we'll learn to use the Japanese Kumiloom to create a cord which will complement the pendant you have just made. For the cord, you can bring yarn that will match your pendant - the Adornment yarns at Michaels in the scrap booking section are great to use for these woven cords but I would start with a basic, and simple yarn. I will have lots for you to choose from, but again, if you're into coordinating this project, you'll want to be sure you have the right colors to match your pendant. You'll need approximately 15 yards of yarn - two contrasting colors makes it easier to learn technique, in that case 7 1/2 of each color. For this project, you only need to bring any special yarn that you want to use. I talk about using "yarn" but Kumihimo cords can be made with silk threads, nylon cords, hemp, funky yarns, c-lon, almost anything. In keeping it simple, I suggest using basic yarn. The looms - I'll make some temporary looms and bobbins for you to try this out - if you like it, you'll want to buy one of the foam looms and the plastic bobbins. Check out this website What is Kumihimo? for more information.

Think I've covered it all but if you have questions, please let me know. I'm looking forward to having something I've designed that I can share with you guys! See you on the 20th!"

March Meeting

Just a reminder: Our QCC meeting is this Saturday (the 20th) 12 - 4 at our new meeting place.
Brenda is going to show us how to make and use silk screens. Yeah! It will be loads of fun. Let me or Cheryl know if you need directions.
See you there.
Maggie

Hi Y'all,

Our February 27th QCC meeting was small but full of fun. There were 3 of us, Maggie, Cheryl and Kathy. We first drove to the new meeting place to check it out. It is a nice facility and will be great for guild meetings. Since there were just the three of us and Cheryl offered to serve us carrot cake (yum) we followed her to her house.
While eating our bag lunches and setting up we had a short guild business meeting.
In a previous meeting it was discussed the need to take the next step for the guild and start a treasury to cover expenses like a guild oven, library, etc. It was agreed that members would pay $2.00 each, starting at the next meeting (March 20th). We also agreed that new people would not have to pay for the first 2 meetings they attend. They would be expected to pay at the 3rd meeting and could be considered members eligible for benefits. Library privileges will be discussed at a later time. (When we actually have a library;))
The first installment of Fimo products, generously sent to us by the Staedtler Company, was given out (member benefit). It was suggested we come up with a project using just Fimo. That is still in the works.

Then it was time to try our hands at the Sutton slice using Lisa Pavelka's new book as a guide. It's a little trickier than it looks.
But we had lots of fun trying and did end up with some nice results.
When we took a break Cheryl served us the promised carrot cake and it was very yummy.
Thanks to Cheryl and her husband for being such great hosts.

Challenge: In the December 2009 National Geographic are pictures of pollen grains They are just amazing. Try to copy them in pc. If you can't find the pictures let us know.

Our next meeting will be at the new meeting place on the 20th(contact us for directions - queencityclayers.blogspot.com) .
We will be doing the silk screen technique. Check prior posts for the supply list.

Submitted by Maggie,
March 11, 2010

Technique Demo for February Meeting

Here is the new supply list for this Saturdays meeting. We are going to work on the Sutton Slice technique out of the new book by Lisa Pavelka "The Complete Book of Polymer Clay". Please bring your basic PC kit, conditioned and coordinating PC, automotive spray for a release agent, along with any unmounted Rubber Stamps with depth and semi-detail. To much detail in a stamp is harder to work with. Last but not least, and one of the most important is a NEW sharp Blade. If you would like to see some of Lisa Pavelka's work please visit her website at: http://www.lisapavelka.com/. Also view our very own Guild Member, Julie Eakes work on this technique on her April 28, 09 blog.
Please contact Maggie or me for directions since we have a new meeting location.

Demo Change for Saturday

Hi Y'all,
Sorry, we have to change the demo for this meeting. We will be doing the Sutton Slice made popular by Lisa Pavelka. A supply list will follow later this evening.

Hopefully we will be able to do the other one at a later time.

And please remember there has been a change in meeting places.

Hope to see you Saturday.
Maggie

Congratulations to these wonderful Polymer Clay artist

The NICHE Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in American and Canadian fine craft. Artists are recognized in professional and student divisions. Winners were announced at a ceremony in Philadelphia on Friday, February 12, 2010. Congratulations to the following Polymer Clay artist in the Professional Division. The winner in the Polymer Clay catagory was Melanie West for her Bracelet, "Nudibranch" in the BioBangle Series. In Fashion Jewelry, Sandra McCaw was a winner for "Floating Leaves Earrings". Also, Jeffrey Lloyd Dever was the winner in two different catagories the Teapot and fiber-Decorative. Please view the site to see all of the finalists and winners artworks. http://www.nicheawards.com/Our-Professional-2010-winners.php. Congratulations to everyone!

(my apologizes to anyone I have missed.)

February Meeting

Hello Everyone,
Just a friendly reminder this Saturday is the Queen City Clayers Meeting.
Brenda is presenting our Demo for the month. Please view: January 30th blog for the details and supply list. Meeting time at 12:00. There is a new location, IF planning to attend please contact Maggie or Me for directions. Look forward to seeing
everyone.
Cheryl

Jan. Meeting Cancelled

Due to the weather we are cancelling the meeting today. Please check back for the posting of the date for the February Meeting and the Demo. We also have a new meeting place and we will post the directions soon. At the next meeting we will discuss possibly making it our permenant location.

I'm sad to say that Expressive Impressions is closing on the 28th of this month. We are currently looking for another meeting place. I'm sure we will have somewhere by the 30th. We will announce the location as soon as possible. I'm really looking forward to Brenda's demonstration of silk screen making and Kumihimo braids. Sounds like it will be a busy, fun meeting. BTW Expressive is having a going out of business sale. 50% off most things, 25% off Swarovski crystal.

Maggie

January 30th Meeting

January's meeting will be a bit of an Asian affair - we'll be making our own silk screen and learning a Japanese weaving technique on the Kumihimo Loom.

We'll start off with our silk screen using PhotoEZ, a green, photo-sensitive, water-dissoluble plastic film with an embedded fine mesh. (You can buy it at Circuit Bridge but I have enough for everyone to do a demo.)

We'll expose the film to strong light which will change the film from a water dissoluble material to a water resistant one. Using a black & white print of choice, we will use it to block the light of our design areas, then soak the film in water, and the part of the film that isn't exposed to light will dissolve away, leaving only the mesh while the parts of the film exposed to light remain. Voila! our silk screen!

Any black & white image you can printout from a computer can be used for making your silk screened image! You can draw your own or you can scan in images from books. Shoot for an image no larger than 2x2 for our demo. I'll have some Gwen Gibson silk screens that will be fun to use to overlap for a neat effect.

Making a silk screen is very easy! Bring with you:

2 pieces of glass, approx. 3x5, 4x5 - I use glass from cheap picture frames
1 2x2 black & white image that you want to use to make a silk screen - I have some pictures you can choose from but if you want to do your own thing, bring it.
1 plastic container to soak your silk screen in as it develops


I'll have everything else.

Once we have our silk screen, we'll use it to paint a design on clay and then create a pendant. Here is where you need to make some decisions; what color for the clay pendant, what colors do you want to paint on your pendant - of course, your choice in the image for the silk screen will help you determine colors.

Now to use the silk screen - bring with you:
*Basic clay tools: tissue blade, pasta machine, tile, roller, cookie cutter shapes,etc.
*Clay to make a pendant - conditioned, your choice of color
*Acrylic paint - the best is Golden Paints (I have silver, red, and a gold - you're welcome to use them if they suit, if not Michael's has a great selection but you will not need much so don't spend a fortune here)
*An old credit/gift card to use as a squeegee or hey! a real squeegee!

We'll make our pendant and while it bakes - I'll have an oven - we'll learn to use the Japanese Kumiloom to create a cord which will complement the pendant you have just made. For the cord, you can bring yarn that will match your pendant - the Adornment yarns at Michaels in the scrap booking section are great to use for these woven cords but I would start with a basic, and simple yarn. I will have lots for you to choose from, but again, if you're into coordinating this project, you'll want to be sure you have the right colors to match your pendant. You'll need approximately 15 yards of yarn - two contrasting colors makes it easier to learn technique, in that case 7 1/2 of each color. For this project, you only need to bring any special yarn that you want to use. I talk about using "yarn" but Kumihimo cords can be made with silk threads, nylon cords, hemp, funky yarns, c-lon, almost anything. In keeping it simple, I suggest using basic yarn. The looms - I'll make some temporary looms and bobbins for you to try this out - if you like it, you'll want to buy one of the foam looms and the plastic bobbins. Check out this website What is Kumihimo? for more information.

Think I've covered it all but if you have questions, please let me know. I'm looking forward to having something I've designed that I can share with you guys! See you on th 30th!