{{{ from our outgoing president }}}
Dear SCPCG members,
In September 1997, I could not have imagined what tremendous heights a small group could reach.
On an individual level, a number of our members have exhibited and sold their work locally and nationally, many of our members' works have been published in books and periodicals, and Jody Bishel recorded a ground-breaking instructional video. Several of our members find satisfaction in teaching, again both locally and nationally. I hope membership in our guild has contributed to these personal accomplishments and will continue to provide support for everyone's artistic goals.
Even more significant are the many ways we have grown as a group. We have gained recognition at the national level with other regional guilds, the National Polymer Clay Guild, and the General Federation of Women's Clubs because of our Bottles of Hope program. A splendid example of how one person's compassion can first inspire others and even now continues to grow.
Another terrific group effort is our Clay ConneCTion retreat, which draws attendees from around the country.
We were also a highly successful presence at the Connecticut Bead Society's latest Bead Bazaar. From a local effort, our Traveling Exhibit, up to world-wide exposure from our web site, we maintain the guild's purpose of educating the public about polymer clay.
My thanks go out to the officers, directors and coordinators without whom these milestones could not have been reached: Debbie Goodrow, Diane Gregoire, Pat Portnoy, Michele Raffaele, Sue Rankin and Tracy Van Buskirk.
Most of all, my deepest thanks and heartfelt appreciation to Sharon Mihalyak, guild founder and our official Treasurer, who was much more a co-president. Now, she has the title of president, but she has been performing the work of a president since the guild's beginning.
And all this tremendous effort was from you; creative, dynamic, sharing people. It's been my great pleasure and honor to know you all. I'm very proud of you and what we have accomplished together. Thank you for an incredible four years.
Diane W. Villano
Retiring President
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Southern Connecticut
Polymer Clay Guild, Inc.
Not-A-Newsletter for Jan 19, 2002 Meeting
===== Reminders
---Membership runs annually Jan to Jan so dues are now due and they are $15. Please mail to Sue Rankin, our new Treasurer, if you are not able to come to the meeting. (make out checks to Southern Connecticut Polymer Clay Guild, Inc. (or SCPCG) and mail to: SCPCG c/o Sue Rankin, 477 Church Hill Rd., Trumbull, CT06611)
----The 3 beads for the beadstrand are also due. Please have them in by March 2002.
We will be raffling off the 2001 Beadstrand at the January meeting.
We will also be raffling off Sharon Mihalyak's clay relief etching, "Scraps of Time", as our raffle chain item.
---- Our Guild had great success at the Bead Bazaar this past year, and we will be doing it again. So...Start your Beads!!!
===== Submitions requested
"Magical Ways With Polymer Clay" By Dotty McMillan
For submitting Projects: Here is the
intro to the book:
"What could be more magical than playing with brightly colored pieces of
soft clay and turning them into stunning works of art? Imagine wearing jewelry
that you have made to match every outfit you own, or perhaps adorning a variety
of household items with delightful images, or creating buttons to go with your
hand sewn items? Maybe you would enjoy fashioning tiny kaleidoscopes-to-wear, or
maybe bright colored masks for fun or decor, or funky boxes, sleek vessels,
classy clocks, or generate your own treasure trove of bright beads.
Let's not forget creating adorable dolls, or miniature items for a doll's house,
the list is endless" Diversity is the key word here. I want to include as
much variety as possible. The main emphasis of the book is on presenting
exciting new techniques and projects that will stimulate creativity and enrich
the reader."
Here is what you need to send:
1. Step by step directions for the project written as clearly as possible. This
must include the required tools, amounts of clay and other materials.
2. Clear sketches for any diagrams that are necessary to explain how to do
something..
3. A jury quality transparency of the completed item.
4. The finished item.
5. A short bio
6. Your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address clearly printed
The deadline for me to receive your submission is June 30.
Please pack your finished item extremely
well. For the first book I received
several broken projects which was
disheartening for both myself, and for the artist. Be
certain to insure your package before mailing.
I have no idea how long I will need to retain your material if it is accepted to
be in the book. So I ask your patience. It may be a quite a while before I am
able to tell you if your submission has been accepted. In some cases where
someone has sent a project that I am unable to use, I may instead use the photo
for the gallery.
Unfortunately I cannot offer any money in
return for your project. However, your work in the book will be of great value
to other people, helping to inspire and stimulate them.
If your project should be turned down, it does not mean it is without merit.
Every project that I received for the last book was excellent. It is just a
matter of space. A craft book uses 144 pages. Period. No more. I send more
projects to my editor than can be used in the book. My editor and I together
decide which ones will make the best combinations, and the most diversity.
However, my editor has the final say in this matter
For Submitting your work for the Gallery:
You need to send:
1.A jury quality transparency (slide)
2.A paragraph about how the piece was made
3.A short bio
4.The name of the person who took the photo (extremely important
5.Your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, clearly printed.
Transparencies will remain with the publisher until the book has been published.
Then I will make every effort to return them to you.
Questions: e-mail me at: dmcmillan01@earthlink.net or call me at (909) 780-4052
Dotty http://www.kaleidoscopes4U.com
---March
15 deadline, Ravensdale 2003, seeking teaching proposals.
Submission forms available from Diane Villano.
==== Clay Connection 2002 - July 12,13,14
Volunteers will be needed, even if you
can offer just a few hours.
Some jobs can be done long before the retreat,
some during the retreat.
There is always a need for volunteers....let us know what your interests
are......
=====Classes, Workshops, Retreats
---January
26 10:00 am Ð 4:00 pm Saturday
Diane Villano at Guilford
Handcrafts Center: Color Blending in
Polymer Clay Millefiore
This is an advanced,
process-oriented workshop for students
who want to move beyond basic caning. The class will focus on floral and leaf
images, utilizing Skinner blend and pre-reduction manipulation. The techniques
themselves will apply to any caned image. Students must be familiar with basic
spiral, bulls eye and striped loaf canes.
Materials fee $3, payable with tuition. Member
Tuition: $53 Non-member Tuition:$58
---Feb
6th, 2002, 7:00 to 9:00pm, Wednesdays, 5 weeks (skipping Feb 20th)
Debbie Goodrow at Clinton Adult Education Evening Classes, Morgan School, Route
81, Clinton
Intro to Polymer Clay:
With a little help, you too can be making your own wonderful projects. From
jewelry, to home decorations, to covering pens and boxes, you'll learn it all.
From basic techniques to complex caning, you'll learn several ways to express
yourself. Students will bring home several completed projects.
Tuition $25.00 Materials Fee $10.00 ( which includes your choice of 5 oz of
various polymer clay colors and a tissue blade) Additional clay will be
available at the class.
---February
21, 10:00 to 12:00, Thursday
Debbie Goodrow at Killingworth Library, Route 81, Killingworth Mother
and Child intro to Polymer Clay
A brief, hands on, introduction to polymer clay. Participants
will be bringing home a small finished product.
---March
21, 2002, 7:00 to 9:00pm, Thursdays,
5 weeks (skipping March 28th and April 25th)
Debbie Goodrow - Clinton Adult
Education Evening Classes Morgan School, Route 81, Clinton
Polymer Clay Techniques and
Hints Faux techniques,
image transfers, Millefiori, Molding, caning,
and Mokume Gane are just some of the possibilities for this class. Class members
will choose what techniques will be emphasized. Handy tips and ideas for making
working with polymer clay easier and more fun will be shared. You'll be bringing
several finished items home!
Tuition $25.00 Materials Fee: $10 (includes your choice of 5 oz of different
polymer clay colors and a tissue blade)
---March
9 10:00 am Ð 4:00 pm Saturday
Diane Villano at GHC Polymer Clay and
Rubber Stamp Heart Art Collage
This will be a free wheeling, relaxed workshop for students with some polymer
clay experience to explore the endless possibilities of combining polymer clay
and rubber-stamping. Students will create a bas-relief collage focusing on heart
shapes. Techniques will include rubber stamped images enhanced with mica
powders, embossing powder as an inclusion in polymer clay canes and impressed
Mokume Gane.
Materials fee $5 payable with tuition. Member
Tuition: $53 Non-member Tuition: $58
---March
24, 2002; 11- 4 PM, Sunday @ GHC Clay
Day:
Please give suggestions for what you'd like to have taught or highlighted.
Cost will be $10 for members, $15 for
guests.
====some volunteers needed
---Promotion Coordinator - someone to help get the word out about the guild and our programs
---Web Master - someone to help maintain and regularly update guild's website and a Bottles of Hope website. We will have a separate Bottles of Hope site later.
==== Thoughts on the Color Theory
Class of Jan. 6th
A great class! We each made a collage of colors that helped us identify our
personal color palette, then went on to find the specific colors that went into
it. We can now choose much more quickly those colors that we each specifically
like to work with. Many of us went on to make clay color wheel sections to make
our color selections even easier.
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Thank you Diane, for all you have done for the guild, from it's birth until now. With your vision we have accomplished all the goals that were set. I hope I can do as well. And I know I can count on you for guidance.
Thank you!!!!
Sharon Mihalyak., President
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=====Traveling Exhibit
Traveling Exhibit Schedule:
FEBRUARY Madison Library 801 Boston Post Rd, Madison
APRIL Trumbull Public Library, 33 Quality St.
JUNE Blackstone Library, South Main Street, Branford
AUGUST Milford Library 57 New Haven Ave.
SEPTEMBER Hamden Miller Memorial Library
OCTOBER Cheshire 104 Main St.
Thank You Arlene.
We are still accepting additional items to display.....
=====Suggested agenda for Jan 16th Meeting
=January 19 Demo - Diane Villano, Silk Screening on Clay
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Goodrow
203-245-2910
deb_twinkle@yahoo.com