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July 2009

July 2009 Meeting Notes

Six members and two guests came to our July meeting. Our two guests had seen our Bottles of Hope at Norman Hospital and wanted to learn how to make them.
We began with **Show and Tell.** **Sue M.** brought some of the lovely work produced by the Full Circle Senior Day Care, where she volunteers. **Nance R.** showed two beautifully done clay-covered pens. She also circulated photos of a wonderful pottery sculpture made by our own **April G**., entitled “Hopi Woman.” The piece has been in an exhibit at a Tulsa gallery and was recently sold. Congratulations, April!
**Program:** We had a good time as April G. taught us two useful techniques: First, we made lamella, a loaf consisting of alternating layers of translucent clay and gold leaf. Slices of it can be used to decorate clay projects. Second, we learned a simple way to make a polymer clay striped slab. April provided excellent written instructions, complete with diagrams. By the end of the meeting, some had already applied their slabs to empty medicine bottles, well on their way to finshing Bottles of Hope! Thank you, April!
**Business Meeting:**
**Old Business**

**2009 State Fair Polymer Clay Competition:** August 15th is the deadline for submitting entry forms. It is now possible to register online:
[http://www.okstatefair.com/creative_arts.asp].

**State Fair Polymer Clay Demonstration:** Angela received confirmation that our demonstration is scheduled for 2-7 p.m. on Sunday, September 20. All members are asked to check their calendars bacause next month we will need to give the fair officials the exact number of particpants in the demonstration.

Jane reminded us that Angela’s segment on HGTV’s *That’s Clever* is scheduled to air on July 20th.
**New Business:** There was no new business.
**Reports:**
Vice President April G. announced the program schedule for upcoming meetings:

**August:** Mica Shift with outside instructor and former member Christy Wright

**September:**Starry Night Cane with Jane L.

**October:** Mold Making & Nametags with Angela M.

**November:** Share a Tip Day

**December:** Faux Wood with Lee Ann K.
**Treasurer:** Our balance is $518.09, and our membership remains at 8.
**Bottles of Hope:** Regarding our donation of bottles to the oncology section at Norman Hospital last month, Coordinator Nance R. reported that they love the bottles. They requested cards with information about Bottles of Hope, and Nance will provide them. Nance also reported that she will be doing a BOH project with the hospital’s cancer support group in September. The support group meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
**Library:** LIbrarian Jane L. pointed out two articles of special interest to our guild in the newest issue of *Polymer Cafe* magazine, one on translucent layering, and one on steampunk. Jane had not seen our newest book purchase, Ancient Modern: *Polymer Clay and Wire Jewelry*, by Ronna Sarvas Weltman, before the meeting, so Shirley C. gave a review and included parts of a review Angela had published on her blog [http://blog.craftygoat.com].
**Drawing for a New Library Book:** *Polymer Clay and Mixed Media Jewelry: Fresh Techniques, Projects, and Inspiration*, by Shirley Rufener was the winning title and will be purchased for our library this month.
**Bi-Monthly Raffle:** Items were provided by the winners of May’s raffle. There were three winners this month, Sue M, Shirley C., and a mystery person who shall remain nameless until she comes forward and refreshes the secretary’s memory – at which time her name will be inserted here.
**August Swap:** The theme of our next swap will be “nautical/ ocean.”

July 11, 2009 Kathleen Dustin Techniques

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th! Our next meeting will be Saturday July 11th 1-4p.m. at the **Hobby Lobby** **in Norman **(2417 W. Main, Norman OK)**
It was originally listed that I, April Gregory, would be teaching flower cane techniques, but after talking with Jane, we thought that the group might enjoy learning some of the techniques we learned at the Kathleen Dustin workshop. One of the techniques is called “lamella” and it is a way to create a log that looks like “fish flesh” or “plated layers “. Paraphrased from Wikipedia, lamella means- thin layers of plate like structures that appear in multiples. Kathleen uses thin slices of the lamella in her translucent layering technique. I also learned a simple way to make a polymer clay slab of lines. Kathleen Dustin uses this technique to accent the inside of her purses. Nance and I used it to cover a pen. We will not actually be making a finished piece, but will, instead, learn techniques that can be incorporated into a finished piece.
This month will be our raffle, so everyone bring something we can raffle off, so we can buy more resources for our wonderful library! Also, bring the name of a book or video that you would like to have added to our library.
**SUPPLY LIST**
Tissue Blade
Pasta Machine
Other Routine Polymer Clay Tools
Will need to bring something to take the raw clay slab and log home in
**Lamella**
-1 bar of translucent Premo, unconditioned.
-At least 3 sheets of gold leaf, plain or variegated gold leaf will both work and it can be faux gold leaf. It doesn’t have to be the real deal.
**Striped Slab**
-1 bar of gold Premo -conditioned
-3-5 other colors of Premo-conditioned
Premo is the clay that Kathleen Dustin primarily uses. These techniques should work well with other polymer clay brands as well so feel free to use whatever clay you are comfortable with.