Crafty

Our next meeting is June 13, 2009, 1-4p.m., and we’ll be back at our normal location, the Norman Hobby Lobby (2417 W. Main, Norman, OK). Nance Ross will be sharing her knowledge. Here’s the write-up, straight from Nance:
At our meeting, we will have a guest from Norman Regional Hospital to pick up 20 BOH for distribution in their cancer ward. Eva Dilks will be representing the hospital.
Also, we shall be playing with the latest craze in Polymer……Steampunk! Sooooo start designing your project to do on Saturday, incorporating the nuts and bolts of the mechanical world into your clay designs. I have some on hand…..and they weren’t easy to find, since the watch shops are mainly messing with electrical watches these days, and cog wheels and such are rare. I had fun shopping in many places, and will have some free supplies on hand, and others for sale for what I paid for them. Usual clay and tools will be needed…..and lots of creativity and original ideas!
If you are looking, I suggest you hit sporting goods/bait shops (one of the few mechanical things readily available are parts for fishing reels….check out 10th St. a block from Douglas in Midwest City for a good supply and a friendly shop owner. Another likely place is hobby shops that sell to model airplane makers….and they are helpful!
I will have a limited supply of examples, plus lots of fun things you may want to use in your designs…..so we will have a good time designing some fun stuff, and donating some of our hard work on Saturday, June 13th.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season! The next meeting will be **January 10th, 2009, 1-4 p.m.,** at the new Hobby Lobby in Norman (2417 W. Main, Norman, OK). We are starting the year with a wonderful project from **Lee Ann Kelley**. She will be showing us how to make her “Swirlies.” She and I tried to come up with a word to describe her beautiful technique and I think she has hit upon the perfect word!
The supply list is below. Hope to see you all at the next meeting!
# Clay, any color, can be 2 shades of the same color or 2 different colors. Amount depends on size of item to be covered.
# Clay gun with the disk that has 1/8 inch round hole. Lee Ann will show an easy way to extrude if you have an old metal gun.
# Clay blade or X-acto knife.
# Ink cartridge from a Bic or Bic Stic
# Item to be covered can be anything oven proof. If covering a paper mache egg or ball, it’s important to drill a hole in the top and bottom to vent. Lee Ann will bring some glass Christmas ornaments.
# To save time, it might be a good idea to cover your project with a thin(#3 or #4) layer of clay before the meeting. If that’s done, a pasta machine isn’t necessary.
# A container and batting to take your unbaked project home.
Lee Ann says that this is easy but can be time consuming.
Meeting announcement written by April G.

Hello clayers!
The next polymer clay guild meeting will be December 13th at 1:00p.m at the Norman Hobby Lobby store. Nance will be showing us how to make a beautiful Christmas tree ornament. We may not have time to complete the project so be prepared to transport it home for baking.
Nance provided us with this supplies list — check it out to see what you need to bring.
And don’t forget that December is a swap month. If you want to participate, bring one handmade item that fits this month’s theme: Angels. In exchange, you’ll receive one item from another swap participant.
Meeting announcement written by April G.

Our next meeting with be this Saturday November 8th. Angela will be showing us how to make two simple Christmas ornaments, perfect as quick crafty gifts for family and friends. The designs are from the Simply Ornaments CD by Maria Maestri, who has given Angela permission to teach a couple of projects to the guild.
* When: Saturday November 8, 2008, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
* Where: The new Hobby Lobby in Norman, 2417 W. Main, Norman, OK. (The classroom is up front, near the check out stands. Go right after entering & it’s the first door on the right.)
* What To Bring:
* Polymer clay in your desired colors. For the sample ornaments, Angela used about 1 package of red; 1/2 package each of green, white and beige/flesh; and a small amount of black.
* Your favorite clay tools, such as a clay blade and needle tool. While none of the projects requires a pasta machine, feel free to bring one if you want it for conditioning or just to have handy.
* Optional items (Angela will have these if you don’t): Metal paper clips (1 per ornament); wire cutters; rose-colored chalks or blush with an applicator (brush, finger, etc); white acrylic paint with paintbrush; black Prismacolor marker.
Also, we will be having our raffle this month. The winners of the last raffle should bring something for this months raffle. The winners were Lee Ann and Sue. So everyone bring something wonderful so we can purchase more books!
Meeting announcement written by April G.

The Saturday October 11th meeting is going to be another great one! Jane Linn will be showing us translucent layering techniques similar to those of Kathleen Dustin, the amazing polymer clay artist. Jane has included some gorgeous examples of her work using these techniques. Come one and all and participate in this exciting meeting!
* When: Saturday, October 11, 2008, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
* Where: The new Hobby Lobby in Norman, 2417 W. Main, Norman, OK. (The classroom is up front, near the check out stands. Go right after entering & it’s the first door on the right.)
* What To Bring:
* Clear Liquid polymer clay
* Clay for background-approx. 1/2 block (1 oz.) each-your choice of colors. Jane encourages everyone to chose 2 colors-maybe a light and dark
* Pearl powders and/or Acrylic paints-your choice of colors
* Metal leaf/glitter-optional
* Canes-optional-(it looks like Kathleen Dustin used a number of canes using transparent clay and one color on her work, if your’e going for that look)
* Wire for bail -optional, if making pendent and prefer a bail to a cut hole
* 2 clean ceramic tiles
* Small stamps and stamp pads Penni Jo will be bringing some small face stamps that we can purchase (they are wonderful!). Except for the very smallest size, the stamps are not mounted so they easily stamp a curve (bead,etc.) *
* Heat gun — I think there will be enough people who already have one who are willing to share. However, Hobby Lobby has the heat gun on sale this week for $10, if you do want one *
* Flat brush-approx to inch optional, if rather use your finger to spread
* Sharpie pen-any size, any color. If you don’t have one we can share *
* Scissors
* Work surface
* Brayer *
* Exacto knife
* Pasta machine *
* Paper towels and/or wet wipes for clean up
* Wire cutter-optional-if using a wire bail in pendant
* Note: If you do not have the starred items, do not feel you have to buy them for this meeting. The guild and members have them and are happy to share.

Reminder: Our swap theme this month is Harvest. To participate, bring one item. In exchange, you’ll receive one item from another swap participant.

This month, Nance Ross will be teaching a Mokume Gane project. Here’s a summary from Nance:
Most of our Guild members have already done some makume gane projects in the past, so for the benefit of new members, we will do a basic stack of thin layers of clay, do the usual holes and/or texturizing, and add a few inclusions. The end result is to make some slices that can be used to cover an altoid tin, a ball of scrap to make a fan pull, or pendant, or other useful and attractive project.
This is planned to be an interactive exchange of ideas on what to add, what products work well with clay (inks, foils, leaf s of various kinds, paints, inclusions etc.) and ways in which to add textures and depth to impressions in the brick prior to stacking. Ways to use the patterns produced on useful and decorative item will also be discussed.
* When: Saturday, September 13, 2008, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
* Where: The new Hobby Lobby in Norman, 2417 W. Main, Norman, OK. (The classroom is up front, near the check out stands. Go right after entering & it’s the first door on the right.)
* What To Bring:
* Your ideas to share.
* The usual rollers, slicers, work space, plus three or four of your favorite colors of clay that work well together, pre-rolled to the desired thickness (new members will have the chance to roll their own at the meeting, if you are not sure how to do it for Makume Gane), and any product or inclusion you wish to use, knitting needles or other implements for making holes through the stack of clay, and any example you wish to share of completed projects done with makume gane as a start to creating the project.
* Also might be useful to bring materials for taking notes, as this should be a meeting packed with lots of ideas…..just in time for making Christmas gifts!
Reminder: We will be having a raffle this coming meeting. The prizes are to be provided by Angela, Lee Ann, and Shirley. Members will purchase tickets and place their tickets in a container for the prizes they would like to win. The winners take home the prize and are to provide a prize the next time we have a raffle (every other month).