Meeting Minutes

Tom called the meeting to order. There were 13 members present. Kathy and Craig were our visitors this month.

We began with Show and Tell. Craig showed a sculpture, a chess set and a marionette. Lisa showed a faux opal.  Myra showed a cinnabar bead and a mother of pearl inlay example.

The March minutes were approved.

Lee Ann announced the upcoming classes.  In July Myra will teach mother of pearl inlay. October will be polymer on gourds taught by Lisa. Lee Ann will talk with Penni Jo regarding the previously discussed September guest teacher. Any suggestions for classes or volunteers to teach would be appreciated.

Angela gave the treasurer’s report. We currently have 23 members, including 3 new members this month. Angela related her meeting with the tax advisor. Per his recommendation, we will continue operating as we have in the past.

We considered using the monies in the treasury to provide scholarships for members to the annual retreat. We also discussed revising the membership discounts for teaching, etc. Both items will be addressed again at a later meeting.

Nance reported that bottles are available for the Bottles of Hope project.

Jane announced that we have received Christi Friesen’s latest book, Flourish. It is an excellent book with many techniques and very reflective of Christi’s fun personality. The library drawing was for Exploring Canework in Polymer Clay by Patricia Kimle.

We will do a post-retreat evaluation in June when Penni Jo will be able to be at the meeting.

Jane, Lee Ann, Connie and Tom were the winners of the raffle. They will bring prizes for the July meeting.

The June inchie swap theme is pearl. Come prepared to tell the techniques you used to create your inchie.

Our next meeting will be June 8 at 1:30 pm. We will meet at the OKC Arts Center at the fairgrounds.

Tom opened the meeting. There were 14 attendees. We began with Show and Tell. Connie showed the Easter bunny pin and the 3D inchies she made for the Safari inchie swap. Lee Ann showed a jasper necklace and examples of labradorite with which she is experimenting. Penni Jo displayed stamped clay. She made a stamp by putting hot glue in a silicon mold and then removing it and using it as a stamp.

Tom asked for approval of February’s minutes. Penni Jo made the motion and Jane seconded it. The minutes were approved.
Cheryl taught the program this month. We made Easter rabbits that could be mounted on a candle ring to make a 3D Easter vignette.

Lee Ann announced that May program will be learning how to make labradorite. She will teach the lesson.

Angela gave the treasurer’s report. We now have 20 members with two new members joining in January. Tom announced that Janice will also be joining.

Jane showed the new Polymer Café magazine. It has a great article about our own Penni Jo. The challenge for this issue is “Seasons.” The deadline is April 30th.

In old business we discussed the upcoming retreat. We will have access to the church at 6:30 on Wednesday night. We will cover and arrange tables. Ruth is in charge of decorating. Several folks volunteered to help her. Penni Jo showed the new table cloth. It reaches to the floor on all sides and is very attractive. At retreat check in, everyone will be asked to sign up for kitchen and oven duty. Everyone is asked to bring inchies in groups of five to make the distribution easier. Please also bring one extra for the guild inchie board. Remember to bring snacks. Cheryl volunteered to bring a toaster if needed.

We will meet at 1:30pm at Jane’s house to stuff goodie bags. Tinker Credit Union donated the bags again. They are a terrific insulated lunch bag.

There will be no meeting in April because we will be at retreat. The raffle will happen in May. February winners will bring goodies. Our June inchie swap theme will be “Pearl.”

Our next meeting will be May 11 at 1:30 pm. We will meet at the OKC Art Center on the fair grounds.

Tom opened the meeting.  There were 18 in attendance including one visitor, Janice.  We began with Show and Tell.  Nance displayed her fossil pendant that had a tooth that was 311 million years old and a piece of tusk that was only 8000 years old.  They were embedded in a polymer “rock”.   Lee Ann has been experimenting with faux jasper which she displayed.  Penni Jo shared the orchids that she made for a class she taught in San Antonio and an old pocket watch which was made into a three bears’ picnic complete with baby bear flying a kite that could be moved.  Tom showed a custom stamp.  You will be able to bid on a custom stamp at the silent auction during our retreat. Cheryl presented a tin covered in variegated polymer extrusions.  Lori shared fossil molds she made.  She will be doing a demonstration on the technique Thursday at the retreat.

Jane presented this month’s program, Magic Beads.  She showed how to join the beads to increase their size and how to cut them into desired shapes.  She displayed several different methods of covering the beads with polymer and various inclusions.

Lee Ann announced the up-coming programs:

March – spring candle rings taught by Cheryl

April – Safari Retreat

May – to be announced taught by Lee Ann

Angela gave the treasurer’s report.  There are currently 22 members.  Membership renewal monies are due in January.  Angela will be accepting payments today.

Jane shared the three new magazine issues we have received.  The Polymer Cafe challenge this month is “Celebrate.”

In old business, Lisa suggested that we bring inchies for our bimonthly swap.  Inchies are similar to artists’ trading cards.  They are an inch square and not more than a fourth inch thick.  We agreed to try it next month.  Lisa will handle the distribution.  The theme for next month is “Blue.”  Please bring inchies in increments of five.  You will receive back the number that you bring.

Penni Jo reported on the up-coming retreat.  Myra will work with Bob Linn to be sure we have items needed for printing.  Ruth is ordering table covers.  Lee Ann will bring the fabric for the display table.  Jane is working on the meals.  Tom has ordered the ovens and they have been received.  We currently have 24 vendors and persons who are donating to the goody bags, door prizes or the silent auction.  Tinker Credit Union will again donate the bags to hold our goodies. We will stuff goody bags Saturday, April 6th. The inchie exchange at retreat will keep an “open theme”.  Please bring inchies in increments of five.  Tom will be the MC for door prizes.  Shirley is handling publicity.

In new business, Angela recommended we have a consultation with a tax accountant regarding our non-profit status since our treasury is increasing.  Penni Jo made the motion to do so; Tom seconded it and the motion passed.  There was a question if donations could be made to maintain the non-profit status.  If so, several ideas for donations were recommended including specific disease research or art projects.  Angela will meet with a tax accountant and report back.

We discussed reducing the membership dues of the person who heads up the annual retreat.  The general agreement was this is a good idea due to the amount of work involved.  Angela will look at the membership discounts and we will discuss the particulars at the next meeting.

Angela also shared that the Eufaula Art Walk has asked if the guild would be interested in participating.  It is the first weekend of October.  She will get more information and bring it back for further discussion.  Nance suggested that projects creating Bottles of Hope might be a good demonstration or hands-on experience.

Tom, Penni Jo, Marsha and Janice were the beneficiaries of this month’s raffle.  They will bring prizes for the May meeting.

The meeting was adjourned.  Next month’s meeting will be Saturday, March 9th, at 1:30 pm at the OKC Art Center on the fairgrounds.

 

Lee Ann called the meeting to order.  A motion was made by Jane and a second by Penni Jo to approve the November minutes.  All were in favor.

Lee Ann announced the upcoming programs:

January: faux fossils taught by Lori

February: to be announced taught by Jane

March:  spring candle ring taught by Cheryl

Lisa suggested that we occasionally teach classes with a holiday theme.

The treasurers report was given.  We currently have 21 members.

NEW BUSINESS

Lee Ann announced next year’s guild officers.  They will be:

President – Tom

Secretary – Cheryl

Treasurer – Angela

Webmaster – Myra

Librarian – Jane

Assistant Librarian – Lee Ann

Bottles of Hope – Nance

Photographer – to be announced

Inchie swap – Lisa suggested that rather than doing an item swap every other month, we might consider doing an inchie swap.  We will think about this and decide at another meeting.

Membership Dues are payable in January.  The cost is $36 a year with discounts given for teaching a class or serving as an officer.  Angela will send out emails detailing each individual’s charge.

Library review was on the new issue of Polymer Cafe.  We discussed entering your items in their challenges.

 

OLD BUSINESS 

Retreat Information – Penni Jo reported on the retreat.  The budget has been set for the food committee.  We will need folks to sign up to help set up and clean up after meals.  Marcia will do the inchie swap.  She will not require any funds.  Ruth will be in charge of decorating.  The guild voted to buy half of the needed table skirting now and bins for storage.  We will work on buying the rest of the table skirting next year.  Tom has ordered and received the ovens.  He is storing them until the retreat.  The guild needs to purchase 3 timers and 3 oven thermometers.  Lisa has received four replies of companies willing to sponsor the retreat by donating to the goodie bags or to the silent autions.

There is a members only discount for the retreat.  Email Cheryl at crains@snu.edu for information.  March 11 is the deadline for the early bird registration of $80.  The charge after that date will be $90.  The budget for the room rental, janitorial service, food costs and other items needed was discussed.

Feedback from last year’s retreat revealed that the reason it was successful was because it was friendly, our theme was carried through-out the event (including music at the entrance), we kept to the schedule, the food was good and there was a general sense of convenience.  Besides all that, we had FUN!  We will work on achieving those same things again this year.

PROGRAM

This month’s program included each person bringing an item they made and sharing the techniques used.  We then swapped by playing “Dirty Santa”.  Penni Jo gave a demonstration of how to make darling Christmas tree earrings.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be held on January 9 from 1:30 to 4:30 at the City Arts Center on the fairgrounds.

 

 

Show and Tell included Ruth showing two necklaces she had made with the iKat cane that Lisa taught at the October meeting. Lisa showed items that she made with the iKat cane also. She shared that soaking an item in ammonia will remove the Future finish many people use. This allows you to correct any drips that might occur. Lisa also displayed a whistle that she learned how to make from an online tutorial. Steampunk pieces that Tom & Lisa each made were published in a magazine. Kay brought beads to show, including a Kokopali pendant. Penni Jo shared cabons that she made using the cabon mold she carries. She explained how she loaded the mold with slices of canes, layering to create a flower & leaf design. When you push it from the mold, you have a beautiful piece. Penni Jo also showed a feather created from polymer. Lee Ann showed Bottles of Hope.

Lee Ann announced the following programs:

Dec – Swap; everyone bring one thing they’ve made this year & be ready to explain the process of making it; we’ll swap items at the conclusion of the meeting

Jan – how to make faux fossils; taught by Lori

Angela gave the treasurers report and announced that we have 21 members.

Jane announced that the next Polymer Cafe challenge is nature. Your entry is due in December.

Penni Jo told what has been planned for our retreat. The following list shows the responsibility and the person who will chair that area:

Decorations – Ruth

Food – Jane

Registration – Cheryl

Goodie bags – Penni Jo, Lisa, Cheryl

Printing & Website – Myra

Ovens – Tom, Nance & April

Demos – Cheryl

Publicity – Shirley

The website EventBrite has been set up for online registration. It is very easy to use. Our teacher, Syndee Holt, will also do a make and take. We voted to buy two ovens for the retreat.

Penni Jo also presented an offer by Patti Bond. She would be willing to teach two classes on a Saturday, charging $60 for both classes. We discussed using this as an alternative for our September meeting since our meeting place will be unavailable.

The guild agreed to pay ahead for the room rental.

Our next meeting will be Dec. 8th at the OKC Art Center located at the fairgrounds.

 

Lee Ann opened the meeting. Shirley has had to resign her position as president due to health reasons. Lee Ann will finish out the year.

Show and Tell included Lisa showing pictures that gave her color inspiration. Tom showed a Bottle of Hope he made using the rose can that Penni Jo taught at the September meeting. Jane showed a cute Halloween cat and pumpkin necklace she made.

Lee Ann announced the following programs:

Nov – Covering Altoid tins, taught by Cheryl

Dec – Swap; everyone bring one thing they’ve made this year & be ready to explain the process of making it; we’ll swap items at the conclusion of the meeting

Jan – how to make faux fossils; taught by Lori

Angela gave the treasurers report. We’ve spent $114 this month in moving to a new software system for our website, printing fliers for the fair & our domain name renewal. We have two magazine subscriptions that need to be renewed. We voted to renew The Polymer Arts subscription. The report was approved.

The new software system will allow us to put pictures of the covers of our library books online. The book list will be available by clicking the button located on the right side of the site page.

We discussed purchasing skirting for the display/food tables at the retreat. We agreed that Ruth could purchase.

November is swap month. The theme is Home & Hearth. Bring something if you would like to participate in the swap.

The next meeting will be November 10 at 1:30 at the City Arts Center on the fairgrounds. Remember to enter at Gate 3, located on May Ave.

Our meeting this month was at the SW OKC Library because the OKC Arts Center was not available due to the state fair. Lee Ann opened the meeting with show and tell. Nance showed a bargello necklace she had made. Tom showed his prize winning sculpture, “Dog Days of Summer.” Penni Jo displayed her mica shift experiments. She made several pairs of earrings. Lori shared several items that she made at the bead show in Wisconsin, including a faux fossil, water creatures and some copper etchings.

Penni Jo taught a class on making a rose cane. Everyone had very successful attempts. It was fun to see the variety of colors.

The treasurers report was given and the guild now has 21 members.

Lee Ann announced the upcoming classes:

• Oct – Lisa will teach the Ikat cane
• Nov – Cheryl will teach covering an Altoid tin
• Dec – will be a swap, usually something we’ve learned during the year
• Jan – Lori will teach

The guild will again demonstrate at the State Fair on Sunday, Sept 16. The demonstration will take place in the crafts building which is next to the OKC Arts Center. You may enter through Gate 3. LeeAnn has the banner. Bring a polymer item to work on and be ready to answer questions. Nance will have Bottles of Hope available at the fair.

The April retreat was discussed. Lisa will help with donations. Penni Jo handed out the submissions for teacher selection. The guild voted and selected Syndee Holt. She will teach her “Four Fauxs” and transfer techniques.

There was no swap this month. For next month’s goodies, Tom, Cheryl, Lori and Kay are responsible to bring items.

Next month’s meeting will be Saturday, Oct 13, at 1:30 pm back at the OKC Arts Center.