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March 2013 Meeting: Spring-Theme Candle Ring

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This month Cheryl will be doing a large wooden ring celebrating spring. She needs us to do some “homework” before the meeting so she can concentrate on the components during the meeting.

Homework:

Please cover your candle ring before you come. I would suggest a green for grass. You can cover the ring with foil to achieve a more realistic “ground” and then cover with green clay.

Clay Needed:

  • About 3 oz. of color choice for rabbit – run it through the pasta machine on the next-to-thickest setting. Cut out the following circles and roll into a ball:
    • 1 – 3.5″ circle for body
    • 3 – 2.75″ circles for legs & head
    • 3 – 1/2″ circles for cheeks & tail
    • 1/2 of a 3/8″ circle for the chin
    • 4 – 1.5″ circles for ears and arms
  • About an 1/8 of a package of pink clay run through the pasta machine on a thin setting (about a 5 on an Atlas machine)
  • 3 – 3/8″ circles for foot pads & nose
  • 1/4 each of two 3/8″ circles to make 6 toes
  • 1″ oval for belly
  • Several pastel colors for flowers and eggs; flower colors extremely well conditioned and run through pasta machine at medium thin (about an Atlas 3)
    • 1/2 oz. yellow for flower centers
    • 2 oz. of green for flower leaves

Tools Needed:

  • Small ceramic tile or index card
  • X-acto knife
  • Needle tool
  • Toothpick
  • Peej pick, wooden skewer, small paint brush or golf tee
  • 2” thin wire
  • 1/2″ to 1 1/4″ round cutters; they need to be open at both ends
  • Medium stylus with rubber end with a pointed end

The meeting will be held at the City Arts Center (which has just been renamed the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center) at the State Fair Park (3000 General Pershing Blvd.) on March 9th from 1:30 to 4:30.

This is inchies month so bring as many as you can! The inchies theme this time is BLUE – from the color to the mood, and anything in between. (Thanks, Tom, for the tagline!)

Minutes for February 2013 Meeting

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.

 

February 2013 Meeting: Magic Beads

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In February we will be making Magic Beads – not to be confused with Jack’s beans that we could climb. These are light-weight hollow beads that can be made in almost unlimited shapes and designs. For those who want to go further, we will also venture into pendants.

magic beads

Supplies:

1-2 oz. (your color choice) of 2 strong clays (not Scupley)

3 or 4 index cards (any size) or card stock

2 or 3 paper towels

Favorite alcohol ink color(s)* with the items you need to use it, such as plastic gloves, applicator (i.e., Q-tips, sponge wedge, felt applicator-?)

2 or 3 candy papers*

*If you don’t have these, I have them and am happy to share.

Tools:

Pasta machine

Thin blade

X-acto knife or craft knife

Needle tool or crochet needle

Scissors (5 or 6 inch or less scissors will be easier to use than longer ones)

Favorite clay tools

Optional:

Veil or crackle cane, if you have any from our meeting

½ -1 oz. of translucent clay

Kato liquid clay

Canes

Glitter/pearl powders/fibers/beads

This meeting will be held at the City Arts Center at the State Fair Park (3000 General Pershing Blvd, Oklahoma City), on February 9, 2013 from 1:30pm to 4:30pm.

Minutes for December 2012 Meeting

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.

 

 

CANCELLED: January 2013 Meeting: Faux Fossils

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Update 1/12/12: We are cancelling today’s meeting due to winter weather. Our apologies!

Well, here we are starting a new year already! May you be healthy and happy in 2013.

This month, Lori will be teaching us how to make fabulous faux fossils. She sent the supply list from memory while she was out of town. If she thinks of anything else, she’ll let us know.

Supply List

  • 1/2 to 1 block Bake & Bend. I will have some extras.
  • One or more leaves or leaf clusters. Smaller than the palm of your hand works best.
  • Flat cab base 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick (roundish or angular, whatever floats your boat), already baked — scrap clay is fine.
  • 1/2 block clay, black, ecru, or other rock color.
  • Dark color acrylic artist paint — black, browns… “dirt colors” — I will bring some.
  • Mica powder. I will bring some.

Tools

  • Pasta machine
  • Roller
  • Blades
  • Work surface
  • Paper towel or handi wipes
  • Water spritzer

Tips: Crunchy leaves probably won’t work. Silk leaves will probably add a fabric texture to your fossils. Thick stems don’t work well.

I think they have renamed the Bake & Bend — don’t know the new name. [Myra’s note: It’s called PolyFlex Bake & Bend on the Polyform website.]

Minutes for November 2012 Meeting

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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.

 

December 2012 Meeting: Share a Project!

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Hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! This month is our Christmas swap, so everybody bring an item you have made and you’ll take home an item crafted by someone else. If possible, we would also love to hear how you made your item. We have quite a talented group so the items are fun and varied.

This meeting will be held at the City Arts Center at the State Fair Park (3000 General Pershing Blvd, Oklahoma City), on December 8, 2012 from 1:30pm to 4:30pm.