Nine members and one guest were in attendance at our May meeting. Shirley welcomed Lori, our guest. She began the meeting with Show and Tell and our guest shared a fabulous clay project she had made and Shirley brought some beautiful polymer clay earrings she had bought by artist, Harriet Smith.
**Program**
Sue brought us a program on making Kaleidoscope Canes. She showed us how by stacking various sizes of high color contrasting clay ‘snakes’, wrapping them, pressing, pulling, tugging, reducing, cutting, and pressing together we ended up with a design that you’d see if looking through a kaleidoscope. Sue made it seem so easy and effortless. Each person made a unique, amazing cane.
**Business Meeting**
The minutes were not read because they had been emailed earlier to members. Sue moved the March 2011 business meeting minutes be approved. Nance seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
**Old Business**
* **Penni Jo’s Play-Day Retreat**: Shirley expressed everyone’s appreciation for Penni Jo’s hard work on the fabulous April Play Day that she organized, planned, hosted, and, except for a bit of help from Jane and Ruth, single handedly implemented. Penni Jo was in Florida to teach at the Polymer Clay “Fandango”, but we felt the need to publically express our gratitude.
* **Midwest City Library Display**: Shirley thanked everyone for participating and for all the work they put into the library display. Jane thanked Shirley for envisioning it, securing the date, gathering the fabric for the background of the display, and doing the vital pre-display work. Jane also shared some very positive feedback about the display. Shirley asked for any suggestions that we can use for future displays. The suggestion was made that we advertise the display on our website. Also the display brought up the need for members to be mindful of get names and email addresses of those who show an interest in our guild so that we could invite them to a couple of our meetings.
* **Flickr Photos**: Shirley asked Angela how we can get pictures added to our Flickr site since several people expressed difficulties with posting guild-related photos. Angela offered to set up an easier option and email instructions to the group.
* **VHS Tapes**: Angela indicated we have yet to receive information on the two free used VHS from International Polymer Clay Guild. There may be none left, but she will continue to check.
**New Business**
* **Next Play-Day Retreat**: Jane, in Penni Jo’s absence, reported that Penni Jo would like for us to be thinking about next year’s play day. She feels we need a steering committee and since we anticipate having more time at next month’s meeting, she hopes we will be thinking how we would like to be a part of the planning and organizing of it.
* **State Fair Competition**: We agreed that we would not add any new divisions this year, and for clarity the guidelines for entries would read, “The primary decorative elements of the piece must be at least 60% polymer clay. (Items used to support the polymer clay are not included in the 60% requirement.)”
* **Upcoming Guild programs**:
* June: “A Gem of a Lesson” with Nance.
* July: Lesson to be announced with Jane
* August: Mixed Media with April
* **Treasurer’s Report**:
* Balance: $760.34
* 10 members
**Library Drawing**
This month’s library addition is a subscription to “From Polymer to Art” magazine. *[Note: After researching the (high) costs of this subscription, the group later agreed by email to order just one issue at this time.]*
**Raffle**
Winners of the raffle were Sue, Jane, Nance, and Shirley.
**Swap Theme**
June’s swap theme: “How does your garden grow?” Anyone wishing to participate in the swap should create one project using the theme and bring it to June’s guild meeting.

April was an exciting month for the Central Oklahoma Polymer Clay Guild. We were able to share some of our work in our first-ever library display, plus we held our first (hopefully first of many!) polymer clay retreat.
* Check out these posts from new member Myra Cleveland for photos of our display at the Midwest City Library.
* And don’t miss Myra’a and (gracious hostess) Penni Jo’s write-ups about the oh-so-fun retreat.
Exciting times for our group!

Eight members and one guest were in attendance at our March meeting. Shirley welcomed Myra, our newest member, and Connie, our guest. She began the meeting with Show and Tell and members shared some fabulous clay projects they had made.
**PROGRAM**
Angela brought us a program on making Mosaics. For inspiration she showed us 2 clocks, pendants, a vase, and a small box she had used a mosaic technique and some reference books in our library, including the mosaic section in her book, Polymer Clay 101. From her instructions, we each made at least one mosaic pendant. She also explained and demonstrated some alternate mosaic methods.



*(Follow this link for more of Ruth’s excellent photos of the March lesson.)*
**BUSINESS MEETING**
The minutes were not read because they had been emailed earlier to members. Nance moved the February 2011 business meeting minutes be approved. Sue seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
**OLD BUSINESS**
* **Penni Jo’s Play-Day Retreat**: In Penni Jo’s absence, Jane reported that . because Penni Jo desires for each of us to experience the joy and fun of having an undisturbed, unstructured day of playing with clay and fellow ‘clayers’, even though facilities have fallen through, she remains undaunted. Penni Jo plans to have the retreat at her house in Moore. The date was discussed and agreed that April 6, our usual meeting date, would work best. The time is scheduled from 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. There is no fee. Lunch will be provided. Everyone is encouraged to bring a snack to share and for dinner, pizza will probably be ordered. A map and any other information will be communicated through email. A head count is needed because of limited space.
* **Midwest City Library Display:** The library set up time is scheduled for 1:00, Sunday, April 3, with the majority being available to set up. (However, later in the month, by consensus, the time was changed to 1:30).
* Shirley passed out forms to be filled out listing individual pieces for the display in order to make signage.
* The three display cases required the need for background covering. Using information that Shirley had gathered for us, April made the motion to purchase crushed velvet for up to $50, and if cost is significantly more for the yardage needed, to buy the black felt. Angela seconded the motion.
* Shirley asked Angela and Jane, with husband Bob’s help, to be in charge of the display’s signage. Information for each piece-your name, name of your piece, if any, and technique used, is needed to be written out at this meeting or sent to Angela by Saturday, March 19.
* Shirley will notify us of the time and date to dismantle the display.
* Everyone set out their entries and displays to get an idea of sizes and what we had to work with.

*(Look for more photos of the display items here.)*
**NEW BUSINESS**
Because of the need to spend the remaining time of our guild on preparation and final organization for the Midwest City Library Display, the regular reports on future meetings, treasurers report ($741.92; 9 members), Bottles of Hope, and library book review were sent by email prior to meeting.
Two free used VHS from International Polymer Clay Guild, while supplies last, are available to guilds for the asking. Angela offered to send, via email, the titles so members could chose and the ones with the most votes she can submit as our choices. She explained this had to be done in a timely manner, so immediate response is important.
**RAFFLE**
Winners of the raffle were Sue, Connie, and Myra.
**LIBRARY DRAWING**
The group selected *Masters: Polymer Clay: Major Works by Leading Artists* as its choice for this month’s library book.

Seven members and three guests were in attendance at our February meeting. Shirley welcomed Myra, Denise, and Rhonda, the three guests. She began the meeting with Show and Tell and members shared some fabulous clay projects they had made.
Because we have only email addresses for some, Shirley asked those who would like to add their address and cell phone number to our records. This will be helpful in times when more than an e-mail is needed.
**PROGRAM:**
Because of our presenter was ill, our “live” program on Kaleidoscope Canes was changed to a DVD on caning: Intricate Kaleidoscope Caning with Sarah Shriver. Since Lee Ann, April, and Ruth had previously viewed this DVD and followed the instructions, they were able to interject helpful thoughts and comments as we went along.
**BUSINESS MEETING:**
Jane moved the December 2010 business meeting minutes be approved. Angela seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
Lee Ann made a motion to approve the January 2011 business minutes. April seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
**OLD BUSINESS:**
Shirley, Jane, and Myra met at Hobby Lobby’s classroom on the 5th Saturday, January 29th. A great time was had by all! Myra has even finished the bracelet she started at the meeting.
Midwest City Library show is coming up in April. The display will run the entire month. Set up is scheduled at 1:00 PM on Sunday, April 3. Shirley contacted the library and confirmed there are a total of six shelves in the two glass displays.
The shelf dimensions are approximately 12 inches by 63 inches. The space between them is approximately 14 inches. It was suggested that a solid black background of fabric in both displays would work best to accent our work. This will also unify the two cases. Shirley asked Angela and Jane to work on the signage.
We need to see what we are going to display and figure out how to organize it. This will tell us what additional items are needed. Shirley asked all of us to bring the following to our March guild meeting:
1. Our display pieces.
2. Our displays (covered gift boxes or other covered cardboard boxes which are not too large, etc.).
3. Written information for each piece (your name, name of your piece, if any, and technique used).
In Penni Jo’s absence, Jane gave a report on the tentative April retreat. As of now, Penni Jo is trying to get in contact with a church that she is aware of that lets outside groups use their well-lit activity building. Until a facility is secured, the retreat remains very tentative.
**New Business**
Proposed New Office
Shirley asked about our practice regarding visitor following-up, an area that has fallen through the cracks. A membership chairman was suggested, and April offered to take the responsibility in the future. Her availability will depend on how her job works out.
**Reports
Future Programs
March**
Mosaics with Angela
April
Tentative: Retreat
Penni Jo has been working on this, but it is not definite.
May
Tentative: Kaleidoscope Canes with Sue
**Treasurer**
Angela reported a balance of $763.93. We have 9 members.
**Bottles of Hope Project**
Nance asked for help for contacts to get more bottles to cover.
**Guild Library**
Jane reported on our newest library item:
Creative Sparks by Dayle Doroshow and Cynthia Tinapple.
**Drawing for New Library Book**
We had no drawing because of our subscription to **Polymer Cafe** Magazine is ready for renewal. This month, we will use our library funds for the renewal.
**February Swap**
The theme for February’s swap: “Love Is in the Air”
Myra brought a beautiful faux lapis lazuli bracelet
Lee Ann brought a blue swirl lapel pin heart
Angela brought a box embellished with clay hearts
Nance brought a fun red and gold heart on a red chain heart
Jane brought a purse holder embellished with clay dove and hearts.
**January Raffle**
Jane, Teresa (guest) and Angela won the raffle in January. There will be a raffle in March.