Summertime Blues

Between June and September, when I run into

acquaintances I haven't seen for a while, I'm often

asked, "How's your summer going?" Why doesn't anyone ever ask, "How's your spring been so far?" or "Are you enjoying winter?"

Summer is a season that most people love, or at least say they love. Personally, summer brings out the curmudgeon in me. I should explain that it's been a very long time since I was a student or even had one living in my house. Students and teachers have a reason to love summer, but I contend that polymer clayers don't.

Just a few gripes about summer, from a clayer's perspective: Soft, sticky clay; running back and forth to the fridge with soft, sticky clay; paying extra for express shipping to avoid clay curing in the mail; having to make jewelry in fall colors for upcoming shows when the weather is still steamy; and heating up your oven to cure clay when you wouldn't dream of cooking.

If you're a student or a teacher, or have some other reason to love summer, your days are probably full of swimming, cycling, boating, surfing, and fishing. That's wonderful! But how are you managing your polymer clay addiction? This is not a rhetorical question--I'd actually like to know.

If there's anyone else out there who feels like I do about summer, let's stay in the air-conditioned workroom at the IPCA July retreat and indulge ourselves in our substance of choice--polymer clay.

For the rest of you, if leave your clay in the back seat of your car while you're out snorkeling, don't say I didn't warn you.