The IPCA Retreat 2009 was held from July 11-14 at the Hilton Indian Lakes Resort near Chicago, and is still a topic of buzz among those attending.   With approximately 75 attendees. the Retreat included a dynamic mix of polymer clay instructors and artists.  It was a very creative and enjoyable event, with non-stop demos, discussions, and fun; enhanced by publishers, vendors, and also by attendees from the Metal Clay World Conference, which followed at the site.  Attendees can visit the Yahoo site to access photos and blogs along with a list of attendees.  Yippee! Zippee!  See the IPCA website for a daily log and photos of the Retreat 2009.

 

 

Special thanks to Guest Artist Christi Friesen, as well as other attendees that gave scheduled and impromptu demonstrations; Rob and Wilma Yost, and our vendors and volunteers for such a rich and memorable experience.   If you missed the Retreat, make plans now to attend Synergy II in Baltimore next February and note the ongoing regional events listed.

The IPCA Conference Synergy II: Exploring Connections is being planned for Baltimore, Maryland February 25-27, 2010.  Synergy II promises to be just as dynamic as the original, with a similar seminar format for presentations.

The deadline has passed for Synergy II proposal submissions, and the results of the selection committee process will be posted on the website soon.  Please contact the IPCA for further information.

The Milwaukee Metro Polymer Clay Guild (MMPCG) organized and staffed the IPCA booth at the 2009 Bead & Button show.  Led by Beth Ackley, a team of volunteers set up the IPCA display and demo areas and served as resources for polymer clay questions, classes, and marketplace booths. The IPCA would like to extend sincere thanks to the MMPCG for all of their efforts on behalf of the IPCA and the polymer clay community.  See the full story on the IPCA website.

IPCA Liaison Group
IPCA National Guild Liaison, Lenora Kandiner, and International Guild Liaison, Kylee Milner, have launched a new Yahoo! Group Site for national and international polymer clay and mixed media guild and group leaders.  Visit the IPCA Liaison Group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IPCA_Liaison.

You may also contact Lenora Kandiner at localguilds@theipca.org  or Kylee Milner at internationalguilds@theipca.org  with any questions or to report events, information, and updates from your guilds and groups.

Voila! is a Europe-based community website for the world's polymeristas. And, with inspiration from Europe's cultural heritage, Voila! will help members take their work to new artistic heights. Tutorials packed with fantastic photos explain clearly how elements like lines, forms, and colours affect us emotionally, so that you can express your artistic vision and appreciate the work of others. This is definitely not just another Internet forum.

Voila! is currently in its pilot phase and will launch in the Autumn of 2009 with a variety of learning resources. The first competition will take place soon thereafter.  If you are interested in learning more about this exciting new home for polymer artists, email me at voila!@allovercreation.net

Christine Dumont
IPCA member and Creator of Voila!
United Kingdom

 

the IPCA website

 

Renaissance Bead Shows

 

Cabin Fever Clay Fest 2010

This will be the 3rd year of this hands-on instruction rich event.  This year, we have a couple of metal clay offerings as well as many new polymer clay project classes. Pre-conference workshops will run from Friday, 19 Feb. through Sunday, 21 Feb. and include instructors Jeff Dever, Lindly Haunani, Maggie Maggio, Barbara McGuire, Nan Roche, and Cindy Silas. Additional conference fun begins on Sunday, 21 Feb. and runs through Thursday Feb. 25. Instructors include Tony Aquino, Maureen Carlson, Louise Fisher Cozzi, Dayle Doroshow, Grant Diffendaffer, Laurie Mika, Kathryn Jo Ottman, Lisa Pavelka, Sarah Shriver, and Ronna Sarvas Weltman.  Registration will begin in early August.  For additional information, please send an email to: cabinfeverclayfestival@yahoo.com or visit www.polymerclayfests.wordpress.com.  We hope to see you there!