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In This Issue
Polymer Art for the Holidays
Calls for Entry
Classes/Workshops
IPCA Elections
ACREs of Opportunity
Gift Certificate Winners
Disaster Relief for Artists
Polymer in Print
Newsletter Archives
Warmest Holiday Wishes to All
The officers of the International Polymer Clay Association would like to wish all of our members a joyous holiday season and a creative New Year!

ACRE folks

"Simple Gifts," by Jennifer Patterson, 1st Place,
Figurative Sculpture, Progress & Possibilities 2006

Holiday "Goodies" Abound On-Line
by Suzanne Ivester
Santa face
While web-surfing for images of polymer clay art related to the winter holidays, I discovered a treasure trove in American Holiday Artists (A.H.A.). This is a weekly blog, written by Suzanne Urban, which showcases the work of more than 50 juried member artists, who create OOAK and limited-edition holiday art and offer it for sale year-round on E-Bay and Etsy. A.H.A. celebrates "all customs, all holidays, all faiths," although most of the current offerings are Christmas-related.
Grandma doll face
Founded about three years ago by Cheryl Parsons, A.H.A. is now managed by "co-leaders," Parsons, Urban, and Susan VanderHoak.

About half the member artists create in polymer clay at least part of the time, or use it in combination with other media. The offerings of the group, though, represent nearly the entire range of art and craft materials.

Another on-line source of holiday inspiration for polymer clay artists is Arte Es Vida (Art Is Life), which offers an amazing list of  polymer projects for the winter holidays, including Hanukkah, Solstice, and Kwanzaa.

Photos: top, Santa, by Ev Scott; center, "Grandma," by Shannon Martinez, both A.H.A. artists. Reproduced with permission of the artists.
Online Resources
On Television

"That's Clever!" HGTV December 08, 2009 Episode HCLVR-565, includes a polymer clay Santa, by Liza Wiley of Savannah, GA.
Calls for Entry

Classes/Workshops
For a current list of classes and workshops, visit the IPCA website often. And be sure to enter information about your events on our calendar. We rely on you to keep us up to date.


Volume 2, Issue 12
December 2009
What You Really Want for the Holidays
Xmas giftAsk Santa or one of his helpers for a gift that will give you two months of anticipation, three unforgettable days and nights, and, possibly, a new dimension to your creative life: Registration for Synergy2!

E-mail the details to the North Pole now. And don't worry, the Synergy2 registration form is Elf-Friendly.

Who needs another sweater or bathrobe anyway?
IPCA Board Elections

Thanks to all of you for voting in our recent IPCA elections.

Joining us January 1, 2010, will be Christy Minnis, from Texas, our new Vice President of Membership, and Mary Sue "Pete" Rumbaugh, of Bristol, VA, our new Member-at-Large from Virginia. We look forward very much to working with Christy and Pete, and we know they have a lot to contribute to our community of artists.

There will be two vacant positions on the board temporarily, Web-Specialist and Web-Content Editor. According to the by-laws of the IPCA, vacancies are to be filled by vote of the board. We appreciate the names you suggested when you voted and will take your recommendations into careful consideration.

In the interim, Web-Specialist Barb Forbes-Lyons has graciously agreed to remain in office for the next few months, and the rest of us will pitch in to provide content to keep our website vital.

As always, we ask the help of our members to keep us supplied with the news and ideas that interest you, so that we can share them on the website and in this newsletter.
ACREs of Opportunity Winners
  
The applications are in, the jurying is done, and the final three artists for the IPCA booth at the ACRE show in Las Vegas have been selected.  The artists who will be attending ACRE, representing the possibilities of polymer clay, and taking orders for their work are  Leslie Blackford, Jana Roberts Benzon and Doreen Gay-Kassel. Congratulations to all!

Many thanks to the jurors, Walter Hazzard and Sandra McCaw, for their work and commitment to selecting these three talented artists.
 
Last year's winners, Lauren Abrams, Pat Bolgar and Barb Fajardo, will mentor this year's artists. 
 

Kassel crop2Benzon beadsBlackford cat

(Left to right): Works by Doreen Gay-Kassel, Jana Roberts Benzon, and Leslie Blackford.
Winners' Circle:
Synergy2 Gift Certificates
The Swinnerynergy Committee of the IPCA awarded certificates for $50 off Synergy registration to the organizers of several polymer clay events this fall. The certificates were then offered as prizes to one participant at each event. Congratulations to the lucky winners!

Lone Star Retreat, Dakotah Flannery; Mammoth Cave Retreat, Donna Seymour; Clay Carnival Las Vegas, Ellen Prophater; Sandy Camp, Jana Roberts Benzon
A Caring Community for Craft Artists
CERF logo

No one enjoys thinking about the emergencies and disasters that can befall us. But it pays to plan for unexpected events and take measures to avoid losses. And it's good to know there's an organization that will help artists when such crises do occur.

The Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) is a Vermont-based non-profit, tax-exempt organization and the only one of its kind in the U.S. Its mission is to strengthen and sustain the careers of craft artists nationwide.

CERF accomplishes its mission through direct financial and educational assistance to craft artists, including emergency relief assistance, business development support, and resources and referrals on topics such as health, safety, and insurance. CERF emergency relief assistance includes small grants, no-interest loans, access to resources, waivers and discounts on booth fees, and donations of craft supplies and equipment.

CERF is committed to helping build a strong craft field; therefore, it advocates, engages in research, and backs policy that supports craft artists' careers. This commitment is rooted in the belief that excellent work and good business practices contribute to the likelihood of artists recovering from the setbacks that result from emergencies.

CERF is now marketing the "Studio Protector," a pop-up style disaster readiness kit to educate artists about planning ahead for emergencies and thus reduce the impact of a fire, flood, hurricane or tornado. The development of this product was funded by organizations including Americans for the Arts, Craft in America, and the American Craft Council. Proceeds from its sale support the production and distribution of artists' emergency resources.
Polymer in Print: What's New?
ancient modernBooks
Coming Soon
Magazines
PolymerCAFÉ - December 2009
  • Flower Ring, Karen Mitchell and Ann Mitchell
  • Copper Nouveau Donut Pendant Part 2 - Carissa Nichols
  • Jest Dancin', Just Fun! - Ann Kruglak
  • Polymer Clay Vase in Earth Tones, Eugena Topina
  • The Colossal Cane Works Challenge Winners
  • Metal Clay Designs: What A Little Water Can Do, Judi Weers
  • Polymer Clay Embellished Cards, Deb Brooner
  • Poinsettia Cane, Patty Barnes
Art Jewelry - January 2010
  • Featured Artist Profile of Kathleen Dustin
  • "Go Big with Lightweight Polymer Clay: Use a Mega-Extruder to Form a Bold Bangle That Won't Weigh You Down," Seth L. Savarick
  • Download free wallpaper from Art Jewelry, Polymer Clay and Wire Pod Pendant, by Jeffrey Lloyd Dever; Mixed Media Faux Bone Bangle, by Robert Dancik; Polymer Clay Cuff, by Melanie West; Polymer & Copper Brooch, by Jill L. Erickson
Forget Something? Check Our Archives
emoticon confusedIf you saw something interesting in a previous issue of The International Polymer Clay Association News but can't remember it, don't despair! Just go to our website, log in, and click on the IPCA Newsletter Archive button in the left-hand column. All issues of the News since April 2009 are available for your convenience.