Rename Our Newsletter
and Win a Great Prize!
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"The International Polymer Clay Association News" may be a descriptive title, but let's face it: It's long and not very exciting. We think our super-creative members can do better! So we're hosting a competition to rename our newsletter.
Beginning today, you can send your choice for a new name (please, only one name per person) to Pete Rumbaugh, our Member-at-Large from Virginia. Just send your name and your choice of a newsletter name to Pete at mspete928@aol.com. Put "Newsletter renaming contest" in the subject line. Submissions must be sent by June 15.
The IPCA officers will judge the contest without seeing entrants' names. The winner will be notified, and the July issue of the newsletter will feature the new name.
But here's the best part: If your suggestion is chosen, not only will your choice of a name be immortalized, but you'll win an excellent prize!
Bette Abdu of Abba Dabba Productions has gener
usly agreed to donate a 2-disk set of instructional DVDs, "Confident Color: Exploring Textile Patterns," by Lindly Haunani. In nearly four hours of instruction, Lindly will show you how
to "add harmony to your work with increased color confidence while
learning valuable bench tricks and techniques for working with polymer
clay. [She] will walk you through making a series of color-coordinated
stripe blends that will be used to make eleven different laminated
textile-inspired patterns including: Ikat, Seminole Stripes and Flame
stitch."
This DVD set is a $45 value, so don't miss this chance to exercise your creativity in a new way and win this wonderful prize from Abba Dabba Productions!
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Get Involved in IPCA--We'll Help!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hold an office or serve on a standing committee in our International Association? Now's your chance to find out!
We're working on a program to offer interested members some first-hand experience before making a long-term commitment.
Would you like to: - Learn what it's like to serve on the board?
- Get to know the current
officers, via phone and e-mail and learn what we actually do?
- Be invited to take part in selected board
meetings or just listen in?
- Help with particular tasks as you establish a mentoring
relationship with current board members?
It's our hope that having had practical hands-on experience and a front-row seat to administering the IPCA will make the prospect of taking office much less scary!
If you're interested in learning more about serving as an elected board member or on a standing committee, please drop us a line via the IPCA website. Let's get to know each other better!
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Plans Under Way for Retreat 2011:
Return to Indian Lakes
In mid-July 2011, the IPCA will once again party as only we ca
! The Chicago-area Hilton Indian Lakes Resort will be the site of another few days of fun, food, clay and creativity.
The intrepid Barb Forbes-Lyons has agreed to chair the event again. Dates and details haven't yet been finalized, but the retreat will be coordinated with the Metal Clay World Conference 2011 and this time will include opportunities for formal learning as well as recreational claying.
If you attended the 2009 retreat, you already know how much fun it was. If you didn't, here's your chance to find out! So be sure to save the dates and check our website often for further updates.
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Classes & Events
- Multiple Hollow Beads,
Kathleen Dustin, May 19-22, Damascus, MD
- "Cutting Edge" Workshop, Dan Cormier, June 19-20, Concord, NH
- "Special Effects" Workshop, Carol Blackburn, June 20-23, West Dean College, UK
- Polymer Play Days 2010, June 26-27, Ilkeston, Nottinghamshire, UK.
- "Marlafiori" Workshop, Marla Frankenberg, June 26, Albuquerque, NM
- "Exploring Polymer Clay" with Meredith Arnold, Tacoma, WA, July 8
- Polymer Clay Collaborative & Mixed Media Retreat, Shepherdstown, WV, July 19-25
- Euroclay Carnival, Madrid, Spain, October 9-12
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!
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Volume 3, Issue 5
May 2010
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Progress & Possibilities 2010:
Entries Are In!
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Submissions are comp  lete for Progress & Possibilities 2010, our very own juried on-line exhibition of polymer clay art, and the response was impressive! Our judges are compiling scores, and we're preparing the images to post on our website. Very soon you'll be able to view all the entries and vote for your favorite piece at each level of each category. Be prepared to be inspired by the talent, skill, and creativity of our member artists!
Thanks to everyone who entered. |
Delight and Inspiration in Polymer Artists Showcase
| by Kylee Milner, International Liaison
Tejae Floyde ha d an international dream--a dream which
took her on an amazing international journey. . . .
What began as an idea for a black and white planner
morphed into a beautiful book filled with inspiring polymer photos from a wide spectrum of well known, popular, and some never-before-published
international artists. It's a wonderful keepsake, studio book and resource for
connecting with other polymer artists. Polymer Artists Showcase is a colorful 10"x8"
photo book, with 40 pages that showcase 368 photos and 158 artists (including website links if available). There's inspiration on every page! Tejae says, "I spent several months laying out the
book, but it wasn't until Michelle Petelinz offered to help
that I was inspired to kick it into high gear to complete the project. Michelle's attention to detail and support are truly appreciated. Thank you, Michelle. (That's) an example of how wonderful it is to be
in the polymer community: strangers bonded by polymer." The book is available to preview or purchase through Blurb. You can view
the list of contributors on-line.
This is a great addition to any bookcase!
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Polymer Cafe Founder Aspires to Be "Atlanta's Biggest Loser"
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Joan Clipp, the founder (with her husband, Mike) of Polymer Cafe is working hard to meet a new challenge and reach a personal goal--one that can serve as an inspiration to many of us. Her new challenge is weight loss! Joan writes:"In February,
I entered online to be a contestant on a local Atlanta version of NBC's The Biggest Loser. Out of 950 people who entered, I made it to the final 12! Now,
I'm one of the last two on my team, and am asking for your help. Starting at around noon this Wednesday (May 4) until Friday at 10 a.m., I'll be up for a vote to
stay on the team. I've lost the highest percentage of weight on my team: 14.5%
so far, and 40 lbs. By next week I'm shooting for 50lbs, and I think I'll make
it."  Now we in the polymer clay community can show our support for Joan, and maybe thank her for starting the magazine we all love. Joan is asking us to vote on-line to help her win the Biggest Loser competition.
"Our next
weigh-in will be on May 4," Joan explains, "with voting to help make me the Blue Team winner on
May 5-7. That's when I'll need your help. You can vote, once a day, no
matter where you live." To vote for Joan, any day (or every day) from this Wednesday through Friday, go to www.atlbiggestloser.com. Scroll down a bit, looking on the right side of the
page.
Click on "Vote for Joan," then the "Vote" button. After voting, enter a code
that comes up to validate your vote, or it won't
count.
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New Ideas, Information, and Contacts at CODA Leadership Conference
by Suzanne Ivester, President IPCA
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 Last month I had the privilege of attending the National Leadership Conference of CODA (Craft Organization Development Association) in historic Savannah, Georgia. The three-day conference was attended by leaders from as far away as
Canada, Mexico and Hawaii as well as all regions of the United
States. The conference, CODA's twentieth, presented a unique opportunity to for me to share ideas, learn successful
strategies, and benefit from the experiences of others through
presentations, discussions and informal dialogue. I gained some valuable
insights into some of the most
forward-thinking craft organizations in North America.
The sessions I found to be of greatest relevance to IPCA were "Challenges
and Creative Solutions in the Current Economy," and "Technology: Social
Media, Email Marketing and Website Design." In fact, as I process what I learned and share it with the Executive Board, I hope to put some of the ideas and projects into play in our Association over the next several months. I'll also strive to maintain the valuable contacts and relationships I established at CODA.
I'd like to share one anecdote with you all. On the first evening of the conference, participants were asked to present "Three Minutes of Fame," in which we briefly introduced our organizations and showed up to six slides. I chose slides from among the winning entries in Progress & Possibilities 2008, and the response was overwhelming. Many people told me they had no idea polymer clay was such a sophisticated and versatile medium! Just getting this word out is a big part of our mission, and seeing the reaction of these craft professionals made me very proud to represent our members and our medium.
(I thought you'd enjoy this photo of azaleas in a Historic Savannah square more than a boring picture of people at a meeting.)
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10th Bead & Button Show Approaches
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 The tenth annual Bead & Button show is about to begin! This epic event, billed as " the largest bead show in the world" takes place from June 6 to June 13 at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The hosts of the event invite us to "Get inspired to play with clay -- polymer that is." They're offering an impressive roster of polymer clay sessions
by noted faculty, including Christi Friesen, Lisa Pavelka, Lynne Ann Schwarzenberg, Patricia Kimle, Diane Villano, Wilma Yost, Barbara McGuire, Julie Picarello, and Karen Lewis. Space is still available for registration in many of these exciting classes for intermediate and advanced clayers. To register, visit the Bead & Button Show's website.
Above right: Patricia Kimle, Riveted Polymer and Metal Clay Pendant |
Polymer in Print: What's New?
| New Books
- IPCA. Progress & Possibilities A three-year retrospective catalog containing 115 col
 or photographs, 2009. - Friesen, Christi. Steampunkery: Polymer Clay and Mixed Media Projects, Jan. 16, 2010.
- Haab, Sherri. Jewelry Inspirations: Techniques and Designs from the Artist's Studio, March
9, 2010
- Kimle, Patricia. Perfectly Paired: Designing Jewelry with Polymer and Metal
Clays, April 6, 2010.
- Pavelka, Lisa. The Complete Book of Polymer Clay, Feb. 2, 2010
- Rodgers, Carole. Beyond Beading Basics, Nov. 29, 2009.
Books Coming Soon
- Haab, Sherri. The Art of Metal Clay, Revised and Expanded (with DVD), July 27, 2010.
- Kawaguchi, Noriko. Amazing Clay Flowers: Creating Realistic
Flowers and Floral Arrangements in Polymer Clay, Oct. 1, 2010.
- Arzalier, Sophie. Making Jewelry from Polymer Clay, Oct. 2010
- Otterbein, Kim, and Angela Mabray. Polymer Clay 101, Jan. 1, 2011
Magazines
Polymer Cafe, June 2010: " Pinch, Pull
Flowers and Leaves." Heather Campbell; "CaBezel Cane Pendant." Wendy Orlowski; "Kaleidoscope Caning for Everyone!," Karen Lewis (aka Klew); "Flower Garden Clock," Michelle Herren; "The Red, White, and Blue Challenge Winners"; "Resin Pendants," Jeannie K. Dukic; "Bugs For Your Mushroom Home, Part II," Laura Schiller. - Art Jewelry, July 2010: "Expand Your Polymer Skills with a Savvy Stretch Bracelet," Helen Breil
Bead & Button, June 2010: "Starlight: Combine Polymer Clay with Metal Clay in the Project Straight Out of Crystal Brilliance," Anna Elizabeth Draeger; "Bobbin Beads," Dotty McMillan Bead Unique, Summer 2010, "ClayTime with CF," Christi Friesen
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Calls for Entry
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Exhibitions
44th Annual Lewiston Art Festival, Lewiston, NY, deadline May 7
Kansas City Artists Coalition: River Market
Regional Exhibition 2010, KC, MO, deadline May 19
National 2010 Juried Exhibition, Sebastopol, CA, deadline June 1
Art Melt a Fusion of Art, Music, and Forum, Baton Rouge, LA, deadline, June 2
Santo Foundation: Individual Artists Grants 2010, on-line, deadline June 10
Art Jewelry Forum Emerging Artists Award 2010, on-line, deadline June 13
Real People 2010 Woodstock, IL, deadline June 30
2010 Art Kudos International Juried Competition, on-line, deadline June 30
Magazine and Book Challenges
Semi-Homemade Challenge, BeadStyle Magazine, deadline is July 5.
Winter White Wonderland, Polymer Cafe, deadline June 10
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Forget Something? Check Our Archives
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 If you can't remember something interesting you saw in a previous issue of The
International Polymer Clay Association News,
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.
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