The IPCA Retreat 2011 has a new tag line: "Hot Clay, Cool Friends." Those of you who attended the 2009 Retreat (or have heard about it from your friends) will understand how well that describes the lively, creative give-and-take of the Retreat experience. We worked and played. We stayed up until all hours talking clay and sharing ideas and techniques. But we also really enjoyed the relaxing surroundings and excellent food and drink provided by Hilton Indian Lakes Resort.  And this year's Retreat promises to be even better!

Heather Campbell demo at Retreat 2009

It's wonderful to see how much excitement is already brewing! We plan to open registration later this month. It will be announced on both the IPC A website and the Retreat website.  In the meantime, registration for the Pre-Retreat Classes continues. You can now read the first in a series of in-depth artist profiles; it features Ronna Sarvas Weltman, who will teach two classes before the Retreat begins on July 14.

Full registration for the three-day Retreat, including select meals, snacks, and the Gala Opening Reception, is $275. A payment plan will be available.  Day passes will be offered for $80 per day and will include the meals and snacks for that day plus other amenities.

Plans are in the works for a closing banquet, to include IPCA members and attendees of the Metal Clay World Conference. Also in the planning stages is a post-Retreat excursion to Racine, Wisconsin, to view the current exhibits and, if possible, a preview showing of the Polymer Art Collection at RAM, which isn't scheduled to open until fall 2011. This is an opportunity you surely won't want to miss!

Let us know your interest level in the Retreat and the RAM trip on Sunday, July 17, by taking a quick poll at http://tinyurl.com/2011RetreatPoll

You can be sure to receive all the latest news and announcements by subscribing to the Retreat newsletter. See you in July!

As I write to you for the first time as president of the ICPA, I am both honored and terrified. I look forward with great enthusiasm to working with all of you for the next two years.

Our new officers are already discussing many ideas and strategies to achieve our primary goals: to continue to grow the IPCA and to better serve the needs of our members.  I am so pleased by the excitement and energy that everyone is exhibiting.  I am also pleased to announce that the two vacant board positions have been filled.  Our new international liaison is Natalia García de Leániz, and our new recording secretary is Charlene Therien. We welcome them and thank them for their willingness to serve.

In each of the three years that I've hosted the IPCA booth at the annual Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee, WI, I've met, greeted, and discussed polymer clay with hundreds of people.  I'm always amazed and gratified by how much interest there is in polymer clay. Some people have never heard of it and are surprised to hear how approachable the medium is. Others are somewhat familiar with polymer clay but are astonished by all the possibilities it offers. Each year quite a few people request information about classes and guilds in their areas. 

Since my term as IPCA president ended last week, I've been thinking about everyone I've gotten to know over the last two years and how much your friendship has meant to me.

I believe the most significant achievement of the last two years was improving communication between US  and international members. There's still a long way to go, but considering that only two years ago we were a US national guild, I believe we've made considerable progress. Kylee Milner, our International Liaison, and Kerrie Venner, our Vice President for Education and Outreach deserve much of the credit. But it has been a priority for our whole executive board, and we've been helped greatly by dedicated members like Christine Dumont, owner and founder of  Voilá.

I'd like to say bye-for-now and show my appreciation by offering a mini-tutorial, which

Sobe Pendants, by Suzanne Ivester

appears on our website. I hope you have fun with it and make a lot of beautiful things.

Your friend,

Suzanne

Perhaps you've seen the news on Facebook, Flickr, or Voila. A new worldwide adventure has been launched by Marjon Donker and Saskia Veltenaar of the Dutch Polymer Clay Guild. From Polymer To Art,  a new international polymer art magazine, is the dream of the duo, who call themselves "the two grazy Dutchies." It will be a glossy print publication,
edited in The Netherlands and written in English. It will be issued quarterly beginning this year.  The publishers proclaim, "It will be a international arty, fashionable magazine, all about polymer clay art! Isn't that great???"
 
Every issue will be colour-themed. The sample edition (a limited edition, already sold out) was RED.
BLUE will start the year 2011 in February. GREEN is next, to be followed by ORANGE and PURPLE.

Single issues  and annual subscriptions are available online at From Polymer To Art. The magazine is also seeking submissions, beginning with the Green issue.
You can visit the magazine's website to subscribe to their newsletter.

New Books

• Arzalier, Sophie. Making Jewelry from Polymer Clay, Oct. 2010.
• Doroshow, Dayle, and Cynthia Tinapple. Creative Sparks: 50 Tips to Ignite Your Imagination, Nov. 10, 2010. 
• Helm, Sarajane: A Collection of Polymer Clay Masks, Dec. 30, 2010.
   
• Hughes, Tory. 5 Simple Directions Interactive Manual, Nov. 2010.
   
• Kopp, Linda. Jewelry Design Challenge.
   
• Otterbein, Kim,  and Angela Mabray. Polymer Clay 101, Jan. 1, 2011.
• Powley, Tammy.  The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making, Jan. 1, 2011.
   

Books Coming Soon

• Editors of Art Jewelry and Bead&Button magazines, Polymer Pizzazz 2,  April 1, 2011.
• Duncan-Aimone, Katherine, The Art of Jewlery: Polymer Clay, paperback ed., March 1, 2011.
• Hemachandra, Ray, and Rachel Carren. Masters: Polymer Clay, paperback ed., March 2, 2011. 
   
• Diffendaffer, Grant, Polymer Clay Beads: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration, March 1, 2011.
• Picarello, Julie. Patterns in Polymer: Imprint and Accent Bead Techniques, June 1
   

Magazines

• Art Jewelry, Jan. 2011: "Adapt a Polymer Technique to Texture Metal Sheet," Lillian Jones

•  Bead Unique, Winter  2011, "Artist Spotlight Christi Friesen," Noelle A. DeMarco.

• Belle Armoire Jewelry, Autumn '10, "Working with Leftovers," Laurie Prophater; "Copper Etched Windows," Sheri Replogle;  "White-Hot Bronze, Jen Cushman; "Earrings of Intention, Mary Jane Dodd; "Confetti Beads from Friendly Plastic, Jana Ewy; Wild Roses
• PolymerCafe, Feb. 2011: "Magnificent Malachite," Ann Mitchell and Karen Mitchell; "Chop and Toss Lightly," Suzanne Ivester; "Poly-quilled Snowflake Necklace," Cat Karina; "Polymer Clay Iris on Canvas," Tracy Callahan; "Victorian Metalwork Roses," Kellie Mowat; "Mica Shift This!" Challenge Winners; "Faux Mosaic Clock," Angela Mabay; "The Many Lives of Dotty McMillan," Joan Clipp; "An Egg-ceptional Centerpiece," Marlene Brady.