Maureen Carlson's Center for Creative Arts
Maureen Carlson's Center for Creative Arts
102 Water Street
Jordan, Minnesota 55352
Greetings from Maureen
     at Maureen's
Newsletter
March 1,
 2007
Volume 1 -  Issue 1
In This Issue
Jewelry Classes
Quick Links
2007 Open House Dates
Learn To Sculpt in March
2007 Class List On-line
Now Booking for 2008
NEW DVD's in the Works
COSTUMED WITH SNOW
JEWELRY CLASSES
in May
in May

Lynne Anne Schwarzenberg Class 

Internationally known Guest Instructors, Lynne Anne Schwarzenberg and Sharilyn Millerwill be at Maureen's in May to teach their specialties. 

Lynne Anne is a master at creating intricate flower and leaf canes in polymer clay (classes are May 4 - 6).
 
Sharilyn is famous for her wire-working techniques (classes are May 18 - 20). 

Sharilyn Miller class
Sharilyn Miller classes
Calendar
QUICK LINKS
 

Maggie Maggio Blog

To learn something new about color, or to be inspired, see the above links.
OPEN HOUSE DATES
April 14 and 15
July 7 and 8
September 29 and 30
November 10 and 11

Maureen's will be open on these special weekends for drop-in visitors.  Come see polymer clay and mixed media technique demonstrations as well as take part in a Storyclay Telling with Maureen.  The shop and gallery will also be open for  browsing. 

 Dormitory at Maureen's
Come and Visit!
 
Mark your calendar
for these special Jordan Community dates.  Maureen's will be open as part of the festivites:
 
JORDAN ART FESTIVAL
June 23 and 24
(For an application for this juried event, go to: JordanChamber.org
 
 
HEIMATFEST
CELEBRATION

September 7 and 8

Contact Info
Maureen Carlson
952-492-3260
maureencarlson.com
 
Realistic FaceLearn to Sculpt in March
March 31, 2007:  Learn the basics of sculpting faces in this one-day class with me and Barb Kobe.  If you're curious about materials, both oven-baked and air-dry, that can be used for making faces, then this is a perfect class for you.  

Learn principles for working with these materials, then create a series of faces that can be used for anything from jewelry to dolls to surface design elements.  March 31 Making Faces Class

Creative Getaway/ Retreat Weekend 

Prayer PocketMake a complete retreat weekend of it by adding on a Saturday night stay in the dormitory and the Sunday, April 1 class, Medicine Bags, Prayer Pockets and Wish Pouches, taught by Barb Kobe.
 
http://www.maureencarlson.com/class_bk1.htm

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Spend St. Patrick's Day with Val
Sat., March 17, 9:30 - 5:00

Create a 3 1/2-inch Miniature Baby from Polymer Clay

Check out the work of Val Daniels on ebay under the name: Claydoodles.  Her whimsical creations are charming and are sure to make you smile.  If babies are your thing, then sign up for one of Val's class and create a tiny treasure to tuck under pansy blossoms.

2007 Class List  Now On-line

If you've been thinking of scheduling a class at Maureen's, now is the time to check out the new offerings and send in your registration application.  A $25 deposit will hold your space in class, with the remainder due one month before class.
 
 ON-LINE REGISTRATION
We have a new convenient on-line registration process which accepts Paypal, Visa and Master Card - and of course you can always call in your registration or pay through the US mail. 
 
DORM RESERVATIONS
This year we are accepting requests for either single or double rooms.  A deposit of one-night's fee will hold your room.  The three single rooms are already booked for Diane Keeler's June class, though doubles are still available.  So, if a single room is important to you, get in your registration as soon as possible.
 
 
FANTASY WEEK AND STORY CLASSES
 
This year I've spread out Fantsy Week to last all summer.  To get an overview, go to http://www.maureencarlson.com/calendar.htm

The class titled FANTASY WEEK is in May, but there are opportunities all summer and fall to learn to make clay characters.
 

Each class is designed to allow you, the participants, to custom design the types of characters that you would like to create. 

Classes are organized according to skill levels in order to best meet your needs.

I've been telling stories with my characters for years, both with the collectible figurines The Pippsywoggins, and with my Storyclay Telling perfomances.  I enjoy the process so much that this year I've decided to offer classes that combine the making of clay characters with the writing - or telling - of their stories. If you'd like some help getting your imagination into and onto both clay and paper, then consider one of these classes.   

Pictured is a sample character for the March 9 - 11 class: Writing Stories/ Making Characters (Class List at Maureen's
)
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Need a speaker for a group event? 

Now booking dates:
I am currently booking my 2007 - 2008 calendar with speaking engagements, Storyclay Tellings and mid-winter out-of-state classes. 
 

MINNEAPOLIS AREA: Schedule a Storyclay Telling event for your school, to celebrate a special birthday or to create an activity for a group event.  Appropriate for all ages.  Perfect for adult groups that desire a bonding, creative event.

SAMPLE INVITATION:
Join me for a magic evening of fun, laughter and imagination.   Under my guidance (and with our imaginary storytelling hats firmly in place), the group will build a story in thought and clay.  At the end of an hour, there, sitting in front of us, will be the title character, imagined by you and created by me (with a lot of help from the audience!)   Someone from the group will then be the lucky recipient of this whimsical little person.
 
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In February I spoke at Women's Way in New Prague, Minnesota on the topic of Telling Your Life Stories.  I loved the opportunity to share stories and ways of preserving those stories with the participants.  This presentation is most appropriate for groups of 75 or less.
 
I also taught weekend classes and did a Friday Evening Storyclay Telling at Crafter's Cafe in Overlea, Maryland.  The Friday evening event was for all ages, and was an opportunity for adults and children to share a common interest - clay and stories.  The class was sponsored by the Central Maryland Polymer clay Guild. Look for links soon, on my website, to photos from that class.
 masked elf
 
NEW!
MASKED CHARACTERS DVD 
In-the-Works ...
 
Yes, Dan and I, under the business name Wee Folk Creations, are working on some new teaching DVD's on working with polymer clay. 
 
Somehow, 18 years have passed since we did our first teaching videotape, Mug Dwellers and Wee Folk, in 1989.  That video launched Wee Folk Creations - and us - into the national spotlight with opportunities to teach at major trade shows, connect with book publishers and work with manufacturers.  It has been a ride.
 
In 2005 we discontinued the selling of polymer clay via mail order, but we have stayed active with the selling of Maureen Carlson designs, books and related products.  Now we're working hard to learn new programs and equipment procedures that will allow us to move gracefully into the next part of our careers - and lives.  Stay tuned! 

COSTUMED WITH SNOW
 
As I write this, I look out the office window to see snow blowing across the roof, partially obstructing the landscape that is costumed in multiple shades of white, grey, brown and an extremely pale blue.  It's a solemn dance of wind-driven snowflakes and gently waving uplifted branches.  The Minneapolis area is predicted to receive upwards of 12 inches today, which increases my sense of solitude and, yes, peace. 
 
It's a good day to be inside, making plans, having an extra cup of coffee, and maybe even curling up with the rest of that book that I started in the Baltimore airport.  
 
Wishing you a few moments of peace for yourself as you contemplate today and your year ahead.  Perhaps our paths will cross along the creative way,
 
Maureen Carlson