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March 2011

April 2011 Polymer Clay Retreat

The Central Oklahoma Polymer Clay Guild will be having our first Free Style Claying One-Day Retreat on April 9th. Penni Jo Couch has graciously offered to host the retreat in her home. We’ll have some demonstrations and spend time together, claying and learning from 9am to 9pm.
There is no charge for the retreat, but space is very limited. If you wish to reserve a spot in the retreat, get in touch. It’s first come, first served, so don’t wait too long!
The retreat will be in place of our normal April meeting. If you can’t make it to the retreat, we hope to see you back at our normal Hobby Lobby classroom on May 14th.

Minutes for Business Meeting: March 2011

Eight members and one guest were in attendance at our March meeting. Shirley welcomed Myra, our newest member, and Connie, our guest. She began the meeting with Show and Tell and members shared some fabulous clay projects they had made.
**PROGRAM**
Angela brought us a program on making Mosaics. For inspiration she showed us 2 clocks, pendants, a vase, and a small box she had used a mosaic technique and some reference books in our library, including the mosaic section in her book, Polymer Clay 101. From her instructions, we each made at least one mosaic pendant. She also explained and demonstrated some alternate mosaic methods.
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*(Follow this link for more of Ruth’s excellent photos of the March lesson.)*
**BUSINESS MEETING**
The minutes were not read because they had been emailed earlier to members. Nance moved the February 2011 business meeting minutes be approved. Sue seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
**OLD BUSINESS**
* **Penni Jo’s Play-Day Retreat**: In Penni Jo’s absence, Jane reported that . because Penni Jo desires for each of us to experience the joy and fun of having an undisturbed, unstructured day of playing with clay and fellow ‘clayers’, even though facilities have fallen through, she remains undaunted. Penni Jo plans to have the retreat at her house in Moore. The date was discussed and agreed that April 6, our usual meeting date, would work best. The time is scheduled from 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. There is no fee. Lunch will be provided. Everyone is encouraged to bring a snack to share and for dinner, pizza will probably be ordered. A map and any other information will be communicated through email. A head count is needed because of limited space.
* **Midwest City Library Display:** The library set up time is scheduled for 1:00, Sunday, April 3, with the majority being available to set up. (However, later in the month, by consensus, the time was changed to 1:30).
* Shirley passed out forms to be filled out listing individual pieces for the display in order to make signage.
* The three display cases required the need for background covering. Using information that Shirley had gathered for us, April made the motion to purchase crushed velvet for up to $50, and if cost is significantly more for the yardage needed, to buy the black felt. Angela seconded the motion.
* Shirley asked Angela and Jane, with husband Bob’s help, to be in charge of the display’s signage. Information for each piece-your name, name of your piece, if any, and technique used, is needed to be written out at this meeting or sent to Angela by Saturday, March 19.
* Shirley will notify us of the time and date to dismantle the display.
* Everyone set out their entries and displays to get an idea of sizes and what we had to work with.
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*(Look for more photos of the display items here.)*
**NEW BUSINESS**
Because of the need to spend the remaining time of our guild on preparation and final organization for the Midwest City Library Display, the regular reports on future meetings, treasurers report ($741.92; 9 members), Bottles of Hope, and library book review were sent by email prior to meeting.
Two free used VHS from International Polymer Clay Guild, while supplies last, are available to guilds for the asking. Angela offered to send, via email, the titles so members could chose and the ones with the most votes she can submit as our choices. She explained this had to be done in a timely manner, so immediate response is important.
**RAFFLE**
Winners of the raffle were Sue, Connie, and Myra.
**LIBRARY DRAWING**
The group selected *Masters: Polymer Clay: Major Works by Leading Artists* as its choice for this month’s library book.

March 2011 Meeting: Mosaic Pendant

Mosaic PendantsAngela will be giving us a fast-paced lesson on mosaics at this month’s meeting of the Central Oklahoma Polymer Clay Guild. Maybe you’ve been wanting to try the mosaic clock project in her Polymer Clay 101 book, but were afraid it’d be too time-consuming. This month’s project covers all the essentials of polymer clay mosaic technique, but does so in a simplified (but oh-so-stylish) pendant design.
The meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 12, 2011, from 1:30-4:30, at the Hobby Lobby on I-35 and South 19th in Moore (2650 Service Road, Moore, OK 73160).
**Supplies needed:**
* **Clay:**
* **Tiles**: Bring small amounts of a variety of colors of clay for the tiles. This might be a good opportunity to use the colors you identified from the color collage project in the Color Inspirations book. Your favorite brand of strong clay is fine (Premo, Fimo, Kato, etc.). Please condition this clay prior to meeting time since this project requires multiple bakes.
* **Background**: UltraLight (white) or Pluffy (black or a variety of other colors) are nice lightweight clays. If you don’t have those, bring white or black (or another preferred color) of your favorite brand of strong polymer clay.
* **Liquid polymer clay** (clear and/or opaque colors that coordinate with your mosaic)
* **Super glue**
* **Rubbing alcohol**
* **Pasta machine**
* **Clay blade or knife**
* **Needle or needle tool**
* **Chisel tip rubber tool** (such as from Sculpey’s 5-in-1 tool kit)
* **Thin knitting needle** (for creating pendant’s bail, optional)
* **Small square cookie cutters** (if you have them)
* **Paper towels** for cleaning (just a few)
* **Q-tips** for detail cleaning (just a few)
* **Scissors**
As with all of our meetings, beginners are welcome, and we’re happy to share any supplies you don’t currently have. *For this meeting in particular, Angela plans to have extra supplies. Neither visitors nor members should feel pressure to buy anything just for this project.*
This month we’ll hold a raffle, with January’s winners (Jane, Teresa, and Angela) supplying the prizes. Be sure to bring your $$ for a chance to win some goodies!
Shirley has also asked that everyone bring the items they plan to display at the Midwest City library in April, so we can get an idea of what we have and how we want to display it.

Minutes for COPCG Business Meeting: February 2011

Seven members and three guests were in attendance at our February meeting. Shirley welcomed Myra, Denise, and Rhonda, the three guests. She began the meeting with Show and Tell and members shared some fabulous clay projects they had made.
Because we have only email addresses for some, Shirley asked those who would like to add their address and cell phone number to our records. This will be helpful in times when more than an e-mail is needed.
**PROGRAM:**
Because of our presenter was ill, our “live” program on Kaleidoscope Canes was changed to a DVD on caning: Intricate Kaleidoscope Caning with Sarah Shriver. Since Lee Ann, April, and Ruth had previously viewed this DVD and followed the instructions, they were able to interject helpful thoughts and comments as we went along.
**BUSINESS MEETING:**
Jane moved the December 2010 business meeting minutes be approved. Angela seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
Lee Ann made a motion to approve the January 2011 business minutes. April seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
**OLD BUSINESS:**
Shirley, Jane, and Myra met at Hobby Lobby’s classroom on the 5th Saturday, January 29th. A great time was had by all! Myra has even finished the bracelet she started at the meeting.
Midwest City Library show is coming up in April. The display will run the entire month. Set up is scheduled at 1:00 PM on Sunday, April 3. Shirley contacted the library and confirmed there are a total of six shelves in the two glass displays.
The shelf dimensions are approximately 12 inches by 63 inches. The space between them is approximately 14 inches. It was suggested that a solid black background of fabric in both displays would work best to accent our work. This will also unify the two cases. Shirley asked Angela and Jane to work on the signage.
We need to see what we are going to display and figure out how to organize it. This will tell us what additional items are needed. Shirley asked all of us to bring the following to our March guild meeting:
1. Our display pieces.
2. Our displays (covered gift boxes or other covered cardboard boxes which are not too large, etc.).
3. Written information for each piece (your name, name of your piece, if any, and technique used).
In Penni Jo’s absence, Jane gave a report on the tentative April retreat. As of now, Penni Jo is trying to get in contact with a church that she is aware of that lets outside groups use their well-lit activity building. Until a facility is secured, the retreat remains very tentative.
**New Business**
Proposed New Office
Shirley asked about our practice regarding visitor following-up, an area that has fallen through the cracks. A membership chairman was suggested, and April offered to take the responsibility in the future. Her availability will depend on how her job works out.
**Reports
Future Programs
March**
Mosaics with Angela
April
Tentative: Retreat
Penni Jo has been working on this, but it is not definite.
May
Tentative: Kaleidoscope Canes with Sue
**Treasurer**
Angela reported a balance of $763.93. We have 9 members.
**Bottles of Hope Project**
Nance asked for help for contacts to get more bottles to cover.
**Guild Library**
Jane reported on our newest library item:
Creative Sparks by Dayle Doroshow and Cynthia Tinapple.
**Drawing for New Library Book**
We had no drawing because of our subscription to **Polymer Cafe** Magazine is ready for renewal. This month, we will use our library funds for the renewal.
**February Swap**
The theme for February’s swap: “Love Is in the Air”
Myra brought a beautiful faux lapis lazuli bracelet
Lee Ann brought a blue swirl lapel pin heart
Angela brought a box embellished with clay hearts
Nance brought a fun red and gold heart on a red chain heart
Jane brought a purse holder embellished with clay dove and hearts.
**January Raffle**
Jane, Teresa (guest) and Angela won the raffle in January. There will be a raffle in March.