BRPCG Minutes: April 2012

April Clay Day!

Treasurer's Report – most everybody is paid up on dues.

A suggestion was made to order the Polymer magazine from Europe – "This is not Black and White" is the current issue. Barb will order.

New magazines received this month include Belle Amore & Polymer Cafe.

Bridget enjoyed her workshop with Carol Simmons in Dahlonega, GA. Carol is interested in teaching a class for us on covering eggs with Kaleidescope Canes March 23 and 24th (Saturday and Sunday) next year (2013). This is just after Synergy. Carol will already have her travel expenses paid to Synergy, and Bridget could transport her from there to Asheville, so we might be able to make the class affordable! We had a hard time locating a place for a workshop last year, so I'm thinking almost a year's notice will help. Please let Bridget know if you are interested and we will work to make this happen.

Suzanne – wanted to demo tortilla press mokume gane, but can't find the press. Her house is on the market and anything other than Realtor-approved items is in storage. She's working on proposal for Fandango – pomador beads – can add scents inside. Another one is all polymer hollow vessels formed over a potato. The Polymer Chef prefers less juicy potatoes – baking or Idaho. She also showed us some beautiful heart shaped beads made from oatmeal in her lab. Our guild was the testing ground for some of the Polymer Chef column's new features. Remember – you saw it here first!

Amy reminded everyone that the Auction will end at 2 pm. The guild had an idea to videotape demos to become part of library. This was agreed to only with permission of the person doing the demo. Someone else suggested we might be able to put them on line and have them password protected for members only. Sandra has cameras and could transfer. Pat also has a usable camera. We agreed with the proviso that the person doing the demo always has the right to refuse for any reason.

Pete made pigs with attitude. Wheeee!

Tonya is working on impressions to make a mold and tiles for a bracelet.

Barbara made lots of stuff. She sculpted flowers and made them into stamp. Then made 2 pendants . She found a tool for making Skinner Blends at Dollar Tree on Tunnel Road – a sandwich cutter.

Karen decided to sit next to Barbara in hopes that some of her creativity would rub off.

Janet is going to take lots of notes & picutres.

Cheryl from Charlotte has been working on Sutton Slices. She did a demo that really helped us understand how to get ours just right.

Julie was amazed that we had the nerve to start the meeting without our illustrious Charlotte members. She brought Swelligant to share. I guess she got over it, because she did a nice demo experimenting with the different components.

Maggie made butterfly canes and horse's heads. A big neigh was sent out to Teresa.

Judy attended Carol Simmons' Kaleidoscope class and brought notebook to share. She wore her necklace from Julie's demo. Judy's been busy! She followed Sarah Shriver's video to make some great beads. And also made her first swirled lentil.

Cheryl from Hendersonville brought her first brain cane to show.

Jackie has been playing and learning. She started a candle holder of mostly translucent w/ metallic that looks pretty when glowing and turned a few heads when she showed it to us.

Pat worked from the Dan Cormier lines & holes tutorial. She is going to ask for his permission to print his e-book and put in library.
Christina made a nice necklace for Rhonda's birthday using Julie's torn clay technique.

Rhonda worked w/ Christina & Pat on Dan Cormier techniques.

Sandra – has 8 houses under contract. She met Barbara McGuire at the Maya Gallery in Weaverville. Kay has some beautiful beaded work in there. Barbara donated some items for our auctions. Housing market is improving but interest rates are rising.

Kay did an extensive demo on creating beads over rocks that included windows, beading, feathers and great results. The end product was lots of smiles around the room. We benefitted by being the beta testers for the class she is developing for Creative Journeys Studios in Buford.

Bridget did a really sorry demo on using silk-screens that she was woefully unprepared for. She promised to bring them back next month and do a better job.

She also did a pitiful job with the minutes this month. On the way out the door, she picked up her husband's computer instead of his and has had to wait all this time for him to send the file. As if that weren't bad enough, she is sure she forgot to mention some of the demos, and has no doubt insulted several members in doing so.

The food was absolutely wonderful. Sharon outdid herself baking (or did herself in – one or the other). Cheryl from Hendersonville made some amazing sandwiches on homemade Foccacia that my mouth is still watering for.
-Bridget, BRPCG Secretary