BRPCG Minutes: May 2012

BRPCG Minutes 5-12-12
The meeting was called to order at 12:35
Barb announced a really great balance. Kay suggests we take a road trip.
Barb suggests a workshop paid by treasury just for guild.  Maybe Carol Simmons. Maybe Barb McGuire.
Pat the librarian– has Dan Cormier's e-book. Will print and bind with GBC binding. Will get that together for next month. Print on Bright White paper. Bridget said she would help
Is anyone ready to place an order with Munroe? We have a few interested. Pat to put a message on the board to collect requests.
From Polymer to Art ordered. We already have a subscription to Polymer Arts. Barb got an e-mail in French, but doesn't happen to speak the language. Kay suggests using the translator in Word or other ones on the Internet.
We missed Teresa. Bridget needed travel advice, so she better be here in June.
Sandra is not here yet. She got her picture in the paper for super realty sales. Guess we'll hold off on the intervention for this week.  Rhonda's husband will make some wood blocks so we can more easily attach our pasta machine.
Bridget – brought some samples of siikscreened clay, and did a little better demo. The best way to learn something is to teach it. We learned that if you burnish the screen into the clay too hard, it's a bad deal.
Kay brought more to ooh and aah over. I'd say more, but here's where my computer decided to take a nap and I lost track for a few minutes.
Barb V suggests maybe a field trip to Barbara McGuire's house next time? Yes, you heard me right! We had a guest celebrity - Barb V put in a rare appearance, and Barbara McGuire also visited.
Sharon completed 2 challenge pieces by adding some terrific bling. Then she blew us away with her "beginner" face drawings. Anybody who didn't get to see the book she brought really missed out.
Jackie spiced up her challenge pieces by squeezing blood out of a stone. Way cool! She showed us some pen covers she made in the style of Amy's alcohol ink demo. Lacking the inks, she used Sharpie permanent markers on raw clay. Sharon pointed out that if you spritz the piece with alcohol at this point, you can move and blend the colors.
Barb D brought samples of spastic dolls plus samples of what she will show us next month. She mnade a handle for a Doorknob burnishing tool . Completed her challenge very nicely.
Judy has been working w/ kaleidoscope canes from Carol Simmons class, and mnodeled agorgeous necklace she made from Sutton slices. She also made color samples from an exercise in Lindly Haunani's book. Anyone who hasn't seen Judy's notebook is really missing out. I'm not where she first heard the term, "Stoppel's polymer strudel", but what a perfect description.
Judy's sister Cheryl spilled the beans and admitted that Judy has a time machine and managed to squeeze 3 years worth into last month. Cheryl did challenge from veneer from watercolor technique Julie taught, and is working on a second piece. Not to be out done by her overachieving sister, she soldered metal onto rocks and proclaimed them, "Rock Bands". They are really attractive. Judy also made Cheryl a set of colors for her birthday.
Pat – Saw Dolly Parton at Dollywood. Went with Christina and Rhonda. They had an inside tip on which show she would be attending, so they didn't have to stalk her.
They tried to create w/faux amber but it didn't work out all that well, though they did get end up with some fun effects from translucent. Thety used Trilene instead of Fireline#4 and it wasn't as durable. You can get Fireline #4 at t Dick's and sometimes at Wal-Mart.
Christina made her challenge piece with a cane from Judy, and it turned out beautifully.
Rhonda put beads on her challenge piece. Her studio is complete and they are working in it. They are taking care to store raw clay in the house so it won't overheat. The cats like it, but will steal your seat if you're not careful!
Demos: A really bright and fun cane from Sharon + Silkscreen from Bridget.
-Bridget, BRPCG Secretary