Creativity Retreats

It has been a while since my last post!!!  As much as I enjoy my art, I always have to tend to the job that pays the bills!!!  Truth be told, I was having a difficult time removing the sticker in the picture below that I wanted in this post.  Last year, I attended a Creativity Retreat with Ronna Weltman, Robert Dancik and Loretta Lam in May of 2013.  The retreat was for one week in Cape May, New Jersey, which is world famous for its Victorian architecture.  Since 2010, I have been a member of the New York Polymer Clay Guild and at the urging of the President, finally I decided to attend a polymer clay retreat.  I did not know what to expect and I did not bring current projects I was working on.  This was a retreat and I was going in with an open mind.  One of my life's personal statements is that, "I'm enrolled in the school of life long learning."  This was an understatement!  By the end of the week, I was already looking forward to next years retreat!  Keep an open mindset when attending a retreat.  You will learn from the instructors as well as the other attendees.  If you leave with a finished project by the end of the week, great!!!  However, the retreat will really get your creative juices going thinking about your art work.  What is your personal statement regarding your art?  You are not there to copy the masters but to find your own voice.  This information is invaluable to an artist!!!  Melanie West surprised us with a guest appearance.  Her work is just as amazing as all of the other artist.  I will always remember the creative souls I met at the retreat. I felt truly honored to have spent time with such amazing artist who are living legends.

Getting Back to Normal . . .

For the past three months, I have been on a hiatus from polymer clay.  I have been exploring lampworking and glass fusing with wonderful results, for a beginner.  I have been a member of the New York Polymer Clay Guild (www.nypcg.org) since 2010 with Valerie Hall serving as our President.  I met Valerie at the Innovative Beads Expo in NYC.  The show had different groups doing demos and I happened across the polymer clay demo table. There are no words to describe what I saw at that time.  Keep in mind that I had not played with clay or at least play dough since I was a kid.  She had brought tons of pieces all made from polymer clay: earrings, necklaces, pendants and beads!  I thought wow! I can make all of these!  This is not the play dough I grew up with.  I was hooked!  There are various techniques that you can use to make specific designs in the clay.  First and foremost the clay must be conditioned and from that point on the possibilities are limitless!  You can create detailed canes and skinner blends and well as use transfers and scrap booking techniques on polymer clay.  During my time with the guild, I have attended various master class workshops with: Karen Woods, Laura Tabakman and Louise Fischer Cozzi.  Valerie also gives master polymer clay techniques for each monthly clay day meeting.  While working with glass for the past three months, I have truly missed attending the monthly "clay days."  It will be good to get back to normal.  Anyone interested in polymer should definitely check out the local guilds in their area.  The pieces below were made in Valerie's clay day workshop.

The Beginning . .

Dreams.  Dreams are all I had in the beginning.  Dreams of becoming an aromatherapist and a jewelry designer.  Traveling the world in search of inspiration for these dreams.  Could I make it happen?  When would it happen?  It has happened. It did not happen over night, it took time, but it did happen.  In 2008, I completed 350 hours of curriculum in Canada to become a certified aromatherapist. Yes, I sacrificed vacation time but I made it happen.  Since my college days, I have always considered myself enrolled in the life long school of learning.  You learn something new everyday and there is always something interesting to learn.  Learning keeps the mind active and young and thirsty for more knowledge.  From Pratt Institute in NYC to Bead Fest in PA, there are numerous opportunities to learn jewelry design and crafting.  I have met amazing people from all over the world who come to the states to perfect their jewelry craft.  My first website was launched two years ago and business has been so great, now it's being revamped and updated.  

This was my beginning, dreams that turned into reality.  I would like to hear your beginnings, dreams that turned into reality.  We all begin somewhere and dream of what will come in the future.  Where have your dreams taken you?