Riverpoet Design

I received word from Diane Villano today about the National Polymer Clay Guild’s Progress and Possibilities Exhibit and I wanted to let everyone know the results.  I am sure it will be posted on the National site soon, but for now, here’s the info: 

Personal embellishments - including jewelry, buttons, purses, and anything wearable

First place and Best of Show:  Lynne Ann Schwarzenberg
Second place:  Christi Friesen
Third place:  Judy Kuskin
Finalists:  Barbara Sperling and Christi Friesen 

Figurative sculpture - including human, fantasy, animal figures, and masks
First place:  Doreen Gay-Kassel
Second place:  Doreen Gay-Kassel
Third place:  Doreen Gay-Kassel
Finalists:  Chris Rutter and Layl McDill 

Non-figurative sculpture - including home decor, lamps, frames, etc.
First place:  Barbara Sperling
Second place:  Cathy Braulin
Third place:  Beth Wegener
Finalists:  Suzanne Ivester and Jana Roberts Benzon 

Containers, vessels, boxes, vases, baskets, bottles, bowls - anything that might contain something else
First place:  Barbara Sperling
Second place:  Karin Noyes
Third place:  Lindly Haunani
Finalists:  Karin Noyes (2 pieces) 

Dolls - must be at least 1/8 polymer clay

First place:  Lucky Stradley
Second place:  Lorie Follett
Third place:  Lorie Follett
Finalists:  Lucky Stradley and Lorie Follett 

Miniatures

First place:  Michele Raffaele
Second place:  Michele Raffaele
Third place:  Randi Taylor
Finalists:  Emily Blair (Junior Member) 

Beads and bead sets - any object or related setsthat are pierced by a hole, not finished jewelry

First place:  Lynne Ann Schwarzenberg
Second place:  Jana Roberts Benzon
Third place: Julie Picarello
Finalists:  Julie Picarello and Varda Levram-Ellisman 

Alternative use - polymer clay used in place oftraditional materials, prints, paint, wood, ceramic, etc.

First place:  Suzanne Ivester
Second place:  Denise Graham
Third place:  Judy Dunn
Finalists:  Denise Graham and Suzanne Ivester 

Mixed media - including journals, fabric arts andother work not falling into other categories

First place:  Heather Campbell
Second place:  Laurie Mika
Third place:   Laurie Mika
Finalists:  Carol Blackburn, Laurie Mika, and Dianne Quarles, (tie)
Congratulations to everyone!  I am so eager to see everyone else’s pieces!

I just returned from a wonderful class down in Leesburg, FL…it was great to see the OAPCG group again.  Crazy Nancy, Jeanne and Sandie always keep me smiling while I am there!  If you’d like to see pictures from the class, Nancy has posted a great album at the following site:

Lynne’s Class in Leesburg  (And contrary to what the picture shows, I was not really choking Nancy out…nor losing my patience!  She’s a doll, and this pic is my favorite one from any class I’ve taught so far!)

I have to really buckle down now and work on production so that I will have lots of things ready for a couple of major shows I have signed on for in late 2007 and early 2008.  I will be exhibiting at the To Bead True Blue show in Tucson, AZ in February and will be applying for a booth at Bead and Button next year as well.  I better get my nose to the clay tile…Here are some of the newest tiles that I’ve made…they are just waiting to be set into faux wood pendants.

 Click the photos in the post for a better view.

I just found out that I won first place in Bead & Button’s Bead Dreams exhibit in the polymer clay category for the second year in a row.  This piece combines my older type of work with faux wood along with floral compositions.  So, even though I’ve had the piece posted on my site for a while, I figured I would put it up here on the front page for a while.  When they send it back to me, I will take some better pictures of it.

I also want to express my congratulations to the other finalists and winners in the competition.  I am honored to be in the company of such talent!

So, here I am sitting in Florida waiting with bated breath to find out the results of the Bead Dreams competition at Bead and Button in Milwaukee.  The exhibit should be up tomorrow and I have a friend, Libby Mills who is there and will email me about whether I placed again this year…but if anyone else knows, I’d really love to hear!  I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve!

While I’ve got your attention, go take a look at the websites of some of my fellow artists who also are finalists and are probably eagerly awaiting the news from the show like I am!

Julie Picarello

Jana Roberts Benzon

Barbara Fajardo

As I make my last preparations to head off to Florida for a week with my family and teaching at the Orlando guild, I wanted to make sure to post that I’ve added another class for this summer, this time in Chester, CT at the Starry Night Studio.  Tuition is $150, plus $5 materials fee and you can sign up by contacting Tricia (click her name.)

The class will be my 8 From 1: Intensive Flower Caning Workshop, and since the venue is very small will be an intimate setting with a lot of individual attention.  There are only 5 spots left, so if you would like to sign up, please contact Tricia soon!

I will be teaching my 8 From 1: Intensive Flower Caning Workshop with the Orlando Area Polymer Clay Guild on June 9-10. There are a few spots left, so if you would like to attend please contact me through the contact form, or Jeanne who is coordinating the class for the OAPCG. The cost of the class is $130 including the materials fee. The above photo shows the canes Jenny Patterson made in my class earlier this month in Minnesota. I can’t wait to see how she uses them in the beautiful Quilted in Clay pieces!

CLICK HERE FOR THE SUPPLIES LIST FOR THE CLASS