Tuesday in Tucson

Tuesday in Tucson

WOW! What a day! Karen signed both of us up for a polymer clay class. We left the condo at 7:00 a.m. sharp in eager anticipation. Karen is an accomplished polymer clay artist by my standards. I, on the other hand, had never touched the stuff and assumed it would be like playing with play dough in the old days. I can safely say I know how to roll up a worm or swirl it to make a ball. That was the extent of experience that I took into my first class filled with accomplished Polymer Clay artists a.k.a. enthusiasts.

The amount of tools and supplies that they wheeled into the classroom astounded me. Everyone set up their pasta machines and we never got to eat a single kind of pasta! I soon learned that the pasta machine would save a lot on blending and rolling out the clay. It was quite fun.

I learned how to condition the clay and then blend colors to create my own design. I love color and had no problem blending and mixing. Now the "accomplished artists" on the right hand side of us looked to be struggling quite a bit. They had clay flying as they stuffed it into a pasta machine that cried for mercy. I went in worried that I might be the one slowing the class down due to my inexperience but I will have you note, yours truly held her own.

So much of today's class took me back to my rubber stamping days when I taught my own classes. I felt at ease with the teacher. She was very personable and taught in a way that novice to experienced could learn and understand. Our instructor's name was Julie Picaarello and she taught us the technique of Mokume Gane.

We'd watch her demonstrate a technique and a list of steps and then we'd go back to our tables to execute it. Karen was very helpful and reminded me if I'd forgotten a step. We were allowed a half-hour lunch break just long enough to take the necessary break and eat a banana.

I was the lucky winner of the first band aid in the class. They should've known not to arm me with something sharp! Not that Karen didn't provide an indepth lesson on handling the tissue blades before we started. Of course I received I told you to be careful. *grin*

Before the class was over we were able to bake our new masterpiece (or not) called tribal pendant and learn how to make lizard tails out of our scrap clay. This technique required some of my skills that I came into the class with like rolling a snake. Phew!

What I took from the polymer clay class is the knowledge that it is an addiction of its own. It can require as many tools, clay colors and supplies as my rubber stamping and other beading additions.

Karen kept telling me not to get hooked because one polymer clay addict between the two of us was enough. I could get hooked but have to keep my focus on what lies ahead. My job is to create one-of-a-kind, heirloom quality treasures for Beads in a Box. And now I'm creating the Untapped Potential line designs. No more time for new addictions. (If I could only get addicted to weight loss and exercise!*smile*)

After our class Karen and I finally had a light lunch at 4:00 to keep us going so we could shop until 6:00. We went and saw our friend, Bill, at Cherry Tree Beads. We discussed our next venture of creating a wholesale line. He talked about what stones, lampwork and metals he could provide that he carried regularly. He also talked about pricing and delivery timelines. Then we hit the tables on the hunt for the treasures that hide beneath all the other stones. Many new stones to consider and our old favorites that sell great awaited us. Bill has quality stones and cuts available. We ran out of time and will finish shopping with him in the morning.

Tootles for now, Kyla