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VictoriaHepfner
July 13th, 2008, 08:31 PM
Hi there MGC fans

If you have read the “about us” page, you know that I enjoy “crafts that involve rubber stamping and/or polymer clay”. I have not done much rubber stamping lately as I have done in the past as I have become enamored by polymer clay. It is such a versatile medium.

My initial introduction to this craft form was through HGTV’s Carol Duval Show. She usually had three segments for each show and a different artist for each segment. There were a number of polymer clay artists that frequented her show. Watching those segments really excited me. I would tape the show everyday and save the segments with that interested me. The polymer clay artists were always a keeper. One year for Christmas, Troy gave me some clay and instructional DVDs from Donna Kato, one of the premiere polymer clay artists. I was hooked!

About 3 years ago, I joined the San Diego Polymer Clay Guild (http://www.sdpcg.org/). Here I found a group of people that loved the craft media. They hold monthly meetings and share what they have created over the previous month. They also host classes with the well-known artists. I was lucky enough to be able to take my first class from Donna Kato herself. What a treat! I learned so much from this group that I have continued to attend the monthly meetings and many of the special events.

Last year at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar, I entered a three of my pieces in the amateur division of Polymer Clay. Also, I made some roses out of polymer clay and my friend Debbie wire wrapped the roses with sterling silver wire, adding glass leaves, colored pearls, swarovski crystals, glass lady bugs and a number of other embellishments, to make a “cha-cha” bracelet. Her bracelet won first place in it’s division and I received two second places and an honorable mention for my three pieces.

Next weekend, July 19th, there is an event called “Round Robin (http://www.sdpcg.org/roundrobin08.html)”. It is a day where guild members are sharing their techniques with other members. There will be four, one-hour sessions, with four classes being taught during each session. I am looking forward to learning some new techniques from my fellow guild members.

The exciting part of this for me is that I will be instructing one of the classes! The name of my class is “Everything’s coming up roses”. I will be showing the other members how I make my polymer clay roses like the ones that were included in my friends bracelet. So this week I will be preparing my lesson for next weekend’s class.

Here are a couple of pictures of my roses that I will be showing them how to make. Actually, this is the bracelet that won first place and this trinket box won second place.

Rogue238
July 14th, 2008, 06:44 AM
Wow, those are gorgeous! I hope you have fun!

BuncoQueen
August 10th, 2008, 12:06 PM
So, Victoria, you never did tell us how your class went...

Happy Birthday, by the way...

VictoriaHepfner
August 11th, 2008, 07:17 PM
HI

Sorry about that. I got busy with other things and didn't post my class results.

The prep time took me about 6 hours. I wanted to give the class some notes on the process. So I did the technique ahead of time and took pictures all along the way and add them to the notes. (I like classes where the instructor gives notes. That way I can focus on the little things that I need to remember instead of everything that the instructor says.)

The Tuesday before the class there were 6 people signed up. The night before there was an additional person. The day of the class there were 9 people in my class.

I was not as nervous as I thought I would be and the hour went by very quickly. I gave them the notes and showed them the technique to build the petal cane, and then how to build the flower. Because it was such a warm day, I had canes already made that had "rested" and were easier to cut that I gave them so that they could try making the flowers. Each one experimented with what they had and for the most part, did a good job. With a little practice, they soon will be making flowers easily!

Thanks for asking!