Seven members joined our Virtual ClayDay, via Zoom, on 19th July.  We each chose between 3 YouTube earring tutorials, requiring different levels of skill, and range of materials and tools.  We met in the morning to talk through what we were going to make.  We met again in the afternoon to show what we had made, or were in the process of making.  Some of us tried more than one tutorial, and a few of us used the technique to make other pieces.  We all felt that we had learned useful new techniques and enjoyed the day.  Here are some of our completed pieces.   A comment on the necklace: The shape sits well on neck. Silver and gold foil and red glitter impressed with demerara sugar and ground salt. White/red lining just visible and adds interest on movement. Finished with one very thin coat of Fimo varnish on front only.

We will be having our second Virtual ClayDay on Sunday 19th July.
Participants will be sent links to some tutorials on YouTube and decide which they would like to make (3 tutorials for different skill levels).
You will also need to check that you have all the necessary tools and materials, or suitable alternatives.  You could make the pieces into something other that earrings, of course, so we should get a good variety of results.
 The Zoom link will be emailed to you on Friday or Saturday. We will try to start at 11.00am and the second session at about 4.00 pm or 5.00 pm (we can decide on the day). Each meeting will last for about 45 minutes. 

Looking forward to 'seeing' everyone again

 If you aren’t on the APCG mailing list, you can get further information about the Virtual ClayDay and the YouTube links by emailing apcg@live.co.uk

Hope to 'see' all of our members again this Sunday!

We are delighted with our most recent ClayDay which took part in the comfort of home. Around 10 members met up via Zoom and had a short meeting in the morning and again late afternoon. Most even had pieces to show at the end of the day. Here are some of their makes: 

Enid: "two sides have the canes assembled differently"

Georgie: "some pieces I have been playing with during the lockdown (including silkscreens)"
Georgie used Prado clay for her pendants

Sue: ​"They are in lagoon and iceberg soufflé so I haven’t polished them but left them as their natural suede finish"

Belinda: "  I used Fimo soft as I had run out of white Premo and could only get white Fimo and had some black Fimo left over."

Anne: "made using premo clay."

Remember to keep sending your lockdown polymer clay projects to Nadia and Shelley and we will have more virtual 'I made this' via the website and social media.

Let's stay safe and keep on clayin'

Since we are still in lockdown here in the UK, Enid will be hosting the upcoming ClayDay via Zoom which is a video conferencing app. She will be emailing invites around 10.30am and we will have a short virtual session making sure everyone is briefed on what we are supposed to do - Fiona Abel-Smith’s Black and White Hollow Pendant

Please have ready (at home): 
A cutting blade
A knitting needle about 4 cm thick
A craft knife
A clay roller
Some liquid polymer clay
2” and 1.5” round cutters
A small piece of baking paper to work on
A beading needle
A domed mould ( a used light bulb will do)
Sanding pads or paper, if you want to smooth you piece at the end
Half a pack of each black and white clay, although you may want to use other strongly contrasting colours instead.


Of course members who are joining are advised to watch the video beforehand just in case you have any questions. You can view the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaUVf4mnd4A

At 3.30pm we will meet up via Zoom again just to wrap things up and please send photos of your pendant to Nadia or Shelly to put on the blog and Facebook. 

Nadia: nadia.michaux@gmail.com
Shelly: michelledenise166@hotmail.com

All you need to do on 17th May is to make sure you can be present for the virtual meet up at home at 10.30am and 3.30pm. 

No sales table, guild library, cheap clay for sale this time but we hope to still give guild members a good experience despite the current situation. Everyone please keep washing your hands and take care so hopefully we can resume our usual ClayDay in the summer. Let's keep the guild going!

It was a ClayDay with social distancing put in place so we didn't have the usual tables arranged next to each other. Despite the awkward measures we still managed to have fun!

We put together pieces of the cane to make up a tiny owl earring! Members who would like their owls scaled up so they can turn them into brooches were told to reduce part of the cane for the owl and keep a bigger part for the brooch. As you can see we got various results and lots of tiny owls. From the brooches you can see the intricacy of each cane done by our members.

After lunch and a lot of squinting to put together tiny owls, Anne showed how to make simple 'printing' on clay using almost anything and everything.

The method is simple but the repeating pattern can create gorgeous results!

We had all of  our usual tables, cheap new packs of polymer clay for same and a great time with members (and we also had 1 new member!). 

Times are strange right now during the lockdown and we have no idea when ClayDay will resume again but we hope members are taking care of themselves at home. Just clay all day in isolation!

This time we will be making the owl earrings from the canes we made during the last ClayDay – led by Enid. 
​To bring: canes from the January ClayDay (don’t worry if you weren’t there, we have plenty to share), a small amount of waste clay, and, if you have one, a Lucy slicer, if not, a sharp tissue blade. The Guild will supply one pair of earring fittings.  You may want to make a larger owl into a brooch, in which case , you will need a brooch pin.

After everyone has had their lunch, Anne will be doing a 'Printing on Polymer' demonstration. Please bring:

• usual basic clay equipment
• scissors
• clay - any colours
• mica powders
• small metal items to use to print with - one or two will do, we can share (screws, nails small cutters,metal ball tools etc etc, the list is endless)
• small pieces of card- cut up postcards are ideal
• couple of pieces of paper to use for mica powder
• texture sheet for backing - optional
• cutters for pendant shape - optional
• liquid clay for finishing - optional, and brush if using this

There will be all of our usual tables. Bring your latest makes and any craft materials you would like to sell. We still accept donations for our raffle and will be selling clay cheaper than the retail stores! 

RSVP now by emailing: apcg@live.co.uk

We look forward to seeing our work combined together in one piece - don't miss out!

Shelly started the day by showing us how to make this simple effect using cling wrap, isopropyl alcohol and alcohol inks.

It is such an easy technique to produce unique patterns. Add some gold or silver alcohol inks to make even more interesting patterns.

After lunch the guild split into groups so each group can make canes to make the owl earrings. Each group needs to make a cane to make the eye/petal/leaf.  At the end of the meet, each person cuts their cane into 4 pieces and they are distributed so everyone can make the owl earrings during the next meet. Make sure you don't forget to bring your canes next week.

We had all of our usual tables as well as new members. As usual members showed their latest polymer clay makes. It was a showcase of diverse talent!

We hope everyone enjoyed working together towards a bigger project for the whole guild. The owl will be assembled during the next meet so that is something we can all look forward to!

For the first ClayDay of the year we will try something new - working in groups to come up with various designs of canes to create a cute pair of owl earrings. But first, Shelly will be doing a demo in the morning. 

​Shelly will be demonstrating a simple marbling technique inspired by Ludmila Bakulina, using alcohol inks and cling film.  You will need the usual tools, cutters, alcohol inks, mica powders, chalks or eye shadows, cling film and rubbing alcohol.  Cling film and rubbing alcohol can be provided if you need it.

For the group activity, we will be creating a one-of-a-kind owl earrings. This tutorial is kindly provided by Deb Hart, as part of her Guild Enrichment programme. We will start by working collaboratively to make the canes required: a simple petal cane, a simple leaf cane, a feather cane and an eye cane.  Everyone will make only one of these canes, working in groups.  We will then cut each cane into four, so that everyone can have one of each cane.  We will then bring them to the March ClayDay, when we will complete the Owl Earring project.  You will need the usual tools, black and white clay, and a selection of colours, which it would be helpful if they could include a selection of red, purple, yellow, brown, green and blue.

With the ClayDay only a week to go - make sure to book your place by emailing apcg@live.co.uk

There will be all the usual tables so don't forget to bring your latest makes, raffle donations and enjoy a whole day of claying with friends.