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. 

On our last ClayDay of 2019, Alison demonstrated her brilliant Stroppel cane and even showed us how she made the lightweight discs. She uses scrap clay and Ultralight as the core to make a strong base for the veneer.

She uses scrap canes (donated by Enid) and flattens them onto a piece of black clay. The scrap clay is sandwiched with another piece of thin black clay and fused by rolling it through the pasta machine. Pieces are cut and arranged alternately to get a truly unique pattern. 

After that we also made Christmas-themed crafts since it was already that time of year.

We also saw what members made at the successful Polyanglia event. Every piece looked so professionally made and it definitely shows. 

Other members also brought items that they've made at home since the last ClayDay.

We had all of our usual tables and activities. 

Our last ClayDay of the year will be this weekend and you don't want to miss it!

Alison will be demonstrating her version of the Stroppel Cane.
Stroppel canes are a great way to make use of old cane ends – no-one would ever guess you were getting rid of scrap.  The demo will include quick lentil beads from veneers. 
You will need: 
As well as standard kit of pasta machine, tile, blade and roller, you will need to bring cutters and/or bead centres for shaping your veneers into something useful. If you want to make the lentils, you will also need some liquid clay for glue, some Ultralight for the insides and domes to mould them to (eg escargot plate, palette or drink can bases).
Bring lots of old cane ends and some new clay.  You will probably want some black, and possibly white, but also try some strong colours that contrast or tone well with the overall colour of some of your canes.

In the afternoon everyone will be sharing their Christmas ornaments idea. Feel free to demonstrate something small and share your festive creations on the day. Here are just some inspirations to get your creative juices flowing.

We will have all of our usual tables and please bring any raffle donations and your latest polymer clay projects. There will also be the tool library and blocks of clay to purchase. 

Please RSVP your place by emailing ​apcg@live.co.uk and see you this Sunday!

We had another great ClayDay on a mild day in September.  Monkey Ann was present (https://www.monkeyann.co.uk) and brought a lot of really cool tools and cutters. Sue started the first demo in the morning so we could all try out with her guidance. 

Start with a Skinner blend and create indents on top. Add white and another colour accent.

Make into a triangular cane and elongate and reduce again. Add another dent, divide into 3 and then join again. Elongate again with 4 sides this time. Divide into 4 and fuse them (mirror effect). That's your main cube all done! 

Now reduce that cube again until it is smaller and you can combine this veneer together.

So members had a go and with Sue's generous help they managed to make this beautiful veneer.

Belinda's demo showed us how to make very light and flexible pieces using translucent clay. They are so see-through and look like shiny plastic! You will need to cut out a uniform round size of clay and use another guide piece of film on top. She magically rubs it and thus spreading the clay until it is the required diameter. Leave on the tile to bake and when you gently remove the piece, the part which is pressed against the tile will be naturally glossy!

Monkey Ann was also present and had a table of wonderful tools, findings and cutters! It was so hard to choose what to buy when there are so many goodies to choose from.

Member's also brought some of their recent makes. So many different styles shows how creative each member can be!

All of our usual tables were packed with many different things for everyone to peruse. 

Just over a month until the last ClayDay of the year! Hope members who missed out can join for a fun day with friends.