New Work from Arlene Groch

By: ornamento.blog
Arlene Groch, Art, Bonnie Bishoff, Melanie West, Philadelphia Polymer Clay Guild, screen printing, , , , 2 Comments on New Work from Arlene Groch

Earlier this summer I got to spend some time in Arlene Groch’s spanking new studio which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago.

Here’s what she’s been up to.

Arlene really took to screen printing on polymer clay, but she didn’t restrict her work to pieces with an Asian flavor.  She tried screen printing on practically everything except her Grandchildren, often with stunning results.

And no one ever accused Arlene of being afraid of color.  Her pieces are big, bold and colorful.

Recently, Arlene has gotten into caning.    Well, I suppose a workshop with Bonnie Bishoff and Melanie West   and hanging around fellow PAPCG member and caner extraordinaire  Emily Squires Levine is bound to rub off.   It will be interesting to see where Arlene goes from here.

This just in!

Catch Arlene at the Wheaton Fine Arts Festival

Clayathon 2010

By: ornamento.blog
Arlene Groch, Art, Hand Made, Happy, Jersey Shore, Melanie West, Poly Addict, Polymer Clay, Polymer Clay Color Inspirations, Polymer Clay conferences, Polymer Clay Express, Polymer Clay gatherings, Polymer Clay Guilds, Polymer clay new techniques, , , , , 7 Comments on Clayathon 2010

I don’t know what I enjoyed more: watching Wilma Yost of Polymer Clay Express demonstrating the Dream Machine and trying it out for myself, watching Melanie West’s demos, catching some of Arlene Groch’s enthusiasm or having uninterrupted time to continue working through Polymer Clay Color Inspirations.

I clayed, drank whiskey, sat up until 7:00 am one night (morning?) claying and chatting, made new friends and saw old ones.
Everyone had a wonderful, relaxing time.  See you in 2011!

Clayathon 2009

By: ornamento.blog
Arlene Groch, Art, art, creativity, crafts, inspiration, Community Art Groups, Craft demonstration, Crafting Traditions, Days Inn, inspiration, Jersey Shore, Materials, Melanie West, Personal Growth, Philadelphia Polymer Clay Guild, Poly Addict, Polymer Clay, Polymer Clay Express, Polymer Clay gatherings, Polymer Clay Guilds, Polymer Clay Retreats2 Comments on Clayathon 2009

If you want to see even more Clayathon pictures, click on The PAPCG Guild Reporter. Thanks to Arlene Groch and all the other wonderful South Jersey Polyaddicts for making the Clayathon such a success!

Klay Kismet

By: ornamento.blog
Arlene Groch, Art, art, creativity, crafts, inspiration, Barbara McGuire, beads, Bracelets, Design, Ellen Marshall, inspiration, jewelry, Materials, Melanie West, Personal Growth, Personal History, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Craft Show, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Polymer Clay, Polymer Clay Guilds, Polymer Clay tutorials, Uncategorized, , , , 1 Comment on Klay Kismet

A couple of years ago, I spent a few days at Arlene Groch’s house claying nonstop alongside Arlene, Ellen Marshall and Melanie West. During the course of the claying frenzy, I made some bracelets with long beads usinga variety of techniques.

tb1tb4

In October, Barbara McGuire taught a master class in Philadelphia and was the guest artist at the Philadelphia Area Polymer Clay Guild’s monthly meeting. She saw my bracelets and remarked that I had used oneof the stamps she designed. Then I remembered admiring one of Arlene’s stamps and using it to texture some of the beads.  Arlene bought the stamp on Barbara’s web site.

designwire

Barbara McGuire is the author of two of my all time favorite polymer clay books,Foundations in Polymer Clay Design and Wire in Design. So I was  looking forward   to her demo at the meeting.  I was not disappointed.  And the members who took her face canes class gave it rave reviews. The Guest Artist Program is one of the best perks of PAPCG membership.

If you want to see pictures from the meeting, go to the guild’s Flickr site. If you’re in Philadelphia this weekend, try to catch the  PMA Craft show where Melanie West is participating as an emerging artist.

And not for the last bit of Klay Kismet:  Arlene happened to go to school with my boss.  How Kool is that?

Who’s that Gal with Betsy Baker?

By: ornamento.blog
Art, art, creativity, crafts, inspiration, beading, beads, Betsy Baker, Blogroll, Bracelets, Community Art Groups, Craft demonstration, Crafting Traditions, Fimo, history, inspiration, jewelry, Melanie West, National Polymer Clay Guild, NPCG, Philadelphia Polymer Clay Guild, Poly Addict, Polymer Clay, Polymer Clay Guilds, Synergy, UncategorizedLeave a Comment on Who’s that Gal with Betsy Baker?

 melanie-west-and-friend.jpg

 Why, it ‘s Melanie West who is on a bracelet making rampage. Just when you think they can’t get any more  intriguing,  she tops herself.  You can see her latest creations on her blog,   Raven’s Caw.   Betsy’s no slouch either.  Go to Stonehouse Studio to see her mouth watering work.

More Synergy pictues to come.