Last December I booked a masterclass Titanium at "Studio Chispazo" in Kerkrade, together with Shirley de Jong of "Aware Jewels" from Nieuw-Vennep. Frank van Zwicht from Diepenheim is there to explain the sanding, polishing and coloring of titanium. He himself makes beautiful jewelry with it and we hope to eventually be able to combine this technique with silver clay.
 
After booking, Edith van Leeuwen of "ArtiChic" from Hillegom and Arnolda de Nooij of "Silverclay Art" from Leiden also appeared to participate. Well-known names of dear talented colleagues with whom we also shared a Middelkerke weekend in March.

​Again we can ride with Edith. And this time Arnolda also drives along, fun. In this masterclass we meet Charlotte Specken of "JoseFineArt" from Rotterdam and Barbera Ploeg of "Atelier015" from Delft. Both come to Kerkrade on their own. Barbera, accompanied by her family, immediately turns this trip into a fun holiday getaway. For what is the area say beautiful! You can walk here wonderfully.

Our quartet agrees to drive from Nieuw-Vennep punctually at 19.00. I’ve been invited by Shirley to eat at her place and make sure to be with her by 18.00. It's holiday time and not too busy on the road, so I’ve plenty of time. Together with her husband Justin and rascal Jason we enjoy risotto and salad. Delicious, tasty all fresh and organic.
 
Whether Edith is also on time, absolutely! Punctuality she arives in the big Volvo of her husband Leo. Nice and spacious we drive to Kerkrade where we arrive at Hotel Kasteel Erenstein without traffic jams or other delays at 21.30. Check in and have a drink, Charlotte is already there.

We have all opted for an extra night, so we will not be on the road early in the morning. In retrospect, our way of thinking was superfluous, the masterclass appears to start daily at 11 am. More than enough time. The hotel was already booked and cancel proved insufficiently profitable. Now - read: Shirley, Arnolda and myself - use this extra time to take a wonderful morning walk through the forest after breakfast. Beautiful sunlight, babbling brooks, ponds and according to colors the various shades of green and brown into a serene whole.

After this relaxation it is time for effort and we drive to Chispazo on the edge of the forest. It turns out that Barbera is already there and we are all welcomed by our hostess. There is also a participant, Lisette, a regular student of the hostess. A total of 8 people.
 
This first day we work with silver clay, with the aim of later adding colored titanium to the design. We turn out to be quite productive, even though we cannot yet imagine the collaboration between the two metals.
 
Our hostess has provided enough food and drinks. Chocolate profiteroles, cake, bread, spreads, soups, coffee/tea, milk/buttermilk and juice. And if that's not enough, we'll have a nice dinner at Jules, a great grand café in Kerkrade. The ladies have put their sights on fresh mussels. Charlotte is particularly fond of it. When the staff serves the pans after about 1,5 hours, the ladies quickly forget the long wait. The choice is great! Another nice dessert, after which we walk back to the hotel. Too tired to have a drink, we decide to go to bed on time. The real work starts tomorrow 😉.

The next morning after breakfast, Shirley and I walk to Chispazo. The other ladies go that way by car and are so kind to take our luggage with them. Today our Belgian colleague Tine Demol of "Actino" from Brugge joins the group as 9th student. Frank was already there yesterday and has installed all tools and materials for today. He has also brought wonderful examples. What a work of art! He explains to us what the working method and sequence is to achieve similar results. I confess that I haven’t made the most of the opportunities on this day. A number of colleagues have taken a smarter approach. They have already pre-colored additional titanium to be able to make a number of designs at home. I take with me what I have been working on these days with the aim of eventually completing this at Edith’s place. In Spain, then! With her anodizing equipment, hahaha.
 
We are going home. And also tonight it is not busy on the road. At Nederweert we make a stop at La Place to have a bite. Then with a full stomach continue to arrive in Nieuw-Vennep around 9 p.m. So Shirley is at home, I drive to Harderwijk, Edith lives 5 minutes away in Hillegom and Arnolda drives from Hillegom to Leiden.

It was fun again. Learned a lot and laughed. Thanks to Edith for driving on the outward and return journey. Shirley for sharing the hotel room. Atelier Chispazo for her hospitality, Frank for sharing his skills and everyone in general for the pleasant presence.

In the Netherlands, many people currently enjoy the summer holidays. Exceptions prove the rule and André van Rijswijk from “Phoenix Arts” in Arnhem has explicitly reserved these summer weeks for an Art Clay Silver Instructor training.
 
Last year I met André for the first time. He then followed the Level 1 curriculum on 3 Mondays during the summer holidays. Cheryl Daunt accompanied him those days. Afterwards, she suggested planning dates together again for the follow-up, Level 2. But André was determined and already knew that he wanted to make reservations for that training in 2019 and again during summer holidays. Fortunately I was also allowed to indicate whether it suited me, hihi 😉
 
So today I can proudly say in this blog that he has earned another Art Clay Silver certificate. He has made beautiful pieces. 3 days of private lessons does offer the opportunity to work on the 4 required designs in peace and with undivided attention.

In between, regularly back your back, interspersed with consuming snacks such as tea, cake, fruit, nuts and of course lunch with a vega baguette and a healthy green smoothie. Yes, then a wonderfully relaxed course leads to good results.

Well André, it's over again.
The next level is based on self-study and therefore comes entirely to yourself.
You have learned a lot these days, you can apply the techniques to them all.
Thank you for your presence and commitment.
​Success with any Higher Level !

And there she is again! Today, Ingrid completes her provisionally last reserved supplement training: Gold. It's pretty hot today, but luckily we have air conditioning. We are going to enjoy ourselves though 😉
 
As always, Ingrid is on time. We can start immediately, because she has prepared well. Different ideas are reviewed and together we discuss what is feasible.

She has already made the semicircular ring at home, in peace and quiet, without prying eyes. She eventually opts for a leaf and a flower and designs these from the gold clay. She keeps the flower for a later design, the leaf is placed on the ring. They are both fired during lunch.
 
Gold clay requires a higher firing temperature than the silver clay, so the leaf is attached to the ring after the clay stage has been exchanged for metal.
 
And of course we also made a photo of this design. Nicely finished and hand polished. Wonderful Ingrid!
 
It's over again, we say goodbye. But probably not for long. Now that she lives in the Netherlands again, it becomes easier to meet. Ingrid, thanks for another super nice day and see you soon!

In previous years, she always came from Norway to the Netherlands for various course days. Since December 2018 she is back in our "little country" for the moment forever. It is now easier to plan on Metal Clay dates and training courses.
 
Last week she put all the required pieces of work in the clay. Today she starts repair work and the final finish. New Mokume-Gane pieces require a fairly intensive treatment, with which a stunningly beautiful result can be obtained.
 
And Ingrid has decided to deliver masterpieces and works these 2 days with dremel, sandpaper and pads. She barely allows herself time for coffee, lunch and sweets. But then look at what a jewel of jewelry! Great job Ingrid! Now you just have to pass the exam and once again put down such a nice feather technique. I am confident.

Saturday July 20 I will see you again, then you will come for the Gold supplement.
For now thank you for your pleasant presence and driven commitment.
​Have fine days and I’ll see you in 3 weeks!

Monika has achieved her level 1 at Kirstin Paal. For level 2, she visited the studio of Roswitha Schwarz. She will have to make the pieces for the Higher Level herself and without supervision. But until that moment, she can simply follow additional certified training courses, with which she can practice the more complex techniques.
 
Because Monika does not speak English, I asked Aida Chemicals Japan and found them willing to translate the work description of the 6 required into German. Yutaro, thanks again for the mediation and implementation of this request!
 
Monika's husband brought her to Hotel Marktzicht in Harderwijk on Thursday, where she spent the last 4 nights. Every day Michael or I pick her up in the morning, so that she does not have to cover the distance between the hotel and the studio by public transport. Of course we also bring her back in the evening.

These are 4 intensive days, during which the air conditioning runs overtime. The outside temperature does not lie, it is high summer. The first 2 course days Monika is accompanied by Ingrid Wijnen. You know her from my previous blogs. Ingrid also comes for the New Mokume-Gane course, but can’t stay for 4 consecutive days. She’s coming next week for the last 2 days. Both of them work very hard, there is no lack of dedication.

It's over, Monika takes her suitcase and I take her to the train station. Her husband is suddenly prevented and can’t come to pick her up, so she travels home by train. Fortunately there is a good connection.
 
Back in the studio, I tidy up, clean everything and I already organize a workplace for Ingrid. Next Sunday I will see her again, for her 2nd half of this training.
 
Monika, thank you for your great effort. Good luck with the New Mokume-Gane exam and the future Higher Level!

It is Pentecost again, so the Silver Day in Schoonhoven is planned for Monday 10 June 2019. This year is the 35th anniversary of this annual event.

​Renske has registered again and of course I will go. Last year we hardly spoke and/or saw each other, both too busy with our work. And this year it has turned out to be no different. So we look forward to this day.
 
With the move of Renske - she now lives completely in the north of the Netherlands - Harderwijk is on her route to Schoonhoven and we agree that I can ride with her. Actually this has always been the case, but then I first drove to De Bilt.
 
She is already there at 07.00, bright and early. So we are well in time to set up the pavilion. Along the way we can catch up and that is necessary, since it has been a while.
 
There is again reserved next to the Church. And even today it blows, how could it be otherwise: it always blows around the church! The sun is shining, we are lucky. There have been years that it rained. That makes it less cheerful and pleasant. Not for us, we enjoy ourselves, but a visitor likes to walk around without a coat and/or umbrella.
 
There is a lot of interest in Art Clay Silver, old and new customers visit the stand. In between explanation and sale, I get us something to drink. We do lunch with sweet treats, how wrong 😉!
 
Also this year Renske did not participate in the Novelty Show of the Silver Day. The move has taken the necessary attention and time.
 
At the end of this beautiful day we are both tired. A final boost means that we are now even able to pack and clean up everything within 10 minutes.

Dear Renske, thanks again for this great day.
It was super fun to work together and to chat again. Thanks for the lift. 
I will leave it open for the readers . . . are we coming back next year, or we will hand over the baton?

Agnes Koekoek from “Esquell” from Kampen has asked to work with bronze clay and to be able to follow the Hinged masterclass. She has devised to design a bronze bracelet. Different parts will be connected together until the correct length is reached. She then uses small hinges.
 
April 15th, I received her in my studio for the bronze workshop. That day she designed a number of links and attached the hinges to them. Bronze clay clearly works differently than silver clay. It is smoother and lobbier, making it less easy to retain its shape. For example, the hinges in particular require the necessary attention and these parts must be sanded beautifully to make neat round tubes.
 
Agnes can do this well, works in a controlled and calm manner. She only takes some time for lunch. Enjoying tasty sandwiches, wraps and fresh orange juice, she recharges herself for the afternoon program. At the end of the day the 5 links are ready to be fired. She has also made a set of earrings.

Agnes starts forging wire that she has brought with her. Unfortunately, both of us are not sure about the type of metal and we can’t get everything done properly. Silver wire is of course also possible, but not preferred. We stop this job after a few attempts and first have lunch. Then Agnes decides to finish the bracelet at home and continue this afternoon with her pieces for the Higher Level. I explain to her the guidelines. This way we work through the day and she has already made a small start on her next certificate.

Dear Agnes, it was fun again. Nice to work together like this.
Thank you for coming, good luck with the Higher Level and see you soon.
​Perhaps earlier or else certainly at thge scheduled Metal Clay Days coming in September 2019!

Children and death are an almost impossible combination.
A young life, fully engaged in developing and growing, does not follow the same path as death.
Still . . .
 
It happened to the children of my dear valued colleague Tsjeardke.
She has 2 children together with Ramo, a son Kaan and Fadim, a daughter.
And last February these kids were unexpectedly quickly confronted with the death of their father.
Tjeardke, or Missy T., as I sometimes call her, had already said goodbye to Ramo, they were unable to follow their path of life in the same way. Of course the children also had to get used to this situation, as a child you prefer to see your parents together.
But with the sudden death, the loss of a father suddenly became abrupt.
 
I went condolences, not out of politeness, but because every fiber in my body felt I "had to".
There I met a nice gathering of family, friends and colleagues.
Tsjeardke was clearly happy that we were there and, as I know her, she did not hesitate to submit the request to me to make a beautiful commemorative ornament for the youth.
She liked to see Ramo's hair incorporated in this.
3 pendants, for Kaan and Fadim and also 1 for Sait, the eldest son of Ramo. 

​Just like Ingrid Wijnen and Reineke Muller, Cheryl Daunt is also an expat. These ladies travel with their life partners to the countries where the work requires their expertise. As a woman, this requires a considerable dose of adaptability. Distant places, foreign languages, new faces, just stand by!
 
There are, for example, many women from expatriates who mainly deal with the household. In addition, they maintain contact with other "fellow sufferers". All that in itself can of course be a day's work. But there are always exceptions. Women who develop themselves and that in addition to all the aforementioned tasks. And of course Cheryl, Ingrid and Reineke belong to that category.
 
Today Cheryl is again completing a certified Art Clay Silver course. The Origami Jewelery, Japanese folding techniques with Art Clay Paper Type.
 
She travels by public transport and I pick her up in the mornings at the train station. At the end of the afternoon, Cheryl is picked up by her dear husband. The last day he is busy for work and Michael - my husband - brings her back to the station.

For 3 days in a row she worked diligently on the various required projects. The jewelry consists of silver clay supplemented and decorated with silver Origami forms of silver paper. Beautiful designs Cheryl, nicely done. And another certificate richer.

Thank you for your warm atmosphere, it is always nice to have you in my studio.
Until next time!

Today I meet 2 sisters, Anneke from Utrecht and Desiree from Harderwijk. At the beginning of this year they signed up for an Art Clay Silver workshop. Now the time has finally come to create nice silver jewelry.

They are on time and are looking forward to it. We start with a cup of coffee and a "party maker", followed by a brief explanation about the unique silver clay. Both ladies know well what they want and adjust the wishes to the possibilities. They opted for rings. Desiree goes for a sleek model with the initial letters of the names of her grandchildren and a zirconia; blue as a symbol for the boys and pink for her granddaughter. Anneke wants a more playful design and goes wild with syringe and zirconias. It turns out to be a pretty handy job to put the stones neatly in sufficient syringe. Eventually there appears to be some clay left, Desiree turns it into a small drop-shaped pendant. 

​Driven they finish the jewelry, until the moment that a slight appetite indicates that it is time for lunch. Well deserved, tasty well-made sandwiches and fresh orange juice.

The designs can be fired by 15.00. Everything comes neatly from the kiln, the fit is good, time to polish. And how beautiful they have become, well done!

Anneke and Desiree, thank you for your presence.
I had a great day again, partly because of your efforts.
​Have fun with your rings and maybe until next time!