The last 3 Mondays, 2 nice ladies have kept me company in my studio. Miranda van den Broek from Horssen and Sjaan-Marie Koenders from Lelystad. You haven't read these names in my blogs before. They are a new addition to the world of metal clay.
 
Sjaan-Marie has mastered the technique of silversmithing in the past and is now looking for a less intensive option to design jewelry. Of course you can always combine both techniques.
 
Miranda already has a healthy dose of entrepreneurial blood. She transformed many Cinderella into a princess, you guessed it: beautifying appearance by taking care of hair and skin.
 
Now the ladies are concentrated on providing workshops and creating beautiful jewelry. Art Clay Silver predominates in this.

Miranda and Sjaan-Marie, thank you for coming, dedication and friendliness. On behalf of all colleagues from the Art Clay Silver Instructor Network of the Benelux, I would like to welcome you.

​Thank you for strengthening our team!

Ellen Arends of “Ela Sieraad” in Zwolle has today successfully completed the certified Art Clay Silver Instructor Training Level 2. She is now waiting for her certificate. She will receive this one of these days from Craftlines B.V., our distributor. Six months ago they followed level 1, which means that they are now one step closer to the Higher Level.
 
She completed the first level in 2 long course days. 7 designs are made during that first level. Such days are intensive and require attention and a driven work attitude. Ellen can absolutely do this, but I prefer to keep the recommended number of days for a level 2. My explanation that so many additional techniques are used in these 4 designs is enough to agree that she will participate for 3 days.
 
And we have spent the days well. All designs are nicely finished. The beautiful jewelry of Ellen is visible on the photos.

Dear Ellen, thank you for your input, you can be proud of the result.
See you again next month for the UV-Resin supplement training. If you then feel confident enough to go for the Higher Level, I wish you success with this already!

The Metal Clay Days of our Benelux Art Clay Silver instructor network are scheduled to close the month of September. Unlike last year, are now not two but three days filled with metal clay.
 
The following workshops are planned for the first day - Saturday the 27th:
 
Morning
Rose Pendant by Etsuko Nakayama
Mazekomi Ring by Henriëtte van Battum, so myself 😉
 
Afternoon
Cherry Blossoms Pendant by Etsuko Nakayama
Enamelling by Annemarie Klappe
 
Sunday 28 and Monday the 29th are reserved for 4 masterclasses, each day one choice from 2:
 
Sunday - All day
Brilliant Flower by Etsuko Nakayama
Hollow Pendant by Joyce van Roosmalen
 
Monday - All day
Perfume Bottle Pendant by Etsuko Nakayama
Gemmotion Ring by Edith van Leeuwen

The most favorite masterclasses are provided by the Japanese teacher and Art Clay Master, Etsuko Nakayama. She specializes in working with spray clay. Anyone who has had the opportunity to register for her masterclasses will be assured of a unique opportunity to learn from the Japanese master. Let me state for a moment that my colleagues' level is also high, but to learn something new from them is easier to plan and combine than a trip to Japan. And Yutaro Takeuchi from Aida Chemicals from Japan is also present this year. He flew to the Netherlands with Etsuko. Just like last year, they travel on to Germany after the Metal Clay Days to carry out various techniques there too. Look forward to a great and nice long weekend. I am ready!
 
I already told you last year that Renske has moved to the north of our country, Terherne to be precise. She again offered to pick me up, so that we drive to Mijdrecht together. We also share a hotel room again, plenty of time to chat.

She arrives at 7.45 am, right on time. Quickly repack all materials and tools in the car of Renske and go. We have no delay, that's great. I myself teach a workshop in the morning and would like to have everything ready on time so that I can start without stress. We unload on time and prepare everything in the hotel room "Tuinkamer" on the ground floor of the hotel. And then there is coffee, tasty coffee! Everyone upstairs for the welcome speech by Shirley de Jong, representative for Art Clay Silver, one of the successful brands of Craftlines B.V. in Uithoorn.
 
I myself worked out a workshop for this first morning in which the participating colleagues can make a piece of jewellery with a New Mokume-Gane technique. Designing such a piece doesn’t take the most time. Firing is a thingy, it certainly takes about 7 hours. I prefer to let the pieces cool in the kiln. The design for the workshop is a ring, but I can imagine that there are colleagues who prefer to make earrings or a pendant. Can and may all, as long as the pieces don’t become so large that they must be fired 1 by 1. Then I am still busy in the first week of October, hahaha.

We go upstairs after lunch, where the workshop takes place in the hotelroom called "Meesters". I make the pendant according to the proposed design and of course I don’t get it completely finished. Who cares, by now you are used to this from me. I finish most of my pieces at home in peace. Then I achieve the best result. Ready for today, on to a drink in the bar of Hotel Marickenland in Mijdrecht. Renske has already checked in for us, that makes a difference.
 
But this drink is ultimately not held in the bar, but in the hall. Upon entering, Charlotte Specken from Rotterdam appears to have slipped on the parquet section of the bar floor. She ended up so unbelievably unhappy and broke her hip. The ambulance arrives in a short time and Charlotte is taken to the hospital. Edith van Leeuwen accompanies her and has informed Jan, the husband of Charlotte. Very sweet from Edith, nice that she makes time for this.
 
A number of ladies are heading home or have agreed to go elsewhere. The rest of the group goes to restaurant/brasserie “Jettiez”, a 5 minute walk from the hotel. There Shirley made reservation for dinner. All in all it is a pleasant evening, great food and lots of fun. Still, Charlotte's situation remains with everyone and we are all concerned about her. Surgery is needed, we wish for a quick recovery.
 
After dinner and back at the hotel, I prepare everything to be able to continue firing the New Mokume-Gane pieces the next morning. Then we go to our hotel room. Rest is welcome, as there are still 2 intensive days planned.

The alarm rings, it's time to get up. Showering, having breakfast, and checking the first firing. Has everything come out of the kiln okay? Yes, it all looks neat. Then again 2 kilns on and tomorrow the last one. It will be fine and I am happy not to miss anything from the masterclasses for which I have registered. In the room "Tuinkamer" Joyce van Roosmalen is ready to provide her students with all the ins & outs to design a hollow pendant. This can be used, for example, to store ashes from a loved one.
 
Renske and I go upstairs again, where the room "Meesters" is filled with quite a number of colleagues. Everyone is ready to learn a new technique from our Japanese guest teacher. Today we make a beautiful Brilliant Flower pendant.
 
Etsuko uses the syringe with all the ease of the world, neat lines of different thicknesses. After the demonstration we can get to work. And then it turns out to be one hell of a job! Our hands are completely cramped. With my osteoarthritis, I can no longer pick up a coffee cup after more than an hour. Maybe better too, I foresee that I would pour the coffee into my cleavage completely uncontrollably. Afterwards we hear that in Japan only smaller flowers are made during this masterclass. Overthere the time factor is taken into account. But Yutaro assures us that Shirley has specifically requested a large version. Hhmmm, I couldn't discover Shirley all day on the upper floor. She participated in the masterclass of Joyce. How particularly strange. She must have known that this would be a big job for us and made herself out of the way, not available for comment, hihi. But to be honest, they will be beautiful! In particular, the delicate edges around a zirconia are an asset in terms of technique!
 
And what is surprise? (at least by myself 😉) My pendant is ready to be fired. Yet I prefer to do this myself. For example, the next day and then start in a cold kiln. Renske also goes for this option. It is great that we are stubborn together. But hey. . . Well we are both a certificate of participation richer eh!
 
Today we have dinner with a group of ladies at "Rendez Vous" in Mijdrecht. Again it is a cozy get-together and the food tastes great. We unanimously believe that the quality is less compared to "Jettiez". After dessert we drive back to the hotel to enjoy a well-deserved night's rest.

Last day of this small Benelux conference. After breakfast I put the flowerpendants of Renske and me in the kiln. Edith van Leeuwen's masterclass Gemmotion Ring is held in the lower room of the hotel.
She, too, has prepared well, her group participants will go home happily surprised with a ring that move dazzling zirconias. Again we take a seat in the room "Meesters". Today we make a perfume bottle with a screw cap. All parts are designed entirely from silver clay. Etsuko teaches us the correct method and gives good tips.
 
At noon a delicious lunch awaits us again, we let it taste great. I also take a moment to switch off the kilns and check the latest New Mokume-Gane pieces. Everything looks good, the colleagues can be proud of their results.
 
Around 15.30 I realize that I don’t get finished the perfume bottel as desired. I would also rather fire this piece at home. This way I’ve time to refine the bottle and apply more details. Renske has the same idea, so we decide to say goodbye to drive home. Everything is packed in the car, some of which we already loaded last night. Saying goodbye always takes longer than expected. I probably don't see the majority of my colleagues this year. They are all equally dear to me and all deserve a big blow. Together we drive towards Harderwijk, after which Renske drives on to Terherne alone.

Dear all, what a fantastic experience it was, cheers for our Metal Clay Days.
Shirley and Elles, thanks for the good organization.
Renske I thank you for the lift and sharing the hotel room. It was nice to see and talk to you again face to face. Next Sunday is a clay date, then we will finish our papers, okay?
Also the instructors, Annemarie Klappe, Joyce van Roosmalen and Edith van Leeuwen: thanks to your input these days became a success!
Yutaro and Etsuko, thank you for coming and being present, the beautiful book, sharing the wonderful techniques, the always attentive, humorous comments.
And last but not least, a speedy recovery desired for our Charlotte! I heard today that you can go home again, great news!
​Everyone until next year, I'm back at the Metal Clay Days 2020. Until then! 

They are both on time, we can start immediately. After a short introduction, both ladies share their ideas for today. Jacqueline has brought her own glass design and decides to combine this with silverclay into a beautiful pendant. Marinka likes to make a ring, a so-called castle ring.
 
We have lunch around 14:00 o'clock, the jewels are meanwhile baked. This is done with policy, since glass has also been used. Calm cooling is then a must.
 
Jacqueline and Marinka say goodbye around 16.00. They each go home with a beautiful piece of jewelry. I clean up and thank both for a wondeful, fun start of this new creative season. Thank you girls, it was great!

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?