A while ago André van Rijswijk from Arnhem contacted me. A middle-aged man with a creative character. As the owner of Phoenix Arts, he is involved in painting, polishing and selling (semi-) gems and minerals. The carving of stones and minerals is also part of his hobby work. And in addition to all this, André discovered metal clay, which is why he spent the last 3 Mondays at Studio "Nevada's Dream".
 
He was joined by Cheryl Daunt (Mukerji), born in India and after a number of removals worldwide, now living as an expat in Amsterdam. Also creative, with a passion for cooking, decorating cakes and jewelery designs.

They both come for the certified Art Clay Silver Instructor Training Level 1. It is the summer, also in the Netherlands, we can even speak of a heat wave. And also the 3 reserved sunny Mondays are framed with hot temperatures and. . . air conditioner!
We have air conditioning! Other years I would have canceled the training at these temperatures. Previously, I was not so luxuriously situated. There has been a training before, in which we have had a hard time, but fortunately that was still quite reasonable. This move has only provided benefits. Better located, more light, better facilities. I am happy 😉.
 
The days are intensive and still good to come through. At noon we have lunch with delicious, rich sandwiches, salads, (veggie) smoothies and fresh orange juice. Of course there will be coffee, tea and water for the rest of the day. Everything runs smoothly, the projects are completed within the available time. Just look at the photos of the designed jewelry.

Cheryl and André, I want to thank you for coming.
I enjoyed a number of creative days. Practice a lot and when in doubt: ask.
Also after this training I remain available for answering your questions. If I do not come all the way out, then there is the closed Facebook group Art Clay Instructors Netherlands & Belgium.
​This group currently has 176 members who all share an enormous amount of knowledge.
 
A lot of success within our network. Cheryl, I see you again on September 15, then for Level 2.
André, you have put that goal on the agenda for the summer of 2019.
As soon as you are ready, I would also like to welcome you again!

The previously announced relocation of our studio is now a fact.
In mid-June, two colleagues have already been allowed to work in our 2 new rooms. 
We are happy with it, enough light and with more facilities than we were used to.
View the photos of the facilities.

See you at our new location!

A New Mokume-Gane training was planned from 1 to 4 June. 3 colleagues had registered for this. Ingrid van Dijk (Wijnen) from Norway, Esther Peeren-Verkade from "D-Zign for Life" in Son en Breugel and Annemiek de Graaf from "Xitin Beads" inHarderwijk.
 
Because of the sad and sudden death of our mother, 2 days before the start, I had to cancel this training. Thanks to the understanding and flexibility of these ladies, there are 2 today who still complete this training. Ingrid moves her spot to a later time this year. For her it was too expensive to rebook both flights and hotel. With her I like to make a new appointment.
 
Formally we are also busy with the relocation of the studio. Given the approaching end date of the old location, we have to step up and my dear husband Michael ensures that Annemiek and Esther are the first to enter the new spaces. As good as ready, I facilitate the training for them this weekend.
 
They are present for 4 full days and they work diligently through the curriculum of this wonderful technique with which they create 6 beautiful pieces of jewelry.

Now still exam to finally obtain the certificate. I am very curious about the favorite spring technique ladies 😉

Dear Annemiek and Esther, thank you again for coming and thank you for the pleasant, driven input. Ingrid, once again apologize for the inconvenience that has arisen. I call myself rich with such colleagues!

This morning I left early for a nice weekend in Belgium. Once again, Inge Verbruggen took over the organization for a masterclass in Temse. This time Joy Funnell from England with a great technique to create beautiful links and components, with which a beautiful chain can be designed.
 
And again Renske can not participate. However, she did have the chance to catch the extra day. Yesterday Joy has already explained to a number of colleagues the technique of enamelling. Enameling is also covered in our two-day masterclass. There I can refresh my memory again.

I do not actually enamel or hardly, I myself am more a fan of UV-Resin. Shirley Wouters of "Aware Jewels" in Uithoorn also goes this weekend and with her I can share a room in Jan’s homely B&B, in the Nijsstraat of Temse.
 
Shirley and I meet at the carpoolplace "De Staart" near Houten. The ride goes smoothly. We stop at Hazeldonk and take a cup of coffee/tea and something tasty at La Place. At least that is the intention. We arrive at 7.55 am and can just walk in. Yet no one appears to be confessed, the entire staff is outside in the coffee. We decide to wait, the opening time is 08.00, so will we be helped? Not. The mobile and coffee break seem to be more important than customers and sales. Shirley decides to interfere in the company and ask if we can place an order. With the necessary noticeable reluctance they move and moments later we enjoy a delicious oven baked delicacy and a steaming cup of coffee/tea.
 
We continue the journey and arrive on time at the workshop space JOC de Nartist in Temse. With a friendly group of enthusiastic ladies, we work on the base of the project of this masterclass, the Joyful Links and Chain. What a nice masterclass this is! So many possibilities and techniques.
 
In the afternoon we enjoy lunch and Inge provides delicious sandwiches. For dinner we agree to dine together at "De Zaatman". Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to be present. Better luck next time.

Once home, I look back on a fantastic weekend.
Shirley thanks that I was allowed to ride with you and share a room.
Joy, thank you for sharing your metal clay skills.
Inge, you for the good organization before and during this masterclass and all those present for the cozy cooperation these days!

Whit Monday and again time for the Silver Day in Schoonhoven. Familiar Renske and I get together again participate in this fun day.
 
We've been looking forward to this. The work and the daily activities absorb our free moments, which means that we have not been able to plan a decent clay date this year. Today is our day, we are going to enjoy.
 
Wake up early and into the car, I'll be right on time at Renske in De Bilt. I step over and we drive together to Schoonhoven, underwhile nice chatting. The weather is beautiful, it promises to be a beautiful day.

We are back at our old familiar spot, next to the Church. And as is known, it is always windy around the church. So also today. The weather is sunny and warm, but not in Kerkstraat 😉. After just an hour we’ve almost emtied our table. Everything really blows away. Not only the flyers and leaflets, but also the sanding pads and ultimately even the pieces of dried silver clay, which I work on. Nice then, these are broken! In addition to designs, the visitors now also see a immediately repair.

Furthermore, it is a pleasant, busy day. There is more than enough interest in Art Clay Silver, old and new customers visit the stand, as well as a number of Art Clay Silver fellow instructors. Any toilet break is used to get something to eat and drink. That's how we get through the day.

Just like last year, sales are less. This remains a pity. A lot of attention for Art Clay Silver and the possibilities. And ultimately we do it for that?
 
Renske has not seen a chance this year to participate in the Novelty Show. Inspiration enough, but too busy. So, I don’t need to pick up a piece of jewelry this year. This time saving means that we are already driving home by 17.15. We are so attuned to each other, the cleanup goes a little faster each year.

Dear Renske, thanks again for this pleasant day.
It was super nice to work together again, to chat and to carpool.
Schoonhoven, until next year!

As many already know, we are in the studio already 11 years based on Celsiusstraat 21-A in Harderwijk. In that space I have taught many people an Art Clay Silver Instructor course and / or workshop.
 
Moving is not just saying goodbye, it also brings something new, a new fresh location, where we will continue our work.
 
With effect from 1 July 2018 we are located at the address:

Last Thursday Ingrid Wijnen came to Harderwijk for the Art Clay Silver Supplements program UV-Resin. After a day off on Friday, I met her today for the 3-day certified training Art Clay Silver Quilling. This is a fairly intensive course, filled with delicately filigree. The weather is slightly less beautiful than the past few weeks. No punishment, therefore, to stay in the studio.
 
Ingrid seems to have the requested techniques completely in her fingers. She is working steadily through the project descriptions and creates beautiful designs. The precision with which she cuts, rotates and bends the various shapes and strips from the Art Clay Silver Paper Type means that less time is needed to secure everything perfectly together. An additional advantage is that less repair work needs to done.
 
At noon we have lunch with tasty sandwiches and fresh orange juice. During the rest of the days I do my best to provide Ingrid with tea, but she is so absorbed in her work that she regularly forgets to drink 😉.
 
And so 3 nice days pass, filled with metal clay, Silver Quilling, nice conversations and friendship.

Dear Ingrid, I sincerely enjoyed your enthusiastic, spontaneous commitment. You have made beautiful pieces. Good flight to Norway and up to next month. Already on the first of June we see each other again, then for the certified Art Clay Silver training New Mokume-Gane.
Together with Esther and Annemiek you all guarantee a pleasant course again.
​Until then !

Today is Ascension Day, for many a free Thursday.
A day to go cycling or . . . follow an Art Clay Silver Supplementary training in UV-Resin. Ingrid Wijnen has requested to plan this day for this and I like to make myself free for this fun.
 
She arrives at 10.00 am and immediately she takes place at the now familiar place in my studio. We talk through the day and in the meantime Ingrid colors two beautiful jewelry with UV-Resin and pigments.
 
She already made the ring at home, neatly according to the guidelines of this supplement. This is colored cyan blue. She then uses the UV-Resin in a beautiful transition from cyan blue to grass green in the matching pendant. Take a look and admire the beautiful match of this set.
 
Ingrid is very happy with her self-designed creations. And I? I am proud! On our friendship, her hunger for knowledge in the field of metal clay and proud of this cozy, colorful day.
 
Thank you Ingrid and until coming Saturday, May 12!

In February of this year Shirley Wouters, Edith van Leeuwen and I went to Japan for the new certified Origami Jewellery training. In 2016 Renske and I presented the Silver Quilling in the Benelux. For this new Origami course we want to be as prepared as well. Time for a claydate and this is scheduled for this weekend.
 
From 10 am to 5 pm we have enough time to discuss our plans and to form some different figures. Part is already being baked off, another part Edith and I are working on the next day. Shirley is only present on Saturday, she has other appointments for Sunday. Edith stays with me overnight, this saves her a ride up and down to Hillegom.
 
At noon we have lunch with tasty sandwiches and for that first evening, Edith and I plan a bite outside the door.
  
The next day we continue with the development of the Origami program and managing the projects. As a Teacher it is useful if you can give good explanations and answers to most questions.
Just to the fall season, we want to teach the first certified training. The planning is now focused on the first weekend of October 2018. The next will take place in the 2nd weekend of November.
   
On the Instructors Day September 23, 2018, we would like to show some examples of this technique and hope that many colleagues also want to make their own Origami Jewellery.
We believe that it is a valuable addition to all other courses and supplements.
 
So . . . keep an eye on your mailbox and do not miss a newsletter or blog!

This workshop was already scheduled this month on Easter Monday. Then I welcomed 4 colleagues. For today I have sent 5 invitations. Yet there are only 4 ladies present, Anneke van der Velde of "Eksie Art" from Waalre has been pretty hurt during a crash. Unfortunately she can not participate. Get well soon Anneke, we just pick another date together.
 
However, Mandy Gleisberg of "De Witte Jasmijn" from Rhenen, Agnes Koekoek of "Esquell" from Kampen, Mieke Kuiper of "De Zilverloods" from Radio Kootwijk and Sylvia van der Giessen of "SylviAtelier" from Sleeuwijk.

The ladies chat and work at the same time, as befits real women. After all, we can do 2 things at once.
 
We have lunch between the activities. Halfway through the afternoon, the boxes are fired. Only polish and finish. Because of the time, it stays with brushing with the wire brush. At home they have to put the legs underneath and a button on the lid: ready! Not quite finished yet and already that beautiful!
 
Dear girls, thank you for your pleasant presence. You are of course welcome for a next workshop!