​Today, I took care of the first workshop Art Clay Silver in this new year. Marleen Schrijver from Zwolle contacted me already mid-2015 to make an appointment. Due to the busy schedule of both, we didn’t previously scheduled a suitable date.
 
Together with Anja Nijboer the two ladies come to make a ring. They certainly have carefully considered the design and with the help of joint consultation they both make a final choice.
 
During the design and finishing both Marleen and Anja conclude  that a jewel in “greenware” yet is more fragile than originally thought. So, the women are taught to repair the fractures, which are repaired competent and the end result is great for sure!
 
Marleen and Anja, thanks for your nice presence and shown commitment. I enjoyed the enthusiasm!

Saturday morning, get up, have breakfast and to Joc. De Nartist. On to the 2nd Masterclass of this creative weekend. At arrival there’s already a table reserved by our loyal henchmen ;-)
“Team Troublemakers” is situated again and together with all the other dear colleagues, we start with the technical still somewhat complex design “Freya's Tear Vessel”.
 
Even for this design Tracey has devised a highly motivated tight schedule. The aim is to finalize tomorrow reasonably in time, so that everyone is not going to be late home. And everything also runs smoothly. Just like the previous days, today Inge also provided a nice lunch. At the end of the day we eat together at “De Zaatman” in Temse. One last time we enjoy great food, fun and togetherness.
 
Then one last night in our B&B “De Brug”. The next morning, the owner John catered for our last breakfast this weekend. Tomorrow the real life starts again and we are supposed to regulate everything ourselves again.
 
The design “Freya's Tear Vessel” is completed by a number of colleagues. As usual, I can’t finish in time, so again I decide to take all the parts with me and complete the cap of the vessel at home. To rush is not really my way of working and with my tempo it would turn out to be. So all parts are put together and fired  at home as one design.
 
By 17.00 we say goodbye and Renske and I drive home together. Michael doesn’t need to pick me up from De Bilt, I get a lift to the front door.
 
Thanks to Tracey Spurgin, for her great knowledge, Inge Verbruggen for the perfect organization and all other colleagues for sharing fun and friendship.
And last, but certainly not least: Renske Dussel, for transport, discussions, sharing the room and friendship.
 
I thoroughly enjoyed and I’m already looking forward to the next Masterclass!

Jihoe! A weekend Belgium as usual with great Art Clay Silver colleagues and new techniques taught by Tracey Spurgin. Oh, I’m looking forward to this!
 
Early in the morning I drive to Renske, where I hand over the car keys to Michael. This way he can also easily move around this weekend. Then I drive from De Bilt to Temse together with Renske.
 
The Masterclass will start at 9:00 pm, hence the early departure. On this weekday, we have to take account of traffic jams, particularly on the Ring Antwerpen.
 
Everything goes smoothly and arrive on time at the training room Joc. De Nartist in Temse.
After the first meeting with Tracey we start Masterclass “Filigree Orb”.
 
And oh, how I love it. Not just free designs, but all nicely thought out and, according to a schematic job description. That's really my thing. Tracey explains to us all the ins & outs of the Orb providing, where necessary, her expert help.
 
At lunchtime, there are delicious sandwiches. We eat quickly and continue, if we follow the tight schedule, we are able to have everything in greenware at the end of the first day.
 
In the evening we go with some of the ladies dine out at “De Brabander” in Temse (Tielrode). Before that we first stop by the B&B to check in in advance. Again, Renske and I share a room. Tracey has the other room to herselves. As always it is nice and clean, warm and comfortable.
 
Dinner is cozy and the food tastes great. Despite all the fun we don’t make it too late, tomorrow there’s another busy day on the program.
 
After a good night's sleep, we find a delicious and varied breakfast ready for us the next morning, which we really enjoy. Then on to the training room to participate energetically in the 2nd and last day of this Masterclass. Everyone works with full dedication to the Orb and the results are stunning.
 
With a satisfied feeling we end the day with a dinner at the address of the parents of Inge Verbruggen. Her mother made lasagna, how sweet and nice is that ?!
 
After two of these exciting days we plop extinguished in our beds. Tomorrow starts a new two-day Masterclass, to which we enthusiastically look forward to. The coming days Shirley Wouters and Frank Hupse will participate as well. It promises to be a lively, busy and sometimes comical interaction. After all, “The Gang” then is complete again!

​Although the year 2016 has only just begun, we already have an instructor course behind us. Greet de Rooij from Oud Gastel took the kickoff and completed last weekend level one. For years Greet  has been creative and believes that Art Clay Silver is a great addition. I am convinced that she is right, she clearly has feeling for the material.
 
All projects are solid and designed with policies. As usual I have sent the syllabus along with the confirmation  for registering the course. This allowed Greet to study in advance into the requested techniques. With this she made the design to your own ideas and insight.
 
Greet, I want to thank you for your charming presence. Now we hace to wait for the evaluation of the finished pieces, always exciting! Perhaps we see each other for a level 2? Know, that you're always welcome!