Today Jetty Kooy closes our creative month January. She is curious about the possibilities and with silver clay in combination with UV-Resin.
 
Jetty comes from Twist - Germany, just across the Dutch border. This morning she rode with her husband, he works in Apeldoorn. After Jetty dropped him off, she drove to Harderwijk. We start this day with a cup of tea and cake. A welcome treat after a long drive.
 
Then we discuss the wishes and Jetty gets started. And she turns out having an affinity for the material. After forming, firing and polishing, the top of the ring is inlayed with pastel blue UV-Resin. And Jetty is totally happy with the result. Around 18:00 we finish and she hurries to Apeldoorn to pick up her husband, so that they continue along the road to Twist.
 
Jetty, you've designed a beautiful ring. Thanks again for the great input and good luck with all your creative activities!

Today I finish a three-day masterclass.
Along with Shirley de Jong of "Aware Jewels" from Uithoorn we traveled to Temse in Belgium for this.

As is now almost normal, Inge Verbruggen invited Anna Mazoń to teach in her studio for interested fellow instructors and enthusiastic silver clay artists. 

Early Monday morning I step into the car. We agreed meeting at the carpool place "De Staart" in Houten. From this point on Shirley and I ride together to Temse.
Along the way we experience no particular delay. We are therefore right on time at Joc. De Nartist, for us already a well known location.
 
About 10:00 we start the masterclass. Anna provides us with dosed instructions, so we design the entire pendant in various stages. Each element is clearly explained and demonstrated.
 
Lunch breaks are taken care of by Inge. Tasty sandwiches, to satisfy the appetite. Furthermore, there is also fruit, biscuits and sweets. Thereof is not eaten very much, everyone is too busy, hahaha.
 
The first course day we finish with a teamwise dinner at the Thai.
First, Shirley and I drive to our B&B "De Brug" to check in.
Host Jan welcomes us as heartily as ever, we are already acquainted with each other.
 
After a wonderful night's sleep and a good breakfast we start the 2nd course.
Today we the design of the mushrooms on the program. Lovely tiny details, great to do!
 
For dinner lasagna is on the menu. Made by the mother of Inge and delicious.
Together with Shirley, Anna and Inge we can enjoy a nice meal in Bornem, at the parents of Inge.

On Sunday 5 and February 12, 2017 I open my studio for participants to create your own personal piece of jewelry under professional guidance.
 
Profits from these workshops will be donated in the fundraising campaign for our brother Rob Marcus in his fight against multiple sclerosis and will be used for his participation in the promising treatment with stem cell therapy.
 
You’re going home with a beautiful ornament, helping Rob on his way to India for his treatment against MS.

Cost                             : € 50.00 per person
Dates                          : ONLY 5 and February 12, 2017
Workshop times  : 10:00 to 16:00 pm
Lunch                          : bring your own
Included                    : 10 grams of silver clay per person, use of tools, coffee/tea/water

Directly in the first half of January 2017 the Art Clay Silver Benelux network is supplemented with some new enthusiastic fellow instructors. One of these women is Sylvia van der Giessen in Sleeuwijk. Together we had for this program scheduled the first weekend in January. The weather conditions gave reason for a change in the selected dates, so today we complete the final course day.
 
Sylvia is a special woman. While enjoying a cup of coffee and a delicious almond cake, I become acquainted with her. In addition to her many qualities she is a mother of three beautiful children, including their eldest son Niels, a "butterfly child", coming from Epidermolysis bullosa. These children have a wonderful name: butterfly children, but the reason for that name is considerably less nice. The explanation about Sylvia's family life is loving and touches me. These talks seem particularly well to join the contents of the training days. Determined she goes through the various stages to achieve beautiful designs.
 
For lunch - as usual – there are delicious rich sandwiches and fresh orange juice ready to be consumed: One moment time out!
 
Everything is going well, so on the 3rd and last course day we still have enough time to make an 8th project. I leave the choice to her, she opts for a hollow Pandora Style bead. And she works with precision.

Dear Sylvia, how special were these days, I enjoyed!
Good luck with everything that’ll come your way. I happily keep following you.
Goodbye, know that you're more than welcome!