Just like every year, an Art Clay Silver Instructor's Day is scheduled for 2017.

​Today is the day, which is why I got up at 06.30 am.
Together with Renske Dussel from Renske-Art, I drive to Oisterwijk.

​We agreed in De Bilt and from her studio we leave at 8:00 am towards the Krekul same location as last year.

5 instructors provide five different workshops for colleagues:
 
Renske Dussel                                                    -           Dahlia Earrings
Inge Verbruggen                                               -           Making bezels
Edith van Leeuwen                                          -           Ring with great effect
Annemarie Klappe                                           -           Filigree pendant
And myself, Henriëtte van Battum         -           Ring with Metal Inlay
 
I myself teach in the mornings. After lunch I participate in the workshop of Inge, making bezels. At 10:00 am everyone is present and Shirley de Jong holds her welcome speech. With Elles Drost they represented Craft Lines B.V., the distributor of Art Clay Silver for the Benelux and they also have organized this day. This includes planning, newsletters, reservation of the location, catering and the closing with a coffee sensation. And of course not to forget the goodie bags!

Immediately after the welcome, everyone starts with the morning workshop. I have a cozy full class, 15 ladies take part and design beautiful jewelry. Pendants, earrings and rings are colored with various types of metal mesh - red brass, copper, phosphate bronze and stainless steel after finishing, baking and polishing. These details are hammered in the silver and give a playful effect to the jewelry. The results can be found in the attached photo gallery.
 
We are ready before lunchtime. Delicious sandwiches, milk, buttermilk, fresh orange juice and a regional specialty "Brabantse Broeder". Delicious!
 
After lunch, I attend the workshop of Inge. I decide to design a pair of beautiful earrings and give them a more luxurious look with 8mm. marques facet cut zirconia amethyst. Also in this workshop the different colleagues made beautiful jewelry.
 
To end the day we are treated outside in the warm afternoon sun to have a coffee and / or tea sensation of Tante Sus. All beverages are freshly prepared at the mobile coffee bar. Something delicious as well? A choice of small sweets is presented invitingly.
 
At 18:00 we say goodbye and drive Renske and I again to De Bilt. The last stretch home I travel alone, like this morning. What a great day! Beautiful weather, nice colleagues, beautiful jewelry, good food, new techniques.

Thanks to all of you for the input, in any way whatsoever.
​
I'm looking forward to next year and the date has already been announced: September 23, 2018 the next instructors day is scheduled.

In life and health, I'm there. You too?

A warm sunny day is being cheerfully colored today with Reineke Muller's arrival.

More than 1,5 years ago, we already had a wonderful day filled with Metal Clay.
 
From Russia she again has returned to the Netherlands for a short period and she’s asked for the opportunity to plan a creative day at Studio "Nevada's Dream". 

At 9.35 am I’m at the station in Harderwijk to get her off the train. Our station has been completely renovated, which means she might think she’s got off at the wrong station. Nice to see Reineke again!
 
We drive to the studio and chat first while enjoying a cup of coffee. What are we going to do today? A lot! Copper clay, silver clay and polymer clay, fun, fun, fun. Choosing seems difficult, so we take all the ideas out of this roulette round.
 
Together we work with Metal Clay and each creating our own designs. Meanwhile, the kiln burns. Reineke made some jewellery at home, in which she processed the New Mokume-Gane technique. Today I fire the pieces for her.
 
At noon, Michael brings lunch. A baguette with meatballs and mustard. How delicious is that! Hurray for Holland, in Russia they do not know this. And chocomel, such a party, delicious!
 
At 5.30 pm I bring her back to the station. With a nice number of new creations, she returns to Amersfoort.

Dear Reineke, thank you for coming, the nice day, the delicious Russian chocolate.
I really enjoyed it. ​Possibly You Can Make It In 2018 ?!

During these days we talked a lot about her plans. Together with her friend and future life partner Frank, she forms an artistic duo. For now only in their spare time. Their fixed incomes derived from activities as a teacher and lawyer. Margriet is very creative and wants to transform her ideas into beautiful jewellery. And for someone who has never worked with metal clay, she certainly appears to have affinity with the product.
 
In August 2017 she again comes to Harderwijk to participate in the follow-up Level 2. Those days our colleague Sylvia van der Giessen will also be present. Cozy prospect!

Dear Margriet, thanks for these nice days. I look forward to the sequel.
Lots of fun exercising with Art Clay Silver and success in setting up your own jewellery line.
​Happy summer, see you in August!