Hi Miranda, there you are again! It has been a year since Miranda van den Broek from Horssen followed the Art Clay Silver Instructor course. She had already wanted to register for the next level - level 2. Personal circumstances demanded her attention, but now she is ready for it.
 
Annemarie is also there these 3 training days and sees this as an “internship”, in anticipation of her new work as a teacher within our network. Miranda and I have a different view of this and are just happy that she is there. Over the years, Annemarie has become sufficiently familiar with metal clay, which has gained her name recognition and not only within the Benelux!
 
And now we enjoy 3 full training days together. Miranda has prepared well. She has already worked out each design with care at home, which poses the question whether it is actually all feasible. I explain that it will work technically, but I cannot promise in advance whether it will be top designs. We simply have to contend with a time limit. Miranda understands this and adjusts her wishes slightly during the days. She would have worked little with metal clay in the past year? It is not noticeable, she effortlessly runs through all projects.

We have lunch together in between. Annemarie has brought her own lunch, for Miranda I have tasty sandwiches and I enjoy my veggie smoothie. All three of us like fresh orange juice, healthy and always tasty, right?!
 
And today we close this training. Unfortunately, it is over. Miranda is going home with 4 beautiful pieces of jewelry and Annemarie has successfully completed her internship, hahaha. And I? I tidy up my studio and prepare everything for the next training.
 
Once at home I write this blog, with a smile I think back to our pleasant hours. Dear girls, thanks!​

Nice, yet another fellow instructor within our Benelux network. May I introduce you? Mirna Breljakovic from Rotterdam. She came to the Netherlands 25 years ago from former Yugoslavia and is a visual sociotherapist by profession. Creative therapy is her specialty. And in addition to that, today also metal clay.
 
Her husband brought her on Saturday morning, this weekend she spent the night in the center of Harderwijk. Mario takes care of the kids and Mirna has a few days off for her new interest. Great right, who wouldn't want this?!
 
We are alone these days. Plenty of space in the studio, an important requirement in these special “Corona” times. And in addition to space, also plenty of undivided attention for the techniques. After the introduction, we start with the 7 designs of this first level. Mirna has already followed a workshop, so she knows the material and this is noticeable. She is clearly ready for a new interpretation of her spare time, metalclay turns out to be a lottery ticket for her.
 
Our conversations confirm her recently discovered passion. How special then again, we have found many similarities too. Not only metalclay, other subjects sound familiar as well. That made these days so special again. And today we close the training days. I proudly show you the jewelry that Mirna has made, take a look.