With a view to the end of the lockdown in this difficult Corona period, Agnes Koekoek from “Esquell” in Kamperveen has today completed her certified Art Clay Silver Quilling training. 3 days full of Art Clay Silver Paper Type, creating beautiful delicate filigree designs.
 
I've known Agnes for a number of years and now I know what she can do in the field of Metal Clay. During her first training she already knew exactly how she wanted to shape her plans. She invested in the necessary success factors and has thus created a great company. She gives workshops & courses, designs jewelry and offers a varied range in her webshop. Take a look, definitely worth it!

Agnes, I want to thank you for your passionate commitment.
3 beautiful days full of metal clay, Silver Quilling and pleasant conversations.
Your pieces look beautiful.
Good luck with the Higher Level!

I’ve decided to give this up, which means that from 1 June 2021 it will no longer be possible to follow a workshop or training at this location. This choice has certainly not been an easy one and yet, in line with my intended creative retirement, it now seems like the right decision. After all, it remains unclear for the time being when the world can start to move as before.
 
Until January 1, 2023 I will stay as a Teacher within the Art Clay Silver instructor network. Last year, Annemarie Klappe and me planned a visit to Japan to learn a new technique. At that time, this was postponed until further notice. As soon as the opportunity is offered to follow the technique, we do intend to teach it together, albeit at a location to be determined at that time.

Thank you to everyone for the many fun creative hours you have spent with me in my studio over the past 15 years. I look back on it with a warm and satisfied feeling. 
 
Henriëtte

Dear colleagues, friends and customers,
 
Within our instructor network, this message was already announced in a newsletter on October 5, 2020. Just started in 2021 and still completely under the spell of the lockdown by COVID-19, now seems to be the perfect time to also inform the outside world of my intention to step down as Art Clay Silver Teacher.
 
Since March 2006 I’ve been working with a lot of passion as a certified Art Clay Silver instructor within our Benelux network. My teacher at the time was Nancy Roeters, a very skilled Art Clay Master from the very beginning. I learned a lot from her, for which I thank her again.
 
In 2008 I was asked to follow in Nancy's footsteps and to expand my work as an instructor with my role as a teacher. Training new fellow instructors, how much fun is that? Super fun, I can tell you!
 
And now, after almost 15 years, I’ve indicated that I want to stop teaching & teaching workshops & training by 2023 at the latest. Time for my creative retirement. This requires a transfer and reduction of activities. The choice for my “successor” was made by Craftlines and I fully support them.
 
Of course I will be connected to our network for a while and therefore available for workshops and training. Nevertheless, I already say goodbye. Looking back on a wonderful period in my life, in which I learned a lot about Metal Clay, I do feel privileged. I’ve met many sweet and talented colleagues worldwide, not only through the media, but also personally. Great memories and close friendships.
 
I would like to mention my dear friend Renske Dussel separately. I’ve had a special click with her from the very first hour. I look back with a warm feeling on all our trips, Metal Clay dates, food sessions, crying and laughing parties and I don't want to say goodbye to them just yet. Craftlines, more particularly Shirley, I would like to thank for the opportunities that have been offered to me. By using these I’ve been able to build up a decent CV. All other fellow instructors deserve thanks for their trust in me and their beautiful sweet friendship. The staff members of Aida Chemicals for guidance and support during the various additional techniques, which I was able to follow in Japan at the invitation of them.

I will certainly see you again, I try to visit the Metal Clay Days, Masterclasses and other Metal Clay related events, as long as my health permits. Remember what I’ve always tried to impart during training, workshops and mater classes: you are all so incredibly talented! Fake it, till you make it! Go for luck, take every opportunity and see it as a challenge. I like to follow you and enjoy it from the sidelines. Love and thanks,
 
 
Henriëtte

Monika Heyen of "Silberschmuck Workshop" from Hörstel is the last student to visit Studio "Nevada's Dream" in 2020. She closes this rather gloomy Corona year colorfully. The UV-Resin supplement training was scheduled for today.
 
Just like last week, she travels by train and arrives in Harderwijk at 9.30. There her private driver - my husband Michael - is ready to take her to my studio.
 
Monika has already prepared a ring and a pendant at home.
The activities are therefore limited to coloring, curing and polishing. And that will be ready around 13.00! Okay, what else can we do after lunch? Monika would like to make a hollow bead, you know them, Pandora style. Fun! Then we do that right?!
 
At 16.30 Michael takes her back to the train station and we say goodbye. Next year I will travel to Hörstel to spend a day working with bronze clay together. I'm looking forward to it.
 
Monika, thank you for your commitment and positivity.
​On to a great, creative and above all healthy 2021!

For the first time in years, the prices of Art Clay Silver will be increased. A further reduction was implemented in 2015, but given the increase in silver and gold prices over the period of the past 5 years, unfortunately we cannot lag behind.
 
As of January 1, 2021, Studio “Nevada's Dream” in Harderwijk will implement a structural price increase of
​€ 5,00 per person, for each workshop offered that uses silver clay. The prices of the courses will also be adjusted.
 
Can a workshop Art Clay Silver be called “expensive”? No! After all, you make a beautiful silver piece of jewelry, which in value follows the price of silver. So come and enjoy a day during a workshop, or register for a certified training and become our fellow instructor.
 
I would love to meet you in my studio!
 
 
Henriëtte

Today Monika Heyen of “Silberschmuck Workshop” from Hörstel (Germany) is once again in Harderwijk. She comes for the Kumihimo supplement training. Our neighbor has deployed her plans to collect as many metal clay techniques as possible. Next week she will come for another day, then UV-Resin is next. That day we will color, today we will braid with silver wire.
 
Monika comes by train and Michael picks her up from the station. They both enter the studio at 09.30. First coffee, after all it was quite a trip and because of the Corona measures it is not allowed to eat or drink something on the train.
 
We start the training at 10.00 and I explain the planning and working method. First practice with colored woolen threads. Once the rhythm is in, we switch to shiny silver and Monika braids a beautiful bracelet. A sterling hook and eye closure is attached to the ends. This closure is then elegantly finished with silver clay.
 
Ready to fire, the jewelry is placed on a fiber blanket in the oven and heated at 800 °C for about 30 minutes. After the firing process, the bracelet is polished and tumbled. During these last steps we have a nice chat about our individual plans. After all, I am phasing out, Monika is becoming more and more visible within the world of metal clay. At 17.15 bring her back to the station.

We will meet again next week.
That is, if the Corona measures are not tightened.
Monika, thank you for another nice day.
​Have a great week and see you Saturday the 19th!  

Last year I received the two sisters Miranda and Vincenza for the certified instructor training Level 1. On Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November they visited Harderwijk again and today they complete the last training day of the 2nd Level.
 
The ladies have not been able to plan a lot of time for working with metal clay in the past year. Last summer, July 1 to be precise, they opened the “Theetuin Driene” in Hengelo (O). That's called having guts and going for it! Absolutely in this Corona time, so full of uncertainty due to imposed measures. Their driven perseverance results in many assignments and reservations. From High Tea to Gift boxes, filled with tasty teas, sweets and savory treats, of course everything To Go. What about delicious fresh oliebollen to usher in the new 2021 on New Year's Eve? Or a workshop Making Cakes and Christmas wreaths with natural materials, or even crochet?
 
A multitude of creativity, in which Art Clay Silver has also conquered a place in the range list. The range of silver clay workshops will soon be even more exclusive, the ladies have learned new additional techniques in recent days. Just take a look at the results of these days.

Dear girls, it was fun again.
Good luck with your beautiful, spacious Theetuin, where people can enjoy, discharge by being creative and designing under expert guidance.
​I will definitely visit you!

Today we complete the training. All required designs are ready, have a look.
You can tell from Monika that these days have had an impact. It was a lot of hours every day and that in addition to an enormous travel time. Because everyone knows: it is autumn, the leaves are falling and that is causing problems for our train system in the Netherlands. A lot of delay, also this weekend.
 
Monika, thank you for your enthusiastic, passionate input. Especially nice that you took so much effort to be able to follow this training. Have a rest, I'll see you in December!

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.