My batch of Bash beads!
EVERYBODY NEEDS to run away from their everyday life. At least once a year you need some play time. Even if just for 3-4 days. Vacations don’t count – they’re different. Though it has been well over a month since my last “run away” the creative glow still lingers within me today. (Luckily, I have another planned for June.)
There is nothing like getting away with 50+ creative people who share techniques, new ideas and inspiration and PLAY with CLAY. Everyone is a master at something and the air is just alive with creative energy. It doesn’t matter what you don’t know, someone else will share their knowledge with you. There is all day – and night – to make whatever you choose to explore. It doesn’t matter who you sit next to or across from, everyone encourages you. It may just be the dynamics of this group, but I have to say it is the best retreat in the USA!
My first creation – a hinged Box!
Of all the conferences and retreats I’ve been to, The Buckeye Bash is the best! This year was the 10th anniversary and 5 of their past guest artists – such notables as Marie Segal, Leslie Blackford, Jean Compton, Marla Frankenberg, and Sue Kelsy – came to share their techniques and ideas with us. The two polymer clay guilds who sponsor this event, The Columbus Polymer Clay Guild and the Dayton Polymer Clay Guild, both have members who are masters in their own right. So there is a continual exchange of potentiality bouncing along from table to table. I’m happy that I was in the right place for some of it to slam into me!
This was my second year in attendance and I have to say that the first year I was such a newbie! I gawked at all the activity and sat frozen not knowing what to tackle. This year however, I packed in my carts (yes multiple carts with 5+drawers) and boxes of clay and tools with the rest of them and really made good use of my time. I had to polish a few pieces when I returned home, but I was able to create some pretty neat things using what I learned from the demos. (See my photos!)
Two different techniques for bracelets. I want more!
Yes, more than a month has passed, but the energy created still resonates. Those of us that are part of the two groups have bonded in ways that don’t happen with less casual affairs. You can bet I will be first to register next year.
And in the meantime, I can’t wait to get at the clay again and continue my exploration of some of these techniques and create my own riffs on them. Just maybe I’ll win the fabulous door prize drawing again!
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