Shuswap Women in Business Conference and Trade Show

We don't sell in too many shows but decided that taking part in the Shuswap Women in Business Trade Show could be fun and a great way to make new contacts.  I shared a space with my friend Joanne so we could spend some time together and cover for each other while attending a few of the workshops.

It was a good day and the interchangeable snap jewelry was a big hit as usual.  The space we had was very limited as compared to other shows so set-up was a little more challenging.  I find the packing, set-up and take down is always the most exhausting part of doing shows.  Each time I try to learn how I can make things a little easier for set-up the next time.

Joanne purchased my Scarf Accents tutorial some time ago and has been making her own scarf jewelry.  She had a selection of colors and styles for sale there.

Scarf Jewelry by Joanne and Scarf Slides by 2 Good Claymates

She also had some of her barbecue serving forks that she covers the handles in clay.

Now we have less that 2 weeks to prepare for our last show of the year.  It is the large Craft-A-Fair at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops.

We will be in the same location as the other years -- on the concourse (turn left at the main entrance and we are the 3rd space on the left in the corner).  If you are in the area, drop by and say hi.

Shuswap Women in Business Trade Show

If you are in the Shuswap or Okanagan area, you might be interested in the Women in Business Conference and Trade Show this coming Saturday in Salmon Arm.

This should be a great day with some excellent workshops focused on women and business.  Each session is only $10 and there is a special of 4 for $35.  You can book your workshops in advance to be sure there is a space.

I will be set up at the Trade Show there with a wide assortment of our Interchangeable Jewelry "in a Snap" along with other specialty items.

Leaves Business Card Holder

Art Deco Business Card Holder and Flip Pen-Stylus

Flip Pens - Stylus Combo

Lake Country Art Walk 2016 Review

It was another great Lake Country Art Walk this year and was nice to catch up with returning customers as well as meeting new ones. 

There were plenty of new items available, some of which we have not even shown here on our blog or in our online store yet, but I will be revealing them to you over the next while.

This is a sneak peak at one of our new scarf accent designs - a scarf slide or buckle that can be worn in several ways.  We found these gorgeous linen scarves in a wide range of colors that worked beautifully with them.  The buckle shown here was created using a texture sheet by Helen Breil which is one of my favorites, and of course has a genuine Swarovski crystal embedded.

We were fortunate to have live music performed by various artists across from us which was really nice.

We try to meet our fellow artist neighbors around us but were so busy that we only managed to connect with a few.  This is Angela Hansen who does encaustic art as well as work with acrylics and polymer clay.

This is a 3D piece she created combining encaustic wax with polymer clay which I think was amazing.

Karen Palmer was also across from us who works with regular pottery with such unique designs.  I especially liked how she combined natural wood as handles for some of the pieces.

There were so many other great artists at this top notch show and is a real thrill to be a part of it.  We are already looking forward to next year!

Final Review and Clay Recipe Links for the Pantone Fall 2016 Fashion Colors

Here is the final review of the Pantone fall 2016 fashion colors.   Click on the photos below to see the clay recipes using Kato polyclay.  If you would like to see more clay recipes for the past Pantone fashion colors, go to the color recipe page at the top of our blog.

Would you like some recipe cards with these Pantone colors ready to print out on 4" x 6" index cards?  They have the colored dots on them but are ready to add your own baked clay chip samples.

If so, click here to download and print out by following the instructions included).

Pantone Fall 2016 Fashion Colors Lush Meadow, Spicy Mustard and Bodacious

The last three colors in the Pantone fall 2016 Fashion Report are fun and vibrant.  Lush Meadow is a rich almost emerald-like shade of green.  Pantone describes Spicy Mustard as a spicier, zestier yellow than other seasons.  Bodacious is a bright rich purple with a hint of pink.  When I first mixed up this color, I found it to be quite similar to Radiant Orchid but with more Violet and less Magenta.

I think combinations of these colors would all work together but you could combine any of these with Aurora red as well.

So here are the last three clay recipes using Kato clay for the fall fashion colors:

Lush Meadow

10 parts Kato Green

1 part Kato Blue

1 part White Mix # 1-2 *

Spicy Mustard

9 parts Kato Yellow

1 part Kato Gold

1 part White Mix # 1-2 *

Bodacious

4 parts Kato Magenta

3 parts Kato Violet

3 parts White Mix # 1-2 *

* Note:  These clay color recipes are created using Kato Polyclay.  Any of the base color "mixes" used are from my Clay Color System.

Pantone Fall 2016 Fashion Colors Dusty Cedar and Potter's Clay

The Pantone Fall 2016 fashion colors Dusty Cedar and Potter's Clay are quite similar to each other.  They both have a copper undertone, however, Dusty Cedar is more pink similar to a dusty rose.

Dusty Cedar

3 parts # 4-5 Crimson *

2 parts Kato Yellow

2 parts White Mix # 1-2 *

Potter's Clay

2 parts # 4-5 Crimson *

2 parts Kato Copper

1 part White Mix # 1-2 *

* Note:  These clay color recipes are created using Kato Polyclay.  Any of the base color "mixes" used are from my Clay Color System.

Pantone Fall 2016 Fashion Colors Aurora Red and Warm Taupe

I am not a fan of the color Taupe as it does not look good on me at all,  I do like a rich red, however, and one of my favorite shades is the Pantone Aurora.  If it seems familiar to you that is because it was one of the Pantone fall colors in 2014.  It is the color I like to use to mix up my Faux Red Stone using the same technique as in my "Fabulous Faux Turquoise" tutorial.

Faux Red Turquoise Stone "Snaps"

Necklace with Faux Red Turquoise Stone "Snaps"

So here are the clay recipes using Kato clay:

Aurora Red

8 parts Kato Red

1 part Kato Gold

Warm Taupe

4 parts Kato Brown

1 part Kato Silver

3 parts White Mix # 1-2 *

* Note:  These clay color recipes are created using Kato Polyclay.  Any of the base color "mixes" used are from my Clay Color System.

Pantone Fall 2016 Fashion Colors

The Pantone Color Institute says that the new fall fashion colors were inspired from "the desire for tranquility, strength and optimism".  While some of this fall seasons shades are deep earth tones, some of the colors are quite vibrant.  Several of these colors we have seen before where others are new.

I apologize for getting the new color recipes out to you a little late  but they are now finally ready!  I haven't had time to play with all of the colors yet but hope to more this week.

After sharing all the color recipes with you, I will provide the recipe cards to download again so you can add them to your Clay Color System Library Collection.

Recovery Time and New Snap Accessories

Just last week I had surgery on my knee to repair a meniscus tear.  I had been suffering with swelling and pain for over a year so was nice to see things moving forward and I will be hopefully walking normally again soon.

Even though it wasn't serious, something like this can slow you down.  I was still been trying to stay active with the clay as much as it would allow but had to focus more on activities that involved sitting rather than standing.

We have found shows are getting harder to do with all the work in preparing, packing, setting up plus the long hours.  We managed to get through the Salmon Arm quilt show and actually found it enjoyable.  The ladies who took part in the Quilted Clay Make & Take had a lot of fun and it was a great way to share with them what polymer clay was all about and hopefully spark some interest in future workshops.

Each lady went away with a quilted clay piece in the pattern and colors of their choice that was mounted on a snap.  We had available a selection of snap base items for them to wear their quilted design and could add other snaps to interchange such as a necklace or our popular magnetic brooches.

Some of the items are new ideas we came up with special for the show and now have them available in our online store.  One is a metal shawl or hair stick with a snap base.

Here is a kilt style brooch pin for a sweater or shawlette.   The snap base has one of our clip clasps so it can be detached and worn on a chain as a necklace.

Salmon Arm Quilt Show is Over

We are recovering from a busy 2 days at the "Everybody Loves Quilts" show this past weekend in Salmon Arm.  This is one of the best well run and managed shows we have ever taken part in so was a real joy to be there.  We had our complete line of "Snap Decisions" collection along with some exciting new items that we will share with you later.

The main attraction in our booth this year was our "Quilted in Clay" Make & Take classes.  We held 6 classes over the 2 days and everyone that took it left with their own clay piece created in the pattern and colors of their choice.

Cleaning up and preparing for the next class

Quilted in clay pieces made by students in class

Quilted in clay pieces made by students in class

Everyone had a good time but this would not have been possible to pull off without Joanne Caldwell.  She is one of our star pupils from when we taught our beginner polymer clay workshop 2 years ago and afterwards helped us form our first polymer clay guild for our area.

Joanne makes beautiful handcrafted jewelry as well as some unique polymer clay items which you can see some of her work on her facebook page here.