SANDY CAMP VI - A POLYMER CLAY RETREAT
by Carol Blackburn

Following an enjoyable but short visit to San Diego, in August 2004*, when I met several members of the San Diego Polymer Clay Guild, I returned to California to attend their annual retreat held at the beginning of November at Warner Springs Ranch 80 miles north east of San Diego.

The ranch resort is set around hot springs in 25,000 acres of beautiful countryside near Julian, a small gold rush town now more famous for its pies, where the street decorations were being changed over from Halloween to Christmas. The air is beautifully clean in the valley and the night skies are crystal clear giving a view of stars that I had never seen before. Not surprising then that the Mount Palomar observatory is only a few miles away.

The retreat is called 'Sandy Camp' because the first was held at a beach hotel and sand got into everything. This is the 6th and a great opportunity for those of us who usually work on our own to meet up with like-minded clay fanatics. You could attend the full 5 days of demonstrations or less -whatever suited you. Warner Springs Ranch provided a large tent with long tables, chairs and gas heaters. In November it gets cold as soon as the sun goes down so the heaters meant we could work in the evening and through the night if we had the energy. People began to arrive on Wednesday afternoon, booked into their cabins and set up their work stations in the tent. Many greeted friends they had met at previous Sandy Camps but we strangers were also made very welcome. There were more than 80 attending, mostly from California, but Martina Weller came from Cologne and myself from London.

There was no pressure to attend all the demonstrations. They were held one at a time and many were repeated so everyone had a chance to attend with time to practice what had just been demonstrated or continue their own work. I had taken clay and tools but Ellie Hitchcock of the SDPCG kindly lent me a pasta machine to save lugging mine across the world. Besides showing new techniques the demonstrations were highly entertaining. There was much banter, joking and general chit chat. Among the ones I enjoyed most were those that introduced textures using rubber stamps and experimentation with inks, paints and metallic powders as surface effects on polymer clay. (I've listed most of the demonstrations I attended at the end of the article).

If you weren't polymer claying you could play golf, go horse riding, walk the many local trails or just relax and hang out in the hot mineral pool. Everyone provided food for the 'share table' at one end of the tent where you could snack and continue to work. The Guild even set up a shop in one of the cabins; it was always busy. I bought a necklace by Donna Kato, some rubber stamps that Lisa Pavelka had just demonstrated and was delighted to sell a few tassels, brooches, and pens (taught by Jami Miller at Hartpury ).

Click on the images to see a larger picture

Donna Kato & Lisa Pavelka

Warner Spring

Working hard at Warner Springs

The Family Feast was held on Saturday night in the Guild tent when we all received a Goodie Bag of polymer clay related items and enjoyed a Mexican buffet. This was a wonderful spread and was followed by the raffle with many prizes being donated by guild members and organised by the capable Jami Miller. It was very noisy and a lot of fun. Other guests at the resort must have wondered what on earth was going on in the Big Tent!

By Monday morning it was all over. I admit that I didn't do much claying but I did a lot of poly chatting and meeting people and seeing their work. I'll now try to decipher my notes and experiment with some of the new techniques I learnt, especially texturing and surface effects with inks and powders.

I met many interesting people and it was a privilege to spend 5 days surrounded by so much talent. Thanks to everyone for sharing their ideas, to all those in the San Diego Guild and the staff of Warner Springs Ranch who organised and worked hard to make the event a success. Roll on Sandy Camp VII.

This year's Sandy Camp will take place 7-11 September 2005, for more information and more Sandy Camp tales & photos go to http://www.sdpcg.org/

Carol Blackburn December 2004

* see Polynews issue 29

Some of the demonstrations I attended:

Dotty McMillan Lace Brocade
Christi Friesen Frogs & Turtles
Sunni Bergeron How to clean a pasta machine
Judy Summer Making an armature for a model horse
Judith Skinner (of Skinner Blend fame) Snowflakes and Glitters
Jean Sheppard Bouncy Bangles
Bonnie Mraz Jewellery assembly & findings
Kim Kennedy Bottles of Hope
Dawn Schiller Hermits in Shells
Janet Pitcher & Kelly Steindorf (of Two can Clay) Cane making
Donna Kato Brocade using rubber stamps
Lisa Pavelka Transfers and Stamping
Syndee Holt Faux leather
Marie Segal Mica inks and foam stamps