After the fun....

Synergy3 has come and gone, and despite being exhausted, we are exhilarated and energized, with ideas and plans bouncing around our brains like the proverbial sugar plums. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Synergy, the IPCA's biennial conclave of polymer fanatics, it is a wonderful opportunity to hear talks and demonstrations about new ideas, techniques and products. There are keynote sessions, panel discussions, individual talks and many chats in the halls and at the bar over a drink (soft, of course....right!) You can view and buy wonderful new products in the vendor hall, and get that quintessential piece in the gallery hall or at one of the auctions. It is a fantastic time of polymer immersion.

For our part we hired a bus to provide a means for a bus tour of Historic Buford and Creative Journey Studios. About fifty like minded people boarded the bus for polymer nirvana. We had been busy placing additional work from current artists and integrating treasures from many new artists, like Kathleen Dustin,
Sarah Shriver, Laura Tabakman, Bonnie Bishoff, Kathryn Reid, Mary Filapek and Lou Ann Townsend, Hollie Mion, Ronna Weltman, Alison Gallant, Barb Alexander and Lisa Barth, bringing us to around sixty artists.....as if it wasn't overwhelming already.

Our retrospective collection..."Polymer - From the Beginning" grew in advance of the tour with the addition of three of Diane Villano's 'Big Beads' (WOW!), and new pieces from Libby Mills and Ponsawan Sila. The conference garnered wonderful additions from Maggie Maggio, Kathleen Dustin, Heather Campbell,
Melanie West, Seth Savarick, Laura Tabakman, Debbie Jackson, Natalia Garcia de Leaniz, Dani Torres, and right off the wrist and neck of an enthusiastic Nikolina Otrzan. Maybe we'll be buying more new cases!
A lot of the tour discovered Aqua Terra, our favorite neighborhood eatery and we served magical cheesecake truffles from the Alpine Bakery.

We had lots of surprises from our vendors.....Gilder's Paste from David Wareham of Baroque Art Gilders Paste; clay, tools and findings from Iris Weiss and Polyform; Lynda Gilcher of Lynda's Artistic Haven; Karen Woods; Becky Nunn of Nunn Design; Colleen Baxter of Viva Decor; Filigree & More; Polymer Clay Express; jewelry surprises from Lindly Haunani, Barb Alexander, Lisa Barth, Ellen Prophater, Leslie Blackford, Patricia DiBona, Dian Parker, Doreen Kassel, Christi Friesen; and books, magazines or DVDs from Betty Abdu of Abba Dabba Productions, Dan Cormier and Tracy Holmes, Judy Belcher, Helen Breil, Christi Friesen, Bettina Welker, Donna Kato and Craft Art Edu, Cynthia Tinapple of Polymer Clay Daily and Studio Mojo .....and probably several more who will show up on an amended list!

Sorry if you missed the fun. I'm sure there will be lots of pictures on the web for vicarious viewing and maybe you'll be encouraged to join the IPCA and attend the next Synergy in Europe! Stay tuned!

In the meantime, keep your eye on this blog to learn about the upcoming fun at Creative Journey Studios.