April 4, 2002:

SHELLEY: Let me welcome Sue - thank you for coming
CARLA: Shelley, I'm at work and may have to run. May I ask Sue a quick question?
SHELLEY: Of course, go ahead
SUE: Fire away
CARLA: Thanks...Sue, I just ordered your Home Decor and your jewellry book...when is the Mosaic book coming out?
SUE: I have been sitting in the sun this afternoon correcting the text, so it is nearly done. North Light hopes to have it out late this year or early next.
CARLA: Oh, goody...I am very excited as it's a technique I really want to explore.
SHELLEY: What sort of thing will be in this new book?
SUE: I used to be an archaeologist, so I studied a lot of ancient mosaics. I have been making PC mosaics for about 20 years and the book will have lots of different kinds of mosaic - from Roman to modern!
SHELLEY: Ohhhh, that sounds good. Did you manage to do lots of travelling for research?
SUE: Ooh yes - Florence and Ravenna were some of the best spots, but I also went to Jordan, Lebanon, Jerusalem, and lots of other places.
SHELLEY: Have you tackled micro mosaics at all in your book? I've always been fascinated by the very tiny mosaic designs.
SUE: Lots of micromosaic!
TANTAN: Sue, with your mosaic techinque, does it help that the "tile" clay is leached a little dryer than the "grout" clay?
SUE: And yes, leaching does help alot.
TANTAN: Good....because I'm particularly clumsy!
ALAN: Speaking of clay - will The Claypit be stocking Katoclay?
SUE: If we can - but they won't export yet - I've asked!
ALAN: Oh well - I asked her to remember Europe. She said she would.
RIA: Ohh, I wanna play with that clay too! I keep on asking Donna and Vernon, too!
SHELLEY: Me, too.
NITEFALCON: I believe in the Kato chat she said they were working on it?
ALAN: Yep.
SHELLEY: Have you had a chance to actually have any hands on experience with the Kato clay yet?
SUE: I haven't tried it yet...
SHELLEY: I have been debating about ordering one of the sample packs from them, but the cost of the postage is about as much as the goods.
ALAN: Always the way, I'm afraid - and then VAT if they catchyou!
SHELLEY: Does anyone else have a question for Sue?
DOLLSCROCHET: Yes, please.What is the best way to do a daffodil centre, please? I have read you put it on the end of a pin and bend it.
SUE: Hmmm... daffodil centre. I did daffodils in an article for the British mag, Dolls House and Miniature Scene... It is a bit hard to
DOLLSCROCHET: Okay.
COUSINS7: Sorry I was late arriving--when will your next book be published?
SUE: Next book out in the winter...
ALAN: And you told me you're also writing about candles - busy, busy!
SUE: By the way, I do have another book coming out in September - on candles!
SHELLEY: Oh my goodness, you do keep busy!
CARLA: Sue...the Home Decor book looks quite cool...I'm quite excited to receive mine from Amazon.
LJCSWARTZ: A quick question.. Could you elaborate on your transition from archaeologist to clay to published author?
SUE: I then worked as an archeaological illustrator for several years before I found polyclay... This meant that I had lots of publishing experience already, so after 6 years of production jewellery in polyclay, I was all set up to start writing about it... describe without the illustrations!
SHELLEY: Sue, you say your new book will probably be out at the end of the year. Will that be just in the UK, or does that mean in the USA as well?
SUE: My mosaic book is to be published by North Light of the USA - so it will be published in the States before the UK. The Home Decor book was quite a bit later coming out here in UK.
SHELLEY: Do you know how much later your book will be out over here in the UK then, or will we be able to order advanced copies from you directly?
SUE: It is usually about 2 months later coming out in the UK - and yes, I can usually order it for people ahead of time.
SHELLEY: Good - I'll make sure I get my order in early from you, then perhaps I can get a signed copy - pretty please!
SUE: Now why do you want a signed copy? It ruins a good book! ;)
NITEFALCON: What do you have to have ready in order to pitch a book to a publisher?
SUE: To answer Nitefalcon - you have to have an outline and, preferrably, a lot of photographs of your work and samples of your writing. It is a good idea to have a lot of magazine articles published first before a publisher will consider you for a book.
SHELLEY: LOL. Do you think it was much easier to get published because of your contacts you already had then?
NITEFALCON: I was wondering if you have more opportunities to publish in magazines in UK than in US? Until recently, with the new Expressions, I feel US opportunities were limited - mostly jewelry oriented.
SUE: I have published an awful lot of mag articles in the UK - rather less in the States, although there is plenty of opportunity there because once you have books published, magazines keep asking you.
LCJSWARTZ: Back to the candles..... are thes wax or will they be clay related?
SUE: Candles - wax entirely. I have done a lot of candlemaking and my first book on candles was The Encyclopedia of Candlemaking under my pen name - Sandie Lea.
LCJSWARTZ: Other than writing books, what do you enjoy doing?
SUE: Other than writing books, I like sailing around the British coast, playing in a local orchestra (violin) and I am also writing a musical (2 published already) - so lots of stuff...
LCJSWARTZ: You are very talented, to say the least.
JOBO99: Maybe easier to say what you don't like. LOL
ELISE: Wow, Sue! Is there anything you don't do? LOL
SUE: Well... I am a lousy gardner...
LCJSWARTZ: Weather may be a hinderance to gardening.
ANITA: I'm sorry I got here late... But how long have you been working with polymer clay?
SUE: About 20 years. I first found some Fimo in 1981 in our local toyshop and started playing. By 1993 I was running a full time business making pc jewellery...
ANITA: And then you discovered miniatures?
SUE: Yes, that was after my first book was published on jewellery - I was looking for new directions - hence my second book on minis.
NITEFALCON: Do you still use primarily Fimo?
SUE: I now use all clays - I am determined to stay impartial and not work for any manufacturer so I can always recommend the best clay for a particular project. Premo is now one of my favourite clayse, but I use them all.
SHELLEY: Do you still make and sell your polymer clay creations or is it mostly books and other things now?
SUE: I avoid selling my work now except for special commissions. I feel that if you make to sell, you are likely to hold back when teaching and writing how to do it. So everything I design is aimed for teaching or my books.
SHELLEY: For the mosaics, do you find one clay is better than another?
NITEFALCON: Back to the magazine question for a minute. What mags do you publish in in UK?
SUE: I write a regular column for Dolls House and Miniature Scene. I have also written for Crafts Beautiful, Inspirations, Dolls House World... Popular Crafts -- ummm can't remember others right now!
NITEFALCON: Do the British news stands regularly have any of the American ones or do people get those only by subscription?
SHELLEY: Some shops, but only the larger ones will sell American magazines - they are sometimes very difficult to get hold of over here.
NITEFALCON: Same with British magazines here.
SHELLEY: I like the American ones better though!
SUE: Perhaps we should indulge in a mag swap - I did that once with people from other countries - we sent each other mags.
NITEFALCON: My favorite photography magazine is British, although it was harder to get in Germany than here.
SHELLEY: Now that is a good idea!
SUE: I swapped mags with Porro in Finland - it was really interesting.
NITEFALCON: The German magazines stank! Too bad I am not there anymore. I could have sent you some from Germany.
SHELLEY: I swapped some goodies with her, but didn't think of magazines.
SUE: I recently went to Fimo factory in Germany - it was really fascinating, but they agreed that there is not a lot published in Germany about Fimo - how weird!
SHELLEY: That really is weird!
NITEFALCON: Germany has a different attitude about crafts than US or UK. Fimo is much more (more so than US or UK, generally public reaction) considered kids' stuff. Crafts are kind of poopooed and even Fimo was hard to find.
SHELLEY: Are you the only supplier in the UK that you know of for Premo!?
SUE: Premo is being sold through some dolls house shops in the UK - which is a strange thing as it is my clay of choice for jewellery but not for miniatures...
ALAN: It's just easier to use, I suppose.
NITEFALCON: Is there a reason why you don't like it for minis as much?
SUE: The colours are not as natural - they are really brilliant and wonderful for mixing, but for minis you need subtle leaf green and good browns; which Premo! lacks to a certain extent.
SHELLEY: Do you mix your own colour palette or mainly use the colours straight from the packs?
NITEFALCON: Is it harder to achieve the natural colors through mixing?
SUE: You can achieve subtle colours with Premo!, but a lot of people find it is easier to have a nice basic leaf green as a starting point, for example.
NITEFALCON: Makes sense.
SUE: Anyone have any questions about the Polymer Clay Pit? Did you know that it all started on my kitchen table...
CORGI: Really???
SUE: We are now a staff of 3 people.
LJCSWARTZ: More info? Sounds interesting!
SUE: 25 to 30 parcels a week and all over the world...We have a special relationship with Polyform, so we order all their clays direct from them now, which means fewer delays and we can keep the prices down, too.
ALAN: Ok - how's the TLS situation?
SUE: TLS - we have good stocks and boy, is it selling fast!
ALAN: I'm not surprised.
SHELLEY: And I bet, Alan, you're one of her biggest customers!!
ALAN: My next Polynew article may be using it - just a warning!
SUE: Goody!
SHELLEY: Ah!
NITEFALCON: Is Polynews the UK Guild newsletter?
SUE: Yes. Is anyone coming to the BPCG Polyday in London on April 20th?
SHELLEY: Me!
ALAN: Sorry.
SHELLEY: I thought it was 21st???
SUE: I have go a wonderful collection of slides to show... ooops. sorry. 21st April!!
SHELLEY: Phew! You gave me a fright.
NITEFALCON: Nope, sorry. London is a bit far from here. :) I am in Dallas, TX now. :)
SUE: The slides are from many of the great names in the States and you should see their latest work! Pier Voulkos... Sarah Shriver, Lindly Haunani, Kathy Dewey, Jody Bishe...
NITEFALCON: Sounds great *sniff* ;)
ALAN: Will you be able to put them on the website?
SUE: I don't think I can - they are all copyright of the artists.
ALAN: Yes - I understand
SHELLEY: I'll just have to describe them to you later!
ALAN: Thanks.
SHELLEY: Any chance of getting any of them over for teaching at next years Polydays?
SUE: I would love to get some over for next year - we were certainly talking about doing just that at the last committee meeting.
SHELLEY: Sarah Shriver, Sarah Shriver, Sarah Shriver!!!
SUE: You should see her latest canes - they are divine!
NITEFALCON: I sense a fan here. :)
ALAN: Who's biassed then?
SHELLEY: Who? Me?
SUE: She is also such a lovely person.
LJCSWARTZ: Back to current magazine articles ...... what US magazines might have your work?
SUE: US mags - Dollhouse Miniatures, Bead and Button, Jewellery Crafts - they all want pc stuff.
NITEFALCON: The online polyclayzine is now paying for articles, too.
LJCSWARTZ: Thanks
SUE: BTW, I am off to teach in Taiwan again in November - anyone here from there?
NITEFALCON: No...how did you end up teaching in Taiwan?
SUE: I was invited to Taiwan in 2000 - after my Techniques Book was published. It was a great trip and they were so kind to me. Only 2 students out of 17 spoke English, so it was all done through an interpreter. I may go on to New Zealand after Taiwan... So far this year I have been to Cincinatti (photo shoot for North Light), Germany (Fimo), France (skiing). I may go to Florence to teach again in the summer...
NITEFALCON: Wow, that sounds exciting. I have yet to visit the far east. On my list of things to do though.
LJCSWARTZ: Skiing!! A ski instructor here!
SUE: You know, I had not skiied since I was 18 and I managed a black run on the 3rd day. Perhaps I am must mad...
LCJSWARTZ: It's just tooo much fun.
NITEFALCON: Black run, ARGHHH!!!! And great exercise........ after writing.
SUE: I seem to spend a lot of time in planes these days. I have another pc book lining up, too, for a British publisher, but that is still uner wraps... ;*)
SHELLEY: I spoke to Petra earlier on today and she said to say "hello" to you. She said she'd probably be tucked up in bed at the moment.
SUE: I must email Petra soon!
SHELLEY: How long will it be before it can be unwrapped a little bit?
SUE: When we get the go-ahead!
NITEFALCON: I am curious about your trip to Fimo. Does Eberhardt have one big manufacturing facility (they make so much more than Fimo) or are all the different pieces of EF separate?
SUE: One big factory. They use the same machines to mix paint, Fimo, papier mache, etc - weird!
SHELLEY: Wow!
FIMOMEELMO: Efficient Germans.
SUE: They do say that they clean them out between batches!
NITEFALCON: Wow! I would have liked to visit there. Was on the other side of Germany from me, though.
SUE: They make all their pencils (Staedtler) in the same place, but they are different machines!
LJCSWARTZ: Can any tourist visit the factory?
SUE: I think they show a lot of school parties round.
LJCSWARTZ: I hope to go soon.
NITEFALCON: How often do they run Fimo then? Only so many month of the year?
SUE: They make Fimo all the time - they sell such a lot.
SHELLEY: Question about the Clay Pit. Have you got any goodies in the pipeline that you will be selling soon?
SUE: Claypit - I am just about to order Lazertran silk which I have tested for this book and found great. And we will be stocking the new Sculpey moulds - Celtic, etc.
SHELLEY: Will you be having a new catalogue then, or will I be able to find the new products on your website?
SUE: We will use the website to show the new products - and an insert for new catalogues and for those ordering. We have a new catalogue in October so things have to wait for that. Has anyone else tried lazertran?
ALAN: Not yet.
NITEFALCON: Not yet.
FIMOMEELMO: Does anyone know what the difference is between Classic and Soft Fimo other than one is softer... what makes the Soft soft?
SUE: More plasticiser, I suspect.
SHELLEY: Will you have any of the new goodies on show at the AGM?
SUE: I will bring the Lazertran and new moulds. Marie Segal designed the Celtic and decorative ones.
SHELLEY: I'd better bring some money if you have some for sale, then!
SUE: I hope to come by car this time so I should be able to bring a range of goodies withing reason.
ALAN: I'll send you my credit card, Shelley.
SHELLEY: LOL
NITEFALCON: If you go by car, within reason generally means packed to the ceiling and you are lucky the doors still shut.
SUE: The problem is - I will have to walk the last half mile or so to the V&A museum, so I cannot carry that much!
NITEFALCON: I just recently got the book, Images in Polymer Clay. I have always used t-shirt transfers and even that was a bit of monkeying.
SUE: I was getting frustrated by the hit and miss nature of photocopy transfer and that is why I am so pleased with Lazertran, which seems foolproof.
ALAN: I'm getting good results with Tshirt papers, but I would like to try Lazertran.
SUE: Can you use T shirt paper with a lazer printer?
SHELLEY: I'd heard that the Hewlett-Packard tshirt transfer paper was supposed to be good, but haven't tried it yet.
NITEFALCON: I don't believe so...
ALAN: It's the best I've use. Not cheap, though.
SUE: The fun thing about the Lazertran is that you transfer it to soft clay. So you can then pull the clay about to distort the image before baking.
NITEFALCON: I looked through a bunch of brands at the store and they are all for ink jet. I believe it's because of the heat from laser, I think. The Epson works well, the Avery does not, I believe.
SHELLEY: I want to try some tattoo papers - cheapest I've seen them is in WH Smits, but still very expensive stuff.
ALAN: Try Maplin.
SHELLEY: That's an idea.
SUE: The trouble is, all these papers are rather pricey...
ALAN: 7 pounds for 2 sheets.
SUE: Wow!!
NITEFALCON: For T-shirt transfer?
ALAN: Tattoo
SHELLEY: Smiths was 8 pounds, I think, for 3 sheets of tattoo paper.
NITEFALCON: eeek
LJCSWARTZ. I tried the tshirt paper and the rubbery layer stayed with the picture........ should it come off or stay?
ALAN: Off.
LJCSWARTZ: Thanks. Mine too the picture, too.
STARGAZER: I just picked up some tattoo paper - 5 sheets for $10 in the US.
LJCSWARTZ: So tattoo paper is blank? and transfers the color, I bet........
STARGAZER: Yup.
LJCSWARTZ: Where do I find it?
STARGAZER: In the US, Staples and KMart carry the Invent It brand of tattoo paper...
LJCSWARTZ: Thanks. Maryland resident here.
SUE: Shouldn't you be asleep?
LJCSWARTZ: It's afternoon here.
SUE: Ah no - just remembered, it's morning in the States!
STARGAZER: heehee. I'm still working on my first cup of coffee... :) (California here)
ALAN: The best general source here in the UK is Viking online.
ROYCE3: I'm curious about the numbers of people involved with polyclay in the UK. Are there a lot of guilds?
SUE: There is only really the one main Guild - the British Polymer Clay Guild. But we do have local branches that meet from time to time.
ROYCE3: Would you say that the guild has made a significant contribution to claying in the UK? And do you have some online only members of the guild?
SUE: I think so - our first Polydays in 1998 (I think?) drew lots of people together and it was just fantastic. there are no online only members - a lot of members are now online, though.
ALAN: I suppose I'm an online only member of the BPCG. I don't feel left out.
ROYCE3: I have thought of joining a guild. I think lots of folks have. However, it is a bit hard to justify joining if there isn't a local chapter. I think there have been some efforts to cater to those who are only online members, but it is a tough situation.
LWALSTROM: Sue, I love your "making Miniature Dolls" book. It's made my faces so much more controllable. Will you be teaching in the US in the next year?
SUE: I may well be teaching in the States next year - I sometimes schedule in a stopover on my way to a conference or whatever and teach - I once did Seattle, Chicago, San Diego all in one trip!
POLYCLAYNUT: YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 *yawn - stretch* Good morning. -- This is Petra.
SUE: Petra! Is that you?
ALAN: Hi, Petra.
SHELLEY: She's my surprise visitor!
PETRA: Hi Sueeeeeeee. I'm going to make a coffee and sit back and watch what you've been up to. So nice to see you.
SUE: I was saying earlier that I may make it to NZ in November - after teaching in Taiwan. Can I come and see you?
PETRA: HUH!!!!! Really. Ohhhhhhhhhhh, our MINI convention is on 26 of OCT. 200 mini folk from aussie and NZ.
SUE: I have a few long lost relatives over there.... Aw shucks. Just seen that I will miss your convention...
SHELLEY: Can't you take a longer break and go a bit earlier?
SUE: I can't come that week - my latest musical is being performed...
PETRA: Oh well, there's another in two years and I know a place in Chrischurch where you are welcome to stop over. *grin*
NITEFALCON: Musical?
SUE: Yes. Just so I don't get bored, I write the odd musical....
LWALSTROM: My husband and i wrote a musical together once. Hardly spoke to each other for a year after.
SHELLEY: Like you don't have enought to do!!
NITEFALCON: Wow? Multi-talented. :)
ROYCE3: Is it possible to make a living from giving conferences? I imagine that the travel and all is rather draining.
SUE: Yes, travelling is pretty draining, but I was trained from an early age - my parents dragged me all over the place and I can sleep standing up, just about... ;*)
PETRA: Oh, of course you can come and see me (sorry - missed that bit in the excitement of you coming here).
SUE: Goody gumdrops, as they say!
PETRA: I could even organise workshops, if you wanted them.
SUE: Sounds great - helps pay the darned airfare!
PETRA: Well, make sure we keep in touch on that one.
LJCSWARTZ: A quick technical question.... I am working with the pens. Mine are shrinking when fired and the refill does not want to go back in - let alone refill it later. My friends all want a pen, but I don't want to give them anything but the best. Any ideas?
SUE: What clay are you using?
LJCSWARTZ: A mix, usually.
NITEFALCON: I know a lot of people make a stand with dowel rods inside the pens to help retain shape.
SUE: That might be part of the trouble - although all clay does shrink a little. My home decor book has a detailed project on making pens...
ALAN: Use brass tubes.
SUE: You have to pull out the BBQ skewer while the clay is still hot, but then the refill slides in easily.
LJCSWARTZ: While hot... replace the refill?
SUE: No - just pull out the skewer so that the clay does not shrink round it and trap it in. Then slide in the refill when cool. These are for pens that just use the refill - not baking round the plastic barrell.
LJCSWARTZ: I get the filler in almost, but the last bit is too tight..... oh, I am using the plastic barrell.
PETRA: Are you using a Bic Stik?? If so, put the refill in when it's still slightly warm.
LJCSWARTZ: Yes, the Bic Stik.
LWALSTROM: Is there a certain brand skewer that's the same size as the refills?
SUE: If you just use a BBQ skewer - then you can make the pens much slimmer and better looking. As long as the skewer is larger than the refill - then it works. You may need to use a dab of glue to hold it in.
LWALSTROM: Thanks.
SUE: By refill, I mean just the thin tube with the ink in and the ball point at the end.
LJCSWARTZ: I need to read your book, I bet.... Does it cover the skewer idea?
SUE: Yes, it does - and it coveres making pencils, too, much the same way using leads. You can sharpen the pencils. It was a project that I did some years back and they are great fun to make.
LJCSWARTZ: I saw the pencil idea...... I haven't found the lead yet, though I just threw some out while cleaning before using clay.
SUE: Staedtler makes them! They are actually for clutch pencils - you need a good art supplies store. They are used by architects and draughtsmen.
LJCSWARTZ: Oh.
NITEFALCON: And now there is eraser clay, too, to go with the pencils. :)
SHELLEY: I was thinking exactly the same thing, Nite!
SUE: When I worked as an illustrator, we used them all the time. They are about 1/16 inch (2mm) thick.
SHELLEY: Any particular type of lead better than others?
ALAN: Yes - either 2 or 3mm.
SUE: I like HB - good all purpose lead.
SHELLEY: Thanks.
SUE: Staedtler makes coloured leads, too. I did think of stocking them at the Clay Pit, but we have to stick to clay related items or I would need a warehouse the size of a hangar!
PETRA: heheheheh. No kidding. I've just extended mine.
SHELLEY: Depends how clay related. You can end up with all sorts of things that can and does get used with polymer clay!
NITEFALCON: No kidding.
SUE: We are bursting at the seams... I am amazed how something that started as sideline to my jewellery business seems to have taken over part of my life!
SHELLEY: Have you ever thought of supplying rubber stamps as well, Sue?
SUE: We are now stocking the new Premo Stamplets sets which are gorgeous. Haven't got them on the website yet...
NITEFALCON: I've seen them. They are nice.
KALEINOR: Rubber stamps would REALLY use up the storage space!
PETRA: Ohhhhhhh, they are great and I've been teaching them to stampers and they are turning into clayers. YAY!!!!!!!!
PETRA: It is so hard to draw that line sometimes, though, when so many things are clay related these days.
SHELLEY: It must be very difficult.
SHELLEY: Sue, do you know of anywhere in the UK that you can get electric motors for a pasta machine?
ALAN: Cookshop - online. That's where I got mine, but the machine's an Imperia.
SHELLEY: Oooh - I'll pester you later for the URL, Alan!
SUE: *Grin* - Now I always thought that the Brits *liked* doing things manually....
SHELLEY: I like doing things manually, but my elbow doesn't. It keeps complaining at me.
SUE: When I teach in the States, I am always amazed that the noise of the pasta machine motors is deafening...
NITEFALCON: There is now a device that will cancel noise. :)
LWALSTROM: Sue, do you have a shop as well as your web business? I guess I mean "storefront" as well as mail order.
SUE: No shop - we are purely mail order. Mainly because this is a very isolated house in the depths of Suffolk and all customers would be lost for weeks if they tried to come here...
KALEINOR: Sounds like my kinda place!
PETRA: heheheh I could enjoy getting lost in the depths of Suffolk
SUE: When are you coming, Petra?
PETRA: Not for awhile again, Sue. Working on Ravensdale next year and HIA or ACCI, but not Britain, this time.
SUE: Too bad... I always seem to miss people when they come over here - I shouldn't travel so much.
NITEFALCON: Where is Suffolk?
SUE: East - London and then up and to the right a bit... It is all fields and leafy lanes and pretty cottages with thatch.
KALEINOR: Sounds gorgeous!
PETRA: Dang, I missed it. And you know I was in a sparrow's breath of Shelley.
ALAN: Course, England's all like that.
NITEFALCON: Are there still foot and mouth restrictions in the countryside?
SUE: No - we are all clear now.
NITEFALCON: That's good.
PETRA: Oh. No, I did't miss it, I just missed Shelley. I took a trip to Poole to buy some of my other love: Poole pottery.
SUE: You must have circumnavigated Britain!
PETRA: Not quite <grin>
SHELLEY: And of course, I live in a little village just outside Poole! About 15 minutes from Poole Pottery!
LJCSWARTZ: Sorry to regress, but which book covers the pen using the skewer idea?
SUE: Creative Home Decor with Polymer Clay - published by North Light and easily available in the States, but only available in the UK from the Clay Pit!
LJCSWARTZ: Thanks.
PETRA: It's a great book, Sue, covering wonderful techniques, as always.
SUE: Out of interest - when I first went to the States for a pc conference (1998), everyone was caning and nothing much else - what is everyone keenest on now? Wrong - it was 1996 - how time flies!
NITEFALCON: I think there are still avid caners. I think the biggest thing is jewelry in general.
PETRA: TLS, maybe.
LJCSWARTZ: Having just started - I am trying a bit of it all... beads are of interest right now.
PETRA: Transfers would be another.
KALEINOR: Sue, personally, I like making jewelry and mini pictures.
SHELLEY: We've only got about 5 minutes left of this chat (unless Sue decides to stick around longer). Anyone else have any other questions that need to be asked? Or is there anything that you, Sue, would like to tell us about?
SUE: I find that jewellery makers and miniaturists never meet in the States while here in the UK, we all mix up and swap ideas more.
PETRA: Here in NZ, as well. I think it's out of necessity, Sue.
SHELLEY: If I didn't mix with miniaturists as well, I wouldn't get to meet many other clayers!
SUE: True... and some of my best jewellery ideas came out of playing about in the miniatures worl...
KALEINOR: Hear, hear! I wish I could meet more people with my interests locally.
NITEFALCON: I would love to mix it up more, but until recently I hadn't met any clayers in person.
LJCSWARTZ: Do you have a photo gallery available for us to view??
SUE: I love exchanging ideas with all kinds of clayers - And photo gallery, well, that is really my books. You can see lots of pics of them on my website. Any doll makers here? They seem a rarer breed...
PETRA: And getting rarer, wouldn't ou say, Sue?
SUE: I don'tknow. The sales of my doll book are soaring - isn't that weird?
PETRA: hmmmmmmm. It is.
LWALSTROM: I make dolls. And I'm about to start making jewelry using the miniature faces.
SUE: That's what I like - cross application of techinques!
KALEINOR: I haven't made dolls yet, but plan to try later.
LWALSTROM: A lot more people are offering tiny polymer fairies on eBay than six months ago.
----Salutations and thanks given at this point and chat ends----