More Inspiring Artists : Meeting With The Columbus Polymer Clay Guild .

There are a lot of clay groups on facebook. And I had been following a few . Once our trip to USA was decided, I realised that one of the group I was following, was the Columbus Polymer Clay Guild and I was going to live the major part of a month in Columbus... ..but I had just a day's chance to meet the members since they would meet on the second thursday of every month.

So... I decided to try for an invite. And within no time, the reply came back in affirmative. I was just ecstatic. A few days later I got another message from a member, Steve Winland who asked me to carry along a few of my own pieces, that I could show the members. !! That was a bit daunting...I knew the calibre of the members..so it was a tough thing for someone inherently shy, like me..but this was a chance like no other...

And so, May 14th, I duly presented myself at the venue..and was immediately put at ease by the very friendly Vicky, whose full name I never caught. And then one by one the other members started arriving..and most of them did not look surprised at my presence. Then I found out that it had been announced at the previous meeting, that an artist would be coming from India, on a visit...

The meeting commenced with a showing of the members' various works. Then they invited me to show the pieces I had with me, and explain about them.. they were so casual that it did not feel like I was in the midst of  strangers. 

There was an amazing demonstration by Nicole Willis  on caning techniques. The ladies gave many of their spectacular pieces to be photographed. 

 I could not make up my mind on which piece I liked the best.. !

 The lovely ladies !! The very talented Carole Smithers was so warm and friendly, she wanted a picture with me.. :)

And Beth Curan, who I later learned, was the President of the Columbus Polymer Clay Guild, gave me a token of her own creation to take home...

So at the end of a beautiful 2 hours, I came away, thrilled no end, and also feeling blessed to meet such brilliant creative people ..so many of them at once.. it was overwhelming... !!