September 4-9, 2010: 4th Annual Polymer Paradise cruise sailing from Jacksonville, Florida to the Bahamas for 5 nights. Enjoy a workshop package of classes with instructors Christi Freisen, Barbara McGuire, Lisa Pavelka and Jana Roberts Benzon aboard the Carnival Fascination. Ports of call include the beautiful islands of Half Moon Cay and Nassau. Visit http://www.artacrosstheoceans.com for details. 

Nan Roche, author of "The New Clay", the first comprehensive book published on Polymer Clay (1991 Flower Valley Press), will be honored with the first Creative Pioneer and Innovator Award at the closing celebration for Cabin Fever Clay Fest, Wed. 24 February 2010 from 7PM til 11PM.

When I received the invitation to submit a piece for the 2010 Synergy2 Exhibition and saw that the theme was exploring connections, I immediately thought about doing a collaborative piece. Being a mixed media artist, I have had many opportunities to participate in collaborative projects. I am currently in the midst of two round robin books projects and have also been involved in ATC and "fat book" projects as well as both charm and tile exchanges. These have all been such fun. I knew I wanted to try and organize a tile collaborative. In addition to being fun, collaborations always stretch and challenge the participating artists in ways that working individually cannot do.