Taking a Class With Laurie Mika

This book has been sitting in a prominent place on my coffee table for a year. I constantly flip through it. I had no idea that fimo and the other clay products could create this type of art.

Now, having said that, I have been collecting clay, clay tools and everything you need to make this type of art for years. I just needed one workshop to get me started.

When I found out Laurie was teaching in Wisconsin over a weekend I was available I signed up without even thinking about it. I could not wait. When I saw the class list I realized I did not have to buy one thing. I already had everything in my stash.

We were in the first workshop for only a moment when the excitement for me started to build. I knew I was in the right place. These are the name tags Laurie made up for us.

The first workshop was about building thick ATC sized clay pieces. I stuck to that format for only the morning.

Then I started to build clay pieces using whatever shape I fancied. I could not believe how many techniques we were learning. So many of the things I am currently NOT using work with clay. My rubber stamps are now going to be used for something different. My supplies have a new life.

Clay is so forgiving and is relatively inexpensive.

I could not wait to come home and add some resin into the reservoirs I made. There was a point in the workshop when I felt like I had so many new ideas that my head might explode! It's been a while since I felt that way after a workshop.

This is Laurie.

If you get a chance to sign up for a workshop with her...do! She is a fantastic instructor. Prepared, inspirational, kind and best of all...totally approachable. She loved to see what everyone was working on.

I'll post more about the second workshop tomorrow!