Clay Carnival 2010
Diana's second year to attend this concentration of classes expressly for the
art of Polymer Clay manipulation. Diana's very good at
this but there is always new and exciting ideas and techniques arising in this
venue and she loves the interaction with some of the top artists in this medium.
Las Vegas, every November, is the place to be for such a "hobnobbing" with
fellow artisans. Noel is just along to drive, cook and support Diana's fun :)
Left from Windsor, 5p and hightailed it to Grand Junction for a stay at the
America's Best Value Inn. $5 more than Motel6 but always has frig and microwave.
Perhaps a tad better beds, too. Sink in bathroom had no water, though. no biggie
on a quick stop. Up not-too-early Wednesday and on to Las Vegas. Arrived about
4p, checked into the Emerald Suites on Cameron (2 in Vegas). Had to take 2nd
floor (no elevator) and we hauled 4+ trips of stuff up for our 5 night stay.
Nice, clean, simple place. Cheap too . . . $55/night average which included two
show tickets! More on that later . . .
We get settled in and used a couple of hours of "free" time to find some
Squished Penny machines that are new to the Vegas area this year. Always new and
exciting places for us to visit with a new Squishing in the offing . . .
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Diana in our suite's bedroom |
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The kitchen . . . |
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. . . and living room (as seen from the dining area) |
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Along our walk of the strip, about dusk |
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Statue in front of Ceasar's Palace |
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Fountain and sculpture outside Ceasar's |
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Diana Squishing Pennies at a shop in Ceasar's |
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Bachus in the Fountain in Promenade Shops of Ceasar's |
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another fountain statue |
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The Nascar section of the Sahara and Diana at Squished Penny machine |
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A 2nd Squishing Machine . . . |
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The fair at a Squished Quarter Machine |
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Diana Squishing a Quarter |
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A Squished Penny's offering |
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Another machine's variety |
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A sign that seemed most approriate |
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Thursday 11/4 - Registration a 8a and she's off and running! Each
class is 4hrs. Lunch then another 4hrs. Students stay in place (lots of
equipment we had to bring along) and the teachers rotate. 8 instructors, 4days .
. . Noel makes lunch (and breakfast and dinner) in the kitchen, picks Diana up
and shuttles back and forth 2 1/2mi, about 20min with traffic and hiking through
the casino and shops from parking ramp to classroom and back. This works great
for us. No hassles trying to find appropriate meals for Diana. Noel makes just
what she needs and likes!
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Instructor Donna Kato |
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Sizzling Rice |
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Examples from Judy Belcher's class |
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The little balls move! |
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She taught this too |
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Judy B's class - Diana's optical illusion cane ready to be cut |
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Spinner Pendant - two trys to get it right! |
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Julie E: Diana's Version |
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Julie E's version in light blue and red |
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This night we see
Vegas! the Show . . . We dress up in our finest and
go to Planet Hollywood and one of their many theatres. We didn't hold high
expectations for the quality of the show, though have read and heard some very
good reviews, but was very pleasantly surprised. A true variety show, Vegas
style, with magician, comedian, dancing girls, singers and live band. They
simulated some of the biggest headliners and well known acts from Vegas' past. A
few younger folks we saw leave early but we enjoyed it.. Much younger than us
and you wouldn't know who Liberace or Dean Martin even is :)
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A picture of the picture they took of us entering the show |
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Diana and Noel self-portrait whle waiting for the show to begin |
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Friday 11/5 - Up with waffles for breakfast and over to the Imperial
Palace for Diana's next day of classes. IP is about the oldest hotel/casino left
on the strip and shows it. However, it's old hog-pog style allows for some
back-alley ways in and out and Noel has learned them all. Makes our travels even
easier and more fun. Diana not feeling up-to-par in the afternoon so skips class to sleep and recover. A quiet night in
has her raring to go tomorrow! Besides
Bridge on the River Kwai is on TCM!
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The Imperial Palaces Sports Book area . . . we sat up top and watched the games sometimes while resting . . . |
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Saturday 11/6 - Both feeling chipper and ready for the day, Diana does
her Polymer Clay cavorting and Noel explores his artistic side via camera . . .
. Diana's is purer than Noel's, by his admission. She's creating . . . he's just
capturing, albeit from a unique angle, someone else's art. Morning is for
laundry, though. Evening for rest. Easy to tell we are both exhausted - there is
a Baskin-Robbins across the street and a hot tub down a flight of stairs but we
don't have the extra energy for either! We gain an hour tonight (changing off of
Daylight Savings Time) lose it back again tomorrow when we cross the NV-AZ
border.
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A very popular cane that EVERYONE wanted a slice of :) |
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step-by-step . . . |
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. . . almost there |
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Some of the projects almost finished |
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Instructor Judy Belcher |
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Noel love's this stretch of I-15 in Arizona. You can't get to it without
going into Utah or Nevada first - 30 miles of no-man's land. I think the Arizona
Highway Patrol should promise to stay off it and let's see what a wild place it
can become! A free-state within the United States; sort of a desert version of
Escape from New York .
. . or maybe Mad Max?
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a Christmas present idea . . . |
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Some more imaginative T-shirts |
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Sunday 11/7 - Noel preps for an early departure tomorrow as Diana
learns more and more. Both of today's classes are given by instructors she's
never heard of or seen work from. Rumor has it one of the classes is "tedious".
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A new instructor this year from Spain - Natalia |
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Example of color work and blending |
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Lizard tail by Julie P. |
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Julie P. necklace |
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Pod by Julie P |
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More Julie P work |
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Diana's Lizard Tails |
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Julie P's inspiration |
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Natalia's funnel bead bracelet |
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Some of Diana's work ready for baking |
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Scrap clay always comes in handy |
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Pizza Party after classes tonight. Prizes and giveaways and raucous fun for
the ladies. They all exchange "poker chips" they made before coming to Vegas
(Polymer Clay art, of any style but roughly the size and shape of a poker chip).
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An instructors husband helped MC |
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A couple of Pizza Party gals having fun |
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Diana's received "poker chips" |
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Monday 11/8 - Off at 8a PST and a somewhat rainy day but no ice or
snow and made it to Johnstown in just over 12hrs. Yay! our own bed :)
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Captured on the way out of town . . . the New City Center along the strip |
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Sign at the hotel Diana and Noel honeymooned 4 years ago. |
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A wider view of the, now closed, hotel |
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A sign next door to our Suites motel |
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A collection of post-Clay Carnival pics . . .
