By Helen Castaneda
Elaine Herbert and
Dru Woodward

Another fabulous Convention this year!

The annual IADCCT Convention was held at The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 16th through the 18th.

We'd like to say a big Thank You to Convention Director - Musette Young, Convention Registrar - Ginny Hawley, Education Chair - Tammy Shumate, Transportation expert - Max Conn, the Hosting Chapters, and everyone who worked diligently behind the scenes to ensure a wonderful experience.

Members were treated to an evening and two days of learning, enthusiasm, creativity, networking, techniques, designs, friends, fun, food and entertainment!

At registration on Friday afternoon members, were given a Welcome Bag filled with all sorts of goodies. Most were things that ceramists can use in their seminar boxes and a wonderful custom stadium seat cushion which will come in handy on those hard seminar chairs. The Welcome Bags were provided by the Saguaro Chapter, one of the hosting chapters.

Our Friday evening was hosted by Dean Saether and Heather Bliss of Duncan Enterprises / iLoveToCreate. As many members know, Duncan Enterprises has been very supportive of IADCCT. This year was no exception. The evening consisted of a special Duncan U seminar taught by world renowned ceramic artist David Hoff, information regarding new bisque, new Duncan U seminars, and a beautiful display. David stepped out of his comfort zone and taught us how to be creative with a box featuring a Valentine theme. We used Concepts, French Dimensions and Shimmer Glaze on this fun project. While we were working on the project, Dean held an informal question and answer session. Thank you Duncan Enterprises for supplying all the bisque and color product for this seminar as well as Color and Bisque Guides, New Seminar Brochures and color chart posters.

David Hoff seminar piece created by Musette Young

We participated in 4 more educational seminars over Saturday and Sunday. All of the teachers were well prepared and offered wonderful words of wisdom while teaching us old and new tricks.

Saturday's seminars:

Reinvented design created by Cheryl
Valenzuela-Johnson in Darcy Etaugh's seminar

Darcy Etaugh from Colorado Springs, Colorado showed us a new way to use snow. It's not just for Christmas! Her design was reminiscent of ancient mosaic art.

Kathy Wallace's clay whistle
created in Judy's seminar

Judy LeBlanc, Duncan Ambassador from Millarville, Alberta, Canada, encouraged all of us to get in touch with clay. Everyone was inspired to make their own interpretation of a whistle with a personality. There were frogs, lady bugs, bumble bees, turtles and many other original ideas.

Sunday's seminars:

Ruthann Conn's floral design
created in Ronald's seminar

Ronald Verschuren, Duncan Ambassador from The Netherlands, instructed us in how to thicken underglaze while creating a gorgeous floral design on a covered box.

Cindy Johnson seminar piece created by Cheryl Valenzuea-Johnson

Cindy Johnson, from Beaverton, Oregon, shared and taught us her process for creating a great background for an African American profile using Concepts and French Dimensions.

David Hoff Presents Cleo Cutis Award to Mary McFarlin

The Hospitality Night and Awards Banquet was held on Saturday evening. In keeping with the theme, Ides of Clay, many members and their guests came dressed in togas. The costumes were really great, and original too. The highlights of the evening were the awards and recognition bestowed on many of our members. The most prestigious is the Cleo Curtis Award. This year's recipient was Mary McFarlin, a past president and long time ceramic enthusiast.

1st time convention attendees

After the awards, members participated in a short melodrama which starred members of the Rocky Mountain Chapter, who was the Hosting Chapter Chair for Convention. Heather held cards that let the audience participate by making loud sounds such has booing, hissing, dropping coins, etc., while their chapter members acted out a short skit. Everyone was able to participate. At the end of the banquet everyone who dressed up proceeded in a parade around the banquet room in a conga-line like fashion. The line just happened to stop at the Roman pillar prop façade for group photos. Everyone left feeling great!

The following Hosting Chapters also deserve a Thank you for their participation: Centerpieces-Ceramics Gone Wild & Southern Stars, Table favors-Desert Spice Coyotes, Shareware-Southern Stars, 1st Timers-For the Love of Mud.