Just passing on some new info on the retreat...in order to make it possible for more to attend in these tight economic times, the IPCA has made the following changes:

Lower prices, a fabulous option to make payments in installments, and additional free demos by Judy Belcher, Seth Savarick, Lisa Pavelka & Julie Picarello and a full day with Christi Friesen. 

Be sure to check out the website for full details.  Hope to see many of you there!

Thank you for keeping us in the loop.

 You're welcome. I hope this means more peopel will be able to attend. We're at about the halfway mark, now.

 I would really love to come. Truly. Money is not my problem, it's time away from the kids. When they are older, if I am still into this stuff I will come to all kinds of conferences!

What level of skill and professionalism should a person be at to consider the retreat?  Would a relatively pathetic newbie (OK, I'm exaggerating) be comfortable?   I'd have to check my calendar, but I am tempted.

DW - If it works into your schedule and budget, you should consider going.  This is one of the few, if not the only, events where you will find a lot of the teaching artists together.  Watching the demos and picking brains of other attendees will put you on overload but it will also demystify a lot of the techniques for you.  An event like this is one where the outside world ceases to exist and time flies.  Call it immersion clay therapy!  If you decide to go, we'd love to hear your perspective and what you learned.  

As a person new to clay, this would be a fabulous opportunity to clay side-by-side with artists of all levels of experience. The demos alone would be worth it, IMO.  Plus, you'll have the opportunity to get feedback on your work, meet new clay friends, and SHOP (lol).

 Seriously, though - everyone has been 'new to clay' at one point and you would be welcomed warmly. I know many of the people involved or attending, and they are all great people!

I'm really looking forward to attending the Retreat! I'll be wearing a couple of hats; the "clayer" hat for the perpetual student in me who loves to learn from others, and the "associate editor" hat for AJ. I've met some of the folks who will be attending, but will meet many others for the first time. If any of you from the forum do attend, please be sure to introduce yourself! You're such a supportive and knowledgeable community -- it would be great to chat and get to know the folks behind the avatars. :) ~Jill~