Well that was fun!

Hi folks--what a FUN night. A huge thank you to Cindy for hauling all her stuff and showing us all her examples and helping us individually with our creations. Those of you on FB, be sure to post pics in the dirty hands section so we can see everyones finished pieces.
Okay--we have a lot to discuss. Since we are now beginning again and want a much less structured format--I am not sure how to proceed. Tonight I didn't do anything in the way of a meeting because I didn't know if you wanted to. We should have been a little more structured for Cindy so she could have taught us in a little more organized of a way--she went to a lot of trouble and I know we all benefitted from her knowledge and help, but it would have been easier for her if we had started with a little more of a class like thing. In the end we all made some really neat stuff, so it worked out fine, but Cindy, if you felt a little scattered that is my fault and I am sorry for that. And thanks to Sue for suggesting the project--it made for a really fun night, plus some great shopping adventures beforehand. Buscia, I am so glad to have seen you--and my sympathies for your Cee Cee.
Bobbi and Dave brought little Mr. Reagan, and he is the cutest little bug in the entire world. Rosie brought homemade eclairs, which were the best dessert in the entire world, so all in all, it was an EPIC night! And we had a new set of Dirty Hands in the person of Nancy Beadles, whose gardens we must all tour later on--maybe that can be our May or June meeting. Thanks so much for coming Nancy--we hope you continue to join in our adventures.
Now--to more official type stuff. When we voted, it was unanimously decided we still wanted to collect dues. Does that still go? If so, when do we want to pay them.
Do you want to have any kind of a meeting at all? If not, how do you want to communicate information. I can do it here and send emails out if that's how you want to do it.
Do we want to formalize a set of "topics" for our meetings or just fly by the seats of our collective pants and decide on what we will do next at each meeting?
Do we want to do any kind of charitable or community endeavor? I know Cindy is interested in this. How about anyone else?
I think that's enough to consider for right now. Think about these subjects and let me know your feelings--either by phone, email, write me on facebook, whatever. If I am still supposed to be in charge of this gig, I need to know what that means. Or if I don't need to be in charge, thats fine too--but then we need to decide how to make the organization hold together. Personally I don't know how to do the "Occupy Wall St." model where no one is in charge, but if that's what you all want, we can give it a shot.
So on to next month--the seat of the pants brigade in the driveway decided that our next meeting will be devoted to mosaic. The style of mosaic using broken plates is called "pique assiette". If you have the time and inclination you can google for this term and learn some more about it. As far as what to mosaic--that is up to you--so be thinking and looking. Ideas for good substrates-terra cotta pots, wooden birdhouses, wooden plaques are all good choices. Sue wants to do a birdbath, which is also certainly do-able. Probably what we will have to do is give you a "starter" session, and you will have to finish your project on your own. maybe then we can bring the finished pieces back and all have a grout party the following month or something. I will post a list of stuff you will need later, but for now, start looking for your substrate and keep your eyes peeled for pretty old dishes (cracked or chipped is fine) old jewelry, keys, figurines, glass beads or the flattened glass drops like we used tonight, slate or stone tile, beach glass, thin glass tile (1/8" thick) ceramic tile (this is often thicker than most dishes, so try to find thinner tile) really anything that can be glued to a surface that will hold up outside if you will be making a garden object. slate or stone tile should be small tile--we don't want to mess with the wet saw. More on what you will need later. Remember that a flat surface will be vastly easier to work on than a curved one, but if you want to do a curved surface you will need smaller tesserae (the fancy word for the tiles and stuff) to make the curves. You will also need a glue that sets up really fast, or tile mastic.
Well that's enough for now. Plenty to think about. Please give the "clubby" issues some thought and let me know what your feelings are. I know we have discussed this stuff before, but it's time to put things into practice, and at least for me I need to revisit the ideas. I will need help transitioning from the more formal approach.
Thanks also to Maggie and Marianne for contributing two lovely door prizes for the convention. I am going to contribute at least one of my glass garden structures if they turn out okay, so I think that leaves us with 3 door prizes left to go. Sue I think you were planning to make a bird feeder--is that right? One of the teacup feeders? And don't forget to scrounge together a few nice garage sale items for their ways and means. Although we are no longer members, I told the district director that we would still contribute what had been agreed to when we WERE members, so please help me live up to that commitment. More on this later too.
Well--that's all for now--thanks for such a terrific time everyone! FL