The latest information about our meeting schedule is available to anyone at the home page of: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MetalClayWesternPA/

(Only those who join the group can access other features of that website, but the schedule is available to anyone who might consider coming to a meeting or event.)

• We gather approximately once each month.
• We do not have a fixed meeting schedule.
• Once or twice each quarter we get together for about three hours on a week-night, and include a basic demonstration or lesson;
• Once or twice each quarter we gather for about six hours on a weekend for a "clay play" session;
• Occasionally, we'll substitute some other group activity for a meeting (e.g., give metal clay demos at Art All Night).
• To accommodate our far-flung members, we have met at a variety of locations: in Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville, The Strip), in suburbs (e.g., Edgewood, Mt Lebanon, Pleasant Hills, Cranberry), and further out into in neighboring communities (e.g., Oil City, Irwin, etc.).
• We encourage car-pooling: this conserves resources but also extends the time some folks have together to talk about our shared passion!

We start our meetings with a "Show & Tell" session, sharing information about our latest creations. We tell what worked and what we learned en route to a finished piece. We also bring works-in-progress to ask for advice and suggestions from our helpful colleagues..

We include one or more demos or hands-on lessons at each gathering. Some of the scheduled topics from recent regular meetings have been:

• Water-etching.
• Photopolymer plates (PPPs).
• Options in torch-firing metal clay.
• Making and using flexible greenware.
• What metal clay artists should know about glass.
• Photographing your small metal art jewelry.
• Increase the value of your work with flush-set diamonds.
• How to use a jump ring maker and make chain maille.
• Save money through our group orders (books, tools, supplies).
• Various challenge projects (e.g., charms, toggle clasps, working in the style of various artists).
• Review sessions of what we learned in our workshops.

Plus, impromptu demos happen at our Clay Play Days, as we share tools and techniques!