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Clay Camp 2025 – The NWPCG has held this popular 3-day event for decades for novice and experienced adult clayers- are all welcome. Free classes by experienced clayers are spaced conveniently throughout camp days.
  • Dates: Friday May 30th through Sunday June 2nd, 2025
  • Cost of Clay Camp: $100.00
  • Location: Artworks 200 Dayton St, Edmonds, WA 98020


This is an in-person event at Artworks art space in downtown Edmonds, Washington; it is not virtual and not on Zoom. This year’s attendees will enjoy an open-all-day workroom, mystery box challenge, artist’s swap, Saturday Lunch Potluck, raffle, Brown Bag gift exchange, and free classes! Campers are responsible for their own meals and lodging.

Friday Events

Creating Flower Bouquet Ornaments with Kim Day

In this work along demonstration, we will be making flower bouquet disk ornaments. Kim’s 3d printed texture rollers and cutters will be available to use during this demo and throughout Clay Camp. This demonstration will include tips on how to use and apply mica powders, how to use texture rollers, how to attach baked or unbaked polymer clay together, and how to use fiddly annoying imprint cutters successfully. During this demo we will start, but not finish the ornaments.

Materials list:

Clay of choice (no Sculpey 3 since everything will break)

Glossy ceramic tiles to cut on

Portable work surface (laminated paper will be available)

Pasta machine or roller

Clay blade

Optional mica powders and rhinestones (Kim’s will also be available to use during Clay Camp)

Brown Bag Gift Exchange – See description here

Mystery Challenge! by Dawn Gray
A few years ago I had the opportunity to participate in a mystery box challenge put on by another guild. In the box was a random assortment of clay and supplies and the challenge was to make something from them. Of course I could not resist using them to do some clay doodling but I was amazed by the range of things people made from the same supplies. This year in place of the Bottles of Hope we will be having our own Mystery Challenge.

There will be five categories for judging:

Jazzy Jewelry – There will be some findings in the box but you can use your own. Bring your
own stringing material for bracelets or necklaces.
Building Up – Sculptures or covered forms
Nothing Added – Only materials from the challenge; not everything given to you has to be used
but you cannot add anything you brought from home.
The Whole Shebang – Every single thing from the challenge must be used. You can also use
materials that you brought with you. Multiple pieces can be made but they
must all be in this category to be judged.
Best In Show – This is the crowd pleaser as usual and is chosen from all the work presented.
You can make as many items as you wish but can only enter one category. For example, you cover a jar with everything from the kit – this could be entered in either the Building Up category or The Whole Shebang but not both. All the kits will have the same number and type of items though some of them may have slight variations.
There will be kits available for anyone who registers for camp though you must be present to participate in the judging. If you don’t want to join the fun, the kits are still yours to take home. I look forward to seeing what everyone makes!

Saturday Events

Donut Focal Bead with Sharon Mhyre
In this class you will be learning how to make a donut focal using small canes.  Donuts are great for jewelry.  But if jewelry isn’t your thing, this technique can be used for other items.  This tutorial is from a Susan Bailey of Turtle Soup Beads YouTube class.  She has given me permission to teach this for clay camp.  I highly suggest checking out her YouTube channel.  https://youtube.com/@turtlesoupbeads
For this class you will need:
1. Scrap mud clay, or a coordinating colored clay to the canes you have chosen.
2. A background cane.  I suggest something not busy.  Or you can just use either a skinner blend, or a solid color.
3. Tiny canes: Leaves, feathers, at least 2. Flower canes, rose or daisy type, no background, at least 2. Swirl canes can be used instead, or with flower canes.
4. Patty paper, parchment paper, or page protectors.  This is used when flattening donut, so it doesn’t stick to the weighted item.
5. Acrylic block, or other weighted item to flatten donut bead.
6. Circle cutter.  You want one that is the size of the hole that will be at the center of the donut.
7. Double pointed knitting needle or small roller for rolling/blending edges
8. Ruler or graph paper

Artist’s Swap 2025 Twinchies – see description here

Potluck Lunch
Bring a dish to share on Saturday for the lunchtime meal. Please mark your dish if it’s vegan, wheat-free, dairy-free, or contains nuts. There is a kitchen with an oven, microwave, stovetop and one refrigerator if needed. Lunch is served at noon.

Accordion-Fold Book Making with Dawn Gray

In this demonstration Dawn will show you how to make a simple 2 ½” x 3″ accordion-fold book.
This method can be used to make larger books as well, the size of the book depends on the size of the sheet of paper you start with. Dawn will also show how to make a pocket-fold accordion book and will have examples of books that she has made.
To make a book of your own you will need scissors, tape, paper and a veneer. Dawn will have tape and 9″ x 12″ paper available. If you want to make the finished book during the demo then your veneer will need to be in two 2 ½” x 3″ pieces and will need to be baked. You can also just make the pages during the demo and attach the covers later.

Sunday Events

Exploring Clay Finishing Techniques and Products with Kim Day

In this demonstration, Kim will be showing how to sand and buff polymer clay to a glossy shine, as well as demonstrating the application and end results of various polymer clay friendly top coats or varnishes. The following is a list of products that will be shown, although more may be added at the time of the demo: UV Resin, liquid clay, Hotcoat coating powder, Brite Tone, PYM 2, Helmar Kote matte spray, Pearl-ex varnish, Future floor polish, Varathane, Sculpey gloss glaze and U-Pol clear coat. Feel free to bring finished samples of any unlisted clay sealers, glazes or varnishes to share with the group.

Mystery Box Voting

‘Non-raffle’ Raffle
You may donate any item to this NWPCG fundraiser. Donated items will be displayed with a cup in front of each. Tickets are sold for $1 and you place your ticket(s) in the cup corresponding to the item you want to win. We typically see donations in the form of lovely handmade clay creations, crocheted or knitted items, clay books, clay supplies and other craft supplies. It is also a fun show to watch!

Clean Up begins at 6pm
Each camper is responsible for cleaning up their workspace- table and floor- and putting their chair away. Remember to take any food you may have left in the kitchen and Snack Table, and throw away your garbage outside the front door in the bin. This event happens completely by the grace of volunteers so let’s make sure to share the load!