The Fun Stuff

Not that the classes weren’t fun but there is so much else going on at Convention.

Shareware

Every member of IADCCT is encouraged to paint a project, write up a tech sheet, and take it or send it to convention. They then get an Educational Showcase point. Then the tech sheets and photos are posted on the IADCCT website so everyone can print a copy. MVCT shareware projects are:

These all replicate plates that we saw at the Museum of Ceramics which we toured last May. We are looking at dinnerware down through the ages. Our display includes a total of nineteen plates, including some others I painted, and a plate with the Homer Laughlin home. There were about a hundred pictures of plates from the museum with dialog either on the plate display or on the back of the photo. We received numerous compliments.

Goodie Bags

Chapters and individuals donate items for the goodie bags, some ceramic related and some not. This year we each received a small backpack full of items to take home. We were so busy getting our display pictures mounted and labeled that we missed getting our contribution into the bags. So Saturday at lunch we went around to the table and handed them out. We made an Award Pin Robbin with the IADCCT logo.

First Timers

Three of us were new and got a convention badge with first-timer ribbon to wear all weekend. We were introduced to the Ambassadors and one of them sat at our table for lunch. We were introduced to the entire convention after lunch and presented with a tote bag full of more goodies.

Food

All meals were buffet style to accommodate various preferences and diets. It was all delicious and every meal had a choice of two decadent desserts. This includes lunch Saturday and Sunday and the Convention Dinner Saturday night.

Awards Dinner

Before the dinner there was a hospitality hour with the bar open and an ice-breaker game. Jim and Carol were too tired to attend and took a rest instead. It sounds like it was a lot of fun.

Awards and Charters were handed out at the dinner. Table favors were glasses holders with a pair of plastic glasses. Table centerpieces were given out by drawing numbers.

I won the centerpiece at our table. It is a fairy totem, a bit hard to see here with the busy background. I left the cement-filled flower pot behind and just took the stakes on the plane.

Drawings

• One chapter gave away Saturday night’s hotel bill. The weekend is more pricey than weekdays so that was really appreciated by the winner
• Chinese Auction — chapters and individuals donated items for the auction. MVCT donated a Painters Package complete with tech sheet, notebook, apron, water bowl, palette, coffee mug, and brush caddy (both a sample and a new one for them to paint). some items broke in transit but the winner of ours was very happy regardless. Sheryl won a beautiful flowered oval platter and Jim won $50 cash.
• Coffee Fund — David Hoff donated free registration for two events: one at his home, and one called My Favorite Things at the hotel in Vegas. I WON the latter! So I will be traveling to Vegas the first weekend in January 2021! The value of the trip was $445 for the registration in 2020. Money from the raffle goes to pay for the coffee setup each day
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• Door Prizes — These giveaways included many different types of prizes. Some names were drawn during the dinner and some during Friday’s lunch. Laura won a bagful of ceramic colors.

We had lots of fun! Did not gamble and did not go to the strip at all.
Of course, in Vegas there are slots everywhere, even at the airport. Tried out several restaurants, spent lots of money.
Bought new luggage because the handles were broken on ours.

Do not know how we can afford to go to the Midwest Show in April and to Vegas for My Favorite Things the beginning of January, and Convention 2021 the end of January.

But we will try — with lots of classes, new technique workshops, Party Van workshops, and online sales maybe we can.