Lex was our first Training Instructor and was instrumental in getting the CCIP started.

Her enthusiastic support, input and belief in the program has never waned. Lex has a preference for making unusual or "weird and wonderful" things. She has always been creative and her amazing talent began with costume design, wedding dresses and evening wear.

Lex's adventure with clay began 11 years ago when she was a stay at home Mum caring for her gorgeous girls Carly and Serena. Sculpting Dolls in Earthenware Clay progressed to Polymer, Paperclay and Air Dry Clay. Lex is a member of NODAAA and has received their Diamond, Gold Seal Accreditation.

Lex has won numerous awards for her Polymer Clay work including winning the Australian Doll As Art Judges Choice Award - twice.  Her projects have featured in mutiple publications including the Australian Doll and Bear News and Dolls Bears and Collectables.

She has been teaching Polymer Clay and Air Dry Sculpting in Canberra for over 8 years and has added Paverpol Sculpting into her remarkable repertoire of accomplishments and teaching skills. Lex has been the Polymer Clay Dolls as Art Section judge in both Brisbane and Sydney and is the current Polymer Clay Dolls Section judge at the Royal Canberra Show.

Contact Lex: Email
Website: http://originalartdollsbylex.piczo.com

Lara LeReveur - Senior Instructor VIC

Lara was raised in a creative family surrounded by porcelain dolls. Her mother, Patricia Blyth was the Judge Emeritus for Seeley Ceramics and founded the Blithe Bebes Porcelain Dollmaking Studio in 1982. Lara received quality tuition from her mother Pat and many renowned experts who visited Blithe Bebes from overseas and interstate, to teach.

Lara's interest and recognized skills in original sculpture were rewarded with commisioned work that included Nativity Display Figures. Lara travelled to Illinois USA to study Antique Doll Restoration. On her return, she attended a Ceramic Workshop at the Holmesglen Institute and expanded her creative sculpting talent with Peter Latona, Zsu Zsi Hartman and our own - Lex Sorrentino.

Lara has been commissioned to complete challenging life sized, fully Articulated Puppets, Unique Porcelain Dolls and Antique Doll repairs. Lara regularly exhibits her work with NODAAA and demonstrates Polymer Clay and Air Dry Clay products at craft and trade shows around Australia. She is the current Judge of the Porcelain Doll section at the Royal Canberra Show, produces original Art Dolls, makes jewellery and 'Pudding Pals' using Polymer Clay, has been working with Metal Clay and does voluntary Art and Craft teaching at Primary and Pre Primary School level.

Contact Lara: Email

 Melanie Dilday - Senior Instructor NSW/QLD

Melanie Dilday was born in South Africa in 1958. She moved to Australia in 1964 and enjoyed an idyllic childhood in various country towns in West Australia.

Melanie worked in a number of jobs in finance and sales before she discovered ceramic clay - around 1995. She then studied Wheelwork and Dimentional studies at Tafe and exhibited at the Moores Building in Fremantle in Western Australia in 1996 and 1997.

Melanie moved on from Ceramic Clay to Polymer Clay "because of it's incredible diversity", Makins Air Dry Clay "because kids love it!" and Silver Metal Clay "because it adds that delicious 'BLING' to my jewellery work".

She has taught Polymer Clay techniques privately and at Tafe Colleges in West Australia and at the Fremantle Arts Centre.

Australian Beader Magazine (2006) featured Melanie's Polymer Clay/Silver Metal Earrings and she earned "runner-up" in their Australian Summer Competition. Creative Beading Magazine featured a four page Millefiori Tutorial by Melanie in their second issue. Mel's fabulous Pillow Bead Tutorial and personal profile was featured in the June 2008 edition of Australian Beading Magazine. She has exhibited in The Great Southern Art Trail of WA and at specialty Art and Bead Shops.

Melanie moved to Byron Bay Hills, NSW in 2006 and more recently to Mullumbimby. She is currently tutoring and exhibiting in the Byron Bay and general Northern Rivers area of NSW. She participates in the local art market scene and conducts private classes and retreats. Melanie also holds classes at three local schools and at the Bead Shop in the Art and Industrial Centre, Byron Bay.

Contact Melanie: Email
Website: http://members.westnet.com.au/melandcurt/polyclay/

 Pam Annesley - Senior Instructor WA

Pam studied Art, Painting and Photography in England. She taught Art in High Schools before migrating to Australia.

Pams passion for creating is evident in her work and her experience with Art and Craft spans over thirty years.

She currently hold workshops and shares her experience with anyone who wants to learn new skills and techniques. Pam specialises in Polymer Clay,Textiles and Mixed Media.

Her jewellery can be found on sale at numerous galleries around Perth. Pam was a finalist in the mixed media section of the USA 2006 National Polymer Clay Guild's International Juried Exhibition. Her entry was a hand dyed, textile bag with stitched Polymer Clay panels down the sides. The handles were made of textured Polymer Clay. Pam also incorporates Polymer Clay into other aspects of her textile work and she was placed fourth at the 2005 Fashion Fantasia Exhibition with a spectacular garment embellished with Polymer Clay textured beads. More recently one of Pam's exceptional screenprinted Polymer Clay Journals was featured in USA author - Sue Heaser's "Polymer Clay Techniques" Book.

Pam enjoys sharing and encouraging her students to experiment and ask the question -
"What if?"

Contact Pam: Email
Website:  http://www.textileworkshops.com/
http://pamannesley.blogspot.com/

 Nancy Friend - Senior Instructor SA

Nancy Friend is our new South Australia Senior Instructor. Nancy remembers always having an insatiable thirst for creativity which she thinks is the likely result of being raised by two very imaginative, artistic parents.Over the years she has dabbled in many artistic pursuits but really found her niche when she discovered the facinating world of Precious Metal Clay in 2006. Since that time Nancy has focused all of her energy on learning everything she can about Precious Metal Clay. Her adventure with PMC has led her into mixed media  and she now includes Polymer Clay and Resin in her repertoire of  creative accomplishments. Nancy completed her PMC Certification in 2007 and as well as extensive talent, she brings with her professionalism and a determined enthusiasm to introduce as many people as possible to the fabulous world of contemporary clays.

Contact Nancy Email
Website: http://www.silcart.com.au/index.html