Season's greetings
This is the time of year when many of us feel overwhelmed with obligations at home, at work and in our communities. During these days with dwindling light and to-do lists that seem to grow longer instead of shorter, it's important that we take time for ourselves.

The studio may seem like the last place you need to be right now, but it also may be the best place for each and every one of us, even if only for a stolen moment or two. For many of us, the studio is a place of solitude and escape. Go there, and enjoy. You might be surprised with what you create. Fusion is on its way Depending on the efficiency of the postal service, many of you will begin receiving the latest copy of Fusion, the journal of the PMC Guild, perhaps as early as this week. We had hoped they would go out before Thanksgiving, but hiccups that were beyond our control delayed printing and distribution. The good news is, we received word from our printer last week that Fusion was ready to be mailed. So be on the watch. Like Santa, it's on its way.

We're particularly proud of this copy of Fusion. The Guild's communications director, Tim McCreight, has written a timely article about the greening of PMC. This year, Americans will use an estimated 3,750,000 grams of metal clay. The Guild has been blunt in its questions to Mitsubishi Materials Corp., the company that makes PMC. We asked, "How green is PMC?" Fusion answers the question.

PMC Conference 2010
As we begin thinking about our next conference, July 28-Aug. 1, 2010, at Purdue University, we would like to remind members that registration is now available online. And more immediately, the deadline to submit images for consideration for the conference exhibition, "Cultural Messages: Symbolism Through the Ages," is Jan. 20, 2010. Details and prospectus are available by clicking here.

The Metal Clay Academy, now in its second year, has been commissioned to conduct a survey of the metal clay community in the United Kingdom. The academy is a private, independent organization with no ties to manufacturers, distributors or schools.

The goal of the survey is to create a picture of the U.K. metal clay community. In addition, a professionally conducted survey will help the metal clay community gain credibility within the fields of education, professional services and government. Information will be gathered through an online anonymous survey. To participate, click here.