Free 3-Day Repair Workshop

We have a 3-day hands-on American Clay repair workshop coming up the first week of September (1st-3rd, possibly the 4th). Shaylor Alley, Vice President of American Clay's Commercial Division, will be the trainer. This workshop is FREE, and the number of attendees will be strictly limited. There will be a $30 fee for food & refreshments.

This is a unique training in that there are a number of issues with the application we will be working on. This is a class on “the call about fixing another applicator’s project”, you all are likely to get one of these calls, and what better way to prepare than actually do one of them. This is a working “application” training- real walls, real finish- no “demo walls”. The class will have time to discuss cost, pricing, bidding etc… for these types of issues and focuses on Enjarre- American Clay’s newest and potentially most saleable product from a cost perspective.

People traveling from out of town are welcome to contact me with questions regarding accommodations. We will be working in Goochland, Virginia, and the best place to stay is likely Richmond's West End (Short Pump, Glen Allen areas).

If interested in attending, please RSVP with a $30 deposit. For the remittance address, you are welcome to email or call me at 804-475-9645.

Creativity abounds in clay...

During my American Clay workshop on Saturday, one of my students got a little creative and crafted her version of the American Clay logo on her practice board. Very fun! This class was full of talent and good ideas. I'm glad we all had a chance to come together! Be sure to check out the short video detailing some of the class happenings in our next post.

Successful August Class

So, today's clay class was attended by folks from around the state, only 2 of which were from Richmond. This surprises me - People will drive for hours, sometimes even pay for a flight and hotel accommodations for this class, but very few are from our own city! I'd be curious to hear the experience of other clay trainers around the country - Where do your students come from?

During last month's 2-day professional training with Shaylor Alley, the students applied a base coat on the walls throughout our training area. Today, our students applied a beautiful top-coat of Mauna Loa Marittimo. While some students worked on this wall, others compressed an adjacent Wild Horse Smoke Porcelina wall. Once finished, we spent our last 2 hours trying out a variety of special effects and learning the basics of repairs. I was very impressed with the creativity of this crew!

We have another training coming up on Saturday, September 5th, with several spaces still available. To sign up, please contact me (Carrie) at surfaceelements@gmail.com, or call 804.475.9645.

Video Description of our Upcoming Clay Workshops

We have 1 spot left in our August workshop! RSVP by emailing Carrie at surfaceelements@gmail.com, or by calling at 804.475.9645.

200-year-old Clay Walls!

This photo was taken a few weeks back during a consultation with a family in Rustburg, Virginia who seek help restoring their farmhouse. The walls are made from a mixture of Virginia red clay, lime, and hog hair, among other things. Over the years, the walls have begun to fail in different places, and the family is hoping to save them. They turned to us for help, hoping that American Clay may be a good solution. Unfortunately, AC is a veneer plaster, not one that would help repair the walls. we offered to try to help find some plasterers skilled in historic renovations and techniques. If anyone has an idea of where we might find a good resource, please email me. It would be greatly appreciated!

Decorative Techniques

A client recently requested to see some designs of decorative elements for their home. There are clay walls throughout the space, and the homeowners are looking to integrate some of the colors from their Mexican tiles and Southwestern-style furnishings. After perusing a variety of patterns and techniques, we've started by accenting this recessed niche with rich mineral-based pigment. These pigments are fade-resistant, and will remain brilliant for years to come.

Next up, a custom Mexican motif to accent an archway in their dining room. Stay tuned for more photos!

American Clay, a Natural Mold Deterrent

A dear friend of mine recently bought a house that has a nightmare bathroom. Many years with poor air circulation and too much humidity has resulted in quite a moldy space. Having heard so much about American Clay, she remembers me talking about the clay's natural mold-inhibiting qualities. She's remediating the mold problem now so I can get in there and trowel it with a beautiful coat of Sugarloaf White. When we're done, her mold won't return.

Several clients specifically seeked me out because I work with this health-supportive product. Asthma, breathing problems, mold and dust allergies...If you or someone you know is considering renovations, consider a healthier alternative to traditional products. My clients say their walls give them more than just a beautiful space to enjoy. They provide peace of mind.

August & September Hands-On Clay Trainings

1-Day Professional Workshops

Saturday, August 1st 10am - 4pm

Saturday, September 5th 10am - 4pm

Location:

Bettencourt/ECO Supply Center

1310 Roseneath Rd

Richmond, VA 23230

***NOTE: Attendees, please save instructor's cell phone number (listed below), as attendees frequently get lost trying to find the class.

Class Description:

Participants will learn basic and intermediate application techniques using all 4 American Clay plasters, artistic techniques, and repair methods. A written test will be given at the end of the session. Attendees can expect that, upon completion of the class, they will have the proper knowledge to ensure a successful clay installation. This class is ideal for contractors, designers, and homeowners. Participants seeking to use American Clay professionally will receive tips and advice on how to ensure success on-the-job. Come prepared to be creative, get dirty, and meet others who love this innovative product.

The cost is $150 per person, and includes continental breakfast and lunch. Classes fill quickly, and spaces are reserved with a 50% deposit of the class fee.

To RSVP or contact with questions, feel free to contact the instructor: 

Carrie Williar
Surface Elements
surfaceelements@gmail.com
804.475.9645

American Clay on HGTV July 6th!

Thanks to American Clay for the heads up on this chance to see American Clay on TV! 

If you missed HGTV’s “My Big Amazing Renovation” on May 27th or if you want to watch it again, this episode will be repeated this month on Monday, July 06, 2009 at 6:30 PM e/p. Please check out your local listings for episode #HRENO205 by clicking here.

The all natural, interior wall plaster will be used across a very good portion of the whole house.

We hope you enjoyed the show!

Creative Additives for Clay

I've just returned from the Outer Bank where I spent the 4th of July weekend. The weather couldn't have been any better, and I loved watching fireworks on the beach. I've returned home with some souvenirs that I'll be incorporating into a new sample board in the near future. I collected a container of small shells from the beach that I'll blend with some clay plaster to create an interesting textural effect. The shells are smooth and multi-colored - It should make for a beautiful finish!

American Clay Wall Repairs

At the beginning of May, an old student of mine called and asked if I could come take a look at a residential Enjarre job that had been damaged during a build-out. Enjarre is American Clay's newest product, and it was developed with the intention of making clay plaster more affordable for large spaces (10,000+ square feet). It can be sprayed in one coat and back-troweled to get the desired finish. Upon arrival to the site, I realized that the damages were extensive, with months of contractor traffic having taken its toll on the beautiful clay walls. 

American Clay is a medium-hard plaster, and can be damaged when bumped by heavy objects and sharp corners of furniture. One of its best selling points is that it is repairable in a way that is easier than with other types of plasters. Unfortunately in this case, there were so many damaged areas that the homeowners knew they'd need assistance fixing their walls. It was unreasonable for them to feel like they could do all of this themselves. I spent many hours repairing the walls, and it's almost finished, 100+ repairs later!

To those considering having American Clay installed in their home:  Please wait to have clay walls installed until late in the construction process. Take into consideration how much traffic and equipment could potentially damage the plaster. It will save you much time, money, and heartache.

Richmond's Professional Training a Success

On June 25th and 26th, Shaylor Alley, VP of American Clay, visited Richmond to provide a professional training for contractors, builders, and decorative painters. I was on-hand to help out and to glean some new information from Shaylor to incorporate into my own clay trainings. I was grateful for the opportunity to network with people who've been in the plaster business for 20+ years. They were full of ideas - It was truly a great group. I feel like I learned a lot. Thanks to Mike Endreny of Bettencourt Green Building Supplies for his hard work and planning that made the training a success!

More hands-on workshops...They're comin'!

I've received a couple of requests over the past month to get another one of our American Clay workshops on the calendar. Keep your eyes on the blog for a date to be chosen shortly. Perhaps we'll see some of the teachers I met today! Thanks again for coming to today's presentation!

Interactive Clay Demo

From time to time, Surface Elements provides inservices and presentations about American Clay to help spread the word about this fun and innovative product. A couple of weeks ago I was approached by Mary Frances Hobbs, a teacher at the Math Science Innovation Center, who asked if I'd be willing to present about American Clay at an end-of-the-year workshop on green building methods and products. Having worked in education in a previous career incarnation, I happily obliged. Teachers deserve all the tools they can get! We opted for an interactive workshop, and got everyone involved in spreading a bit of clay themselves. Their final samples can be taken back to their classrooms and shared with students.

I owe a special thanks to Tom and Mary Frances Hobbs (pictured above) for their help in getting the materials together for this fun presentation. I couldn't have done it without your help!

For anyone who's never heard of it, check out the website for the Math Science Innovation Center. We're so fortunate to have such a great local resource!

Mi Casa es Su Casa

From time to time, a client will request to see an installed clay wall to gain a better visual understanding of American Clay. We owe a big thank you to the homeowners who have graciously opened up their homes to show off their beautiful walls. Muchas Gracias!

Eco-Friendly Drywall

I'd like to take a moment to introduce those of you who are unfamiliar to an inspirational website called TED.com. Every year, the most creative, groundbreaking ideas in the world are shared at the TED conference. On this site, you'll find hundreds of videos that are sure to teach you something new, make you smile, make you gasp, or at the very least, make you aware of more of what's happening in our little world.

This morning, I came across this introduction to Kevin Surace, the inventor of EcoRock, an award-winning eco-friendly drywall. It's 3 minutes long and well worth a break from your day. I don't believe this is available in Richmond, yet. Let's get it here. Demand that our builders, contractors, and product suppliers use better, healthier materials, and it will help it come faster.

An Inspired Office

A dear client recently asked me to install Loma in her office and requested some help picking a color. She works from home as a writer, so the comfort of her office is crucial. Having discussed colors with her in the past, she was interested in choosing a version of orange to support her creativity. She settled on Amber Grain, one of the "Natural Depths" American Clay colors. This was my first job installing Amber Grain, and I was immediately struck by the rich, deep umber as I spread it on the walls.

Having completed several other clay rooms in this home, the homeowner and I discussed ways of integrating leftover clay into a decorative wall in the office. We decided to blend three colors (Rio Grande Pecan, Acacia, and Amber Grain) on the main wall people will see when they enter the room. The result? A warm, inviting office with walls that beg to be touched.

What makes the clay stick to the walls?

During a recent clay consultation I was asked what ingredients in American Clay make it "set up", or harden on the walls. Many other plasters and similar products, such as concrete, have ingredients that cause a chemical reaction and make the substance harden as it dries. The client had a hard time understanding that there aren't any ingredients that will cause this type of reaction to occur. So what makes the clay hard?

Here's the secret...ELBOW GREASE, and lots of it! Here's a picture of clay being compressed in a Church Hill residence. You can almost see the sweat...oh, and the blisters.

American Clay is made from 100% natural, non-toxic ingredients. Its strength and durability come from a mechanical bond created during the final stage of installation, called compression. Without compression, the clay will feel rough, dusty, and more like...dirt. As American Clay always says, "In order to impress, you must compress".

Custom Color Matching

From time to time, we're asked if we can match clay plaster to paint colors. There are over 40 standard American Clay colors, but if you can't find one that matches exactly what you're looking for, you can indeed have a color matched to your specifications. 

Here's a link to American Clay's blog post on the topic...